by Dana R. Lynn
“What makes you so sure?”
“Just a feeling.”
“And the guy who almost nabbed you?” Marshal Delacure took a seat at the large rectangular table. They all followed suit.
Katie bit her lip and squinted her eyes in thought. “When he came in, he asked me how I knew Beth. I don’t think he knew I was a cop. More likely, someone is searching for Beth and was watching the house.”
Marshal Hendrix leaned in. “Did he make any mention of your police work?”
“No. His whole focus was on Beth. So obviously he wasn’t involved in her disappearance.”
“Maybe not her disappearance, but I’m curious to know why he was watching for her.” Marshal Hendrix sat back, drumming his fingers on the table.
“What was she doing?” Katie burst out. “Was she involved in something she shouldn’t have been?”
As far as he could tell, these were rhetorical questions.
Except Marshal Delacure looked uneasy. “I don’t know if it means anything, but she seemed very distracted the last time we met. We were in Berlin at a coffee shop. Just having a casual lunch. She mentioned a young boy that had recently overdosed, but then the waitress brought our food. When she left, Beth changed the subject.”
Abram pushed his chair back and stood so he could pace. The others stared at him, but he ignored them. He needed to think. “I think I know who she was talking about. There was a boy who died recently. He was in another district, so I’m not sure of his name. It was real suspicious, though. Everyone who knew him declared he’d never been involved with anything like drugs before.”
“I’m not sure what you mean by he isn’t from your district. I don’t know why everyone was shocked. Isn’t that a normal thing, with your running around time, whatever it’s called? I think you’d expect something like this if you let your kids ignore the rules.”
Abram scowled. Who was this man to judge their customs?
“It’s called Rumspringa, and you have no clue what you’re talking about.” Katie bit out each word. “How did you become Beth’s handler if you aren’t familiar with Amish culture?”
“He’s not. I am.” Marshal Delacure glared at her partner. “We are together because there’s safety in numbers.”
“To answer your question,” Abram said, mostly to diffuse the thick tension vibrating in the room, “the Amish community is divided into districts. There are around nineteen families in each. That makes it easier to gather. Most of the districts have their own bishop, preachers and deacons. Although there are a couple of districts that share a bishop.”
“And Rumspringa doesn’t mean all the rules disappear,” Katie added. “Sure, some of the rules are more relaxed, but most kids don’t do much. So, no. Having a kid suddenly do a one-eighty and start taking drugs is not normal.”
Marshal Hendrix sighed. “I apologize. I think we need to assume that this case might be connected to her disappearance.”
“How do you mean?” Katie asked in a soft voice.
“I mean, maybe Beth was somehow involved in what happened.”
Marshal Delacure’s mouth tightened. “I don’t believe it, Tim. You didn’t know her like I did.”
He looked at her, his eyes softening. “I’m sorry, Amy. But is it possible you didn’t know her the way you thought you did? If you had, why didn’t she complete the story? I would have thought she’d have confided in you.”
The woman was tormenting herself. Blaming herself. Abram sat again. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but I don’t think you should blame yourself. You aren’t responsible for another person’s actions. None of us is. Even with parents and children. You can try to teach them the right way, but at some point, they have to be allowed to make their own choices and deal with the consequences. That’s all part of the free will Gott gave us.”
Katie jolted upright, like he’d hit her with a cattle prod. Her face was pale.
Something had really upset her.
“You all right?” For just a second, he ignored the others in the room, all his attention zeroed in on her.
She nodded. She wasn’t, but he understood. She wouldn’t say whatever she thought here, in front of these two marshals. He had to respect that.
The marshals were both watching.
Katie’s face went blank. “So, we know she disappeared, although we don’t know how or why. Or if she left on her own or had help. We also know we’re not the only ones looking for her.”
Amy Delacure nodded. “As much as I hate to admit it, we also have to consider that she might have gotten herself into trouble that has nothing to do with her being a witness.”
“You thought she’d been found by whomever she was running from.” Abram rubbed his chin. “That could have put my family and friends in danger.”
His voice was mild, but his mood was not. How dare these Englischers endanger his community this way? He wasn’t sure how he felt about Katie’s involvement in this. It was almost another betrayal.
“If a witness follows instructions, the danger is minimal.”
He curled his lip at Marshal Hendrix. Easy for him to say.
“Abram,” Katie said. She attempted to smile. Her lips trembled slightly. “I get why you’re mad. I do. But right now, we have to find Beth. I agree that she isn’t in danger from the people from her past. As far as I know, they’re all still in jail. But a woman is still missing and might be in serious danger. I hope she’s still alive, although there’s a chance we’re already too late to save her. We have to work together to find her.”
His glare encompassed them all. “I will continue to help because my bishop has asked me to. But know this—” his gaze landed on Katie and stayed “—I will not stand by and let any harm come to my family or my neighbors. No matter what orders I have been given.”
FIVE
Silence descended on the room. He tightened his jaw, daring them to argue.
They didn’t. A knock on the door broke through the heavy silence.
The door opened and the doctor who had shown them to the conference room entered. His gaze zeroed in on Katie. “I thought you should be aware that your friend is awake.”
Katie shot out of her chair. “Shane’s awake? Is he okay?”
“He will be. He’s in a lot of pain right now, and his meds will keep him groggy for a bit. I need to know who to contact.” His gaze slid over to Marshal Hendrix.
Marshal Hendrix stood and ushered the doctor out of the room.
“They’ll tell his wife, won’t they?” Katie demanded, whirling to face Marshal Delacure.
Abram blinked. Shane was married. He wasn’t happy with how relieved that thought made him. He had no right feeling happy knowing she and the young officer she’d come to Sutter Springs with weren’t a couple. No right at all.
“They’ll notify her, but they won’t be able to tell her what he was doing or anything about the case he was working on.”
Katie seemed to accept that. When she was allowed to finally see her partner later that afternoon, Abram waited for her with Marshal Hendrix. If he’d had his druthers, he’d have gone with them, not liking letting her out of his sight. He didn’t put up a fuss, though. There was no point.
One good thing about Marshal Hendrix. The man wasn’t chatty. He set up a small laptop on the table and sat next to Abram in the conference room working. When the women reentered the room, he greeted them with a grunt and continued tapping away at the keys.
“Everything gut?” Abram asked.
“Fine.” Katie smiled. She looked exhausted. The skin under her eyes was blue with fatigue. “They said he’ll be able to continue working in a couple of days.”
“Maybe we should send you two home and bring another pair of officers in.” Finally, Marshal Hendrix spoke.
“Not necessary,” Marshal Delacure said, pouring herself a glass
of water. When she lifted the pitcher in question, both Abram and Katie declined. “It doesn’t seem either attacks were aimed at Kate because of her cover. For the time being, I think the benefits of her familiarity with the people and the area outweigh the cons.”
“Fine.” Marshal Hendrix snapped his laptop closed and stood. Abram was shocked that he let the matter go without argument. Apparently, he trusted Marshal Delacure’s judgment. “You’ll keep us informed if you need anything or if there are any issues.”
It wasn’t a question.
Katie nodded. “I will. I have the cell phone that my captain gave me still. I’ll use it if I need to.”
“How will you recharge it?” Marshal Hendrix asked.
Abram responded. “She’ll be staying at the bed-and-breakfast. Since they cater to Englischers wanting to see Amish life, there will be electricity in her room.”
As they walked out, Abram noticed a bag with Kate’s name on it sitting at the nurses’ station. “I nearly forgot. Lieutenant Greer said you could have your belongings back. He must have sent your clothes and such.”
No one paid him any attention as he grabbed the bag and handed it to Katie.
She took it, jerking it out of his hands when his fingers brushed hers. He reeled back a step, stunned by the electricity that had jolted him when their skin touched.
This was wrong on so many levels.
She ducked into a restroom to change. Restless, he watched the marshals depart. When did his life get this complicated? Mamm and Daed might not appreciate his getting involved with the Englisch law. Although, what could they say since it was Bishop Hershberger’s decision?
He heard the sound of boots on the floor behind him, a soft quick step. Turning, he blinked, stunned. His mouth dried up. The Englisch Katie he’d seen a few minutes before was gone. She now looked exactly how he’d imagined Amish Katie would look all grown up.
She had always loved pink. The deep rose-colored dress suited her. Katie had tucked her lovely honey blond hair under a white prayer kapp, leaving only the front two inches visible. Proper Amish women kept their hair covered, only letting their husbands and family see it down. It felt strange that he’d seen it. He remembered what that hair looked like around her shoulders. He brought himself sharply back to the present. She was not really Amish. She was a woman who had chosen to leave the Amish world without a word to anyone. Not even to him, the man who’d planned on marrying her.
He couldn’t forget that. Not ever.
“Ready to go?” He hadn’t meant for his voice to be so abrupt.
“Sure am.” She stood and walked to him, her face closed. Even though she was dressed Amish, she was still every inch an Englisch officer. Turning from her, he led the way out to where his buggy was still parked. It was a typical buggy with two seats inside. One in back and the other in front with a window for the driver to hold the reins and control the horses. She scrambled up into buggy before he could offer to help her and moved into the back seat. For a second, he stared, startled.
He had assumed they’d ride side by side. She’d taken that decision right out of his hands, making it clear that even though they were working together, that was all this was. A temporary partnership.
Still. It felt odd having her in the back while he drove.
“I don’t want anyone to see me.” Her voice floated out to him. “Not yet.”
Right. If he was seen driving her to the bishop’s haus, it might cause rumors and speculation that would be best avoided.
So maybe she wasn’t avoiding him.
He hopped up onto the bench in front and took the reins into his hands, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth and flicking his wrists. He swayed when the horse began to move, planting his boots firmly on the floor to keep his balance.
It wasn’t that far from the hospital to the bishop’s haus. When he arrived, he pulled around back.
“We’re at the bishop’s haus,” he called softly.
She popped out of the buggy. “Why are we here, anyway? I know we talked about it at the hospital, but I wasn’t sure why you wanted to stop here when I’m supposed to stay at the bed-and-breakfast.”
“Ja.” He started walking toward the steps. She fell in beside him. Casting a glance to the woman at his side, he smiled at her. She was tugging on the ends of her kapp straps, the way she always did when she was impatient. She was adorable. At least she wasn’t chewing on them, the way his young cousin did.
She huffed. “Well?”
He chuckled. He’d never answered her question. “The bishop wanted a word with you before you went there, and I said I’d bring you by.”
She nodded. “In that case—”
Her words died away as the door opened with a crash. Edith, the bishop’s frau, stood there staring at Katie, gasping. “Katie, bist du das?”
Katie blanched. Her lips trembled as she moved closer to the woman. He’d forgotten to warn her that Edith had married Bishop Hershberger. He’d known that Edith and Katie had once been friends.
“Yes, it’s me.” Her body was stiff when she halted in front of Edith.
The wooden expression on her face bothered him. Clearly, she expected to be rebuffed. Instead, Edith cried out and swallowed her in a tight embrace, swaying from side to side.
“I can’t believe it! You left us, no word! Was it because of—”
Katie’s hand shot up and covered the woman’s mouth. Edith’s eyes widened. Both women glanced at him, then back at each other.
Abram narrowed his eyes and bounced them back and forth between the two women. Edith knew something. Something that had ended in Katie leaving her Amish life, and him, behind.
What was it? And why hadn’t she felt she could trust him enough to tell him? And why hadn’t he noticed something was going on that was bad enough for her to abandon her entire life?
Had she failed him, or had he failed her?
“Cumme.” Edith backed away from her old friend and motioned for them both to enter the haus. “There is much to discuss. Are you hungry? I know it’s getting late, but I would be happy to make you something to eat before you go to the Plain and Simple Bed and Breakfast.”
Abram removed his hat and placed it on a hook inside the door. He didn’t want to stay. Being so close to Katie was hard enough. The events of the day, though, were starting to take their toll on his mental state. He needed to be doing something physical to help him deal with the unease crawling under his skin.
Katie had almost died. Possibly twice.
How could she be so calm? It was the nature of her job; he understood that. But the violence she must see on a regular basis—what did that do to your soul?
As soon as this case was done, she’d be going back to that life. Did anyone really have her back there? He scanned her face as she laughed with Edith. Did Edith see the deep sadness in her gaze, the way she was holding herself back?
Sorrow and compassion filled him. He ached to ease that pain from her.
He couldn’t let her back into his life. She’d chosen her path. But he could do everything in his power to see that she returned to her Wallmer Grove physically unharmed, even if he couldn’t heal either of their wounds.
In the end, it was decided that Katie would stay overnight at the bishop’s haus. She surprised him by not arguing when the bishop declared it was too late for her to go to the B&B.
Uneasy at leaving her, he departed and returned home.
* * *
The next morning, Kate was standing outside, enjoying the sunshine on her face when she heard Abram’s voice in the house. She smiled, then mentally chastised herself for being happy that he had arrived. The smile fell from her face when the space between her shoulder blades had tightened.
Something didn’t feel right.
Kate set the basket she was holding against her left hip and ca
sually rotated, scanning the area around her as nonchalantly as she could. When breakfast was finished, she’d offered to put the first load on the clothesline for Edith while she cleaned up. It was an excuse. She’d wanted to be helpful, yes, but she also needed to escape the closed-in atmosphere of the house. Sitting at a table with the bishop and her childhood best friend had had her grinding her teeth.
No one had been mean, or offensive. Still, the memories had nearly suffocated her. The bishop and Edith had both tried to convince her to stay with them instead of the bed-and-breakfast. Kate stood her ground. She appreciated the offer but would go to the bed-and-breakfast as planned. Standing outside in the September sun had settled her. She’d closed her eyes and breathed in the sweet air, lightly scented with woodsmoke. Someone was burning leaves nearby.
Until her shoulders had prickled. Was someone watching her? Her mouth went dry. She shouldn’t have come. While she hated disappointing Captain Murphy, perhaps coming here was a mistake. Between the people she’d hurt and the memories she’d escaped, she wasn’t the best option for this mission, even if she did know the people and the culture.
“Bist du gut?”
Abram.
If someone were out here with a gun, she didn’t want an unarmed civilian here. Of course, her own weapon would be a little awkward to get to. She’d grabbed the apron Captain Murphy had provided. There was a pocket sewn into the back of the apron for her weapon. She had actually felt guilty for putting her gun in it. The Amish in her old community didn’t have pockets in their clothing. She cringed when she turned too fast and the weight of the weapon thumped against her stomach.
None of that mattered. If necessary, she’d use the gun in a heartbeat to protect those around her.
She hoped she wouldn’t have to. Wallmer Grove wasn’t that large. The crime in the area was mostly minor infractions. Since she’d joined the Wallmer Grove Police Department, she’d never even had to fire her gun except during drills and on the range.
“I’m fine,” she answered him in a near whisper. “I feel like I’m being watched, though.”