Out of Focus Read Online Free

calling your grandmother. I bet Nick left Jake with her.” She stroked Kasey’s back. “Breathe, honey. I’m right here,” she said as she dialed. On the fifth ring, the old woman picked up the phone. “Hi, Grandma Emily. It’s me, Riley. I expected Jeremy to answer.”
    “He’s got the day off. Again,” Grandma Emily complained. “Good to hear from you. When are you coming to visit? It’s been too long, dear.”
    “I know. I need to get over there. It’s overdue, I know. By the way, is Jake spending the day with you? I have something for him.”
    “No? Why would you think that?”
    “Oh, you know me. I must’ve gotten the dates confused. Sorry to bother you,” Riley said as she disconnected the call and rushed back to Kasey’s side. “Where else could Jake be? He’s not with your grandmother. I didn’t tell her about Nick. I figured that could wait.”
    Kasey shook her head and stared off. “I don’t know. Nick never leaves Jake behind. You know that.”
    “I know, but he has to be somewhere.”
    “Jake was with Nick when I talked to them at nine. Nick would never lie to me. He wouldn’t. There is no other explanation.”
    “But there was no car seat.” Riley moved in closer to Kasey. “You know how cautious Nick is. He’d never have Jake in the truck without the car seat.”
    “Maybe it came loose. I don’t know, but what I do know is that Jake needs me. I can’t explain it, but I can feel it. We’ve got to get out there.”
    “Do you think that’s a good idea? Detectives are working the scene. I’ll have Von get in the loop and make sure they’re doing everything possible to find Jake in case he’s out there.”
    Kasey drew on inner strength. “I need to be there. I have an eye for detail. I might see something they didn’t. I have to find Jake.” She ran her sleeve across her face to dry her eyes, then grabbed the keys out of her purse.
    “What are you doing?”
    “I’m not going to just sit here.” Kasey stood, her chin held high. “I’m going to find my son.”
    Riley got her phone out of her purse. “You’re in no shape to drive. Neither am I. I’m calling Von. He’ll take us.”

    * * * *

    Perry Von jumped in his truck and headed to Nick and Kasey’s house, less than a mile away. Riley had given him the information she had, and he’d called the lead officer on the case as he drove. They didn’t have much more to share at this point.
    The news echoed in his thoughts. He and Nick had been childhood friends. Losing him was like losing a brother, and it tore at his gut. He knew what Kasey was getting ready to face. Deidre’s murder was ten years in the past, and his life had moved on, but the blow of that loss still held power. His focus needed to be on Kasey.
    Before he could remove the key from the ignition, Riley and Kasey took the porch steps two at a time toward him. Riley jumped in the front seat and leaned in to give him a kiss as Kasey climbed into the back.
    “Kasey. I can’t believe it. I’m so sorry.” He reached over the seat and gave her hand a squeeze.
    “Me, either.” Kasey slapped the back of his seat. “Don’t worry about me. Just drive. Quick. Jake needs us. This can’t be happening.” She secured her seatbelt. “Hurry!”

Chapter Three
     

    They rode in silence to the scene of the accident nearly eighty miles away. With just ten miles to go, traffic came to a complete stop on Route 58.
    Kasey clutched the seatbelt in anticipation. “Can we walk?”
    “I’ll get off here and take the side road,” Von said as he whipped the SUV onto the grass to get to the next exit. He sped down the single lane road and then got back on the interstate closer to their destination, then drove on the shoulder the rest of the way to the scene. He parked his red Yukon behind the row of police and rescue vehicles.
    Blue lights bounced across the lanes, bright against the dimming day. Flares kept the small trickle of traffic from the local roads off to