Out of Focus Read Online Free Page B

yellow tape at the tree line.
    Kasey grabbed Riley’s arm. “Please let it be good news.”
    Von sprinted toward the commotion.
    Kasey and Riley clung to one another in hope.
    Von joined the small group of men.
    The minutes ticked by as they waited.
    Kasey and Riley jumped to their feet when they saw Von heading in their direction.
    “Anything?” Kasey pleaded.
    “It’s all hands on deck. Even the neighboring counties have sent in their best to help,” Von said, trying to reassure her. “They found shell casings. They could be connected to the accident. There were also marks in the mud on the bank but it’s hard to know what made them.” He grabbed for his hat as a gust of wind lifted the bill. “The wind is picking up.” He tugged it lower on his head.
    Kasey spun away.
    Von put his hand on her shoulder. “It takes time, and with the storm coming, they don’t have much of it. They’re collecting everything in the grid to insure no evidence is overlooked.”
    “Jake!” Kasey screamed into the woods. “It’s okay. Where are you?” Her whole body trembled as she choked on the words.
    Von stepped behind her. “It’s getting late. Let’s get you home. They’ll call us if something turns up.”
    “I’m not leaving.” Kasey folded her arms across her chest. “He’s out there. He needs me.”
    Von and Riley exchanged a glance. Von moved closer to Kasey. “Things are going to go even slower as it gets darker. You need your rest to keep up your strength.”
    “Jake!” She shouted over the rail. “Jake, where are you? It’s Mommy.” Tears blinded her and choked her voice. “Jake. I’m here.” The plea carried across the riverbank.
    Men paused and heads turned in her direction.
    Riley wrapped her arms around Kasey. “Come on, honey.”
    “I can’t leave him.” Her voice faded to a hushed stillness.
    “We’ll come back first thing in the morning.”
    Von guided Kasey and Riley to the truck. “Once they finish collecting the evidence you’ll be able to get closer. They’ve put an Amber alert out, too. He’ll turn up.”
    Kasey followed blindly a few steps, and then stopped. “No. I can’t. You go. I’ll be fine.”
    Von stepped closer. “Kasey, it would help if we knew what Jake’s wearing. If I take you home, do you think you can sort through his clothes and figure it out?”
    She nodded.
    “And a picture. They’d like to put a report in the paper and on the news to see if anyone has seen him.”
    “He’s alive. I know he is,” she said again.
    Riley held Kasey’s hands. “This could help us find him faster.”
    Kasey tucked her hair behind her ear as she looked back over her shoulder. Von and Riley led her to the Yukon to head back home.
    “Don’t be afraid, baby,” Kasey whispered into the dark as they drove away.

    * * * *

    Kasey froze in the doorway to Jake’s bedroom. The familiar smell of his favorite fruit loop cereal overwhelmed her. The room was in disarray from the random attention that only a three-year-old could give to so many interests. On the floor, trucks and tractors corralled a herd of plastic horses and longhorn cattle alongside blocks and a superhero.
    Jake’s Spiderman shirt was on top of the dresser. She reached for it and held the worn cotton to her cheek. Nick probably had to scrape it off him to get him into something clean for their road trip this morning. The short-sleeve camouflage t-shirt, his second favorite, wasn’t there. She sat in the middle of the toys with the Spiderman shirt in her lap. This was the world at Jake’s level. It had to be so scary in the dark, in the woods. Her heart ached. She closed her eyes tight, hoping that when she opened them she’d see Jake sitting amongst the chaos with his tiny fingers curled around one of the action figures.
    She dragged herself to her feet and walked back into the harsh reality with Jake’s shirt clutched to her chest. The late night show echoed in the room around her. The shutters slammed