When I got back to the house, I found the door was left wide open. Immediately, I rushed into Sherry’s bedroom, but the door, too, was open. A few of Sherry’s belongings lay strewn over the carpeted floor, including her phone and a few toiletries. But she was nowhere to be found.

A pool of liquid, most of which had dried up by now, left a mark on the black carpet.

My intuition told me it must have happened minutes while I was unconscious earlier. Emotions rushed inside me.

What do I do now?

“Piper.”

I heaved a sigh to hear Jacques’ voice.

As he came towards me, I flung...