Not by Sight A Novel

CHAPTER 21

Virgil and Jill Beth walked hand in hand toward Icy’s, Virgil holding tightly to Drake’s leash and wondering how an animal that size could be so strong.

“I feel bad for Kate,” Jill Beth said. “If I’d been through what that woman’s been through, I’d never let my kids out of my sight.”

“It’s understandable that she panicked when Abby missed dinner and didn’t call.” Virgil stopped on the sidewalk as Drake watered one of the tree trunks along Puckett Street. “But my department gets these kinds of calls on a regular basis. The kids almost always show up within a few hours.”

“Kate didn’t need this on top of everything else,” Jill Beth said. “Waiting on the remains has to be torture.”

“So was having no leads at all. I’m sure Kate has considered every possibility imaginable. I just want to solve it and put an end to all the unknowns.”

“Well, if anyone can, it’s my man.”

Virgil smiled and slipped his arm around her. “From the lips of the woman who thinks I hung the moon.”

“And the stars.”

“By the way”—Virgil pulled on the leash to redirect Drake’s attention to the sidewalk—“you were right about Elliot Stafford. Kate mentioned that he’s shown an interest in her.”

“Did she elaborate?”

“Just that she would enjoy his company but not while Micah’s fate is still up in the air. Heaven knows, she loved Micah. But five years is a long time for anyone to be unsure of their marital status.”

“If you were missing, I’d wait forever.”

Virgil sighed. “So would I. Let’s hope Kate doesn’t have to.”



Abby lay frozen in the darkness, the hammering of her heart so forceful that she thought she might die of heart failure.

Lord, help me! I’m so scared!

“Git down there!” commanded the all-too-familiar voice.

Abby’s eyes flew open just as the trapdoor opened above her. She rolled over and sat up in the far corner, letting her eyes adjust to the light.

“Jump, or I’ll push,” her captor said. “But if you break a leg, I’ll hafta put you down.” He laughed.

Abby heard a loud thud and felt a gust of wind as someone hit the ground a couple feet from her.

“Y’all have a nice chat. The clock’s tickin’.”

The overhead door slammed shut, and she heard a bolt lock slide in place and the man go back up the wooden stairs and out the creaky door.

“Abby?”

“Jay!” Abby threw her arms around him and didn’t let go.

“You’re shivering,” he said. “How did you get here?”

“I h-h-hid in the b-b-back of your truck and tried to follow you. But you got t-t-too far ahead of me, and I got lost. He hit me on the head with s-s-something and knocked me out.”

“You okay?”

“My head really hurts. I’m sore. And c-c-cold. But I’m okay. Are you?”

“Yeah.” Jay held her tighter and rubbed her arms. “He snuck up behind me with a rifle and pressed the barrel against my back. I decided not to resist. The creep’s name is Isaiah Tutt.”

“How do you know that?”

“I looked in his mailbox.”

“How did you know it was his mailbox?”

“As I was sifting through the mail, I saw a woman and little girl coming, and ducked behind some trees. I’m sure the girl was Ella. I’m assuming the woman was Mrs. Tutt. I wanted to grab the girl and run, but the missus had a rifle. I didn’t think I could overtake her without Ella running away. So I followed them back here.”

“What kind of woman carries a rifle to the mailbox?” Abby said.

“One who’s expecting trouble or is just plain paranoid. I waited until it got dark to snoop around some more, but Tutt caught me red-handed and brought me here.”

Abby let go of Jay and sat on the earthen floor. “He was out looking for you.”

Jay dropped down next to her and put his arm around her.

Abby relished the warmth and told Jay about her conversation with Isaiah Tutt that led to his hitting her on the head.

“Isaiah wasn’t about to show me Ella’s birth certificate,” Abby said, “because he doesn’t have one. I caught him in a lie, and he didn’t like it.”

“Now that he knows we’re on to him, he’s not letting us go. We’ve got to find a way out of here.”

Abby paused for a moment, then looked up at Jay. “He said something that’s really bugging me. He said that he wasn’t worried you’d tell anyone about Ella as long as you believed you had killed Daddy.”

“I did kill him, Abby. It was a horrible accident. Why would I say it if it wasn’t so? It was the worst day of my life. I’d like to erase it.”

“Why do you suppose he told me that?”

“Beats me. Why would he steal someone’s kid? Why would he throw two teenagers in a hole and threaten to feed them to his pigs? Who knows what drives a man like that? The guy plays by his own set of rules.”

“What are we going to do?” Abby said. “Did you tell anyone you were coming up here?”

“No one. Did you?”

Abby shook her head. “He must’ve taken my cell phone. Did he take yours?”

“Yeah. He took the battery out and tossed it into the woods. The last call I made was to work, telling them I wasn’t coming in tonight. Even if they pull my phone records, it’s not gonna tell them anything.”

“Mine either,” Abby said. “The last time I used my phone was to text you this morning.”

“Of all times for my mom to be gone. She’s not even planning to check in with me until the weekend.”

“But mine will. And she knows we’re together.”

“Abby … unless someone figures out where we are—and fast—Isaiah’s gonna kill us.”



Kate sat on the couch, vaguely aware that her father was sitting in his easy chair, thumbing through a magazine.

“You really oughta get some rest,” he said.

“So should you.” Kate barely had the strength to unfold her hands.

“I’m just turnin’ pages, waitin’ for the phone to ring.”

“Dad, it’s ten thirty—where is she?”

“I wish I knew, honey.”

“Abby’s scheduled to work the morning shift. She’s always in bed by now. She’s too responsible for this.” Kate wiped a tear off her cheek. “Do you think they’ve run off together? Be honest.”

“I don’t know what to think. I didn’t notice any sparks between them. Abby said they were just close friends. I believed her.”

“They both have cell phones.” Kate got up and paced in front of the fireplace. “At least one of them should have called by now. Do you think it’s time to file a missing-person report? We’ve already checked the ER and every place Abby likes to hang out. I don’t know what else to do.”

“It’s your decision, Kate. I’ll support whatever you decide.”

“Tell me what to do. I’m so confused.” Kate flopped on the couch, her face in her hands. “No one at the sheriff’s department will take this seriously—not after Abby ran them in circles, not once but twice.”

“Virgil will, and he’s ramroddin’ that outfit. They’ll follow his lead.”

“Once I open this door, there’s no turning back.”

Dad got up and sat next to Kate, his arm around her. “Have faith, honey. God’s got everything under control.”

I wish I could believe that. Kate laid her head on her father’s shoulder and linked her arm with his. “Dad, I know you’re trying to help. And I love you for it. But I had faith, and look where it’s gotten me. So please … let’s not talk about trusting God. Or His plan. His timing. Or His faithfulness. Not now. Not tonight.” She kissed his stubbly cheek. “I need to handle this my way.”

But I’m not handling it! I’m completely helpless to stop this madness!

Kate’s heart raced faster than her thoughts. She got up and walked over to the fireplace mantel and picked up a framed photograph of Abby. She traced her daughter’s face with her finger, her mind assaulted with visions of horror, of all the terrible things that could have befallen her child. She fluttered her eyelashes, the image of Abby turning into a blur. She was aware of her father standing next to her, putting her cell phone in her hand.

“Honey, call Virgil.”

Kate nodded. “I can’t lose her, Dad. I just can’t.”



Abby lay in Jay’s arms, praying for help and glad to finally feel warm.

“You awake?” Jay whispered.

“Wide awake. I’m praying for a miracle. Maybe there’s a way out of here we aren’t seeing.”

“It was stupid of me to think I could just take Ella and go to the sheriff.”

“We still might.”

“Abby … face it. We’re in real trouble here. No one knows where we are or even where to begin looking.”

“God knows.”

“He’s not telling!” Jay loosened his embrace. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to raise my voice. I’m just frustrated. I don’t want to die.”

“Me, either. But I’m not giving up. I’m not letting Isaiah Tutt break Mama’s heart all over again. At least not without a fight.” Abby was quiet for a few moments. “Jay, did Ella seem happy when you saw her?”

“She skipped down the path to the mailbox. So I suppose so. But Mrs. Tutt was stonefaced. Reminded me of my sixth-grade math teacher.”

“I don’t know what I would do if we got the chance to take Ella and she started crying,” Abby said, “and begged us to let her go. She doesn’t know any other life than this one, and leaving it would probably be traumatic.”

“You would rather she end up like Mrs. Tutt,” Jay said, “marrying some backwoods hillbilly and toting a rifle to the mailbox? She belongs at the Cummings house. She has the right to grow up at Angel View. And your mama has the right to have her baby girl back.”

“I know. I just wonder if Ella would ever get over it. If she would ever love us like we do her.”

Abby felt a tear fall on her arm, and it wasn’t hers.

Jay held her tighter. “I’m sorry I brought this on you, Abby. I’m sorry I shot your father. I’m sorry I didn’t know Isaiah had kidnapped Riley Jo. I’m sorry I never told my mom and stepdad. It never occurred to me the little girl with Isaiah wasn’t his daughter. I just never connected the dots until I heard his voice on the phone.”

“Why would you?” Abby said. “And there’s no point in beating yourself up. You were just a scared kid.”

“Old enough to know that I should’ve reported the shooting.”

“And just old enough to be terrified of going to jail and losing your father’s love. You didn’t do anything malicious, Jay. And, if it helps, I forgive you for shooting Daddy. I get that it was totally an accident.”

Jay sobbed quietly.

Abby let herself cry with him for a few minutes, then forced herself to stop.

“It’s important that we stay clearheaded,” she said, wishing she had a box of tissues. “There might be a way out of here if we just think it through.”