Not by Sight (25 page)

Abby gasped.

Isaiah’s face went expressionless for a moment, as if he’d spoken out of turn. Then a smug grin revealed a row of stained teeth. “Guess it don’t matter now if y’all know the truth of it. You ain’t gonna be around long enough to tell nobody.”

“Tell them what?” Jay said. “I shot him. It was an accident.”

Isaiah snickered. “Nah, it was me that killed Ella’s pa. I only said you shot him so you’d keep your fool mouth shut. You come along right after I done it, and I wanted to make sure you didn’t say nothin’ to nobody.”

Jay’s jaw dropped. “
You
killed Micah Cummings?”

“Stabbed him through the heart. He bled out fast. Didn’t suffer long.”

Abby’s eyes burned with tears. If there’d been anything in her stomach, she probably would have thrown it up. “Why? Why would you do such a horrible thing?”

“I had my reasons.”

“What
reasons
?” Abby said. “I deserve to know why you murdered my father.”

Isaiah seemed amused that she had the courage to demand an answer. “You want the truth, girlie? Fact is, I couldn’t git no woman to marry me. I figured at least one’d feel sorry for me if I was widowed and raisin’ a kid on my own. When I seen that man in the woods with the little girl, I knew that was my chance to git what I needed. I tried to take her, but he fought me for her.”

“Of course he did!” Abby said, her lip quivering. “He loved her. How could you? You’re insane!”

Isaiah smirked. “Well, it done the trick. Otha took to us right away when I told her the sad story of how my wife died givin’ birth to Ella.” He flashed a grin so wide that it seemed to stretch his beard. “The law won’t find a lick o’ proof I done any o’ that. And you three ain’t gonna be alive to swear to it.”

Abby’s heart raced so fast she thought it would burst. “Do you have any idea how much Jay suffered all his life, thinking he killed a man?”

“He got to live, didn’t he? If he done what I told him to, he’d still git to live. But the both o’ you butt in where you don’t belong.”

“What about poor Ella?” Jay said. “She’s an innocent victim.”

Isaiah spit and then lowered his bearded face, his dark eyes looking into Ella’s. “Ain’t nothin’ innocent about this one. She’s a traitor.”

“We told Otha
everything
!” Abby said. “You can’t get away with this.”

“Otha’ll back me up.” Isaiah wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I’m makin’ you disappear while the sheriff still don’t know nothin’.” He pointed the rifle from Abby to Ella to Jay. “Put your hands on your head and start walkin’.”

“Where to?” Jay got up on his feet.

“Turn around and start hoofin’ it along the bank.”

“Where are we going?” Abby said, clutching Ella’s arm protectively.

“Wherever I tell you to.” Isaiah pressed the rifle barrel against Abby’s forehead. “Put your hands on your head and start movin’. Ella, you git ’tween them, and remember I got my rifle pointed your way.”

Chapter 28

Kate walked faster than normal through the hummingbird garden at Angel View Lodge. Beds of wildflowers on either side of the winding stone walkway were raw and natural with hollyhock, Mexican Hat, cardinal flower, thistle, toadflax, and butterfly weed. The arched white trellises were woven with firecracker vine, morning glory, and angel trumpet.

All along the walkway, strategically placed hummingbird feeders hung on shepherd crook poles. A male ruby-throated buzzed in front of her face several seconds before flying off. She smiled despite her heavy heart and spotted Jesse up ahead, standing next to his wagon.

“Hey, Mama.” He flashed a warm grin, his sweaty face dotted with freckles, his fine dark hair falling just above his eyebrows. “I’m just checking the feeders again. I already washed the dirty ones.”

“That’s great.”

“You look sad.” Jesse stared at her questioningly. “Did Sheriff Granger call with bad news?”

“Not exactly.” Kate spoke with a calm, steady voice. “They found Jay’s truck in the woods—empty. And they found Abby’s iPhone not far from the truck. We don’t know yet why Abby went there. They didn’t find anything that looks like the slope she described.”

“Maybe they decided to go hiking or camping.”

Then why didn’t Abby call and tell me? And why did she park my Odyssey a block over from Jay’s apartment?
“We’ll see,” Kate said. “The sheriff is using a helicopter to search by air. And bloodhounds to search on the ground. I just wanted you to know before someone hears it on the news and says something to you.”

“Mama, Grandpa and me prayed hard this morning—for a really long time.”

Kate didn’t know whether to smile or cry. How disappointed her son would be when he finally came to the realization that religion was a crutch that didn’t hold you up at all and let you fall flat on your face. Now was not the time to get into the pitfalls of blind faith.

“I have a
lot
of faith—in Virgil,” Kate said, “to do everything possible to find your sister.”

“
And
Jay,” Jesse quickly added. “I like him. He’s cool.”

Kate stepped closer to Jesse. “I don’t want you to be scared. This could turn out just fine, but the situation is serious. I want you to be prepared—in case the news isn’t what we’re hoping for.”

Even as she prepared her son, she wondered if there was really any way to prepare for the worst.

Buck sat with Titus at Flutter’s Café, gazing down at Beaver Lake and the vast expanse of rolling Ozark hills. The dining room was empty except for a couple from Kansas sharing a slice of Chef Benton’s Muddy Bottom Pie.

Savannah, her ponytail swinging in time with her cheerful attitude, came over to the table, toting a platter containing a pitcher of lemonade and two glasses filled with crushed ice. “I thought y’all could use some fresh-squeezed lemonade.”

“You’re reading my mind.” Titus’s dark eyes grew wide.

“Mighty nice of you.” Buck looked up and tried to smile, unsure whether he had succeeded.

Savannah set the glasses on the table and filled them with lemonade, then proudly set a plate of what appeared to be pralines between Buck and Titus.

“I promise you’ve never tasted prawleens like these here. My Benson makes them with extra pecans, raw brown sugar, and real cream. They’ll melt in your mouth.”

“Don’t have to tempt me twice.” Titus picked up a praline and took a bite. “Mmm. This is right tasty.”

Savannah lingered a long time as if she wanted to say something. Finally she said, “How’re you doing, Buck?”

“About as well as I can be, under the circumstances. The rumors are hard to handle. Some people already have Abby dead and buried. I try not to listen to any of it.”

Savannah nodded, her blue eyes filled with compassion. “Can’t say as I blame you.”

“Don’t know why folks make things up.” Buck stroked his mustache. “False information isn’t useful to anyone.”

“Except the media folk,” Titus said. “Rumors boost ratings by enticing people to tune in for details.”

Buck blinked to clear his eyes. “Forget ratings. I just want my sweet Abby back home with her mama, safe and sound.”

Savannah squeezed his arm. “The sheriff will find her.”

Buck hoped he would, but Virgil hadn’t been able to find Micah or Riley Jo. No one here was going to come right out and say it, but they had to be thinking the same thing.

The search-and-rescue chopper flew over Angel View Lodge and out over the lake, then circled back to the mountain. An ominous feeling came over Buck.

Lord, no grandpa should outlive his grandkids. It was hard enough with Riley Jo. But Abby and me—we’ve got somethin’ special. I feel like part of my heart’s missin’. I’m askin’—no, beggin’—with everything in my heart and soul that You bring her back to us alive.

Buck looked up into Titus’s kind brown eyes and realized that Savannah had left. “You don’t have to sit here with me. I’m sure you’ve got more important things to do.”

Titus shook his head. “There’s nothing more important, friend. I’m right where I need to be.”

;

Abby walked briskly in single file behind Jay and Ella along the creek bed, her hands clasped behind her head. She could almost feel the cold barrel of Isaiah’s rifle pointed at her back.

She listened to the sounds of water flowing over the rocks, bloodhounds baying, and Ella sniffling. It was all Abby could do not to put her arm around her sister and wipe away her tears. It wouldn’t be long until the bloodhounds caught up to them. Isaiah had to know that. How much longer before he killed them?

The helicopter flew overhead, but Abby couldn’t spot it through the tight canopy that let in only glints of sunlight. Perspiration trickled down her temples, but she didn’t wipe it off, knowing that Isaiah might misread what she was doing with her hand and shoot her.

Suddenly the dogs’ baying stopped. Muffled voices rang out in the distance.

“Well, I’ll be.” Isaiah laughed. “The dang stuff
does
work.”

“What stuff?” Abby said.

“Just some powders I mixed up. Them hounds’ sniffers’ve been disabled for a while. That’ll buy me some time while I take care o’ you three.”

Abby shuddered at the thought of being fed to the pigs. What kind of monster was he? The temptation to run was stronger than ever. Even getting shot in the back would be less terrifying than what he planned to do to them.

“Pa, can I git me a drink?” Ella’s voice was whiny. “I’m powerful thirsty.”

“Ain’t got no time to waste. Keep movin’. The law ain’t gonna find no trace o’ you when you’re in the belly of them pigs.”

“If you don’t let her get a drink, she’s liable to faint,” Abby said. “Then you’ll have to carry her.”

Isaiah was quiet for a moment and then spit. “All o’ you git over to the creek, down on your bellies, and keep your hands where I can see them. Drink your fill. You got thirty seconds.”

Kate sat in the glider on the front porch of her log house, listening to the distant helicopter and wishing Virgil would call and say he had found Abby safe and sound.

Her mind drifted back sixteen years, to the day Abby made her entrance into the world …

“Come on, honey,” Micah whispered tenderly in Kate’s ear. “Just one more push.” He brushed the hair out of her eyes. “Here we go …”

Kate bore down as hard as she could, her eyes clamped shut, and didn’t realize their baby had been born until it began to cry.

Kate cried too, but her tears were joy spilling over.

Micah kissed her cheek. “You did great.”

“Well,” Dr. Boyer said, “you wanted the baby’s gender to be a surprise.” A smile appeared under his dark mustache. “You’ve got a daughter. She’s a beauty.”

The nurse handed Kate her baby girl, tiny and naked and vulnerable.

“Hello, angel. Oh, my, you’re so beautiful. Your name is Abigail Katherine Cummings. And I’m your mama.” Kate marveled as she looked at her daughter’s face—the child’s fair skin smooth like porcelain, her dark eyes the shape of almonds, her lips a perfect little rosebud. And though her hair was still damp, Kate saw the same red highlights so prevalent in Grandma Becca’s.

Micah snapped some pictures, then knelt down beside them. “Hello, princess. It’s Daddy. I think you already know my voice by now.” Micah’s eyes glistened. “I’m not sure yet what to do with a girl, but I couldn’t be happier.”