Page 12 of Among the Innocent

“What type of things?” Leah pressed.

“Things like smoking,” Miriam hissed. “She and Beth both work at the Mission General Store. The owner is agutfriend. She told us they caught Eva and Beth smoking out back.” Miriam shook her head in disgust. “And Eva wants to leave the faith. Beth said as much.”

Dalton’s gaze connected to Leah’s. They’d need to speak with Eva right away.

“My daughter Colette.” Miriam clutched Leah’s arm. “How are we going to tell Colette about her sister?”

Leah patted her hand. “Colette and I were once close. Let me speak to her. Maybe she can help us figure out who’s responsible for hurting Beth.”

Miriam wiped her eyes. “Denki, Leah. That is most kind of you.”

Dalton nodded toward the door. It was time to leave the family to their mourning and start on the investigation. Leah rose along with Dalton.

“If you remember anything that might be useful, please reach out to us,” he told the family. “As soon as we have anything, we’ll be in touch. Again, I’m so sorry for your loss.” He clasped Josiah’s hand.

No one from the Zook family responded.

Dalton headed outside with Leah and Henry. Once they were out of earshot, he said, “I want to speak to Colette right away and then Eva Hostetler. Beth shared her secrets with either her sister or her friend. One of them knows something.” He shifted to Henry. “Why don’t you give the officers a hand canvassing the Miller house and barn for evidence? We can’t afford to dismiss anything, no matter how insignificant it might seem.”

The young officer stared from Leah to Dalton before nodding. With another troubled look toward the house, he started for his cruiser.

After he’d gone, Dalton watched the activity taking place near the barn. Since Harrison’s death, he’d become desperate for the truth behind what happened that night. The fire that Ellis Petri had claimed was started by Harrison had been investigated by an arson expert, who concluded that an accelerant had been used. Ellis said Harrison had been carrying what appeared to be a fuel can in his hand when he entered the abandoned house. The former chief believed Harrison had chosen death over being accused of murder. Now the real killer had returned. And the clock was ticking.

Three

He crept past the house, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. He’d hidden the car at the place where he was staying. Too risky to drive it for a while. They’d be looking for it. Instead, he’d taken a truck no one would be missing yet. This was his game, and he wanted to be part of every twist and turn.

She was there. Each time he saw Leah, memories of that night and the euphoric sensation of holding her life in his hands made him want to experience it again. And again. Just like he had earlier. She’d been at his mercy in the house. He’d chosen to let her live. For now. But when the time was right, he’d finish her off. A smile crept across his face.

Beth had proven no challenge at all. From the beginning, she disappointed him. Falling for him without him even trying. Though she bore a faint resemblance to Leah, she was much weaker. Leah would now prove his greatest challenge. But he would break her.

He kept the truck’s speed nice and slow. By now, all the local police and tribal officers were assembled, along with the people from the sheriff’s office. Their cars encircled the Zook farm. All because of him. The family had heard about theirdaughter’s fate. He would have given anything to be able to witness their pain.

As he peered over at the activity, he noticed someone he didn’t recognize. Who was this man? He slowed even more. Watched as he spoke to Leah. Inches separated them. Something in the way the man looked at her filled him with rage. He pounded on the steering wheel as he drove.

He’d waited for years for the right moment to claim her as his, and the right moment was now. The game had started. No one would stand in his way. No one.

As much as he wanted to stay and watch from a distance, he had something important to do. He continued driving before turning onto the dirt lane where his next conquest lived. She wouldn’t know about Beth yet. But soon. He enjoyed taunting her with hints of his relationship with Beth.

He rolled to a stop past her house and climbed out. The noonday heat slammed into him. This godforsaken stretch of land was useless for anything but dying.

As expected, she was there waiting on him. Not timid like Beth. She enjoyed flirting.

She made her way across the bare ground, a smile spreading on her face. The girl thought it exciting to meet like this. Her parents would not approve, which made it more appealing. The rules of the Amish were impossible to keep. Especially for someone like her.

“There you are,” she said as she reached him. She gave the truck a curious once-over. “Why are you driving a pickup? Where’s your car?”

He smiled the way he always did, but his thoughts were still back with Leah and the new chief. If the man got in the way, he’d have to take him out.

“It needed some repairs, and I wanted to see you.”

This pleased her. “I thought you might not come,” she said, perfecting her pout.

“I’m sorry I’m late. Something came up.”

“That’soke. You are here now.” She clasped his hand. “You were not with someone else, were you?” Though she smiled, he saw behind it. She was fishing for reassurances he cared for her more than Beth.

He suppressed a laugh and assured her she was the one for him. She imagined he loved her, but his heart belonged to only one. Not that it mattered. Eva would be dead in a matter of days. Her usefulness fulfilled, he’d grow tired of her like he had Beth. She was but a means to draw out the one he wanted. The one who belonged to him.HisLeah.

---