Out of Focus Page 2
“Oh!” Kasey halted, nose to nose with a stranger in her doorway. “Excuse me.” She took a step back.
A man in a suit stared at her with his hand still in the air, mid-knock. “Mrs. Rolly?”
“Kasey Phillips, but yes, I’m Mrs. Rolly.” She looked over the man’s shoulder. Only a blue sedan. No sign of Nick’s truck. “I was expecting.... Never mind. Can I help you?”
Dutch pushed his nose between the door and the jamb, imposing himself between the stranger and Kasey.
“I’m Officer Thomas with the Virginia Beach Police Department.” The man handed her his business card, then flashed a police badge. “May I come in?”
“It’s okay, boy. Dutch, go lie down.” Kasey read the card. “Of course. What can I do for you?” She glanced at the card again. “Officer Thomas.” She motioned him into the living room.
He stepped inside, but remained standing.
Kasey gripped the arm of the chair and lowered herself into it. “Is something wrong?”
“Are you the wife of Nicholas Rolly?”
Anxiety bit at Kasey’s nerves. She couldn’t even nod. “Yes,” she answered, but it sounded more like a question.
“I’m sorry, ma’am.” He paused, his eyes avoiding hers. “There’s been an accident.”
“An accident?” She leaned forward. Icy fear prickled her skin. This only happens in the movies.
“Yes ma’am.” Officer Thomas shifted his weight from one leg to the other. “At about 11:15 this morning we received an accident report of a truck going off the road into the river, and a separate report of gunshots on Route 58. We aren’t certain if the two are connected.”
The words replayed in her mind. Slowly, like translating a foreign language, then a wave of concern consumed her.
“I’m sorry to deliver this news.”
Kasey grabbed the arm of the chair. The room swirled around her. “He’s going to be okay, right?”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Rolly. Your husband didn’t survive the crash.”
“No. It can’t...Nick?” Her heart pounded too fast, and her brain buffered everything around her.
“His body is at Southeastern Virginia Medical Center. Investigations are still underway to determine the cause of the accident.”
She swallowed with difficulty, then found her voice. “What about Jake?”
His brows flickered a little. He looked uncertain as he tapped the keys on an electronic device for information. “There were no other passengers —”
From that point, the officer’s lips moved, but his words didn’t register. “No. My Nick wasn’t alone. You’ve made a mistake.” She raised her hand to quiet him. “Where’s my son? This doesn’t make sense. Where did you say they were?”
“Traveling east on Route 58, not far from I-95 and Emporia. The vehicle, the registration and ID all match.”
She rubbed her palms against her jeans and let out a long breath.
“My husband was on the Eastern Shore this morning, and he had Jake with him. It can’t be him.” She twisted her wedding rings, letting them glide up and down her finger. “Thank God,” she whispered into folded hands.
His tone was apologetic. “We’re careful with this information.”
“No.” She hugged her arms to her. “It can’t be. Not on Route 58. That’s too far out of the way.” She pushed her shaking hands into her lap and took a deep breath. “I’m telling you there’s been a mistake. Nick’s an excellent driver. He’s very careful. And he’d never leave without Jake. They’re fine.” Kasey moved to the edge of the seat. “I just spoke to him this morning.”
“When did you expect him back?”
Stress lined the man’s face. She forced herself to look away.
“We just talked at nine this morning. I was on a photo shoot.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “I expected they’d be here when I got home.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll connect you with the officer in charge of the case for details. Meanwhile, I can offer you a ride to identify the body.”
She recoiled. “Identify? No, I’m not going anywhere with you.”
He paused. “Is there someone I can call for you?”
She glared at the officer. “Nick. You can call Nick, because this is a mistake. He’s fine. Do you hear me?” Kasey snapped her head up, meeting the officer eye to eye. She gathered her composure and stood. “I don’t need comforting. They are just fine.” She went to the front window and pushed the curtains to the side. The country lane was empty. “Officer Thomas, I think you should leave.”
“Ma’am?” He called after her as she stepped from the front window toward the hall.
She spun around. “I know you’re doing your job, but this time you’re wrong. Nick wouldn’t have been on Route 58, and he wouldn’t have been alone. I’m telling you there is a mistake. Why aren’t you listening to me?” Kasey grabbed her cell phone from her handbag, punched speed dial to Nick’s cell and waited for him to answer. “I’m calling him.” She redirected her stare at the officer as the first ring sounded on the other end.
Officer Thomas held her gaze.
The phone rang a third time—no answer.
The room shrank around her. A loud hum filtered the sound from the phone. Her heart beat so hard it constricted her breathing. Nick always answered his cell phone. Even when he was on the tractor he put it on vibrate. There had never been a time she’d dialed his number since the day they’d met that he hadn’t answered.
Pick up.
Ring.
Please, answer.
“Voice mail.” She mouthed the words, and her jaw went slack.
Officer Thomas must have predicted the next move because he was already at her side, to steady her, as her knees gave way. He reached for the phone as she shouted into it.
“Nick. Nick, it’s me. Where are you, honey? Why aren’t you answering? Please?” She knelt or fell. She wasn’t sure which. “Oh. God. No.”
Officer Thomas caught the phone mid-air as it fell from her hand.
“Who can I contact? A family member? A friend?” He released her as she settled back into the chair. He closed the phone and placed it on the table. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Rolly.”
“How can this be happening? Where’s Jake?” Kasey pulled her hands to her chest. She opened and closed her fists, as if to pump her lungs to make herself breathe. “Why is this happening to me?” She glanced at the clock on the wall. It showed 4:11, like 4-1-1 for information. This was information she wished she wasn’t getting. She slumped forward as reality struck, clutching her heart, tears streaming down her cheek.
The buzz of the oven timer broke the silence in the room.
The cookies.
Thankful for a reason to flee the room, Kasey shot straight up in her chair, then to her feet to escape this man and his message.
She punched the buzzer on the oven to silence it. The smell of the warm chocolate chip cookies only made her cry more as she slid the metal baking sheet on top of the stove. She leaned forward on the kitchen counter, breathing in the smell of better memories, hoping to push the terror out of her mind. If she had come home yesterday as originally planned, would this be happening right now?
Kasey edged toward the doorway to the living room praying it would be empty, and that she’d imagined all of it. If Nick and Jake were gone, she prayed God would take her, too. She pulled her shirt tight across the front of her, suddenly chilled despite the hot August temperatures.
“Mrs. Rolly, who do you want me to contact?” Officer Thomas opened her cell phone and clicked through the directory. “You have numbers for Grandma Emily, Riley Randals, Dean Zander....”
He didn’t mention Nick, though she knew there were entries for him at home, at the barn and for his cell. Her chest burned. A moan escaped as she choked while trying to gulp air. Tears streamed along her cheeks and settled in her fists. Kasey opened her hands and rubbed her fingers across her eyes.
“Riley.” Her voice strained. “Call Riley.”
“She’s on her way, Mrs. Rolly. I’ll stay with you until she arrives.”
“Thank you. She’s just up the street.” Why was she being polite? Thank you? She wasn’t thankful for him at all. This man had just unraveled her world. She lowered her head to avoid looking at him. She couldn’t bear it. “Jake. Where are you, baby?”
The front door burst open without a knock. Kasey jumped to her feet, wishing for Nick to saunter through the front door with Jake on his hip to set everything right again. The spark of hope vanished.
“Kasey?” Riley raced to Kasey’s side and held her. “I’m here. What happened?”
Kasey’s voice trembled. “I don’t know. I can’t really.... He was shot in a car crash?” She ran her hand across her nose and tear-stained cheeks. “I don’t know. It’s some kind of mistake. You’ve got to help me.” She turned into Riley’s arms.
“Shot in a car crash? Which was it? He was shot, or in a car crash?” Riley asked Kasey, and looked to the officer for help.
“I…I don’t....” She slumped forward, releasing control into Riley’s capable hands.
Riley wrapped her arms around Kasey, and then directed her gaze to the officer. “Thank you for calling me. What exactly happened?”
“When police arrived on the scene, Mr. Rolly’s vehicle was in the river. Witnesses heard a loud series of shots just before the vehicle swerved off the road, making impact with several trees. The truck flipped, then careened into the river below. It was clear the driver....” Officer Thomas took a deep breath. “He didn’t survive. Investigations are under way to determine the chain of events.”
“Shots fired?” Riley pressed her hand over her heart. “And Jake? What about Jake?”
“No one else was in the truck, ma’am.”
Kasey’s tears flowed, but her voice was strong and steady. “We have to find him.” She grabbed for Riley’s arm, her eyes pleading for one shred of hope.
“Jake’s her son. He’s three.” Riley pointed to the picture on the table of Nick and Jake.
“There was no sign of a car seat to suggest a child was in the vehicle at the time of impact. Could he be at a sitter’s, or with a family member?”
“Oh, my God, my baby. Where is he?” Kasey cried into her fists. “This can’t be happening.”
“We’ll find him.” Riley turned to face the officer. “Nick never leaves Jake behind.”
“I’ll call it in to the investigating team right now.” He turned his back and made a call.
The room fell silent except for the sound of the policeman talking to the investigating unit.
The loss hung heavy.
Officer Thomas approached them. “They have the information. They’re stepping up a search for your son.”
“My husband is an investigator,” Riley explained. “You might know him. Perry Von? Who can he call to get all the details?”
The officer took a business card from his chest pocket and scribbled some information on the back. “I’ll be happy to assist in any way. We’re going to need someone to identify the body.” He extended the card to Riley. “This is the name of the lead officer. I’m really sorry for your loss.”
“Me too.” Riley’s voice quivered. “Me too.” She licked her dry lips. “My husband will identify the body for her.” Riley turned to the officer. “I heard something on the news about some shots on that stretch of road a few weeks back.”
He nodded and said, “An older couple from here in Virginia Beach. They were shaken up, but no injuries.”
“That’s the one. Was this in that same area? Do you think there’s a connection?” asked Riley.
“It’s early in the investigation. I’d hate to speculate.”
“I understand. I guess living with an investigator rubs off on you.” Riley flipped the card in her hands.
She showed the officer to the door.
Kasey rocked, hands to chest, eyes closed—praying.
Her words came out just above a whisper. “Please, please, Lord, don’t do this. I need Nick.” Her breath caught, choked by the tears. “Where’s my Jake?” She swept the tears away with trembling fingers.
Riley knelt beside her. “I’m calling your grandmother. I bet Nick left Jake with her.” She stroked Kasey’s back. “Breathe, honey. I’m right here,” she said as she dialed. On the fifth ring, the old woman picked up the phone. “Hi, Grandma Emily. It’s me, Riley. I expected Jeremy to answer.”
“He’s got the day off. Again,” Grandma Emily complained. “Good to hear from you. When are you coming to visit? It’s been too long, dear.”
“I know. I need to get over there. It’s overdue, I know. By the way, is Jake spending the day with you? I have something for him.”
“No? Why would you think that?”
“Oh, you know me. I must’ve gotten the dates confused. Sorry to bother you,” Riley said as she disconnected the call and rushed back to Kasey’s side. “Where else could Jake be? He’s not with your grandmother. I didn’t tell her about Nick. I figured that could wait.”
Kasey shook her head and stared off. “I don’t know. Nick never leaves Jake behind. You know that.”
“I know, but he has to be somewhere.”
“Jake was with Nick when I talked to them at nine. Nick would never lie to me. He wouldn’t. There is no other explanation.”
“But there was no car seat.” Riley moved in closer to Kasey. “You know how cautious Nick is. He’d never have Jake in the truck without the car seat.”
“Maybe it came loose. I don’t know, but what I do know is that Jake needs me. I can’t explain it, but I can feel it. We’ve got to get out there.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea? Detectives are working the scene. I’ll have Von get in the loop and make sure they’re doing everything possible to find Jake in case he’s out there.”
Kasey drew on inner strength. “I need to be there. I have an eye for detail. I might see something they didn’t. I have to find Jake.” She ran her sleeve across her face to dry her eyes, then grabbed the keys out of her purse.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m not going to just sit here.” Kasey stood, her chin held high. “I’m going to find my son.”
Riley got her phone out of her purse. “You’re in no shape to drive. Neither am I. I’m calling Von. He’ll take us.”
* * * *
Perry Von jumped in his truck and headed to Nick and Kasey’s house, less than a mile away. Riley had given him the information she had, and he’d called the lead officer on the case as he drove. They didn’t have much more to share at this point.
The news echoed in his thoughts. He and Nick had been childhood friends. Losing him was like losing a brother, and it tore at his gut. He knew what Kasey was getting ready to face. Deidre’s murder was ten years in the past, and his life had moved on, but the blow of that loss still held power. His focus needed to be on Kasey.
Before he could remove the key from the ignition, Riley and Kasey took the porch steps two at a time toward him. Riley jumped in the front seat and leaned in to give him a kiss as Kasey climbed into the back.
“Kasey. I can’t believe it. I’m so sorry.” He reached over the seat and gave her hand a squeeze.
“Me, either.” Kasey slapped the back of his seat. “Don’t worry about me. Just drive. Quick. Jake needs us. This can’t be happening.” She secured her seatbelt. “Hurry!”
Chapter Three
They rode in silence to the scene of the accident nearly eighty miles away. With just ten miles to go, traffic came to a complete stop on Route 58.
Kasey clutched the seatbelt in anticipation. “Can we walk?”
“I’ll get off here and take the side road,” Von said as he whipped the SUV onto the grass to get to the next exit. He sped down the single lane road and then go
t back on the interstate closer to their destination, then drove on the shoulder the rest of the way to the scene. He parked his red Yukon behind the row of police and rescue vehicles.
Blue lights bounced across the lanes, bright against the dimming day. Flares kept the small trickle of traffic from the local roads off to the far lane. Officers waved on the rubberneckers in an attempt to keep the traffic moving past the yellow tape that marked off the section of road before the overpass that spanned the Nottoway River.
Kasey jumped from the backseat and ran for the railing with her camera in hand. A police officer caught her by the arm. Her body swung past him, then recoiled like a bungee. She tugged hard, trying to free herself from his grip. Von ran up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her to calm her.
Von said to the officer, “She’s the victim’s wife.”
The officer took a step back. “I’m sorry. I can’t let you get any closer than this for now. You’ll have to stay behind the marked area, and I’ll need some identification.” He waved to another officer, who hustled over to his side carrying a clipboard.
Von gave the man their identification.
Kasey stepped toward the whipping tape. She clutched her hands near her heart and peered over the guardrail. The water rushed and sloshed against the truck in the middle of the rocky bed.
Her heart seized when she caught sight of the one-of-a-kind farm sticker on the back window. It was definitely Nick’s truck.
She lifted her camera and clicked off several pictures. Through the camera’s lens, she’d see things later that she couldn’t absorb now. She snapped another picture then let the camera swing from the strap around her neck. Is this camera all I have left? Nick, Jake, what more could I lose? This can’t be happening. It wouldn’t be fair.
Von reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze.
She noticed something dipping in and out of the water near the truck. She lifted her camera to snap a picture, then turned back into Von’s arms, pointing to Nick’s ball cap bobbing in the water.