Hidden in Plain Sight

by Karen Ann Hopkins

  “These Amish cases are always frustrating. Just when I’m closing in on the bad guy, another suspect pops up and I have to start all over.” I glanced at Todd. His hair was freshly buzzed and his face cleanly shaven. He seemed more relaxed than usual and I couldn’t help commenting on it. “Isn’t Heather’s due date next week?”

  A smile crept onto his face. “Yeah. Very soon I’m going to be a daddy.”

  “You seem awfully calm. Are you taking pills or drinking a lot of tea?”

  He shook his head roughly. “You’re so dammed cynical. How do you live with such a pessimistic outlook on life?”

  “It’s a valid question. Not so long ago, you were a basket case about the unplanned pregnancy and rushed wedding. What’s changed?” I was genuinely fascinated with Todd’s transformation in the past few months. He was like a different person. He rarely made rude comments to me and I would classify his overall attitude as subdued.

  “Having a child changes a person. It finally sank in that I’ve begun the second chapter of my life. And you know what? It’s even better than the last one.”

  “Married life does seem to suit you well,” I admitted.

  He laughed. “Heather and I had lived together for so long, I didn’t think it would make a difference if we made it official—but it did. Something changed. She’s happier, more easygoing so to speak, and that’s affected me. I don’t know why I didn’t pop the question sooner.”

  “We all wondered that.” I grunted and my eyes flicked to him. “Why is it some men wait until a baby is on the way to make a commitment?”

  “Daniel didn’t.” He smirked, revealing a little of his old self. “Unless there’s a bun in the oven I don’t know about.”

  “Hell no!” I exclaimed, and then dropped my voice. “Daniel is a different sort of man, that’s for sure. I wish he’d slow down a bit.”

  “I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure about him at first.” Catching my questioning look, he added, “I mean, he was a nice guy and all, but his past made me wonder if you’d be happy with him in the long run. If you’re born Amish, you might physically leave, but it’s always in his head—if you know what I mean.”

  “Yeah, I get it. Daniel has his Amish moments, but that traditional upbringing helped make him into the man he is today. He’d never go back to that way of life.” I stared out the window, muttering, “At least I don’t think he would.”

  “You’re safe, Serenity. He adores you and he knows you’ll never put on one of those frumpy, polyester dresses and cover your hair with a stiff white cap.”

  “I wear a hat every day on the job—what’s the difference?” I raised an eyebrow at him.

  Todd was about to respond when his hand went up and he pointed at the road. “I do believe we’re heading in the right direction.”

  I followed his gaze to the line of vehicles in front of us. Two moving trucks led the way, followed by two pickup trucks pulling livestock trailers. The best I could make out as we rounded the curve was the first trailer contained cows and the one directly in front of us held several dark-colored horses. A Pennsylvania license plate was on the trailer in front of us.

  I sat back. “Sure enough. We’ve found our man.”

  We parked along the driveway and waited. When the last horse was pulled off the trailer, I flung the door open and headed straight for Joshua Miller. A little girl took the lead rope attached to the tall horse from him and led the prancing animal toward the barn. He bent down to a second, even smaller girl and gently shoved her in the direction of the house where a round, gray-haired woman waited. The woman called out in Pennsylvania Dutch, waving her hand at the girl. I thought I heard the name Sylvia, but wouldn’t bet any money on it. The child ran across the yard with a brown dog loping beside her.

  Joshua was shouting out orders to several men who had gathered around him. A boy was tapping a large pig with a long stick and when the animal turned suddenly, he fell into the mud. Joshua ran over and helped the boy up and thrust his hand out for the kid to chase after the pig. I couldn’t understand anything anyone was saying, but I didn’t need to. They’d obviously moved the entire farm to Blood Rock.

  Todd leaned over. “Maybe this isn’t such a good time to bother the man.”

  My eyes narrowed when Lester and Mervin appeared from the side of the cow trailer. Bishop Esch and Moses were with them, assisting with the corral chute for the cattle to be unloaded. About a half dozen black buggies were parked a little ways up the driveway in front of another barn. I exhaled loudly. Figures. Most of the community had already arrived to welcome the newest member of the church.

  Even for all my reservations and worry the night before, Daniel had managed to get me into a romantic mood when we’d finally gotten back home. Even now, I could still feel the touch of his hands on my breasts and the taste of his lips on mine. This investigation couldn’t wait. I’d lose my mind if I didn’t get some answers soon. To hell with inconveniencing Joshua Miller. I wasn’t putting it off until John and Toby got back into town either. I couldn’t take the chance that evidence would come to light that would incriminate Daniel before I had the opportunity to speak with him first. Things could spiral out of my hands quickly if I wasn’t careful.

  “Trust me. This is too important. I have to talk to Mr. Miller today,” I said bluntly, not meeting Todd’s eyes.

  Bishop Esch was the first to spot me. He stared for a moment before walking to Joshua. I saw him point in my direction, say a few words and then go back to helping the others with the cattle.

  Joshua strode over, frowning. I straightened under his hard look, adjusting my sunglasses.

  “Sheriff Adams—is that correct?” Joshua said before he even reached us.

  I nodded, studying the man’s tall physique. He stood confidently, reminding me of Daniel or the bishop. His beard and hair were thick and light brown, and his features sharp—almost wolfish.

  I drew in a short breath. “Mr. Miller, I’d like to ask you a few questions if you don’t mind.”

  He raised his hands and lifted his chin to the side. “I’m really busy here, Sheriff. Can it wait until another day?”

  Most people were a little curious about a visit from the law, unless they had something to hide. I stared at the Amish man, trying to gauge his complete lack of interest in my visit. Had the bishop already mentioned the Buddy Prowes’ case to him or did he have a guilty conscience?

  “No, it can’t wait.” I motioned towards the cruiser. “It will be quieter in the car.”

  Joshua smacked his lips and his cheek twitched. He walked past us to the car. Todd lifted his brow high at me and mumbled something unintelligible.

  Once we were seated, I turned sideways and looked back at Joshua. His face was rigid, like a sulky goat, reminding me of when I’d questioned Eli Bender in the backseat of a car. I certainly hoped this interview went smoother than that one had.

  Feeling a sense of urgency for Daniel’s sake, I didn’t waste time on niceties or psychological manipulation. “Did you know Buddy Prowes?”

  A small smile cracked on Joshua’s face and then was gone. “I know of the man, but not personally.”

  I took a moment to think about the best way to proceed while giving the Amish man some time to become rattled. I didn’t really think this particular guy would slip up. He was way too cool for that. After a mutual stare down, I decided the best way to deal with such an arrogant man was to soften my approach.

  I removed my sunglasses and lightened my tone. “I’d really hoped you might be able to help me with the investigation. You live in my backyard now—” I shrugged “—we’re almost neighbors.”

  His narrowed gaze flicked from my hair back to my eyes. If the man played poker, he’d be good at it. I couldn’t read him at all through his stoic expression. But when he spoke, I knew I’d played my cards right.

  “I don’t understand
why the sudden interest in the case after so many years.” He leaned back and inclined his head. “Everything I’ve heard, Buddy wasn’t a nice man. Why are you his champion?”

  The question startled me and I pulled back.

  Todd barked out, “A murder was committed. It’s our job to find out the truth, even if the victim wasn’t likable. Assholes have rights too.”

  My stomach clenched as I looked at Joshua. His lip curled up to the side. He knew he’d hit a nerve and he was enjoying it. I’d have to tread carefully with him. He wasn’t an ordinary Amish man. He was as sure of himself as the bishop was, but without the pious nature. He felt superior to outsiders and he didn’t bother to hide his feelings. I had no idea if he had any connection to Buddy’s murder, but I was certain the man would stir up trouble in Blood Rock if given the chance.

  I ignored Joshua’s question all together, not giving him any power in the interview. “One more thing before you go—do you know a Jerimiah Suggs?”

  His face didn’t change expression and he remained quiet for long enough that tension filled the cab. I caught a glimpse of someone walking by the car and Todd moaned. We exchanged glances and I rolled my eyes. This day had just managed to get worse.

  Joshua smiled slightly and I got the feeling he was about to throw me a bone. “I knew a man who used to be called by that name, for a short time.”

  I raised my brows and leaned over the seat, holding my breath.

  “Jerimiah went English for a while. He changed his name back to his birth name went he returned to our people.” Joshua looked back at me with a smug little grin.

  He’d purposely said our people to let me know in clear terms where his allegiance was. He’d just drawn a line in the sand.

  “Okay. What’s he called now?” I lifted my chin, fighting down the butterflies erupting in my belly.

  “Stoltzfus—Jerimiah Stoltzfus. At the time he was an outsider, he purchased a rental building just over the county line into York. It’s my recollection some young Amish men stayed there—something of a boarding house you can say.”

  “Did you live there?” I asked.

  He snorted and cleared his throat. “No. Unlike the others, I wasn’t a lost soul, searching for freedom from my community.”

  I quickly digested what he’d said. Now other possibilities were beginning to nudge and prod me. I stopped him when he gripped the door handle.

  “You said only one more question.” He looked up with a twinkle in his eye that I found unsettling.

  “I lied.” I pointed out the window. “Why is he here?”

  I realized I’d given too much of my personal feelings away when Joshua’s gaze followed mine and then he looked back. “The lower forty acres of my property, I bought from Tony Manning. He’s going to walk the fence line with me and point out a spring that’s covered with bushes,” he said, his rough, low voice straining to sound sweet.

  I nodded and followed him out of the car before Todd could say anything.

  “Sheriff.” Joshua tipped his straw hat and grinned. “I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of each other now that we’re neighbors and all.”

  I nodded, but remained tight lipped, watching him walk away and begin shouting orders out to the men waiting beside the trailer.

  “He’s a prick, isn’t he?” Todd sidled up to me.

  “Yeah…and unfortunately, a smart one,” I muttered.

  “Come on. Let’s get out of here before there’s trouble,” Todd said. There was a hint of pleading in his voice as he nudged me.

  “Wait for me in the car. I have someone else I need to talk to.”

  “I was afraid you’d say that.” Todd shook his head, but left me.

  Tony had already glanced over at me several times, but this time, seeing me standing alone and staring back at him, he made his move.

  When he approached, I noticed his blue eyes looked even lighter in the sunshine. He was a big guy and I had to crane my neck to look up at his face. If he lost thirty pounds, he’d be Clint Eastwood’s twin. A fact that had helped build up his reputation as a dude not to be messed with in Blood Rock, even before he became sheriff.

  He smirked. “It’s nice to see you out of that stuffy little office of yours and mingling with the common folk.”

  I choked down several comebacks. Tony liked to rile me, and I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d succeeded. Plus, I just didn’t have the energy for an argument at the moment, and I was still distracted by the information Joshua Miller had provided me and wondering why he’d been so helpful.

  “It’s nice that you have remained in contact with the Amish people,” I commented, looking past him as the first cows jumped off the trailer and into the chute.

  Tony moved to my side, observing the same scene before he glanced down. I caught his gaze.

  “They’re an interesting people—best neighbors you can have. But I never forget they have their own agenda, always.” I tilted my head and my heartbeat slowed. Tony didn’t bother to lower his voice. Everyone was busy, jogging here and there to unload animals and carry boxes to the house. “They aren’t much different from you and me, really. They try to do the right thing, but many of them hold grudges.” He smiled as though he knew a secret. “I learned a long time ago how competitive they really are. They know jealousy is a sin, but many of them covet each other’s farms, livelihoods, horses and even wives.” When he saw my brow lift above my sunglasses, his smiled deepened. It wasn’t a friendly gesture, more of a sinister look that sent chills down my spine. “When you’re aware of their true natures, and open your eyes wide enough, you’ll see who has it in for who. And that’s the person you want to talk to when you’re looking for answers.”

  I opened my mouth, but Tony turned away and joined the others at the corral.

  The gloomy weather matched my mood when I walked to the cruiser and climbed in.

  “How did that go?” Todd asked carefully.

  “Maybe Tony ate his happy cereal this morning.” I glanced over at Todd. “He gave me some advice. And for a change, I think it might actually help.”

  16

  “Do you really have to go back to Pennsylvania today?” Daniel sat on the bed as I threw my clothes into a duffle bag.

  The sky outside the window was still hazy dark, but to the east it was brightening. I hated getting up so early, but when I’d received John’s text message about meeting in Strasburg that morning, I couldn’t say no. I contacted Todd and rearranged my schedule. Now all I had to do was get away without Daniel trying to come along.

  “Yeah, it’s bad timing, I know. We have one more lead to follow up on.”

  “Can’t the marshals handle it on their own?” His voice rasped.

  I paused from stuffing a shirt into the bag. “Sure. But I want to follow through on this one.” I saw the hurt on Daniel’s face before he looked away. I felt breathless. “So you never spent much time in Lancaster?”

  His head snapped up. “Like I said before, I’ve been there.”

  His vague answer heated my cheeks and made me queasy. The last thing I wanted to do was lose it and say something that would indicate that I knew he was lying. But I decided to take a chance and trust him a little. After all, we were engaged and other than him lying about knowing Buddy, I didn’t have any evidence he had taken part in the crime in any way.

  “Joshua Miller is a haughty guy, isn’t he?”

  “Josh isn’t so bad. He’s the first one to show up when someone needs help. He just never questioned being Amish. It always made sense to him.” Daniel raised a defiant eyebrow. “I always envied his steadfastness.”

  I stared at him, trying hard to keep my facial expression bland. I’d only mentioned Joshua Miller to him in passing after I’d seen the man talking to Elayne, Moses and Tony at the diner. How could Daniel know so much about an Amish guy from
Lancaster if he didn’t admit that he had indeed lived there for a while?

  I didn’t want him to know he’d just messed up, so I quickly continued, “He said that Jerimiah Suggs is actually Jerimiah Stoltzfus. I guess the guy left the Amish for a while and changed his name.”

  Daniel refused to acknowledge what I’d just said. The quiet in the bedroom was so complete I feared he could hear my heart beating.

  I waited, the pain in my gut twisting even more.

  When he looked up, his face was scrunched. “I wish you wouldn’t go.”

  Daniel wasn’t the type of guy who showed his vulnerability often. The fear lighting his eyes made my heart skip. I wrapped my arms around him and he grasped my hips and pressed his cheek against my breasts.

  “I’ll be back tomorrow—the next day at the latest. It’s not a big deal,” I murmured into his hair.

  “A lot can change in a couple of days,” he said and I froze in his arms. He added, “When your woman is a cop.”

  His last statement didn’t make me breathe any easier. Daniel knew I was close to finding out the truth about Buddy Prowes, and he was afraid.

  I glanced up at the rapidly moving clouds. The wind was sharp and the air was charged with energy. The trees framing the front of the two story, rectangular building were bent low, their branches scraping the siding. The metal sign at the curb, STOLTZFUS BED AND BREAKFAST, snapped back and forth with clinking noises.

  “So now it’s a tourist attraction,” I mumbled, glancing at Toby.

  He lifted a brow. “Can’t blame them. On a full night, this place probably brings in a fortune.”

  John spread his arm wide, directing me up the porch steps first. I didn’t waste any time going through the door.

  The walls and floor of the room were lightly stained wooden boards. A countryside painting with a horse, buggy and a farmhouse was displayed on one wall and a colorful woven rug took up much of the floor space. An Amish girl sat behind the desk in the corner. She looked up, smiled brightly and then called out in her language. The woman who bustled through the arched doorway wore a pretty blue dress, but her apron was stained and her face was smudged with flour. She held out a tray of pastries to us and said, “Good afternoon. Looks like you made it before the stormy weather arrives.”