Page 57 of Among the Innocent

“He told me the same thing.”

Yet through the years, Dalton couldn’t accept Ellis Petri’s explanation, and he wasn’t the only one. Both his adoptive parents believed Ellis had lied. “After Harrison’s death I wanted to stay with Isaac and Rachel. They’d lost their son. How could I leave them?” He recalled Isaac’s reaction when he told him he’d decided not to enlist in the marines. “Isaac sat me down and told me both he and Rachel always knew the Amish way was not my future. They wanted me to continue with my plans.” Dalton thought about that time. He’d been riddled with guilt. Harrison wouldn’t have the chance to live his life. Have a family.

“I came back here often. I must have stopped by the station to speak with Ellis a half dozen times—to the point where he told me he didn’t want to see me again.”

“What did you do?”

He smiled. “Started investigating on my own.”

“How?”

“I went to your old barn and combed every inch of the place. Then I visited my cousins.”

“Did you learn anything useful?”

“Nothing that would change Ellis’s mind,” he said with bitterness. “At the time, the oldest son shared a room with Harrison. He confirmed Harrison couldn’t have slipped from the room without him seeing, and they’d told Ellis this. It didn’t matter. He ignored the family entirely.”

Leah appeared baffled. “None of this makes sense. Ellis was always a by-the-book cop. I don’t know why he would ignore evidence.”

“Ignore what evidence?” Marge’s angry tone had them both whipping around. “What are you accusing my husband of doing?”

Leah went over to the older woman. “Nothing.”

Marge crossed her arms over her chest. “You were talking bad about my Ellis. He doesn’t deserve that from you, Leah. He’s a good man. Ellis took you in when you had no one. And he gave me the child I so desperately wanted to replace the one I lost.”

Leah recoiled. “What are you talking about? What child?”

Marge’s glazed eyes darted past Leah to Dalton. “Who are you? Why are you here?” She grew more agitated.

“I’m Dalton Cooper, ma’am. We’ve met before.”

Marge focused on him for a long moment; her expression eventually cleared. “Oh yes, I remember. You’re the new chief. You replaced my Ellis.”

Dalton smiled gently. “That’s right.”

“He gave me the child I so desperately wanted to replace the one I lost.”Marge’s strange comment stuck in his head. Just part of the disease?

A strained silence filled the air.

“Are you hungry?” Leah said to her mother. “We made breakfast.” She looped her arm through Marge’s.

The older woman glanced around the kitchen and then at Leah. “You did? Thank you, Leah.”

“You’re welcome.” Leah gently guided her to the table. “Come and sit. I’ll fix you a plate.”

Dalton pulled out a chair for Marge. With a smile, she lowered herself down to it. “Why thank you, young man.”

While Dalton poured coffee, Leah placed bacon and eggs on a plate and set it before her mom.

“Here you go.” She kissed Marge’s cheek.

“Thank you, baby girl.” Tears brimmed in Marge’s eyes.

“I’m sorry you overheard what Dalton and I were sayingearlier. We’re trying to figure out what happened to those two Amish girls. Somehow, they’re connected to what happened to my family.” Leah sat beside Marge. “Do you feel up to answering some questions?”

Marge’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Leah, you know Ellis never spoke much about his cases—not even yours—with me. He wanted to spare me.”

Marge picked up her fork and began to eat while Leah exchanged a brief look with Dalton.

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