Page 31 of Among the Innocent

Eva materialized behind her mother.

Gertrude spun. “They say you know something about Beth’s death?” she said in Pennsylvania Dutch.

The girl recoiled. “It’s not true. I know nothing.”

Gertrude clutched her daughter’s shoulders with her claw-like hands. “Do not lie to me.”

“I am not lying, Mamm!” Eva insisted and tried to free herself.

“But you have been doing bad things. I saw you with him,” Gertrude spat out in Pennsylvania Dutch.

Color drained from Eva’s face.

“What do you mean? Who did you see?” Leah asked.

Gertrude jerked toward Leah. She’d again forgotten Leah had once been Amish. Had no idea Dalton understood the language.

Gertrude released her daughter. “Nothing.”

More lies. As much as he wanted to press her, soon she would shut down entirely. “Mrs. Hostetler, Eva is not in trouble. We just want her to look at a sketch and tell us if she recognizes the person.”

Without looking at him, Gertrude agreed. “Do as they wish.”

Eva’s large eyes locked on Leah. “I told you I do not know who Beth was seeing.” She tugged at her apron nervously.

“It will only take a second.” Leah brought up the photo of the sketch and turned it toward Eva. “If this is the man Beth was seeing, he’s dangerous, Eva. He killed Beth and he’s killed before. You could be in danger.”

Eva looked away, but not before Dalton saw her reaction. She recognized the man.

“I told you I don’t know this person and I don’t know what happened to Beth. Please, just leave me alone.” She turned on her heel and ran from the room.

Another strikeout.

“It is sad what happened to Beth,” Gertrude muttered unexpectedly. “She was agutgirl but troubled.” She lowered her voice. “Wishing to leave the faith and go out into the Englischer world.” She clicked her tongue. “Such a shame.”

Dalton believed Eva had deliberately disparaged Beth to keep her mother from looking too closely at her own behavior. Still, he didn’t understand why the girl would defend the man who had killed her friend.

“Thank you for your time.” He touched Leah’s elbow, indicating they should leave.

“She recognized him.” Leah confirmed his belief when they were in the vehicle.

“Yes, she did.” He started the SUV and reversed. “He has her under his spell. She’s still shielding him even though she knows he’s dangerous.” Dalton spared her a glance. “Maybe that’s part of the attraction. Whatever the reason, we don’t need Eva’s identification to start looking for this guy.”

Dalton reached the main road and left the Amish community behind. His main objective was to keep Leah out of the crosshairs of a ruthless killer who had proven he would stop at nothing to finish his diabolical game.

He watched them from a safe distance through the trees behind the house. He’d been careful not to alert the officer watching the front.

Before they’d even left the property, Eva texted him using the cell phone he’d given her.

The police were here. They are asking about you.

How soon before Leah realized Eva was protecting him? If she hadn’t already.

What did they ask?

Best to keep Eva guessing for now, until she found out the truth for herself.

They showed me a picture of a man who looks like you. Did you kill Beth?

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