Amish Country Murder (Love Inspired Suspense)

by Mary Alford

  “I do. Hang on a second. I’ll pull up Victoria’s obit. There was a nice photo of her in the paper, though it was from a few years back.”

  The sheriff punched something into his cell and then handed it to Catherine while Sutter studied the photo.

  The woman pictured was around forty. “How old was Victoria when she died?”

  “I believe the obituary said she was fifty-six.”

  “She’d look different before her death, but is she familiar at all?” he asked Catherine. She stared at the screen for the longest time before shaking her head. “She doesn’t.”

  Still, there had to be a connection. “We’ll figure it out,” he said and patted her arm while hoping his words proved true.

  Deputy Clark stuck her head in the door, her gaze landed on Catherine. “Since you’re dressed Amish, I’m wondering if I should change before we head out. Do you have extra clothing?” she asked.

  “I do.” Catherine scraped back her chair and went over to where Sutter had placed her suitcase, with Lily scrambling after her, afraid of being left behind.

  So far, the child hadn’t spoken a single word. Would that change in time? He hated thinking of Lily being permanently scarred because of this monster.

  Catherine handed Megan another dress and kapp, along with an apron and cape.

  “Thanks,” Megan said. With a smile for Lily, she left to change, passing Cole as he came in dressed in khakis and a dress shirt similar to Sutter’s. Cole’s hair was dark like Sutter’s. With a pair of sunglasses covering his face, Cole could easily pass for him to a casual observer. Sutter hoped the killer wouldn’t be paying too much attention to details.

  “I’m taking food requests,” Janine said. “Are sandwiches from Howard’s Diner across the street okay?” Most everyone nodded and she left to place the order.

  “Well, this is interesting.” Deputy Ryan Sinclair sat back in his chair and studied something on his laptop.

  Excitement poured into Sutter’s veins when he leaned over and stared at the screen. The headlines were from around twenty years earlier.

  A woman had been found dead in the park from a gunshot wound to the chest. A note left near the body had read: “You made me do this...”

  Was it possible there had been another victim of the Dead of Night Killer right here in Eagle’s Nest two decades ago? Had the killer come home to his original hunting grounds to start up his deadly game once more?

  NINE

  Catherine watched the little girl she’d instinctively known was called Lily play with the faceless doll she’d given her, and smiled. She was happy to see her finally relaxing somewhat.

  She’d moved the child over to the sofa in the corner of the room, away from the officers working on the investigation.

  Lily held the doll up for her to see.

  “She is pretty. What’s her name?” A memory niggled at Catherine’s brain. She’d kept the doll through the years, had shared it with someone else at one point.

  Lily stared at her without answering.

  “I think she looks like an Emma,” Catherine said. “Isn’t that a pretty name?” She willed Lily to answer, but the little girl hugged the doll close and dug into the basket of toys once more.

  Someone came over. It was Sutter, holding up a couple sandwiches, and a carton of milk for Lily. He put the food on the coffee table and grinned at the little girl. “It looks like Janine fixed you up with some neat toys.” Sitting next to Catherine, he asked, “How are you holding up?” She watched him lean his head back against the sofa. He had to be exhausted.

  “I’m oke.” She shifted to face him. His eyes were closed. His dark hair caught the light above, which highlighted glints of gold. She could see the weariness around his eyes that spoke of the many sleepless nights he’d endured since this nightmare began.

  He opened his eyes and caught her watching. Catherine ducked her head toward Lily, who was playing with a couple toy pots and pans.

  “You’re tired,” she said, without looking at him again.

  “Part of the job, I guess.” He was trying to dismiss her concern, she knew. He was a gut man and was doing so much to protect her.

  On an impulse, she reached for his hand. “Denki, Sutter. I know how hard you are working to bring this man in.”

  His gentle brown eyes swept over her face. “You’re welcome.” That deep, husky voice sent shivers through her body.

  Lily stopped playing and stared straight at Sutter with those huge eyes.

  “You remember Sutter,” Catherine said to her.

  The little girl didn’t answer. What was she thinking?

  “Janine ordered you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” Sutter told Lily.

  Lily accepted the sandwich from him, took a big bite, then handed it back.

  He twisted to look at Catherine and chuckled. “I think she likes it.”

  Catherine smiled. “And you. She likes you. Children know who they can trust.”

  Sutter sank down to the floor near where Lily was playing, occasionally handing her one of the toys.

  “Megan and Cole left for the decoy house a little while ago,” he said eventually. “We should be safe to leave for the Warrens’ whenever we want.”

  Catherine watched Sutter with the child. He would make a good father. He’d told her he’d belonged to the Amish faith until his brother died. He carried around so much guilt.

  Sutter turned to her with questions in his eyes. She could feel the heat creeping up her neck and she looked away. What was wrong with her?

  She cleared her throat. “Megan looks a lot like me. I hope this man will believe the deception.”

  “Me, too. He obviously followed them from the Warrens’ place last night,” he said, though his doubts clear.

  Lily came back for another bite. “You should eat something, too.” Sutter told Catherine. “I’ll check in with the sheriff before we leave.” He rose to his feet. After tousling Lily’s hair, he went back to the table.

  “Finish your sandwich, Lily. We must leave soon.”

  The little girl shook her head.

  Catherine put the sandwich down and gently placed her hands on Lily’s shoulders. “We’re going to the home of some nice people. They have a little girl around your age. You will like Katie, and we will be safe there.”

  Lily stared at her with sad eyes.

  She drew the little girl into her lap. “I know you miss your mamm, but she will be back soon, I promise.” Catherine prayed what she said would prove true and her friend would return to them safe and sound. For Lily’s sake. For everyone’s.

  * * *

  “Are you ready?” Sutter asked Catherine. When she nodded, he picked up her suitcase, and together they headed to the dispatcher’s station.

  “Wave goodbye to Janine,” Catherine told the child in her arms. Smiling shyly, Lily ducked her head against Catherine’s neck and waved her little hand. Sutter was amazed at how good Catherine was with her.

  “She’s the cutest thing,” Janine said. “Howard is going to be so upset he didn’t get to meet her. He loves children and adores Noah’s little girl.”

  Sutter had heard all about Janine’s new love interest during some of their quiet talks after long nights going through the gruesome details of the case. Howard sounded like the perfect match for Janine.

  “Maybe once this ends, and Lily and her mother are reunited, we can meet Howard,” Catherine suggested.

  “Yes, to happier days.” Janine turned to Sutter. “And we should all celebrate before you and James leave.”

  “I’ll gladly buy.” He’d be happy to foot the bill when that day came.

  His partner motioned Sutter over. “Once we know more details about the earlier case, I’ll be in touch. Seems odd that no one here remembers anything about it, though.”

  The sheri
ff at the time of the murder had since passed away. His replacement had moved to a warmer climate, and there’d been a fire at the station that had destroyed a lot of the older records.

  “Hopefully, the sheriff will be able contact the deputy who took the job over after the sheriff passed. Maybe he can shed some light on if there were any suspects at the time.”

  “Let’s hope. Stay safe,” James told him.

  Sutter headed outside with Catherine and Lily.

  “You love your doll, don’t you?” he asked the little girl as he buckled her into the car seat, which Cole had moved into Sheriff Collins’s truck.

  Once she was secure, he circled the rear of the vehicle and climbed behind the wheel.

  The unease radiating from Catherine reminded him of the last time they’d made the trip to the Warrens’ home.

  “We should be fine. If something looks out of place, we’ll turn around and head back.”

  She finally nodded. Sutter put the truck in gear and eased around the station to the street.

  The day was fading quickly. Twilight came early to this mountain town.

  As if his head was on a swivel, Sutter kept looking behind them. Every side road they crossed had them on edge.

  His thoughts returned to the murder from twenty years earlier. All they had to go on was what the newspaper reported. The body of a young woman by the name of Melissa Holt had been found near the same park where they’d recently discovered the first victim, Shelly White. Melissa had been shot point-blank in the chest. There was no mention of a scarf, yet the similarity of the cause of death, coupled with the note, was too much of a coincidence for him not to believe it was related to the current murders. The Dead of Night Killer had struck before. Was Melissa the first or were there others?

  They left the town behind. As the rolling countryside stretched out before them, something up ahead caught his attention. A car parked on the side of the road. As they drew closer, Sutter noticed it had a flat tire.

  A man leaned into the trunk, obviously looking for something. Snow had started to fall again and Sutter felt bad for him. Leaving the man to change the tire alone went against his upbringing.

  He pulled up behind the car and Catherine’s frightened eyes found his.

  “I’m going to help him change the tire. I’ll lock the doors.”

  She swallowed visibly before nodding.

  Sutter exited and hit the key fob and all the locks slid into place.

  As he approached, the man whirled. Sutter stopped, taking in his nervous, somewhat disheveled appearance. He was tall, but average in build, and it was his eyes that captured Sutter’s attention. They were dark. Angry.

  Goose bumps fled up his arms. Was he in the presence of the Dead of Night Killer?

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” Sutter said after a moment.

  The man’s eyes darted to the truck, where Catherine and Lily were waiting.

  “I guess I’m a little on edge with all those murders taking place around town. Makes a body nervous. You never know who you can trust.”

  Why would the man’s conversation go straight to the killings? His body language reflected excitement.

  Sutter slid a hand inside his jacket and flipped the snap off his holster as he advanced. “Do you have a spare?” he asked, and noticed the man had it halfway out of the trunk.

  “I do. Jack, too. I sure appreciate you stopping. Folks nowadays are too afraid to lend a hand.” Was it a coincidence this guy kept steering the conversation back to the murders?

  “I understand.” Sutter rolled the spare tire to the flat one and worked on removing the lug nuts.

  The man came and stood a little too close for Sutter’s comfort. He noticed something that put him on immediate alert. The guy smelled like smoke. Wood smoke.

  Sutter’s hands shook slightly as he worked, keeping a close eye on the man, who kept glancing at the truck.

  “That your vehicle?” he asked.

  He wasn’t sure how to answer.

  “It’s a nice one. Sheriff Collins has one like it. Name’s Peter Atkins,” he said, offering his hand.

  Sutter noticed Catherine leaning forward in her seat, her eyes glued on Atkins.

  “Sutter Brenneman.” Sutter brushed his palms together, then shook the man’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  “You new to town?” Atkins asked.

  Sutter kept his answers as vague as possible. “Something like that.”

  Once the old tire was removed, it didn’t take long to put the new one in place.

  As Sutter placed the blown tire inside the trunk, he noticed something that sent his doubts skyrocketing: several drops of splattered blood. He recalled that the killer had put Catherine in a trunk.

  “You a hunter, Peter?” Sutter pointed to the blood. A blanket was stuffed in the back of the trunk. A shotgun peeked from underneath it, and something else Sutter couldn’t identify.

  The man grew nervous, like before. He was clearly hiding something. “Oh, that. I get nosebleeds.” He slammed the trunk closed a little too quickly.

  As Atkins whirled around, Sutter spotted a bulge under his jacket. A gun.

  The desire to arrest Atkins on the spot was strong, but so far, all he had was circumstantial evidence. They’d need more to tie this guy to the murders. And he needed to get Catherine out of here, because he didn’t trust this man one bit.

  “That your girlfriend?” Atkins asked, turning his attention to Catherine. “She’s Amish, isn’t she?”

  Before Sutter knew what he intended, Atkins headed for the truck, with Sutter scrambling after him.

  Atkins knocked on the window. Catherine slowly lowered it.

  “You from the Amish community nearby?” Atkins asked her.

  The man’s strange behavior set off all sorts of warning bells.

  From the backseat, Lily began to cry. Did she pick up on Catherine’s concerns or did she recognize Peter Atkins as the man who had taken her mother away?

  TEN

  Those eyes! Like the killer’s. But his voice? She wasn’t sure.

  The man watched her, waiting for an answer, yet she could not produce a single word.

  “Sorry to rush you, but we need to be on our way,” Sutter said, and all but forced the man back to his car.

  “Oh, alright. I sure do appreciate the help,” Atkins told him as he climbed inside. After he closed the door, he rolled the window down, and his voice carried back to Catherine. “You and your lady friend take care. There’s a killer on the loose. Being out here on this lonely road isn’t safe. Especially for her. She looks like the other victims. It’d be a shame if anything were to happen to her.”

  Before Sutter managed to utter a word, Atkins fired the car’s engine and waved. “See you.” With that chilling threat hanging in the air, the older man yanked the car onto the road and headed in the direction they’d been going.

  Sutter didn’t wait for the vehicle to get out of sight. He ran to the truck and put it in Drive, then whipped around the opposite way.

  Lily had begun to sob and Catherine leaned over the seat and clasped the little girl’s tiny hand. “You’re okay, sweetie. The man is gone now. Everything’s okay.” The child hiccupped a couple of breaths before slowly quieting.

  Catherine turned back to Sutter. “We saw his face,” she said in amazement and couldn’t believe what had just happened.

  Sutter kept checking the rearview mirror. “And he had a gun on him.” He shot her a look. “He smelled like wood smoke, too.”

  His answer chilled her blood. “Why would he show us his face?”

  “He not only did that, he gave me his name. Definitely not within the killer’s MO. Still, he could be playing with us.” But Sutter sounded doubtful. He didn’t say as much, but she understood. It didn’t add up.

  A
s they headed back to town, Sutter called the sheriff and gave him as much information as possible without mentioning the blood. He didn’t want to upset Lily further.

  “What happens next?” She was too stunned to think clearly.

  “Sheriff Collins is going to see if he can get a warrant to search Atkin’s car.”

  Catherine clutched his arm. “What if he has her at his house?” she whispered. “If he thinks we’re onto him he might...” She couldn’t finish. The thought of Lily losing her mother to this monster was unthinkable.

  “If this is our guy, we’ve got him.” Sutter didn’t appear convinced, either.

  The town came into view, and then the sheriff’s station. Sutter pulled around back to where Sheriff Collins waited for them. With Lily safe in Catherine’s arms, they hurried inside and locked the door.

  “I have a cot I can set up in my office for you and Lily. The sofa’s comfortable, but not very roomy,” Sheriff Collins said in a kind voice.

  “Denki,” she managed to answer, while trying to keep her troubling thoughts to herself for Lily’s sake.

  Janine met them before they reached the office. “I heard what happened. I know Peter well. I can’t believe he would do such a thing.”

  Catherine placed Lily on the floor. The little girl clutched her skirt without saying a word. Her reaction to Atkins was disturbing.

  Sutter carried in the basket of toys and Catherine smiled at his consideration.

  “You’re safe here,” he assured her. “If Atkins is the Dead of Night Killer, it’s only a matter of time before we arrest him.”

  Exhaustion settled down deep and Catherine prayed this would all end soon.

  Sutter and Janine finished setting up the cot. “I’ll stay with Catherine and the baby,” the dispatcher offered. “You go catch this guy before he hurts anyone else. If it’s Peter, then so be it.”

  Sutter watched Catherine closely. “No, that’s okay. I’ll stay.”

  Relief swept through her. She felt safe with him close.

  “You look ready to drop,” Sutter told her, once Janine left. “I’ll watch Lily. Why don’t you stretch out on the cot and get some rest?”