Page 30 of Among the Innocent

“Let’s find out.” Dalton returned to his chair. “I’m checking the National Crime Information Center database to see if I can find a similar MO.”

Leah’s phone buzzed and she pulled it out. Before staking out Eva’s house, she’d worked with the county’s sketch artist to create a rendering of what John would look like today. “It’s the sketch.” She brought it up and showed it to Dalton. “As soon as it’s light out, I want to get this in front of Katie and Eva.”

He returned his attention to the computer screen without responding.

“Did you find something?”

“Maybe,” he murmured. She came and looked over his shoulder.

“Twelve years ago, two young women were found dead off a country road. Their bodies were badly decomposed, throats slashed.”

Leah leaned closer. “Where did this happen?”

“Wyoming.”

“What’s his connection to Wyoming?”

“Not sure.” Dalton read through the two cases. “I’m going to contact law enforcement and see what I can find out. Maybe they had a suspect.”

“Wouldn’t that be great?” Leah sighed and returned to her seat.

“You look exhausted. Why don’t I take you home so you can get some rest.”

She shook her head. “I’m okay.”

Truth be told, she hated sleep. Too many bad things waited for her there.

Seven

Bright sunshine assaulted Dalton’s eyes as he and Leah left the Zook home. Katie hadn’t been completely certain, but she believed the man she’d seen with Beth was the same one in the sketch of John.

He shoved his sunglasses over his eyes to subdue the glare of the sun through the windshield of the SUV.

“You’re doing everything you can, Dalton,” Leah said as if sensing his frustration.

Would it be enough? He wasn’t so sure.

Lord, we sure could use your help.

Had his personal connection to Harrison gotten in the way of working the case? So far, every piece of evidence—every lead—had ended in them being no closer to identifying the killer beyond the name he’d given Leah. With the anniversary of her family’s death approaching, Dalton believed they were sitting on a ticking time bomb.

Dalton slowed and turned onto Eva’s drive, dodging potholes until they reached the house. He spotted the tribal police vehicle set up on the side of the road and waved to the officer inside.

They needed Eva to give a more positive ID. Would she cooperate? He had no idea.

The quiet of the countryside settled around them as they exited the SUV. Somewhere out there a killer waited. If they didn’t stop him soon, he’d come after Leah again.

Leah knocked a couple of times and waited while her eyes darted around the farm. She’d been jumping at shadows since the attack, with good cause.

The information he’d received from Wyoming confirmed there were no suspects in the two Jane Doe murders. Leah and Beth were Amish. They had no way of telling if the two victims in Wyoming had been Amish. Was it possible John had been practicing on homeless women or runaways? Perfecting his MO?

The door opened. Gertrude stared back at them with the same distrust as before.

“Gertrude, we’d like to speak to Eva again,” Leah told her.

Gertrude Hostetler’s eyes darkened. “Why? What is this about?”

Dalton’s patience stretched to the breaking point. “Mrs. Hostetler, your daughter may have information to help us find out who killed Beth. May we speak to her?”

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