Not by Sight A Novel

Author:Kathy Herman
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: David C. Cook
Published: 2013-03-04T22:00:00+00:00

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.

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