The Perfect Ten Boxed Set

by Dianna Love

  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, crying.

  Riley slapped Jeremy’s arm. “Why the hell did you do that?”

  “What?” He rubbed his arm. “You don’t see it? This could prove he’s alive. Someone had to be there to take these pictures.”

  “It doesn’t prove anything. It’s just plain mean,” Riley said.

  Von stepped over, his voice low. “Don’t give her hope, man. She’s just started acting like herself again.”

  “Do what you want. She’s like family to me and if I see hope, I’m giving it to her.” Jeremy plopped down in one of the kitchen chairs.

  “And we’re not?” Riley’s jaw tensed. “She’s my best friend. Don’t make this worse for her.”

  Kasey came back into the kitchen with a handful of tissues, her eyes red and puffy. “What the hell do I do now?”

  Riley wrapped her arms around Kasey.

  “How can I leave now? This just makes it worse.”

  “Kasey, don’t do this to yourself. Von will follow every lead. You know that. We’ll update you every day. I promise. But, honey, you really need to work. You need to get your feet moving again. It’s not going to get any easier.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You can’t do anything to help the investigation. You’ll just be waiting again.”

  Kasey looked to Jeremy. “You haven’t said anything. What do you think?”

  He stood. “You need to do what you think is right. You know I’ll support you no matter what. Doesn’t look like you need my help anyway.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ve got to pick up your grandmother.”

  “I understand. Thank you for coming by.” Kasey gave Jeremy a hug, then walked him to the door. She glanced over her shoulder then grabbed Jeremy’s arm.

  “Wait,” she whispered. She tugged him out the front door and out of view.

  He followed her lead, with a look of bewilderment on his face.

  “You can help.” Kasey closed her eyes, gathering strength.

  He took her hands into his own. “Anything. What?”

  “If I knew he was safe or not—just one way or another—I could at least live my life. It’s the uncertainty of it all that I can’t stand.” She steepled her fingers under her chin. “If you’ll come with me. I mean, oh gosh, I can’t believe I’m doing this. Call that tea leaf lady. You’ll come with me, right?”

  “Of course. Yes. I’ll take you, be there every step of the way.” He held her hands in his. “Thanks for letting me help.”

  “I hope I don’t regret this.”

  “You won’t,” he said. “I’ll call you later tonight, as soon as I have the details.”

  Kasey watched him drive off in Grandma Emily’s Mercedes.

  Riley stepped up behind her. “What was that all about?”

  “Nothing.” Kasey reached for Riley’s hand and squeezed it. “I think I should call Cody and let him know I’m considering not coming on Friday.”

  In just a few hours, the Rolly farmhouse buzzed with renewed energy as the detective and Von pieced together the information and the source of the pictures. Von had already tracked down the courier. But the point of origination on their docket was a different courier located outside of Richmond.

  As the debriefing wound down, the detective gathered the courier packet and contents. He promised to have the lab expedite the test for trace evidence.

  “This could prove Jake’s alive? It’s proof, right?” Kasey prayed he’d tell her what she wanted to hear. She raised her eyes to meet his level stare. “I mean, there’s a chance —”

  “Mrs. Rolly, there’s a chance until we find proof otherwise. We’re going to do everything we can. An investigation like this takes time.”

  That wasn’t what she’d wanted to hear. He’d given her hope, but not any more or less than she had the day before. She picked up her cell phone from the end table and dialed C
ody Tuggle’s direct line.

  “Yeah-lo.”

  “Hi, Cody. It’s Kasey Phillips.”

  “Hey. Getting excited? We can’t wait for you to join us. Nashville is always a kickin’ town.”

  “Yes, but that’s why I’m calling. I might not be coming this Friday. I’m not sure yet, but there’s a lead on Jake.”

  “A lead? That’s great. You do whatever you have to do. What can I do to help?”

  “Nothing. I mean, we’re not even sure it’s a lead. Someone sent me some pictures of the accident. I’m probably fooling myself, but I didn’t want to leave you hanging at the last minute, so I thought I’d let you know.”

  “Thanks, but I’m flexible. This project might be the end of the world for Arty, but not for me. Your son comes first.”

  Cody Tuggle was nothing like the man in the gossip rags. He was kind-hearted and gentle, and she couldn’t have happened onto a better friend.

  Von and Riley left to give her some time alone.

  Kasey couldn’t eat. She couldn’t rest. She sat. She stood. But mostly she paced the living room with Dutch at her heels. The detective had left just hours ago, yet she still prayed each minute for the phone to ring.

  When it did, the caller wasn’t someone with news about Jake, it was Jeremy.

  “I just got off the phone with Lala” he said. “She’s in town.”

  Sheer black fright coursed through Kasey’s veins. Although she’d never heard the tea leaf lady's name until now, she knew whom Jeremy was referring to and every alarm in her head was ringing. She hoped the name Lala wasn’t just more proof that this was crazy la-la-land kind of stuff. I hope I don’t regret this. “When?”

  “She can do a reading for you tonight, or next Tuesday.”

  An icy chill seemed to paralyze her. “If I wait, I won’t do it. Let’s do it tonight.”

  “Want me to come get you?”

  “No, it’s too far. I’ll meet you. Hang on.” Kasey rummaged through a drawer for a pen, then grabbed a cereal box to write on. “Where?”

  “We could use the carriage house. Your grandmother is already in bed. She’ll never know.”

  Kasey dropped the pen and blew out a breath. “I’m on my way, then.”

  Please let this bring me some answers.

  When Kasey got to the estate, she drove past the main house to the carriage house. She’d lived there for years, so at least the surroundings were a comfort. She walked inside. Jeremy sat across from a tall woman with a long braid. She wore jeans and a t-shirt.

  The woman looked normal enough, but the whole thing didn’t feel normal. “How do we do this?”

  “Relax,” the woman said. “You can call me Lala.”

  Nodding, Kasey held back a nervous giggle.

  Lala sat with the elegance of a ballerina. “Where will you be most comfortable?” Her voice was velvet-edged and strong.

  Kasey took a seat on the adjacent loveseat. “Is this okay?”

  Jeremy got up and disappeared into the kitchen. When he walked back into the room, he carried a wide black tray. It shone in stark contrast to the white porcelain teapot and wide-mouthed cup and saucer arranged in the middle.

  Kasey placed her hand over her heart, wishing it would stop beating so hard.

  Lala reached over and touched her. “Don’t be afraid.”

  After a brief discussion about the process, Lala poured steaming water over loose tea leaves in the cup and handed it to her. “Hold this in the palms of your hands as it steeps.”

  Kasey accepted the cup and gave Jeremy a worried glance. He hung by the kitchen. Watching.

  “Focus on your question.”

  Kasey closed her eyes and focused all her energy on Jake. Her hands trembled. If this helped, it was worth every bit of the fear that consumed her.

  Lala’s low voice broke the silence. “When the tea is cool enough, sip it. But don’t drink it all. Leave the last sips and tea leaves in the bottom.”

  Kasey steadied herself and took a sip.

  Is this tea making me lightheaded? Relax! You’re doing this for Jake.

  She drank most of the tea. Lala took the cup, then swirled the contents with purpose. She picked up a square paper napkin from the tray, placed it in center of the saucer, then flipped the cup upside down on top of the napkin.

  Kasey wondered how long this would take, and if her courage would sustain. All my hopes are trapped under a china cup.

  Lala righted the cup. She inspected it. Slowly. Methodically. Then she scribbled on a paper at her side. She never uttered a word.

  Kasey leaned in, trying to decipher what Lala had written. The scribbles made no sense.

  “So much here,” Lala said, her voice louder, confident—almost vibrating “A lot of emotion in your life.”

  No kidding.

  “There is an answer to your problem. The answer is in your circle, but yes, new friends are coming your way to help.” Lala twisted the cup and drew another symbol on the tablet. “Does the letter L mean anything to you?”

  Kasey looked up. L? “No. I don’t think so.”

  “It’s a strong L. Lee perhaps? Any connections to a Lee? Place, person?”

  “No.”

  “It’s in front of you, so perhaps you haven’t intersected just yet. But soon.” She nodded and twisted the cup again. “Good news is coming your way.”

  I can’t believe I fell for this.

  Lala pointed a long finger into the cup and tipped it toward Kasey. “This egg and the smaller one near it represent success or perhaps a business opportunity.” She pointed to the side of the cup near the handle. “See here, this is the anchor—the answer to your problem. It’s close. And here, the angel. She’s good news.”

  Everything from that point forward was a blur. Kasey’s mind clung to those words.

  The answer.

  Good news.

  As Kasey drove home, she realized nothing the mysterious Lala had said was specific.

  Smoke and mirrors.

  Why had she let herself fall for such a scheme? She knew better. Clutching the steering wheel, she looked into the starry night and hoped she hadn’t just done something that would backfire on her with some kind of bad karma.

  God, please forgive me. I’m desperate.

  Exhausted by the time she got home, she went straight to bed.

  She closed her eyes to the images Lala had scribbled across that page. Hieroglyphics inspired by clumps of messy wet tea leaves that looked like nothing to her told Lala a story. Or was it just what Kasey had wanted to hear?

  Kasey prayed that dreams of Nick would soothe her worries during the night.

  * * * *

  The next day was a long one, but Kasey promised herself she’d put last night behind her. When the phone rang, she tripped over Dutch as she lunged for it.

  “Hello?” she said as she steadied herself.

  “It’s me.”

  Riley’s voice was a welcome one, but not the one she’d hoped to hear. “Hi.”

  “Sorry. No more news. Von’s still working on every angle and so are the police.”

  “Why does everything take so long? I mean, you can get almost anything on the internet in mere seconds. But when the information is important, it takes so long. It doesn’t seem right.”

  “I know. I thought I’d come do a sleepover tonight, if you want. Might make the waiting easier. Or heck, maybe we’ll have news by then and we’ll be celebrating.”

  Kasey smiled. “Von won’t mind?”

  “Not at all. Are you kidding? He’ll be happy to have all the pillows without a fight.”

  “That would be great. Thanks, Riley.” Kasey’s jaw dropped. Riley—Lee. Maybe that was the “L,” the Lee, Lala had referred to?

  “I’ll be over as soon as I finish cooking dinner for him. I’ll bring you something.”

  “Don’t bother. I can’t eat,” Kasey said.

  “Well, you need to. You need your strength. I’ll see you shortly.”

>   Kasey hung up the phone and curled up on the couch. Dutch sat in front of her, resting his chin on her leg. She stared out the picture window at nothing until the daylight started to dim.

  No lights out here in the country.

  No neighbors.

  No family.

  No life.

  * * * *

  Headlights streamed into the now dark living room where Kasey still sat huddled on the couch next to the house phone and with her cell phone in her lap. She turned on the lamp when Riley stepped onto the porch.

  “It’s me,” Riley said, as she let herself in.

  Kasey responded with half a smile. Her stomach growled in response to the familiar smell of home cooking. “You made chicken and dumplings.” Riley knew it was her favorite.

  “Comfort food. Lord knows we deserve it.” Riley dropped her purse in the corner and put a paper sack on the coffee table. She retrieved two covered bowls and spoons from the bag, handed one to Kasey, and snuggled next to her on the couch with the other. “At least try.”

  Kasey swirled her spoon in the bowl. “Any news?” She lowered her head and blew across the top of the piping hot broth.

  “A little, but don’t get excited. Whoever sent the pictures went to some trouble. They’ve traced the package back through two couriers to the origination point, but they didn’t ask for any identification at origination.”

  “Great.”

  “It gets better. You won’t believe who the paperwork says the pictures were sent by.”

  Kasey raised her eyes and held Riley’s gaze. “I’m almost afraid to ask.”

  “You. It says they were sent by Kasey Phillips.”

  “Why would I send those pictures to myself?”

  “You wouldn’t. This is a case of bad record keeping or a good cover up. They put your name in both the To and the From blanks on the shipping form.” Riley took a bite of chicken and dumplings, then set her bowl on the table. “There’s one other thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “The package originated in Nashville.”

  Kasey blinked as she realized the connection. “That’s where I was headed to pick up Cody’s tour.”