Down the road, if the children are able, she’ll capture Dillon and you may Stacie to Install Olympus so you can spread its dad’s stays.
Rick Woody, now 46, lies within his candle lit, paneled living room, observing brand new row out of images that line their mantel.
Last spring 
, Rick provided to succeed state and federal authorities to fairly share Kacie’s facts for the a national energy titled “Simple Photo” to train cops and you may inform moms and dads – even if he’s not prepared to hear the story in totality
There clearly was their wife, Kristie, their hitting provides presented by a mass of black, tumbling curls. And there is Kacie, whom had a similar soulful attention and enigmatic, close-lipped look.
“You will find experienced all kinds of thinking,” Rick states, his face unreadable. “I have experienced the fresh bitter stage, this new thinking-Goodness stage, where I’ve questioned, ‘How can you take my spouse and turn around and you may get my young girl?'”
The guy knows new irony in this tragedy – that the boy which turned into a cop to greatly help others was not right here when his or her own girl expected your most.
From inside the June, the brand new FBI demonstrated Rick that have certainly 100 commemorative spots impact Kacie’s term. Brand new blue-and-silver patch portrays a teddy-bear sitting close to a pc. “Kacie Woody, 1989-2002” is actually published using the pc screen. FBI agents and you will local police officers who’re part of this new Innocent Photos activity force tend to don this new spots.
Shame and exactly what-ifs haunt Rick. Let’s say he’d entitled inside the unwell that nights, eg he had been lured to would? Let’s say he’d remaining a better eyes to the Kacie’s computer situations?
“It can’t direct you anyplace but in a group,” according to him. “You’d like to learn what you that is going on in your child’s lifetime therefore envision you’ve got sensible. ” Their sound tracks away from. “We would like to include him or her. ” Again, a stop in advance of Rick concludes: “She did not have people concerns.”
Light tombstones glitter against the later-afternoon shadows with this grey, cloudy day. Crickets chirp, and you may quite simple rustles woods towards the cusp out-of autumnal glory.
Rick draws upon their bike, parking directly in front side from Kacie’s grave. He will be taking off his head protection, walks toward grave and kneels. 11 days have passed as what would had been Kacie’s 14th birthday celebration. Tenderly, Rick scoops up the cards and you will cards one to Sam, Jessica and other family relations have gone.
Years ago, Rick showed up right here for every Sept. 4, his wedding anniversary, to exit red roses having Kristie – you to definitely for each seasons they’d was hitched. This season, the guy kept twenty two.
The good news is there is certainly one minute grave wanting plants, red-colored of them, Kacie’s favorite. Rick comes here 3 times per week, constantly to the their motorcycle. So it looks fitted to thunder to the which peaceful just right their bike.
Kacie enjoyed in order to ride having Rick
Kacie is actually thrilled when Rick bought a motorcycle. During their earliest excursion, she leaned this way hence, glorying within this new feeling of liberty. Rick eventually stopped and you can lectured this lady throughout the securing so you’re able to him. He must understand she had been back truth be told there. But Kacie was not afraid of falling off. She are with her daddy.
Rick leans up against his Kawasaki Vulcan and you can gazes at the Kacie’s gravestone. He or she is clothed completely into the leather-based. Toward his coat, only more their center, is the FBI area you to carries Kacie’s name.
Temporarily, an explosion of sunshine pierces the newest clouds, warming the brand new arms, yet not the new brick, about what a white ceramic angel slumbers. To own much of this lady short lifetime, Kacie wanted to end up being a keen angel, identical to the lady mommy. From inside the next amounts, for a college task, she indexed two needs: to become a silver-medal gymnast, following, down the road, to go to paradise observe this lady mother.