Not by Sight (16 page)

Virgil sat at the desk in his office and glanced out the window, watching a pair of mourning doves in one of three red maples that graced the grounds in front of the Raleigh County Courthouse. The sun had moved to the western sky, hidden behind a billowy, gold-rimmed thunderhead. One of his deputies strolled across the grounds, hand in hand with his fiancée. Made Virgil wish he was home with Jill Beth instead of getting ready to drive up the mountain to deliver the dental forensics findings to Kate Cummings.

He heard a knock on the door and turned in time to see Chief Deputy Kevin Mann walk in.

“I suppose you saw the DF findings on the skull we found?” Virgil said.

Kevin nodded. “Just did. Can’t believe it’s back already. Not sure whether it would’ve been any easier if it’d gone the other way.”

“Me neither. It is what it is. I’m about to head up yonder and tell Kate in person. I owe her that. Then I’ll call it a day.”

“All right,” Kevin said. “I’m fixin’ to run out to the mass grave on my way home and see how the investigation’s coming. I won’t be hanging around long. Jenny’s panfrying some of my white river trout for dinner. Been thinking about it all afternoon.”

Virgil chuckled. “I know the feeling. Jill Beth’s got a spicy meatloaf in the oven. I’ve had a hankering for it ever since she told me. See you tomorrow.”

Kevin left the office.

Virgil stood and picked up the DF report, then set it down. Would it soften the blow if Kate read the report for herself? He decided it wouldn’t.

He turned out the light and walked down the long, shiny hallway and out the side door. He crossed the street to the parking lot, glad that he had long ago opted to wear the navy department uniform every day instead of a suit and tie. Some of the other county sheriffs thought it would diminish the office if they dressed like the deputies, but he hadn’t found that to be the case at all. And opting for a short-sleeved uniform shirt in this hot weather made sense.

He slid in behind the wheel of his squad car, started the engine, and pulled onto Commerce, then turned right on Main Street, glancing up at the white clock on the red-brick courthouse: 5:45. Kate had probably quit working by now. He didn’t know whether this was the news she was hoping for, but it was what he’d been given. He just wanted it over with.

Kate heard the doorbell ring. “I’ll get it!”

She wiped her hands on a kitchen towel and walked out to the living room and opened the door, surprised to see the sheriff standing there holding his Stetson, looking even taller than his six feet three inches.

“Virgil,” she said, feeling the muscles in her gut tighten. “Come in.”

Virgil stepped inside and glanced over at Halo curled up on the hearth of the giant stone fireplace that took up one entire wall.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Kate said.

“Wouldn’t mind some water.”

“I’ve got spring water. Come out to the kitchen. We can talk there.”

Kate led the way into the kitchen. She opened the fridge, filled a glass with spring water Hawk had brought home from Rocky Springs Park, and handed it to Virgil. “No ice. Right?”

“Right.” He took a big gulp. “This is great. Thanks.”

“Do I need to call the family together for this?” Kate said.

“Not really. Mind if I sit?”

“Of course not.”

Kate followed Virgil to the table and sat facing him, her fingers laced together, her heart racing in anticipation.

Virgil cleared his throat. “We’ve already got the report back from dental forensics. Apparently their finding was obvious, almost from the get-go.” Virgil paused. “Kate … the skull wasn’t Micah’s.”

Kate clamped her eyes shut and brought her fist to her mouth. “Are they sure?”

“Absolutely sure. Didn’t come close to a match. No chance it could be wrong.”

She opened her eyes and looked over at Virgil. “What about DNA?”

“They’re still working on that. Lots of bones to test from both scenes. That’ll take a lot longer. We’re not done digging and may not know anything for months. But, based on Micah’s dental records, the skull we found at the first scene could not have been his.”

“So he could still be alive.” Kate wiped a tear off her cheek.

“There’s always that hope. But we have at least six adult skulls from the mass grave we need to compare his dental records with.”

Kate sat for a moment, realizing that, as relieved as she was, she was right back where she had been for the past five years. “I just want the truth, Virgil, whatever it is. My children need to move on. So do I.”

Virgil nodded. “The mass grave was a huge discovery. It may be the key to solving this thing. We just don’t know yet. And we might not know for a long time. We just have to keep going.”

“Going where? My entire life is on hold.” Kate felt her cheeks get hot. “Elliot Stafford has asked me out a few times—just as friends. I would actually enjoy that. But I don’t feel comfortable even entertaining the idea.”

“I know. No one would fault you for it, though.”

“But I would.” Kate dabbed her eyes. “I need closure first. In my heart of hearts, I doubt Micah and Riley Jo are alive. I’ve grieved losing them until it’s made me sick. I just want an end to the question mark—one way or the other.”

Abby was in a tug-of-war between sleep and wakefulness, aware of a throbbing pain in the back of her head. Where was she? She lay on her side and groped the area around her.
Dirt
.

She opened her eyes to a dimly lit pit. Fear seized her. She remembered being hit from behind and passing out. She reached to the back of her head and touched the aching spot.

“Ouch!”

Her hand was wet and sticky.
Blood!

Abby shivered so hard her teeth were chattering. She wished she had on her sweats instead of just jeans and a T-shirt. She sat up, her muscles sore, and hugged herself to keep warm.

Was this her captor’s idea of a meat locker? Was he going to butcher her and feed her to the pigs as he had threatened? She started to cry.
Lord, I’m scared. Help me.

Her eyes adjusted to what little light there was, and she saw a trapdoor overhead—with a small metal grate for a window. She stood on her tiptoes and pushed on it, but it was securely in place. She peeked through it and saw what appeared to be rustic metal shelves filled with canning jars. A single lightbulb burned overhead, but the wattage was so low she couldn’t tell anything else about the room.

She sat against one wall, hugging her knees, lamenting her decision to hide in the bed of Jay’s truck. He didn’t know she had come up here. And neither would anyone else.

Abby heard a door open above. Her heart nearly pounded out of her chest. She curled up in a fetal position and didn’t move. Or breathe.

“You awake down there, girlie?” said the man.

Abby didn’t answer, but she was trembling. Surely he noticed.

“Don’t matter. You ain’t gonna be around long. How’s it feel to lay your head on the ground where your daddy was? I put him down there after J.D. shot him—to preserve his body till I was ready to make good use of it.”

Abby’s tears fell onto the ground. Unless she made it out, her mother would never know what had happened to her either—or that Ella was Riley Jo.

The man laughed. “Soon as I find J.D., I’ll make you both disappear. Them pigs is gonna be mighty happy.”

“Wait!” Abby sat up and held her gaze on the silhouette of the bearded man, who knelt next to the grate. He appeared to be the same man she had seen at Murchison’s. “When Jay was twelve, he shot my father by accident. That’s when you found my sister and decided to raise her, right? You named her Ella. You and your wife also have twin boys—about three years old. One of them’s named Ronny.”

The man wore a stony expression and was quiet for a few moments. “You’re too smart for your own good. Shoulda left well enough alone.”

“Just tell me what happened,” Abby said. “You’re going to kill me anyway. Let me die knowing the truth.”

“Not unless you tell me where J.D. is.”

“I don’t know. Honest. I hid in the back of his truck. I knew he was coming up here. I tried to follow him but lost sight of him when you grabbed me. I’ve got no reason to lie about it.”

“Who else knows you were comin’ here?”

“No one.” The instant she said it, she wished she hadn’t. “Okay, that’s not true.
Lots
of people know where I am. My whole family does. And my friends. They’ll have the entire sheriff’s department coming up here any minute.”

The man grinned. “You’re a lousy liar. And J.D. won’t tell nobody as long as he believes he killed your daddy. That’ll give me time to round him up so I can git rid o’ the both o’ you.”

Abby stood just as the man started to walk away. “What do you mean as long as he
believes
he killed Daddy? Jay shot him by accident. He told me all about it.”

The man laughed and opened a door. “No one’s ever gonna know nothin’ about it once the two o’ you up and vanish—like your daddy and sis.”

Chapter 19

Kate called Abby’s cell phone as she’d been doing every five minutes for the past hour. It rang and rang. She hung up, torn between irritation and concern. Why would Abby turn off her phone? Why wouldn’t she call if she was going to be late for dinner?

Kate sent a text to Abby’s phone.
Call home NOW! I’m worried about you.

“Did you get through to her?” Dad said.

Kate jumped, her hand over her heart. “I didn’t hear you come in. No. Her phone just rings off the hook. I sent another text.”

“Maybe she’s out of cell range up there.”

Kate glanced at the clock. “She knows what time we have dinner. She’s never late.”

“Are you sure Savannah didn’t schedule her to work?”

“Positive.”

“Well”—Dad laid his hand on her back—“Abby’s on edge like the rest of us over the remains that were found. Maybe she’s not thinkin’ clearly. My granddaughter’s a very responsible young lady. I’m sure she’ll be home soon.”

“Dad, she knows not to worry me this way. I need to know where she is all the time. We look out for each other. All of us! That’s the commitment we made after—”

“I’m sure she’s fine, honey.”

Kate chewed her lip. “I don’t even know exactly where the slope is. Somewhere off Summit Road. If I knew where, I’d drive up there myself and look for her.”

Buck scratched his chin. “Did you try callin’ Jay?”

“I don’t have his cell number.”

“You know where he works. Doesn’t he go in at four and work till ten?”

Kate nodded. “That’s right, he does. Thanks, Dad.”

Kate flipped through the phone book until she found a listing for Tutty’s, then keyed in the numbers.

“Good evenin’, Tutty’s Barbecue. Randy speakin’.”

“Yes, this is Kate Cummings. May I please speak to Jay Rogers?”

“Ma’am, Jay’s not workin’ tonight. He called in sick.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize that. I thought my daughter, Abby, might be with him. Sorry to have bothered you.”

Kate disconnected the call. “Jay called in sick. So where’s Abby?”

“Maybe she went to his place to sit a spell,” Dad said. “To keep him company, since he’s feeling bad.”

“That’s a thought. Abby told me Jay and his mother live at the Sycamore Apartments. But I don’t know his mother’s name. She’s been remarried a few times, and her last name is different.”

“I know where those apartments are,” Dad said. “If it’d make you feel better, I could drive down there right now and look for the Odyssey—or Jay’s truck.”

Kate shook her head. “I don’t want to overreact and embarrass her. Let’s go ahead and eat dinner. If Abby’s not here when we finish, we’ll drive down to Foggy Ridge and check the apartment complex and see if my Odyssey is parked outside.”

“Don’t worry, honey,” her dad said. “I’m sure she’s fine.”

No, you’re not
, Kate thought.
You’re as uneasy as I am
.