Not by Sight (24 page)

“I’m scared,” Ella whimpered, tears trickling down her cheeks.

Otha’s face softened. She bent down and wiped Ella’s tears with the hem of her long dress. “Things ain’t always been easy, but I wantcha to know I care ’bout you. I wantcha to git better ’n you had here. What these folks say explains why your pa ain’t never had no use for you. But you got real kin that wants you. You’re gonna be okay. But you gotta go right now.”

Jay opened the door and stuck his head out. He looked both ways. “The coast is clear. Come on!”

Ella threw her arms around Otha and clung to her, Abby not missing the angst in either.

“Thank you,” Abby said. “This can’t be easy for you.”

“Just git Ella outta here and keep her safe. Go on now, child!”

Abby took Ella’s hand, pulled her gently away from Otha, and then prodded her up the wood steps to the outside door.

Jay immediately grabbed Abby’s other hand, and the three of them ran south past the stone well and into an orchard of pear trees. Now if they could just find that hole in the fence …

Chapter 27

Kate stood at the front door, the sound of a helicopter in the distance making her almost sick to her stomach with déjà vu. She wondered if she would have the strength to go on if Abby was found dead—or never found at all.

She spotted a familiar silver Lexus pulling up the driveway.
Not now! I’m trying to hold it together.
She was tempted to close the door and pretend she wasn’t home, but the driver had already spotted her and waved.

A few seconds later, Elliot Stafford got out of the car, dressed in navy shorts and a white golf shirt, and walked up on the porch.

“I hope I’m not intruding.” He met her gaze with eyes the color of bluish steel—a striking complement to his full head of salt-and-pepper hair. “I went over to the office to say hello and saw the closed sign on the door. Is anything wrong?”

Everything is wrong.
A glint of sunlight bounced off the tiny silver cross pinned to his collar. “It’s sweet of you to be concerned,” Kate said. “I closed the office so I could deal with a personal matter.”

Elliot’s dark eyebrows came together. “I was just surprised no one was over there covering for you. I know how crazy the office can get on Friday afternoons. Would you like me to sit in for you? I could take messages. I’d be glad to do it.”

Elliot’s sensitivity was always comforting, like a pair of warm hands massaging her shoulders. Much more of this and she was going to cry.

“Thanks. But it’ll be fine. Guests can use the answering machine.” Kate swallowed hard and avoided eye contact. “I’ll check it later. I’m sure there’s nothing that can’t wait until …” She choked on the words and couldn’t find her voice.

Elliot gently took her wrist. “Kate … what is it? What’s wrong? Let me help.”

“Abby’s missing!” Kate blurted out, then started to cry, trying in vain to stop the deluge.

In the next second, Elliot’s arms were around her, her face buried in his chest. “It’s all right,” he said in barely more than a whisper. “Let it out. You’ve needed to do this for a long, long time.”

Kate felt as if a fifty-foot wall of water had crushed over the side of her heart. It was all she could do to remain standing. She sobbed and sobbed until she finally felt the pressure subside, then wiggled out of Elliot’s arms, wishing she could hide.

“I’m sure that was more than you bargained for,” she said, reluctant to look at him.

“Kate, I’m your friend. I’m not here to weigh your baggage. I’d like to help you carry it. What’s the situation with Abby?”

“Promise you won’t tell me that God’s in control, because that means nothing to me right now.”

Elliot nodded. “Just talk to me.”

Kate held open the door and let him go inside. “Let’s sit in the kitchen. You want something to drink?”

“No. I’m fine.”

Kate pulled out a chair and sat at the kitchen table opposite Elliot.

“Tell me what’s going on,” he said.

“No one’s seen Abby since she got off work yesterday morning.”

Kate started to talk and rattled off everything that had happened, starting with Abby’s coming home with the cell phone picture of a girl she thought could be Riley Jo … and ending with Virgil’s calls to Kate that they had found Jay’s truck and then Abby’s iPhone.

“A deputy came and got Abby’s windbreaker so the bloodhounds can track her scent,” Kate said. “They’re using a chopper to search by air.”

“Sounds like the sheriff is doing everything right.” Elliot’s voice was calm and comforting. “I’m so sorry you have to go through this—especially when you’re already stressed, waiting for the results of the remains that were discovered. That’s a heavy load for any person to handle.”

“I don’t have much choice.”

“Does Virgil think Abby’s disappearance is related to her search for Ella?” Elliot said.

“He doesn’t know yet. But we have to consider it.”

Elliot mused for a moment. “Would you like me to take you to where they found Jay’s truck and Abby’s iPhone?”

Kate shook her head. “I don’t think I could bear seeing them carry a body bag out of the woods.”

“I understand if you don’t want to go up there. But don’t give up hope that Abby and Jay are all right. I think it would be a big mistake to assume the worst.”

Kate felt her neck muscles tighten. “It’s so much easier to start with the worst and work backward, than the other way around. I’ve learned it’s best to brace myself.” She held up her palm. “Please … don’t tell me I should pray and ask God to intervene.”

“Since when have I tried to impose my beliefs on you?” Elliot’s expression told Kate that he had already started praying.

It was a mystery to her why Elliot was so nice to her. He was the one friend who always seemed to show up at the right time with the right motive. He respected the uncertainty of her marital status and had never made a pass or acted inappropriately. He never even reacted defensively when it was obvious she wanted nothing to do with his Christian beliefs.

“Tell me what I can do to help.” Elliot seemed to look into her heart. “We’ve been friends a long time. You’ve never asked me to do anything for you.
Ask
. I want to help.”

“I wouldn’t know what to ask help with,” Kate said.

“You could start by letting me answer phones, take messages, or whatever else you need at the lodge office while you’re awaiting news from the sheriff. If I can run a lumber company, I can certainly handle taking messages for a few hours.” Elliot reached across the table and took her hands in his. “Don’t try to carry this burden by yourself. You’ll feel better if you know I’ve got you covered.”

Kate felt her cheeks get hot, guilty at how comforted she was by his touch. “What about your Friday-afternoon golf game?”

“I’ll cancel. The guys don’t need me there to play.”

Kate withdrew her hands and tented her fingers. “I’ve never understood why you’re so nice to me.”

“For one thing, I like you. You’re a remarkable person. But my offer to help is just seeing a need and wanting to pitch in.”

“Because you get points for taking care of the widows and orphans?” Kate said, instantly hating herself for her sarcasm.

Elliot’s face went blank, and he dropped his gaze. “Kate, I just want to help you. I don’t have any motive other than that.” He glanced at his watch, then pushed back his chair and stood. “I’m available to do whatever you need. If you don’t want my help, I probably should go. Tee time is in fifteen minutes.”

Could she have been any more insensitive if she’d tried? “Elliot, please … don’t go. I’m sorry for my flippant remark. I believe you’re sincere. And I could use your help.”

Abby, flanked by Ella and Jay, stopped at the edge of the pear orchard and looked out across a grassy meadow. On the other side, she spotted a wire fence.

“That has to be the fence Otha told us about,” Abby said. “How should we do this? We’re going to be out in the open and easy for Isaiah to spot once we leave this orchard.”

Jay nodded. “No kidding. We need to find that hole in the fence—and fast.”

Before Abby could respond, Ella took off running.

Jay grabbed Abby’s hand, and they raced across the meadow, full bore, not stopping until they reached the fence, wobbly kneed and completely out of breath.

Abby quickly scanned the fence line. “Oh, great. It’s barbed wire. I don’t see a hole.”

“Otha risked … her neck for us,” Jay said, still winded. “It’s gotta be here.”

“I found it! I found it!” Ella cried.

Abby turned to her left and saw Ella standing about twenty yards away. “Shhh …”—Abby put her index finger to her lips—“don’t holler. We don’t want Isaiah to hear us.”

Abby and Jay ran to where Ella was standing and examined the large hole in the bottom of the fence.

“We should be able to fit through there,” Jay said. “Abby, you go first and help Ella through from the other side. Be careful of the barbed wire. I’ll keep watch. Go!”

Abby got down on her belly and gingerly put her arms through the hole, and then her head. She pulled her body slowly with her elbows—inch by inch. She felt her shirt rip and the barbed wire dig into her back, but she pulled harder until she was out. She turned and reached for Ella’s hands and pulled her through unscathed.

“Come on,” Abby said to Jay. “Hurry!”

Abby heard a deep vibrating sound that seemed to shake the ground. She listened intently as it got louder.

Ella clung to Abby’s arm. “What’s that?”

“Don’t be afraid, sweetie. It’s a helicopter! Probably search and rescue. I’ll bet the sheriff’s looking for us.” Abby waved her free arm in the air, but the chopper never flew where she could see it—and quickly moved away.

“Don’t! I heard Pa tellin’ Otha the sheriff’s mean, and he’s fixin’ to make me go live with strangers.”

“That’s a lie,” Abby said. “The sheriff is a nice man who wants to help us. And you’ve got an entire family that wants you. You’re going to live with us.”

As the helicopter moved away, Abby heard the sound of rushing water. Her thirst was suddenly overpowering. “Hurry, Jay. I think there’s water nearby.” Abby nudged Ella. “See if you can find it.”

Abby guided Jay through the hole, which was just barely big enough to accommodate him. She saw blood on his temple and bicep where he got nicked by the barbed wire, but he seemed otherwise okay when he finally emerged free and clear.

“Where’s the water?” he said, brushing the dirt and dried grass off his clothes.

“Over here!” Ella cried.

Abby and Jay turned to her voice and jogged over to a creek bed. Water moved swiftly, rushing over the smooth rocks. Ella lay on her tummy, drinking from her hands.

Abby knelt next to Ella, plunging her cupped hands into the cool, clear water. She drank and drank and drank, wondering if she would ever get her fill. She couldn’t remember a time when water tasted so good—or when she thought she might die for the lack of it.

Finally she stopped drinking and splashed water on her face and arms, aware that Jay was doing the same thing. “I’ll never take water for granted again,” Abby said.

“Me neither!” Ella got up on her feet, the front of her clothes muddy and her tangled hair now wet on the ends. At least her face was clean.

“Man, that tasted good!” Jay said.

“We’ve got to keep moving.” Abby dried her hands with the bottom of her T-shirt. “Otha said that Isaiah wouldn’t waste any time coming after us with a shotgun.”

“He’ll do it too,” Ella said. “He’s ascared y’all are gonna tell on him.”

“He should be.” Abby looked into the pair of blue eyes that were unmistakably Riley Jo’s.“As soon as the sheriff finds out what he’s done, he’s going to prison.”

“That makes two of us.” Jay’s expression was somber.

Abby put her hand on his shoulder. “There’s no way anyone is going to press charges after all you did to help me.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Jay said. “It’s a relief to finally tell the truth. I just want to get you and Ella to safety. I sure hope that helicopter comes back this way so we can get out of here.”

Abby tilted her ear. “Do you hear
that
?”

Jay nodded. “Sounds like a seal barking.”

From behind them came a booming voice. “Them’re bloodhounds, stupid! The law’s lookin’ for you.”

The sound of Isaiah’s voice sent terror through Abby. She grabbed Ella’s arm and spun around, getting her first look at the evil Isaiah Tutt in broad daylight. He looked eerily like the sketch Jay had drawn. But now that she could see him plainly, his eyes looked dark and vacant—as if he had no soul.

“Why do y’all look so shocked?” Isaiah laughed. “Otha sent you the easy way. I took the fastest. I shoulda killed you when I had the chance. I come to finish what I started.” He held tightly to his rifle with one hand and slapped Ella with the back of the other. “This is your fault, you little sneak! I shoulda got rid o’ you years ago.”

Abby stepped in front of Ella just as Jay lunged at Isaiah, got a fist in the face, and fell to the ground.

In the blink of an eye, Isaiah had pulled a hunting knife from his belt and stood pointing it at Jay. “Fight me agin, and I’ll run you through, just like I did Ella’s pa.”