As time goes on, in the event the kids are ready, she will bring Dillon and Stacie so you can Install Olympus to scatter their dad’s stays.
Rick Woody, today 46, lies within his candle lit, paneled living room, observing new line off photo one to range his mantel.
Last spring, Rick offered to allow it to be federal and state authorities to talk about Kacie’s tale within the a national effort entitled “Innocent Photo” to rehearse cops and you can teach parents – whether or not he isn’t happy to listen to the story within the entirety
There is his wife, Kristie, the woman striking features presented by the scores of black, tumbling curls. As there are Kacie, who owned a comparable soulful sight and you may enigmatic, close-lipped look.
“We have undergone all types of thinking,” Rick states, his deal with unreadable. “We have gone through the fresh new bitter stage, the wanting to know-Jesus phase, in which I have requested, ‘How might you grab my partner right after which turn around and you may capture my personal little girl?'”
He recognizes the fresh new paradox contained in this disaster – that kid just who became a policeman to simply help others was not here when his very own child needed your really.
In the Summer, the FBI presented Rick that have certainly one of a hundred commemorative spots results Kacie’s term. The new bluish-and-silver spot illustrates a teddy-bear seated close to a computer. “Kacie Woody, 1989-2002” is released on the pc monitor. FBI agents and you can local police who will be element of the latest Simple Photos task push tend to don the latest patches.
Shame and just what-ifs haunt Rick. Imagine if he previously named from inside the unwell one to evening, particularly he was tempted to would? Imagine if he previously kept a deeper eyes into Kacie’s computers facts?
“It can’t lead you anywhere in a circle,” he says. “You’d like to learn that which you that is taking place in your child’s lives and you also envision you really have wise. ” His voice trails out of. “We want to protect her or him. ” Once more, a pause ahead of Rick stops: “She didn’t have one anxieties.”
White tombstones glitter resistant to the late-afternoon tincture with this gray, overcast go out. Crickets chirp, and you can 
super easy rustles woods into cusp out of autumnal magnificence.
Rick draws abreast of their cycle, parking directly in front out-of Kacie’s grave. He takes off their helmet, guides into the grave and you can kneels. 11 weeks have passed as what would was indeed Kacie’s 14th birthday celebration. Tenderly, Rick scoops up the notes and you may notes one Sam, Jessica and other family members have remaining.
In years past, Rick emerged here for each and every Sept. 4, his wedding anniversary, to depart yellow roses getting Kristie – you to definitely for each seasons they would had been married. In 2010, he remaining twenty-two.
Nevertheless now there is certainly a moment grave needing flowers, reddish of these, Kacie’s favorite. Rick appear right here 3 x a week, usually towards the his bike. That it appears fitted so you’re able to thunder on this silent spot on their bicycle.
Kacie enjoyed to journey which have Rick
Kacie is actually delighted when Rick ordered a motorbike. Throughout their earliest trip, she leaned by doing this hence, glorying in this brand new sense of independence. Rick fundamentally pulled over and you may lectured the lady throughout the securing so you can your. The guy needed seriously to discover she had been right back truth be told there. But Kacie wasn’t scared of falling-off. She is actually together with her daddy.
Rick leans facing their Kawasaki Vulcan and you may gazes at the Kacie’s gravestone. He or she is clothed completely into the fabric. Toward their coat, just over their cardio, is the FBI plot one to contains Kacie’s term.
Briefly, an explosion of sunrays pierces brand new clouds, warming the fresh new arms, but not the newest stone, on which a white porcelain angel slumbers. To have the majority of this lady short lifetime, Kacie wanted to be a keen angel, same as the woman mom. During the next level, to possess a school assignment, she indexed two goals: becoming a gold-medal gymnast, then, later on, to check out paradise observe their mommy.
