Not by Sight A Novel

CHAPTER 24

Virgil looked through the missing-person report Kate Cummings had filed on Abby and the accompanying report from deputies investigating Jay’s whereabouts. The fact that Abby told her mother she was meeting Jay on the slope, and the fact that Jay was seen leaving the apartment in hiking boots, led Virgil to wonder if the answers they were looking for were there on Sure Foot Mountain.

A knock at the door broke his concentration.

Kevin Mann came into his office and stood at his desk, the whites of his eyes almost as red as his hair. “We’ve got us a new development, Sheriff.”

“Let’s hear it.” Virgil folded his hands on his desk.

“The mail carrier at the apartment complex where Jay Rogers lives saw our squad cars out front and inquired as to what was going on. Come to find out, yesterday afternoon, he spotted a pretty girl standing in back of a white Ford pickup parked outside the apartments. She seemed to be looking for something and then crawled up under the tarp covering the truck bed. He thought it was odd but blew it off. Figured it was her truck and she was looking for something. Said the girl was young, shapely, dressed in jeans and a pale yellow top and had long, copper-colored hair. That matches Abby to a T, right down to what Kate Cummings said she was wearing.”

“What time was that?”

“He was running a couple hours late and guessed it to be around two-forty-five.”

Virgil pursed his lips. “Maybe Jay was going somewhere and wouldn’t take Abby with him, so she hid in the bed of his truck and took herself.”

“That’s what I’m thinking. She parked her mother’s Odyssey on the next block and walked over to the apartment and hid in the bed of the truck. The neighbor across the hall said Jay was alone when he left. Abby was probably hiding in back, and he didn’t know it. We’re interviewing everyone Jay works with at Tutty’s. Maybe one of them knows what he was up to.”

Virgil nodded. “Good. Make sure Chief Mitchell is apprised.”

“I will. So … you fixin’ to bring in the feds?”

Virgil shook his head. “There’s no indication that we’re dealing with a kidnapping, or that Abby and Jay have left the state—or even the area, for that matter. Better if we keep the FBI out of it. If it turns into something bigger than this department and the Foggy Ridge PD can handle, we’ll reevaluate. Kevin, why are you still here? I thought you were going home to get some shut-eye.”

“I was.” Kevin came around and sat in the chair next to his desk. “But I’m as caught up in this as you are. We’ve been working the case on Micah and Riley Jo Cummings from the beginning. I’ve watched Kate Cummings suffer through five long years, not knowing whether they’re dead or alive. She sure doesn’t deserve to lose Abby, too. And until I feel brain fog messing with my judgment, I’d just as soon keep looking for her—if that’s okay with you.”

Virgil studied his chief deputy. Tenacity was his strong point. No point in trying to squelch it. “All right. As long as you agree to step aside when you can’t think straight. Or when I decide you can’t.”

“Fair enough.” Kevin rose to his feet. “I’d better get back out there and do what I can to help.”

“Heard any more from Jay’s mother?” Virgil said.

“She called and said their plane was landing in Little Rock tonight at seven. She and her hubby were fixin’ to drive home from there. Too bad she had to cut her honeymoon short.”

“Sure was,” Virgil said. “Let’s try to find Abby and Jay before they get here.”



Abby huddled between Jay and Ella—hungry, thirsty, and out of ideas. No one had said a word for the past hour. Their lives were slipping away with every tick of the clock. Abby had made her petitions known to God. What more could she do?

The sound of Jay’s voice startled Abby. “All right. There’s one thing we haven’t tried.” Jay turned around and sat on his heels, facing Ella. “Call for your angel friend. Maybe he’ll come get us out.”

Abby shot Jay a disapproving look, but he held up his palm.

“We’re out of options, Abby. Let her do it.”

“What if he don’t come?” Ella said.

Jay shrugged. “We won’t know unless we ask. Can’t hurt. Come on, Ella. Call him.”

Ella hesitated for several seconds, looking from Jay to Abby and then back to Jay. Finally, she clamped her eyes shut. “Custos, can you help us? Pa threw us down in this big ol’ hole, and we can’t git out. We’re powerful scared.”

Abby didn’t move in the pin-drop stillness that followed.

“Pleeease?” Ella pleaded. “Or bring us water and somethin’ to eat?”

No one stirred for half a minute.

Finally Ella said, “We ain’t gittin’ outta here.”

Jay spun around, faced the far wall, and began wildly kicking the metal mesh with the heel of his hiking boots. “Come on … break!” Some of the dried sod crumbled and fell through, but the mesh stayed secure. After a minute or so of repeated blows, he lay with his back flat on the dirt floor, his knees bent, and let out a sigh of exasperation. “Why’d you have to hide in my truck? Why didn’t you go home like I asked? We’re not getting out of here, Abby!”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do, and so do you! I just wanted to make things right. That’s all I was trying to do. If I could die in your place, I would. I’m sorry I got you into this.”

“You didn’t,” Abby said. “I’m the one who ignored Isaiah’s threats.”

“But if I hadn’t shot your dad, none of this would’ve happened.” Jay’s voice shook, sounding more angry than frightened. “Isaiah’s nuts! It’s not a matter of if he’s gonna kill us—it’s a matter of when.”

“Stop yelling, Jay. It’s not helping.”

Ella began to cry and then cry harder, seemingly inconsolable, her face buried in Abby’s chest.

“It’s okay, sweetie.” Abby tightened her embrace and rocked back and forth. “Shhh … it’s going to be okay.” Ella’s tears soaked the front of Abby’s shirt as the child continued sobbing.

Lord, help us! Abby looked over at Jay, and he turned away, his chin quivering. It took every ounce of willpower to keep the dam of her own emotions from breaking through her defenses. She thought of her daddy lying dead in this hole, robbed of dignity, and his baby girl kidnapped by a mountain man with no set of rules but his own.

Anger rose up in Abby, and she welcomed it. As long as she stayed mad, she would have the will to fight.