2025 Karen Ann Hopkins

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 9798306569000 (paperback)

Books by Karen Ann Hopkins

Serenity’s Plain Secrets (Mystery/Crime Fiction)

in reading order

LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

WHISPERS FROM THE DEAD

SECRETS IN THE GRAVE

HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

PAPER ROSES

FORBIDDEN WAYS (a romantic companion novel)

EVIL IN MY TOWN

UNHOLY GROUND

SWEET REGRETS (a romantic companion novel)

BLOODY TIES

THE WIDOW

WICKED LEGACY

BLOOD ROCK

THE OFFERING

SERENITY

NIGHT SONG

DEVIL’S EYE

LOST SOUL

SINFUL ALLIANCE

PERFECT DEATH

BLOOD CLAN

DEADLY DESIGN (coming in 2025)

SINISTER SUMMER (coming in 2025)

Wings of War (YA Paranormal Romance)

in reading order

EMBERS

GAIA

TEMPEST

ETERNITY

The Temptation Novels (YA Romance)

in reading order

TEMPTATION

BELONGING

FOREVER

DECEPTION

Willow Creek/One Kiss Is All It Takes (in partnership with HarperCollins/One More Chapter)

The Fortuna Coin (Psychological Thriller/Time Travel Suspense)

The Possum Gap Novels (Mystery/Crime Fiction)

This series has ties to Blood Rock and Serenity’s Plain Secrets.

FREE FROM SIN

DARK HOLLOW ROAD

NIGHT SONG (Serenity’s Plain Secrets/Possum Gap)

RUSH INTO EVIL

SINFUL ALLIANCE (Serenity’s Plain Secrets/Possum Gap)

DEMONS LIVE HERE

MISERY LOVES CALAMITY

GROVEL TO NONE (coming in 2025)

WICKED WINDS WHISPER (coming in 2025)

BEWARE OF WENDIGOS (coming in 2026)

In Night Song & Sinful Alliance, Sheriff Serenity Adams teams up with Sheriff Sadie Mills to solve chilling crossover cases.

This is for one of my best buds, Kim! Our adventures started in kindergarten, continued into young adulthood when we traveled through Europe together, and we’re still going strong during midlife. Thanks for being there throughout the good and bad times. Love you, Kim!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many thanks to Heather and Grace for editing and proofreading this installment.

Much appreciation to Melissa from The Illustrated Author Design Service for this lovely cover!

EbookPbook provided the formatting of this book.

When I’m not writing, I’m rescuing dogs and cats from crowded shelters and lonely roadsides. We’re experiencing a crisis of unwanted pets across the United States, and rescue organizations are stressed to the max. The best remedy is to spay and neuter your pets, and please adopt, don’t shop.

1

Achilly wind full of spiraling leaves blew into their faces, causing Willa and Selma to squeal happily. The toddlers were confined to their strollers while the older kids ran right into the heart of the whirlwind, throwing up their arms, laughing, and bouncing in place.

“Hey, wait for us!” Todd called out.

My first deputy had fallen behind when he stopped to buy fudge at Melissa Young’s booth, but unlike CJ and I, who were content to stand by and watch the children having fun, Todd picked up his little girl, Olivia, and raced straight into the dust devil.

CJ chuckled at his antics and I shook my head when Todd’s larger body interrupted the flow of air, causing the wind to lose its momentum. The leaves dropped to the ground almost immediately after Todd jumped into the fray.

“Mr. Roftin, you broke it!” Sylvia said with a grand huffing sound as her shoulders drooped.

Nora, who had turned thirteen the week before, knew how to handle her sister’s disappointment. She grabbed Sylvia’s hand and tugged her back to the gravel road. “Let’s get our faces painted!”

Sylvia turned to CJ with a brighter face. “Can we?”

“Sure, go on ahead. We’ll catch up in a few minutes,” CJ told her stepdaughter before scanning the festival grounds. “Have you seen John?”

John was CJ’s oldest stepchild and at sixteen, he rarely hung around with his younger siblings anymore.

I pointed at the bright white tent where the museum’s native artifacts and antique guns, bows, and hunting blades were displayed. The Frontier Festival had been held during the second weekend in November for roughly sixty-five years in the flat, grassy field on the outskirts of Blood Rock.

I craned my neck and squinted at the cliff above the festival, then dropped my gaze to the river. The water level was high, but I could still see the tops of several boulders poking through the rapids.

Blood Rock’s name came from its dark history with the local Native Americans and outlaws dating back to the early 1800s. Long ago, settlers had regular run-ins with both groups of people, and they lived in constant fear of raids and abductions. When outlaws murdered a Native American family somewhere alongside this very same river, it stirred their tribe into a blood lust.

It all came to a head one Sunday morning while the settlers were having their morning service on the hill above town. The story goes that their preacher was calling out the word of God and standing on a giant boulder when an arrow pierced his heart. Never proven true, every Blood Rock resident learned in the first grade that the Native Americans killed twenty-six men, women, and children on that day—and took scalps from them all.

Afterwards, the Native Americans piled the settlers’ bodies high on that boulder, and that was supposedly the reason the town was named Blood Rock. It was a gruesome sight for the first people that climbed the hillside, looking for their neighbors and friends. The rock was permanently stained from the blood that flowed that fateful day. The survivors wanted to get rid of the object that was a constant reminder of the devastating event, so they dynamited it and used horses or oxen to pull the large chunks into the riverbed.

A couple of years ago, a university anthropology class dug up the hillside looking for clues. Enough human bone fragments were found to give credence to the legend. The sordid tale was disturbing to say the least. In those days, people, both native and settler, lived in constant fear of attack. Horrific crimes were committed on a regular basis, and yet most people survived. They learned to live with evil all around them—just like I had done.

“Serenity? Serenity?”

Solid thoughts formed in my head, and I spun around to find Heather, Todd’s wife, staring at me. Her brown hair was pulled back in a loose bun, and she wore an oversized navy blue and yellow striped woolen sweater with brown corduroy pants. Like me, her large aviator sunglasses covered most of her face. Heather was a registered nurse, not a cop, but some of Todd’s mannerisms had rubbed off on his wife, who carried herself with an air of authority that most people didn’t possess.

Her baby boy was sound asleep in an infant carrier strapped over her shoulders and around her chest. Nolan’s cheeks were rosy, and his mouth made little cute puckering movements like he was dreaming about nursing.

“What did you say?”

Heather tilted her head. “You were a million miles away. What’s going on in that overactive brain of yours?”

CJ leaned in and watched me closely. My best friend didn’t bother with sunglasses even though the sky was intolerably bright for me. Her green eyes were worried while she used her hand to hold back her unruly curls.

“Is something wrong, Serenity?”

I forced a smile at the careful way she asked. It wasn’t surprising that CJ paid close attention to my mood. She’d been caught in the crosshairs of one too many of my dangerous investigations. CJ had even saved my life once. She always rose to the challenge, but unlike me, CJ despised any kind of drama. Over the years, I’d discovered that I kind of thrived off a constant supply of chaos.

“Everything is fine.” I glanced back at the river. “I was just thinking about Blood Rock’s glamorous history.”

Heather snorted while she swatted the air. “Oh, gosh, don’t ruin a perfectly good day talking about the torrid past.”

When she cocked her head, I stiffened. I had a feeling about what she would say next.

“I asked how the sessions with Deidra were going?” Heather said in a clipped tone.

CJ covered her face with both hands and groaned. The grassy field spreading out before us was crowded with tents and booths. When I inhaled, scents of grilling meat and frying food filled my nose. A cacophony of blurred conversations reached my ears as the townspeople split around us when they passed. Most didn’t even glance at our little group, which was the way I liked it. Occasionally, someone would nod, wave, or say hello and I’d return the favor.

This was not the time or the place to discuss the marriage counseling that Daniel and I had been attending for the past two months. CJ understood and that’s why she still hadn’t uncovered her face. Heather, like Todd, was too blunt and clueless sometimes. Neither could read the room or maybe they didn’t even try.

I could tell by the way Heather’s jaw jutted out that she would continue to bug me until I answered her question. Tipping the stroller onto its back wheels, I whirled it around and headed towards a large, lone tree off the path. No one else stood beneath the aged tree, whose branches were sparsely decorated with yellow, rustling leaves. Willa puckered her lips and her pink cheeks darkened. Before she began to cry, I handed her a sippy cup filled with milk, and she immediately settled down and started drinking.

My kid and her milk were very much like my coffee addiction. Without a cup in hand, I was often cranky too. Cracking a smile, I figured that Willa would be blissfully asleep in a minute or two. Selma was wide awake, yet content, nibbling crackers. She bit one, set it down, then do the same to another, and then the next.

CJ pretended to be focused on fixing her daughter’s shoe while Heather continued to stare at me with a pinched mouth and her hands on her hips.

“Look, if you don’t want to talk about—”

“I’d rather not in public, but since you and Todd emphatically recommended Deidra, I will say, she’s pretty good.”

Heather’s chest deflated as she let out a long breath. “I was worried you wouldn’t like her or anyone for that matter.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t really have time for the sessions, but surprisingly, they aren’t as bad as I expected.”

CJ straightened. “What do you talk about? Is Daniel always there?”

After I’d relented and made the first appointment, CJ had been smart not to ask questions. I would bristle whenever the subject came up. Now that Heather brought it up and I hadn’t freaked out, CJ jumped at the opportunity to pester me about the details.

“Initially, we each had our own sessions, and now we’re going together.” I shrugged. “We talk mostly about our jobs, the different cultures we grew up in, and family life with Willa. Nothing earth shattering.”

Heather tilted her head. “I told you it would be nice to speak your mind with the encouragement of third party.”

“More like a referee.” I snorted, then leaned back against the tree trunk. “Neither Daniel nor I ever had a problem sharing our thoughts, but I’ll admit, I’ve found enlightenment with some things that came up.”

“Like what?” CJ, wearing a brown dress covered with dainty blue flowers under a stylish jean jacket, bumped into my side, flashing her wide eyes. When I didn’t immediately respond, she dug the toe of her brown sued boot into the grass, dropping her gaze.

I inwardly groaned while I surveyed the crowd. Everyone looked like they were having a good time, buying baked goods and crafts, and eating festival food that would wake some of them in the middle of the night with upset stomachs.

Raising my hands, I surrendered. “Okay, okay. I never realized how growing up Amish affected Daniel’s outlook on things.” I lifted my head into the wind so it would blow the hair out of my face. I’d already searched for a hairband in my purse and couldn’t find one. “I guess I thought his pigheadedness about some things was changeable. Now, I see that even though he left the Amish a long time ago, the culture he’d grown up in directs his every action to this day.”

“For good or bad.”

My heart bounced and I swiveled to find Blood Rock’s acting DA smiling at me. She looked radiant in a mint-green sweater dress, jeans, and brown, knee-high boots.

Shaking my head, I stepped back to allow Elayne Weaver to step into our little circle. “You enjoy sneaking up on me, don’t you?”

Elayne threw her head back and giggled. “You’re very much aware that Amish—and ex-Amish—are excellent at sneaking.”

CJ frowned while she spoke up. “Serenity was just telling us about her marriage counseling—”

I leveled a hard look at her. “Which I probably shouldn’t even be discussing with any of you.” I rolled my eyes. “Some things are private.”

“Not from your friends,” Elayne countered. When my frown didn’t soften, she let out a long, dramatic sigh. “At least tell us if the sessions are helping any.”

I wasn’t sure why my marriage was so important to these ladies, but they were good friends, and their support had gotten me through many troubled days in the past few years. I glanced into the stroller and found that Willa had indeed drifted off. Selma’s eyes fluttered closed, then popped open while she fought the need to sleep.

Letting out a hard breath, my gaze traveled from Heather, to CJ, and finally settled on Elayne. “I don’t get it. You also grew up Amish and left at around the same age that Daniel did, and yet, you’re so much more…” I paused, searching for the right thing to say.

Elayne finished for me. “Resilient, less traumatized, or maybe even normal is the sentiment you’re aiming for.”

I blinked. “Yeah. All those things. Daniel is incredibly burdened by his past. It invades everything we do. From the way we’re raising Willa to how we pay our bills.” I brushed my fingers against the tree trunk and then started picking at the bark. “You seem less encumbered than Daniel as you navigate relationships in the outside world.” Then a thought struck me. I swiveled to CJ. “Even Joshua—who’s only been ex-Amish for a couple of years—is more satisfied with his life than Daniel is.”

CJ’s eyes widened before she exchanged a glance with Elayne. When she shrugged, Elayne answered for her. “Your situation with Daniel is different than mine with Nathan or how CJ is with Joshua.” She loudly smacked her lips. “I left the Amish because I wanted to be a career woman. Someone in charge of my own destiny. Nathan is an Englisher, and it makes complete sense to him. The man loves my cooking and baking skills, and the way I keep our home extra clean. Now that we’re engaged and planning to purchase a high-dollar house, he’s thankful for my paycheck, which is larger than his.” She took a breath. “Joshua left the Plain life, not only to be with CJ, but also because he was disgruntled with some things about the culture. CJ enjoys staying home with the kids and keeps her household in order. Their current lifestyle isn’t too different from an Amish one, without all the rules and sacrifices.”

I crossed my arms. “So, you’re telling me that my lack of interest in baking and cleaning makes me a bad wife.”

At the same time, Heather grunted, and CJ vigorously shook her head.

“Of course not,” Elayne said in a brisk tone, then pressed a finger into her chin. “You know exactly why Daniel is upset.”

I narrowed my eyes at Elayne. “Because of my job?”

Elayne dropped her head back for a few seconds before it snapped back. “Your life has been nearly lost too many times to count, Serenity. It’s like you’re a magnet for sensational crime. You can’t compare your career to mine or Heather’s.” Elayne lifted her chin at CJ. “And you tend to drag everyone around you into the chaos.”

I digested what she said as she talked. None of it was new or enlightening. “That’s exactly what the counselor keeps reminding me.” Throwing up my hands, I sucked in a sharp breath. “I never really believed I was marriage material, especially for someone as traditional as Daniel. Our counseling sessions have made that truth abundantly clear.”

Heather leaned into the circle. “Have things gotten worse?” She glanced around. “Where is Daniel today anyway?”

I shook my head. “He’s delivering materials to a new building site since it’s supposed to rain most of next week.” I inhaled a long, tired breath. “Things aren’t exactly worse. We’re both calmer now. Daniel acts like nothing is wrong. He even brought home flowers the other day and made arrangements to drop Willa off at his parents so we could eat dinner at the new Amish restaurant on Brierly Road next Tuesday.”

“You’re complaining about a date night?” CJ shook her head. “Shew, I’d be thrilled to get more of those.”

“No, that’s not it.” I paused to make sure no one had wandered close to our huddle. “It seems that no matter how much we talk about our problems, they never really go away. Unless I resign my position as Blood Rock’s sheriff and have at least one more kid, I don’t see anything changing, even if we’re having lots of sex and eating dinner out once a week.”

Heather’s brow shot up. “Lots of sex, you say?” She nudged CJ with her elbow and snickered. “Maybe things aren’t as bad as we thought.”

CJ stood up straighter. “As long as Marshal Toby Bryant keeps popping in for visits, I don’t think the quantity of sex really matters.” When I thudded my head back against the tree, CJ’s tone lightened and she rushed the words out, “It’s not that I don’t like Toby, because I do. I just think he’s the main reason for Daniel’s sullenness. Joshua agrees with me.”

My eyes bulged and I pushed off the tree right into CJ’s personal space. “You talk to your husband about Daniel and me?”

Heather came to CJ’s rescue. “Whoa, Serenity. Todd and I discuss everything. I suppose it’s the same between CJ and her husband.”

CJ jumped to her own defense. “Not everything. Whenever you’ve told me anything in confidence, I’ve kept it to myself.” Her shoulders sagged and when the wind dragged her curls across her face, she didn’t bother to push them back. “We’re all worried about you and Daniel, that’s all. No one wants to see the two of you break up.”

I cleared my throat but held my tongue, looking through the narrow space between CJ’s and Heather’s shoulders at the crowd of people moving in both directions along the path. Everyone appeared happy. I knew looks were deceiving, though. Possibly fifty percent of those people were miserable behind those smiling faces. A cup of hot cider and an apple tart could only go so far to heal the pain of broken relationships, substance abuse, money troubles, and other problems.

Finally, I found my voice. “I understand and we’re doing our best.” My gaze landed on CJ. “I won’t apologize for the marshal. He’s come to my aide too many times to count, and we’re just friends.”

“You can’t deny that he’s the perfect man for you,” Elayne said quietly.

CJ smacked Elayne’s arm. “That’s not true. Serenity has a lot in common with all the law officers she works with.” Her gaze returned to me. “Gosh, you and Ryan were two peas in a pod and never even hooked up.”

I resisted the urge to smile. What was that—twelve or thirteen years ago? Yet it seemed like yesterday. I was just a rookie cop when I’d been partnered with Ryan Donavon. “Not because he didn’t try.”

CJ pressed her lips tightly together before speaking. “I miss Ryan. He had a heart of gold buried beneath all the bravado and bad decisions.”

“He was a dirty cop,” Elayne said.

“Ryan saved my life on my wedding day. In the end, he sacrificed his life for others, like any good cop should do,” CJ countered with a firm voice.

Elayne snorted in a loud, unladylike way. “I was there, CJ, and I almost died. I’m not bashing your old boyfriend.” She threw up her hands. “I’m not sure how we even got onto the subject of Ryan Donavan—”

“I was using Ryan to illustrate why Serenity wouldn’t be happy with Toby or any other officer. In all the years that I’ve known her, she’s never dated a cop.” Her head swiveled back to me. “Right?”

“True. I fell for Daniel because he represented the kind of peaceful and sweet life I longed for.” I sighed. “At least that’s what Deidra thinks.”

“She’s more than likely right,” Elayne chimed in. “Daniel is a solid man. Not boring exactly, but steady as they come. In the crazy world you jump in and out of, I’d say that stability is the attribute that drew you to Daniel in the first place.”

Heather grunted. “Minus the black clothing, beard, and suspenders, Daniel is still very Amish.”

Elayne frowned at Heather and lowered her voice. “Good, empathetic, loyal, faithful—those are qualities from Daniel’s upbringing that attracted Serenity to him.” She tilted her head at me. “Traits you need to appreciate now.”

The acting district attorney should have counseled us. It would have been a hell of a lot cheaper. But she also used to have a big crush on Daniel when they were growing up. Sure, that was eighteen years ago, and I now considered Elayne to be one of my closest friends. But her beliefs aligned more strongly with Daniel’s than mine most of the time. They both had the same Amish experiences, and I knew that when it came down to the nitty gritty, Elayne would take Daniel’s side more often than mine. Elayne believed that being equally savvy in the kitchen as the bedroom solved most marital problems. I didn’t.

“Settle down, everyone. Daniel and I have no plans of calling it quits. The sessions are tolerable and we’re both hopeful our marriage is savable.” I dropped my gaze at Willa. “Especially for her sake.”

CJ patted my back. “There’s the spirit. I have faith you two will make it.”

I resisted rolling my eyes at my friend. She meant well, but deep down, I knew that as long as my life was continuously put in danger while fighting crime, our marriage would be strained. Since I wasn’t going to give up my job, one that I really had a knack for and maybe even a calling for, I couldn’t make any promises about my future with Daniel. I had just lied to my friends to ease their worries, and that was okay. At least Deidra had agreed that small lies that were meant to lessen tensions with Daniel weren’t a bad thing, so I figured that applied to the three women with their tense bodies and frowning faces currently staring at me.

Black coats and bonnets caught my eye. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Amish at this festival before,” I said to no one in particular.

All heads turned in the direction that I was looking and Elayne replied, “These Amish are a different sort than ours.”

I grunted loudly. “Well, because of you, they’re all one in the same.”

Elayne pursed her lips. “I simply handled the closings—”

“All sixteen of them—at once.” I studied the newcomers. While the women were dressed the same as Blood Rocks’ Amish with colorful dresses beneath black coats, black bonnets on their heads, and black tennis shoes on their feet, the dress code is where the similarities seemed to end—at least at a glance. These Pennsylvania Amish were much more boisterous than their Blood Rock counterparts. I could hear the women chatting loudly from across the yard.

“So many strangers moving into the settlement is a terrible idea,” I said.

“You’ve said that multiple times, Serenity,” Elayne replied. “It’s a free country. After everything that happened with Amy Lapp, the Stoltzfus family put their eight hundred acres up for sale. When the new bishop, Joseph Bender, was contacted by his friend Harley Amman, a minister from a Pennsylvania settlement, looking to move half their community here, the huge tract of land seemed perfect for a group of fresh families to subdivide and grow our little community.”

“Isn’t that Amman over there?” I lifted my chin in the direction of where I was looking.

It would be hard to miss the flaming red hair and beard on a man that towered over everyone else at the festival. Just as the Amish women moved like a flock of honking geese, their male counterparts stood out equally among the Englishers. I quickly counted twenty-four of them, all dressed from head to toe in black. Other than Harley, I didn’t recognize a single face. Bishop Bender and his wife, Katherine, were nowhere to be seen. The same went for Daniel’s parents or sister and her large brood.

“It looks like only the Pennsylvania Amish are here,” I mused. Directing the question to Elayne, I asked, “Isn’t that odd?”

The corner of Elayne’s mouth lifted. “Oh, I guess you haven’t heard any gossip?”

I stepped closer to the brunette. “I’m too busy for gossip.”

“Daniel hasn’t said anything?” Elayne glanced at me, then CJ. “Or Joshua?”

In unison, CJ and I said, “No.”

I lowered my voice. “If it isn’t illegal, I don’t care—”

“I do!” CJ chirped. “Serenity, why wouldn’t you want to know? We live right in the middle of the community, and lately, there’s been so much activity. I’ve seen women walking and riding bikes past our place, and groups of teens on their horses. More buggies are coming and going on the roads. Joshua is thrilled. Our buggy business has nearly doubled since the new families moved in last month.”

“I had the road crew put up twelve more buggy signs and several stop signs at intersections where there hadn’t been any previously to avoid traffic accidents.” I rubbed my face. “Honestly, doubling the size of the settlement has been a pain in the ass.”

“Nothing is official,” Elayne said in a whispery, cryptic voice.

I leaned back, considering her words while CJ grasped her arm. “Tell us, Elayne! I won’t let you leave until you do!”

When Elayne opened her mouth to speak, a roaring engine split the air, growing louder with each passing second.

I made eye-contact with CJ. “Stay with Willa by the tree.” I started moving, then stopped. My gaze swept between Elayne and Heather. “Both of you do the same.”

“What in the world—” Elayne’s voice sounded distant.

It happened so fast, and yet, time seemed to stand still.

A four-door, extended cab pickup truck left the gravel road leading to the parking lot. It must have been going a hundred miles per hour when it rammed the picket fencing at the entrance into the festival grounds.

White boards flew into the air, and then a tent flipped over, then another one.

I ran faster, straight into the carnage, and had to dodge everyone who was fleeing the truck that barreled straight through the middle of the festival.

Many wouldn’t be able to outrun the madness.

I knew people were going to die, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to save them.

2

Piercing screams, shouts, and shrill cries created a cacophony of noise that shook my mind. People scrambled out of the way from the speeding truck with their limbs flailing and their faces contorted. Some pedestrians were shoved to the ground and then trampled by the uncontrolled and terrifying mayhem of the crowd.

I stopped to help a slim, elderly woman to her feet. In a movement combining a hoist and a pull, I lifted her and pivoted, positioning her behind a porta potty. I left her without a word passing between us.

A jumbled mass of bodies surged past in horrified confusion. Familiar faces blurred and somehow, I heard a voice call out, “Serenity!” in the deafening roar. I didn’t have time to stop or even slow down. I jumped over an abandoned baby stroller and swerved to miss running into a very pregnant woman.

The truck smashed into a pumpkin display, sending pumpkins flying and careening across the path. One struck my leg hard and I stumbled forward, stopping my fall with both hands on the torn ground where the truck had just driven.

My peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the swath of carnage where the truck had mowed down pedestrians with such force that their crumpled forms were hardly recognizable. Tents were shredded and the wind carried the sound of panicked cries over the field. I saw someone’s tennis shoe lying right next to an Amish cap on the ground. The image seared into my mind as I turned my head.

Complete shock was sharply replaced by hot anger as I pulled out my 9MM pistol. The truck had traveled the entire length of the festival grounds and was nearing the opposite perimeter fence. It hadn’t slowed down since it began its bloody massacre, and now, it was aimed for the parking lot on the other side of the field where at least twelve buggies were parked. The Amish had run a temporary hitching line in front of the buggies and the horses were all frozen, standing with heads up and ears pricked toward the truck that was barreling towards them.

In a flash of thought, I judged the truck’s distance to the last tent and aimed my gun.

Everything disappeared around me. I couldn’t hear the screams or crying anymore, and I couldn’t see the broken bodies littering the path. My gaze locked on the right rear tire and I fired.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

3

Asecond later, I repeated the action and then the left tire was also flat, causing the truck’s speed to suddenly diminish. It fishtailed, sliding sideways to a stop.

I started running again.

“Serenity!”

This time, I clearly recognized the man’s voice, and I exhaled in relief.

Todd ran parallel to me and my pounding legs. We made eye contact, but neither of us slowed. Like me, he had his gun drawn.

Clouds passed over the sun, blocking its bright glare and dulling the colorful autumn leaves on the hedgerow at the other side of the field. The dimming of the world was just a fleeting thought.

When we reached the truck, the driver’s side door popped open.

My heart caught in throat when I saw a barrel of a gun poke out of the opening.

My God, the driver is going to shoot at us…

I slid into the grass awkwardly, quickly flattening myself against the ground.

Gunshots pierced the air and bullets whizzed over my head.

Todd had dropped behind a wagon that held a single layer of straw bales on it for people to sit on while Mr. Neal, the elementary school principal, pulled it with his tractor. The wagon was empty of passengers and served as the perfect cover for Todd.

I got off a few shots at the vehicle before I yelled, “Cover me!”

Maybe it was because Todd and I had been hanging around each other since we were kids, but as an adult, my first deputy seemed to read my mind sometimes.

He was ready and rapidly firing at the same time I shouted out the order and surged to my feet. I continued returning fire and didn’t slow down or alter my stance. My single goal was to reach the cab of the truck and put a bullet in the head of its driver.

One of the horses had broken from its line and galloped past me in a pounding blur. Wind whipped my face, nearly taking my breath away. I closed the distance to the truck, skidding into its hood with a painful thud.

“Drop your weapon!” I shouted.

“He’s down, Serenity! He’s been hit!” Todd called out. He was at an angle that he could see inside the cab. Still holding his gun high, he left the wagon and raced across the field towards me.

I bent down and moved slowly around the side of the truck. It was dented and a dozen or more bullet holes were easy to spot in the metal. A strong whiff of gasoline invaded my nose. The windshield was shattered, and I thought I heard groaning—

Wait. It wasn’t a groan that I heard. It sounded more like laughter.

What the hell—

Todd had almost reached me when I peeked around the door that was flung open. Ready to shoot, I sidestepped and came face to face with the man who had created a mass casualty event, injuring and surely killing large numbers of innocent people who had been enjoying a fine fall afternoon only moments before.

He was younger than I would have guessed—early twenties, maybe. His hair was light brown, thick, and layered. A bristly beard covered his jaw, and his straight nose was bleeding. Blue eyes stared back at me with large pupils and a sharp, focused gaze. He held eye contact, lifting his chin slightly.

When the corner of his mouth lifted, I sucked in a shaky breath, sweeping my gaze over him. The front of his buttoned-up shirt was soaked with blood. I could make out the bullet wounds in the once-blue material. He was quickly bleeding out, but the smug look on his face told me that he didn’t care. He’d completed the evil task he’d set out to do and now, the young man’s expression revealed he had a secret.

Holding my breath, I dropped my gaze and saw why this killer wasn’t finished yet.

Part of the floorboard was removed, revealing a cloth and a turned over, opened gasoline jug. Gas dripped from it onto the cloth. And then I saw the man’s hand hanging over the seat.

He clutched a lighter.

There’s no time. Fuck.

Todd touched my back. “Serenity—”

I whirled, pushing him backwards. Using both of my hands on his shoulders, I shoved him sideways.

We dropped to the ground with me landing on the top of Todd.

The blast was louder than I imagined it would be.

Then the burning heat touched my back.

4

Was it a few seconds or longer before I rolled off Todd’s back? I wasn’t really sure.

Patches of grass were on fire and the blaring sound of sirens grew louder. I pushed off Todd on shaky legs. Looking over my shoulder, I found the truck engulfed in flames. Only the man’s burning boots were visible in the inferno.

I grabbed Todd’s shoulder and rolled him over.

Todd started coughing. “What in the…world…is happening?”

“We’re going to find out.” Holding out my hands, I pulled him to his feet with a grunt.

My heart nearly pounded out of my chest, and I tried not to dwell on the cries and shouts as I scanned the grounds. The first fire truck had almost reached us, and the ambulances that had been on standby for the event and parked at the corner of Elliot Road were right behind them. My mind sparked and I quickly thought about our emergency planning.

“Todd, direct Chief Hopple to tear down the fences on the south side. That’s where most of the casualties are. We need easy access for the ambulances to get in there.” I took a step back. “And radio the department. I want Rosie to put out an agency assist to first responders and law enforcement within the tri-county area. Hospitals as far away as Johnson City should be ready for incoming casualties. And we might have to life flight a few, too.”

Todd stared at the swath of destruction with glazed eyes, not moving.

I grasped his shoulder and gave him a rough shake. “Todd, where’s Olivia?”

He blinked and I shook harder.

Speaking quietly and still looking past me, he said, “When I saw the truck barreling down the main aisle, I gave her to Nora and instructed CJ’s kids to go to Heather. The last I saw they were running back up the hill.” Todd’s face scrunched. “We were almost to the place where the truck came through. It could have been us—”

I slapped Todd’s cheek, and it instantly turned red. This time when he blinked, his eyes cleared. “Boss—

“Todd, you’re going to have to get a grip. Heather and your kids are safe. So is Willa, CJ and her crew, and Elayne as well.” I blew out a breath, thinking about my sister, Laura, and niece, Taylor, who were supposed to stop by the festival sometime today. “There’s no doubt that people we know—friends, maybe even extended family—are injured or worse. But we can’t help them or anyone else if we don’t have our wits about us.” I poked his chest. “Put on that imaginary iron suit we’ve talked about and get to work.”

Todd nodded and swallowed down a gulp. “Right, boss. I’m on it.”

He turned and jogged to the nearest firetruck while I took off across the field, which was only a few hundred yards to the festival grounds.

I ran past some people who were hugging and others standing alone, rocking with emotion as tears streamed down their faces.

The deadly path of the truck was littered with debris and bodies.

One of the firetrucks made it to the fence where firefighters immediately jumped out with axes and began tearing down the four-board wooden barrier.

“Sheriff, please help!”

I spun to the sound and found Barry Chaplin, who owned one of the town’s greenhouses, kneeling beside his wife, Frances.

“She won’t respond, Sheriff! She won’t talk to me!”

I joined Mr. Chaplin on the ground, beside his wife of forty years. Her pale face was turned my way and blood trickled out of her mouth. My stomach was clenched at the sight of her broken legs and the blood loss from her injuries. She was already dead, but for Barry’s sake, I felt for a pulse.

Licking my lips and dropping my hand, I met his teary-eyed gaze.

“Frances is gone. I’m so sorry.” I squeezed his arm when his head dropped into his hands and began to sob. “Others need me right now.”

I touched his back and moved on.

Sally Hawkins wiped a nasty bloody gash on her husband’s forehead, but I kept going. He would live. I had to triage quickly.

Several steps further up the path, I found Cynthia Taylor. Clutched in her tight grip was her eight-year-old son, Jasper. His grandmother’s sagging face answered my unspoken question. I didn’t need to stop. MaryBeth’s grandson was already gone.

Blood pounded behind my eyes, and I sucked in a wet breath.

Hold it together, Serenity. You must hold it together.

“Aunt Serenity!”

The voice echoed in my head, spinning me around until I saw her and then my heart jumped for joy.

Taylor waved frantically. Her mom was performing CPR on—oh no.

I started running until I reached Laura and dropped down beside her. “I’ll take over.” I nodded to the broken fence. “Raymond and Beth just came through over there. Go get them.”

Other than being a few years older and a few pounds heavier, my sister was my twin in appearance, but personality-wise, we were complete opposites. She was a people person, prone to crying easily and being overly sentimental. I couldn’t see her eyes because of her sunglasses, but tears dribbled down her cheeks. Laura blew out a heavy breath. I suspected that she was relieved I’d taken over.

“Where’s Willa?”

I split my focus on chest compressions and talking to my sister. “I left her with CJ and Heather on the knoll under the huge oak tree.”

“I’ll go get her!” Taylor said.

She was about to sprint away, and my shout stopped her.

“Taylor, go with your mom, and then both of you retrieve Willa.” I shifted my gaze to Laura, who waited for instructions. “Make sure that CJ and Heather were reunited with their kids, then take Willa home with you. Call Daniel and tell him we’re all right. I’ll have no time to reach out to him.”

Laura nodded, grabbed Taylor’s arm and together, they ran off in the direction of the ambulances.

I dropped my gaze at the unconscious woman. Not finding any visible injuries, I worried about internal bleeding. In a plush pink sweater, blue pants, and gray tennis shoes, she was nicely dressed for a rare day off. She was supposed to be craft shopping, nibbling on greasy food, and chatting up a storm with Blood Rock’s citizens. Instead, she was lying in the dirt, possibly taking her last breaths.

My throat burned and the sharp pinch in my heart was almost too much to bear.

“Come on, Nancy,” I urged. “You have to pull through. Too many people in this town count on your hospitality. Hang in there.”

Memories of a thousand conversations with the owner of the town’s favorite restaurant flicked through my mind. Nancy was usually one of my biggest cheerleaders, but she also wasn’t afraid to chastise me when she thought I acted foolish. She knew the best gossip, had advice for everyone, and a strong opinion about everything. A long time ago, her red hair had been natural. Now, the bright color came from a box.

Stress to her body had made her face gaunt and her wrinkles appear deeper. Not only was Nancy aging right before my eyes, but she was also fading away.

“Oh, dear God. Will she make it?”

Seeing Bobby Humphrey, Blood Rock’s coroner, waddle towards me lightened the pressure a little in my chest. At least he was okay.

I was honest with him. “She’s still breathing, and that’s all I can say.”

Bobby cupped his pudgy face. A gust of wind lifted the thin, gray hair from his head, revealing age spots at his temples.

“Oh, Serenity, this is terrible,” he said quietly.

Focus on the job at hand. Dwell on what you can do! I shouted in my head.

“Were you here when the truck plowed through?” I glanced at Bobby.

He shook his head. “I was at the grocery store with Mary. There’s a sale on ground beef that she couldn’t pass up. We came out of the store just in time to see Chief Hopple and then Deputy Jeremy Dickens speeding by. We followed the blaring sirens and lights knowing something terrible had happened at the Frontier Festival.”

“Did Mary drop you off?”

“Yes. Luckily, I had my satchel in the car. We haven’t seen this kind of carnage since the school shooting a few years ago. I believe the number of casualties is possibly doubled from that fateful day.”

Bobby sounded distant. I had no doubt that he was having a difficult time coping with what he was seeing. Being a coroner, Bobby was used to death, and he dealt with it daily. But this scene was too much for even an experienced soul. These were our friends, brutally murdered in a mindless and depraved act of violence.

Beth arrived first, but Raymond was right behind her. I jumped back to give them room to work.

“Oh, no!” The paramedic groaned as she took over the chest compression. “Not Nancy.”

I touched her shoulder before I left. “Stay strong, Beth.”

After giving Raymond a firm nod, I left the EMTs.

“Bobby, we need to move everyone who isn’t injured out of the area.”

Bobby followed me. “It looks like they’re doing a pretty good job of that themselves.”

I followed his gaze and spotted Jeremy at the corner of the intersection of Elliot Road already directing a long and steady-moving line of traffic away from the festival grounds.

I started walking and Bobby managed to keep up. “We need a perimeter set from the road and encompassing the entire festival grounds.”

“Serenity, we can help with that.”

Elayne’s fiancé, Nathan Hammond, and Dexter Lawrence, walked straight to me. Both men were Indiana National Guard officers and Dex was a captain in the regional office.

“Thanks, guys. That would be great.”

Dex quickly moved off, but Nathan lingered.

When Nathan grinned, he had dimples. Today wasn’t a day for smiles and his tense expression looked out of place on his clean-shaven and somber face. Not only was Nathan engaged to my friend, but he also worked alongside Daniel at my husband’s construction business. In a yellow flannel shirt, blue jeans, and cowboy boots, it was Nathan’s day off and what should have been a light-hearted day with Elayne had turned into a nightmare.

“Have you seen Elayne?” I asked with some hesitancy.

Nathan nodded. “I did.” He licked his lips. “She’s waiting at the entrance.”

“Isn’t she leaving?”

The way Nathan rubbed the corner of his mouth with his finger made my heart thrum erratically.

“She’s with the Amish. There’s a crowd of them. Several are down and—” he scrunched his face. “They’re distraught, Serenity.”

I nodded and turned to Bobby. “Take Nathan over to Todd. He’ll welcome help from a Guardsmen.” Then I returned my gaze to Nathan. “I’m sure within the hour, outside agencies and the media will descend onto Blood Rock. I’ll be tied up with the injured and deceased for a while. Can you act as a liaison of sorts for those arriving?”

“Of course. Whatever you need.”

Nathan left alongside Bobby with extra spring to his step. Just like the rest of us, having a job to do eased the shock somewhat.

Nancy was loaded on the gurney and Raymond was shutting the door when I shouted at him. “Send a couple of the other ambulances to the entrance. We have multiple casualties there.”

Raymond gave me the thumbs up before jumping into the driver’s seat. The sirens went on and he drove away. I said a quick, silent prayer for Nancy, and then she slipped from my mind as I headed towards the entrance and the crowd of dark-clad people who were gathered there.

5

Elayne saw me coming and broke from the crowd. Her face was grim, and her mouth was frozen in a tight frown, but her eyes were alert.

She reached me and leaned in, stopping my forward momentum. “These are the Muscat Amish—”

“Muscat?” I stared over her shoulder at the backs of at least three dozen people.

“That’s the name of the township in Pennsylvania where the folks who joined our Blood Rock Amish hail from.” My face must have shown some confusion because she quickly added, “Muscat is a type of grape, and the area is known for its vineyards.”

Giving a quick nod, I stared at the new group of Amish people. There was a lot of crying and muffled conversations in Pennsylvania Dutch. These Plain women wore longer black coats than I was used to seeing. The men were all in black, except for the blue or cream-colored shirts beneath their coats. Because of the black theme and brushing shoulders, it was difficult to distinguish where one person ended and another began.

“How many casualties have these people suffered?” I kept my voice quiet and neutral.

“Five. An elderly woman named Grace Kauffman and her fifteen-year-old granddaughter, Opal, are dead. So is thirty-six-year-old Jared Graber and Abner Brenneman who is thirty-two.” She inhaled deeply before continuing. “Number five is twelve-year-old Beth Burkholder. Her father scooped her up and ran straight to the nearest ambulance.” She nodded her head at the one that was now traveling fast up Elliot Road. “Her injuries are substantial. I’m not sure if she’ll make it. Eight others sustained non-life-threatening injuries.”

I appreciated Elayne’s attention to detail by giving me the names and ages of those involved, but without jotting them down and with my mind shooting in several directions at once, I doubted I’d remember everything she said five minutes from now.

“Can you stay with me while I speak to them?” I asked.

“Absolutely.”

We remained side-by-side and just when we started for the crowd, a large head covered in messy red hair appeared, towering above the rest of the Amish. Without a hat, the bright red locks were a shock of color in the sea of black.

“Harley Amman,” I whispered.

Elayne heard me. “Grace Kauffman was his mother-in-law.”

I’d met the Pennsylvania minister a few months back in Nancy’s Diner. At perhaps six-foot-eight, he was a giant of a man. I guessed he’d been kneeling a moment before and that’s why I hadn’t immediately spotted him.

We reached the wall of black coats and Elayne raised her voice, speaking fluently in their language. The crowd parted and when we passed by, I avoided looking into their faces and ignored the murmurs, keeping my gaze locked on the broken bodies that were suddenly revealed when they stepped back.

Since Harley was the only person I knew here, I went straight to him. His eyes flared when he saw me, then he took a few long strides to meet me at the feet of one of the downed men.

“Sheriff, it’s a shame that such a tragedy has brought us together since our last and first meeting.”

Harley didn’t offer his hand, and his English was a little forced, like he wasn’t used to speaking it often. I thought the smooth, almost rehearsed statement was odd. Making a mental note, I didn’t dwell on it. Everyone reacted differently to trauma.

I scanned the bodies on the ground while I talked, noting the broken legs, bloody torsos, and gray faces. It was especially hard to look at the teenager. My gaze skimmed her once pretty face and the long blonde hair that was free of a cap.

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Amman. We’re going to find out why this happened and report back to you, but for now, we need your people to disperse, so we can take care of the bodies.”

His bushy red brow cocked, and he somehow rose even taller. Harley wasn’t exactly overweight, but his height and large bone structure made him huge compared to the other men who stepped closer to hear our conversation. His voice was much softer than expected when compared to Harley’s freakishly great size.

“We’ll take ours with us, Sheriff.”

“Uh—”

I held up my hand to stop Elayne from speaking. Sure, she knew the Amish better than me, having grown up as one of them. But I’d learned a long time ago that in certain situations, firmness was the only way to deal with a group of people who existed in a culture that was dragged straight out of the 1800s.

“I understand your desire to bring your loved one’s home, Mr. Amman, but this is a massive crime scene and we have strict protocol to follow. Autopsies must be performed, and we’ll get those completed as quickly as we can. I’ll make sure that the bodies are delivered straight to the Blood Rock cemetery for burial or if you’re holding individual wakes, then wherever you need them to be.”

I chose my words carefully. Getting everyone else off the premises was my main mission at the moment.

“That’s not acceptable and we’ll not have it.”

Harley turned his head slightly and spoke to the other men in their language. Four of the men immediately left in a hurry. They were heading in the direction of the horses and buggies, and where a black cloud of smoke spiraled into the sky from the truck’s wreckage.

This time when Elayne started talking to them in their language, I didn’t stop her. I didn’t have to understand her words to know by the sharpness of her voice, she was being direct and not placating the giant man.

Before Harley responded, I knew it wasn’t going to be pretty from the deep red color spreading across his cheeks and the way he narrowed his eyes at her and then at me.

“One of your savages takes the lives of four and possibly five of my people and you dare intrude on our grieving!” Harley’s voice hardened and rose to a higher pitch.

I placed my hands on my hips. “This isn’t a request. It’s an order, Mr. Amman. The Amish need to go home now. I’ll personally visit Joseph this evening and give him an update.” I didn’t step back when Harley leaned over me. Because of his hulking size, the action felt threatening, but I resisted the urge to touch my sidearm. “Besides, isn’t the decision-making up to the bishop of your new community and not you anyway?”

Harley sucked in a harsh breath. “You, Sheriff, do not know our ways or the agreement between the Blood Rock contingent and ours.”

A woman appeared at Harley’s side. “I told you this one has a reputation for sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong.”

“Phoebe!” Elayne exclaimed, then said in English, “Don’t say such a thing. You and your husband are being unreasonable. There is process that we must adhere to, and the sheriff is doing what she must.”

Phoebe’s nose flared as she glared at Elayne. I would guess the woman to be a few years older than either of us. She had mousy brown hair and a weathered face that made me think she spent a lot of time outdoors. Dark brown eyes sparked with intelligence. The woman was new to me, so I wasn’t sure if her behavior was from the grief of losing her mother or if she usually carried herself with a puffed-out chest and her fists balled.

I softened my expression. “I know you’re hurting—”

Phoebe’s eyes bulged. “You know nothing! My mother is dead, along with one of my nieces.” Tears streamed from her eyes.

“Enough, Phoebe,” Harley said, placing his hand on her shoulder.

She jerked away from him. “I’m sick and tired of constant turmoil! We all pay for our sins. It’s not right that the punishment continues—”

Harley wrapped his arms around the woman who would be considered tall and strong by most people’s standards but appeared small compared to the man folding his body around hers. She struggled for only a few long seconds before going limp in his arms.

“All right, Sheriff. My wife and the others have suffered enough today. Their nerves are frayed. I will not put them through more turmoil arguing with you.” He shifted his gaze to Elayne. “This woman might be the authority around here, but she’s an outsider. You were once one of us, Elayne Weaver. I will hold you accountable for the bodies of my people. Make sure they are cared for properly and returned to us quickly.”

Elayne licked her lips and nodded.

Harley spoke to the others, and they started to leave. Women were pulled away from the bodies of the two men with tears in their eyes and a petite woman bent over the teenager and kissed her forehead before hurrying off with a man not much taller than her.

Phoebe left Harley’s side to lean against a young man, who was also tall and red-headed, making me fairly certain he was her son. Her sobs caused her shoulders to bob against his chest. They didn’t stop at Phoebe’s mother’s or her niece’s side.

“Follow them, Elayne,” I said. “Make sure they get out of here all right. Shadow them all the way back to the settlement.”

“I will.”

Elayne started to leave, and I turned and caught her arm. “Once in the settlement, go directly to the Bender’s farm. Joseph and Katherine need to hear what happened here from you and not Harley.”

“Understood.”

I watched the Amish leave four of their loved ones behind when Todd and Bobby joined me.

“I thought I was going to have to intervene,” Todd said quietly.

I grunted, knowing how freaked out the Amish made Todd on a regular kind of day. I could hardly blame him after some of the cases we’d worked on in the settlement. Murder and mayhem were no more of a stranger there than in the outside world. The Amish weren’t immune to evil any more than we were.

“I guess Harley Amman’s wife’s grief saved us from having to cuff him,” I said.

Todd grunted. “That wouldn’t have been easy.”

“Perhaps impossible,” Bobby added. He waddled a few steps, reaching the youngest-looking man first. “I’ll get to work on these.”

“It’s a good thing Dex and Nathan are here with us. We have the perimeter secured and Chief Hopple and his men have the fire put out. I’ve counted ten dead and eighteen injured. Six of those left in the ambulances and the other twelve are being transported by citizens—”

I only half listened to Todd’s update. Something else was heavy on my mind.

Phoebe’s words might have been affected by her grief, but what she said replayed in my mind with a kind of sinister implication that made it difficult to take a full and steady breath of air.

“I’m sick and tired of constant turmoil! We all pay for our sins. It’s not right that the punishment continues—”

Punishment for what? Were the Amish somehow the beacon for today’s devastating event?

6

Iwrinkled my nose at the smell of scorched metal and burnt flesh. While Chief Hopple talked, my gaze drifted to the line of horse-drawn buggies cutting through the festival grounds to reach the roadway. It was a surreal spectacle with the backdrop of destruction and smoke.

“Serenity?”

I dragged my gaze away from the Amish and back to the firefighter. There was soot in Mike’s gray hair and black smudges on his cheeks and forehead. For a guy in his sixties, the chief was still athletic and muscular. He was also very serious and frowned a lot. Right now, he looked downright miserable.

“Sorry. What did you say?”

He blew out a long breath. “That the man who plowed his truck through the festival must have planned this terror act out carefully.”

“You think it’s an act of terrorism and not a disgruntled citizen holding a personal grudge against someone in the crowd?” I asked.

It was just the chief, Todd, and I huddled next to the smoldering wreckage of the truck. Because of the explosion and since the fire burned so incredibly hot, the only part of the driver’s body we could collect was a portion of both of his feet and a very damaged skeleton. Bobby had already taken care of it and was now on his way to the morgue, riding with Jeremy, to conduct the autopsies on eleven people who had been run over by the truck and a twelfth—Mr. Hartly—who had been missed by the vehicle but appeared to suffer a heart attack when his wife was killed. I had received the call only moments before that Beth Burkholder had died in the ambulance before even reaching the hospital, making five of the dead Amish, and a total of twelve lives lost.

“Of course it’s domestic terrorism,” Mike huffed. “The perpetrator used a weapon of mass destruction to kill as many people as possible. Then he started shooting to add more fatalities to his numbers. As if that all wasn’t enough, he had the truck rigged to blow up. If that’s not terror, then I don’t know what is.”

Todd remained uncharacteristically silent, and I pressed my lips together. I was proud of our citizens. Even after the truck rampaged through the heart of the festival, people didn’t trample each other while fleeing. Many stayed to assist the thirty or so injured, and then helped the deputies safely clear the area. It was a horrifying day filled with much sorrow, but our townspeople came together and did the best they could under extraordinary circumstances.

“It definitely caused terror, but I’m not so sure that was the intent,” I said.

Mike tilted his head while the corner of his mouth thinned. “Please explain.”

I shrugged, giving my head a shake. “I could be wrong, but my gut is telling me that this is about the Amish.”

“The Amish?” Mile asked.

Todd fidgeted with his hands and shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

“Think about it. There were what, approximately four hundred people at the festival, and only a handful of those were Amish, yet half of those killed and many of the injured were Amish. The percentages seem off, unless—”

“The driver was aiming for the Amish,” Todd finished.

“That could be explained by the fact they travel in groups, not really splitting up the way everyone else does.” Mike’s gaze flicked back to the festival grounds. Everyone, including the injured and dead, had been removed and only officers remained on site. “Maybe it was just extremely bad luck on their part.”

I nodded. “Sure, that’s possible.” I decided not to mention Phoebe’s outburst. No reason to turn everyone’s gaze towards the Amish. We needed to cover all the bases. “Did either of you see the truck before it broke through the fence? I was on the knoll on the southside of the festival, but I didn’t notice anything unusual on Elliot Road before all hell broke out.”

Todd shook his head. “My focus was on Olivia and there wasn’t a view of the road from the face-painting booth.”

“We had one of the firetrucks parked at the corner and its crew didn’t recall seeing the truck pull in. I was in our firefighters’ donation booth in aisle five and heard the truck at the same time as I realized what was happening. I talked to about a dozen people, Serenity, and they all pretty much said the same thing. No one noticed anything out of the ordinary until the truck rammed through the fence at the main entrance gate.”

“The guy must have filed in slowly with everyone else, initially heading towards the parking lot.” Now that almost all the parked cars were gone, I had to draw on memory to see it play out in my head. “There’s enough space between the parking lot aisles that he could have gone down one of those and quickly accelerated before turning towards the gate.”

“Yeah, that’s what I figure happened.” Mike rubbed his square jaw. “I can ask Johnie at the newspaper to run a quick article directing anyone who was at the festival and noticed the truck arrive or saw it before it went through the fence to contact the sheriff’s department.”

I nodded. “Great idea.” Turning to Todd, I added, “Let’s designate a time tomorrow for witnesses to stop in at the office to make statements.”

“On it, boss,” Todd said with more gusto in his voice than he’d shown since the killing began.

“Mike, was a license plate salvageable?” I asked.

“I don’t think there even was one. The vehicle is completely mangled from the fire, but that’s the first thing I had my team look for and they came up empty.”

Todd dropped his gaze and stuck his hands in his pockets before looking up again. “I was behind you the entire time and couldn’t see much. What did he look like?” When I raised my brow, he quickly added, “The driver? I know you only caught a glimpse, but did anything stick out about him that will help us ID him right away?”

Even though every muscle in my body was balled up so tightly that I thought I would explode, I let out a long, tired sigh before answering my first deputy. “He was in his twenties. Clean cut. Short, dirty-blond hair, maybe two days’ worth of stubble. Wiry, athletic build. Straight nose, and smaller eyes that were spaced close together. Red cheeks that could have been natural or from the adrenaline rush of mowing down dozens of festival goers.”

“We can have Stacey render a fairly accurate composite drawing with that much detail,” Todd said.

“Definitely. Maybe we’ll even get a facial hit on the database that way.” I titled my head at Todd. “Go ahead and give Stacey a call. Tell her I’ll be in touch with her shortly.”

“Right.” Todd took several steps before pulling out his cell phone and making the call.

I leaned closer to Mike. The older man’s job was to fight fires and manage fire safety in Blood Rock, but he was also a smart man with a lot of common sense. I often bounced ideas off him when I found myself in a quandary and needed an outside opinion.

“There was something about the man that I can’t quite put my finger on and it’s driving me nuts.”

“All right,” Mike said in his usual steady fashion. “Think back to the moment you first laid eyes on him and go from there. What did you see?”

I licked my lips and blinked, allowing the vision to come to life in my head.

My lungs struggled for air while I ran faster to reach the truck. Far off, shouts rang out and tires squealed. The air was pleasantly cool, yet hidden in the breeze was the stench of death and decay.

Maybe it was my imagination. Yes, it must be my mind coping with the death and destruction all around me. I raised my face to sky and remembered how the sun had been happily shining down on the chaotic scene. The clouds were now closing in around it. Considering what had just occurred, the sudden gray sky suited the sadness everyone in Blood Rock was jointly experiencing.

“He wore a look of determination and”—I paused searching for the right word—“satisfaction.” I exhaled, pushing the anger out of my chest so that I could focus. “He smirked at me. It was as if, he’d completed his task and was ready to die.”

“Anything else that struck a nerve about the man? Think hard, Serenity,” Mike urged.

There was something, but it wasn’t a rational assumption. Just a jerk of my gut without any evidence substantiating it at all. I decided to keep my inner thoughts to myself. There was a lot to do before I could throw out what at this point, would merely be a conspiracy theory.

“I’ll continue to think on it.” I met Mike’s unflinching gaze. The older man suspected there was something else. “When can you get your official report about the truck’s explosion on my desk?”

“First thing in the morning.”

“Can you spare a man or two to help with crowd control for the witnesses tomorrow? Half the town was here today and a lot of them will want to talk about what they saw.”

“Absolutely. And I’ll personally be there.”

I pivoted and started walking, but Mike’s voice stopped me in my tracks.

“This act was pure evil, Sheriff. There’s no denying it. Regardless of what the feds want to make of it, or if they take over the investigation, I believe it’s important for our little town to figure it out on our own.” He coughed a little. “You know what I mean?”

I didn’t hesitate. “I hear you loud and clear and am in full agreement.”

It might be easier said than done, though. The investigation would definitely be yanked out of local hands by the FBI.

I swallowed down the spit that formed in my throat and began thinking about how I could keep a handle on the case without pissing the US government off.

7

Igrabbed a sweater jacket that I kept hanging on one of the pegs in the hallway, knowing it would be cold in the morgue before I knocked on the door. Bobby called out with a gruff voice to enter, and I inhaled deeply, turning the knob. Taking shallow breaths at the onslaught of cleaning products and formalin that assaulted my senses, I automatically went into barely breathing mode. It was the only way I could handle the autopsy room.

It was never easy looking at a dead person who had been alive only a few hours earlier, but I’d become rather desensitized to it. I’d seen a fair amount of death lately.

But this amount of senseless death was almost more than even I could handle.

I blinked, fighting tears. Eleven of the twelve cooler drawers were open, and covered bodies took up each of their narrow tables.

Bobby had his back to me, scribbling notes in a paper notepad rather than using the clinical medical iPad that our office had bought him. It had been a struggle to pull Bobby into the 21st century, and now that he was starting to show his age, I’d all but given up on it. He was still one of the best coroners in Indiana. As long as he got his paperwork completed and entered into the main system in a timely manner, I wouldn’t bug him about it anymore.

When Bobby slowly turned around, he was frowning.

“How are you holding up?” I asked.

Bobby sighed, then set the notepad onto the counter. “I’m not going to sugar coat it, Serenity. This has been one of the toughest afternoons I’ve had since the school shooting.”

He stopped to rub his forehead before walking closer to the cooler drawers. I followed him at the same sluggish pace.

“This is very different from an autopsy where I’m searching for the clues to determine the cause or time of death. In that scenario, the mystery makes the process less personal, and I guess I like it better that way. Here”—he made a sweeping gesture with his hand—“I know how and when each person died. And some of these victims are not only people I knew but were my also friends.”

Bobby’s words came out in a brittle, weak puff of sound. I closed the distance and wrapped my arms around him. I certainly wasn’t a hugger and neither was Bobby, but this was one of those times when you broke from the norm because the reality was almost too unimaginable to bear.

It was a quick embrace, then I stepped back and we both sniffed. I shook my head to collect myself.

I cleared my throat. “We don’t know why, Bobby. That’s the mystery.”

Bobby had regained his composure, and I was glad to see him twirl the end of his mustache.

“That is true. Tell me what you have so far.”

“No one that we’ve spoken to yet saw the truck’s approach. We’re going to hold witness interviews tomorrow here at the department for anyone who saw anything of interest to come forward. It was complete chaos after the truck sped through the festival grounds. Most people got out of there in a hurry, and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them saw something that we’ve missed.”

Bobby nodded. “I couldn’t glean much of anything from the remains of the driver, except that his foot size is likely over ten inches.”

“He appeared fairly average, except—”

I stopped talking. Then I decided to be honest with Bobby. “There was something very organized by the man.”

Bobby cocked his head. “As in part of a group?”

“Not exactly.” I pressed my lips together. “He was incredibly focused and lacked emotion. Except for a flicker of satisfaction I saw on his face. Honestly, Bobby, he could be ex-military or trained in law enforcement. I’m willing to bet he was radicalized in some way, though.”

“Is there any indication that he had an accomplice or was possibly working with other people?”

“Nothing yet. The truck was a total loss from the explosion. When I came face to face with the man, I didn’t see a cell phone or anything else in the cab. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d stolen or purchased it recently just for the purpose of driving through the festival to kill our residents.”

“Will the make, model, and color be enough to locate where the truck was purchased?”

“Perhaps. Rosie is searching though the database right now. The problem is, we don’t have a plate. It’ll require some good old-fashioned detective work, like telephone calls, and in-person visits with local dealerships to track the truck’s origin down. Unfortunately, that will take time. One thing that I noticed about the truck when I got up close was that it appeared to have been re-painted. It had a slightly grainy feeling to the body that you don’t get with the original paint job.”

Bobby leaned back against the counter. The dead lying a few feet away were easier to ignore when we were discussing the facts and evidence.

“That would be a considerable amount of foresight if true. He wouldn’t be just an average, rage-filled person who committed a mass killing. It makes me think that his life wasn’t as important to him as covering up his identity.”

“I agree. In a large-scale event like this one, the killer usually leaves some kind of manifesto. I doubt this guy did.” I shrugged. “Maybe I’m wrong.”

“Tell me about the explosion,” Bobby asked.

“Basically, he turned the truck into a bomb by accessing the fuel tank through the cab. He’d removed a portion of the floorboard, inserted a cloth which was saturated with gasoline, then quickly caught fire from a lighter.” I tightened my ponytail with a hard tug, which smelled a bit singed when I turned my head. “Driving through the festival was phase one. Phase two, he had a gun ready to kill more people. His last phase was to blow up the truck, taking out any law officers—or anyone else—close by.”

Bobby sighed. “It appears he planned carefully to have the highest casualty numbers he could attain and at the end, wipe out not only his identity, but also any evidence in the vehicle.”

“Yep. Terrorism does seem to be the best label for what happened today.” I paused and allowed my gaze to drift over to the tables. “But the way that man’s eyes shined, I get the feeling it was personal.”

“I don’t know how that’s possible when the fatalities couldn’t be planned in such an attack.” Bobby looked at me over the rim of his spectacles with narrowed eyes. “Tell me what you’re thinking, Serenity?”

“Oh, it’s nothing more than a nagging suspicion, but there is—”

I was interrupted by knocking on the door.

“Serenity! Are you in there?”

The sharpness of his voice made me move quickly. When I opened the door, Daniel stood there in his work clothes. His thick, brown hair was ruffled and his features tight.

I didn’t have a chance to say anything when my husband’s arms caught me. At six-foot-four, lifting me off the ground was easy for him. He buried his face into my neck and squeezed harder.

I let him hold me that way for a moment. Hugging was his thing and today, I knew it was a way to confirm that I really was alive and well. But the pressure became uncomfortable, and I had a lot to do.

“I’m okay…Daniel, let go of me.”

He gradually released me, pulling back a few inches. “You and Willa could have died,” he said roughly.

“I know, but we’re all right. Did you stop by Laura’s? She brought Willa home with her.”

Daniel nodded and finally took another step backwards. He acknowledged the coroner, “Bobby, sorry to barge in like that.”

Bobby swatted the air with his hand. “No worries. I completely understand your anxiousness.”

Daniel’s gaze returned to me. “I stopped by your sister’s and Willa was taking a nap. I peeked in on her, careful not to wake her.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t pick her up?”

Daniel’s eyes widened at the same time he swayed back. “Laura said she’d take care of Willa for as long as needed.”

“Needed? I don’t understand. You’re back from delivering the materials and are free to take Willa home.” I tilted my head, watching with fascination how my husband’s face changed from an expression of worry to surprise then settled firmly into a stoney one of determination.

“Aren’t we in all hands-on-deck mode? Nathan told me he was acting as a liaison with the media for you and Dex was in charge of securing the festival grounds and keeping everyone away from the property except law enforcement.”

Daniel talked quickly and as more words left his mouth, I remembered one of the things Deidra had said at our last counseling session. You both must try to be involved in each other’s lives more. Then you’ll see things more clearly. Maybe this was Daniel’s way of understanding me better. I sighed at the thought. This wasn’t a good time for my husband to shadow me at work. Not at all.

“Look, Daniel, we have twelve dead, more than three dozen injured, and right now, no idea who the driver was and why he did this. The best way you can help us all is to be home with Willa and the dogs so I can do my job without worrying about them.”

“I already made arrangements with Laura to keep Willa, and Taylor’s there to help. CJ picked up Hope and Dallas. She’ll keep the dogs at her place and Joshua will feed the horses every evening for me.” He crossed his arms and set his jaw.

I was kind of impressed and that softened my annoyance. Somewhat.

“Okay then.” I pulled out my cell phone, scrolled my screenshots and sent one to Daniel. “Here’s what the truck looked like. It was a navy-blue Chevy Silverado but might have been recently painted. Todd thinks a 2015 or newer model. The driver was probably in his twenties, white, with a fair complexion. I need you to visit or call every dealership in the area and ask if they’ve recently sold a truck that matches this description. It will be payday if we can track down where the truck was sold and learn the information about the buyer.”

Daniel nodded slowly. “I can do that. Where will you be?”

I glanced at the clock on the wall. “I’m meeting with the lead investigator for the Indianapolis field office of the FBI in five minutes.”

“All right.” Daniel kissed my forehead. “I’ll keep you posted on my progress.”

He started to leave, and I grasped his arm. “Can you stop by the hospital and check on Nancy’s condition? She was in surgery with Dr. Hall the last time I checked.”

“Nancy was injured at the festival?” Daniel’s wide eyes and gaping mouth showed his dismay.

“Doc thinks she had a heart attack.” I wiped my eyes. “She was completely unconscious when I performed chest compressions.”

“I’ll stop by the hospital first thing.”

“Thank you, Daniel. What you’re doing is a big help.”

Daniel frowned. “Do you know why he did this?”

“No, but I’m going to find out.”

“At least he’s dead and we have nothing else to fear.”

I forced a reassuring smile, but deep down, I had a bad feeling that the festival was just the beginning of something even worse, if that were possible.

8

Istopped at Rosie’s desk. She lifted her head from the computer screen and removed her glasses. Rosie was once quite the hottie of Blood Rock. Married three times and considered a bombshell back in the day. She recently stopped dying her hair brown to cover the gray and instead went with a flattering silver dye to match her roots. With few wrinkles and sparkling eyes, she looked younger than sixty-seven years.

“I thought you said the agent was here,” I asked.

“She is. I sent her to your office to wait with the marshal.”

Rosie’s smile was sly and totally inappropriate on such a terrible day. But at least she’d warned me.

“Here, you’re going to need this,” she handed me the to-go cup of coffee that was sitting on her desk. “I had one of the gals working in the Coffee Shack bring you one over a few minutes ago.” When I frowned at Rosie, she quickly added, “The diner is closed, Serenity. I know you like to give Nancy your business, but under the circumstances, I thought you might really need a good cup of coffee.”

It’s not that I didn’t frequent the Coffee Shack from time to time, because I did. Seeing the logo on the Styrofoam cup hit me hard. If Nancy didn’t pull through, I might have to get all my caffeine from the Coffee Shack. And although the coffee was always fine, witty conversation or sound advice didn’t accompany it.

I swallowed down the lump that formed in my throat and took the cup. “Thanks, Rosie.”

As much as I wanted to drag my feet, I didn’t. The gulp of coffee was enough to straighten my head out. Of course, US Marshal Toby Bryant would show up today. From the way the national media broadcasted the news, Blood Rock was under attack.

When I reached my door, I found it slightly ajar. I could have sworn I heard a giggle right before I pushed it open.

I digested the scene in the blink of an eye. Toby and the stranger were sitting close and leaning in when I came through the doorway. They broke apart quickly and I saw the woman’s smooth cheeks turn crimson. Toby smiled coyly and sat back in his chair. His tan-colored, well-worn cowboy hat was slightly askew.

“This isn’t a day for lightheartedness, Marshal,” I said.

As I walked around the desk, they both started to stand, but I motioned for them to sit down while I took my own seat. After another swig of coffee, I set the cup down on my desk and studied the female federal agent. She was around my age. It was hard to tell with her sitting down and wearing high heels, but the petite woman was probably three inches shorter than my average height. Her auburn hair was neatly sleeked back in a bun and her makeup expertly applied. She kind of reminded me of Elayne, except this agent had a cheerleader vibe going on that instantly irritated me for some reason. Dressed smartly in a tailored light blue suit jacket and skirt, it looked like she was one of Quantico’s star pupils.

Toby sported his usual western shirt and denim jeans. His blond hair was longer than I remembered, and bristles covered his jaw. It had only been a few months since I’d last seen him, but it seemed longer. That was the night Daniel caught him embracing me. Not the other way around. I wasn’t surprised, but kind of was. The level of Toby’s flirting had grown from mildly distracting to uncomfortable. Not because I felt harassed. Toby was a professional. It was because there was chemistry between us. If I’d met Toby before Daniel, I could see the two of us living a life together. Well, at least until one of us was killed in the line of duty.

“I’m sorry, Sheriff.” Toby’s mouth scrunched and his eyes dropped. He wasn’t acting. My statement struck a chord.

The agent still looked flustered and that made my gaze pass between the two of them. As if Toby could read my mind, he looked out the window, avoiding my gaze while she sat up straighter.

Reaching her hand across the desk, she introduced herself. “I’m Liv Templeton, assisting and acting on Special Agent Brady Knolls’ behalf while he’s hospitalized. He had his appendix removed this morning.”

I gave a slight nod and grasped her hand, squeezing it harder than was probably necessary. “Sheriff Serenity Adams. Hate to meet you on a day like this.”

Liv licked her lips, glanced at Toby, then back at me. “Crisis brings everyone together, right?”

I didn’t say anything.

“Toby told me about how professional and hard-working you are, Serenity.”

So, they’re on a first-name basis. Interesting.

“Sheriff Adams,” I corrected her. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Toby smirk.

“Okay.” She inhaled and for the first time, I saw the spark of competition in her bright brown eyes. “You’ll be happy to hear that my team will take over from here.”

I looked at Toby and he shrugged, remaining silent.

“Don’t you want to get caught up on the details of the incident?” I kept my voice steady.

“I know that a truck barreled through your town’s event. The death toll currently sits at twelve but might climb higher since four of the injured are in critical condition. The truck originated in Pennsylvania—”

“How do you know that? We’ve found no plates.”

Liv’s cautious smile made my chest burn.

“On any given case, we have access to more information than you can dream of, Sheriff Adams.”

I leaned over my desk. “This asshole was on your fucking radar, and you didn’t give me the heads-up that my citizens were in danger?”

Liv wasn’t expecting my bluntness. She leaned back as if physically pushed. “I didn’t say we knew—”

“If you know where his damn truck came from, then he was on your radar.” I stood up, walked around the desk, and leaned back against it, close to her crossed legs. “I have twelve dead citizens and you’re right, maybe more to come. I was there, Agent Templeton. It was so horrifying that I doubt anyone in attendance will ever completely get it out of their head. So don’t you dare come in here and tell me that you’re taking the case without filling me in on what you know about this guy and whether it was an act of domestic terrorism or something else.”

“How dare you make demands.” Liv stood up. In heels, her height barely matched mine. “I have no other information for you at this time. Only to say that this is a federal crime, which is my jurisdiction.”

“Nope. The case overlaps jurisdictions. You do not overrule me, nor do I you.”

Toby finally found his voice. “This is too big to let egos get in the way. Cooperation is key. We need to coordinate tactics for the best and quickest outcome.”

I stared at Toby. “Why are you here? Is this guy a fugitive?”

Liv pushed her chair back. “He’s a federal agent and his proximity to Blood Rock meant he could get here quickly to assist.” She wrinkled her pert nose. “Not that I have to explain myself to you.”

I didn’t want my bitchiness to affect the investigation, but damn, the idea that they knew who our man was made my blood boil.

“Were you waiting for this guy to act? Is that why you know who he is but didn’t arrest him?”

Liv smacked her lips. “Usually when events like this happen, local law enforcement happily allows my agency to take over. They’re actually relieved, Sheriff. Let us do our job. We have boots already on the ground in Blood Rock. I’ll meet with you about this time tomorrow afternoon to reconvene.” She lifted her chin at Toby. “Come on, Toby. We have work to do.”

“We need the sheriff on this one.” Toby avoided my glare. “She knows this town and it’s insanity better than anyone else.”

Liv’s gaze swept over me. “If we need the sheriff, we know where to find her.” Her smile was icy. “As long as she doesn’t get in the way of our investigation, we’re going to get along just fine.”

At the doorway, Liv looked back when she realized Toby wasn’t following her.

“I’ll be right out,” Toby told her.

“I can wait—”

“I’ll meet you in the car, Liv. It’ll just be a minute.” Toby’s voice was firm.

Liv knew she couldn’t sway him without arguing in front of me. She left with her heels clicking on the tile floor.

When she was gone, I crossed my arms. “You’re sleeping with her.”

Toby pressed his lips tightly together and made a humming noise. “Well, can you blame me? You made it very clear that you had no feelings for me. I have needs and Liv is a smart, attractive woman.”

I snorted. “You can do a lot better, Toby. She’s in it for glory and is about as shallow as a one-inch puddle in a drought.”

Toby pushed his hat back and grinned. “Why, Sheriff. It sounds to me like you’re jealous.”

“Hardly.” I stuck my hands in my pockets. “I actually thought you might be here to help, but instead, you’re tagging around with your obnoxious new girlfriend while she steals the case right out from under me.”

Toby held up his hands. “Whoa. We aren’t official. And I am here to help.”

I stepped close enough that I could smell his familiar leather and cologne scent. “You’re playing on the wrong side of the field this time.”

“Oh, come on, Serenity. We’re all on the same side. Don’t let what’s happened between you and I slow down your work.”

I pointed at him and then me. “You and I? How can you be so arrogant to think any of this is about us? First, there is no us and never has been. Second, I don’t care who you have sex with, but my lack of respect for Agent Templeton is mutual. This is my town, and she will not freeze me out of the process. My people could still be in danger.”

I paused after saying the last part.

Toby leaned in too close, but I held my ground. “The driver is dead. What other danger could there be?” The corner of his mouth rose and trembled. “Unless you already know something you’re not saying. That wouldn’t surprise me at all. You’re always one step ahead of everyone else.”

“Your new partner knows more about this man than I do. What exactly is going on, Marshal?”

I saw something flicker across his face when he frowned. Was it possibly sadness?

“I see. We’re back to addressing each other using our titles, eh?”

I sighed deeply. My stomach was in knots and images of broken bodies still filled my head. I hated Toby. Why? Because the urge to hug him was strong enough that I had to take a step back.

“I think it’s best.”

“Alrighty.” He licked his lips and glanced at the door. “Liv hasn’t shared much with me, except that the guy’s name is Axel Miller and he bought the truck near Salunga, PA. She wouldn’t say why he was known to the agency. That’s all I have.”

“Miller?” I mused out loud.

“Yeah, I know where your mind is going, but it’s a common name.” He rubbed his chin. “Look, you have to keep the name to yourself. Let Liv and the feds release the information when they see fit. This could be a larger operation and one that you don’t want to interfere with.”

“I’ll keep it to myself. For now.”

I walked to the door and swept my hand, indicating for Toby to leave.

He stopped next to me before he went over the threshold. “I’d rather be working the case with you, like the good old days.”

“Those days are over, Marshal. Enjoy your new relationship.” My beating heart calmed. “I really do wish you only the best.”

Toby tipped his hat and walked away.

My emotions were already raw, but at that instant, the invisible string that bonded me and Toby as not only friends, but something more, snapped.

It was for the best, right? If so, then why did I feel sick to my stomach?

9

Daniel pulled up to the curb in front of the sheriff’s department in his Jeep. The day had started out with blue skies, a cool wind, and only a few puffy clouds in the sky. Now, thick clouds blocked the moon and stars. Temperatures had dropped fifteen degrees, and it was sprinkling.

I swung open the door and climbed in. Daniel had coffee waiting in the cup holder for me and he handed me a bag that I was sure contained a greasy burger and fries. I would have rather it came from the diner, but word on the street was that Nancy’s was closed indefinitely.

Leaning back, I exhaled. The tension left my muscles, and I sagged in the seat. This was the first time I’d taken a little break since the truck started mowing people over earlier in the day.

“Where’s your car?” he asked as he pulled onto the street.

After popping a couple of fries into my mouth, I unwrapped the burger. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d eaten and hadn’t realized how hungry I was. “Back at the house. CJ picked me up this morning to go to the festival.” Trying to pace myself, I took a small bite, chewed quickly, then swallowed. “My cruiser is here in the parking lot, but I figured you might want to be in on my next stop.”

“The settlement?”

Strangely, Daniel’s voice was steadier than I expected. Usually when I had business with the Plain people, my once Amish hubby became a nervous wreck. I paused before eating another french fry and looked at Daniel. The cab was pleasantly warm, and he’d removed his heavier jacket. In a solid brown shirt and staring straight ahead, I noticed a peaceful aura around Daniel that I hadn’t seen in a long time. Maybe Deidra was right and all I needed to do was give Daniel a job to do.

“Yep.”

His eyes were back on the road. “First, tell me why I’m no longer looking for the origins of the pickup truck?”

“Because Federal Agent Liv Templeton knew all about the truck and exactly where it came from. She also has our driver IDed, although she didn’t share that information with me.” I took a shallow breath. “Marshal Bryant told me the name.”

I watched Daniel’s face for a reaction, but he remained cool.

“Is the marshal on the case?”

“He’s not taking the lead, but more of a supportive role.”

Daniel cracked a smile. “All hands on deck, right?”

Since he’d used the term a couple of hours ago to make his plea for a job to do, it was kind of funny. “Something like that.”

I didn’t see the need to mention that Toby was sleeping with his professional colleague or that we weren’t on the same side this time. Taking a moment to chew my burger, I gazed out the window, thinking about the families that were mourning the loss of their loved ones because of a killer who was on the government’s radar. The more I thought about it, the tighter my chest became.

“Why isn’t Toby doing this with you?”

Daniel’s question caught me off guard and I swiveled back to him. “You’re an expert on the Amish culture and personally know the people we’re talking to.”

He shook his head. “No, Serenity. At this point, you know the Amish almost as well as I do. When the marshal is in town, he becomes your shadow. Can you please speak truthfully and tell me why the man I found embracing you in our driveway mere months ago is keeping his distance after an attack on Blood Rock’s citizens?”

Daniel had spoken in a normal pitch and tone. I usually hated it when he took on the role of Mr. Reasonable, but this time, I found myself admiring him. Nothing romantic ever happened between Toby and me. Yes, there had been an emotional connection that was driven by our common careers and too many shared near-death experiences to count. During one of my solo visits with Deidra, she’d mentioned how emotional relationships were scarier than sexual encounters for most spouses. Anyone could get it on, but a heartfelt bond was not something you could easily break.

Damn. Without a raised voice or unkind words, my husband was going to make me explain everything. I felt a stab of resentment. After all, I had the untimely deaths of at least twelve of Blood Rock’s citizens on my hands and a fishy case where my gut was telling me that the FBI knew everything and was purposely withholding information that would have saved lives today. It made me wonder how many other deranged people holding vendettas were out there that the federal agents were aware of.

I shoved the remaining burger and the rest of the fries back into the bag and crumpled the top. Resting it on my lap, I took a long sip of coffee.

Daniel chuckled, and I jerked my head his way.

“Is it that difficult for you to discuss your sometimes partner?”

“Toby was never my partner. True, he turned up when needed and I utilized his law enforcement skills. Why wouldn’t I? Our budget is incredibly low for the amount of crime committed in Blood Rock. With only a handful of officers, Todd and I can only do so much.”

“I understand all that.”

I rolled my eyes. Daniel’s passive voice was really starting to bug me. “Today is the first time I’ve seen or spoken to Toby in months. Contrary to your beliefs, the marshal and I come together to solve crimes of mutual interest and that’s it.” I drew a long breath and exhaled while I talked. “Toby’s allegiance is to the feds, not to Blood Rock’s Sheriff’s Department. Especially since he’s sleeping with the lead agent on the case.”

I slipped in the last bit smoothly, I thought. Daniel’s brow rose, along with the corner of his mouth.

“Really? He told you that?”

“Not in so many words, but I’m perceptive and the signs were all there. Complicating matters, Agent Templeton is hiding something, and she has little bitch syndrome.”

Daniel barked out a snort of laughter. “Excuse me? I don’t’ think I’ve heard the term before.”

“Liv really wants to be a big bitch, but she hasn’t achieved that title yet. She’s working hard on it, though.”

His smile grew. “You consider yourself a big bitch, don’t you?”

I shrugged. “I guess so.” Tilting my head, I returned Daniel’s smile. “Don’t you?”

“Eh, no trick questions.” Daniel seemed satisfied with the information I’d shared. He tapped the steering wheel with a burst of energy. “All right. I get why Toby is staying on the other side of the playing field. So, why did a terrorist pick a small-town frontier festival to destroy?”

Grunting softly, I realized that I hadn’t really thought of it like that before. On the surface, it was strange indeed. “Agent Templeton wouldn’t say much, and the national media is claiming it’s simply a white guy who lost his mind and decided to kill a bunch of people one late fall afternoon.”

“What do you think?”

“It was personal, Daniel. The look on the guy’s face right before he blew himself up told me that he had completed a mission and was prepared to die.” I paused, remembering the scene again, only this time, in slow motion. “Without saying a word to me, I got the impression that he was a very well organized and structured individual. Maybe ex-military or law enforcement. Or something else.”

“Toby went against his boss and let the man’s name slip?”

“Yeah. He threw me a bone before he walked out the door.”

“What’s the name?”

“This is confidential, you know.”

“Who am I going to tell?”

It’s not like Daniel didn’t have a bunch of buddies and extended family to discuss it with. Just that he wasn’t a gossip. My husband kept important things to himself, and I’d learned from experience that he was excellent at keeping secrets. I had to say the words to cover my butt. There could be no miscommunication in a case with as many eyes on it as this one.

“Axel Miller.”

Daniel rubbed his chin. “That could be an Amish name.”

“That crossed my mind as well, but Miller is a common surname for regular folks. Axel doesn’t sound like something a Plain mama would call her baby.”

“Hard to say. Our people are becoming more daring in the naming department lately.”

“But he was in his twenties, so the parents would have been ahead of their time,” I pointed out.

Daniel’s nod told me he agreed.

We had left the streetlights of Blood Rock behind us and were closing in on the settlement. It started raining harder and Daniel turned on the wiper blades. Their rhythmic back and forth sounds were soothing.

“Where exactly are we heading? The bishop’s?”

I grunted. “Not the new one.”

“Why do you want to speak to Aaron? He’s not the community’s leader any longer.”

“Because I trust him and that’s not something I can say about Joseph Bender.”

“I know he rubs you the wrong way, but he’s a good man and an old friend of mine. Since five of those killed today were Amish, he’s the man you want to talk to.”

“Did you know that about half of the dead and injured were from the new group of Amish who recently relocated here from Pennsylvania? Not a single Amish family from the original community was at the festival.”

Daniel pursed his lips. “I did.”

“The truck that Axel Miller rampaged through the crowd was also from Pennsylvania, and I’m willing to make a bet right now that Axel’s home is also the Keystone State.”

“Did you mention any of this to the federal agent?”

“Nope. We’re going to do our due diligence and see what we find out.”

“We?” Daniel held my gaze for a couple of seconds before looking back at the road.

Since we’d crossed the line into the settlement, he slowed accordingly, but the roadway was a lonely stretch. It wasn’t surprising. The Amish tended to remain home on rainy nights.

“I tasked Todd with staying on top with the multiple agencies and media descending on our town. The rest of our officers are monitoring check points around Blood Rock. If you can take a few days off from work, I could sure use your help.”

It wasn’t as hard to say as I expected it would be.

“I’m all yours, Serenity.” He flashed a smile. “In all ways and forever.”

“That’s a cringy thing to say.” I was glad the cab was kind of dark so Daniel couldn’t see me blushing.

“It’s true, though.”

I didn’t know what to say. It had been a while since butterflies had stirred in my stomach and I liked the feeling.

We reached the former bishop’s driveway and Daniel pulled in.

“I think I’m going to continue addressing Aaron as the bishop, or should it be Former Bishop Esch?”

I was dead serious. Daniel had known the bishop his entire life and was comfortable referring to him by his first name. For me, it felt wrong. Bishop Esch was the super star of bishops in my book. I doubted Joseph Bender, who was only a few years older than me, could ever pull off the judgmental sneer that Bishop Esch owned and the furrowed brow that used to fray my nerves.

“Yes, that’s fine. You’re not Amish and never had to refer to Aaron by his title.”

“Really?” Now I felt dumb.

I started to continue the conversation out of curiosity but stopped when Daniel hushed me with a sharp breath.

“Were you expecting anyone else to be here?”

I leaned over the dashboard and squinted, trying to see through the rain. “No. I figured at this hour, he’d be alone.”

When I spotted the horse and buggy tied to the hitching rail, I groaned. “Do you recognize the horse or the buggy?”

Daniel snorted, then chuckled. “It’s a soaking wet black horse with its head down and the buggy is identical to eighty percent of the buggies around here.”

“I guess that’s a no?” I continued to peer through the windshield at the bishop’s house while Daniel parked and cut off the engine. The kitchen lights were on. “Who do you think is visiting the former bishop on a night like this?”

“There’s just been a huge tragedy in the community,” Daniel said. “I’m sure there’s a lot of after-dark meetings happening.”

“Have you talked to your parents or sister?”

“Only to call them to make sure none of my family or childhood friends had been at the festival. Ma confirmed that members of the old community weren’t in attendance.”

I was stalling, but some information was better than nothing when I talked to the bishop. “How would she even know that? She can’t keep tabs on everyone.”

Daniel let out a long, tired sigh. Now this was the apprehensive hubby that I was used to. I leaned closer and touched his arm. “Hey, I told you about my interaction with the marshal and the agent he’s sleeping with. Whatever you have to say can’t be more titillating than that.”

“You would certainly think not, but after speaking with Ma, I got the feeling that trouble is brewing between the new and old factions of the community.” He picked up my hand and squeezed it. “There had been discussion within the congregation recently about relaxing the rules.”

“There’s a rule about not going to a festival?”

“Not exactly. Community members can come and go as they want as individuals or family units. Traveling as a larger group to outsider events is usually decided by the bishop and ministers, along with the congregation, unless we’re talking about a horse sale or famer’s market. The Frontier Festival falls into a gray category. Ma said that the old community voted as a block not to go, but the newer members went the opposite way.”

I digested the information. “Elayne had eluded that there might be trouble in paradise, but I wasn’t paying much attention. At the time, it seemed rather unimportant.”

“It probably still is.”

“Perhaps.” I zipped up my jacket and opened the door. “Come on.”

“Wait, I have an umbrella!”

But I was already jogging over the squishy grass to reach the porch steps. The horse’s head bolted up when I ran by. Daniel was right behind me by the time I knocked on the door. He hadn’t brought the umbrella after all.

The door opened wide on the third knock.

“Thank goodness. Serenity, I knew you’d come.”

My heart skipped a beat. Damn. My intrigue meter went through the roof.

Nothing was ever boring with these Amish.

10

Upon entering the home, I was immediately assaulted by the smell of coffee and the warmth of Katherine’s tight hug.

The Amish woman had been my friend for a few years, and she was married to the recently promoted Bishop Joseph Bender. Katherine’s light blue eyes were puffy and red from crying. Even though the woman was pushing forty, she appeared younger. She was porcelain-doll pretty, her features delicate and refined. She’d maintained a slender figure even after eight pregnancies. Or was it nine now? I couldn’t keep track of how many children she had, but the one child I would never forget was Eli. I quickly learned during my very first investigation into Blood Rock’s Amish community that he was Naomi Beiler’s beau—a poor girl who had been shot in a cornfield. It wasn’t until later that I proved the shooting wasn’t an accident. Naomi had been murdered by a jealous Amish teen who wanted her all to himself. The incident left a mark on Eli. Not long after, he was swept up in another Amish murder case and that time, he lost his life when the house he was in blew up from an intentional gas leak.

In those early days, Katherine didn’t trust me or even like me, but over time, a real friendship had blossomed. I regarded the other woman as intelligent and kind, but most definitely under her husband’s thumb. She would do anything to not only protect him but aid him in whatever foolhardy scheme he came up with. Like inviting half of a congregation from another state to move in.

When Katherine stopped hugging me, she continued to grip my arm, tugging me towards the kitchen. Once inside the well-lit room, Daniel greeted Joseph and then Aaron. I stood back and studied the men’s faces. One was in his eighties, rail thin, and whose sharp features had always reminded me of Abe Lincoln. His snowy white hair and beard seemed to have thinned some since I ran into him around two months ago at the feed store. He had been buying grain for his new horse, and I was there to pick up a crate of petunias for the pots on our back porch. We’d had a pleasant and quick conversation that was about as bland as a conversation could be. I’d left the feed store content that the bishop’s health didn’t appear to be declining. After he nearly died in a buggy accident the previous winter, the old bishop seemed peaceful and maybe even relieved that the weight of the sometimes-troubled community was no longer on his shoulders.

My gaze shifted to the new bishop. Joseph and I had never been friends. Where Bishop Esch had an inquisitive nature and was open to bending the rules to advance his agenda, the younger bishop already knew everything and was very stubborn. He rarely listened to reason but had done so on my last case in the community when Joseph had participated in a bit of vigilante Amish justice. That was before he was officially the new bishop.

My mind drifted back to that cold, snowy night in the cabin when I’d learned the truth.

“You sent Aiden to kill Mason Schrock?” The words came out of my mouth with no emotion, just a brutal sense of dread.

Joseph chuckled. “No, Serenity. I simply spoke the truth and now, if it’s our Lord’s will, Aiden will end the taint. He’s already a murderer. You can’t serve more than one life in prison. The boy’s life is already over.”

A throaty cough pulled me from the memory. It was Joseph. His jaw was set, and his face, grim.

Joseph would be considered a good-looking man dressed in regular street clothes. All in black and wearing a hat, he resembled a villain who stepped out of a western movie. He kept his beard shorter than many of the other Amish men. His dark eyes were always alert and his back straight. The old bishop had given me heartburn on any day of the week, but I’d come to know him well. Bishop Esch had also been at the end of his career when we worked together and that made him a bit more practical in some ways. Joseph was in the early days of leading the community. I got the feeling that he wanted to make his mark.

“Serenity, let me pour you a cup of coffee,” Katherine said.

“Please do,” Bishop Esch said. “That one needs her caffeine to operate at full potential.” He sat in the nearest chair with a heavy sigh. “Tell us, Sheriff. What do you know?”

I glanced around the room. Daniel leaned against the counter with his arms crossed and frowning. Katherine busied herself with the coffee and Joseph stood with his fingers interlocked and his chin raised. I made a mental note that the old bishop and not the new one appeared to be in control of the meeting. Was Aaron Esch a sort of shadow leader? The idea fascinated me, but too much else was on my mind to wonder much about it.

“I assume you already know that five of your people were killed when a truck drove through the festival?” Bishop Esch gave a firm nod, while Joseph remained frozen.

Katherine handed me a warm mug, dropped her head, and sat in the nearest chair. “What a horror it must have been for everyone there. My heart breaks for the families.”

My gaze followed Katherine. She liked to talk and was more likely to slip up than the men. “Were you close to any of the victims?”

“They were only among us for a short time, but Grace Kauffman joined our quilting group and her granddaughter, Opal, was an assistant teacher at the schoolhouse. I can’t imagine what Phoebe is going through. To lose her mother and niece on the same day…”

Katherine sucked in a wet breath and covered her face with her hands. I decided to leave her alone. The Amish woman’s grief was real, and it triggered my own emotions. These people were my friends. For just a moment, I needed to lose the paranoia that nagged me whenever I investigated a crime involving the Plain people and just be a good neighbor. I was betting that it would get me further this time around.

Daniel’s eyes locked on me and without saying a word, I knew what he was thinking. It made me uncomfortable to show my hand, but this wasn’t an ordinary case. I’d seen the killer blow himself up. The threat might be over and dealing with the fallout was our main concern.

I wish I believed that.

If I was right, then there could still be a threat. I would throw the dice and see what happened.

“The driver’s name might be Axel Miller.” My gaze shifted between Aaron and Joseph, looking for reactions. “Does the name ring a bell?”

Bishop Esch answered quickly. “I know many Millers, even a few that have always been Englishers, but Axel is not familiar to me.” He cocked his head at Joseph. “What of you, Joseph?”

Even Katherine swiveled in her chair to look at her husband.

Joseph’s mouth pursed and his nose wrinkled. I got the impression his initial thought was distasteful to him.

“I don’t recognize the name either.”

My chest deflated. I crossed the room to stand next to Daniel who offered me a very subtle and reassuring nod.

“But—”

My head snapped back to Joseph, who then let out a long sigh.

“Harley might know of him.” He clucked his tongue, then his face hardened. “Do you know where Axel calls home?”

“No, not yet. The truck used as a weapon came out of Pennsylvania, though.” I stared at Joseph, but the man had a very good poker face.

“Since Harley’s congregation moved here from outside of Lancaster, I would advise speaking with him about the matter.”

“Matter?” I pushed away from the counter and crossed the small room, then turned around. “This was mass murder. The feds are calling it terrorism.”

“I understand that,” Joseph retorted. “I also realize your visit to Aaron’s this night wasn’t about offering condolences. You’re searching for answers in our community. Why?”

Joseph was way too clever. Katherine groaned and Bishop Esch wiped his brow with a handkerchief.

Daniel tried to rescue me. “Serenity was concerned about the name, that’s all.”

“No, it’s more than that.” I flashed a stern look at Daniel before settling my gaze on Joseph. “It might just be coincidence that where the truck was purchased is in the same state where your new congregation members came from. Regardless, I must follow through, so we can hopefully figure out Axel’s motive for the murder rampage.”

Joseph nodded. “We would like to know that as well. Is there anything I can do to aid in your endeavor?”

“Yes, actually. Is it possible to gather the Amish who were at the festival? Maybe they witnessed something useful.”

“I can do that. Would noon tomorrow at the schoolhouse work for you?”

Joseph was being awfully accommodating, which rattled me a little. “It’s Sunday, though. Aren’t you holding a church service around that time?”

“This is our off week. We have one each month.”

The information settled in my mind. I never noticed that the Amish took a day off from church each month.

“Thank you, Jo—I mean, Bishop.”

“No need to be formal.” He glanced at Bishop Esch who was still seated and unusually quiet. “Katherine, let’s be off.”

Katherine left the chair with a swoosh of her maroon dress, then grabbed her coat off the back of it.

“Serenity, I’ll be there tomorrow as well. I think it’s a good thing you’re going to speak to the families. They need reassurance that there’s nothing to fear.”

I watched the couple make their way quickly to the door and go through it without glancing back. Daniel took the seat that Katherine had just vacated. I remained standing.

The bishop leaned back in his chair and our eyes met. He was attentive and by the way his mouth gaped a little, I was pretty sure that he had a lot to say.

“Now that the Benders are gone, will you tell me what’s going on with your newcomers?” I asked.

He wasn’t in a hurry to answer my question. Sipping from his cup first, he eyed Daniel, who shrugged. I often wondered how much Daniel knew that he didn’t actually say. In this case, I believed him. He’d been too busy with back-to-back building projects to meet the new neighbors.

The bishop set down the mug and finally spoke. “I argued against allowing another church from as far away as Pennsylvania to join ours. I knew it would be a terrible mistake. You see, every one of our communities is slightly, if not greatly, different. We each have our own Ordnungs or guidelines about how we will live. Whether we are allowed to own tractors, Bobcats, riding lawnmowers, or snowmobiles varies from community to community. Some groups allow Rumspringa, which is a time for young people to experience the outside world, while others do not. Running water inside homes, where the community telephones are kept, and whether Amish business owners may carry cell phones are lifestyle choices that must be voted on within a community.” He grunted, giving his head a hard shake. “Fights break out over trivial matters and soon, half a congregation is moving to new communities where they can do more or less, depending on their whimsy.”

The bishop’s voice continued to raise, and he began swinging his hands around while he talked.

I attempted to settle him down. “I recall that you were trying to block tractors in this community. Did you succeed?”

He sat up straighter. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I corralled enough votes to stop that foolish nonsense in its tracks.”

“Why weren’t you victorious in standing up against Joseph when he advocated to add fifteen or more families to your congregation?” I asked.

The bishop swatted the air. “New blood, Serenity. Joseph argued that we needed it here in Blood Rock and most of our people agreed with him.”

Daniel crossed his arms onto the table. “It really was time, Aaron. You can’t have second cousins marrying because they have no one else to court.”

Eew. I’d never thought about that aspect of living in small, isolated communities.

“True enough,” the bishop agreed. “But it’s better to bring in a couple of families from different locations, here and there, rather than enough to overwhelm your community with their own voting block.”

Understanding lit up my mind. “I see it now.” Tilting my head to the bishop, I frowned. “Joseph is a smart guy. Didn’t he worry about that himself?”

“Joseph will one day be a great leader, but at this juncture, he’s still a hasty man. When a few of our families were talking about moving away, he thought the best way to stop them was to immediately fix the problem. Now we face an entirely different set of troubles.”

“Explain.” I sat down across from him.

“Joseph failed to do his research into Harley’s congregation. The obvious question is why they were leaving their own territory to begin with.”

“Do you know?” Daniel asked.

“Among the usual nit-picky type things, there was a greater problem in the Muscat community—one that I will not speak of, but I believe you would be wise to look into, Sheriff.”

“Ah, people move all the time and whatever nonsense drove these Amish away from their Pennsylvania homes is of no interest to me. Besides, I have a lot on my plate right now—”

“Perhaps, the two issues are connected,” the bishop said quietly.

I leaned over the table. “Was Axel from Harley’s community?”

“He was driving a vehicle—”

“Let me re-word the question. Was Axel Miller originally from the same community as the Pennsylvania Amish who recently moved into this settlement?”

“I have no idea.”

“I think you do. Why are you not telling me the facts.”

“I have nothing to support any of my personal thoughts or suspicions. It’s your job to dig up the evidence and you’re very good at it, Sheriff.”

“Wait a minute,” Daniel jumped in. “We already know you were against the new families relocating here.”

“Yes, it’s ridiculous to double our numbers overnight. You should understand that, Daniel.”

“It’s neither here nor there to me. I’m no longer Amish. My point is you could be sending Serenity on a wild goose chase just to make enough waves to push them out.”

My head swiveled back to the bishop. Rarely had I heard Daniel stand up to the man who used to strike fear in his heart as a teen.

“Trust me, Daniel. Joseph realizes his error and would like nothing more than to go back and undo it.”

“It sounds to me like there’s more going on here than you’re saying.” I watched the bishop closely, although I knew from experience that his stoic expressions were very hard to read.

“There always is. Do what you want with my coaxing, Sheriff. I believe you’ll end up in Pennsylvania eventually.”

I stood up and leaned over the table. “You want me to travel to the Muscat community?”

“I only expect you to do your job like you always do.”

Once we were back in the Jeep, I turned to Daniel. “Why does that man always have to be so damn cryptic?”

“He’s cautious. His community is whirling from losing five of their own and possibly more to come. It isn’t the time for Aaron to stage a coup against the new arrivals.”

“So, he’s using me to do his dirty work?”

Daniel pulled onto the quiet and dark roadway. It was still drizzling. Since we were only a couple of miles from home, relief washed over me that a hot shower and a glass of wine were within reach.

“Aaron respects you. He wouldn’t open any of the Amish to scrutiny without serious thought.”

“Do you think Axel Miller is ex-Amish?”

Daniel exhaled and his breath fogged up the windshield. “I don’t know what to think. It could be a coincidence that his last name is Miller and with the large crowd of Amish at the festival, it’s not really strange they made up half of the fatalities.”

We traveled almost a mile with thoughts rolling around my head before I spoke again. “At least he’s dead. I mean, the worst of the threat was eliminated when he took multiple bullets from Todd and me, then blew himself up.”

“What does that mean for you?”

“Well, I’ll conduct my own interviews at the department and in the community tomorrow. I doubt Agent Templeton will have much to tell me, but if she does, I’ll listen.”

“Maybe it’s a good thing the feds are taking the lead on this one, Serenity. Have you considered that?”

Daniel might be right, but I hated to admit it out loud. It was my husband’s mission to have me work less, not more. His opinion was personally biased. But I really did see his point. I couldn’t always be ahead of the game. Some things weren’t ready to be investigated until another crime had been committed.

“Either way, they won’t tell me or anyone else the truth. They rarely share information. If I don’t conduct my own full investigation, we may never have answers as to why Axel Miller—if that really is his name—drove through the festival today, killing and maiming innocent people.” I glanced sideways. “Don’t you want to know why?”

“I guess so,” Daniel said reluctantly. “Although, sometimes answers are beyond reach.”

That’s why my husband was a builder and not a detective. His curiosity tapered off at the point where mine grew.

Using my fist in a circular motion, I cleared the fog from the windshield. “Hey, do you see them?” I pointed to a spot ahead of us and beside the road. There weren’t any houses for a short stretch here and it was pushing ten o’clock.

Daniel’s gaze followed my finger. Without being asked, he slowed the Jeep, then pulled off on the shoulder when we came abreast of the five horses with riders.

I rolled down the window and Daniel leaned half over me. “Hello!” he called out. “Do you need aid?” When they remained silent, he asked again in Pennsylvania Dutch.

As I studied the horse-back riders in turn, I was shocked that instead of a group of rowdy teenagers, they all appeared to be men in their twenties or thirties. I didn’t recognize anyone.

One of the riders rode forward, closer to the vehicle. His hair was longish, mousy brown, and soaked. Water dripped from the rim of his black hat, but wearing a thick black coat, he didn’t seem to mind the rain. The others were dressed similarly. They all had full beards, indicating they were married men.

“You must be the famous lady sheriff and Daniel Bachman,” the closest man said. “I’ve wanted to meet you both since arriving in Blood Rock.”

“And who are you?” I asked.

“Elmo Brenneman.” He pointed at each of the other men. “There’s my cousins, Micah and Freeman Graber, Caleb Zook, and Evan Gingerich.”

“Were you related to Abner Brenneman and Jared Graber?”

Elmo nodded. He didn’t smile nor frown. “Abner was my older brother and Jared was Micah and Freeman’s brother. Of course, we knew Grace, Opal, and Beth. It’s a day full of sorrow in our community.”

“I’m so sorry.” I paused, once again passing my gaze over the small group of men. Their horses’ breath puffed into the cold air and they were equally as drenched as their riders. These guys had been riding in the rain for a while. “May I ask why you’re out on a night like this when I’d expect you to be home with your families, grieving.”

Elmo rested his hands on the horn of the saddle in a leisurely way even though the rain started pouring down harder.

“Everyone grieves in their own way, Sheriff Adams.” He tilted his head sharply. “May I ask why you don’t use your husband’s name?”

Elmo’s brisk tone took me off guard, and the question was disrespectful. My stomach churned and my face heated. Daniel squeezed my hand, and his touch calmed my senses a little bit. This man had just lost his brother, cousin, an elderly woman, and two girls from his community. I would give him a pass on his rudeness this one time.

“Your horses look uncomfortable, Elmo. Perhaps it’s time for all of you to get out of the rain,” I said.

Elmo flashed a small and tight smile. “It’s a free country, Sheriff. We know our rights. If we want to ride our horses on a stormy night, it’s none of your business.”

I started to say something, but Daniel was quicker. “Goodbye then. Our deepest condolences.”

Daniel rolled the window up from the controls on his side of the Jeep and I let him do it. Once we were back on the road, I let out a long, rough breath. “What the fuck was that?”

“I’d say, we just witnessed why Aaron and now, Joseph, want to get rid of the Muscat Amish. Even my father regrets allowing them into Blood Rock’s community.”

“Wait. You never mentioned how Moses felt about joining the congregations.”

Daniel shrugged. “My father has fretted about the community’s dwindling numbers for years. You get to a time and place where there just aren’t enough young people and the community folds.”

“I’m surprised about that. Your dad and the old bishop are close, and they were always on the same side of issues in the past.”

“This time, they weren’t. Ma felt very differently about the Muscat community coming to Blood Rock. It created tension between the two of them for months. Now they are in agreement that Ma was right, and Father, wrong.”

It had been a rough day but knowing that Anna Backman had the satisfaction of winning that argument with her husband put a smile on my face.

Who knew if tomorrow would bring any relevant answers. But after the encounter with the riders, I had no doubt that the Muscat Amish were going to be a pain in my ass going forward.

11

Todd sat to my right and Rosie, with her laptop, was on my left. We’d quickly cleared the clutter of boxes and files off the conference table to accommodate witness interviews and were ready to start. I hadn’t seen Agent Templeton or Toby yet that morning, and I wondered if they’d shared the same hotel room the night before. It was only a fleeting thought and one I quickly buried with a deep breath. Chief Hopple stood at the door, ready to bring in each witness one by one.

I took a long sip of coffee from the Coffee Shack. Coffee was a necessity and although I wished it could be from Nancy’s Diner, the future of Blood Rock’s favorite restaurant was still up in the air. This cup of brew was better than the one from the department’s coffee maker. I’d learned after checking in with Doctor Kumar that Nancy remained in the intensive care unit and wasn’t out of the woods yet. Deep down, I had faith she’d pull through. Nancy’s stubborn nature was legendary. I believed she had a strong enough spirit to stay alive against all odds if that’s what she wanted to do.

Daniel and I had parted ways with a kiss in front of the department an hour earlier. He was on a mission to drop off more of Willa’s things at my sister’s house, and then was going to have breakfast with our baby girl and Taylor while Laura ran an errand. His plan was to pick me up in a couple of hours and then we’d head to the Amish schoolhouse to pretty much do the same thing we were doing here. With the driver dead, most of the townspeople carried on their usual business with a sense of melancholy but without fear. After all, the terror was over and like with most mass casualty events, the living must go on living. We’d bury our dead and continue on because that’s what people did in times like this.

The nagging sensation that there was something more to the attack had kept me up for hours, tossing and turning next to Daniel until he’d finally rolled over on top of me and started passionately kissing me. His lips started at my mouth, then they found my neck. He continued downward until I forgot about the devastation at the festival.

I finally fell asleep after having sex. The way Daniel had made love to me was like in the good old days, before so many disturbing cases had piled up and, I guess, before Marshal Toby Bryant came to town more frequently.

It was a positive sign that our marriage had a shot of surviving.

Setting the cup down, I turned to Todd. “How is Heather doing? I heard she passed little Nolan off to Elayne and ran straight into the carnage right behind me. Lily Dobbins said that her husband would have bled out if Heather hadn’t used her hands to stop the bleeding until the first responders could take over.”

Todd was sporting day old stubble which I didn’t see very often. He was a neat freak and besides buzzing his head every month, he usually kept his jaw completely smooth. Seeing his bloodshot eyes told me that he’d had a hard time falling asleep as well.

“She’s a registered nurse, trained to save lives. And you know how she is. There was no way to stop her from jumping into the fray when her mind is set.”

“Bless her heart,” Rosie said. “She must be exhausted. I ran into her at the hospital this morning when I went to visit my neighbor. Luckily, Glenna only broke an arm and will return home today.”

“Heather’s mom is babysitting the kids,” Todd added. “It’s her day off and I wanted her to stay home, but she refused.”

The resilience of Blood Rock’s citizens and how they came together in a crisis had always impressed me. Heather was one of our best assets.

Mike peeked into the room. “Are you ready to begin?”

“Yep, send in the first one.”

Dilly Profit strolled into the room, using her grandfather’s cane, which she really didn’t need, and shuffling like a penguin, even though I’d spotted her jogging at Blood Rock’s recreation park the week before.

“Have a seat, Dilly.” Once she was settled, I asked, “What did you see of interest at the festival yesterday?”

“I was buying an autumn wreath from Miss Sally in aisle 1—”

“Hold on,” I set down my pen and Rosie looked up at Dilly from the laptop. “That’s several aisles from where the truck went through.”

“Well, yes, but it gave me such a fright.”

“Did you see the truck from where you were?” Todd asked.

“I caught a glimpse of the horrible thing in between the pretzel and lemonade booths. It was blue. A dark blue. My husband says I’m colorblind, but I’m positive that it wasn’t green.”

I slowly nodded. It’s going to be a long morning.

The next twenty-three people we spoke to were similar to our conversations with Dilly. Everyone saw something, but nothing of consequence. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack, anything at all that would shine light on the tragedy or fill in the blanks.

Mike stepped inside the room. “I did what you asked and thinned the crowd out myself.”

I glanced at my cell phone and saw a text message that Daniel was waiting in the Jeep in front of the department with a bagged lunch and fresh coffee.

“How many are left, Mike? I need to leave for the Amish settlement. Hopefully, we’ll get better information than we’ve had here this morning.”

“Just one.”

I closed my notebook. “Todd, Rosie, why don’t you finish up for me. I should be going.”

“I think you’ll want to speak with this guy personally.”

Mike said it in such a brusque way, I decided to stay for the last interview.

Leaning back, I pulled my ponytail tighter. “All right. Send him in.”

I didn’t recognize the man who came through the doorway. Guessing his age at between thirty and thirty-five, his head was full of neatly coiled dreadlocks and his black skin smooth. What really struck me was how brightly his brown eyes shined. The man was eager to speak to us. Blue jeans and a gray hoodie completed his look, while his swagger gave me the impression of an easy-going personality.

“I’m Sheriff Serenity Adams. What’s your name?”

“Benson Martin.” He sat down leisurely and waited for my next question.

“Were you at the festival yesterday?”

“No, ma’am.”

“On the roadway then?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I was nowhere near that craziness.”

My curiosity meter spiked. “Do you know the assailant?”

“Not exactly.” He crossed his leg and rested his wrist on his knee. “I bought the little house on the corner of Lane Street and Third Avenue—”

“Oh, yeah,” Todd exclaimed. “You’re nearly close enough to be my neighbor. Do you remember me? I stopped by last spring and talked to you for a bit while you were putting up new gutters.”

Benson nodded. “Sure, I remember you.”

Todd turned to me. “Benson bought Mrs. Randal’s house and fixed it up. He lives on one side, and he turned the other into an Airbnb rental.” Todd turned back to Benson. “You moved here from Indy, right?”

“Correct.”

It was nice that Todd was excited about knowing the guy, but I was impatient to find out how “he didn’t exactly” know Axel Miller.

“I’m a little confused. The identity of the driver of the truck hasn’t been released, so how do you think you know them?”

Benson licked his lips. “I saw photos of the truck posted on social media. You see, a fellow rented the apartment the night before last for a single night. I think it was the same truck that he was driving.”

“How could you tell, Mr. Martin? It’s not that I don’t believe you, but the truck was a common make and model. What gave you idea it’s the same one?”

“Well, a couple of things. There were no plates on the truck. When I asked—”

“You met this person?” I held my breath. Most Airbnb’s were rented sight unseen. Could we be so lucky that Axel Miller came face to face with Benson?

“Yes, ma’am. I hand over the keys personally to every renter.” He scrunched the side of his face. “It’s just my own thing. I like to see who’s sleeping on the other side of the wall, you know what I mean?”

I nodded. “Go on.”

“The form I use asks for a plate number and when I asked him about it, he told me it was new and the paper must have blown off on the drive over.”

So many questions darted through my head that I had to take a breath to pace myself.

“What was the other thing about the truck that makes you think it could have been the same one?”

“It smelled like gasoline. More so than you’d expect from a newer truck. I asked him about it, and he had an answer for that, too.”

Todd was as eager as me. He leaned forward. “What was his explanation?”

“He said that he was doing work on the floorboards and the fuel pump was exposed. When I drew back and joked that it sounded dangerous, he just chuckled and said he wasn’t too worried because he knew all about things that went boom.”

“And you still rented the apartment to him?” Rosie spoke up, asking exactly what I was thinking.

Benson shrugged. “He laughed about it like he was joking. I didn’t think he was serious.”

I could barely stop myself from interrupting him. “What was his name?”

“Jerry Smith. At least that’s what he wrote on the form.”

It made sense that Axel would use an alias. “Do you have the paperwork?”

“I sure do.” He pulled out a folded paper from his pocket and handed it to me. “This is all I have. He paid in cash. Left the room immaculate and wasn’t any trouble at all. He was gone at the crack of dawn.”

I quickly read the agreement. “He put an Arizona address on here. Did he say anything about why he came to Blood Rock on that particular day?”

“Only that he was passing through, heading to the east coast. I try not to be nosey with the short-term renters.”

I jotted down the phone number on the paper and handed the note to Todd. “Call the number.” I gave the agreement to Rosie. “Please make a copy of this.” She left the room quickly with it.

Todd put the call on speaker. The robotic voice immediately said, “The number you dialed is not reachable or is currently unavailable.”

“Jerry answered this number before?”

“He called me from that number three days ago. I never had a reason to call him. It was a last-minute booking.”

Okay. Axel had covered his tracks well or perhaps he wasn’t the same person after all. “Can you describe what Jerry looked like?”

“Average height and build. I figured he was around twenty-five. Blondish-brown hair, with a little bit of peach fuzz on his chin. Intense eyes.”

Benson had just described the man in the truck who I’d come face to face with.

“Mr. Martin. I have a favor to ask. It’s important.”

“This town welcomed me with open arms and it’s my home now. I’ll help in any way possible. Anything at all.”

“I need you to give Todd your cell phone number and take him back to the apartment to have a look around. Something might have been left behind.”

“Of course.”

“This request is even more important.”

“Shoot.”

“Please don’t mention any of this to anyone local—or from out of the area.”

Benson sat forward. “Like the media?”

“Yes, and”—I swallowed down the knot that suddenly formed in my throat—“or any other officers that aren’t from my department.”

Benson narrowed his gaze. “You’re asking me to lie to the FBI?”

“Lying is strong word. Simply don’t say anything at all.”

Benson nodded and flashed a sly smile. “No problem, Sheriff.”

12

Alight rain continued and the wind occasionally gusted, scattering wet leaves across the gravel parking lot at the base of the hill where the Amish schoolhouse sat. There weren’t many buggies parked around the Jeep. The horses were out of the weather and tied in a long, narrow shed opposite to where we were parked.

“I expected more people,” I mused out loud.

Daniel sighed. Being obsessed with the cleanliness of his vehicle, he picked up my crumpled sandwich wrapper and shoved it into the trash bag he had ready. “None of the original residents went to the festival and out of the new group, less than half of those were in attendance.”

My husband wasn’t thinking about it deeply enough. “I get that.” I turned in the passenger seat to meet his steady gaze. Our elbows rubbed. “What I meant is that I expected more Amish to come just for the spectacle of it. You know, being nosey.”

“My sister and Reuben aren’t coming. Neither is Lester, nor Mary Ester.”

“You reached out to them?” I took a sip from my coffee, watching a couple of teenaged girls in matching green dresses and black coats run up the hill beneath a shared umbrella.

“Of course. I talked to as many of my contacts in the community that I could get a hold of, even Joshua. Had you forgotten that his surname is Miller?”

“Nope. I texted CJ first thing yesterday to ask her hubby if he knew a man by that name and he didn’t.”

“Most of the community is avoiding this interrogation,” Daniel said.

“It’s hardly that.” Something occurred to me. “Unless your family and friends think the new Amish brought the attack on themselves.”

“Hardly.” Daniel pressed his lips together and stared ahead. “They’re mourning, Serenity. And they haven’t had the peaceful transition they’d hoped for with the new arrivals. They’re simply staying away out of respect and since they weren’t at the festival.”

“So, we’re walking into a sea of unfamiliar faces?”

“Joseph, Katherine, Aaron, and my mother will be in the schoolhouse.”

“Not your father?”

“You know how stirred up he gets about things that are out of his control. Ma asked him to stay home, and he relented.” He dragged his hand through his thick, wavy brown hair. “At least there will be four familiar faces.”

“Five.” When Daniel looked over, I added, “Elayne should be here.”

He reached behind his seat, grabbing the umbrella. “Are you ready?”

I had been all morning. Something about the gloomy weather and how drastically it contrasted from the day before tugged at my emotions.

“If yesterday had been raining like today, the crowd would have been much smaller,” I said softly. “The attack might not even have happened.”

“It’s one of those things we’ll never know. All we can do is look forward and use the past as a guide.”

I nodded, then opened the door. Pelting rain struck my face, but I didn’t wait for Daniel to run around the Jeep with his umbrella. I liked the smack of energy the wet wind gave me.

Daniel caught up to me when I started jogging. I didn’t stop until we reached the awning over the door at the side of the white, rectangular metal building. Before I had a chance to grasp the knob, the door flew open and Elayne came through. She closed it behind her.

“I saw you two coming up the hill,” she said.

Elayne was dressed fittingly for the somber day. Her jacket, pants, shoes, and blouse were all black, and she didn’t wear earrings or makeup. She didn’t need the latter. Her flawless skin and naturally long eyelashes made her a beauty. Even in flats, she still had a couple of inches on me.

I chose to wear the uniform today. Everything I did and everywhere I went was official business. It was the first time in a while that Daniel hadn’t tried to coax me to lose the uniform in order to not appear threatening to the Amish. He had actually agreed that in interacting with the Muscat people in this instance, a show of authority might get me farther than regular street clothes.

“Is Harley Amman and his wife here?”

In an obsessive motion, Elayne gripped the knob and tugged it to make sure it was indeed completely shut. Then she looked around before finally meeting my gaze again. “Harley is, but neither Phoebe nor any of his children are present.”

The rain pounding the tin roof made it difficult to hear. I stepped closer to Elayne and Daniel took up a position of sentry. He was about as paranoid as Elayne. They both retained a strong inclination for secrecy from their Amish childhoods and a fear of eavesdroppers.

“What did you learn last night when you came back to the community?” I asked.

“I assumed tensions would ease between the old and new factions over time, but yesterday’s chaos stirred an already hot pot.” Elayne shook her head and the loose bun she wore dropped a couple of inches. She reached up and fixed it while she talked. “Not all of the Muscat Amish are siding with their original congregation but a few of the younger families are definitely rabble rousers.”

The building broke most of the wind but what made it under the awning was nippy. I zipped up my jacket to the base of my neck, wishing I had worn a long-sleeved shirt beneath the uniform. “I don’t understand how that’s important to what happened yesterday.”

Elayne licked her lips and scrunched the side of her mouth. “Serenity, they didn’t come to Blood Rock for a fresh start or more opportunities.” Her gaze narrowed. “They came here to escape their troubles in Muscat.”

I had trusted Elayne with the name, Axel Miller, the day before and like everyone else, she’d never heard of it before. “Did you mention Axel to anyone?”

She shook her head. “I wanted to leave that point of discussion up to you. What I do know after I spoke to Phoebe alone is that instead of joining the rest of their families back in Pennsylvania by shunning a handful of families for accusations made against them, Harley and enough other families showed their support by moving as one to Blood Rock.”

“Do you know what they were doing that caused such a ruckus?”

“No, Phoebe nor any of the other women would speak of it.” She chewed the bottom of her lip. “I think it was serious, though.”

“You mean in a criminal way?”

She shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Okay. Who should I speak to first?”

“The Kauffman family. Even though they’re grieving their matriarch and one of their teens, they came talk to you.”

“Lead the way,” I told Elayne.

Daniel leaned around us and opened the door. A rush of wind followed us inside the schoolhouse. Once Daniel closed the door, the air instantly fell back to chilly and still. This part of the schoolhouse was made of a large room that resembled the inside of a garage. The floor was concrete, and basketball hoops hung across from each other on each side of the building. A row of windows lined the right side, and the left wall contained three tall metal garage doors, which were closed. Wind rattled the large doors, making the only sound in the open area.

I quickly counted twenty-one people on the other side of the room. It was a fairly equal mix of men and women. There were no children present. A few tables had been set up and folding chairs encircled them.

Turning to Daniel, I asked, “Can you bring one of the tables over here with some chairs?”

“Sure thing.”

Elayne stood close enough that the sides of our arms rubbed. “Over there in the corner is Abner Brenneman and his wife, Sarah. Seated at the table closest to them are the Graber brothers, Micah and Freeman, and their wives, who are also sisters, Jenna and Natalie—”

“How well do you know them?”

“Not really at all. I only learned their names yesterday.”

“They were at the festival?”

“Yes, everyone in the schoolhouse, besides Joseph, Katherine, Aaron, and your mother-in-law were.”

I looked around. “Where are the Blood Rock community OGs?”

“In a classroom with the Kauffman family.”

Elayne continued to whisper names that I would need to be reminded of when I talked to each person. Even the five Amish men who Daniel and I had come across riding in the rain the previous night were here. They were all accounted for, as well as their wives.

The fact that the five men had a supposedly clandestine encounter, and they were also here was not only intriguing, but it also felt important.

With Harley helping Daniel, it took only two trips across the room to move the table and chairs. Then I asked Daniel to take the Amish into the schoolrooms and bring the Kauffman family out.

Elayne sat in the seat next to me. “They speak English well enough but are definitely more comfortable in their own language.”

“Let’s keep it all English unless they’re struggling to get their point across.” I pulled out a notebook and my hand recorder, which I gave to Elayne to operate.

“Did you garner anything interesting from the witnesses in town?” Elayne asked.

“Yeah. I’ll fill you in later.” I thought about the next question before I asked it. “Has Toby contacted you?”

“No. None of the feds have.”

“Do you know if he’s visited the Amish?”

She gave a firm shake of her head. “I would definitely have heard about that if it happened.”

“It’s odd, don’t you think?”

Elayne rested her elbow on the table and used her hand to cover half of her face. “What?”

I lowered my voice even though the Amish were too far away to hear and were filing out of the main room into the hallway that led to the classrooms. “That we’ve taken the path through this community for evidence, and they haven’t.”

“Perhaps they know something we don’t.”

“I can guarantee they do.”

I watched a woman in teal, who looked remarkably like Phoebe, but with darker hair and carrying around twenty more pounds of weight, walk straight towards the table. At her sides were a brown bearded, tall man, and an equally slim, yet extremely short man with gray peppering his black beard.

Harley followed close on their heels. I stood up. “Not you, Mr. Amman. I’ll speak with you later.”

“But this is my wife’s family—”

Joseph suddenly appeared. He came around Harley’s hulking back and spoke quietly to the giant man. Daniel stayed close to the two men, waiting and ready for action. I saw and heard Harley grunt loudly, but he didn’t protest when he went to the classroom with Joseph. Daniel remained at the back of the large room, keeping an eye on what I was doing.

Of course, I was armed and didn’t see these people as a physical threat, but I was glad Daniel stayed close by. If emotions flared and Elayne couldn’t talk sense into the Kauffmans, he could give it a try.

I rose, introduced myself, and shook hands with the woman and two men in turn, before motioning them to take a seat.

“I want to offer my deepest condolences for your losses. It’s heartbreaking and I promise, I’m doing everything in my power to find out why it happened.”

When the trio remained stoney faced and silent, Elayne interjected. “Serenity, this is Polly Kauffman. She’s Phoebe’s sister and Opal’s mother.” She flicked her finger at the taller man. “Conrad is Polly’s husband and that’s Chester, Grace’s youngest brother. She was a widow, and the rest of her children didn’t make the move to Blood Rock.”

Chester spoke up. “They stayed in Muscat.” He dropped his head. “We should have done the same.”

“It can’t be undone,” Polly said is a tired voice.

Her eyes were red and puffy, but she was holding it together remarkably well for losing her daughter and mother. The pretty girl appeared in my mind. I had to blink it away.

I focused on her mother’s pale face. “I understand your grief, but don’t you want to know why that man drove through the festival killing Opal and your mother?”

Polly lifted her chin. “I already know.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Please tell me your thoughts.”

“Evil is everywhere, Sheriff, but it thrives here. I can feel the taint everywhere I go since the day I arrived.”

The breath left my lungs, and I sagged a little. Yeah, I couldn’t argue with her about that, but I was hoping for something a bit more tangible. Of course, it was never that easy.

“Is there anything in particular that you’ve experienced in Blood Rock that you’d classify as evil behavior?”

Phoebe slowly shook her head, remaining silent.

My gaze swept over all three. Chester avoided looking at me, while Conrad kept staring at Elayne. Whenever I caught him looking at her, he quickly dropped his gaze. The way he ogled her made me angry. I inhaled deeply to calm my sensibilities. Elayne was gorgeous. If the lawyer gig hadn’t worked out, she could have made it as a top-notch, international model. She was probably used to men peering lustfully at her.

“It’s just a feeling a Christian experiences when wickedness prowls,” Polly said.

I glanced at Elayne who wrinkled her nose without adding clarity to the Amish woman’s vague statement.

Deciding to change the course of questioning, I asked, “Did any of you see the man in the truck when he drove by?”

Conrad finally stopped looking at Elayne and met my gaze. “It was a terrifying encounter. We were too busy jumping out of the way and tending to our family to see the person clearly.”

“He had blond hair,” Polly said. “And he was smiling.”

My pen poised above the notebook. “You saw him clearly enough to recognize his expression?”

“Only for an instant. That’s how fast the truck was going.” Tears dribbled down her cheeks.

“I don’t remember seeing any of you yesterday when I talked to your sister.”

“That’s because our son, Calvin, suffered a broken leg. The bone was clear through his pantleg.” Conrad sighed. “Opal and Grace had already gone to our Lord, but our boy still had a chance. “I carried him to where the ambulances were with Polly at my side.”

“I was there, Sheriff,” Chester volunteered. “I guess you just didn’t notice me. Probably my height. People often overlook me when I’m in plain sight.”

I set the pen down, glancing between them. “Do you have anything else to add?”

“Their bodies,” Polly said. “When may we bury our family and friends?”

“It’s my understanding they’ll be released tomorrow morning. I’ll have one of the EMT crews deliver them straight to the settlement.”

She nodded and stood. “We’ll be on our way then. A driver is taking us to the hospital after this to visit Calvin.”

“How is he?” I asked.

“He’ll fully recover, the doctor says. But it will be a long road of healing and exercise.”

“I wish you all the best. If you need anything further or have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. Here’s my card.”

I handed them the business card and watched the three walk towards the door. They huddled briefly before going outside, and I noticed Polly and Conrad went one way and Chester the other when they crossed the threshold.

The next ten interviews went pretty much like the ones in town. No new information or interesting conversations. I tried to comfort the Amish with kind words, but they were quiet and reserved, showing little emotions.

I waited to speak to Elmo, Michah, Freeman, Caleb, Evan and their wives after everyone else, hoping for something enlightening from the night riders. Caleb Zook’s wife, Penny, was very talkative, without saying anything important. I found her round, smiling face annoying under the circumstances. She was more intent on enjoying the rush of nearly dying than focusing on the truck or her neighbors who were killed. Micah and Freeman Graber came out together with their wives. They were also married to sisters, which seemed to be a thing within this particular Amish group. The women were both redheaded, pretty, and didn’t say much at all. Their husbands came off as more outgoing than many of the Plain people I’d met. They had their own construction company that focused on building house decks and Freeman even offered me a discount. I rolled my eyes and quickly finished that interview.

Elmo Brenneman and his wife, Diane, were the last couple to speak to. They had just sat down when I saw Anna peeking out from the hallway and then Joseph walked by with Harley. When they reached the door, I swiveled in my chair.

“Are you leaving Mr. Amman?” I asked.

“I am. I realized that I don’t have anything to add from what I said yesterday. Since our dead will be returned to us tomorrow, I have plans to make.” He shifted between his large, booted feet. “Is that suitable to you, Sheriff?”

After spending most of the day talking to citizens, both Amish and non-Amish, I started to wonder if I had wasted a lot of time. Sure, the interview with Benson Martin had delivered, but the rest didn’t see or know anything that wasn’t already on my radar.

If the former leader wanted to leave, I had no reason to stop him. “That’s fine. If you want to talk, I’m sure Joseph will give you my number.”

Katherine hurried across the floor and handed Harley a large casserole dish. “Please give this to Phoebe. I’ll stop by tomorrow to check in on her.”

Harley nodded and left quickly.

Katherine turned around and seeing the empty room, she exclaimed, “Everyone left? But I have care packages.”

Elayne cleared her throat. “You might be able to catch the Grabers. They just went out a moment ago.”

Katherine squeezed her husband’s arm dramatically. “Stop them, Joseph! I’ll grab the packages and head out the back door.”

He didn’t argue. When he went through the door, a whoosh of cold, wet air came in. It was still raining and quite gloomy outside.

“I’ll help you,” Daniel told Katherine, following her into the kitchen.

The cavernous room became quiet once again. I looked across the table at the Brenneman couple. Elmo smirked and his wife looked bored.

“This is Elmo and Tina Brenneman,” Elayne said.

“I’ve already met the sheriff,” Elmo said.

Elayne’s brows lifted and she leaned back in her chair, glancing at me. “Really? Yesterday you said you hadn’t.”

“It was late last night,” I said. “Elmo was horseback riding with Micah, Freeman, Caleb, and Evan. I passed them on the road, and we chatted for a moment.”

“Stupid,” Tina said under her breath.

I focused on the brunette. She had an oval face, thick eyebrows, and rosy cheeks. Even in the frumpy hunter green dress, I could see that she was very pregnant. “Excuse me?”

“Not you, Sheriff.” She frowned at her husband. “Our husbands started doing their night rides as teenagers. Here they are in their thirties, still making a habit of it.”

I shifted my gaze to Elmo. “Why is that, Mr. Brenneman?”

“I thought you wanted to talk to us about the truck that killed five of our people and injured double that number?”

“Your wife brought it up,” I said casually.

“While she goes on quilting and cleaning parties with her friends, I’m not allowed an occasional ride with mine?” He glanced at Tina, and she looked straight ahead, avoiding his gaze. “We have five children, Sheriff. Sometimes, I need some peace and quiet.”

Tina grunted softly. I had to agree with Elmo on that point, but didn’t say it out loud. Tilting my head at Tina, I asked, “I know your husband lost his older brother, Jared. Did you lose anyone from your family, Tina?”

She shook her head. “Mine are still in Muscat, as are my closest friends. Yesterday, when it happened, the children and I were in the booth that had made personalized wooden signs. I grow flowers and cut them to make bouquets. I’ve toyed with the idea of selling some for extra income.”

“It was a blessing, really,” Elmo added. “We’d spent an ungodly amount of time in the booth, and I kept pestering Tina to be on our way, but she held firm, waiting in the line to speak to the artist.”

Tina looked up and even though she addressed her husband, she stared straight at me. “The Lord saved us. Not me, Elmo.”

“Of course,” he quickly said.

I found the interchange intriguing but skipped to the next question. “If your family was out of sight of the truck, then why are you here today?”

Elmo turned to his wife. “I’m curious about that as well, Sheriff.”

Tina didn’t look at Elmo, keeping her gaze fastened on me with laser focus. “Do you know who the driver is yet?”

I lied. “No.”

“I think he was Am—”

Elmo slammed his hand onto the table. “Enough!”

Elayne and I sat up straighter at the same time and stared at Elmo. I could tell he regretted his outburst immediately by the way his shoulders suddenly slumped.

“I’m sorry, Tina,” he said slowly and softly. “There’s no reason at all to think that. He was driving a truck after all.”

I leaned over the table and addressed Tina. “Please tell me why you think so?”

She visibly swallowed, then pressed her lips together tightly. When she spoke, her voice was tired. “Elmo is right. I’ve let my imagination get away with me.”

Elayne couldn’t remain silent. “Perhaps, you would like to speak to the sheriff and me in private, Tina?”

Tina’s eyes widened and Elmo chuckled.

“Divide and conquer, eh?” Elmo said.

“I’m surprised you know that saying,” I said.

“I read books, Sheriff. As does my wife. Her taste is less historical and more fantastical and that’s why she sees things that aren’t there.”

My heart banged steadily in my chest and my skin tingled. We were so close, yet so far from something significant being revealed. Cool breath caught in my throat.

“I would like to talk to your wife without you intimidating her, Elmo.”

“Oh, no, that won’t do.” Tina stood up. “Really, I have nothing more to say. Let’s go, Elmo.”

Elmo grinned at me as he left the table with his wife. I wanted to stop them, but there was no legal reason to do so. Regardless of whether I could speak to Tina alone, she’d have to go home to her children and husband. I doubted she’d say anything further to disobey him.

Once they were through the doorway, Elayne leaned over. “She knows something and he’s keeping her from telling us.”

“Obviously.” I inclined my head. “Maybe she just wanted to get us thinking about it. Give us a something to investigate.”

“I can try to talk to her this week when her husband is working.”

“It’s worth a try, but I don’t think she’ll say anything further on the matter. She’s about to have her sixth kid. The last thing she’ll want to do is piss off her husband.”

Elayne groaned. “You’re probably right.”

“Pssst…”

The hissing sound raised our heads. “It was Daniel’s mother motioning to us from the hallway.”

Without a word between us, we left our chairs and quickly crossed the room. The dreary sky provided little natural light through the windows, making the hallway darkish. We followed Anna into a room to the right. It was the kitchen.

None of the gas sconces were lit but the single window let in just enough light that I immediately saw Bishop Esch standing in the corner of the room. He wasn’t alone.

Anna touched my arm. “This one has something to say to you, Serenity.” She flicked her hand at the bishop. “Come on, Aaron.”

“I think I’ll stay and offer assistance.”

“No, you won’t,” Anna said firmly. “This isn’t our concern and the less we know of it, the better.”

The bishop’s eyes flicked to the ceiling when he gave his head a shake. “I suppose you’re right as usual, Anna.”

Anna left quickly. When the bishop walked between Elayne and me, he paused just long enough to bend over and say, “Dig deeper, Sheriff.”

“I can leave—”

“No, stay, Elayne.” I turned to Chester. “I thought you’d left with Polly and Conrad.”

Chester wrung his hands and shifted his weight. He didn’t meet my gaze directly, rather glancing from side to side. “They thought I did. I told them my mare had a loose shoe and that I wanted to clench it back on before hitting the pavement.”

“You lied in order to come back up to the schoolhouse to talk to us alone?”

Chester licked his lips and shrugged. “No. I do have a loose shoe. It will make it home though, I reckon.”

I guessed Chester to be in his fifties, maybe sixties. His sister and grandniece were dead, and he likely knew most of the injured from the community. Yet, here he was, a man who barely reached my chin, being the bravest and showing the most initiative of all the Amish that I’d spoken to today.

“Did Anna and the former bishop know you were coming back?” Sheer curiosity prompted me to ask the question.

He removed his hat to scratch his head before returning it. “I discussed the matter with them on a previous occasion. When I came through the door, they saw me. I’m confident they’ll keep my return to themselves.”

I nodded. “Go on. Why do you want to speak to me privately?”

He hesitated, then blurted out. “I think my people are being punished for the sins of a few.”

I glanced at Elayne and her eyes widened. She didn’t know what he was talking about either.

“Are you saying that you believe the truck targeted the Amish at the festival?” I held my breath after asking the question.

He nodded.

“Do you know who the driver is?”

“I don’t, but there are those who would do us harm.”

I heard Elayne draw in a sharp breath. My heart thumped and my gut was tight with impatience.

“Who?”

“Our old community.”

Elayne beat me to the next question. “The Muscat Amish? Is that why your families left?”

I swiveled to watch Chester.

He opened his mouth to speak, snapped it shut again, then blurted out, “Well, the cat is already out of the bag.” He snorted. “Yes, and yes.”

I didn’t know much about the newcomers’ previous residence. “How close is Muscat to Lancaster?”

Elayne’s voice was edgy. “There are so many Amish communities in and around Lancaster that each one has its own name to distinguish them from each other. Usually, the name is related to a geographical feature. Harley Amman’s community was named after the grapes that are grown in the area.”

She returned her attention to Chester. “Harley promised me there wasn’t a fracture within the Muscat settlement. That the families planning to come to Blood Rock wanted new opportunities and fresh blood.”

“Blood?” I thought I knew what she meant but definitely wanted to make sure.

Elayne wrinkled her nose. “There were too many closely related families there and incest could become a problem.”

Just like Daniel had mentioned was something to worry about in Blood Rock.

Chester waited patiently and I had many more questions for him, but Elayne’s involvement with the Pennsylvania community intrigued me. “You originally said they simply wanted more land.”

Elayne smiled slightly. “Serenity, there are so many nuances to being Amish that you wouldn’t understand. When it came up that the Muscat community was splitting and half of their congregation wanted to join the Blood Rock settlement, both Aaron and Joseph asked me to do some digging. They were concerned that those leaving their home community might have difficult personalities, as it sometimes is the reason when communities break apart.”

“Did you go there in person?” I was in awe that my friend and Blood Rock’s acting DA might be taking recon missions to far off communities.

“I did.”

“When?”

Elayne’s smile deepened. “Oh, I think it might have been when you were tied up with the Mt. Carmel investigation. You’re not the only one who gets around.”

I inhaled deeply. I hadn’t given the movements of the Amish much thought before, although I had noticed that families came and went. I never released how complicated their relationships were, or that a bishop—or two of them—would hire an ex-Amish lawyer to investigate the new Amish before they moved in.

I turned back to Chester. “Mr. Kauffman, you risked possibly being seen by members of your community by coming back here to speak with me. You haven’t told me anything specific. What do you want me to do?”

“Visit the Muscat settlement. Then you’ll understand.”

13

“Are you kidding me?” Daniel pressed his hand onto his forehead.

I understood Daniel’s angst because I felt it too. We were still in the schoolhouse kitchen. Chester had left a few minutes earlier and that’s when my husband, his mother, and the former bishop came in.

“Why lament, Daniel?” The bishop snorted. “It’s an easy enough journey in your vehicle. You don’t even have to hire a driver.”

Daniel’s face scrunched before he rubbed his hands down his face. “We kind of have a lot going on here, and there’s no real evidence that makes a trip to Pennsylvania reasonable.” He looked around the room for someone to agree with him.

Elayne tried to be diplomatic. “We know Axel Miller is from there. Combine that tidbit of information with Chester’s urging to go to the Muscat community, seems like enough reasons we should at least follow through.”

“We?” Daniel blurted out. “You’re going?”

“Perhaps.” Elayne’s head swiveled to me. “Do you want me to tag along?”

I groaned a little and leaned back against the countertop. “From the moment I laid eyes on Axel, something about his look and demeanor made me think he was Amish. I didn’t want to say anything because it was just a gut jolt.” I looked around the small room and found all eyes were on me. “There’s also the fact that many of the new Amish group were at the festival and most of them were gathered in the aisle that Axel chose to rampage.” I gave my head a small shake. “It all seems like more than coincidence to me.”

Anna cleared her throat, and I found her face thoughtful.

“In the last few weeks, I became friends with Grace. She was a lovely woman and like me, active in mind and body for her age.” Anna sighed loudly. “It’s a travesty for a family to lose a matronly leader. Her wisdom would have guided them for many years to come.” Her brows rose. “That’s why Grace came to Blood Rock. It wasn’t because she wanted to. No, she felt as though they needed her.”

“Who?” I asked.

“Her family. They—”

“Let them dig into that hornet’s nest on their own, Anna,” the bishop said sharply. “No good will come of our involvement and you know it.”

“I’m not sure what I know,” Anna told Aaron, but then she fell silent.

I glanced between the two older people. Both had been leaders of the Blood Rock community for decades and now their voices were waning as new personalities took over and things changed. Change sucked for everyone, not just the Amish.

I stepped up to the bishop. “Are you saying that you know what’s going on and you won’t tell me?”

He shrugged and looked at the ceiling.

I pressed on. “You’d rather we waste precious time and resources traveling to Pennsylvania and possibly putting our lives in jeopardy because you’re afraid to stir the pot.”

Bishop Esch’s head snapped back to me and his eyes narrowed. “The pot has been knocked over and stomped on. Ignoring this won’t make it go away either.” He pursed his mouth. “I’m not sure the community can even weather the approaching storm, but I have faith that you will root out the evil on your own terms, Serenity. That must be enough for all of us.”

I rolled my eyes and glanced at Elayne, then Daniel. They both avoided meeting my gaze. I was essentially surrounded by Amish. Sure, Elayne and Daniel weren’t officially members of their cult any longer, but they still thought the same way. The culture was embedded in their psyches.

Feeling alone while I battled my neighbors’ riddles, I sucked in a deep breath before exhaling slowly.

My heartbeat was fast and furious, while my skin tingled. I knew what I had to do, although I didn’t like it one bit.

I ignored the bishop and focused on Anna. “Do you think I should poke around the Muscat Amish? Is that where my attention should be during this time of madness?”

Anna slowly nodded. “I’ll pray that you’re successful in more ways than one.”

Could my mother-in-law be more damn mysterious? I closed my eyes for a moment. Yeah, I suppose she could. What I could say about Daniel’s mother is that she didn’t waste her breath on insignificant things. She was practical and smart, with a bit of almost supernatural perception. Anna had served not only as one of the leaders of the women in the community, but also as a healer. I’d seen her do some strange things that I couldn’t explain. In the end, Anna was usually eerily right about everything.

“Okay.” I looked at Elayne. “Go home and pack for a couple of days. We’ll pick you up at the department at six o’clock tomorrow morning.”

“We?” Daniel sounded hopeful.

“You’re coming along on this trip. I think I’m going to need all the Amish insight I can muster.” I glanced at the bishop. “I really hope you aren’t sending us on a wild goose chase.”

“Margie Mast is someone you’ll want to speak to—”

“Aaron!” Anna scolded.

He swatted the air in between them. “Ack, woman. It’s just a suggestion.” Then his gaze narrowed on me. “Tread lightly, Sheriff. Not every crime is as blatant as what happened at the festival. Some are so subtle that they swallow you whole before you know you were even in danger.”

14

“I’m sick of this rain,” I mused, looking out the front seat passenger window.

I almost added trees, but who could be sick of trees? Even when they went on forever it seemed. We’d left the highway roughly ten miles back where the secondary road narrowed quickly and became curvy. I was glad Daniel was driving, and that Elayne had finally stopped talking. She became quite chatty when her nerves were frayed.

After a glorious moment of silence where I could think, Elayne blurted out, “Do you think we’re overstepping our bounds?”

The question perked me up. I swiveled in the seat to look at Elayne. She had her black, thick hair pulled back in a way that was much more stylish than my loose ponytail. Her makeup was applied lightly, and she appeared comfortable in an orange sweater and brown leather pants. Tan leather boots almost reaching her knees completed the outfit.

“How so?” I asked.

“Well, isn’t this a federal case now? At least that’s what Agent Liv Templeton told me on the phone a few minutes before you all picked me up.”

I faced forward. “If it’s a concern of yours, why not mention it a few hundred miles back?”

“I was waiting for you to say something.” Elayne leaned forward in between the driver and passenger seats. “Why isn’t Toby working with you on this case?”

Daniel softly grunted and I rolled my eyes. When Elayne sat back, I turned my head in her direction.

“He’s supposedly assisting Agent Templeton this time.”

“Supposedly?”

Curiosity oozed in Elayne’s voice.

“Liv wasn’t the one who shared the suspect’s name, Toby did. The FBI knew about this guy but waited for him to act rather than find a way to contain him. I have no idea what’s going on. I find it odd that they know who he is and yet they didn’t visit the Amish community to conduct any interviews there.”

Daniel found his voice. “Maybe he’s not Amish.”

“Chester thought the driver had it out for his people.” Elayne’s chin almost rested on my shoulder.

“I don’t know.” I shook my head lightly. “His surname immediately raised the question. There was also the fact that when I came face to face with him, I had the impression the man lived a very organized life. Military service occurred to me, but after the vague, and frankly weird riddles that both Anna and the bishop were speaking, I’m more convinced than ever that the act of terrorism at the festival was personal and directed at the Muscat Amish.”

Elayne sighed. “Say you’re right. Why aren’t you asking Agent Templeton for help. Departments usually work together on cases where the assailant traveled across state lines and it’s a mass casualty event.”

“Nothing is usual about any of this,” Daniel said. “Before you arrived at the department, Todd confirmed that the address given to Benton Martin by Jerry Smith was a fake. There’s not even a street name with that zip code address in Arizona. So, we’re to believe an Amish man, or formerly Amish, used two different aliases in order to creep into Blood Rock?”

Elayne and I both shifted our gaze at my husband.

He continued, “What could the Muscat Amish have possibly done to cause this guy to crash a truck through a crowd full of innocents, including kids, and blow himself up?”

Poor Daniel. Where I simply accepted the fact that some people were truly villains, he struggled with the concept.

“While he acted controlled, the young man was filled with rage.” I took a sip of my lukewarm coffee and grimaced. “You’re right. We’re past stopping his rampage, but we must find out why he did it. Everyone back home is grieving and trying to wrap their minds around what happened, and without fear because the driver is dead. I think there’s more to the story than a lone, angry man going on a killing spree.”

The forest fell away, revealing a large brick home at the end of a tree-lined, winding paved driveway on one side of the road and rows of grapevines on the other. Just a little way further, hayfields and cow pastures began, and that’s where a sign for the Muscat Settlement rose from the ground next to the road. It was made of naturally stained wooden boards and there was a raised flower box directly in front of it overflowing with wilted and mostly rotting blooms.

It wasn’t an elaborate sign, but since we didn’t have one for our community, it seemed odd to me to have one at all. “Elayne, tell me about their bishop. What do you know?”

Elayne smacked her lips and continued leaning into the front seat. “Jeb Yoder is in his fifties. His wife’s name is Trudie, and they have nine children, all of whom are adults, except for the youngest, a teenaged girl.”

“Okay.” I turned my head and found Elayne staring out the window at the farmsteads we began to pass. “Now, tell me what to expect from him. What’s he like?”

“Intelligent, quiet, leery of strangers.”

“Why do you think Harley’s group left this community?” I gestured with my hand at a tidy white farmhouse we drove by. “It seems perfectly nice to me.”

Daniel chuckled. “Sure, the land is gently rolling and there’s a nice mixture of livestock and crops, but that’s not what makes a good community.”

I cocked my head. “In your opinion, what does?”

Daniel licked his lips. He wore a tan canvas jacket over a green flannel shirt. With just the right amount of dark stubble on his chin and wavy, brushed back hair, he didn’t look Amish at all. But when he started talking their language, he would be accepted by Bishop Yoder, the same as Elayne would.

“Well, for one thing, it’s about peace and quiet. Most communities desire that above all else. Drama is frowned upon, and troublemakers are quickly pushed out.”

“But Elayne said that it’s not out of the ordinary for Amish to move around.” I met her gaze. “Do either of you think it strange that half of Muscat left at once?” I asked.

Daniel didn’t hesitate. “Yep. There must have been a huge, unrepairable fissure. It might have been something insignificant like whether the teens were allowed to hold hands, or it could have been something more serious.” He glanced over his shoulder at Elayne. “Do you really not know what drove Harley’s clan out?”

Elayne shook her head. “I don’t. It was as if both sides had agreed to downplay the reason for the mass departure.”

“You didn’t think to press the matter?” I asked.

“Oh, come on. You’re not so naïve as that, Serenity. My former people are secretive about things that aren’t even important. It seemed probable that the families that left wanted more genetic diversity for their children.”

I snorted. “That doesn’t seem like something the Plain people would dwell on.”

Daniel answered me. “It’s not really about the science aspect of the issue, more that their kids were likely leaving the Amish because they weren’t finding mates.”

Oh, that made more sense. “So, you’re saying there weren’t enough young people here to keep the community going?”

“That’s right,” he said. “Think of it this way. The Mt. Carmel and Poplar Grove communities are relatively close to ours. There are others as well. The interconnecting groups often hold gatherings and if a young person moves to another community to marry, they aren’t so far away.”

“But we’re not far from the Lancaster Amish, which makes up one of the largest population centers in the United States. Surely, the Muscat families could have remained closer to home and still found fresh blood,” I said.

“That is true,” Elayne agreed.

“Where am I headed, Elayne?” Daniel asked her.

“Turn left at the next intersection. You can see the schoolhouse on the left side of the road. It’s the brick building.”

“I thought we were going to talk to the bishop first,” I said.

“We are. He’s the schoolteacher. He asked us to wait until two-thirty to go in. That’s when the kids are let out.”

I dropped my head back. “Ugh. I thought we were taking the man by surprise.”

“If you wanted stealth, you should have informed me,” Elayne said. “I thought we’d have a better chat if we didn’t surprise the man.”

She may be right. “Why is he the teacher? Isn’t that role usually reserved for the young females of the community?”

“Around ten years ago, a horse Jeb was training reared up and fell over on him. He can’t walk. Because he’s a sharp man and needed something to distract him from his handicap, he took over the teaching position. At least, that’s what his wife explained to me.”

“Go easy on him and anyone else we talk to, Serenity,” Daniel said. “We’ll get further with honey than vinegar.”

I barked out a clipped laugh. “That’s not always the case. Sometimes good old-fashioned intimidation gets people talking quicker.” I watched Daniel’s frown deepen and decided to relieve his anxiety. “We’re here to ask a few easy questions. That’s all. But don’t forget, it’s your mother who sent us.”

“Oh, I know.”

Daniel made the turn onto the Schoolhouse Road, then pulled slowly into the gravel lot beside the square brick building that looked older than I expected. The rain had stopped, but the sky was still full of thick gray clouds, letting me know that the respite was only temporary.

“Your mom was very insistent, Daniel,” Elayne said. “Does that worry you at all?”

“Frankly, it terrifies me.”

15

Laughing schoolgirls and serious-looking boys walked by the Jeep in separate groups. They all glanced at the vehicle and some even stared.

“Besides working in the garden with Mama and my sisters, school days were my fondest memories,” Elayne said. “Do you remember those times, Daniel?”

He snorted, then rubbed his chin. “I do, but not fondly. I despised Debrah Coblentz”—he made eye contact with me—“our head teacher.”

“Oh, I thought she was lovely,” Elayne gushed.

“Of course you would. She was much easier on the girls than the boys. There was that one time when Lester left his empty can of soda next to the baseball nets and she made all the boys pick up trash along the roadway during recess for the next three days.”

“I bet none of you littered after that.” I gripped the door handle.

Elayne snickered. “They certainly learned their lesson.”

Daniel continued to talk as he exited the vehicle. “I don’t believe in punishing everyone for a single boy’s mistake. It wasn’t fair.”

I rolled my eyes at the whiny tone of Daniel’s voice. “It obviously left an impression on you. But did you stand up for yourself and the other boys?”

“The last thing I wanted was for Mrs. Coblentz to speak to my folks, so I remained silent.”

I started up the hill. “Then you have no one to blame but yourself.”

Elayne caught up with me. “It was one of those little life events that encouraged me to become a lawyer when I left the Amish. I recalled wanting desperately to make a case for Daniel and the other boys, but I didn’t know what to say, and like Daniel, I was too afraid to speak up.”

I glanced at Elayne. “You remained quiet not out of fear but worry about losing your position as teacher’s pet.” When Elayne made a humming sound beside me, I tilted my head. “Am I right?”

She sighed, then cracked a smile. “Perhaps you’re right.”

A shrill squeal and pounding hooves turned all our heads.

A bay horse galloped across the yard, intermittently bucking, and continuously tossing her head. Two children, riding together, were holding on for dear life. The slightly taller girl pulled on the reins while the boy clung to her waist.

Daniel ran into their path and right before he managed to grab one of the reins close to the bit, the horse launched off the ground again and this time, she twisted in such a fierce way, the boy lost his grip on the girl. He bounced, landing on the horse’s rump for an instant before he became airborne.

By the time I reached the boy, he had jumped up and was running back to the horse.

Tears streamed down his red cheeks and chunks of grass stuck to his back. He was crying and mumbling something in his language.

Elayne touched my arm. “He’s very embarrassed. Leave him be.”

I did what Elayne said and stopped. “He should be examined by a medical professional. That was a hard landing.”

“Oh, come on, Serenity. Amish kids tumble off their horses on a daily basis. The only thing seriously hurt on that child is his pride.” She inclined her head and listened to the girl talking to Daniel, then turned back to me. “That’s his sister. They ride this horse together back and forth to school every day without issue.”

The girl shimmied out of the saddle before Daniel picked up the mare’s hoof. He started talking to the girl in English. “Your horse stepped on a carpenter’s nail. It’s not serious, but the nail must come out before you ride home. I have tools in the Jeep and can pull it out for you.”

“Oh, thank you!” the girl said. She had on a gray dress with a black sweater over the top and black cotton pants beneath the skirt. After flinging her arm over her brother’s shoulders and giving him a squeeze, she asked Daniel, “Will she be lame?”

“Probably for a short time. You’ll have to flush the wound for a few days with a dilution of apple cider vinegar. If she doesn’t improve within a week, call your farrier or a vet.” Daniel took the reins from the girl and looked at me. “This will take a few minutes. Go ahead without me. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

I nodded, noticing the boy had stopped crying. He walked very close to Daniel, who patted the kid’s head and started talking in their language once again.

Heading for the door to the schoolhouse and forgetting about the injured horse altogether, I heard Elayne say, “Daniel is great with kids.”

I grunted and continued walking.

“Willa needs a little brother—”

I spun around, narrowed my eyes at Elayne, and lowered my voice. “This isn’t the time to talk about having more kids, and even if we weren’t investigating a mass casualty event, it’s none of your damn business.”

Elayne swayed back with wide eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. It was just a—”

“What, Elayne? An observation? Maybe a suggestion? We’re the same age and you don’t even have any kids, so why don’t you start popping them out for Nathan.”

“We’re not…married…yet.” Elayne fumbled with her words. She opened her mouth to say something else, then snapped it shut. She dropped her head. “I really am sorry. I had no business saying that.”

She sounded truly remorseful, and I left it at that.

Since the door was already halfway open, I pushed it the rest of the way and went inside. There were several southern-facing windows, and the afternoon sunshine lit the room nicely. An Amish man sat at a desk with a pile of papers in front of him. Suspenders were strapped over a light blue shirt. His beard was equal mixture of brown and gray, matching his thick, curly hair.

He looked up and set the pen down. “It’s good to see you again, Elayne. This must be the sheriff, eh?”

“Yes, sir.” She glanced at me. “Bishop Yoder, please meet Sheriff Serenity Adams.”

I hadn’t noticed the wheelchair at first. He manually rolled it around the desk and offered his hand, which I shook.

“It’s a pleasure,” I said.

Bishop Yoder gave a nod. “Indeed.” He gestured to the old-style wooden combination desks with attached chairs. “Have a seat.”

Elayne sat in the one closest to her and I took the desk across from hers.

Feeling a little off because of the strangeness of the case and the adrenaline rush of seeing the kid fall off his horse, I inhaled deeply before I started talking. “I imagine you’ve heard about the injuries sustained to your people at the festival in Blood Rock?”

“My former people, you mean.”

Bishop Yoder’s voice was neutral and his facial expression dull and unreadable.

“Yes, I suppose that’s right. And really, at the heart of why we’re here.” Elayne leaned back into the small seat with her arms crossed over her chest. Her mouth was tightly closed, so I guessed that she had nothing to contribute at the moment. “Do you know a man by the name of Axel Miller? He would be in his twenties, blond hair. He might have left your community to go English.”

“Hmm, the name doesn’t sound familiar and no one with that name has been a member of our congregation. We’ve lost our fair share of young people over the years. They never change their names, so I can’t help you there.”

“A Jerry Smith, by chance?” I asked.

He shook his head, keeping his lips tightly pressed together.

I hid my disappointment by quickly changing subjects. “Do you know Moses and Anna Bachman?”

“I don’t recall them if I do.”

“What about Aaron Esch? He used to be our bishop before Joseph Bender took over.”

“I met Aaron once”—his eyes lifted to the ceiling—“around fifteen years ago. It was at a wedding. If I remember correctly, one of his younger Ohio cousins married my nephew.” After becoming glazed with a faraway look, his focus returned. “He gave me the impression of man who ran a tight ship, so to say.”

“That’s putting it mildly.” I licked my lips, thinking of the best way to tackle questioning this man I didn’t know and who had no reason to trust me. “We’re friends—well, we became friends over the years. He’s never led me down the wrong path.” I leaned forward over the desk and cocked my head. “He wanted me to speak to you. So did my mother-in-law, Anna Bachman.”

“You’re married to an Amish man who left us, eh?”

“Yes, he’s outside pulling a nail out of a horse’s hoof for a couple of your students. A girl and boy.”

“Oh, you must be talking about Lily and Jacob. Fine children.” He stretched his torso and craned his neck to look out the window. “Some of the boys were tasked with repairing the hitching rail. They might have left a nail behind.” His brow knitted as he rubbed his jaw. “No fear, I will get to the bottom of it and the culprit will be punished.”

The schoolroom suddenly dimmed, and rain drops started trickling down the window glass, making crooked tracks. Hearing it on the tin roof made me feel a little sleepy. I blinked. The last couple of days had been horrific and now I was seated in a Pennsylvania Amish schoolhouse. Reality turned fuzzy, and I didn’t like the feeling one bit. I was glad Daniel was along on the trip and having Elayne by my side was also a relief, but I missed my baby girl. I’d hadn’t seen Willa since I’d passed her over to CJ for safe keeping. I knew she was safe and having fun with my sister and niece, but the enormity of the situation was starting to weigh on my fortitude about taking over the investigation from the feds. Agent Templeton and US Marshal Bryant were perfectly capable of handling the fallout. Heck, they likely already knew exactly what I was trying to find out. Whether they would follow through to the end was up in the air. Something was going on that was probably well beyond my pay grade.

Inhaling deeply, I pulled my gaze away from the falling rain beyond the schoolhouse windows. “Is that what you did to the Amish families that left your community recently?”

The bishop’s face fell. “I beg your pardon?”

From my peripheral vision, I caught Elayne swiveling in my direction, but I kept my gaze locked on Jeb Yoder. “I don’t believe fifteen-plus families left your congregation all at once to seek a more diverse gene pool. This is one of the most populous Amish areas in the country. There are dozens of other communities within an hour drive of here to find spouses and opportunities.” I paused, thinking. “No. Something else drove them away. I want to know what it is. If you’re not forthcoming with the information, I’ll interview every single person here until I find out what happened to fracture this community so thoroughly. Because my gut is telling me it’s connected to the devastation at the festival.”

“I see.” The bishop frowned, then looked past me towards the door. “Perhaps your obsession with discovering the truth is a good thing. Although, I’m not sure if anything good will come of it now.”

Besides millions of taps on the roof, the school room fell silent. I swallowed down a knot in my throat and glanced at Elayne. She stared at the floor.

I was about to try one more time to convince the bishop to share something of value to the investigation when he started talking on his own.

“Harley Amman is a good man, but because of pressure from his wife, he chose the wicked side.”

Elayne leaned forward. “Wicked? When I came to speak to you last summer, you assured me that the breakup within the congregation was because of the usual things that often cause our people to go their separate ways. You never said anything about wickedness.” She sighed loudly. “Don’t you think the Blood Rock community should have been privy to that information before accepting the new families into their congregation? I was tasked with arranging a smooth assimilation of the Muscat Amish into the Blood Rock community and if I’d known there were deeper and more significant issues involved, I would have advised Joseph Bender to say no.”

I watched Elayne’s pretty face twist as her annoyance grew. Not realizing that she had that much sway over whether new families came to Blood Rock’s settlement surprised me. Her impassioned speech made me hold my breath as my gaze snapped back to the bishop. We were on the verge of finding out something important, I felt it in my bones. Now, I sent out a silent plea in my mind to the universe that she hadn’t rattled him enough to make him fall silent.

The bishop dropped his head. “I’m sorry that I wasn’t truthful with you. Sometimes, we do things to protect ourselves without enough concern for others. That’s the predicament I found myself in.”

Elayne frowned at me before dropping her head back.

“What transpired here, Bishop Yoder?” I asked. “Why did you feel it was necessary for your community to split?”

He rubbed his fingers across his mouth, then met my gaze. “Six years ago, allegations were made against a handful of young men in our community after a fifteen-year-old girl went missing.” He paused, and his gaze drifted out the window. “Nothing came of it, but feelings were hurt, and we were more watchful. Two years later, it happened again—”

It took a few long seconds for me to process what he was saying. “An Amish girl from your community went missing six years ago and another one four years ago?”

The bishop nodded. “That’s correct. The second time, it was a fourteen-year-old, and that’s when our community began to fall apart.” His eyes started to water when he looked directly at me. “That’s when I knew evil was among us.”

16

The bishop took a deep breath and pursed his lips. I was holding mine, waiting for the man to continue.

For a change, Elayne wasn’t as patient as me. “The truth will set you free, Jeb.”

He nodded. “I always thought that way, but sometimes the truth harms everyone. At least, that’s how I felt a few years ago when trouble brewed here. I asked those I believed to be the culprits to leave but met resistance from the other ministers and some of the congregation. You see, communities start with a few tight-knit families. We want more to come and everyone to stay.”

“Unless there’s competition—or mischief,” Elayne said.

“That’s right. Our members met and voted to allow the troublemakers to stay and to appease the opposition, I was left in a difficult position as bishop.”

The man was dancing around the details that I needed. Resisting the urge to pull out my notebook, I asked, “Who were the culprits you speak of?”

“Will what I say stay in this room?”

“Not likely, Bishop Yoder. Ten people are dead, and many more seriously injured. And, in your own words, two girls are missing. I’m not only searching for justice, but to protect my citizens. From what you’ve already said, there’s a solid chance that by ridding yourself of possibly corrupt or even dangerous people, you’ve endangered mine. Whether you find the strength to tell me who I should be concerned about and what happened for you to run them off, is out of my control, but God knows.” I leaned over the desk. “You’re a holy man and it sure seems like your secrets might have prevented the massacre which took place the other day.”

After he rubbed his face, he dropped his hand. I saw by the way his shoulders drooped and his chest contracted that the rest of his resistance might have just evaporated.

The bishop’s Adam’s apple dipped when he swallowed, and then he pressed his eyes shut. “Victor Kauffman, Abner Brenneman, and Jared Graber.”

Two of the names burst to life in my head. Elayne touched my arm and leaned closer.

“Victor was one of the Amish who was run over at the festival. He’s hospitalized with a spinal fracture, a broken back and other serious internal injuries. The last time I checked, his condition was listed as critical.”

Our eyes met. Elayne was thinking the same thing as me.

“Two of the men you listed, Bishop, are dead. The third might not survive. What did they do that made you want them to leave your community?”

A knock on the door turned our heads. Daniel peeked in. “Should I wait in another room?”

“Come in, Daniel Bachman. I suppose your wife will tell you whatever I say anyway.”

Daniel slid into the desk behind me. He was really too large for it. Sitting with a pinched face, he didn’t complain.

“Please, go on,” I coaxed the bishop.

“When my niece, Janet, went missing, the blame was shifted to a story about a rebellious young lady who ran away from the Amish to go English. I never believed that, but since it happens so often in our lives and I had no evidence to the contrary, I left the matter alone. Rita Mast’s tale was similar. The girl was here one day and gone the next. Again, I desired to address her disappearance, but others in the community wanted none of it. Once again, they blamed it on Rita’s desire to join the outside world.”

I pulled out my small notebook and wrote down the names of the girls. “Were missing persons’ reports filed with local authorities?”

“Yes, the parents even followed up with the officers at first. After some time, they gave up on ever seeing their girls again.”

The fact that I’d fallen into missing girls’ cases was alarming. My senses sharpened, and my mind became laser focused. I opened my mouth, but snapped it shut when the bishop began speaking again.

“Abby Schwartz was the final straw, though.”

I jotted the name down as my heart rate sped up. “Another missing girl?”

“She disappeared only six months ago. The same as the other girls.”

“How old?” I asked.

“Thirteen. Two of her older brothers left the community over the past few years, but they said their goodbyes and remained in contact with their folks to some degree, unlike Abby. The girl vanished into thin air.”

I suddenly felt so jittery, it was difficult to remain sitting. “Did you contact law enforcement?”

“The parents and I went to the office together. They showed little interest in another Amish girl who they guessed ran off to drive a car and go to a university somewhere far away.”

I heard the bitterness in the man’s voice. Elayne snorted. Daniel left his seat to walk to the window.

When Daniel turned around, he asked, “Why wouldn’t they at least look into it? At thirteen, the girl was way too young to leave her family and go English.”

Daniel was exactly right.

“We were referred to other officers who came to our community and questioned my people. In the end, I was informed that Abby had been abused by her brother—”

“Abused?” Elayne said.

The bishop’s face reddened. “Sexually. Quinn, who was eighteen, was arrested and went to prison.”

It was difficult to digest the information dump that was taking place. “Did they continue to look for the girl?”

The bishop shook his head. “They convinced the parents that she’d run off and was now in a better place.”

Elayne and I looked at each other. I wondered if my expression was as horrified as hers.

“Are—”

I held up my hand and Elayne stopped talking. After taking a deep breath to calm my pounding heart, I tried to ignore the tingling along my arms. “Who was the officer in charge that came to the community, arrested Quinn, and told the family to forget about their daughter?”

“Federal Agent Olivia Templeton.”

17

The shock settled over me in a whoosh of emotions. Elayne covered her face with her hands and Daniel stared across the room with wide eyes.

Now we’re getting somewhere.

“Bishop Yoder. This might be the most important question that I’ll ask you today.” I waited for Jeb to look directly at me and slowly nodded. “What did these three girls have in common?”

He shrugged. “They were all teenagers.”

“Were they pretty?” Elayne asked.

“Most would think so. They were good girls. Not the rebellious types at all. Abby liked to ride her horse, while both Janet and Rita were excellent seamstresses.”

There had to be a connection. “Did any of them have boyfriends?”

“Oh, no. At least not officially. All three were too young. In Muscat, our youngsters must be at least sixteen to court. That’s not to say that a boy might have had an eye on one of the girls or an unofficial expectation that a couple of teens will court when the time comes.”

Elayne left her seat and stood in front of the bishop, staring down on him. “You haven’t said anything that points to why you wanted the three men to leave your community and why several other families left with them.”

“It’s complicated. The men were very vocal in their desire to allow matters to rest concerning the missing girls. When Quinn was arrested, those men and their followers believed the boy had been inappropriate with his sister, causing the girl to run off. But there was no evidence at all. The rest of us thought the outsiders were wrong.”

Elayne nodded slightly. “Did your congregation vote to remove the families that didn’t agree with you about Abby and Quinn?”

“We didn’t have to take a vote. Around the same time, upon the urging of his wife, Harley began reaching out to other communities. From the feedback I received through the grapevine, none would have them except the Blood Rock community in Indiana.”

“Figures,” I muttered.

Elayne half-turned to me. “Most communities don’t want to get involved with the drama from other ones.” She shifted her gaze back to the bishop. “If you’d been honest with me from the get-go, I would have advised Joseph against any Muscat Amish being allowed to move into Blood Rock’s settlement.”

Daniel snorted loudly. “That would have defeated his purpose, Elayne. Jeb wanted them to go away. The closer communities must have known some of what was going on with the girls and the brother’s arrest. That’s why Harley had to look for a place to settle that was far from here.”

I heard the frustration in Daniel’s and Elayne’s voices. They understood how things worked better than I ever would. Even though they’d left the primitive lifestyle behind as teenagers, they still were sensitive to any outside force—even other Amish—affecting their birth community. I didn’t have such qualms. While they focused on the bishop’s deception to rid himself of people who were a thorn in his side, my mind was elsewhere.

Were the Amish who left really the good guys? I believed that I already had my answer, but didn’t feel right about betting on it yet. Three Amish teens were missing. Was it simply a coincidence that Anna and Aaron had directed me to the Muscat settlement? I didn’t think so. Right now, I wasn’t even sure any of it was connected to Axel’s rampage, but missing people was my expertise. The one thing I knew in my gut was that there was a mystery that needed to be solved here, and I would do my best to unravel the truth of why Liv Templeton spirited away a young Amish man to jail and opted to ignore his missing sister.

What the hell am I missing?

“Elayne, you brought your laptop, right?”

She nodded. “It’s in the Jeep.”

“Please do a deep dive into Quinn Schwartz. I want to know the official charges, his sentence, and where he’s serving. Also, check on the missing person’s reports for Janet, Rita, and Abby. I assume you can access the system, but if you need help, call Todd.”

“On it.” Elayne left the room at a fast pace.

I remained seated in front of the bishop.

“They must have had something else in common—” I began.

The bishop. “There is something.”

“Go on,” I urged, not enjoying the squeezing sensation in my chest.

“They all worked at Nash Byrne’s residence.”

Bingo. I scribbled notes and kept going. “What kind of work?”

“Housework, gardening, cooking—those sorts of things. “Since his wife is rarely there, he hires our women and pays them well to keep his house in order.”

My stomach clenched and my skin crawled.

“Where does Nash Byrne live?” I asked casually, working hard to keep the eagerness out of my voice.

“Just up the road. You probably passed the property on your drive here. It’s a grand, two-story brick home with an expansive front lawn.”

“Across from the grapevines?” Daniel asked.

“Yes, Nash owns a vineyard. Although, it’s mostly a hobby for him.”

Pace yourself, Serenity. “First, why isn’t his wife there? Are they separated, divorced?”

“She lives in Quebec with their son and daughter, both of whom are adults by now.”

“Your neighbor’s family is in Canada?” I watched the bishop’s expression, which remained bland. “Isn’t that kind of strange?”

Jeb smacked his lips. “Why yes, but my people don’t live separate lives from their spouses.” He glanced at me and Daniel. “It appears to be fairly normal for Englishers to do so.”

But usually not in different countries. I refrained from saying it out loud. “What does Nash Byrne do for a living?”

“He’s one of Pennsylvania’s representatives.”

Daniel and I exchanged a long glance before I asked, “Do you mean he’s a United States Congressman?”

“That’s right. Nash spends most of his time in his Washington residence. He’s an important fellow.”

18

We sat in the Jeep as the rain poured down outside. There was a rhythmic whisk, whisk from the windshield wipers going back and forth and Daniel had the heaters blowing into our faces on high. I ignored my wet hair and clothes. To say I was stunned was putting it mildly. After the last revelation, the bishop asked us to leave. I managed to pull a couple of more important names and addresses from him before we left the schoolhouse. We’d just made it to the vehicle when we saw Jeb Yoder streaking by in a covered utility vehicle. Elayne quickly explained that the motorized vehicle was allowed for the bishop because of his handicap before she began reciting what she’d learned from her internet and data search.

“Pertaining to the girls, all reports appear in order and are still active. Quinn was provided with a low-level attorney who didn’t do a good job of advocating for his client. He was charged with incest and rape and found guilty by a district judge. His sentence was ten years.” Elayne still had her laptop open on the seat next to her. “The only evidence presented was witness testimony from none other than Phoebe Amman.”

“Wow,” I muttered, then found my voice. “When did the verdict come down?”

“Four months ago, to the day,” Elayne said, then inhaled dramatically. “Serenity, Quinn Schwartz is dead.”

My heart dropped into my stomach. “When? How?”

“Yesterday. There was a prison fight in his cell block, and he ended up knifed to death.”

It was hard to breathe. “Yesterday?”

“Correct. It was almost midnight when the fight broke out, so it hasn’t even been twenty-four hours.”

Daniel swiveled in his seat. His fingers were pressed against his temple. “Why didn’t Jeb didn’t mention it?”

Elayne closed her laptop. “I’m sure he doesn’t know yet. And neither would the family. Without cell phones and landlines inside the Muscat homes, the news won’t travel to the community as quickly as it would ours.”

My mind swirled with conspiracy theories. “How convenient that a prisoner had a knife and Quinn ended up dead right after the violence at the festival.” Barely seeing Elayne’s face, I asked, “What was evidence presented against Abby’s brother?”

“Unknown. Phoebe’s testimony was sealed by the court. It was a speedy prosecution by anyone’s standards.”

I turned around to face Elayne. “Then how did you find out she was the one who testified?”

“It’s a small world and I made a phone call that proved to be fruitful. You see, years ago, I dated a prosecutor that just so happens to work in the same district that charges against Quinn Schwartz were brought in. He knew I used to be Amish and had read about the tragedy in Blood Rock. He graciously let the name slip after I agreed to go on a date with him the next time that I’m in the area.”

“You’re engaged to one of my closest friends!” Daniel voice rose higher. “What about Nathan?”

I patted Daniel’s leg. “Settle down. It was a ploy to get information that worked for Elayne because there are men spread across this great country of ours with hard-ons for her.”

“Please, Serenity. It’s not so simple as that,” Elayne said with a wide grin. “Did you get anything else out of Jeb while I was gone?”

I thudded my head back on the headrest. “The three missing girls all worked for Nash Byrne, who just so happens to be a US Representative in Congress.”

Elayne gasped. “Seriously?”

“It all makes sense now why Agent Liv Templeton showed up in Blood Rock with a suspect’s name and a great desire to wrestle the investigation away from me. She knows something that we don’t, and I’m willing to bet since she works for the federal government, it involves Congressman Byrne.”

“I’ve never even heard of him,” Daniel said.

“You wouldn’t.” I watched a horse and buggy trot by while I talked. “I checked on my phone before we made the dash to the Jeep. There are seventeen congressmen from Pennsylvania and only a few of them are notable to anyone outside their immediate constituencies. Byrne is in his fourth term, giving him eight years in congress. At sixty, besides the family vineyard, he dabbled as a prosecutor and was a local mayor for twelve years. His wife and grown children do in fact split their time between Quebec and Washington, rarely stepping foot on the Byrne family farm in rural Pennsylvania.”

Elayne clucked her tongue. “Serenity, it’s fairly regular for Amish girls and young women to clean houses, do gardening, and babysit for their English neighbors in order to make some extra cash before marriage.”

“Considering their ages, and the years they went missing, the only obvious connection between Janet, Rita, and Abby was working at the Byrne residence. I also find it very odd that Agent Templeton had information about our murderous driver, who we know used at least one alias, and bought the weaponized truck in this part of Pennsylvania. It’s definitely worth looking into.”

“I just don’t see how a congressman has anything at all to do with Axel Miller—or whatever his true name is—or the missing girls.” Elayne snorted. “We didn’t come here to find missing girls.” Elayne sounded exasperated.

Her imagination wasn’t nearly as wild as mine. “We’re here to ask questions and hopefully discover something useful to our investigation. Following the dots is what I do. If one crime leads us to others, then so be it. Haven’t you ever heard of fate?”

I kept my gaze straight ahead and immediately regretted my harsh tone.

“Yes, I believe everything happens for a reason as well.” Elayne grunted in the back seat. “I’m concerned we might have entered territory that we have no business in.”

I swiveled around and Elayne turned her head away, apparently staring out the rain-streaked window. “If we can figure out what happened to the missing girls, isn’t that a good thing?”

“Tell her, Daniel.”

My attention swung to my husband. The windows were fogging up and the inside of the cab was pleasantly warm. I hardly noticed my damp clothes.

“Yes, Daniel, tell me.”

Daniel winced before he glanced at me. “I don’t necessarily agree with Elayne, so don’t think that I do.”

“Go on. We don’t have all day,” I pressed.

“Your experiences have been when Amish teens go missing, something terrible has happened, but it’s really a normal thing for the culture.”

He said it in a slow and careful way that made me think he realized how dumb it sounded as it flowed out of his mouth.

“There’s no way in hell a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old just up and disappears.” I snapped my gaze at Elayne. “Where do you think they are? Disney World?”

She shook her head and sighed. “I see why you’re upset, but I’m playing devil’s advocate here.”

“We have enough devils, thank you very much.”

“Listen to me, Serenity. Sometimes family members, cousins, or even friends spirit teens away to the outside world because things aren’t going well at home for some reason or another.” She leaned forward. “Look, you might be right and something awful happened to those girls. I’m just warning you not to automatically think that it was foul play. Remember, the community broke up because of hard feelings. Sometimes when children are removed, it causes friction.”

I exhaled loudly. “The bishop didn’t say anything like that—”

“He flat out lied to me about why Harley’s contingent wanted to leave Muscat. I think Jeb is taking care of his own interests rather than getting to the bottom of anything.”

I slumped in the seat. She was right about that part. Glancing at Daniel, I found him watching me.

“Do you think I should forget about the missing girls?” Before he could answer, I added, “Even if there’s a connection to what happened at the festival?”

Daniel picked up my hand and squeezed it. He didn’t let go when he started talking. “I trust your instincts, Serenity. Whatever direction you want to go, I’m here for you.” He looked over his shoulder at Elayne. “Both of us came along to assist with the cultural aspects of investigating in an unfamiliar settlement. I think Elayne is trying to pull back on your reins because she’s worried about the consequences. I have no issue pricking the powerful. The only reason those Amish were allowed into our Blood Rock community was because of lies.” He paused, lifting the corner of his mouth. “We don’t know for sure that the driver targeted the Amish, but we’re here, so we might as well finish talking to everyone you want to and see where it gets us.”

My chest swelled as I caught a breath. Rubbing the wetness from the corner of my eyes away with my fingertips, I inhaled deeply. Daniel had actually taken my side, and not just agreed with me to keep the peace. He seemed to really understand this time.

Elayne must have noticed that I was choked up and giving me an escape from the sappy moment, asked, “Where to next?”

I sniffed, then returned Daniel’s squeeze. Right before we left the bishop, he mentioned that we should talk to Margie Mast. Jeb told me that she’s one of Rita’s aunts. I’m not sure why Bishop Esch singled out this particular woman, but she lives on the next corner in a cream-colored two-story home. There are three silos directly behind the home. Jeb said we couldn’t miss the residence.”

“I’m sorry, Serenity.” Elayne’s voice was tiny compared to earlier. “Everything is my fault.”

I turned and found her teary-eyed.

“Why, because you didn’t see through everyone’s lies? You’re a damn good lawyer, but you’re not a soothsayer.”

“I should have been able to read between the lines.” She let out a hard, long sigh. “I guess I thought having new families move into the Blood Rock community would be a good thing. There’s been so much tragedy and heartache and the only way that I could see anything changing for the better was to infuse fresh blood.”

I snorted and shook my head. “You made the mistake of thinking other people would somehow be less corrupt than those you already knew. That’s called hopefulness, Elayne. I hate to encourage paranoia, but I’ve learned the hard way that rarely is anything what it seems.”

“All those who died—”

“Stop.” I said the word loudly and firmly. “It’s not your fault that a lunatic decided to commit mass murder. We can’t undo the past. We’re now tasked with understanding why it happened and perhaps—if we’re lucky—we’ll stumble upon the reason why three girls are missing from this community. There’s evil all around us. You have to start seeing it.”

“I would hate to be as depressingly pessimistic as you are.”

Elayne forced a cheerful voice, which made me chuckle without any real amusement.

“It might just save your life one day,” I muttered.

19

Rain continued falling outside, but we were warm and dry inside Margie’s kitchen. Too warm, really. The wood burning stove put out a lot of heat in the tiny room. I unzipped my jacket as I leaned against the porcelain sink. It was a typical Amish woman’s kitchen. Tidy and well-organized. Light blue walls, dainty floral curtains, and the familiar humming sound of the gas lantern lights reminded me of other times I’d stood in rooms very much like this one while investigating a case.

So far, Margie had been friendly. I got the feeling from the way her shoulders sagged and she’d let out a long sigh after introducing ourselves that she was relieved for some reason. I watched the petite woman move alongside the counter while she poured coffee into mugs. Inhaling the smell of fresh brewed coffee, I suddenly felt better. Coffee was just what I needed to clear my head of thinking too hard about Quinn’s sudden and untimely death. Could it simply be a coincidence? Murders occasionally happened in prison. All the rationalizing I did in my head didn’t matter. My gut told me that it was all by sinister design.

Margie was polite enough to speak to Elayne and Daniel in English. Their initial conversation revolved around her small herd of boar goats. In just a few minutes, and without asking any questions, I’d learned that she was a widower with seven adult children. Besides babysitting her twenty-three grandchildren, she was a member of the ladies’ quilting group and assisted the bishop on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the schoolhouse. Her newest hobby was raising meat goats. Because of their cuteness as kids, she hated selling any of them and ended up keeping way too many as pets. Now, she focused on finding homes for them where they wouldn’t be eaten.

Strands of Margie’s gray hair kept escaping from her cap. She’d stuff them back up, bob her head while talking, and do it again. We must have caught her on an afternoon when she wasn’t expecting any visitors. I guessed that she’d stuffed her loose hair quickly under the cap to answer the door. I could see some of the goats standing in a three-sided shed that faced the kitchen window.

Margie handed me the first mug and I quickly took a sip. The taste was heavenly. Immediately, the tenseness fled my body.

Once Daniel and Elayne had their mugs and Maggie turned around, her gaze stayed on me.

“Are you here because of what happened at the festival in your hometown?” she asked.

Mostly news traveled to the Amish by word of mouth and not reputable news sources. “What have you heard?”

Margie shrugged. “That it was terrifying. The Kauffmans and Brennemans are cousins of mine. Grace and I grew up together and were close friends before she moved west.”

After taking another sip, I asked, “Why did she and the others move, Margie?”

It was a test of sorts. I wanted to see how honest she would be. Then I’d have an indication of how truthful her other answers might be.

She didn’t hesitate. “Our community broke apart because no one could see eye to eye on important matters.” She picked up a rag off the faucet and began wiping the counter while she talked. “It’s a shame, really. I’d imagine they’d all be alive and well if only they’d stayed put.”

Elayne and Daniel remained silent, so I continued, “It must have been something serious to cause that many families to move their farms two states over.”

Maggie stopped cleaning. “Oh, it was.” She tilted her head. “What did Jeb tell you?”

I sucked in a quick breath. This woman seemed to be honest and helpful. I’d be as straightforward as I could with her. “That three girls went missing and something about the third one being the last straw.”

She nodded, then grunted. “I see. It’s surprising that Jeb mentioned that much to you. He rarely seeks assistance from outsiders.”

I took a gamble. “Margie, we’re investigating the tragedy at the festival. Do you have any idea why we’re here questioning you?”

Margie’s eyes flared before she set down the cloth and took a few steps to sit on the chair next to Elayne. After a tired sigh, she raised her gaze. “The families who left Muscat did so because some of them were being accused of involvement with the disappearances of Janet, Rita, and Abby. All sweet, young girls who wouldn’t be considered the types to run off.”

I was relieved this woman who I’d just met was this open and talkative. Bishop Esch knew exactly what he was doing when he sent me to this particular woman.

“Do you believe foul play was involved in their disappearances?” I asked.

Margie glanced at Elayne and Daniel before answering. “I think there are those who used to be among us that know what happened to them.”

Something suddenly occurred to me. I raised a finger. “Will you excuse me for a minute?”

Before Margie responded, I walked into the hallway and pulled out my cell phone. Standing in front of the window insert of the front door and watching the rain come down harder, I called Bobby.

He answered on the first ring. “Serenity, where are you?”

“We’re still in Pennsylvania. The internet is sketchy here at best, but I have three bars right now. Did Stacey get the drawing rendered of the driver yet? I asked her to put a rush on it.”

“Yes, she did. Give me a sec.”

I waited and watched Margie’s driveway became riddled with rain-filled ruts. Three horses pulling buggies whisked by, and then a couple of younger looking men riding horses cantered alongside the shoulder in the opposite direction through the deluge. The Amish were used to coming and going in terrible weather conditions, but seeing all of the activity made me realize that even though fifteen families left here for Blood Rock, Muscat was still a bustling settlement.

My phone buzzed, and I checked the message.

“Did it go through?” Bobby asked.

“Sure did. Thanks—”

“Wait, Serenity. Have you talked to the marshal today?”

My jaw tightened. “No, why?”

He stopped by the department with Agent Templeton looking for you.”

“You didn’t say where I was, did you?”

“Of course not. Even after the lady agent left the room and Marshal Bryant came back in and asked me privately once again, only that time in a whisper.”

“Did he say if it was urgent?”

“I asked that same question and he avoided eye contact, telling me that he wanted to talk to you before the lady agent did.”

I digested the information quickly. “No matter what, Bobby. Don’t tell him where I am or what I’m doing. Inform him that I have family business or something like that.”

“You know how I despise fibbing about what you’re up to, but that’s basically what I already told the marshal.”

“I have to go—”

“Wait, Serenity. When do you think you’re returning?”

“Not sure. Hopefully, tomorrow. I’ll be in touch later.”

I hung up on Bobby and walked back into the kitchen, straight to Margie who was still seated.

“I have drawing to show you of the man who drove the truck through the crowd. I need to know if you recognize him.”

“I’ll do my best.”

I knelt beside Maggie with the picture displayed on the screen. She leaned closer and made a humming noise.

“That’s…Liam…Brenneman.” Margie choked the name out, then covered her eyes with her hand.

Elayne gasped, but I didn’t tear my gaze away from Margie.

“Are you absolutely sure?” I pressed.

She dropped her hand, revealing wide eyes. “I haven’t seen him in nearly two years, but there were rumors that he lived in one of the neighboring towns.”

My heart pounded in my chest as I pulled a chair up in front of Margie and sat down on it, opening my little notebook. “Is Liam related to the Brennemans who moved to Blood Rock?”

“Yes, his parents and brothers, Abner and Elmo, along with their families, left with Harley Amman and the rest.”

I paced myself, glancing at Daniel and Elayne. My husband’s eyes closed, and his nostrils flared at the same time. Elayne gripped her mug tightly in front of her.

“Do you have any idea why Liam would want to murder his family and other members of his former community?”

“Because of what he thought his brothers did to the girl he wanted to marry.”

“Who was that?”

“Janet Yoder.”

20

It was as if a light bulb flicked on inside my head. “He would have been—”

“Eighteen when Janet went missing six years ago,” Margie finished my thought. “She was a few months shy of sixteen at the time. Both sets of parents had discussed the courtship between their children, and plans were in place for the two to officially be courting following her sixteenth birthday.”

Elayne couldn’t contain herself. “Why would he blame his family?”

I shifted my gaze back to Margie, waiting for the rest of the story.

“I don’t know all the facts, but there was a lot of tension between the brothers. Liam was convinced that Janet had been kidnapped at work, and that his older brothers were privy to information that they weren’t sharing.”

I know my eyes bulged.

Margie found her voice and continued. “Liam went English shortly afterwards, but when Rita disappeared a couple of years later, he came back and stirred up accusations against not only his brothers, but several of the other young men in the community. They were all friends who rode their horses together while growing up.”

I remembered finding Elmo Brenneman and the other Amish men on horseback the other night in the rain. The puzzle pieces were quickly coming together.

“Did he return again after Abby Schwartz vanished?” I asked.

“Yes, he did. Jeb told me that Liam flew into a rage when he went to discuss the matter with him.” She paused and gave her head a hard shake. “Our bishop is a good man, but he lacks initiative when conflict arises. It was the ministers who questioned the men and when they all kept their mouths sealed, and because of their good fortunes, the elders asked them to leave. Not all of the community were in agreement, and Harley and Phoebe were two who were very much against the shunnings, but that was understandable.”

Confused, I glanced at Elayne and then Daniel for answers, but they both shrugged.

“Good fortune? What do you mean by that?” I asked.

After Janet went missing, Abner and Elmo surprisingly had enough cash to buy the old fairgrounds on the edge of the settlement. They converted it into an auction site where our people and even Englishers could hold consignment auctions for horses and livestock. But you see, they ran out of money and the facilities remained half-completed until around the time that Rita left us. When that happened, Harley Amman, the Graber brothers, Caleb Zook, Victor Kauffman, and even Evan Gingerich became partners with Abner and Elmo.”

My heart rate slowed as I digested what the woman had said. “Do you think that these people somehow made money off the disappearances of Janet and Rita?”

Margie’s gaze fell to the floor. “That’s what some thought, yes. I’m not sure myself.”

Elayne rose, grasping the sides of her head with her hands. “This is the first time I’ve heard of fairgrounds or an auction business.”

Daniel held up his phone. “I just looked it up. The name was 909 Arena. It shut down around three months ago when the owners sold it and moved to Blood Rock.” He met my gaze. “It says here at the bottom of the webpage that the partners plan to open another auction site in their new Blood Rock community in Indiana.”

I wondered if Joseph Bender knew anything about his recruits and their business endeavor, one that could bring outsiders into his settlement. It was something the Blood Rock Amish had never been interested in before.

“Margie,” I paused until she looked up. “If these men owned and ran a successful auction house and facilities, why would they leave it behind? I would think they’d want to stay right here and move to the other side of the county or somewhere close enough to be separate but still keep their business.”

“I was told that they received an offer that they couldn’t refuse.”

“From whom?” My gaze shifted to Elayne.

“On it.” She pulled out her cell phone. It took a couple of minutes of awkward silence before she spoke again. “Their partnership was filed as 909 Enterprises, and they sold it to Countryside Investments for ten million dollars four months ago.”

My jaw dropped. “Ten Million? How many acres?”

“It says here there’s eighteen acres, plus an office, covered arena, and four barns. Abner and Elmo purchased the property for $460,000 six years ago.”

“That’s an extremely high amount of appreciation.” I caught Daniel’s gaze. “What do you think?”

“I agree. Unless they built condos on the farm, I don’t understand that kind of jump in value.”

I turned back to Margie. “Is Countryside Investments an Amish venture?”

“No, definitely not. And there was never a for-sale sign up on the property. The place is overgrown now.”

It was a huge break in the case, but for the life of me, I couldn’t connect the dots. When I looked at Elayne, she shrugged. Daniel still had his eyes on the cell phone’s screen.

Collecting my thoughts quickly, I asked, “You said Liam thought Janet was kidnapped. By whom?”

“I’m not sure if he knew himself.”

“Do you know where Janet was last seen?” I asked.

“Janet cleaned the Byrne house on a Wednesday. She said goodbye to her mother a few minutes after the sun had risen and was never seen again.”

Elayne leaned over the table. “Did she ride a horse, a bike, or was there a driver who took her to her job?”

“She always rode her bicycle to and from work,” Margie confirmed. “Half the community retraced her route multiple times, finding nothing, including her bike.”

The words swirled darkly in my mind while the woman waited patiently for more questions. I took another sip of my coffee before stretching to set it on the table. “Margie, this is really important. How can you be sure that Janet didn’t make it to the Byrne residence?”

“Because Nash Byrne said he never saw her that morning.” Margie must have seen something in my gaze that made her defend her statement. “He’s not only an upstanding neighbor, but he’s also a very important man in the English world. Why would he not tell the truth?”

Because a person’s station in life didn’t make them any more or less trustworthy. But I kept my mouth pressed shut.

What appeared to be a random act of violence had turned into something much more sinister.

21

Margie stood in the doorway. “I may see you next week.”

Cold, wet wind smacked my back, lifting my ponytail. The rain still came down in sheets and when I glanced upward, I felt like I could touch the gray clouds since they were so close to the ground.

“Excuse me?”

“Several of us are hiring a van to take us to Blood Rock for the funerals. No one has heard anything about the dates yet, but I fear your community might well be waiting to see if those in the hospital make it.”

Daniel answered my unspoken question. “Since they don’t drive, traveling can be a hardship. The families back home will likely hold the funerals on the same day or within a couple of days, making it easier for out-of-state relatives to attend all of them without having to go back and forth or secure longer-term accommodations.”

It was hard to wrap my mind around the possibility of even more Amish people arriving in Blood Rock.

“Before I left home, I spoke with Joseph Bender, our settlement’s bishop, and it’s been decided that the funerals will only be for immediate families. And of course, members of their current congregation.”

Margie swayed back, brushing her back against the door’s threshold. “That’s not how things are done.”

Daniel said, “Nothing like this has ever happened before.”

Margie stared at the falling rain beyond the porch and nodded. “True.” She blinked, snapping out of her daze. “Feel free to stay on the porch until the rain slows. It might take a while.”

The wind caught the door, slamming it behind Margie. The sound made me jump.

Daniel pivoted and placed his hands of the railing, while Elayne pressed in closer.

“I have a terrible feeling about all of this.” She spoke loud enough to be heard over the rain pelting the tin roof.

I snorted. “Good. That’s the kind of paranoia you need more of.”

Pulling out my cell phone from my back pocket, I started typing a message to Bobby.

“I also need you or Todd to do a deep search on Countryside Investments. It owns a property used for auctioning livestock in Muscat, Pennsylvania. Call or text if you can get any names behind the company or if there’s anything else I need to know.”

I quickly searched something and then put my cell phone away.

“Where to next?” Elayne asked.

“Nash Byrne’s home. I just checked, and both the house and senate are in recess. There’s a chance he might be in town.”

Daniel turned around and gave me a strained look that told me he was seriously worried. “I want to know what happened to those girls as much as you, Serenity, but do you think it’s wise to rattle the cage of a congressman? Especially, when we already know the FBI is involved with whatever is going on?”

I frowned back at him. “I’m certain Agent Templeton knows about the congressman, but I’m betting she’s oblivious about who Axel Miller really is.”

Elayne got her umbrella ready. “Why do you say that?”

“Toby threw me a bone by telling me a name. I think he thought it was the driver’s real name at the time. Either Agent Templeton lied to him or it’s an alias that the FBI knew him by.”

Daniel snickered. “Don’t give him that much credit. His loyalty to you is compromised now that he has a new lady partner to traipse around with.”

My husband might be right, but still—

“Toby is a clever man,” Elayne said. “And he knows you are as well, Serenity. I think it’s reasonable to assume that he expected you to find everything out on your own, possibly even with a fake name.”

I scratched my head and thought about it. “That’s quite a leap.” Then my gaze settled on Elayne. “Why would he be so stealthy? If what you say is true, he’s taking a huge gamble that I’d figure out who Axel really is.” I sighed heavily, hating the agitated pulsing of my heart. “Who is he protecting?”

“Himself,” Elayne said in a harsh whisper. “He also works for the federal government. This case might go way above all our heads.”

That’s what I was afraid of, too.

Daniel had the windshield wipers on high and when we turned into the driveway that led to the large brick house, we immediately crossed a bridge. Fast-moving, turbulent water overflowed the creek bed, swelling into the pasture in such dramatic fashion that it created what looked like a temporary pond.

If it didn’t stop raining soon, the potential for dangerous flooding would be high. I was glad I’d asked Daniel to drive the Jeep. Hopefully, we wouldn’t need it, though.

Spotting a white van parked in the paved turnaround, I turned to Elayne. “Isn’t that an Amish van?”

“I’d say so. Maybe someone’s working today?” Elayne leaned closer to the window and peered out. “I see there’s a driver inside. Looks like an older woman.” She patted Daniel’s shoulder. “Park next to it.”

Daniel didn’t argue. When he cut off the engine, we were alongside the van that appeared to have only the driver on board.

Elayne got her umbrella ready. “Serenity, let me talk to her.”

“Okay, but Daniel, I want you to stay in the Jeep.” I unzipped my jacket just enough to touch my 9MM holstered to my chest.

“No, I’m going with—”

“Listen to me. Elayne and I got this. Plus, if Nash Byrne is home, I think a couple of ladies will be less intimidating without you hovering nearby. I have my gun—”

“Gun?” Daniel grasped his mouth in his hand. “Are you insane? He’s a congressman. I’m sure he has security.”

“I think I might have figured out what’s going on. If I’m correct, I know exactly what to do. Trust me.”

“What am I supposed to do out here while you’re inside?”

“Keep an eye out for new arrivals or anything that seems suspicious. Text me a warning. I want you ready to drive out of her like a bullet when we come back.”

Daniel’s wide eyes and gaping mouth made me smile. I chuckled and his face relaxed a little.

“You’re joking, right?”

“I hope so, but it never hurts to have an escape planned.” I offered Daniel a small smile. “This won’t take long.”

“Do you even have any jurisdiction here?” Daniel asked, grasping at straws.

“No, she doesn’t,” Elayne answered for me. “But it’s also a free country and asking a few questions won’t get us into trouble.”

Daniel sighed and then nodded.

Elayne was out of the Jeep first. She jogged around to my side with her enormous umbrella popped open.

I heard Daniel say, “Be careful, Serenity,” as I jumped out of the vehicle and underneath Elayne’s waiting umbrella.

Together we stepped up to the van. The window rolled down and a chubby, blonde lady smiled at us. She held a can of cola in one hand and her cell phone in the other. I almost choked on the strong smell of cigarette smoke.

“Do you have an appointment with Nash?” she asked in a raspy voice.

“Yes, we do,” Elayne answered. “Are you waiting for one of the Amish girls?”

Elayne’s voice was smooth as silk. She sounded like she was supposed to be here.

The lady snorted loudly. “Girl? Naw. This one’s your age.”

Elane didn’t miss a beat. “Oh, really. That’s unusual for an Amish woman that age to be working outside of the home.” She leaned slightly into the cab, and I was impressed that she didn’t wrinkle her nose at the stale smoke scent. “I used to be Amish, so I know how it goes.”

The woman’s brow knitted. “Seriously? I wouldn’t have taken you for one of them.”

“I left when I was nineteen.”

“Are you in Muscat visiting relatives then?”

“Yes, and to speak to the congressman about a personal matter.” Elayne licked her lips, glanced at me and then back at the lady. “I’ve never met him before. What’s he like?”

“Nash is a good one. He’s done a lot for this district. We have a new middle school, and money has flowed in for improvements on our roads and especially in the town center. Because of him, we now have a cute park with a playground, benches, and a gazebo on a spot where rundown buildings used to be. The man remembers his roots.” She lit a cigarette, and its smoke twirled out of the cab into the rain, then she grinned. “He’s a cutie to boot.” She pointed at a wooden door on the side of the house. “You can go in through there. I haven’t seen anyone coming or going since I’ve been here, but Violet is cleaning today. She’ll let Nash know you’re here or at least take your information for him to get back to you if he isn’t.”

“Thank you so much—I’m sorry, what was your name?” Elayne asked.

“Tilly Meyers. I’ve been driving for the Amish here in Muscat for going on nine years.”

I eyed the woman. “I bet you have a few tales to tell.”

Tilly chuckled. “More than a few.”

I believed Tilly and wanted to ask her some questions, but Elayne nudged my elbow and started towards the house. I would have been left standing in the rain if I hadn’t gone with her.

Bumping shoulders with Elayne, I said in a brisk tone, “We could have found out more from Tilly.”

“Maybe.” She glanced sideways. “Violet is the one we need to talk to.”

I couldn’t argue with her about that. The door was huge and made of solid wood. Each side of it contained a narrow window of equal height. Security cameras were mounted on each side of the covered entrance. After Elayne pressed the video doorbell, I peeked through the window and found the foyer spacious and sparse.

After a few seconds, we heard a woman’s voice. “Hello.”

“Hi there,” Elayne answered, continuing to take the lead while I looked around. “We have an appointment with Nash.”

“Oh, he’s not expected back for a little while.”

Elayne sighed dramatically, wrapping her hands around her chest. “Shoot. I must have written the time down wrong. I suppose we can wait out here.”

“Not in the rain. What horrid weather.” The video doorbell buzzed, and the door was unlocked. “Come on inside to wait.”

Elayne and I exchanged a quick glance before she went through the doorway. Violet met us in the foyer. The maroon polyester dress she wore hid her slender form. As tall as Elayne and also a brunette, I couldn’t help comparing the two. Even with the cap, frumpy dress, and without makeup, Violet was still a very attractive woman. Her oval face, delicate features, and doe eyes made for a striking combination.

She smiled brightly. “I’m Violet.” Pointing to the left, she was careful not stare too long at either of us. “You can wait in the parlor room. Would you care for coffee or tea?”

“We don’t want to make extra work for—”

“A cup of coffee would be excellent,” I said, ignoring Elayne’s frown. “Are you Nash’s assistant?”

Violet put her hand on her neck and laughed. “Oh, heaven’s no, not me. I’m simply his maid.”

Elayne found her voice. “Have you worked here long?”

“Since I was sixteen.” Her gaze lifted then dropped. “It’s been nearly twenty years.”

“Wow.”

Elayne sounded so shocked that I wanted to kick her. Luckily, she recovered quickly and attempted to bond with the woman.

“You see, I used to be Amish. I’m a lawyer now, but where I grew up none of the women worked after they married and became a mother.”

Violet grinned. “I’m neither of those.”

“But you’re so pr—” Elayne dropped her gaze to the floor. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said such a shallow thi—”

Elayne stopped talking mid-word and I suddenly realized that it was all part of her act. She wasn’t a silly Amish schoolgirl anymore. I knew that she always carefully chose her words and was more likely to say nothing at all than to stick her foot in her mouth.

Violet chuckled. “No worries. I had my pick of the most eligible bachelors in the community and decided that none of them were for me.”

She glanced at me, then back to Elayne. When she slid the tip of her tongue along her bottom lip, I knew she was deciding something.

“Why don’t you two join me in the kitchen while I get that cup of coffee ready. I brought over a pie earlier and I’m sure Nash won’t mind if I offered you each a slice.”

“Sounds wonderful,” I quickly said before Elayne could scratch the idea. I never turned down Amish sweets.

Seated at the huge island in the expansive and functional kitchen, I sipped coffee and ate apple pie. While I watched the rain fall beyond the French doors leading to a patio, Elayne and Violet made small talk. It sounded like they were instantly best buds. Bringing Elayne along had been a good call.

When there was finally a lull in the conversation, I said, “This must be your dream kitchen.”

Both women turned to look at me. Elayne grimaced and Violet leaned over the counter with crossed arms and her mouth spread in a big smile.

“Why yes, you’re right. Everything and more than an Amish woman would ever want. I’m blessed to have been able to work for Nash all these years.”

“What about Mr. Bryne’s family? They must love it here.” I took another bite of pie and covered my mouth with my hand. “He has a wife and kids, right?”

Violet’s eyes widened and her smile lessened, but the agitated look instantly passed. “Correct. He does. They live in Canada.” She shrugged and began covering the pie with plastic. “It’s always been odd to me, but—no offense—Englishers have strange marital arrangements sometimes.”

“Not that strange,” I said.

Elayne flashed wide eyes at me before facing Violet. “Please excuse her. Serenity is very blunt and opinionated.”

Violet stared at me. “That’s a lovely name. I don’t think I’ve heard someone called it before.”

I nodded and made a quick decision about the conversation with Violet. My gut told me that she had the answers we needed. “Are you the only maid employed here?”

Almost too quickly, she said, “Yes, I take care of meal prepping and manage the gardeners. Nash hires Amish boys to do the yardwork, and I recruit them.”

“So, you clean this giant house all by yourself?” I asked.

“Sometimes, I have extra help.”

I took a small sip of coffee. “Like Abby Schwartz?”

Violet’s eyes widened. She blinked and drew in a sharp breath before shifting her gaze out the window.

I tilted my head at Elayne, but she was watching Violet closely. Besides the crackling of the refrigerator’s icemaker and the falling rain, it was quiet for a moment.

Finally, Violet turned back to us. “Abby is my second cousin. I thought her temperament was more suited to assisting our bishop at the schoolhouse or maybe babysitting for one of our English neighbors, but she insisted on coming to the Byrne residence.” She frowned. “The grandness of the home impressed her, I guess.”

“How long did she work here?” I asked.

“Two months before—” Her brow scrunched, and her gaze narrowed. “Are you friends with Abby somehow?”

I exchanged a glance with Elayne, and she was the one who answered Violet. “No, but we heard she went missing a few months ago.”

“Missing?” Violet chuckled, turning away. “I’d hardly call it that. She left to become an Englisher. As so many of our young people do.”

I straightened on the stool. “You just said her temperament was more suited to childcare. At thirteen, I’d hardly expect her to run off to drastically change her culture.”

I swear Violet’s face paled two shades right before my eyes.

“I’m sure Elayne can explain the way it is better than I can. Sometimes a youngster is spirited away by relatives that already left the community for a variety of reasons.”

There were those two words again. Spirited away.

“Do you know that to be true?” Elayne placed her elbows on the counter.

“I assume it to be.”

It was time to press harder. “What about Janet and Rita? They both worked here as well, and they also disappeared without any contact with their families.”

Violet touched her cap, straightening it even though it was fine. “Uh, why are you here?” She looked at Elayne for a long second, then settled her gaze at me. “She’s a lawyer. What are you?”

The Amish woman’s tone was steady and polite, but all cheerfulness was gone.

I turned the tables. “Has anyone interviewed you about your cousin’s disappearance?”

“No, of course not.” She didn’t sound offended.

“Let me get this straight. A thirteen-year-old was last seen on the way to her job at this residence, and no one came around asking questions?” Considering that Nash Byrnes was a congressman, I wasn’t really surprised. My purpose was to gauge Violet’s reaction and hopefully get her to open up.

“Like I said, kids leave. Even thirteen-year-olds.”

“If you’ve been working here for twenty years, you’d be familiar with Janet Yoder and Rita Mast. Do you believe they just up and left one day as well?” I asked.

Violet sighed. “That’s what everyone assumes.”

“I’m not asking everyone, I’m asking you.”

“Do you have a warrant? Because I don’t have to answer your questions if you don’t.”

Elayne swayed backwards. “Shew, girl. I wouldn’t expect an Amish housemaid to know anything about warrants.”

My cell phone vibrated in my pocket. I took it out and read the message from Daniel.

“Byrne is walking in right now. Chatted with me for a couple of minutes about grapes and the price of fertilizer. I had to tell him something and said Elayne has real estate questions.”

“Elayne, I think I heard a vehicle. Mr. Byrne must be back. We might as well leave the housekeeper alone, so we can ask our real estate questions to the man of the house.”

I saw Elayne’s eyes flare, then she nodded. She faced Violet. “I’m sorry we came on a little strong. I’ve been away from the Amish lifestyle for a long time. I guess both Serenity and I were triggered a little bit about a child disappearing.”

Violet nodded briskly. “You can meet Nash in the foyer.” She left the kitchen, walking into a different hallway than the one we came in through.”

“Be careful, Serenity,” Elayne whispered as she passed by while heading into the foyer.

I quietly followed Elayne, knowing that it was inevitable that things were about to get dicey.

22

Nash came in at the same time we made it to the foyer. The guy wore a navy sweatshirt, starchy denim jeans, and a smile plastered on his full face. Bright eyes swept over us.

“Which one of you is the realtor? Eh?” He quickly shook Elayne’s hand, then mine. Before either of us could answer, he focused on Elayne. “I’d bet money on you, doll.”

“Doll?” I crossed my arms. “Did you just step out of 1940s Brooklyn?”

He laughed, gesturing for us to follow him into the room Violet had called the parlor earlier. “You’re the fierce one and will never make it in any profession requiring decorum and restraint.”

Seriously? He might look like a politician, but his attitude really was more of a rude CEO.

Elayne quickly re-directed the conversation. “Mr. Byrne, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Elayne and this is my friend, Serenity. I used to be Amish and have relatives in this community and another town in Ohio. They asked me to check out real estate listings in Muscat and since there’s so little land available, I was referred to you.”

Nash went straight to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a glass of scotch. “What’ll you have? There’s a little bit of everything. Brandy, bourbon”—he held up his glass—“scotch. Tell me what you’re craving.”

Elayne shook her head. “Oh, nothing for us. We just had coffee offered by your housekeeper, Violet.”

I lifted a finger, “I’ll take a bourbon.”

“Ah, a lady after my own heart.” Nash tilted the glass and poured a couple of ounces, then handed it to me. He pulled a plastic water bottle from the small refrigerator and gave it to Elayne. “Who sent you my way? I don’t have any land for sale.”

“The bishop thought it worth a try,” Elayne said, holding onto the water bottle without opening it.

Nash nearly finished the contents of his glass in one gulp. “Jeb sent you over?”

“Yes, sir.”

Elayne started looking a bit flustered. She blinked, swallowed, then fidgeted with her hands. Undercover work wasn’t in her job description. She was also a terrible liar most of the time.

I thought quickly about the best way to proceed to get somewhere useful and unfortunately for Elayne, it meant I had to rattle the congressman’s cage.

“What about the auction property over there on State Route 58, close to your county’s border?”

Nash narrowed his gaze on me. “What about it?”

“Do you know who owns it?”

He dipped his chin while the corner of his mouth rose. “It’s barely twenty acres. Not enough for one, let alone multiple Amish families to settle on.”

I shrugged and took a sip of the mahogany liquid. It warmed my throat going down. “It’s a shame to see it going to waste.”

Nash tilted his head. “What did you say your last name is again?”

“I didn’t.”

“Perhaps, I should call one of my security guys to escort you both out. I’m really too busy to entertain reporters.”

I almost snorted out loud, but expertly held in my giddiness that he didn’t realize that I was in law enforcement. It was a brilliant disguise and one I was angry with myself for not coming up with it on my own.

I wouldn’t lie to the man and have that come back to bite me in the butt, so I chose my words carefully. “Has anyone talked to you about Abby Schwartz?”

“Who?” he sidestepped towards the doorway, and I moved with him.

“An Amish girl who cleaned your house for several weeks last summer. Surely, you haven’t forgotten an employee?”

“Violet handles the hires, and I was in Washington at the time.”

“She’s only thirteen and disappeared on her way to your residence one morning. Aren’t you concerned about her well-being?”

Nash pulled out his cell phone and held it to his ear. “Come in here, please. A couple of reporters managed to get in. I want them immediately removed from the property.”

I noticed the man’s forehead glistening with sweat and how he avoided looking directly at me. Coward.

“What about Janet Yoder and Rita Mast? They were both young female employees of yours that also are missing.”

Nash marched back into the foyer. The side door swung open and a tall man wearing a bullet proof vest over his long-sleeved, gray athletic shirt walked in. A Glock was holstered on his hip. He was clean-shaven and moved loosely, carrying himself with an air of authority.

“Come on, ladies. This can be friendly or not so friendly, depending on you two.”

The security guard smirked at us. I could feel my own gun pressing into my chest beneath my jacket and my face flushed with annoyance. I turned back to Nash.

“You know, not answering a few questions about your employees makes you look guilty of something.”

He threw his head back. “Ha! Get out of here. No one cares what you think. You’re just an inconsequential journalist with nothing but a wild story in your pretty head.”

The guard placed his hand on my shoulder, and I smacked it off. “Don’t touch me.”

“Then get moving.” He’d lost the smirk.

Elayne walked to the door, and said over her shoulder, “Come on, Serenity. We don’t want any trouble.”

I glanced at the guard, then at Nash. “This isn’t over. I’m going to find out what happened to those girls.”

The door slammed behind us and Elayne already had her umbrella popped open. She set the water bottle neatly on the railing and gestured for me to join her beneath it.

“Shoot, Serenity. He might figure out who we really are.” she muttered.

My chest deflated when I saw that the white van was nowhere in sight. “Damn.”

We crossed the driveway at a fast pace and climbed into the Jeep. Daniel had the engine going.

“By the looks on your faces, I take it that didn’t go well.”

“It could have been worse,” I said with a snort.

“Yes, at least we didn’t get shot,” Elayne said in a high-pitched voice.

Daniel leaned over and touched my knee. “It’s not over.” He handed me a folded, damp piece of paper.

“What’s this?” I asked while I opened it. There was an address printed neatly in all caps. “Who gave you this?”

“A woman in a maroon dress got into the van and left a few minutes before you came out. She pressed her hand against my window, and I saw her drop this. Once she left, I collected it.”

I handed it to Elayne, who once again was leaning into the front seat, well over the center console.

“Drive, Daniel,” I ordered.

“I already have it on the GPS,” he said while he pulled out of the parking spot and started down the driveway.

I caught a glimpse of the guard jogging to a square building behind the main house. I originally assumed it was a fancy lawnmower shed, but now, I realized it was the guards’ office. There were likely computers, an arsenal, and a cot in the small structure. Considering Nash Byrne wasn’t a high-profile congressman, I had underestimated his security detail.

Things were feeling a bit out of my league, but I pressed on.

I leaned back in the seat. “He knows what happened to the girls.”

“That’s quite a leap—” Elayne started.

“Combine his behavior with Violet’s sudden memory loss, I have no doubt that they both are in on it.”

“In on what?” Daniel said.

Elayne sighed. “Violet’s personality change is questionable, I agree, but accusing her of taking part in her cousin’s disappearance is extreme.”

“Why does she want to secretly meet us then? She is unburdening her conscious.” I turned back to Elayne. “They’re sleeping together and have been for a long time.”

“What?” Daniel said loudly. “That’s absurd. She’s an Amish woman who’s old enough to have teenagers.”

Elayne grunted. “I fear Serenity is right about a relationship between those two. Violet moved around that kitchen like she owned it. For someone with such a beautiful face to never have married is highly unusual in an Amish community. Without a family, someone like her would have left the Amish a long time ago, unless she had another reason to stay.”

“Exactly.” I watched the arrow on the GPS. The barn Violet had directed us to was only a couple of miles away. “Twenty years of working for that dick? There’s no way she managed that without him being all over her. He’s an alpha male who thinks he deserves to have whatever he wants. Perhaps, he paid her an allowance for sex?”

Daniel rubbed his chin. “If that’s true, then it’s quite possible something awful happened to those girls.”

“We deal with horrible crimes on a regular basis but when they involve government officials, it’s worse in every way,” I said.

“I’m not sure there’s anything we can even do about it if true.” Elayne fell back into her seat. “Without a smoking gun, a reliable witness who’s ready to testify, or a confession, we’d be hard pressed to get anyone to file charges against the politician.”

“Don’t be so glum, Elayne.” I stared straight ahead at the drenched countryside. It was a hazy, wet world. “Trust destiny. We were guided here to find those girls, dead or alive, and deliver them justice.”

Daniel cleared his throat. “I thought we came to find out why Axel Miller, who is really Liam Brenneman, tore up the festival, killing so many.”

“I think it’s all connected. Think about what we know. Liam suspected that the girl he wanted to someday marry had met foul play. He tried to get the others to see and stuck with the narrative for years. Something pushed him over the edge, and I believe the Muscat Amish were his target.” I let out a long, harsh sigh. “Like you, Elayne, he felt helpless going up against whoever took Janet away from him.”

“That’s no excuse—”

“Of course not, Daniel. The only way to solve a crime is to distance yourself from the horror of it and think about human nature while following the evidence. We might not have a lot of that right now, but I’m sure Agent Templeton and others in the FBI are aware that those girls are missing and there’s a connection to Nash Byrne. My gut says they’re protecting him.”

“God, I hope not,” Daniel said.

“Don’t freak out. Let’s see what Violet has to say, and we’ll go where the dots take us.”

Fallen branches and deep puddles littered the rutted gravel driveway that Daniel pulled into. When we turned the corner, an old tobacco barn was revealed. I found myself inhaling deeply as my heart rate surged. The structure looked like it could collapse at any moment. Hidden by a stand of broken trees, it was the perfect place for secrets to be revealed.

23

The three of us walked into the barn through an opening where a sliding door was partially off its track. Rain poured through the roof where the tin was bent back, and a little light made it into the space because of missing boards in the walls. Clumps of grass sprouted in the places where the sun sliced through the ceiling on clear days, and the smell of mold from the rotting pile of hay bales in the corner was strong.

Since there wasn’t a van or buggy parked outside, we thought we were alone until Violet stepped out from behind the hay. Her silence and sudden appearance caused Elayne to gasp and press her hand to her heart. I was more used to surprises and had remained close to the doorway with my gun in hand, ready to shoot.

Daniel was the first to speak the Amish woman. “Do you own this property?”

“My grandfather felt sorry that I’d never married. He left it to me in his will. I’ll sell it one day, but for now, it sits peacefully, growing weeds and providing a haven for deer, bunnies, and birds.”

“Are you alone?” I asked from across the barn.

She nodded. “Of course.”

“How did you get here?” Daniel asked as he looked around.

I could tell by the quick movements of Daniel’s head that he expected an ambush.

“My home is less than a half mile up the road. Right after Tilly dropped me off, I took the path behind my shed that leads through the trees and brambles right to this barn.”

“Convenient,” Elayne said.

We slowly met in the middle of the barn. I kept my eyes peeled while Daniel and Elayne loosened up a bit.

“I fear it’s too obvious, but I could think of no other place to meet you.”

“Who are you afraid of?” I asked, not looking at Violet.

“No one and everyone.” She let out a small moan. “When I realized you were here for my cousin Abby, I accepted that I must finally step up and do the right thing.”

I glanced over my shoulder. The pretty woman’s face was twisted in grief. A tear trickled down her cheek. Elayne took a step closer to her and Daniel remained frozen in place. I continued to listen and look, holding my gun up and ready to fire. I knew exactly who she was afraid of, and although I didn’t fear him or his lackies, I worried about quickly becoming outgunned.

“Daniel, would you mind watching the road?”

He nodded and started for the opening we’d walked through.

I returned my gaze to Violet. “What do you know?”

“Everything. I don’t know where to even start.”

I let out a breath and turned to face her. “Best place is the beginning.”

“When I started working for Nash as a sixteen-year-old, he showered me with flattery and attention I wasn’t used to.” She shook her head and sighed. “I guess that’s why I fell in love with him.”

I held my breath. Elayne remained motionless.

“Does he feel the same way about you?” I asked.

“I thought so and at first, it might have been true. After a couple of years, he grew tired of me. The flirting stopped and so did the sex. My feelings were raw. I still cared for him, and it cut like a knife into my heart to think I’d sinned so horribly. I’d tried to steal a man away from his wife and children, making him an adulterer.” Violet snorted. “I was very young and didn’t understand that Nash was the sinner. He’d lured and enticed me to become a whore.”

Elayne touched Violet’s arm. “Don’t be so harsh on yourself.”

Violet smiled slightly. “Perhaps the first year wasn’t my fault, but I lost all confidence in myself. I remained at Nash’s side, working in that house, day after day, year after year, hoping and praying for any amount of attention from the older man. It seemed that whenever I started growing stronger, and considered leaving, Nash would suddenly gift me flowers or chocolates and we’d become physical again. Those times didn’t last very long, just enough of them to keep me by his side for two decades.”

“You aren’t the first woman to be manipulated by a man,” I said quietly.

“I’m sure that’s true, but my actions are unforgivable.” She stepped closer. “I wasn’t the first, nor the last girl, that Nash Byrne used. And when he asked, I brought fresh young things straight to him, then looked the other way when he broke their hearts.”

My stomach rolled and any sympathy I felt for the woman a moment ago vanished.

Elayne’s cheek twitched when she asked, “What did you get out of doing that for him?”

“Mostly attention. He would tell me how pleased he was with me and then he’d throw in an extra ten thousand dollars of cash into my paycheck.”

My head was spinning as I digested what she’d said, so I let Elayne talk.

“Violet, what you’re telling us isn’t simply a bunch of sins piled on top of each other. They’re crimes. I feel it’s my obligation to warn you that you might go to prison.”

Normally, Elayne’s ethical high ground would have upset me greatly, but not this time. I could tell by the slouched way Violet stood and the sadness in her eyes that she already knew that she was incriminating herself and she didn’t care. The Amish woman sought redemption, and the only way she would get it was by coming clean.

“I should have been punished severely after Janet disappeared.”

“Do you know what happened to her?” I asked.

“Not for sure. I know Nash lured her in the same way he had me and very quickly, he let her know that it had been a one-time deal. She had been furious. You see, she had the eye of a handsome boy. A boy who she’d turned her back on when Nash told her she was pretty.”

My heart sank. “Liam Brenneman?”

“Yes. And on the day that Janet threatened to tell the bishop about Nash, she vanished. Liam was beside himself. I think Janet must have told him something, because he was so sure of his accusations against Nash and the other young men.”

“Other men?” I looked toward the opening and found Daniel standing guard. “Who are you talking about?”

Violet dropped her head. “It wasn’t only young women falling under Nash’s spell. Some of the lads who provided landscaping and mowing services were also tempted by the wads of bills that Nash gave to those who did his bidding.”

When Violet paused, I asked, “Did he employ Elmo and Abner Brenneman, Jared, Micah, and Freeman Graber, Caleb Zook, and Evan Gingerich?”

Violet’s eyes widened. “I’m impressed. You did your homework.”

“Liam drove a truck through a crowd during a festival in Blood Rock the other day, killing Abner and Jared, plus eight others—including more Amish and some Englishers.”

“I know.” Violet frowned. “He did it because he blamed his brothers and friends for whatever happened to Janet.”

Rainwater continued to pour through the broken places in the roof, causing puddles to form and expand inside the barn. I watched the streams of water splash to the ground as I remembered meeting the Amish men on horseback alongside the road in Blood Rock. They were bound by far more than a hobby of night riding.

“What set off Liam?” I asked.

She shrugged, scrunching her mouth. “I think it was because of Abby. You see, when Rita went missing a couple of years after Janet, Liam started to throw accusations around again. He wasn’t Amish any longer, so no one listened to him. Abby, only thirteen, meeting the same fate as both Rita and Janet, was his undoing, I think.”

Elayne pressed her fingers into her temple. She didn’t ask questions or make comments. When she stepped away, I continued to interrogate Violet.

“Did Rita engage in sexual relations with Nash?”

Violet nodded.

“And, like Janet, she became hostile towards him when he broke it off?”

“That’s correct. Most of the girls were too embarrassed to argue with him. They just wanted to forget it ever happened. They went back to the community with their secrets buried deep. Not Janet or Rita, though.”

“Nor Abby, huh?” My gut twisted and it was a challenge to speak calmly to Violet.

She shook her head, dropping her gaze at the dirt.

“Where are they, Violet?”

Violet’s head snapped up. “I don’t know—”

“You know everything, except perhaps the end of the story? I don’t believe you.”

Her eyes flared and watered. She took a step back. I followed her.

“How much did Nash pay you to serve up your cousin, who was only a child, to that monster?”

Tears started dribbling down her cheeks. She sucked in a gulp of air and backed right into one of the streams of rainwater. It struck her cap, knocking it sideways, but she didn’t move. Elayne stood to the side, glaring at Violet.

I raised my voice. “You must have a lot of money stashed away by now. Maybe hundreds of thousands of dollars safely hidden under a floorboard or in a box in your closet? All of it is blood money, Violet. Sex trafficking is not only a serious state and federal crime, but also one of the vilest of sins.” My voice climbed higher. “In my opinion, only second to murder. But you’re guilty of that too, aren’t you? The reason those three girls are gone is because they’re dead. Aren’t they, Violet? Nash had them killed and their bodies were dumped or buried somewhere.”

“No, no, no—”

“You killed those young girls. Your own barely-a-teenager cousin—you killed her!”

Violet began to sob violently. Falling to her knees, she covered her face with her hands while the rain poured onto her head. Elayne started towards her, and I held out my hand, giving my head a firm shake to stop her.

I holstered my gun and went to Violet and knelt in front of her. I hardly felt the rain striking my head. Violet babbled incoherent words, some English, but mostly Pennsylvania Dutch.

I grabbed her wrists and holding them tight, shouted, “Look at me, Violet! Look at me!”

She raised her head, blinking through tears and rain.

“Those girls deserve justice, Violet. They need to be laid to rest properly. That’s the only way you’ll be saved. The only way to forgiveness is to tell me the truth. Where are they?”

“They’re…not…dead,” she whimpered. “At least, I don’t know. I…don’t…know.”

I tightened my grip and stood up, dragging her with me. Moving us away from the deluge, I gave her shoulders another shake. “Where are they?”

Elayne was next to us now, but I didn’t look at her. I was too focused on Violet’s contorted face.

Suddenly, Violet dropped her head back and screamed, “Forgive me, Lord, please, please forgive me!”

When she brought her head back, all emotions had fled her face. Her muscles relaxed and her eyes cleared.

“California,” she whispered. “That’s where they were taken.”

24

“The last I heard, they were working at the Live Life Health Spa in Los Angeles.” Violet blew her nose into a tissue that Elayne had pulled out of her pocket. She wasn’t hysterical anymore. It appeared a weight was lifted from her shoulders.

The rain lessened to a drizzle and the sky lifted, making the inside of the barn brighten a notch. I experienced a very strong sensation as if waking from a dream.

I exhaled as both elation and exhaustion battled for supremacy in my head. “Violet, will you willingly testify in court to what you told us just now?”

“He’ll kill me.” She said it matter-of-factly, without emotion.

“We can get you into a witness relocation program. You’ll be protected and have a chance for a fresh start somewhere far from Muscat.”

She looked past me. “I don’t believe that, but it would be nice to leave this place. I don’t want to ever see Nash again.”

“We can make it happen. Trust me. For now, you must carry on as if nothing has changed. It’s going to take a few days to get everything in order before he can be arrested.”

“Nash won’t go to prison. He’s too powerful.”

Elayne rested her hand on Violet’s shoulder. “With your help, he will pay for his crimes. I promise you.”

“It’s going to be hard to act like nothing happened.” Violet removed her cap, which was still stiff even though water dripped from its edges.

“I have faith you can pull it off.” I was about to leave her when I stopped. “Violet, your past actions can’t be undone, but you can make up for them. Stay strong. I’ll be in touch soon.”

We left Violet standing alone in the middle of the barn. By the time Elayne and I were outside, shards of sunlight escaped through cracks in the clouds. Steam rose from the ground and although it was still cold, the lack of rain and the scents of mud and pine needles warmed my insides.

I liked breakthroughs and this certainly was an epic one. We got into the Jeep without saying a word and splashed through deep puddles until we were back on the road. We’d covered at least two miles when Elayne sighed dramatically in the backseat.

“That was incredible.” She leaned forward. “How did you know she would crack like that?”

“I didn’t. It was a gamble that I won.” I held my hands up in front of the heater. “My gut just kept telling me that Violet wasn’t the villain in this story. She was a victim who got sucked in too deep to climb out.” I grunted. “Don’t get me wrong. A large part of me wants to see her behind bars, but if she follows through and testifies against Nash, I’m okay with her slinking away somewhere to live a free and quiet life.”

“Will her testimony be enough?” Daniel asked. The way he gripped the steering wheel, I knew he was tense.

“Finding the girls—well, Janet and Rita would be young women now—is an important part of the equation. That, combined with a lot of circumstantial evidence and Violet’s testimony, should do the trick. Very soon Nash Byrne won’t be in a position to use or abuse girls ever again.”

Elayne smacked her lips. “What about Agent Templeton and the marshal?”

“What about them?” I turned my head towards her.

“It certainly appears that they had knowledge about what Nash was doing.”

I dropped my hands onto my lap. “That’s another can of worms all together. Let’s take one crisis at a time.” I pulled out my phone.

Daniel glanced over. “What are you doing?”

“Making an airline reservation.”

“You’re going to California?” Daniel asked.

“Yep. I’m personally following this one through to the end.”

“Make that two,” Elayne said.

Daniel rolled to a stop at an intersection. Four buggies moved forward, crossing in front of us while we waited. A little girl in a brown dress hung out of the back window of one, holding her arms out to the spray of sunshine. The sounds of clip clop clip clop filled the thinning air.

“Nope, not this time. I need you to head home and start building a case. At some point, we’ll have to turn this over to the feds, but I want our documentation in order and ready to go.”

“But you need me. I can help with Abby and the other two—”

“Elayne, I’ve got this. We have no idea what we’re even walking into. Janet went missing six years ago and Rita, four. They might be well away from that spa by now. This is about Abby. Only a few months have passed for her.”

“Do you think they’re being held against their will?” Daniel asked. The last buggies trotted by and the coast was clear. On the move again, he added, “It could be dangerous.”

“I have the advantage of anonymity. As long as Violet plays her part well, I should be able to get in and out without anyone the wiser.”

“Abby might not be alive, Serenity,” Elayne said softly.

“That’s a possibility. Until I know for sure, I’ll believe all three are still breathing.”

“I’m coming with you.” Daniel used a firm voice as he stared straight ahead, avoiding my gaze.

“You need to go home to our daughter. I can function better knowing she’s back to her routine.”

He shook his head. “I texted Laura while you were in the barn with Violet. She assured me that Willa is doing well and having a good time with her aunt and cousin. CJ even stopped by with Selma this afternoon for a playdate.”

I smiled. Oh, how much I missed my baby girl. Today’s revelations were bittersweet. I might be able to find closure regarding the Amish girls and put a disgusting politician behind bars, but the process would be long and arduous. I doubted that I’d be spending much time with Willa or Daniel in the coming weeks.

“Daniel, I have no idea what I’m walking into on the West Coast.”

“All the more reason for me to be there with you.”

I turned sideways in my seat and stared at my husband. “You can’t come along on all of my investigations, so don’t get used to it.”

The corner of his mouth lifted. “Is that a yes?”

I was about to answer when a crashing noise turned my head. The back window shattered.

“Get down!” I yelled at Elayne. “Keep the Jeep steady, Daniel!”

Boom, boom. Another blast struck the back of the Jeep, then another.

“Are we being shot at?” Daniel shouted.

“Elayne, call 911.” I lowered my window and pulled out my gun. “We’re on Weaver Road, just past mile marker 9, going south.”

Leaning through the window, I fired at the black Navigator that barreled towards us. Striking the window, it swerved but kept coming.

“Dear, Lord, keep us safe!” Elayne prayed out loud while crumpled on the floorboard. “Dear Lord, please keep us safe!”

“Make the call, Elayne!”

“I am!”

“What do I do?” Daniel shouted. “I can’t outrun that thing!”

I swiveled until I spotted the right place to make a turn. “There!” I pointed into a saturated hay field. “Go right at the hill!”

“Are you sure?” Daniel sounded calmer.

“Yes.”

It happened very fast, but also felt like slow motion. Daniel jerked the steering wheel to the right at the same time I leaned out the window. The turn gave me a perfect unobstructed line of vision to the large SUV. I fired three times. The first shot hit the driver’s side window while the other two bullets hit the front tires.

The Jeep was airborne for a few long seconds.

Elayne screamed and I held on for dear life while I hung out the window. Somehow, Daniel managed to keep one hand on the steering wheel and grab the waist of my pants, pulling me back inside.

In a blur, I whirled around to see the SUV swerve onto the shoulder, then hit the ditch at roughly ninety MPH. Unlike the Jeep, the SUV hit the hill head on. It smashed into the hillside, then flipped over. It rolled two or three more times, each with a sickening crash.

Daniel kept the Jeep under control. Flying into the field, and bouncing hard, he managed to slow it down and then switch it into four-wheel drive when we began to sink into the muck.

“Are we still alive?” Elayne sputtered from the back seat without rising.

I noticed glass chips in her hair on and on her back, but I didn’t answer her. “Pull around and go back, Daniel!”

Without a word, he let go of me and did as I asked. I leaned back out and surveyed the damage.

The SUV was upside down and totaled. I noticed the Pennsylvania plates just as Daniel stopped the Jeep a dozen yards away.

“There’s a pistol in my purse.” I shoved the bag at him and jumped out of the passenger side.

Using the Jeep as cover, I moved around the backside of it before stepping into the open, carefully and slowly. With a racing heart and steady hands, I approached the demolished vehicle.

Steam puffed out of the smashed engine and where the SUV had rolled was torn grass and chunks of earth.

I guessed the driver didn’t survive but took no chances as I crept forward and dropped to the ground at the narrow gap.

“Is he dead?” Daniel asked from right behind me.

I didn’t want him so close to danger and tried to ignore his presence as I peered inside. Crumpled airbags took up most of the space. The smells of gasoline and urine bombarded me.

Damn. It was Nash’s security guard in the passenger seat and an unknown black male of similar build and age in the driver’s seat. The guard was still holding his high-powered rife in his hands while his neck bent unnaturally to the side. One of my bullets had hit his heart.

I watched the driver for signs of breathing, but he was stone still. Bleeding profusely from his mouth, I suspected he had succumbed to injuries from the crash, but until his body was extracted from the wreckage, I wouldn’t know if I’d hit him as well.

“Serenity, come here!”

I heard the urgency in Daniel’s voice and jumped to my feet. Meeting him at the back of the SUV where the lift had broken off revealing the back seat, I stared at what held his attention.

Daniel ran his hand through his hair. “Did one of your shots kill her?”

Leaning in, I studied the perfectly round hole in Violet’s forehead.

“We won’t know for sure until the autopsy is completed. But it looks more like an execution.”

“They tried to kill us,” Elayne said the obvious out loud as she joined us on shaky legs.

Yes, they did. And the worst part was that more assassins might be coming.

I looked at Daniel. “Is the Jeep drivable?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I believe so.”

“We don’t have much time.”

“Time for what?” Elayne asked with each hand pressed against her cheeks.

“To get to the airport. Elayne, you’re flying home, and Daniel and I are heading to California.” I tilted my head, hearing clip clops in the distance. “That bastard isn’t going to get away with this.”

25

Flying on a good day caused me anxiety and today was far from good. Glad to be leaving the terminal, I felt an adrenaline rush that sharpened my senses. Daniel walked slightly ahead of me. He had a backpack slung over his shoulder that held both of our stuff. It had been smart to take the TSA Law Enforcement Officer Flying Armed Training Course, which made bringing my handgun and ammo on the trip possible. The paperwork had still taken longer than I’d like and now I was itching to get back on the road.

People bustled by us, going in both directions. Their faces were mostly a blur, but I did notice a young woman in a floral dress. She carried a baby girl while pulling a suitcase and controlling a toddler with only sharp verbal commands. Feeling sorry for her only crossed my mind briefly. The little family was alive and well, which was a lot more than could be said for some of the festival goers back home and possibly the three Amish girls who I sought.

Life could change in a heartbeat. Another moment wasn’t guaranteed.

Daniel held open the door and I passed by him quickly. Warm air touched my face, and I lifted my chin to it, taking a deep breath. Unlike Blood Rock, where autumn was in full swing and the cool air smelled like damp earth, grass, and decaying leaves, here the dry breeze that I inhaled outside of the airport was a mixture of gas fumes, pavement, and flowers.

Foreign-speaking voices and beeping cars added to the exotic feeling of the moment.

“I can’t believe we’re here.” Daniel stopped and scratched his head as he looked around.

“Have you ever been to Cali?” I asked, feeling a little bad that I didn’t ask the question before we boarded the plane.

He grinned tightly, without any humor in his eyes. “No, I haven’t. This time doesn’t really count since it’s business and we should be in and out, right?”

I returned his tense smile. “Sure, it counts.” I shrugged. “I hope it’s a quick trip. Let’s grab our rental car.”

I didn’t make it a step when Daniel caught my arm and pulled me back. People split around us, and I felt uncomfortable pausing in the middle of the crowd when we should keep moving.

“Serenity,” Daniel caught my gaze. “I know this is far from a vacation, but I want you to know that I’m happy to be here with you. Regardless of the outcome.”

The intensity in Daniel’s eyes and the firm set of his jaw told me how serious he was. I hated it when he became sentimental, although I understood exactly what he meant.

I reached for his hand and squeezed it without letting go. It had been a while since we’d held hands and it felt good—even safe, which I knew was just an illusion.

“I’m glad you’re here with me.” I let him brush his lips over my mouth.

His face hovered very close. “I love you.”

I licked my lips and squeezed his hand harder. “I love you, too. Now, come on. You can drive while I find the spa on my phone’s GPS.”

My cell phone buzzed and I leaned back, pulling it from my pocket. It was a text message from Bobby.

“Hope your trip is going well. I thought you’d want to know that Nancy is post op and has been moved to the med surg floor. Doc says she’s recovering nicely. She’s already awake and giving the nurses hell. Her daughter is in there now and managed to talk her out of trying to leave the hospital. All she wants to do is go to the diner and start cooking. I’d say it will be at least a week before that happens. I’m heading over there now to say hello. I’ll keep you posted.”

I sent a love emoji.

“Nancy’s surgery went well and she’s out of the intensive care unit. Now that she’s conscious and knows she’s not going to die, she’s becoming contrary.”

“That’s a great sign,” Daniel said cheerfully. “I don’t know what any of us would have done if she’d died. She’s indispensable to everyone in Blood Rock.”

I nodded. “Yeah. It almost feels like the clouds are parting over our little town. It’s the best news I’ve heard in over forty-eight hours.”

I didn’t say it out loud, but I figured things would only go downhill from here.

It was a relief to be on the highway, but the traffic was definitely a pain.

“The website says they’re open until midnight.” I turned to Daniel. “What kind of business stays open that late?”

The sky was a smear of pink and gold as the sun set. It was still pleasantly warm, and we had the windows down as we moved at a snail’s pace in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Daniel kept his eyes on the road. “Judging from how thick the traffic is at this hour, I’d say everything is open late.”

“Yeah, maybe. It’s quite different than the slow pace we’re used to in the Indiana countryside.”

“An offer of a million—or a hundred million dollars—wouldn’t get me to move here.” Daniel’s tone was very decisive.

“Don’t forget about the earthquakes,” I pointed out.

Seeing the corner of Daniel’s mouth twitch, I held in a smile. My hubby was out of his element all the way around. I leaned back and thought about Nash Byrne. “I made several calls while you were buying our tickets. I informed Todd and Bobby on a conference call what was going on. And I also reached out to my contact at the Indiana Bureau of Investigation, and our representative, Peggy Lawrence. Elayne is contacting officials in Washington who she believes will take the case seriously. She also has files ready to be sent to every major media outlet.”

“It’s a shame,” Daniel said, followed by a long sigh. He’d shed the flannel shirt, and his muscles bulged in the short-sleeved t-shirt. His denim jeans fit nicely, and he still wore the same work boots he had on in Pennsylvania.

After silently admiring how attractive Daniel looked in his casual dress clothes, I asked, “What?”

“That you can’t just focus on catching the bad guys or gals. Instead, both you and Elayne are covering every single base and jumping through hoops because a politician will stop at nothing to keep his sickening thirst for young girls hidden from others.” He gave his head an angry shake. “Pervert.”

“And murderer.”

“Do you really think the Amish girls are dead?” Daniel sounded tired.

“I tried to sound upbeat for Elayne’s benefit back there, but I find it hard to believe that he would allow them to live. They were the ones who defied him, like Violet. Look what happened to her.”

“Why send them so far away? Wouldn’t it be easier to kill them locally and dispose of the bodies?”

Poor Daniel was naïve and over-simplified things sometimes. “It’s not that easy to get rid of a body. Especially close to home. My guess is that he sent them as far away as he could with the plan or at least hope that they would die on the West Coast. Being Amish, even if they did turn up, it’s unlikely that anyone would trace them back to Muscat. Your former people don’t have the same records or leave the imprint that we do. Lacking cell phones, social media, and not attending regular schools means there isn’t much proof they even existed.”

“Do you think that’s why he chose Amish girls, because it would be easier to erase them if need?”

“Maybe. Most sexual predators find the easiest prey. Since he groomed Violet to be a madame of sorts, he had a constant supply of Amish girls in his house. Their strong religious beliefs, community ties, and secluded community meant that they were more afraid of being found out than getting retribution for what was done to them.”

The traffic decreased and Daniel was able to finally increase speed. I stared out the window at the modern-looking buildings, green spaces, and tannish-colored terrain in the distance. A million lights started appearing on the hills as darkness pressed in around the highway.

Daniel made a huffing sound. “The girls would be the perfect victims. Damn, Serenity. The guy is pure evil. We have to take him down.”

“So, you don’t want to forget about it, turn around, and go home?”

Daniel looked sideways with narrow eyes. “What are you talking about?”

“Maybe now you’ll understand how I can’t walk away from my cases. This one is particularly nasty, and since you were once Amish and most of your family still are, I understand why it’s hit a nerve for you. But my nerves are always frayed, Daniel. Every case is important to me.”

Daniel grunted softly before nodding slowly. “I see your reality much better if that’s what you’re hoping for.” He glanced my way, then back to the road. “Still, you’re my wife and Willa’s mother. We don’t want to lose you. There has to be a balance between this dangerous job and also living life.”

I hated it when Daniel said practical things in that steady voice. Of course, he was right.

“What if I don’t want to have any more kids?”

He chuckled loudly. “That came out of the blue. Here we are, traveling around the US, chasing after missing girls and the resolution of a mass murder event back home, and you’re fretting about how large our family is?”

“It’s not often that we’re trapped in a car alone together. And yes, it’s a subject that’s been on my mind. I’m thirty-seven, and if we wanted to give Willa a sister or a brother, we’d have to get going soon.”

“I like the sound of that.” Daniel flashed a wicked smile.

“If we were in our twenties, I’d say we have time, but time is something we don’t have. I’m not ready for another pregnancy or a baby right now. I want to focus on the little family I already have and my career.” I inhaled deeply. “Is that a game changer for you?”

“What exactly are you asking?” Daniel’s voice continued to be calm and conversational.

It bugged me because I felt overly emotional and worked to keep my tone level. “This is probably an idiotic time to be talking about this, but I need to know if your happiness requires another child or if you’ll be content with just Willa.”

Daniel pursed his lips. “I’ve told you at least a hundred times that Willa and you are more than enough for me.” He glanced sideways. “You’re the one who has made our number of children a big deal, never me.”

“That’s because of your mom, sister, and even CJ. Everyone thinks you want another kid.”

“If we were blessed with more, I’d be happy, and if we’re not, I’d feel the same way. I knew when I married you that a traditional Amish family was impossible.”

“Then why did you marry me?” After I asked the dumb question, I swallowed down a knot in my throat that made me cough.

“Love, Serenity. Simply put, I loved you. I still do and always will. Please don’t complicate things unnecessarily.”

“I get it. We can love each other and not be right together.”

Daniel’s head jerked my way. “Didn’t you take our vows seriously? To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health—those vows?”

Daniel sounded exasperated, and I felt kind of bad for pressing him.

“On a few occasions, you’ve mentioned that if I continued to put my life in jeopardy or went off to solve crimes that you felt were out of my jurisdiction, you would end our marriage.”

“I never meant that.”

I remembered Deidra’s counseling and felt that some of those boring sessions were starting to make sense. “That’s how I took it.”

I kept my hands folded on my lap and after Daniel sighed, he reached over to cover my hands with one of his.

“I’m sorry, Serenity. I guess that was my way of encouraging you to take it easy on the job. I see it was the wrong way forward. You’re like a crime magnet and it seemed the more I pressured you to lighten up or even change careers, worse things happened.” Daniel swallowed, then smacked his lips. “Horrible things, like a serial killer who kept the body parts of his victims in barrels inside a barn, or a guy who decided to drive a truck through a crowd of people because of a personal vendetta. Or a man using his powerful position and wealth to cover up his rape of little girls.” He took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “The world is a scary place and I’ve always known that the innocent, lost, and injured need you on their side. I guess I’ve been selfish all along, wanting you to myself. Then there was your friendship with Toby.” When I started to speak, he held up his hand. “No, Serenity. Listen to me. I knew you would never cheat on me. You’re too honorable and loyal to ever do it. I was more afraid that you have so much more in common with the marshal, that you’d regret being with me instead of him.”

Daniel wasn’t just jealous of Toby Bryant. He was envious of our law enforcement connection. I wasn’t particularly surprised, but I was impressed that my husband had finally shared his real fear with me. I was still tense, with my mind thinking about the Amish girls and what we might be walking into, but for a moment, I found I could breathe a little easier and my heart rate slowed.

“You know, couples don’t always have the same careers.” I paused, thinking about how to describe what I was feeling. “When you have this kind of job—a potentially deadly one—it means that you tend to bond strongly with your coworkers because they’re the only ones who really understand what it’s like. That doesn’t mean those relationships are stronger than what we share with family and friends. Just that they’re special in a way that I can’t really explain.”

“You don’t have to. I understand. I still feel the same way about my childhood Amish friends, like Lester. We shared the same struggles growing up and if you weren’t Amish, you wouldn’t truly get it.”

Daniel left the highway, turning onto a busy, four-lane road. Palm trees and billboards were everywhere, and the area was crowded with restaurants, shops, and too many banks.

I nodded. “That’s a very good analogy. I suppose you and Elayne share a bond of sorts because you both grew up Amish and then went English around the same time.”

Daniel smiled. “It’s not the same as you and the marshal. I was never attracted to Elayne.”

“She had a crush on you.”

Daniel snorted, then tilted his head sideways. “Why are we talking about Blood Rock’s DA now?”

“I just want you not to be jealous of me with anyone, Daniel. You’re the love of my life.”

“Really?” His smile faded. “I’m pretty boring compared to the marshal or even your high school flame, Denton McAllister. And I think my traditional values and faith make you uncomfortable.”

“Sometimes they do.” I slumped in the seat, losing some of the energy I had a few minutes ago. “I doubt I’ll ever live up to your high standards, but one thing I think we can both agree on is the presence of both good and bad in the world.”

Daniel turned onto a quieter and darker street. Here, there were clusters of residential houses and small shops, like corner grocery stores and tattoo parlors. I noticed that many of the businesses had doors with bars.

“We’ve seen too much of the latter lately.” He patted my thigh. “No worries about your standards, Serenity. You’re the bravest person I’ve ever known. I find myself in awe of what you accomplish when you set your mind to it. You’re as close to a superhero as a mere mortal can get.”

I smacked his arm playfully. “Stop. The baring of souls ends here. We need to focus on the mission at hand.”

“That’s a good thing.” Daniel said. “Because we’ve arrived.”

26

The spa was in a rundown strip mall between a karate dojo and a nail salon. Broken pavement, blown-out street lights, and a mixture of small, cheap cars, high dollar SUVs, and sports cars filled the parking lot.

“This is worse than I expected,” I admitted.

Daniel parked the rental car, which being gray and very plain, wouldn’t draw attention. “When you think of a spa, this place doesn’t come to mind.” He leaned over the steering wheel and looked around. “Where are the trees, gardens, a pool?”

I almost laughed but was immediately distracted by four dark-clothed men going into the dojo. The sign said it was closed and its windows were dark.

“This isn’t that kind of spa, Daniel. It’s a front for prostitution and other illegal activities. Judging from the part of town where it’s located, local cops probably ignore the goings-on here.”

“Why wouldn’t they do their jobs?” Daniel looked like he’d bitten into a sour apple.

“Departments across the country are facing staffing shortages for various reasons.” I shrugged, watching the front of the building. “Coming into an area where cops know there’s significant illegal activity is overwhelming, dangerous, and sometimes the optics are bad.”

“What about you?”

“I have no jurisdiction here, but like everyone else, the second amendment gives me the ability to defend myself if things go sideways.” Once the coast was clear, I grasped the door handle. “You wait here.”

“Absolutely not.” He stared at me with a frozen smile etched on his chiseled face.

“I figured you’d insist.” Reaching into my purse, I handed him the .38 special I’d packed and a box of ammunition. “I know you like revolvers. This one only holds five rounds at a time, so make sure every one counts and be prepared to reload.”

Daniel sighed when he took the gun. “Do you really think we’re going to have a shootout?”

“It’s best to plan for one even if it’s unlikely.” I patted my chest where my 9MM was holstered and then the inside pocket that held two more magazines. “Let’s go.”

Daniel met me at the front of the car. He’d managed to swiftly put on a jacket that was probably too warm for him, but it gave him a place to hide his gun. I felt jittery. My husband had been along for the ride on a lot of cases both before and after we married, but this one was very different. In the past, it sort of just happened. Today, I was knowingly taking him into danger. I hated the mixture of emotions bubbling in my chest because they kept me from concentrating on the job at hand.

I prayed the element of surprise worked in our favor.

Even though some of the streetlights were out, the city cast a glow over the surrounding area like a dim orb of sunshine. It was never easy working out of my jurisdiction, but I adapted as quickly as I could.

We crossed the lot without encountering anyone. When we reached the Live Life Health Spa’s door, Daniel glanced at me, and I nodded. Then he pushed it open.

The lobby was brightly lit. A red leather couch was on the right side of the small room and two matching chairs were across from it on the other. A tall, leafy, artificial plant, a coffee machine, and a water dispenser occupied one corner, and a table littered with magazines took up most of the floor space. The window was shuttered.

My gaze lingered on the coffee machine. No time, Serenity.

“Do you have an appointment?”

My gaze shifted to the square opening in the wall where an attractive Asian woman poked her head through. It was difficult to tell her age by her polished features, but I guessed she was still older than me. I detected just enough of an accent to confidently say that while she wasn’t born in this country, she’d lived here a very long time.

I’d devised a few different stories on the plane ride, waiting until this moment to decide which one to use.

I turned to Daniel and frowned. “You made an appointment, didn’t you?”

Daniel was a quick thinker and reacted appropriately. “I thought I did.”

In dramatic fashion, I pressed my hand to my face. “Damn it, Larry. Why don’t you ever listen to me?”

Daniel played the beaten-down husband well. He slumped his shoulders and dropped his gaze to the tiled floor. “Sorry, Jo. I thought you said you were making the arrangements.”

I shook my head. “The trip is wasted then. I’m sure they won’t be able to accommodate us this late in the day.”

“Whoa,” the woman said sharply. “We had a cancelation earlier. I can squeeze you in now for a couple’s massage. Is that what you were hoping for?” When I nodded, she held out her hand. “Pay upfront with cash. There’s an ATM across the street at the bank on the corner if you need it.”

“How much for ninety-minutes?” I asked.

“Three hundred.”

The woman was very efficient. I heard Daniel cough behind me.

I opened my purse and pulled out my wallet. After I counted the money, I handed it to her.

She smiled brightly. “Through that door. Last door on the left.”

Daniel and I made eye contact. I was impressed by his calm demeanor and was actually quite surprised that he was adjusting as well as he was.

The hallway smelled like stale cigarettes and potpourri. I held my breath as we passed four doorways on each side of us before reaching the last one on the left.

I gripped the doorknob and that’s when Daniel started to become agitated.

He leaned close enough for his mouth to touch my ear. “What do we do now? I’m not taking my clothes off.”

I would have laughed if we weren’t being watched. Without a word, I shifted my gaze to the ceiling to show Daniel the security cameras. Then I offered him the most reassuring expression I could and turned the knob.

Numerous burning candles made the room smell better than the hallway, and the orange walls and a shelf brimming with colorful orchids added to the tropical vibe of the room. Two massage beds were ready to go, and two women had their backs to us while they were busy preparing for our massages.

I sensed Daniel’s discomfort and grasped his hand, giving it a squeeze. His face paled and his jaw set tightly.

“Hello.” The blonde turned around. “I’m Amber and this is Sasha.” Her brow lifted. “Is a massage all that you wish for?”

Amber was a striking young woman, blessed with wide-spaced, expressive eyes and radiant skin. Sasha, just as beautiful, was slightly older, perhaps in her late twenties. High cheekbones, a delicate nose, and sculpted features made the brunette resemble a Hollywood starlet. Both women were athletically fit and curvy in the all the right places in their black leotard outfits.

I came prepared and stepped forward, pulling out six hundred more dollars. Handing three hundred to each woman, I watched Amber’s face light up, while Sasha shoved the bills into a bag on the table with the same bored expression on her face.

“Star treatment, huh?” Amber smiled. “Tell us what you desire, and we’ll take care of you.”

“This is going to be an easy hour for you,” I said. “I just want to ask some questions.”

Amber rolled her eyes and Sasha groaned.

“I smelled cop before you even opened your mouth, pretty lady.” Sasha spoke in a low purr and her accent sounded Russian. She eyed Daniel. “That one looks like he will throw up. So, I don’t understand that.”

“First, neither one of you is in any kind of trouble and what you say is completely off the record. I’m the sheriff of a town in Indiana.”

“No kidding. I’m originally from Louisville.” Amber stepped up to the nearest massage table and leaned over it. “I’ve been in LA for two years.” She raised her chin at Sasha. “Sash has been here longer than me. What, six years?”

“Shut up. My personal information is not this cop’s business.”

Sasha would be a hard one to crack. “Do you mind me asking how long you’ve worked here?”

Amber was quick to respond. “About a year for me, and”—she glanced at Sasha—“longer for Sash. That’s up to her to say.”

I waited for Sasha, but she crossed her arms and remained silent. The fact that she wasn’t leaving made me hopeful.

Deciding honesty was the best policy with these two, I said, “I’m pursuing three missing Amish girls.” I hesitated. “Well, two are older now. Janet Yoder would be twenty-two and Rita Mast, nineteen. The third is only thirteen and she disappeared a few months ago.”

Amber’s mouth dropped open, then snapped shut. It was Sasha’s reaction that really caught my attention. She pressed her lips tightly together. The Russian beauty was angry.

“What led you here?” Amber asked in a low voice.

I already scanned the room and since I hadn’t seen any cameras, I felt the women could talk freely.

“The spa’s name came up during a witness interview.” I glanced at the two women in turn. “We believe the Amish girls were forced to leave their community because they wouldn’t stay quiet about sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of a high-ranking Pennsylvania state government official.” I felt it was now or never to possibly find out what happened to the girls. “I’m worried they’re dead, but hopeful they may still be alive. Either way, I want to bring them home and deliver justice in their names.”

Amber licked her lips while she searched Sasha’s face for approval. I was surprised when it was Sasha who spoke.

“Is it a guarantee that what we say here is off the record and nothing will come back on us?”

“You have my word,” I told her firmly.

“I don’t know anything about Janet Yoder, but the name Rita Mast, I remember. She didn’t say much and worked at the spa for a few days before she was sent away.”

“Sent away by who?”

Sasha inhaled deeply before cracking her knuckles. “By the people who own the spa.”

I had to tread very lightly here. Sasha was trying to tell me without actually saying anything that might get her in trouble with her employers.

Thinking quickly about the dynamics of the spa and these two employees, I asked, “First, are either of you being forced to work here?”

“No, we work here freely,” Sasha said.

When my gaze drifted to Amber, she nodded. “It’s great money and it’s not like we’re turning tricks on the streets. Mostly, we really do give massages.” She shrugged. “Sometimes more than that.”

Sasha pulled her hair off one shoulder and swished it to the other. “You see, that’s just us. We took the job knowing what it was about, and we accepted it. Some of the girls who come in aren’t okay with the job duties, you know?”

“Yeah, I do.” I took a quick breath. “Were you aware that some newcomers might have been brought here against their will?”

Amber swallowed and avoided my gaze. Sasha stared right back.

“Yes. It’s an ugly world. I do what I need to survive.”

I nodded. “You’re strong and savvy. I can see that. The three Amish girls ended up here because they tried to be like you—independent. They also wanted to do the right thing, but where’d it get them? Kidnapped and sex trafficked.” I narrowed my gaze at Sasha. “I don’t expect you to go out on a limb here. Please, just the name of the people who own the spa and the place you think the girls might have been taken to if they didn’t succeed in the spa business.”

“Shit, Sasha,” Amber said. She walked across the room, then came back and dragged her hands through her hair. “Fuck, fuck, fuck. If you say anything, we’ll have to leave. Like far away from here.”

Sasha sighed. “Yes, we will.”

I waited for the women to decide not only the Amish girls’ fates, but also their own. Daniel stood close to the door, a frozen and nauseous-looking sentry.

What had started as mass murder in Blood Rock a few days ago had turned into a hunt for three missing girls and here we were in a seedy California massage parlor, waiting to see if two complete strangers did the right thing.

Calmness washed over me when I saw Sasha give Amber a lopsided smile. “Perhaps it is time we move on. I have a friend in New York who has pestered me to visit for a while. You can come with me, Amber.”

Amber closed her eyes. “Fuck. It’ll be cold and snowy there in a few weeks.”

“I like winter. Change of scenery and different seasons is a good thing.”

Amber’s eyes popped open. “I ain’t staying if you leave.”

“So, you come with me, then?”

My respect for Sasha grew. The older woman was smart, and her instincts were right on. If she told me what I wanted to know, not only would she have to disappear, but so would Amber. Sasha was getting her ducks in a row and making sure her friend would be safe with her before she decided to talk. I also got the impression from Sasha’s wide-eyed face that she’d been waiting for an opportunity like this to present itself. Some of us required a sign to prompt our action. And I don’t care how much money Sasha and Amber were making, they were always at risk for upsetting the wrong person and ending up in a bad way. I offered a reason for their escape from a tricky lifestyle.

Amber nodded. “Just like you always told me to do, I have a bag already packed.”

There. I was right. Sasha knew this moment was coming.

“Very well.” Sasha focused on me. “You must remember this address in your head, because I will not write it down.”

“Shoot.”

“1779 Bargain Street. At the end of the street, there is an old warehouse. There’s a fence around it, but if you walk the perimeter, you’ll find a break to slip through. Activities come and go there. I don’t know what, if anything, you’ll find.”

“What do you expect I might find there?” I took shallow breaths, planning my next steps.

“Not Rita. Poor girl’s neck was broken by an unruly customer the first week she arrived. I saw the boys take her body out in a garbage bag. When she was found in Griffith Park, she was just a blip on the evening news. They called her a Jane Doe. That was July, four years ago.”

Bleak sadness stung my chest. Sometimes learning the truth didn’t feel as rewarding as it should.

“And what about the thirteen-year-old—Abby Schwartz?

For the first time, Sasha dropped her gaze. “Amber, get our stuff, go out the back door, and start the car. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

Amber was out the door without a second glance at me or Daniel.

Sasha lifted her gaze, tilting her head. “I wish you well, Sheriff. It’s a rare thing for someone to go to such lengths to save a child from the clutches of powerful men. I pray you succeed.”

I knew that when Sasha walked out the door, any chance of finding her again was minuscule at best.

“And the name of the owners?” I asked.

“The Flores brothers.”

27

Our ninety minutes weren’t up, but we left the room and walked past the receptionist. She watched us leave with a tight frown on her round face. The door had barely closed behind us when several gunshots rang out.

“Damn!” I ran to the rental car alongside Daniel and jumped into the passenger seat.

He started the engine and pulled onto the street with speed, but not so fast as to be obvious. I quickly entered the address into the GPS and pointed out which way for Daniel to turn. Then I sent text messages to Todd and Elayne. Neither one of us spoke until we were on one of the busy four-lane roads again.

Daniel exhaled loudly. “What the hell just happened?”

“Sasha killed the people who could talk, thus slowing down anyone who might go after her and Amber.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

Daniel’s high-pitched question was all adrenaline. He couldn’t help it.

“They were all in on it. Even the receptionist. Every last one of them knew what was going on and no one stopped it. Until today when Sasha talked.” I too was experiencing a rush and inhaled deeply to settle my rapidly beating heart. “It’s part of the game, Daniel. Sometimes the bad guys are the ones we need in order to stop the really bad ones.”

“We can’t just waltz into a warehouse where we suspect sex trafficking is happening. Shouldn’t we call local police in on this one?”

“Not until we take care of business. I’ve alerted both Todd and Elayne to what we just learned, so if anything happens to us, they have the information. I asked Todd to have the local precinct ready to call on his cell phone. He has the warehouse’s address. If we need backup, we’ll get it.”

Daniel gripped the steering wheel. “What about Willa? You just said something might happen to us.”

I let out an aggravated breath. “Daniel, this is what I do. You can stay in the car if you want. It’s best you do. That way at least one of Willa’s parents will return home if this goes sideways.”

“No! I’m not abandoning you. I don’t understand why you have to go in there alone.”

“I won’t be alone. You’ll be waiting in the car, and I have Todd on speed dial. If we hurry, we can hopefully get there before anyone knows what went down in the spa.” I looked at the GPS. “Turn right at the next light. We’re only five minutes from the warehouse.”

Daniel muttered something incoherent.

“We have the element of surprise, and I can get in and out of that warehouse without being seen easier than a police force would. In that scenario, anyone being held would likely be killed. It would be a blood bath.”

Daniel licked his lips and eyed me sideways. “I get it. I do. It’s just”—he paused—“crazy how this day has progressed.”

“It’s my life, Daniel. If I’d stayed in Blood Rock and allowed Agent Templeton to take over the festival’s investigation, we wouldn’t be here right now, possibly saving a girl from torture and death.”

“She might already have died, Serenity.”

“I know, believe me, I know. But think about it. A Pennsylvania congressman is sending Amish girls away who refuse to hide his disgusting secret life of abuse to be raped and killed. Even if we can’t save Abby or if Janet is also lost to us, we have the chance to save future girls. We can stop Nash Byrne and reveal to the world who that bastard really is.”

“You’re not afraid of the consequences? Sasha was right.” Daniel’s voice shrunk to a whisper. “Not many people go up against the powerful because they fear what will happen to them.”

Even though it was dark and getting late, warm air blew through the open gaps in the windows. Inhaling deeply, I experienced the hair on my arms rising from a sudden chill. My heart rate slowed, and I could almost feel blood pumping steadily through my veins.

We were almost there. I could feel it in my bones.

“The moment when the truth is revealed is gratifying. Saving innocent people and especially children feels good.” I watched the miles drop away on the GPS screen. “Trust me, Daniel. It will be worth it in the end.”

“I hope Abby’s alive.”

“Me too.” I searched out the window. We entered an area that was rundown and not as well lit. Here, businesses were boarded up and there were fewer cars traveling the streets. “There’s something else.”

“I suppose nothing will shock me after what we just experienced.”

“It’s the name Sasha gave us.”

“Have you heard it before?”

“I have. It might be a coincidence.” I let out a long sigh. “In my line of work, coincidences are rare. Fate is real.”

“Okay.” Daniel glanced at me. “You’re making me even more nervous.”

“If I’m right, this sex trafficking ring might not only have connections to Muscat, Pennsylvania, but also Possum Gap, Kentucky.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I wish I were.” I turned off the GPS. “There. It’s right ahead on the left. Park here.”

Daniel turned off the engine right where I asked. Then he pulled his wallet out of his back pocket. “Can I have a pen?”

I was anxious to leave the car, but I rummaged through my purse and handed him one. “What are you doing?”

On what looked like a scrap piece of paper he started writing. “It’s a note to Willa. Just in case we don’t make it out of here alive. I want her to know we love her with all our hearts and that we’re here to save a girl who needs our help.”

My eyes misted. Having Daniel here certainly added another dimension to police work. It’s not that I didn’t think about the what ifs all the time. It just never occurred to me to put my feelings down in writing to find some time after my corpse was discovered.

“This way, when she’s older, she can read this and know that we died doing something worthwhile,” Daniel quickly added.

“No need to explain.”

He leaned over my lap and put the note in the glove box. “Just in case our bodies are dumped in a park or desert or someplace where we’re never found.”

I narrowed my gaze at my husband. “Stop, Daniel. We’re both going to be fine. Stay here. I’ll be back soon.”

“I’m coming with you.”

“You’ll only slow me down. You’re not trained to go into a situation like this, where experiential knowledge and raw instincts keep a person alive.” I pressed my hand into his chest. “If you go with me, you’ll get us both killed. Is that what you want?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why are you being so difficult? You build houses and I’m a law officer. Our job descriptions and training are very different. I wouldn’t go onto one of your building sites and expect to start framing a house.” I threw up my hands. “I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

“You could figure out some of it.”

“Oh, yeah, right. I’d probably accidentally cut off a hand with one of the saws or the structure wouldn’t be sound and fall on a poor family’s heads after they moved in.” Daniel kept looking straight ahead, so I grasped his chin and tugged it my way. “Stop trying to be the marshal.”

His eyes came alive. “That’s not what I’m doing! I want to protect my wife, that’s all.”

“No, you’re being a dumb ass. You can’t protect me here, Daniel. I’m the one who will protect you and any children or women being held in that warehouse.” I let out a harsh breath. “I’ve enjoyed your company on this trip, and you’ve been very helpful. Just having you along felt good, but the togetherness ends right here, right now. I want to go home with you to our child. I want to live to solve other cases, and I want you to build more houses.” I squeezed my eyes tightly shut. “Please, Daniel, trust me, and let me go with no more argument.”

When I opened my eyes, Daniel kissed me. It was a fierce kiss, one for the books. The danger and unknown added an ingredient of tension when our mouths touched that I would savor later. Now, I didn’t have time for it. The only reason I stayed tightly locked against him for a few long seconds was because he needed it.

He pulled back. “Don’t die, Serenity.”

“I won’t.”

When I exited the vehicle, I had my gun drawn, and I was filled with the heavy sensation of knowing I might not be able to keep that promise.

28

Stepping through a pocket of hot air, I stayed in the shadows of the long, metal building that was close to the road. Moonlight brightened the night where the streetlamps were lacking.

The sudden noise of cats fighting in an alley between buildings caused my heart to leap into my throat. Their growls and screams filled the night air for an entire minute, giving me some sound cover while I jogged across gravel and then stepped over smashed boxes that overflowed from a cardboard bin.

I tried to take everything in as I made my way quickly towards the warehouse at the end of the street. There were no residential houses here and most of the barn-like structures appeared to be abandoned for a while. Graffiti decorated one of the walls of the warehouses, and just like Sasha said, a chain link fence encircled the entire complex. Scraggly bushes grew from broken places in the pavement along the fence line and I used them for cover as I stayed alert, holding my gun in position to shoot.

Far off, I heard a man and woman shouting at each other, and sirens also reached my ears. The street dead ended at the warehouse and this part of town was filled with quiet swaths of darkness. Shadows were my friends and as I moved through them, I felt pretty good.

The trip to California hadn’t been in vain, and I was on the verge of discovering a piece in a vast puzzle that led back to the festival in Blood Rock, via the Muscat Amish community and even Washington, D.C. It was strange how everything was interconnected, but I couldn’t dwell on the moving parts. My goal was to save Abby if possible and make sure Nash Byrne paid for what he did to all those Amish girls.

Following the fence like Sasha had suggested, I kept being disappointed when I saw a place that looked torn from a distance but when I reached the spot, I found it to be intact.

A single puffy cloud blocked the moon for a moment, darkening the air around the warehouse. As the breath caught in my throat and the back of my neck tingled, I stopped and searched the lot.

The coast was clear, and the only sound was bugs being zapped on the nearest streetlight. Hesitating, I strained to hear anything else and came up empty.

Moving on, it wasn’t until I had covered nearly three sides and was at the backside of the building where I finally found the gap Sasha had mentioned. Being only a couple of feet off the ground, I had to crawl through the opening. Getting back on my feet quickly, I followed the dark side of the adjacent building until I reached a dock at the back of the warehouse.

Studying the setup, I noticed that there were less weeds popping through the cracks at the place where a truck could back up to the dock to be unloaded or loaded. There was also a working light next to the metal garage door, which was shut. Another one lit a normal-sized door beside the garage door.

Praying that the door wasn’t locked, I ran the short distance to the concrete steps, taking them two at a time until I reached the door. Before I touched it, I checked for security cameras or anything that resembled an alarm system. Finding nothing, I tried the handle. It was locked.

I froze when I heard muffled voices.

An instant later, I jumped off the concrete dock and raced to the side of the building. I was out of sight just at the door swung open.

Two men wearing jeans and t-shirts came outside. They lit cigarettes and leaned over the metal railing. I could only understand a few words here and there because they were speaking Spanish. Something about the next shipment and no time for a fire. I was pretty sure that I got the last part wrong.

The men were jovial, laughing and seemingly unworried about intruders. They must not have received word about what had gone down at the spa yet. If Sasha was as thorough as I expected her to be, I wouldn’t be surprised if the news didn’t get out until the next morning.

One of the men tossed the butt of his cigarette onto the pavement while the other took his inside with him. When the door started to close behind them, I took off.

It had been twenty years since I played soccer in high school. Back in those days, I’d been the fastest person on the team, and during my early years as a cop, working the beat in Indy, I had a lot of opportunities to sprint after criminals.

Luckily, I was still in athletic form because of chasing after Willa and the treadmill that Daniel had bought me for Christmas a couple of years ago.

Stretching my legs, I kept my eye on the door as it closed. I had noticed by the way it opened a few minutes earlier that there was a spring mechanism that caused the door to close slowly by itself. My first prayer was that I’d catch the door before it latched. The second was that no one would be on the other side when I went in.

Racing up the steps, I stretched my body and then my fingertips to hook the edge of the door just before it caught the lock. Taking a quiet and deep breath, I controlled my breathing as my fingers remained wedged in the slight gap.

I counted, one, two, three, four, five, in my head before I shifted position and opened the door slightly. The interior was dim. A light shone further inside, illuminating a flat concrete space that would have probably been a place for initial storage of anything being brought in or taken out.

Opening barely enough to slip through, I pulled the door shut manually. Once I heard the door’s latch catch, I let go, pressing my back against the wall. Surveying the large room, I found it to be empty. The men were nowhere to be seen, but I heard their voices down a hallway at the other side of the room.

I had my gun, and they didn’t know I was here. Maybe, I’d too willingly trusted Sasha and she’d set me up. But nothing so far gave me that impression. My gut told me that no one suspected I was on site, and I wouldn’t waste that advantage by being overly cautious.

Staying against the wall, I made it to the corner at a fast walk, and then to the hallway in less than a minute.

A shout, followed by screams, then crying, stopped me in my tracks.

I recognized the voices of an adult male and two or possibly three children.

Peeking into the hallway, I saw a man come out of a room to the left. He threw a plate of something back into the room and it shattered against an unseen wall. Squeals and crying immediately followed the breaking dish.

He yelled some more before slamming the door shut. This guy was dressed like the other two men, but he was huge, weighing three hundred pounds if I had to guess. The other men called to the giant from further down the hall. They laughed while the giant lumbered towards them. When he arrived, all three disappeared into a room on the right.

I don’t have much time.

Slinking into the hallway, I held my gun level with my chest, ready to shoot. What I’d already seen and heard gave me the go-ahead in my head to shoot to kill. I had no doubt something very sinister was happening here.

Hearing murmurs of conversation at the first door I came to, I jiggled the knob. It was locked, but I was sure there were multiple people inside.

My heart remained steady as I advanced down the hall to another door. This time, I held my ear to the door and listened. Again, I heard quiet voices and—crying.

I took shallow breaths until I finally reached the door that had been slammed shut by the giant man. When he’d done it, I’d heard the hollow sound of the door hitting the frame and noticed that it bobbed back out slightly. Light shined through the narrow gap beneath the door. There was a light on inside.

Come on, universe. I could sure use some luck here. Then I prayed to God for assistance.

My heart leaped into my throat when I turned the knob. It didn’t stop and I was able to pull it open.

What I saw made hot juices burn a knot in my chest and the stench of urine and feces made my stomach roll.

A dangling light bulb, dirty mattresses, and several buckets were quickly imprinted to memory. The girls held my gaze longer. Four of them were huddled together against the wall. I quickly guessed they ranged from ages seven or eight to fourteen. They were all barefoot and wore dirty dresses. Their wrists were zip-tied. The girls were just skin and bones, with tangled hair and smudged, tear-streaked faces. One of the girls stuck out from the others. Her pale face, freckles, and blue eyes contrasted with the others’ brown hair and skin.

The girls blinked at me. Two noticed me and a spark lit their sad eyes, while the other two rocked back and forth, softly crying, not seeming to see me at all.

“Abby Schwartz?” I whispered.

The pale girl stopped moving and blinked. I watched her blue, wet eyes clear.

“Yes, ma’am?”

The polite response was an automatic reaction by an Amish girl. I had saved two other girls from sex trafficking a while back. One of them had been Amish and she’d gone on to make a full recovery after therapy sessions and much support from both the Amish and English community where she lived. Those girls had been friends who were lured by the promise of a horse. I wasn’t sure if these girls or the children in the other rooms would land on their feet so solidly, but at least they had a chance. That’s all I could give them.

And justice. I could give them that.

I held my finger up to my mouth, shushing the girls. Remarkably, they all fell silent.

Removing my cell from my pocket, I sent Daniel the first text message and Todd the second.

“Quien carajos eres tu?” a man shouted from the end of the hallway.

In a split second, I saw the three men emerging from the room. The man who shouted at me was the only one minus a gun in hand.

I fired at the two-armed men first, ducking partially into the room for some cover. The man with a cigarette dangling from his lips dropped to the floor. Before he went down, I saw a bullet strike his face, taking off his nose and left eye.

The other man got off a shot, which put a hole in the door. I returned fire and hit him three times in the chest.

I glanced back into the room and the sight of the four terrified girls waiting for salvation caused a powerful wave of fury to consume me.

My heart raced and reality became distorted when I turned and faced the giant man rushing towards me. It reminded me of another time that an abnormally large guy came for me in a similar hall. His face had been twisted in rage as well. But that time, I didn’t have my gun in hand, and I’d come within a second of dying.

Tunnel vision made the walls disappear. It was just the barrel-chested man, whose gut jerked back and forth while he ran, and me.

Stepping out completely from the room, I waited until the man was almost on me. I wanted to see his face clearly when he died.

His battle scream was the last thing I heard when I fired twice at his head and once in the chest. I stepped aside, so his crashing body didn’t touch me.

Was it worth it to wait until the last second like that to see the shock light his eyes when he realized he was already dead?

Hell yeah, it was.

29

Flashing lights from dozens of cruisers lit the parking lot behind the warehouse as daylight broke. The last ambulance had just left, and Daniel had been on. Speaking Pennsylvania Dutch to Abby Schwartz had shaken her from her dazed stupor. When she started crying and between gasps asked if Daniel could travel to the hospital with her, the paramedics and the head detective relented. He’d climbed in with the emaciated girl, whose injuries weren’t visible, but we all knew were there.

It was for the best. Daniel was already in contact with Bishop Jeb Yoder and arrangements were being made for the girl’s mother and her aunt to fly to LA to retrieve Abby and bring her home.

I’d spoken to Detective Nicolas Averett for a couple of minutes when he arrived, before he’d asked me politely to back off and wait in his car while the local authorities and first responders took care of business. I’d obliged the stoic man, except for the part about waiting in his car. Instead, I’d wandered between ambulances, watching the children being cared for before they were whisked away to waiting hospitals.

Most were young girls, but there were several boys, and a handful of teenagers. There was even a young blind woman who didn’t speak any English. I listened to the translator speak Spanish to her and then heard him inform the officer of what she said.

Her name was Aleida Garcia. She was twenty years old and had been born without sight. She told the translator that she’d been tricked by a woman in Guatemala to come to the United States for a surgery that would repair her sight. It was supposed to be paid for by an American charity and when completed, she’d return to her homeland. But when she arrived, she didn’t receive any medical care. Men took her to the warehouse where she was told that even without eyes, she could use her hands in a factory. She wasn’t sure where she was going next, but was convinced it was outside of the US.

Aleida also informed the officer that she’d overheard that the children would be split up and sent to pleasure houses and private homes around the world.

At that point, I’d rubbed my face and walked further away from the commotion to make several calls. I spoke briefly to Todd, Bobby, and Elayne, then for several minutes to my sister. Laura told me Willa was fine and would be excited to see Daniel and me.

The last call I planned to make was to Daniel’s mother. It was three hours earlier in eastern Indiana, but Anna, like most Amish women, was an early riser. I figured she’d probably already baked a casserole by now. Holding the phone to my ear, I walked over to the fence and leaned against it. Warm, bright sunlight struck my face, and I raised my chin to it, allowing the sunbeam to evaporate the icky, dark cloud that still clung to me following the reality of what I’d discovered the night before in the locked rooms inside that warehouse.

I figured Anna wasn’t hanging around the small, wooden telephone shed between her house and her daughter’s residence. It was usually easier to show up in person when you wanted to speak to an Amish person than getting a hold of them by phone.

I was ready to hang up when I heard Anna’s voice.

“Hello? Hello?”

“It’s me, Serenity.”

“Oh, I’ve been waiting to hear from you or Daniel. How are things going in Pennsylvania? Has Jeb been helpful at all?”

“A little. We ended up getting a tip from another source and are now in California.”

I heard Anna suck in a sharp breath. I imagined her sitting in the dark shed, holding the landline phone receiver to her ear.

“Is everything all right, Serenity?”

“Do you remember how you told me right before we left the schoolhouse that you’d pray for me to be successful in more ways than one?”

“Yes, I do.”

“I was, Anna. Because I went to Muscat, a large group of kids are now free from a torturous life. I just wanted you to know that you were on to something when you said that to me.”

Anna hummed into the phone. “Everything happens for a reason even though it’s hard to imagine, and sometimes those strings are rotten. I’m happy for those children and for you. Perhaps our community will find peace in the wake of what you’ve learned and done.”

“I certainly hope so. Only time will tell.”

“When are you and Daniel returning?”

“Soon, Anna. We’ll be home soon.”

“Be careful. I love you both.”

“Same.” I was about to say goodbye when Anna spoke again.

“Serenity. I’m glad you are who you are.”

“What do you mean?”

“Sometimes your stubborn and even relentless pursuit of the truth is too much for Daniel. But it’s because of it that so many have been saved. What you call your gut pushing you to act, I consider something more of a divine nature. I’m just glad you are strong enough for the things asked of you.”

My eyes filled with tears. I quickly blotted them away with my fingertips. “Goodbye, Anna. I’ll see you soon.”

I shoved the phone into my back pocket and drew in a deep breath, collecting myself as Detective Nicolas Averett walked up.

He was my height and probably a decade older, although his perfectly styled black hair was still thick, and Nicolas’ face lacked the wrinkles that his suit jacket held. The man wore a no-nonsense frown and large black sunglasses. The wind suddenly picked up, making his jacket flap open. He quickly buttoned it.

“Did you turn your weapon into forensics?” he asked.

“I did. I left an address. I’d like it returned to me quickly.”

A small smile lifted the corner of his mouth. “You said you came to LA because of a tip you received in a Pennsylvania Amish settlement?”

“That’s right.”

“I need more information on that.”

I expected an argument and was about to tell him that I wouldn’t be talking about that part of the case right now when someone spoke behind him.

“That won’t be necessary, Nick. My agency is already working on the Pennsylvania and Indiana angles.”

Nicolas turned sideways, revealing Agent Liv Templeton. Toby was right behind her.

Everyone wore sunglasses so I couldn’t read their eyes, but I knew the marshal well enough to interpret his confident stride and the curl of his mouth. He was amused.

“No, that’s not happening, Liv.” He pointed at me. “An Indiana sheriff just shot and killed three men on my turf, while at the same time rescuing fourteen children and a handicapped woman. She will be fully debriefed—”

Agent Templeton stepped right into his personal space. “She’s working with my department and won’t be telling you anything that doesn’t go through me first.” When Nicolas began to argue, she held up her hand. “I already talked to our LA Assistant Director in Charge and she’s turning the reins over to my team.”

“That’s bullshit,” Nicolas said. He jabbed his finger at me. “I don’t want to see you in my town again.”

Toby pushed the brim of his hat up before speaking. “I’d think you’d be thrilled with Serenity for saving all of them kiddos and taking out three of your sex traffickers.”

Nicolas shifted his gaze to the marshal. “Without the entire story, I’ll have a shell of a case.”

“I’ll make sure you have whatever you need, Nick, but this goes way higher than what was uncovered in that warehouse. Take a breath and wait for my instructions.” Agent Templeton crossed her arms, impatient for the detective’s response. Her auburn hair flashed in the sunlight. In a pale blue suit and black high heels, she appeared ready to do battle.

I watched the detective and agent stare each other down while I remained silent. Toby wasn’t looking at them. Nope. He was focused on me, which made my cheeks heat.

Detective Averett let out a ragged sigh. “Fine. I’d at least like Sheriff Adams to fill out a report.”

“I already have,” I said.

“It only states what happened after you went to the Live Life Health Spa.”

“And that’s all you’re getting from the sheriff,” Liv buckled down.

The detective threw up his hands and shaking his head, walked away. When he was out of hearing, Liv took a step closer.

“I’m glad you had the sense to keep your mouth zipped,” she said.

I chuckled, sweeping my gaze across the cracked parking lot before meeting the agent’s frozen gaze.

“Don’t take the same tone with me that you did Detective Averett.” Since I wasn’t wearing shades, the other woman could see my narrowed gaze. “I know everything. Maybe even more than you do.”

She grinned at me. “Whatever leverage you think you have, forget it. You’re an ant in a great big world, Sheriff, and can be easily squashed.”

“Hey!” Toby came alive. He stood up straighter and then he removed his sunglasses. “She’s not a person you want to threaten.”

Liv’s grin disappeared. “Toby, step away.”

“I don’t think so.” He planted his feet firmly on the ground.

“Marshal Bryant, I don’t need you on my side.” I kept my gaze locked on the agent. “You see, I’ve been very busy over the past twelve hours. I’ve been in contact with Blood Rock’s acting district attorney, my first deputy, our coroner, and high-ranking officials in Indiana and D.C. Along with two national news organizations and four independent journalists with extremely high follower counts.” I paused, letting everything sink into Liv’s savvy head. “If anything happens to me, like I disappear or get mugged, or anyone close to me is put into danger, everything I’ve learned during my investigation goes immediately public in multiple ways. So don’t think you’re going to tell me what to do or what not to do.” I smiled at Liv when her face became slack. “I know exactly where the trail from the horrors inside that warehouse leads to, and mark my words, I’ll take him down.”

I didn’t mention Nash’s name because I didn’t need to. Liv knew exactly who I meant. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was tape recording me either. Leaving things vague was in my best interests.

Liv recovered quickly. “I don’t think you want to pursue that route—”

“Oh, I absolutely relish the idea of going there. I can’t fathom why you’re protecting him, but I don’t need to. Like a wicked tsunami, his evil spread from Muscat to my town where ten are dead and many more injured.” I pointed at the warehouse. “And this. How can you turn a blind eye on what was happening in there?”

“The incident in Blood Rock was isolated and unrelated.” Liz’s gaze followed the police movement around the backside of the warehouse. “Sex trafficking is a horrific crime that unfortunately is everywhere.” For a second, I saw her hard-bitch cover face falter when her mouth twisted, and the breath caught in her throat. “Everyone answers to someone, Sheriff. I also have a job to do.”

“Yeah, and so do I. And I answer to the justice and good morals I see you don’t possess.”

“We’ll see how far those morals get you in the world we live in. You’re on your own, Sheriff.” She started walking away, but when Toby didn’t join her, she stopped and looked back at him. “Are you coming?”

“I need to speak with Serenity alone. I’ll be there in a minute.”

Liv shrugged and left us without another word. Toby moved closer, then leaned back against the fence. He crossed his booted feet and smirked at me.

“I knew you’d figure everything out, but damn, I wasn’t betting it would happen so quickly.” He snickered. “You outdid yourself, Serenity. I’m so impressed, I see star bursts when I look at you.”

Toby’s face was freshly shaved, and he’d cut his blond hair since I’d seen him the other day in my office. His jaw twitched and he lightly shook his head. “You’re quite a woman.”

“What the hell are you doing, Toby? Partnering with a corrupt FBI agent to what, protect a fucking pedophile?”

He ignored my question completely. “I heard your husband was along for the ride. I guess since you didn’t have me, you had to make do with a carpenter. You’re just lucky there were only three men in that warehouse, and they weren’t very smart.”

Wow. Just wow.

I crossed my arms. “Is this how’s it’s going to be? We can’t be lovers, so you’re going to stab me in the back every chance you get?”

In a blink of the eye, Toby pushed off the fence and leaned over me. He rarely got excited, except when it was a life-or-death moment. I held my ground as the tension coiled tightly around us.

“Here I am, singing your praise and thinking you have psychic abilities and then you go and say something stupid like that.”

“You haven’t helped me at all.”

“That’s not true. I gave you a tidbit of information that I was confident you’d follow straight to the congressman.” He licked his lips. “Granted, I didn’t think you’d end up in LA, busting a pedophile ring by yourself, but it doesn’t matter. You solved a problem that I couldn’t.”

“Why, Toby? Why couldn’t you do what I did if you knew what was going on all along?”

He grunted, then sighed. “I’m a federal employee. This job means everything to me and is where my freedom to hunt down fugitives is unlimited. I have to tread very carefully in situations like this.” His shoulders dropped and he leaned in close enough that I smelled his familiar cologne. “Don’t you see? I trusted you to take care of it for me.”

It made sense in a strange and confusing way. The knot still grew in my stomach.

“When did we stop being on the same team?” I asked in a weak voice. The long night had finally caught up to me and I suddenly felt like I was drowning in exhaustion.

“Never fear. We’re always on the same team.”

I worked to form spit and then swallowed it down before taking a breath as I controlled my clashing emotions.

“Your girlfriend isn’t going to let me go after Nash Bryne, is she?”

“She’s not my girlfriend.” He sighed, searching across the lot until his gaze found her. “Liv isn’t a bad person. She’s pressured by her superiors who are powerful people. I doubt she’ll get in your way. Her agenda just isn’t the same as yours.”

“Kids, Toby, kids were being abused by that bastard—”

“What you did here brings awareness and hopefully will make a difference.” Toby turned back to me. “I know you’ll do the right thing. Your uncanny ability to root out evil is legend.”

“That’s a silly thing to say.”

“Don’t you believe that you were meant to find this place and save those kids? There’s a reason for everything. Maybe there was a teeny amount of good to come from Liam Brenneman driving through a festival crowd.”

“So, you knew his real name all along?”

He shrugged. “I said what I thought would get you to follow the case to Muscat. It worked.”

“If your people would have done their jobs, that young man wouldn’t have gone on a rampage.”

“Probably so.”

I threw my head back. The urge to punch Toby was strong enough that I balled my fist and worked hard to keep it from flying.

“I guess our honeymoon is over, huh?” Toby grinned.

“I don’t know what that means, but our sometimes partnering is finished. I’ll never trust you completely again, Marshal Bryant.”

He nodded slowly. “Do you mind if I ask what’s next for you?”

Was he stupid? I was about to say that, but then switched gears. Toby was fishing for information. Not sure of the best way to deal with whatever his curiosity meant, I decided to be honest about some stuff.

“I’m heading home this afternoon to see my baby girl and handle the fallout from what happened at the festival. The press hasn’t left Blood Rock yet, and our new bishop wants to hold an emergency meeting with me.” I could see Joseph Bender’s uptight face in my mind. The image cleared and I focused on Toby’s smirking one. “You see, even without cell phones and internet, word passed between the Muscat and the Blood Rock Amish. Our bishop wants to kick out several men from the settlement who were paid by Bryne to remain quiet about what really happened the Amish girls. State troopers have already arrested them on charges related to trafficking minors.”

“There’s never a dull moment with the Blood Rock Amish.”

“It’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

“And you’re going to climb that cold, jagged peak all by yourself, huh?” Toby hadn’t put his sunglasses back on and I saw the sparkle in his light blue eyes. He found the entire thing entertaining, which made me feel sick.

“Actually, I’m going to let other officials take the lead with the information I gave them. Once things settle down in my town, I have a missing person to find.”

Toby swayed back. His mouth dropped open before he pursed it. “I thought everyone was accounted for.”

“No, Toby. One Amish girl isn’t. It’s a cold case and she may never be found, alive or dead. I can’t immediately jump into the case because of everything going on in my backyard, but I’m hoping a friend might help out.”

“At your service—”

“I’m not talking about you. A real friend.”

“I see.” Toby dipped his head. “Take care, Sheriff. Whether you believe it or not, I am on your side and just a phone call away. If you need anything at all, day or night, I’ll come.”

My chest tightened. “Goodbye, Marshal.”

“I have a sixth sense that this isn’t our last rodeo.” Toby winked. “Stay frosty.”

I watched Toby stroll away, not understanding how I could be so irritated with the man at the same time I felt incredibly sad. Maybe disappointment described my feelings regarding Toby or even regret that we weren’t friends anymore.

Inhaling deeply, I pushed thoughts of Toby Bryant out of my mind and made my way to the rental car, which was thankfully still parked in the same spot as the night before. I’d half expected it to have been stolen or stripped. Finding it in perfect condition gave me a burst of hope that perhaps my luck was improving.

The sun seemed to rise faster here than back home, and it was already getting hot. Sweat beaded behind my neck and between my breasts. After I took off the jacket, I got in and rolled down the windows.

My destination was the hospital. We’d wait with Abby until her mother and aunt arrived, and then we’d catch the red-eye flight home. Driving through the busy streets, I could finally breathe normally again, and it felt good.

All in all, the trip was successful. Abby had been saved and even though Rita’s story had an awful ending, at least we knew what happened to her. Children were saved and Elayne’s last text said that she’d talked to Jeb and none of the Amish youth would ever again be allowed to work at the Bryne residence.

A message from Bobby popped up on my phone while I sat in traffic, and I quickly read it.

Another weight was lifted from my shoulders as I tossed the phone onto the passenger seat.

Bobby had personally phoned the coroner who was conducting Violet’s autopsy and the autopsies on the Byrne’s guards. She’d been able to confirm that the caliber of the weapon that fired the kill shot into the Amish woman’s head was bigger than my 9MM. That meant we would have proof that Nash’s guards had assassinated Violet and thrown her dead body into the back seat before coming after us moments later in the Jeep. Once the autopsy and the forensics on the weapons of the guards were completed, a can of worms would develop for the congressman. One so tangled, he wouldn’t be able to hide from it.

The traffic started moving again, and I sat back for a moment and just let the wind blow on my face. I was tired, hungry, and desperately needed coffee, but for the first time in what felt like forever, I believed that Daniel and I had a real chance at happily ever after. Well, our future would still more than likely be full of mysteries, terrifying moments, and death, but at least I saw him by my side for all of it. Unlike Toby, the other pinch of goodness that came from the hellish mess of the last few days was that Daniel might finally understand why I fought so hard for victims and drove myself to extremes to find their killers.

It took another fifteen minutes to reach the hospital and the entire time I was lost in dark thoughts as I replayed everything in my head of what happened from the time that I’d heard the roaring truck’s engine to this moment. I parked on the top tier of the garage where the sun still shined onto the rental car and turned off the engine.

I had one more call to make before going inside to meet Daniel.

Dialing the number, a wave of anxiety coursed through me. Sadie Mills was a sheriff in the small, hill town of Possum Gap in southern Kentucky. We’d worked a couple of cases together and bonded in between dodging gunfire. Sadie was down-to-earth, laidback, and genuinely a nice person. Basically, the opposite of me. We had some things in common, though. She was almost as persistent as I was at catching criminals and solving mysteries. She also had the same uncanny ability that I had to find herself in some crazy situations and come out still breathing afterward. I liked Sadie and considered her not just my professional counterpart, but also a friend. We talked maybe once a month, venting about some of the same annoying stuff and sometimes bouncing the more important stuff off each other.

I hated ruining Sadie’s day, but it couldn’t be helped.

The voice that came through the phone was polite and intense.

“Hey, Serenity. How are you holding up? I was meaning to call you next week when the dust settled.”

“It’s been…well, you can imagine…horrible.”

“It’s all over the news. Are they getting it right? Was it terrorism?”

“Yeah, but not the kind you’re probably thinking of.” I took a deep breath. “I’ll fill you in on everything later, I just wanted to give you a quick call. I’m currently in Los Angeles.”

“What are you doing there?” The way her voice pitched and a southern accent flared—one that she would absolutely deny she had—made me smile.

“It’s too much to get into now, but a tip led me to who the driver of the truck was, and I followed the dots to Pennsylvania and then here.”

“Whoa. All righty. What do you need from me?”

“I don’t exactly need something from you, Sadie. I’m giving you a heads up about something that may or may not interest you.”

“Now I’m getting worried,” Sadie said.

I bit my bottom lip. “Are you still heading to Mexico?”

“That’s the plan. Russo mentioned that we could leave next week. He finally finished up the autopsies from our latest murders and I filed all the paperwork. It’s been quiet for a few days here in Possum Gap, and I think Russo’s itching to get the trip over with. I guess I am, too.”

“Can you remind me of the sur name of the men that were giving Russo and his family trouble again?” I held my breath.

“The Flores brothers. Why do you ask?” Her voice became edgy, and I understood her apprehension because I was bursting with the same tension.

“Sadie, listen to me. I just busted a sex trafficking ring in LA that had ties to an Amish community in Pennsylvania. There’s a young woman who I haven’t found closure for. She may be dead for all I know, but I think she ended up in a massage parlor owned by the Flores brothers here in LA, and was later taken into Mexico. I was hoping you would make a mental note and possibly do some casual digging when you’re south of the border.”

“Sure thing. I absolutely can do that. Text me her name, current age, and any info you think will aid me. You know how things work. I might just turn over the right rock and you’ll have your closure.”

“I appreciate it. Be careful. These are very dangerous people.”

Sadie chuckled into the phone. “So am I. And Russo’s brother and his cousin are no joke, either.” She snorted. “Russo, not so much.”

“I’ll send everything I know over this evening. Be ready for anything. After what just happened here, their radar will be on high alert and they’re going to be pissed.”

“Got it. Safe travels home, Serenity.”

When I hung up, I realized that while my case was winding down, Sadie’s was just beginning.

Thank you for reading!

GROVEL TO NONE, a new Possum Gap novel, that continues this story, as well as presenting a haunting new Appalachia mystery arrives in 2025! If you’re a fan of Serenity’s Plain Secrets, stay tuned for DEADLY DESIGN, which also releases in 2025 and SINISTER SUMMER, coming in 2026! New Possum Gap novels, WICKED WINDS WHISPER and BEWARE OF WENDIGOS, release in 2025/2026 as well!

While you’re waiting for these new and thrilling installments, you’ll find more gritty mystery/crime fiction novels in the Possum Gap series and Serenity’s Plain Secrets!

You might also enjoy the author’s young adult Amish-themed tumultuous TEMPTATION series, her young adult epic paranormal WINGS OF WAR series, and standalones—ONE KISS IS ALL IT TAKES and THE FORTUNA COIN.

You can visit Karen Ann Hopkins and see all her books at
https://www.karenannhopkinsfiction.com

& Karen Ann Hopkins at Amazon

Facebook: Karen Ann Hopkins Amish Fiction @temptationbook

Twitter: Karen Ann Hopkins @KarenAnnHopkins

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Are you looking for a breathtaking psychological thriller that will keep you flipping the pages for hours past your bedtime? Karen Ann Hopkins’ psychological thriller, THE FORTUNA COIN, won a silver medal in the Readers’ Favorite Suspense Fiction category in 2022 and has received glowing reviews.

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5 Star Readers’ Favorite Review:

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