Out Of Focus: An Adams Grove Novel Part 34

She pulled into the parking lot, gravel crunching under her tires. The old building looked as serene as it always had, the cemetery grounds as well groomed as the finest golf courses.

She hadn't made a departure from the grace of G.o.d, but it was easy to feel betrayed, to place the blame of the anger and sorrow there. After all, Nick was a good man. How could it have been his time? How could something this heartbreak be part of a grander plan-G.o.d's plan?

But now, she knew she was only cheating herself by being angry and staying away from church.

When Scott had mentioned the prayer list, her heart had melted. The warmth of that love, of faith, flowed through her. She pulled her keys from the ignition and sat with them in her lap, in no hurry.

Their wedding took place only a few short weeks after Nick's goofy proposal with the rubber fis.h.i.+ng worm, and the church had been booked by another couple well in advance of that day. They hadn't wanted to wait, so they opted to be married at the farm.

It was hard to believe that was four years ago since they married.

So much had happened since then.

She got out of the car and walked up the steps to the tall doors of the church. Finding them unlocked, she ducked inside, and scanned the wide-open s.p.a.ce of empty pews. So quiet. She tugged her cell phone out of her purse and turned it off. Although she was the only one in the sanctuary, she didn't feel alone.

Kasey inched her way down the center aisle, her hand gliding across the smooth wood back of each pew as she moved forward. With each step, she relived the Sunday mornings she, Nick and Jake had slipped into the third row on the left. Same place each week. Jake was always such a good baby, never a whimper out of him no matter how long the sermon ran.

She slid into the cool wooden pew, their pew, and took a hymnal from the rack. The corners of the book were fuzzy from the hands of so many over the years who held it, sang the same songs.

She closed her eyes, and for the first time in a long time, cleared her mind and opened her heart.

A sunbeam came through the arched stained gla.s.s window, s.h.i.+mmering along the top of the pew in front of her. She reached out and let it dance across her hand, then tipped her hand up and then grasped the light, holding the rainbow.

After some quiet reflection, she went out the side door, and got the flower arrangement from her car. Nick was buried not too far from the church, near a huge oak. Strong, like he had been. The tree limbs rustled in the breeze. Everything had been lush and green last summer, yet looked different this time of year. As she walked through the small cemetery, she read the headstones of generations of past church members. Some young, some old, some recently pa.s.sed, some gone so long that she could barely read the engraving on the worn stone anymore.

The marble-arched headstone read: NICHOLAS JACOB ROLLY ~ Beloved Husband ~ Father ~ Friend.

Von had arranged all of it, even decided on the inscription. It had been something she couldn't do, probably couldn't do it now either. Kasey placed the flowers at the base of the headstone, then knelt, skimming her fingers over the word Beloved. Her heart swelled.

"Oh, Nick. I still miss you every day. Is talking to you here any different than talking to you like I do every day? I wish I knew that you heard me, that you knew."

She hugged herself. "Jake's been missing since the accident. Everyone believed he was dead, but I knew he was alive. I felt it. You knew, too, didn't you? Oh Nick. I've needed you so much. You two are the best things in my life."

She sat in the gra.s.s. "We're so close to bringing Jake home."

The sun broke through the clouds, and Kasey tipped her face to the warmth.

"Coming here has been impossible," Kasey said. "Too final. Even now it tears my heart to face that you're gone. I'll always love you."

She bit her bottom lip. "I messed up. I should have put my faith in G.o.d to bring Jake back, but instead I've been cursing him for taking you away. For taking Jake, too. I've been so angry and sad. Selfish. You would've never been that way. You always knew what to do."

She pulled a tissue from her pocket, then wiped her nose. "You kept me balanced-made me a better person. Oh, Nick. Help me get it together."

"The house is perfect. You thought of everything. Everything we ever dreamed of right down to the dark room and the cubby holes in my works.p.a.ce, the color of Jake's room, you knew it would be perfect."

"I want to be ready, to be the best mom to our son. He's coming home soon. I'm going to bring him home and make the surprise house the home you wanted it to be."

Closing her eyes, she sniffled, and then prayed for the strength, the help, the way, to make things right.

She stood. Feeling better, stronger.

"You're always in my heart." She looked heavenward.

Her legs felt like rubber bands as she walked back to her car.

Inside the car, she stretched to look in the rearview mirror. She dabbed away the makeup the tears had smeared under her eyes. She felt a renewed strength and focus.

Even a visit to Grem didn't seem too ominous a task now.

Chapter Thirty-Four.

Scott sat at his desk going over paperwork. His cell phone rang and he answered without looking at the caller ID, hoping it was Kasey. "Scott Calvin here."

"Scott? It's Von."

"Hey, man. What's up?" Scott signed a report and put a stack of papers back on top of his in box.

"We just got a hit on Libby Braddock's credit card. She just checked in at the Holiday Inn Express there in Emporia."

"You're kidding." Scott scribbled the information on a pad by his phone. "We're on it." Scott didn't even say goodbye. He hung up, grabbed his keys and ran for his car.

Not wasting a moment, he keyed the mic on his two-way radio and called out orders to Dispatch. "I need you to call the front desk of the Holiday Inn Express on Main. I need the room number for a guest who just checked in. Libby Braddock. She's under suspicion for kidnapping. I'll be there in three minutes. Have Dan Taylor back me up. No lights."

"Ten-four," said the dispatcher, and then she repeated back the request.

Scott hit his lights and sounded the siren to get through the light at Main and Route 58, then turned them off again. He couldn't take a chance on spooking Libby Braddock. Arriving at the hotel, Scott identified the black Nissan that they had been looking for, parked right in front. The tag matched the plate they had on report.

He blocked the car with his, then jumped out of the cruiser.

The manager of the hotel ran out to meet him. "Angie just called. That lady is in room 118. Follow me."

"Was she alone?"

"I didn't see anyone with her."

Scott nodded and followed the manager back into the building.

"She just checked in," the manager said.

Just past the elevators, the manager pointed across the hall to the room. Scott approached the door with his hand on his gun. He knocked on the door. "Libby Braddock. It's the police," he announced.

An older dark-haired woman answered the door. "Is something wrong?" she asked, holding on to the edge of the door.

"Libby Braddock?"

"Yes."

Scott flashed his badge, pushed the door open and walked inside.

"What's going on?" She backed against the wall and watched as Scott scanned the room and checked the bathroom.

"Where's the boy?" he asked.

She looked dumbstruck, but recovered quickly. "I'm traveling alone."

"I know you left Leighsboro, North Carolina four days ago with Jake. Where is he now?"

She pressed her lips so tight the skin whitened around her mouth.

"I'm going to ask you again. Where's the boy?"

She looked away, fidgeting.

"Fine. We can discuss his whereabouts down at the station." Scott cuffed her and escorted her to his car.

"My purse. My stuff." Panic rose in her voice.

"We'll take care of that."

Deputy Dan hustled through the lobby as Scott walked through with Libby Braddock. Scott transferred her into the deputy's care and went back to impound her possessions as evidence. He called Von as he carried Libby Braddock's one suitcase and the paper bag containing her purse to the car. "We've got her. But Jake's not with her."

Scott heard Von's fist hit something, probably the desk. He felt the same way.

A bitter edge filled Von's voice. "d.a.m.n it. How is she one step ahead of us every single time?" Von's voice had a bitter edge.

"I don't know. She's not saying anything yet. Hasn't even admitted to knowing Jake. I'll keep you posted."

"Do you want me to call Kasey?" Von asked.

"No. I'll call her."

"I'm on my way."

"See you in a couple hours." Scott pulled onto the main road and dialed Kasey's cell phone. His call went directly to voice mail. "Kasey. It's Scott. I've got a lead. Call me."

He tossed the phone in the seat, his heart racing. I've got to get Jake back to Kasey.

Chapter Thirty-Five.

By the time Kasey got to Grandma Emily's, it was mid-day.

"Knock-knock," Kasey called as she let herself in the front door. She put her purse on the table in the foyer.

Jeremy came out of the kitchen, drying his hands on a dishtowel.

"Hey. I tried to call you earlier." He met her halfway down the hall and gave her a hug. "I was just getting ready to take your grandmother her lunch. Open-faced turkey sandwich. Want one?"

"Sounds great. I'm starved," she said, rubbing her stomach. "I must've been on my way when you called."

"I called your cell, too. Went straight to voice mail."

"Really? That doesn't -" Realization struck, and she nodded. "I must have forgotten to turn it back on after-Let me go do that."

Kasey went back to the foyer, got her phone and turned it on. The voicemail signal chimed. "Did you leave me a message?"

"Nope. I better get this lunch finished before the old woman barks."

Kasey typed in her pa.s.sword to retrieve the message as she followed him. "It smells so good in here."

Jeremy stirred the turkey gravy and popped thick slices of bread in the toaster.

"Two messages. Aren't I popular?" She pressed the b.u.t.ton to listen to the first one.

Jeremy put a slice of toast on each plate. He took a knife from the magnetic cutlery strip, and began slicing the turkey, but then noticed the look on Kasey's face. "What?"

"The first message was from Von." She raised her hand to her heart and swallowed hard. "They've tracked down the woman who has Jake." She fumbled for the b.u.t.tons on the phone to listen to the next message.

"What?" Jeremy asked. "d.a.m.n!" He'd sliced his forefinger wide open. Jeremy whipped around to the sink and ran his hand under the water. "Who? A woman?"

Kasey ran to his side. "Are you okay?" She reached for his hand and had a look. "Ouch, that's deep. You might need a st.i.tch." She backed away and put her finger up as the next message played.

"That was Scott. I've got to get home."

"The sheriff?" He wrapped a paper towel around his finger. "Wait! Do you need me to come with you?"

Kasey ran to the door. "No. Tell Grem I'll call later."

She raced to her car, and spun tires as she sped down the driveway. In her rearview mirror, she saw Jeremy, watching from the door.

She gunned the engine and whipped around the corner. Her phone slid from the seat to the floorboard before she could catch it. She shook her bangs back and glanced to heaven.

"Nick. This is it. I know it!"