In the foreseeable future, if children are ready, she’ll just take Dillon and Stacie in order to Attach Olympus to help you spread its father’s stays.
Rick Woody, today 46, sits in the dimly lit, paneled living room, looking at this new row away from images you to definitely range their mantel.
Last springtime, Rick wanted to create federal and state bodies to share Kacie’s tale from inside the a nationwide work titled “Simple Photo” to practice law enforcement officers and you may teach moms and dads – even in the event he isn’t ready to tune in to the storyline within the totality
There is their spouse, Kristie, their hitting possess framed by a mass of dark, tumbling curls. As there are Kacie, which owned an identical soulful sight and you may enigmatic, close-lipped smile.
“You will find undergone all kinds of thoughts,” Rick states, his deal with unreadable. “I’ve been through the brand new sour phase, brand new wondering-Goodness phase, in which I have questioned, ‘How do you really get my partner right after which turn around and you may just take my daughter?'”
He knows the irony within disaster – that son which turned a cop to help other people was not right here when his very own daughter expected your very.
In the June, the latest FBI displayed Rick that have certainly one hundred commemorative patches impact Kacie’s title. This new blue-and-silver spot illustrates a teddy bear sitting near to a computer. “Kacie Woody, 1989-2002” try published on the pc display screen. FBI representatives and you will regional police that happen to be section of the latest Simple Photographs task push tend to wear the fresh patches.
Guilt and you will exactly what-ifs haunt Rick. Let’s say he’d entitled for the unwell one to evening, instance he had been lured to perform? Imagine if he had kept a deeper eye towards Kacie’s computers circumstances?
“It cannot lead you anyplace in a circle,” he states. “You want to know that which you that is going on on your children’s existence while thought you best hookup sites ireland really have a good idea. ” His voice tracks away from. “You want to cover them. ” Again, a stop just before Rick ends: “She did not have people anxieties.”
White tombstones sparkle against the late-afternoon tincture about this grey, cloudy go out. Crickets chirp, and you can super easy rustles woods with the cusp out-of autumnal glory.
Rick pulls upon their motorcycle, parking in direct front out-of Kacie’s grave. He will be taking off their helmet, strolls for the grave and kneels. 11 months provides passed just like the what can was basically Kacie’s 14th birthday celebration. Tenderly, Rick scoops up the cards and you can cards one to Sam, Jessica or other family relations have remaining.
Years back, Rick showed up right here for each and every Sept. cuatro, their wedding anniversary, to depart yellow flowers for Kristie – you to definitely for each and every year they would was in fact married. In 2010, he remaining twenty-two.
Nevertheless now there clearly was a moment grave needing vegetation, red-colored of them, Kacie’s favourite. Rick will come right here 3 x a week, always to your their cycle. Which seems suitable so you can thunder towards this peaceful spot on his bicycle.
Kacie appreciated to drive having Rick
Kacie was happy when Rick ordered a motorbike. Throughout their basic trip, she leaned by doing this which, glorying within this this new feeling of versatility. Rick in the end pulled over and you can lectured the lady from the securing to help you your. He must see she had been right back truth be told there. But Kacie wasn’t scared of falling-off. She are along with her father.
Rick leans against their Kawasaki Vulcan and you will gazes within Kacie’s gravestone. He could be clad completely from inside the fabric. On their jacket, merely more than his heart, is the FBI area you to definitely contains Kacie’s name.
Briefly, an explosion out of sunshine pierces new clouds, home heating the new arms, however the fresh stone, about what a white porcelain angel slumbers. For the majority of her small lives, Kacie planned to feel an angel, identical to her mother. Within the next amounts, to have a college project, she detailed two requires: to become a gold-medal gymnast, then, later on, to check out paradise observe her mama.