Out Of Focus: An Adams Grove Novel Part 9

"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 c.o.c.ked 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 a.s.sumed 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.

"h.e.l.lo," 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 h.e.l.l 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 h.e.l.l 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 -"

"Mrs. Rolly, there's a chance until we find proof otherwise. We're going to do everything we can. An investigation like this takes time."

That wasn't what she'd wanted to hear. He'd given her hope, but not any more or less than she had the day before. She picked up her cell phone from the end table and dialed Cody Tuggle's direct line.

"Yeah-lo."

"Hi, Cody. It's Kasey Phillips."

"Hey. Getting excited? We can't wait for you to join us. Nashville is always a kickin' town."

"Yes, but that's why I'm calling. I might not be coming this Friday. I'm not sure yet, but there's a lead on Jake."

"A lead? That's great. You do whatever you have to do. What can I do to help?"

"Nothing. I mean, we're not even sure it's a lead. Someone sent me some pictures of the accident. I'm probably fooling myself, but I didn't want to leave you hanging at the last minute, so I thought I'd let you know."

"Thanks, but I'm flexible. This project might be the end of the world for Arty, but not for me. Your son comes first."

Cody Tuggle was nothing like the man in the gossip rags. He was kind-hearted and gentle, and she couldn't have happened onto a better friend.

Von and Riley left to give her some time alone.

Kasey couldn't eat. She couldn't rest. She sat. She stood. But mostly she paced the living room with Dutch at her heels. The detective had left just hours ago, yet she still prayed each minute for the phone to ring.

When it did, the caller wasn't someone with news about Jake, it was Jeremy.

"I just got off the phone with Lala" he said. "She's in town."

Sheer black fright coursed through Kasey's veins. Although she'd never heard the tea leaf lady's name until now, she knew whom Jeremy was referring to and every alarm in her head was ringing. She hoped the name Lala wasn't just more proof that this was crazy la-la-land kind of stuff. I hope I don't regret this. "When?"

"She can do a reading for you tonight, or next Tuesday."

An icy chill seemed to paralyze her. "If I wait, I won't do it. Let's do it tonight."

"Want me to come get you?"

"No, it's too far. I'll meet you. Hang on." Kasey rummaged through a drawer for a pen, then grabbed a cereal box to write on. "Where?"

"We could use the carriage house. Your grandmother is already in bed. She'll never know."

Kasey dropped the pen and blew out a breath. "I'm on my way, then."

Please let this bring me some answers.

When Kasey got to the estate, she drove past the main house to the carriage house. She'd lived there for years, so at least the surroundings were a comfort. She walked inside. Jeremy sat across from a tall woman with a long braid. She wore jeans and a t-shirt.

The woman looked normal enough, but the whole thing didn't feel normal. "How do we do this?"

"Relax," the woman said. "You can call me Lala."

Nodding, Kasey held back a nervous giggle.

Lala sat with the elegance of a ballerina. "Where will you be most comfortable?" Her voice was velvet-edged and strong.

Kasey took a seat on the adjacent loveseat. "Is this okay?"

Jeremy got up and disappeared into the kitchen. When he walked back into the room, he carried a wide black tray. It shone in stark contrast to the white porcelain teapot and wide-mouthed cup and saucer arranged in the middle.

Kasey placed her hand over her heart, wishing it would stop beating so hard.

Lala reached over and touched her. "Don't be afraid."

After a brief discussion about the process, Lala poured steaming water over loose tea leaves in the cup and handed it to her. "Hold this in the palms of your hands as it steeps."

Kasey accepted the cup and gave Jeremy a worried glance. He hung by the kitchen. Watching.

"Focus on your question."

Kasey closed her eyes and focused all her energy on Jake. Her hands trembled. If this helped, it was worth every bit of the fear that consumed her.

Lala's low voice broke the silence. "When the tea is cool enough, sip it. But don't drink it all. Leave the last sips and tea leaves in the bottom."

Kasey steadied herself and took a sip.

Is this tea making me lightheaded? Relax! You're doing this for Jake.

She drank most of the tea. Lala took the cup, then swirled the contents with purpose. She picked up a square paper napkin from the tray, placed it in center of the saucer, then flipped the cup upside down on top of the napkin.