Out of Focus

by Nancy Naigle

  That sounds perfect

  The project would keep her name out there while she took some time to sort out her life, too. Downtime was the kiss of death for a freelancer.

  Am I really considering this?

  She went inside and picked up the phone. Then she put it back down and picked it up four times before dialing Cody Tuggle’s number.

  The phone rang on the other end. She tensed, almost chickening out, but he answered on the first ring.

  “Yeah-lo.” His deep voice vibrated.

  “Hi,” she said, her mouth dry. “Hi, Cody. It’s Kasey.”

  “Kasey? Hey, how are you?” He sounded surprised.

  “Makin’ it.” She drew in a deep breath. “Thanks for coming to...well, it meant a lot to me. Thank you.”

  “Just wanted you to know how sorry I was for your loss. Figured flowers would just get lost in the shuffle and, hell, you probably wouldn’t have known who they were from anyway.”

  “Right. There are so many Tuggles in the world.”

  “I’m glad you called.”

  “Did I catch you at a good time?”

  “Yeah, sure. I was just getting ready to head over to the studio. We’re cutting one last song before we head for the Midwest leg of the tour.”

  “How’s the tour going?”

  “We sold out in every city so far.”

  “No surprise.”

  “Hey, you never know.”

  “That’s why I was calling.” Don’t lose your nerve. “I was wondering. I mean, well, don’t feel like you have to say yes.” Just say it. “Does the offer to shoot your tour still stand?”

  “You kidding?” his voice raised a pitch.

  “I don’t think so.” She looked around the room for an answer. Was she doing the right thing? She didn’t have any better options.

  “Yeah. Absolutely. We’d love to have you.”

  “It would be good to be busy. I promise my emotions won’t interfere with the quality of my work.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. If you get here and find you’re not up to it, you can leave whenever you need to.”

  “Thanks, Cody.”

  “Thank you. It will be great to get Arty off my back, too.”

  “Yeah, he seemed pretty adamant about the project.”

  “He can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but he’s a good guy. He was my biggest supporter when no one was interested. I owe him.”

  “Then I guess it’ll work out for everyone.”

  “Let me get someone to overnight the full schedule and some materials to get you started. Do you want to fly with me on the jet or tour on the bus?”

  “I thought I’d take the RV and follow you all.”

  “Naw. That won’t work. You’d be mobbed. After the first show, I guarantee everyone will know you are on this gig.”

  “Can I think about it and let you know?”

  “Sure. You’re welcome either way. In fact, you can switch it up from town to town if you like. I could use some good company on the jet, though. Someone recently said I’m antsy and a chatterbox.”

  “You don’t say.” She snickered, shaking her head. The smile felt foreign on her face. This is the right thing to do.

  “It’s true. So I could use an ear,” he teased.

  “So happens I’ve got two not being used much these days.” That dark hole expanded in her chest again.

  “Welcome aboard.”

  * * * *

  On Monday morning, a Federal Express package arrived from Cody Tuggle’s road manager. Kasey glanced at the list of cities, but she wasn’t choosy. She needed an escape and location didn’t matter. By the end of the following week, she’d be packed and headed for a tour with one of the hottest singers in the country.

  When Von and Riley stopped by that afternoon, she told them about her decision.

  “Am I a bad mother?” she asked Riley, hoping for reassurance. “I just can’t sit here waiting and waiting with no way to help. It’s killing me. If I’m working, maybe...”

  “Hon, I don’t know how you’ve done it this long. You’re a wonderful mother. If Jake is out there, we’ll find him. Don’t you worry about that. The best thing you can do is go on that tour. Work will be good for you. Keep your mind busy and yourself healthy.”

  “I’ll check in,” Kasey said. “And you’ll contact me with even the tiniest details, right?” She looked from Von to Riley.

  Von nodded. “We promise, and I’ll take care of hiring a farm manager while you’re gone.”

  One less thing to worry about.

  Von gave Riley the look, and Riley picked up her purse. “You know what time it is, don’t ya?”

  Kasey laughed. “Time for Cops?”

  Riley nodded. “You know he hates to miss it.”

  “Hey, it’s one show,” Von said, looking insulted.

  “See ya,” Kasey waved and watched them leave, thankful that Von would take care of hiring the farm manager. She braced herself for the arguments that were sure to come when she shared her news with Grem. Calling would be the easy way out, but she owed her grandmother the news in person, no matter how cranky and irrational the old woman was sometimes.

  Kasey gave herself a little pep talk, then headed to the estate before she could change her mind.

  * * * *

  Jeremy opened the front door just as Kasey took the last step up to the porch. “This is a pleasant surprise. I was going to stop by tomorrow.”

  “Thanks. I wanted to talk to Grem.” She reached up and gave him a hug. “What kind of mood is she in today?”

  “Bitching about her arthritis. Didn’t like the brand of apple butter I picked out this time. Normal.” He nodded toward the sun room. “She’s in there.”

  “Great. Thanks.”

  “Can I get you some tea? Juice? Crappy apple butter toast?”

  “Tea sounds good.” Kasey watched Grem from the doorway of the sun room. She looked tiny and frail sitting in her Queen Anne chair overlooking the gardens. But she never seemed either once she started talking.

  Grem turned. “I thought I heard voices. This is unexpected, dear.”

  Kasey crossed the room and sank into the chair opposite her. “How’ve you been doing?”

  “I’m old. Don’t ask. How are you?”

  “Same. Not the old part, but the ‘don’t ask’ part.”

  They laughed.

  “I wanted to stop by and let you know I’ll be out of town for a while.”

  Jeremy walked in with a mug of tea and a small plate of toast.

  She took both, and they exchanged a look after she noticed the apple butter.

  “Thanks. This looks good.” She bit into a triangle of toast and moaned. “Delicious.”

  Grem rolled her eyes.

  “Did you just say you were going away?” He set a pot of tea on the table between Kasey and Grem. “I overheard. Where are you headed?”

  Kasey sipped her tea. “I have a photo shoot.”

  “Where?” Grem asked.

  “I’m shooting Cody Tuggle’s tour. He’s a country singer. I’ll be heading to Nashville, then up and down the coast.”

  “Now that’s my girl. That sounds like a big deal.” Grem looked pleased.

  “It is.” Kasey nodded. “Von and Riley will be my eyes and ears here while I’m away, in case anything comes up about Jake.”

  Grem placed her hand on Kasey’s arm. “I think it’s the right thing to do. Your career is important. Keep me posted, won’t you?”

  “I will.” Kasey sighed in relief. She’d expected a lot of drama, but her grandmother had taken the news quite well.

  A non-event. Thank goodness for that.

  All she had left to do now was to pack.

  “When will you leave?” Grem asked.

  “Friday,” Kasey said.

  Jeremy straightened. “So soon? How long will you be gone?”

  Kasey shrugged. “I’m just going to see how it plays out. I wanted to let y’all know, but lik
e you said, it’s soon.” She got up and stepped over to Grem’s chair. “I need to run some errands and start packing.”

  “I’m sure you’ll do an amazing job,” Grem said. She hugged Kasey. “I’m so proud of you.”

  “Thanks. Love you,” Kasey said over her shoulder as she walked toward the door.

  Jeremy stepped between her and the front door.

  “Wednesdays won’t be the same,” he said.

  “From what I hear about these music tours, I may not even know which day is Wednesday.” She laughed.

  He didn’t.

  She cocked her head. “What’s the matter?”

  “I just hate the thought of you being gone. I mean, Jake—and now you.”

  “And Nick,” Kasey said. “Nick’s gone. We don’t have any leads on Jake. I can’t take it anymore. The waiting. The sitting here doing nothing. It’s killing me. We’ve talked about this. You know how it’s tearing me apart.” She bowed her head, her jaw tightening. “You’re the last one I expected to get any heat from.”

  He hugged her. “Sorry. I’m overreacting. Jake will show up. I feel it, too. I’d just hate for you to be gone when he does.”

  Kasey hitched her purse onto her shoulder. “Me, too, but it’s not like I’ll be in the jungle. I can be on the first plane back. I’m praying for answers.”

  “Me, too,” Jeremy said. “Let me know what you need from me. You know you can count on me, right?”

  “Of course.”

  * * * *

  On Wednesday morning, just after nine, there was a loud knock at the front door. Kasey ran down the stairs, swung around the newel post and answered it. A courier handed her a package. “Need your signature, ma’am.”

  More tour stuff.

  She took the pen from the young man’s hand and scribbled her signature next to the X, then took the package. She kicked the door closed and opened the stiff envelope. Over the last two days she’d felt an excitement that she thought she’d never feel again. She’d had fun reading all the details of the promo for each city on the tour, knowing she’d be a part of the action.

  Kasey pulled the contents from the envelope, excited to see what they’d sent her now. Her hands recoiled as if she’d touched a hot stove. Paper fluttered like angel wings to the floor.

  Her hands trembled.

  She fell to her knees and swept the sheets into a pile. Two flimsy slips of cardboard, three blank sheets of paper and two pictures—printed on an inkjet by the looks of their quality.

  Her breathing became rapid and shallow.

  She grabbed the two pictures from among the cardboard and paper, then ran to the phone and speed-dialed Riley.

  “Good morning.” Riley answered on the first ring.

  “You’re home. I need you.” Kasey’s words ran together.

  “Slow down. What’s the matter?”

  “Get over here, now. Bring Von,” Kasey said, still staring at the pictures.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I don’t know. I’m not sure what to think. Please hurry.” Kasey hung up the phone, and stared at the pictures in front of her.

  Chapter Ten

  Kasey was sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor, a picture in each hand, when Von and Riley let themselves in through the back door.

  Riley raced to Kasey’s side. “What’s wrong?” Riley slid to the floor next to her and took one of the pictures from Kasey’s shaking hands. “Is this why you called?”

  Kasey nodded.

  Riley studied the picture, passed it to Von, then looked over Kasey’s shoulder at the other.

  “Why would someone send me these?” Kasey whispered.

  “Are these pictures that you took?” Von asked.

  She shook her head.

  “Careful handling them then.” Von leaned in for a closer look.

  One picture had been taken from a distance. Nick’s silver truck lay cocked to one side in the middle of the river. Steam rose from the hot engine. The other picture was more of a close-up, but the quality was so poor that, had Kasey not seen the first photo, she wouldn’t have known that the picture was of Nick’s truck.

  “Why?” Kasey repeated. “I don’t understand why someone would send these.”

  “I have no idea,” Riley said. “A cruel joke?” Riley studied the picture more closely, then handed it to Von.

  He took the pictures to the kitchen counter where the light was better.

  Riley helped Kasey to a chair at the table.

  “Where did you get these? E-mail?” Von held the flimsy paper to the light.

  “A courier. I assumed the envelope was from Cody Tuggle’s tour manager. I had to sign for them.”

  Von raised a brow, then tore a piece of paper off the grocery list hanging on the side of the refrigerator. “What time?”

  “Just a few minutes ago.”

  “Did you notice the color of the vehicle?”

  “White? No. I don’t know. Maybe a light color. A car.” Kasey rubbed her temples. “I didn’t pay attention. I’m sorry.”

  “Was there a note, or just the pictures?”

  “There were a few pieces of blank paper and some cardboard.”

  “Where are they?”

  “In the living room. On the floor.”

  Von gathered the evidence, then dialed the lead detective on the case to bring him up to date. Kasey and Riley sat silent at the table.

  A quick rap at the front door shifted their attention.

  “Hello,” a man called.

  “Who is that?” Riley asked.

  “I’m in the kitchen,” Kasey called out, then turned back to Riley. “It’s Jeremy. He comes by after he drops off Grem at the salon.”

  Jeremy stepped into the kitchen. “I saw Von’s car out front. Anything new?”

  Von hung up the phone and joined them at the table. “Someone sent these to Kasey.” He slid the pictures in front of Jeremy.

  Jeremy reached for them.

  “Don’t touch them,” Von said too late. Jeremy already had them in his hands.

  “Wow.” Jeremy leaned in closer. “Is that—? That’s Jake in the truck, isn’t it?”

  “What?” Kasey’s eyes went wide. She jumped to her feet and looked over his arm at the picture. “I didn’t see any...give me that.” Kasey grabbed the picture from his hands. Riley rushed to her side.

  “I don’t see anything.” Riley glared at Jeremy.

  He shrugged.

  Kasey ran her finger across a shadow. “No. He might be right. Look. Is that the outline of my baby in the backseat?” She handed the picture to Riley. “Excuse me.” She ran to the bathroom, crying.

  Riley slapped Jeremy’s arm. “Why the hell did you do that?”

  “What?” He rubbed his arm. “You don’t see it? This could prove he’s alive. Someone had to be there to take these pictures.”

  “It doesn’t prove anything. It’s just plain mean,” Riley said.

  Von stepped over, his voice low. “Don’t give her hope, man. She’s just started acting like herself again.”

  “Do what you want. She’s like family to me and if I see hope, I’m giving it to her.” Jeremy plopped down in one of the kitchen chairs.

  “And we’re not?” Riley’s jaw tensed. “She’s my best friend. Don’t make this worse for her.”

  Kasey came back into the kitchen with a handful of tissues, her eyes red and puffy. “What the hell do I do now?”

  Riley wrapped her arms around Kasey.

  “How can I leave now? This just makes it worse.”

  “Kasey, don’t do this to yourself. Von will follow every lead. You know that. We’ll update you every day. I promise. But, honey, you really need to work. You need to get your feet moving again. It’s not going to get any easier.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You can’t do anything to help the investigation. You’ll just be waiting again.”

  Kasey looked to Jeremy. “You haven’t said anything. What do you think?�
�

  He stood. “You need to do what you think is right. You know I’ll support you no matter what. Doesn’t look like you need my help anyway.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ve got to pick up your grandmother.”

  “I understand. Thank you for coming by.” Kasey gave Jeremy a hug, then walked him to the door. She glanced over her shoulder then grabbed Jeremy’s arm.

  “Wait,” she whispered. She tugged him out the front door and out of view.

  He followed her lead, with a look of bewilderment on his face.

  “You can help.” Kasey closed her eyes, gathering strength.

  He took her hands into his own. “Anything. What?”

  “If I knew he was safe or not—just one way or another—I could at least live my life. It’s the uncertainty of it all that I can’t stand.” She steepled her fingers under her chin. “If you’ll come with me. I mean, oh gosh, I can’t believe I’m doing this. Call that tea leaf lady. You’ll come with me, right?”

  “Of course. Yes. I’ll take you, be there every step of the way.” He held her hands in his. “Thanks for letting me help.”

  “I hope I don’t regret this.”

  “You won’t,” he said. “I’ll call you later tonight, as soon as I have the details.”

  Kasey watched him drive off in Grandma Emily’s Mercedes.

  Riley stepped up behind her. “What was that all about?”

  “Nothing.” Kasey reached for Riley’s hand and squeezed it. “I think I should call Cody and let him know I’m considering not coming on Friday.”

  In just a few hours, the Rolly farmhouse buzzed with renewed energy as the detective and Von pieced together the information and the source of the pictures. Von had already tracked down the courier. But the point of origination on their docket was a different courier located outside of Richmond.

  As the debriefing wound down, the detective gathered the courier packet and contents. He promised to have the lab expedite the test for trace evidence.

  “This could prove Jake’s alive? It’s proof, right?” Kasey prayed he’d tell her what she wanted to hear. She raised her eyes to meet his level stare. “I mean, there’s a chance —”