Page 20 of Among the Innocent

Sugar stepped into the room, and he turned. “What is it?”

She tossed a pointed look at Leah. “You have a visitor. Said her name is Eva Hostetler.”

Leah rose quickly. “Is she alone?”

Sugar confirmed with a nod.

If Eva had shown up without her mother, she obviously had more to say than what she’d felt comfortable mentioning in front of Gertrude Hostetler.

“I’ll be right out.” Leah waited until they were alone. “I’ll use Ellis’s—youroffice, if I may.”

Dalton’s heart went out to her. No matter his personal opinion of Ellis, the man had taken Leah in and treated her like his child. He could certainly understand Leah’s loyalty.

“Of course. I’d like to sit in on the interview, unless you think Eva will shut down.”

Leah’s face gave nothing away. “Why don’t we take our lead from Eva? I’ll bring her down. I just hope she has information, because we sure need to know John’s true identity before he has the chance to hurt someone else.”

Five

Adrenaline coursed through Leah’s body as she reached Sugar’s station, where Eva waited, her hands clasped in front of her. Her curious gaze skimmed the men working there.

“I’m glad you came.” Leah stopped beside Eva, who clearly wasn’t as sure.

The girl’s dark hair peeked out from beneath her prayer kapp. The light-blue dress created a pretty contrast to the white apron pinned to the garment.

This could have been Leah. Same dark hair. Same headstrong outlook on life.

“I am not sure why I came.” Eva glanced nervously to Sugar. “Beth is my friend and I love her. I want to help you find out what happened.”

Leah kept her tone even. “I understand. Why don’t you come with me? We can talk someplace more private.”

Eva hesitated, her attention on the front of the building. “Mamm will miss me if I’m away for long. I told her I was going to the store.”

“This won’t take long, I promise.” Leah clasped her elbowand led her toward Dalton’s office. As she stepped into the room, the ghosts from the past were there waiting. Ellis had brought her here for the first time after she’d been released from the hospital. He’d been a gentle but firm man who changed her life for the better. She could almost picture him sitting behind the desk, his reading glasses resting at the edge of his nose, his thinning gray hair combed over to the side to cover obvious bald spots.

Eva stopped midstride when she spotted Dalton. “Maybe this isn’t agutidea.”

Dalton rose. “It’s okay. I can wait outside while you and Leah talk.” He stepped from the room and closed the door.

Leah pointed to one of the chairs in front of the desk. “Please, Eva, we need your help.”

Eva reluctantly took a seat.

Leah slipped into the chair beside her and reached for the girl’s hand. “I know it’s hard, but Beth would want you to help. Do you know something you couldn’t say in front of your mother?” she asked as gently as possible.

Eva emphatically shook her head. “That’s not why I’m here. I mean, I am not sure why I’m here.”

“Did you ever see Beth with this Englischer?”

The truth became apparent in the flash of surprise on Eva’s face. “I told you I don’t know who he is.”

“But you do know something.”

“Maybe,” Eva whispered without looking at Leah. “Beth told me her boyfriend wanted her to leave the faith and run away with him.”

Colette had mentioned the same thing. “Was she considering it?”

Eva nodded. “Jah, though she was afraid she might missher family if she did.” Her troubled eyes found Leah’s. “Beth enjoyed the freedoms she found during our rumspringa. She wanted more. And he gave her little gifts. It made Beth feel special.” A tiny smile touched Eva’s lips. Leah wondered if she might be talking about herself instead of her friend.

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