The Perfect Ten Boxed Set

by Dianna Love

Ted lifted his shoulders and grinned. “I have something perfect.”

  He turned his back to her. All she could see were his arms flying and scissors snipping. When he spun around, he’d woven a camouflage ribbon through the arrangement and tied a beautiful bow at the bottom.

  Kasey’s jaw dropped. “It is perfect. Better than I ever could have imagined.”

  “Right here,” he said, tapping a finger to his cheek.

  She ran to his side and kissed him on the cheek.

  “That’s what Teddy here lives for. People squealing over flowers.”

  “Thanks,” Kasey said.

  She paid Teddy, then carried the arrangement to the car. She nestled it in the floorboard so it wouldn’t get smooshed during the ride. The smell from the bakery made her stomach growl. No wonder. She hadn’t eaten since...well, she wasn’t sure.

  She got back out of the car. The smell almost made her mouth water as she opened the door and went inside.

  “Good morning, young lady,” a portly man in a white t-shirt and work pants covered by a brightly colored apron waved her to the counter.

  Kasey surveyed the baked goods in the case. “What do you recommend?”

  He gave her a toothy grin. “I’m known for my cinnamon rolls and bear claws. Just took the bear claws out of the oven. They’re still warm.”

  “That must be what smells so good. Give me two.”

  “You must be hungry.”

  “One for me, one for a friend.”

  “You’re my kind of friend,” he winked.

  Kasey drove around the block and parked in front of the police station. She walked back to Scott’s office. “How are you?”

  “What a nice surprise.” Scott pushed a stack of paperwork to the side.

  “Are you busy?”

  “Not too busy for you. I was just filling out paperwork to assign some security to the Indian Pow-Wow Festival next month.”

  “Sounds interesting.”

  “It is.”

  “Do you have an Indian name?”

  He laughed. “No. Maybe I could be Fish-While-She-Talks? What do you think?”

  “I think you’re real funny. How about Bear Claw?”

  “I like it. Sounds manly.” He pretended to swipe the air with a claw.

  “Hold up, tough guy. I meant this kind.” She held up the waxy white bakery bag. “I brought you a bear claw. It’s not a doughnut, but I figured it was close enough.”

  “You sure are in a good mood this morning.” Scott leaned back in his chair.

  “Feeling feisty. Ready to face the world today,” Kasey said.

  “Good,” he smiled. “Where are you off to so early?”

  “Heading to see Grem, so I better get going.”

  “Thanks for stopping by—and for the bad joke and good treat.”

  “Anytime.” Suddenly feeling a little nervous, she grasped the leather strap of her purse as if it was a lifeline. “I appreciate everything you’re doing—have done—for me.”

  “You’d be there for me, too.” He got up and came around the desk. “I’ll walk you to the door.”

  They walked outside, and he stood at the curb. “Drive safe,” he called after her.

  There wasn’t much traffic on Route 58 this morning. Fields of just-harvested cotton lined the sides of the road. The white fibers that remained on the plants glistened like fresh snow. Nick used to tease that he could t-shirt the world with the waste cotton left over after harvest. He’d probably been right.

  Kasey slowed down as she passed the accident site, but didn’t stop.

  A first.

  There was nothing there for her anymore.

  An hour later, she neared the little church in Pungo—her first stop. It had been too long since she’d been there. And until now, just too painful to return. Nick had gone to the church when he was a boy. She, Nick and Jake had attended there as a family—a Sunday ritual that ended with a late breakfast at the Farmer’s Diner of pancakes and fresh eggs from the chickens the owner raised on his farm.

  The last time Kasey had been here was the day Nick had been laid to rest.

  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 God, 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 heartbreaking be part of a grander plan—God’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 fishing 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 space 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 glass window, shimmering 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 passed, 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 grass. “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 God 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 workspace, 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. “Damn 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 password 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 button 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 buttons on the phone to listen to the next message.

  “What?” Jeremy asked. “Damn!” 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 stitch.” 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!”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Libby Braddock sat alone in a small, windowless interrogation room while Scott filed the response to the APB and updated the system with her arrest. He called Von to apprise him of the situation.

  “Yes!” Von shouted triumphantly. “Not a step ahead of us this time, was she? I’m almost there.”

  “I’m going in to question her now. I’ll see you shortly.”

  Scott left his office and stopped in the small room adjacent to the interrogation room. From here, he could see her through the one-way glass. Middle-aged, the woman was colorless. No makeup, except for the dark pencil on her eyebrows. Nothing special about her—average height, weight, and build. No light dancing in her eyes, clothes in shades of gray. Not the image of someone you’d picture loving a child. She looked broken, tired, but then maybe a four-year-old could do that to a woman her age.

  He crossed his arms and shifted his weight. She didn’t show any emotion at all. No nerves, no remorse, nothing written on her face. Usually he could tell by a suspect’s body language how the interrogation would go, but she didn’t give him any clues. He checked his watch.

  Scott opened a drawer and took out a small digital recorder. He carried it into the room where Libby Braddock sat, looking straight ahead with her hands folded in her lap.

  The fluorescent lights made the greenish-colored cement walls look like washed-out khaki, about the same color as Libby Braddock’s face. Scott closed the door behind him and set the recorder on the table between himself and the woman.

  She raised her eyes to meet his.

  “Ms. Braddock.” His voice was deep, authoritative. “You know why you’re here?”

  She raised a heavily-penciled brow, but that was the only sign that she’d heard him.

  “You’ve been read your rights?” he asked. He knew the answer, but it was always a good spot to start for the tape. “What would you like to tell me?” He steepled his fingers, then tapped his thumbs together.

  “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  He lifted his chin. “We responded to an all points bulletin on you. Your name, your car. You fit the description.”