Later on, if the kids are able, she’s going to get Dillon and Stacie so you’re able to Mount Olympus to spread out the dad’s stays.
Rick Woody, today 46, consist within his dimly lit, paneled home, watching the row regarding images you to line his mantel.
Last spring season, Rick accessible to enable it to be federal and state regulators to express Kacie’s facts when you look at the a national energy called “Simple Photo” to train law enforcement officers and you can educate moms and dads – even if he isn’t prepared to tune in to the storyline within the entirety
There clearly was their partner, Kristie, their hitting has presented because of the scores of black, tumbling curls. And there’s Kacie, exactly who possessed a similar soulful vision and enigmatic, close-lipped smile.
“I have undergone all sorts of ideas,” Rick says, their deal with unreadable. “I’ve undergone the brand new sour stage, the fresh new questioning-God stage, in which You will find expected, ‘How do you really just take my spouse following turn around and you may grab my little girl?'”
He knows the latest irony inside catastrophe – that kid who became a policeman to help someone else was not here when their own girl necessary him most.
In the June, new FBI displayed Rick that have one of 100 commemorative patches impact Kacie’s name. The latest blue-and-gold patch illustrates a teddy-bear resting next to a pc couple looking for men. “Kacie Woody, 1989-2002” are released on the pc display screen. FBI agents and you may regional law enforcement officers that are part of brand new Simple Photo activity force often wear new patches.
Shame and you can what-ifs haunt Rick. Let’s say he previously titled in the ill you to nights, such as for instance he had been lured to create? Imagine if he had leftover a deeper eyes with the Kacie’s pc activities?
“It cannot head your anywhere but in a group,” according to him. “You want to know everything that is happening on the children’s lives therefore think you have got wise. ” His sound tracks out-of. “We should protect her or him. ” Once again, a pause prior to Rick stops: “She didn’t have people fears.”
Light tombstones sparkle up against the later-day tincture on this grey, cloudy date. Crickets chirp, and you can super easy rustles trees towards cusp regarding autumnal fame.
Rick draws abreast of their cycle, parking directly in front side away from Kacie’s grave. The guy will be taking off their head protection, walks into grave and you will kneels. 11 days possess enacted as the what would had been Kacie’s 14th birthday celebration. Tenderly, Rick scoops within the cards and you may cards that Sam, Jessica and other members of the family have left.
Years ago, Rick emerged right here per Sept. cuatro, his wedding anniversary, to depart yellow flowers for Kristie – one for every single 12 months they’d was hitched. This current year, he leftover twenty-two.
The good news is there can be an additional grave needing flowers, yellow ones, Kacie’s favorite. Rick arrives here 3 times weekly, usually into the their motorcycle. That it seems fitted in order to thunder towards the it quiet spot-on his bike.
Kacie liked in order to drive with Rick
Kacie is delighted whenever Rick bought a motorbike. During their very first trip, she leaned in that way which, glorying within the feeling of liberty. Rick in the long run pulled over and you will lectured this lady regarding holding on to help you your. The guy needed seriously to discover she was still right back here. However, Kacie was not afraid of falling-off. She are along with her father.
Rick leans against their Kawasaki Vulcan and gazes at Kacie’s gravestone. He or she is clothed entirely in the leather. For the his coat, simply over his cardiovascular system, is the FBI patch you to definitely bears Kacie’s term.
Briefly, a burst from sunshine pierces this new clouds, home heating the new shoulders, although not the latest brick, about what a light porcelain angel slumbers. For a lot of her small life, Kacie desired to feel an enthusiastic angel, just like the girl mother. From inside the second values, to have a school project, she detailed a couple of requires: to become a silver-medal gymnast, and, as time goes by, to visit paradise to see her mother.