Page 47 of Among the Innocent

“Like an abandoned farm?” Dalton asked.

She nodded. “Exactly like an abandoned farm.” Her eyes widened. “There’s one down the road from my place. It’s been vacant for several years. He’d take her there.”

Dalton turned onto the road leading through Amish country. Most of the houses were dark. “I can’t believe she’d go anywhere with him after we talked to her.”

“These young Amish women are trusting. Unaccustomed to violence of this kind being part of their world.” Her brows drew together. “I get that, but why target them in the first place if it’s me he wants?”

Dalton had thought a lot about that. “It’s all part of the game. He may be reliving his relationship with you through them. He enjoys killing, and he’s becoming more unhinged with each victim. All of this—killing Beth, whatever is happening with Eva—is leading up to the grand finale in his mind.”

“Killing me,” she whispered.

“That won’t happen, you hear me? I won’t let him hurt you.”

She closed her eyes and slowly nodded.

Dalton hadn’t used the lights and siren since entering the Amish community. If the killer was still there, he didn’t want to alert him to their coming. He prayed they’d find Eva alive.

He parked the SUV along the edge of the road near the barn.

Leah got out of the vehicle and aimed her flashlight beam on the ground. “Tire tracks. They’re recent. Someone’s been here.”

According to Leah, the place had been abandoned for several years. There was no reason for anyone to be here, unless it was kids coming out to drink. But his gut wouldn’t let him believe it.

Dalton’s misgivings doubled. He clicked on his light and headed for the barn.

“Footprints.” He indicated the set and shined the light around. “Here’s another set.” They were close to the tire tracks. “She came here with him.”

They carefully avoided the footprints on the way to the barn. Another message was splayed on the door.I did this for you.

Leah stared unblinking at the writing. “She’s dead.”

Dalton didn’t have any doubt the blood belonged to Eva. “Are you okay to go inside?” He couldn’t imagine what she was going through. Being stalked by a killer who had taken out her entire family.

Her hands balled into fists, then slowly relaxed. “I’ll be okay.”

Dalton wasn’t nearly as certain. He pulled his weapon and stepped inside. It only took three steps before his flashlight hit Eva’s body, lying in the exact location where Beth’s had been found in the Miller barn. Revulsion churned through his body. John had tried to re-create the murder to the last detail.

A gasp from Leah had him whirling her way. She covered her mouth with her hand. Tears gathered in her eyes.

“Take a step back, Leah. You’re too close to this. I never should have let you get involved in this case.” He radioed dispatch. “I need Sam and Ethan over at the abandoned house that’s down the road from the Miller place immediately. Call the medical examiner and CSI. We found Eva. She’s dead.” He could barely force the last part out. He watched as Leah struggled to pull herself together.

“I’m okay,” she said. “I want to be part of the investigation, Dalton. I have to. This is my fight. I’ve earned the right to be part of it.”

He eyed her for a long time, then nodded his head.

Dalton turned away from her, put on gloves, and knelt beside Eva. He felt for a pulse. “She’s cold. She’s been dead for a while.” He looked up at Leah. “Looks like she was struck in the head multiple times. That’s not normally part of the killer’s MO.”

Leah knelt down beside him. “My guess is Eva fought back. Her fingernails are all broken.” She gasped. “Look. There’s a note in her hand.”

“I see it.” He bent closer. “‘Songbirds must die.’ He knew Eva came to see us.”

Leah stared at the sightless eyes of the young Amish woman. “She imagined herself in love with him. Probably didn’t want to believe it.”

John was good at luring young girls into his trap. Making them feel important. Convincing them he loved them. He’d done as much with Leah. Beth and Eva too. Probably those girls in Wyoming.

“She wanted to tell me,” Leah whispered. “That’s why she came to the station. Maybe she didn’t want to believe he killed Beth, but deep down she knew.”

Dalton shook his head. “This can’t happen again. I want our people to speak with every Amish family who has a daughter close to Eva’s age. I won’t lose another young Amish woman.”

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