Out of Focus by Nancy Naigle Page A

the sheets into a pile. Two flimsy slips of cardboard, three blank sheets of paper and two pictures—printed on an inkjet by the looks of their quality.
    Her breathing became rapid and shallow.
    She grabbed the two pictures from among the cardboard and paper, then ran to the phone and speed-dialed Riley.
    “Good morning.” Riley answered on the first ring.
    “You’re home. I need you.” Kasey’s words ran together.
    “Slow down. What’s the matter?”
    “Get over here, now. Bring Von,” Kasey said, still staring at the pictures.
    “Are you okay?”
    “I don’t know. I’m not sure what to think. Please hurry.” Kasey hung up the phone, and stared at the pictures in front of her.

Chapter Ten
     

    Kasey was sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor, a picture in each hand, when Von and Riley let themselves in through the back door.
    Riley raced to Kasey’s side. “What’s wrong?” Riley slid to the floor next to her and took one of the pictures from Kasey’s shaking hands. “Is this why you called?”
    Kasey nodded.
    Riley studied the picture, passed it to Von, then looked over Kasey’s shoulder at the other.
    “Why would someone send me these?” Kasey whispered.
    “Are these pictures that you took?” Von asked.
    She shook her head.
    “Careful handling them then.” Von leaned in for a closer look.
    One picture had been taken from a distance. Nick’s silver truck lay cocked to one side in the middle of the river. Steam rose from the hot engine. The other picture was more of a close-up, but the quality was so poor that, had Kasey not seen the first photo, she wouldn’t have known that the picture was of Nick’s truck.
    “Why?” Kasey repeated. “I don’t understand why someone would send these.”
    “I have no idea,” Riley said. “A cruel joke?” Riley studied the picture more closely, then handed it to Von.
    He took the pictures to the kitchen counter where the light was better.
    Riley helped Kasey to a chair at the table.
    “Where did you get these? E-mail?” Von held the flimsy paper to the light.
    “A courier. I assumed the envelope was from Cody Tuggle’s tour manager. I had to sign for them.”
    Von raised a brow, then tore a piece of paper off the grocery list hanging on the side of the refrigerator. “What time?”
    “Just a few minutes ago.”
    “Did you notice the color of the vehicle?”
    “White? No. I don’t know. Maybe a light color. A car.” Kasey rubbed her temples. “I didn’t pay attention. I’m sorry.”
    “Was there a note, or just the pictures?”
    “There were a few pieces of blank paper and some cardboard.”
    “Where are they?”
    “In the living room. On the floor.”
    Von gathered the evidence, then dialed the lead detective on the case to bring him up to date. Kasey and Riley sat silent at the table.
    A quick rap at the front door shifted their attention.
    “Hello,” a man called.
    “Who is that?” Riley asked.
    “I’m in the kitchen,” Kasey called out, then turned back to Riley. “It’s Jeremy. He comes by after he drops off Grem at the salon.”
    Jeremy stepped into the kitchen. “I saw Von’s car out front. Anything new?”
    Von hung up the phone and joined them at the table. “Someone sent these to Kasey.” He slid the pictures in front of Jeremy.
    Jeremy reached for them.
    “Don’t touch them,” Von said too late. Jeremy already had them in his hands.
    “Wow.” Jeremy leaned in closer. “Is that—?   That’s Jake in the truck, isn’t it?”
    “What?” Kasey’s eyes went wide. She jumped to her feet and looked over his arm at the picture. “I didn’t see any...give me that.” Kasey grabbed the picture from his hands. Riley rushed to her side.
    “I don’t see anything.” Riley glared at Jeremy.
    He shrugged.
    Kasey ran her finger across a shadow. “No. He might be right. Look. Is that the outline of my baby in the backseat?” She handed the picture to Riley. “Excuse me.” She ran to the bathroom,