Page 50 of Among the Innocent

Leah squeezed Katie’s arm and stood. “Thank you for being so brave.”

After thanking Josiah, Leah and Dalton left the house. Dalton stopped briefly to speak with the deputy and tell him about Katie’s experience. “Don’t let them out of your sight no matter what. We don’t believe he saw the girl, but at this point, we can’t take any chances.”

When they returned to the SUV, Dalton climbed in beside her and drove away from the property. “I’ll call our sketch artist and have him update the sketch to reflect a beard. Then we need to send the new photo out to every news outlet around. He’s obviously using a fake beard to change up his appearance.”

So much death. Her family. Beth. Now Eva. All brought on because John had become obsessed with her.

Dalton covered her hand with his as if he’d read her thoughts. “He used your innocence to lure you in. I can’t help but feel his motives go much deeper than his obsession with you. There’s something else we’re missing. Something important.”

His attention went back to the road. She thought about what Dalton said concerning his connection to Harrison’s family. Leah couldn’t help but believe he hadn’t told her everything.

Dalton turned onto the Hostetlers’ drive. In front of the house, a buggy had been tied off. Eva’s brothers. The officers stepped outside along with two young Amish men. Leah recognized Peter, Eva’s older brother.

She and Dalton exited the SUV together and climbed the steps.

A look of surprise passed over Peter’s face when he recognized Leah. “I had forgotten you were a police officer now.”

Peter was five years her junior. He resembled Eva, whereas Tanner, the younger of the two, was fair-headed and the spitting image of their dad. She’d heard Peter had gotten married last November.

He glanced between them and immediately grew suspicious. “Did you find her?”

“Can we come inside?”

Peter’s dark eyes held hers for a long moment before he went back inside. Dalton left the two officers stationed outside.

In the small living room, Gertrude and her husband waited for news of their daughter. Tanner sat down beside his parents. Gertrude’s troubled eyes latched on to Leah’s.

Eva’s father, Noah, rose. “Is she dead?” He directed the question to Leah.

Leah confirmed with the tiniest of nods. “I’m sorry, she is.”

Gertrude screamed and collapsed against her son while her husband dropped down to his seat, a stunned look on his face.

Leah did her best to explain as delicately as she could what had happened.

“This is the same person who killed Beth?” Noah asked in a monotone.

“We believe so,” Dalton confirmed. “When was the last time you saw Eva?”

Noah seemed to struggle with his answer. “At bedtime. She went to her room. I waited until her door was closed before I went to bed.” His chin wobbled as he tried not to fall apart. “We checked her room this morning. She was gone.” Noah shook his head. “Why would she leave?”

Leah wished she could answer that question. After everything they’d told Eva, she still met up with John, and it cost her life.

Leah remembered what Gertrude had said to Eva during their last visit. “Gertrude, you mentioned you saw Eva with someone.”

Noah whipped his head toward his wife. “What is this? Eva was seeing someone? Who?”

Gertrude wiped her eyes. “I guess there is no point in keeping secrets now.” Her shoulders sagged. “I saw her near the barn with an Englischer man before Beth died. When I questioned Eva, she told me he had stopped to ask directions.”

“But you didn’t believe her.” Leah saw it on her face.

“Nay. I saw the way she looked at him. The way she smiled.”

Leah brought up the sketch on her phone. “Was it this man?”

Gertrude studied the sketch. “Jah, this is him. He is the one.”

Peter looked at the sketch as well. “I noticed a man in a green truck driving on the gravel road behind the property a few days ago. It was odd because that road is rarely used except by buggies.” He gave a description of the truck.

---