Page 80 of Among the Innocent

“Foolish.” They wouldn’t stop him.

He sniffed the air. Could almost smell the blood again. But he had his eye on another one just as innocent. Ready to do whatever he told her to do.

He went back to the car and drove to her house. Close to the same age as the others and just as eager to experience life. She thought him interesting. She’d told him that law enforcementhad warned all the Amish families with girls between sixteen and eighteen about the Englisch killer on the loose. But that hadn’t stopped her from falling prey to his charm. He’d gotten past her reserve so easily. She believed everything he told her.

He parked the car down the street from her home and sent her a message. She didn’t make him wait for long. Despite the darkness, her white bonnet shone like a lantern as she climbed from the window and down the tree by her room. She hit the ground with a thud. Some distance from the house, she ran toward him. Her eagerness made him laugh.

He reached for her hand and smiled at the way she turned away and giggled.

“I cannot stay long. They might check my room.”

“We should take advantage of the time we have.” He tugged her close. She appeared embarrassed, and he marveled at how simple it was to persuade these girls to do whatever he wanted.

“Do you want to take a walk?” she asked shyly.

He laughed, and her brow furrowed. She didn’t understand, but she would soon enough. He entwined his fingers with hers. “Yes, let’s take a walk.”

They started down the dirt road hand in hand.

“I like your car. Will you give me a ride in it one day?”

“How about tomorrow?” He’d find a way to take her to his favorite place, and he would see that look of sweet anticipation turn to abject terror before his eyes. He couldn’t wait.

“Why can we only see each other at night?”

Her question surprised him. “Because I work during the day.”

“What do you do for work?”

He thought about what he might have done, had he been granted the opportunity afforded to others.

“I’m a carpenter.”

Her eyes lit up. “Oh, such a nice job! My uncle is a carpenter too. Perhaps you know him.” She rattled off a name.

“Sorry, I don’t.”

They reached the end of the road where it turned onto a county road. She stopped. “Well, I should head back. My mamm and daed are being overprotective. They are worried after what happened...” She didn’t finish, but he knew what she meant. If she blabbed about him to anyone, it would be all over.

“I can understand. Perhaps you shouldn’t tell them about us. Let it be our secret.”

She stopped walking. “But why?” She clutched his hand tight. “I want to go away with you. I am tired of the Amish ways.”

“Soon, but for now we must keep our love secret; otherwise, your parents would try to stop us.”

She sighed and shook her head. “I won’t let that happen. I won’t let them take you from me.”

They reached his car once more. It amused him how passionate the young were and how easily manipulated. “Then keep this our secret for now.”

Seventeen

Sugar stuck her head into Dalton’s office. “Someone’s here to see you both.” She stepped inside and closed the door. “A woman—she’s Amish—just walked in with her daughter. She said she had to speak with Leah Miller or the new chief about the murders.”

Leah’s heart jumped to her throat. “Where are they?”

“In the conference room. You want me to send them this way?”

“No, we’ll go to them.”

---