Page 65 of Among the Innocent

Leah explained what happened. “You haven’t seen anyone unusual around the house, have you?”

“You’re scaring me.”

Leah did her best to calm her nervous mom.

“Stay here with her. I’ll check the rest of the house and speak with Sam.” Dalton left Ellis’s office and carefully searched each room of the house. The place was empty. He headed out the front door to where Sam remained in his patrol car.

The officer spotted his approach and quickly got out. “What happened to you, Chief?” Sam indicated the two bloody gashes on Dalton’s head.

After Dalton told him about the attack, he glanced up and down the empty street. “You haven’t seen anyone suspicious around the neighborhood?”

The officer’s eyes widened, and he shook his head.

“I’m going to call the sheriff to send over a couple of deputies. I want extra patrol here at the house.” Dalton released a breath. “I’d like to leave Leah here with Marge and you to come with me.” He made the call before he returned to the women.

Leah must have been waiting for him. She stepped out intothe hall and approached him. “Marge said she’s been watching TV for a while. She hasn’t seen anyone around the place.”

“And the back door?”

“Marge feeds the stray cats in the area. She probably forgot to relock both it and the gate.”

“Leah, she can’t be leaving the house unsecured. It’s too dangerous.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Sheriff Ingalls is sending over a couple of deputies to watch the house. Marge needs you. It’s going to be dark soon. Why don’t you stay here with Marge tonight. I’ll get a ride with Sam. If we come up with anything new, I’ll give you a call right away.”

Leah glanced back at Marge. “You’re right. She does need me.”

He smiled at her. “Try not to worry.” He just wished he could take his own advice.

Something shifted in her eyes. Leah stepped closer and touched his shoulder. “I will be okay,” she whispered.

But would she? He’d read her record. Seen for himself what a strong person she was, and yet this killer had left his mark on her and him.

He covered her hand with his. “I know you will.”

This moment, amid the storm raging around them, felt like a safe harbor, and he didn’t want to leave it.

A knock on the front door had them both jumping apart.

Leah laughed nervously. Dalton reluctantly stepped back and looked through the peephole on the door. “The deputies.” He turned back to her, regret weighing him down. “I should go. Lock up behind me.”

“I will. Be careful, Dalton. He’s coming after you too.”

He took one last look at her lovely face before opening the door and stepping out onto the porch. Dalton explained to thedeputies what had happened and sent the photo of Jonathan to them. With the two deputies safeguarding the house, Dalton climbed into the patrol car beside Sam.

“How’s Leah holding up?” Sam asked.

Her face came to mind. He’d admired her for her courage. Wasn’t sure when that admiration had turned to something more. “She’s strong but...”

Sam understood. “Yeah, she doesn’t like to talk about what happened back then. I’ve known Leah a long time. That’s her MO. She keeps her feelings to herself.”

“You were on the force at the time of Leah’s family’s murders. Let me ask you something. What did you think about the way Ellis handled the investigation?”

Sam eyed him curiously. “Are you asking if I thought he made a mistake targeting that Troyer kid?”

Dalton nodded, his full attention on his senior officer.

“Yeah, I did. That kid was scared to death when Ellis dragged him in for questioning. He and I literally pulled that boy from the field. The poor kid didn’t know what to do. He was only here temporarily to help out his cousins.”

Dalton couldn’t imagine how frightened Harrison must have been, being accused of such a heinous thing. “Why did Ellis target Harrison Troyer when Leah told him about this John person back then, not to mention the man she believed was following her?”

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