DANGER IN AMISH COUNTRY

When her brother is killed in a small Amish town, Anna Quinn discovers she’s an unwelcome outsider. But the FBI agent investigating the case is right at home—because Eli Miller was born and raised in Apple Creek’s Plain community. Eli left his Amish faith behind long ago, but his heart is rooted in a local cold case he can’t forget—a mystery with strange connections to Anna’s loss. Desperate to uncover the truth, Anna and Eli are faced with stony silences and secrets...secrets that someone wants to keep buried in the past.

Anna saw a dark shadow flicker between cornstalks.

She spun around and plowed through the stalks. Each of her frantic steps was met with a rustling off to her right. Stalks whacked her face. Please help me, Lord. Sensing she was losing ground, she spun back around to face her potential attacker.

Two strong hands gripped her upper arms. A bloodcurdling scream died on her lips when she glanced up to find Eli’s concerned gaze on her.

“Someone…” Anna swallowed hard. “Someone was in there.”

He pointed to the house. “Go wait up there while I check it out.”

Anna nodded and jogged to the house.

After what seemed like forever, Eli strode toward her. “I didn’t see anything.” He narrowed his gaze. “What exactly did you see?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I was imagining things. Maybe I’m as paranoid as my brother.”

“No, your brother was worried about you.” He glanced back toward the fields. “Until I figure out why, I want to keep an eye on you.”

ALISON STONE

left snowy Buffalo, New York, and headed a thousand miles south to earn an industrial engineering degree at Georgia Tech in Hotlanta. Go Yellow Jackets! She loved the South, but true love brought her back north.

After the birth of her second child, Alison left corporate America for full-time motherhood. She credits an advertisement to write children’s books for sparking her interest in writing. She never did complete a children’s book, but she did have success writing articles for local publications before finding her true calling, writing romantic suspense.

Alison lives with her husband of twenty years and their four children in western New York, where the summers are absolutely gorgeous and the winters are perfect for curling up with a good book—or writing one.

Besides writing, Alison keeps busy volunteering at her children’s schools, driving her girls to dance and watching her boys race motocross.

Alison loves to hear from her readers at Alison@AlisonStone.com. For more information please visit her website, www.AlisonStone.com. She’s also chatty on Twitter, @Alison_Stone.

Plain Pursuit

Alison Stone

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

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Then Peter came to Him and asked,

“Lord, how often should I forgive someone

who sins against me? Seven times?”

“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied,

“but seventy times seven!”

—Matthew 18:21, 22

Thanks to my awesome agent, Jennifer Schober, who stuck with me on this long and winding road

to publication. Your faith in me kept me going.

Thanks to Allison Lyons, my editor,

who championed my work from the beginning.

I’m thrilled we finally get to work together.

Thanks to my fabulous critique partners

and good friends, Amanda Usen and Barb Hughes. You guys always keep me on track, especially

when I get carried away with the suspense and forget that it’s a romance, too. To Roxanne,

I miss your insightful critiques and sharp wit.

Thanks to Professor Karen M. Johnson-Weiner, who generously answered my questions about the Amish. Any errors I’ve made are mine alone.

Thanks to my mom and dad for providing a childhood home filled with lots of love and laughter. Thanks for making financial sacrifices to send

all five of your children to wonderful schools.

It laid the foundation for all my successes in life. Thank you for that gift.

And thanks to my husband, Scott,

and our four children, Scotty, Alex, Kelsey

and Leah. If you want something badly enough and you’re willing to work hard, dreams can come true. Thanks for helping me make my dream come true.

I love you guys, always and forever.

Contents

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

EPILOGUE

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

ONE

The pungent odor of manure and smoldering wreckage clogged Anna’s throat. As she coughed, she tented her hand over her eyes to shield them from the lowering sun. Stalks and stalks of corn swayed under brisk winds, masking the point of impact where the single-engine plane plummeted into the earth. An unmistakable desire to scream overwhelmed her. She clamped her jaw to quell her emotions. She had to hold it together for now. Swallowing hard, she tried to rid her mouth of the horrible taste floating in the air. Across the country road from her parked vehicle, first responders fastened the straps to secure the crumpled plane to a flatbed truck.

Turning her back, she flattened her palms against the window of her car. She closed her eyes as the world seemed to slow to a crawl. Tears stung the backs of her eyes. Her brother was dead. She was alone.

Anna turned around and leaned back against her car. She ran a hand across her damp forehead. It was unusually hot for early October in western New York. The heat rolled off the asphalt, scorching her cheeks. The bold blue numbers 977 stood out on the tail of the plane, remarkably unscathed among the heap of metal. Her brother had sent her a photo of the plane a few weeks ago. He had been so proud of his purchase. She had thought he was crazy. Pressing a hand to her mouth, she realized she had never responded to his email. She had been so wrapped up in her job as a high school counselor at the start of a new school year. Now it was too late to tell him anything.

Her brother had always been there for her when it truly counted. Now only one thing remained for her to do. She closed her eyes. Dear Lord, please welcome my brother into Your arms. A tear tracked down her warm cheek.

“Anna Quinn.” A male voice sounded from behind her. Swiping at her wet cheeks, she glanced over the hood of her car, surprised to see a tall gentleman striding toward her with a confidence normally reserved for those in law enforcement. Her legs felt weak and she took a deep breath to tamp down her initial trepidation. His dark suit fit his broad shoulders impeccably but seemed out of place among the uniformed first responders dotting the countryside. The intensity in his brown eyes unnerved her.

“Yes, I’m Anna.” Dread whispered across the fine hairs on the back of her neck, but she kept her voice even. Her brother was dead. How much worse could it get? Foreboding gnawed at her insides. Past experience told her it could always get worse.

“I’m Special Agent Eli Miller.” She accepted his outstretched hand. Warmth spread through her palm. Self-aware, she reclaimed her hand and crossed her arms tightly against her body. Thrusting her chin upward, she met his gaze. The compassion in his brown eyes almost crumbled her composure. She wondered fleetingly what it would be like to take comfort in his strong arms. To rely on someone besides herself.

Heat crept up her cheeks when she realized he was waiting for some kind of response. “You called me about the crash,” she said.

The call was a blur, yet she had recognized the soothing timbre of his voice. She had barely gotten the name of the town before she hit End and sat dumbfounded in the guidance office where she worked sixty miles away in Buffalo. She had left without explaining her emergency to anyone in the office.

Anna’s chest tightened. “How did you know to call me?”

The deep rumble of the flatbed truck’s diesel engine fired to life, drawing the man’s attention. The corners of his mouth tugged down. “Your brother asked me to call you.”

Anna wasn’t sure she had heard him correctly over the noise of the truck as it eased onto the narrow country road. She tracked the twisted metal of her brother’s plane on top of the flatbed truck until it reached the crest of the hill. Then she turned to face him. Goose bumps swept over her as the significance of his words took shape.

“When...?” She hesitated, her pulse whooshing in her ears. Had she misunderstood? Was her brother in a hospital somewhere? A flicker of hope sparked deep within her. “When did Daniel ask you to call me? My brother’s...dead?” Rubbing her temples, her scrutiny fell to his suit, his authoritative stance. The world seemed to sway with the cornstalks. “You told me he had been killed.”

Concern flashing in his eyes, the man caught her arm. “Yes, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to mislead you. Your brother died in the crash.” He guided her to the driver’s side of her vehicle and opened the door. “Here. Sit down.”

Anna sat sideways on the seat, her feet resting on the door frame. “When did you talk to my brother?” She stared at the agent’s polished shoes, trying to puzzle it all out. Finally, she met his eyes. “Was he in trouble?”

“Your brother and I talked last week.” Special Agent Eli Miller rested his elbow on the open door. “Daniel told me to call you if anything should happen to him.” He seemed to be gauging her expression for a reaction.

Anna scrunched up her face. “If anything happened?” She pointed to the field. “Like if he was killed in a plane crash?”

“I don’t think he could have predicted that, but yes, he asked me to call you.” He reached into his suit coat pocket and pulled out a worn business card with a familiar logo on it. She straightened her back. Years ago, after she had landed her first job as a high school counselor, she had dropped the card into a care package for her brother stationed in Iraq.

“Daniel gave you that? I don’t understand.” She rubbed her forehead, wishing she could fill her lungs with fresh air—air without this horrible smell.

“He wasn’t only worried about his own safety.” He never lifted his pensive gaze from her face. “He was worried about yours.”

“My safety?”

“Has anything out of the ordinary happened lately?”

Anna bit her bottom lip. Her mind’s eye drifted to the strange note she had found on her car after school last week. She shrugged. “Someone left a note on my car. It was nothing.” She struggled to recall the exact words on the note. “I think it said, ‘You’re next.’”

“Did you report it?”

Anna laughed, the mirthless sound grating her nerves. “No...I’m a high school counselor. A few faculty cars had been egged the week before. That’s all it was.” She scooted out of the car and brushed past him, turning her back to the crash site. “I took the job to help kids. If I ratted them out every time they looked at me sideways, they wouldn’t trust me.” Goodness knew where she’d be if her high school counselor hadn’t reached out to her.

“Anything strange besides the note?” The concern in his voice melted her composure.

Tears blurred her vision and she quickly blinked them away. “Other than the occasional disgruntled student—who is harmless, I can assure you—I live a pretty boring life.”

“Is there anyone you want me to call for you?”

“No,” she whispered, staring over the cornfields. An uneasiness seeped into her bones. Her brother tended to be the paranoid one, not her. But she couldn’t dismiss it. History told her things weren’t always what they seemed. “Can I see your credentials?” Anna met his assessing gaze; flecks of yellow accented his brown eyes. She turned the leather ID holder over in her hands. Special Agent Eli R. Miller. It seemed legitimate.

“You met my brother in person?” She studied him, eager to read any clues from the smooth planes of his handsome face. She wanted to ask: Did Daniel seem okay? Was he thin? Dragging a hand over her hair to smooth the few strands that had fallen out of her ponytail, she was ashamed she didn’t know the answers. Ashamed she had grown estranged from her big brother. Dear Lord, please forgive me. Let me find peace through this nightmare.

Special Agent Miller hiked a dark eyebrow. “Yes. We talked briefly a week ago. I had some questions concerning his return to Apple Creek.”

Anna jerked her head back. “I don’t understand. He was in Apple Creek working on his photography. Why would the FBI be concerned about my brother’s whereabouts?” Foreboding mingled with the acrid fumes hanging in the air.

“Your brother went to Genwego State University, right?”

“Yes.” She furrowed her brow. “He dropped out his senior year. What does that have to do with anything?”

“I’m working a cold case. I’ve been re-interviewing people who lived in the area ten years ago.”

“Was my brother able to help you?”

“No. But when I met with him, he was worried about his safety and yours. I had a sense he was somewhat relieved I had contacted him.”

“Do you think I’m in danger?”

They locked eyes. He seemed to hesitate a moment before saying no.

She reached into her car and pulled out her purse. She dug out a new business card. Holding it between two fingers, she offered it to him. “May I trade you?”

He accepted the new card and handed her the old one. She flipped it over. In her handwriting on the back she had written: I’m only a phone call away. The faded ink was water-stained, but the message was clear. Yet the phone calls between her and her brother had become few and far between.

As she slipped the old business card into a pocket of her purse, the clip clop clip of what sounded like a horse reached her ears. She froze as a horse and buggy made its way along the country road. A man in a brimmed straw hat gently flicked the reins, urging the horse on. Tipping his hat, he seemed to make direct eye contact with the FBI agent as he passed.

Outlined against the purple and pink hues of the evening sky, the buggy maintained its steady progress until it crested the hill and disappeared. Anna made a full circle, taking in her surroundings, including the vast cornfield that greeted her brother’s demise. She had been so focused on the crash site—on her distress—she hadn’t noticed a neat farmhouse at the top of a long driveway across from the cornfields. A white split-rail fence ran the length of the property. A buggy, the same style as the one that had passed, sat next to the barn a hundred feet or so from the house. The early-evening shadows muted the details, but she realized something she had missed in her distracted state. “An Amish family lives here.”

Special Agent Miller nodded, seemingly unfazed. Obviously he wasn’t likely to miss such specifics. Besides, he had been in Apple Creek before now.

“My brother’s plane crashed on an Amish farm? Ironic.” A nervous giggle escaped her lips. “The very community that shuns most technology has one of man’s modern marvels plummeting to earth on their soil.”

Awareness heated her face when she found him regarding her with a quizzical look. “I’m sorry. I tend to talk too much when I’m upset.” Her gaze drifted back toward the crash site, hidden by the tall cornstalks. “Thank God no one on the ground was hurt.”

Special Agent Miller nodded but didn’t say anything. His economy of words wore on her patience. Fisting her hands, she resisted the urge to slug the information out of him.

Crossing her arms, Anna narrowed her gaze. It wasn’t beyond a law enforcement officer to lie to get what he wanted. She had learned that the hard way. “Why are you really here, Special Agent Eli Miller?”

* * *

The pain in Anna’s eyes spoke volumes despite her display of false bravado. Eli refused to add to her burden, but his conscience didn’t allow him to flat-out lie, either. “As I said, your brother’s name came up in regard to a ten-year-old cold case.” The words rang oddly distant in his ears. This wasn’t exactly any case.

“Is...was—” she quickly changed tense “—Daniel in some kind of trouble?” Her pink-rimmed hazel eyes pleaded for the truth.

“Ma’am.” A baby-faced police officer emerged from the cornfield carrying a green garment. “I understand you’re the deceased’s sister.” Nodding, Anna’s eyes widened. “This was in the plane.” He held out what looked to be an army jacket.

She grabbed the garment and hugged it to her chest. “Thank you.” The officer tipped his hat, respectful of her loss.

“We need someone to identify the body.” The officer tapped his fingers nervously against his thigh.

Anna dropped her head and covered her mouth with her hands. “I don’t know....”

“Where’s the sheriff?” Eli asked. “I thought he’d be out here.”

“No, sir, I’m handling this one.” The officer tucked his thumbs into his belt and looked at Anna. “We really need you to identify the body, Miss Quinn.”

Growing impatient with the officer’s insistence, Eli stepped forward, partially blocking Anna in a protective gesture. “I knew the deceased. I’ll do it.”

Anna lifted her head. “This is something I need to do.” Her voice broke over the last few words. “Where...?” Her gaze drifted toward the cornstalks as if she imagined traipsing through the field and finding her brother’s bruised and battered body on the ground.

The officer’s wary gaze moved to Eli, then back to her. “The morgue is at Apple Creek Hospital. I can take you. It’s getting dark and it’s easy to get turned around on these country roads.”

“Let me drive you.” Eli placed his hand on her trembling arm.

Anna nodded, the corners of her mouth pulling down. “Is it okay if I leave my car parked on the main road?”

Eli took her keys, their fingers brushing in the exchange. Anna’s eyes snapped to his and he smiled reassuringly. “Let me move your car off the road.”

After he moved her vehicle, he guided her with a hand at the small of her back to his SUV parked in the Amish family’s yard. No one was outside the neat farmhouse. Just as well. He had all the information he needed for now. The officer in charge had informed him no one on the ground had been hurt in the crash. Thank God.

Eli opened the car door for Anna. Her long lashes brushed her porcelain skin as she ducked into the vehicle. With his hand still on the door handle, his focus drifted to the familiar farmhouse. A young girl emerged from the house, her pale blue gown rustling around her ankles as she sprinted across the grass toward the building next door. The Amish girl reached the neighboring house without so much as turning her bonneted head. Longing for a simpler life filled him.

Squaring his shoulders, Eli strode around the front of the vehicle. The case he was working on had never been easy. The death of Daniel Quinn was an unexpected complication. But even though he was dead, Eli still had to get answers. For the family. For himself.

TWO

“So, Special Agent Eli Miller, what cold case did you talk to my brother about?” Anna had waited until her FBI escort had pulled out onto the road. For a moment back at the farmhouse he had seemed slightly distracted, as if he had something more on his mind than the plane crash. Her shoulders sagged. She squeezed her purse in her lap and held it close. Tears blurred her vision.

He flicked a gaze in her direction, then turned his attention back to the road. “Call me Eli, please.” His mouth curved into a small smile, transforming his profile from the serious FBI agent to someone...well, someone not so serious. She ran her pinkie fingers under her eyes. She wasn’t partial to men in law enforcement, but her emotional state made her vulnerable to a handsome man with a friendly smile regardless of his chosen career.

Heat crept up her neck and she turned to stare at the cornfields rushing by outside the car window. Instinctively, she was leery of those in law enforcement. Yet Eli’s eyes radiated warmth, a kindness, so unlike her father’s penetrating glare when he was looking for an excuse to punish her. She blinked a few times to dismiss the memory.

“Are you going to tell me about this cold case?” Anna asked again.

Eli seemed intent on staring straight ahead at the road. “The cold case stemmed from an old case—a five-year-old Amish girl was kidnapped from Apple Creek.” His knuckles whitened on the steering wheel.

“Did they ever find her?”

“No.” The single word came out clipped.

“Why did you talk to my brother?”

“He was a student at nearby Genwego State at the time.”

“You contacted him just because he was a student at the time?” Anna shifted in her seat to look at him directly, fingering the locket on her necklace.

“When the child disappeared, a lot of college fraternities were in Apple Creek doing a pub crawl.” A muscle worked in his jaw, but he kept his full attention on the road. “You know, when they come into town and go from one bar to another? Back then at least five bars dotted Main Street. All but one have closed down since. We hoped someone might have seen something.”

“Ten years later?” Disbelief edged her tone.

Eli nodded. “It happens. Sometimes someone remembers something they didn’t think was important at the time. Did Daniel ever mention the incident to you?”

She shook her head, scrambling to remember. “Ten years ago...I was starting college. That’s the fall Daniel dropped out and enlisted in the army. He never mentioned anything about an Amish girl’s disappearance. Should he have?” Her stomach hollowed out. At the time, she had found it puzzling her brother had quit college so close to graduation, but he assured her he had a plan.

“Well—” Eli adjusted his grip on the steering wheel “—let’s take one thing at a time.” He didn’t say it, but she knew what he meant. Right now, she had to identify her brother’s body.

Anna slumped into the leather seat and leaned her head back. Before long, the silos, barns and cows were replaced by neat homes and sidewalks as they approached the center of Apple Creek. The last bit of sunlight lit the trees, whose leaves had turned a crimson red and yellow, providing a picturesque landscape. If the circumstances of her arrival had been different, she might have enjoyed the scenery.

Eli slowed his vehicle at a stop sign. Churches occupied two of the four corners of the intersection. Her mind drifted for a moment and she wondered if her brother had maintained his faith after all these years. He had been the one to first drag her to church when they had ended up in a foster home. In church she had found peace and comfort despite the turmoil surrounding their lives.

Silently she said a prayer, asking God to give her strength to deal with the task at hand. Closing her eyes briefly, a quiet calmness descended on her. When she opened her eyes, she noticed hitching posts in front of several of the stores on Main Street. Only one space was actually occupied by a horse and buggy. How peculiar to live as if from another time. Despite having lived in the Buffalo area her entire life, she had never realized the Amish had settled in the countryside little more than an hour away.

Eli drove a few minutes longer, then flicked on the directional and turned into a driveway marked by a large H. The small-town hospital was merely a single-story brick building that might have been mistaken for a school if not for the hospital sign out front.

Sensing Eli’s gaze, Anna laced her fingers and twisted her hands. In a few minutes she’d have to identify her brother’s body. Graphic images formed in her mind. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

“Come on.” He pushed open his door. “I’ll be with you the entire time.” He came around to her side of the vehicle and helped her out. Streetlamps chased away the gathering dusk.

“Why are you doing this for me?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do.” With a hand to the small of her back he guided her toward the hospital. Each and every detail—the chipped paint on the bench, the no-smoking sign, the fallen leaves littering the sidewalk—came into sharp focus, as if she were witnessing it all from above.

The automated glass doors whirred open. A sterile, disinfectant-like scent assaulted her. A gray-haired lady in a pink jacket lifted her gaze in mild interest. Eli flashed his credentials and the elderly woman nodded without saying a word.

Eli strode toward a door marked Stairs and opened it for her. “Down one flight.” Anna’s shoulder brushed his broad chest as she scooted past him into the stairwell. A cool draft floated up from the floor below, sending a chill skittering down her spine.

“I’ll be with you the entire time,” Eli reminded her, placing a reassuring hand loosely on her waist.

The clacking of her heels on the linoleum became the focus of her attention. Not Eli’s comforting presence. And certainly not the task waiting for her.

Reality in the form of a white placard with black lettering slapped her in the face. Morgue. She sucked in a quick breath, then swallowed hard. Nausea licked at her throat.

When they approached a second door, Eli caught her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. Suddenly, she was hyperaware of his touch, the intensity in his gaze. “You don’t have to do this. I met your brother. I can identify him.” The sincerity in his brown eyes weakened her resolve.

She opened her mouth, then snapped it shut. She glanced at Eli, then back at the door leading to the morgue. “I have to do this. Daniel’s my brother.”

Eli nodded. “Okay.” His hand slipped down to hers. He gave it a squeeze but didn’t let go. The small gesture gave her comfort. “Are you ready?”

Anna turned toward the morgue entrance, then back toward Eli. His features softened and the beginning of a smile tipped the corners of his mouth. The shield around her heart shifted a fraction. She had been alone for so long that she didn’t know how to rely on anyone.

“Let’s go.” Eli pushed open the door leading into a large room. The legs of the stainless steel tables came into view. Her focus shifted from the table legs to the gray linoleum at her feet. Cool, heavy air floated along the floor, licking at her ankles. Eli ran his thumb gently across the back of her hand. “Ready?”

Closing her eyes, she filled her lungs. Would anyone ever be ready to identify a loved one’s body? An image flickered across her brain. Her beloved mother, her long blond hair cascading over the pillow in the casket. The beautician had tried her best, she really had, but no one could do her mother’s makeup as well as her mother. She used to sit at her vanity every morning perfecting her hair and face, wanting to look beautiful for Father.

The mere thought stirred old fears and insecurities. Anna let go of Eli’s hand and crossed her arms. She drew her shoulders to her ears, trying to shake the chill.

“Anna?” Eli’s concerned voice broke through her trance. From one nightmare to another. Slowly, she opened her eyes. She forced herself to lift her eyes to the form draped in a white sheet. Her lips thinned into a straight line and she stifled a sob. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Eli nod to the only other man in the room. He peeled back the sheet, revealing her brother’s face. Bright fluorescent lights cast an unnatural pallor on his whiskered jaw. Darkness pushed on the periphery of her vision. Her heart raced.

Dear Lord, get me through this. Give me strength.

Anna slid her gaze across her brother’s features, allowing a numbness to dull the ache in her heart. Her brother’s cleft chin, the subtle bump in his nose—the one she shared—and the flat pane of his forehead. Cold, hard reality set in. Her big brother was dead.

Buzzing filled her ears. All the colors came into sharp focus. Blinking a few times, she struggled to concentrate on her brother through her watery gaze, knowing this would be the last time she’d ever see him. Tonight she’d sign the paperwork to have the funeral home pick up his body for cremation. Dear Lord, help me. After she cleaned out his apartment, she’d go back to Buffalo and inter him next to their mother.

“It’s him,” she croaked out. “That’s my brother, Daniel Quinn.” She turned and buried her face in Eli’s shoulder and cried, really cried, for the first time since she had received the news.

“Okay. It’s over now.” Eli made a soft hushing noise next to her ear, smoothing his hand down her hair.

“I’m sorry.” Anna lifted her face and brushed at her tears. Heat burned her cheeks. She had no business seeking comfort from this man. An FBI agent. A stranger. Cupping her cheeks, she stepped back.

“Let’s get the papers signed and get you out of here,” Eli said.

* * *

After Anna took care of the paperwork at the morgue, Eli guided her up the stairs to the main lobby. Before they reached the exit, a clamor came from down the hall. The double doors leading to another part of the hospital swung open, then bounced off the wall. A tall, well-dressed man strode in. His facial features contorted in obvious pain. He held on to a woman at her waist. Her wailing and sobbing scraped across Anna’s already fried nerves, and she froze by the stairwell to let them pass.

“Beth,” the man cooed in the woman’s ear. He ran a hand down her blond hair, pulling it back from her face. “Please,” the man pleaded, apparently unsure of how to handle the woman’s grief.

Eli put his arm around Anna’s shoulders and pulled her close. It seemed the most natural thing to lean into him. To accept the comfort he was offering. “Let’s get you out of here,” he whispered.

The woman stumbled forward. A groan escaped her lips. As her companion guided her toward the exit, her unfocused eyes drifted to Anna and Eli. Her head snapped up. “Who are you?” Her words slurred as if she had been drinking. She slapped at the tears trailing down her cheeks, wearing off her smooth foundation.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think you know me. I’m not from Apple Creek.” She struggled to keep her voice from shaking. Eli’s grip tightened around her shoulders.

“You’re his sister.” The coldness in the woman’s eyes chilled Anna to the bone.

“I’m sorry....” Anna swallowed hard, confusion clouding her brain.

“Mrs. Christopher,” Eli said, “now is not the time.”

“Get out of my face.” The woman pinned Eli with her steely gaze. The two apparently knew each other. With lightning speed, the woman reached out and brought her palm against Anna’s cheek with a resounding smack. “Your brother dragged my baby onto that plane. She wasn’t supposed to be there.” A tear dripped from her quivering chin.

“Mrs. Christopher, please, everyone is hurting here.” Eli tucked Anna behind him.

Anna’s mind whirled as she stood dumbfounded, her hand pressed to her stinging cheek. Her mouth worked but no words came.

Mrs. Christopher’s eyes narrowed into hateful slits. “My baby girl is in there.” She jabbed her long manicured finger toward the double doors but didn’t turn her head. “They don’t know if she’s going to make it.”

“I am so sorry.” Anna’s chest grew heavy.

“You will be,” the woman said. “I will make sure of it. Your brother was reckless. He had been drinking. Someone saw him at the diner with a beer. Before he took my baby up in his plane.”

Anna’s heart stuttered. She struggled to catch her breath. The conversation seemed to wind down in slow motion. She slipped her hand around the crook of Eli’s arm, grateful for the support.

Eli led her past the grieving couple. The man—speaking for the first time—hollered after them. “Special Agent Miller—” disdain evident in his tone “—I suggest you keep Miss Quinn away from us. Her brother has destroyed my family.” He lowered his voice. “It would be best if she took care of her business and left Apple Creek immediately. Our family has suffered enough without her here as a constant reminder.”

“I wish Tiffany well,” Eli said, his voice tight. “Miss Quinn has experienced a terrible loss of her own. If you’ll excuse us.”

Anna locked gazes with Mr. Christopher. Fury shot from his eyes. The fine hairs on the back of her neck prickled to life, convincing her if she didn’t leave town, he’d make her wish she had.

* * *

Outside the hospital’s main entrance, a black limousine straddled the ramped pavement. Tom Hanson, the driver, leaned against the hood and read the newspaper under the artificial light, seemingly unaware he was being observed. The Christophers were the only people pretentious—and rich enough—to have a chauffeured limo in Apple Creek. Mr. Christopher had created a cable-industry empire and located it in his hometown. The company had satellite offices all over the East Coast but kept their main headquarters in rural Apple Creek. Eli suspected they enjoyed the “big fish in a small pond” cachet it afforded.

Despite Beth and Richard Christopher’s angry display in the lobby, Eli’s heart ached for them. All the money in the world couldn’t buy them happiness if their family was ripped apart. He hoped Tiffany pulled through.

Once inside his vehicle, Eli shifted in his seat. The yellow light from the parking lot lamppost cast Anna’s face in deep shadows. “Are you okay?”

Anna’s pink lips pulled down at the corners. “Did you know about the poor girl who was on the plane with my brother?” An accusatory tone laced her question.

“Yes.” Tense silence hung heavy in the air.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t want to burden you.”

“You couldn’t hide it from me forever.” A dark line creased her forehead. “I know you don’t know me, but I’m not a fragile woman. Don’t hide anything from me. Not when it concerns my brother.”

Eli glanced toward the main entrance of the hospital but didn’t say anything. Tom opened the back door of the limo and the Christophers disappeared inside.

“How did those people know I was Daniel’s sister?”

“Probably because you’re with me.”

Covering her face, she sighed her frustration. “Don’t they realize this is the last place I want to be? There’s so much I need to do before I can go home.”

Eli reached across and touched her delicate hand, drawing it away from her face. He was secretly pleased when she didn’t pull away. “I can help you.”

“Why would you help me?”

Because your brother is the last solid link to Mary’s abduction. He turned away, afraid he’d chase her off if he told her the truth. He stared at the SUV logo emblazoned on the center of the steering wheel until it blurred. “I’ll be in town for a few weeks. I’m here if you need me.” He met her gaze.

Anna nodded, skepticism evident in the delicate lines around her eyes. Tipping her head back against the headrest, she yanked the rubber band from her hair, allowing her chestnut hair to fall in loose curls over her shoulders. For the briefest of moments, he wondered if her hair felt as silky as it looked. “Can you take me back to my car?”

“Sure.” Tugging at his tie with one hand, he turned the key in the ignition with the other. They drove through the center of Apple Creek. Most of the businesses were closed for the night. When they reached the country road, his headlights cut through the blackness. Silence stretched between them as Eli struggled with how much he should tell Anna about his suspicions regarding her brother. Daniel was dead, so nothing could hurt him now. But what about Anna? She seemed fiercely loyal to him. He wrapped his fingers tightly around the steering wheel. She had suffered enough for today. From what he knew of her childhood through his investigation into her brother, she had suffered enough for a lifetime.

He’d tell her the truth tomorrow.

When they finally reached the crash site, Eli turned into the driveway rutted with wagon wheels and horse hooves. Anna’s car was parked on the lawn where he had left it. Sighing heavily, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Where is the nearest hotel?”

They glanced at each other and a slow smile spread up her pretty face, no doubt anticipating his answer. “Um, all the way back in town.” Eli laughed.

“Exactly what I thought.” She lifted her hair from her forehead and held it there. Her shoulders slumped. “I just want to grab something to eat and go to sleep.”

“What about staying at your brother’s apartment?”

Anna shook her head. “I’m not ready to go there. Not yet.” She lowered her voice. “That would mean facing all his...stuff.”

Eli’s eyes drifted to the outline of the farmhouse. “I need to stop in here. Then we can figure out where to grab a bite and a place for you to sleep, okay?”

Anna jerked her head back. “Isn’t it too late to drop in unannounced?”

“Come on.” He got out and met Anna around the front of the vehicle.

A cool breeze blew her hair softly around her shoulders. Only a hint of the scent of burning wreckage clung to the night air. She hooked a strand of her hair with her pinkie and slid it away from her face. The bright moon lit on her hesitant features. “It seems really late. Maybe we shouldn’t bother them.”

“Watch your step.” He held out his hand and Anna put her slim hand in his. “Come on. It’s fine.” Her cheek brushed against his shoulder as they navigated their way across the uneven lawn. A clean scent of coconut from her hair drifted to his nose.

Slowing his pace, he reached down and boldly tipped her chin toward the sky. “I bet you don’t see those in the city.”

“Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many stars.” He stole a glance at the wonder in her eyes and bemoaned the circumstances surrounding their meeting. Another time, another place, perhaps. “There seems to be a certain peace out here. No traffic noise. No nothing.”

Eli wrapped his hand around the smooth railing leading up the steps. “It is a peaceful existence. A lot of work. No modern conveniences. But the Amish don’t clutter their lives with a lot of distractions. The Amish have a saying, ‘To be in this world, but not of this world.’”

“Are you sure this can’t wait until morning?” Anna whispered. “Don’t they go to bed early?”

“It’s only eight-thirty.”

“I know, it’s just...” She let her words trail off.

“You’re uncomfortable.”

Anna scrunched up her nose. “I’ve never met anyone who’s Amish.” She glanced down at her clothes. “I mean, am I dressed appropriately?” She lowered her voice to barely a whisper, and she tugged at the cardigan covering her sleeveless top. “And I was really hoping to freshen up soon. Do they have indoor plumbing?”

Eli laughed. If only she knew. “Yes, they have indoor plumbing.” He gestured toward the window where a soft glow emanated. “And lights. You won’t have to fumble around in the dark. They’re just not hooked up to the grid.”

“The grid?”

“They don’t use electricity. But there are plenty of other independent sources of power.”

Anna seemed to consider this for a moment. “It’s incredible, really, that people still live this way.”

Eli leaned on the railing. “We won’t be long. I just want to make sure they’re okay.”

Her tired gaze drifted to the street. The moonlight glinted off her vehicle’s windshield. “Okay.”

He rapped on the door before she could change her mind. Who was he kidding? He had to do it before he changed his mind. Sweat slicked his palms. The door opened slowly. Beautiful brown eyes met his. A smile broke wide on the woman’s face. “Abram! Abram!” she called, glancing over her shoulder. “Come quickly.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Eli sensed Anna watching him. He was glad for the shadows. He yanked his tie out of habit as the space suddenly felt close. The door swung all the way open. The woman’s long gown rustled in the evening breeze. The hair poking out from under her kapp seemed grayer than he remembered. Her bright eyes met his. Covering her mouth, she stepped onto the porch, the kindness in her eyes familiar.

“Eli, you’re home.”

THREE

Anna watched transfixed as the Amish woman welcomed them. Eli’s lips curved into a small smile, but a hint of hesitancy flickered in his eyes. “Anna, this is my mother, Mrs. Mariam Miller.”

“Hello, Mrs. Miller. Nice to meet you.” Anna did a horrible job hiding her surprise.

“Please call me Mariam.” She took Anna’s hand in her callused one. “Welcome.” His mother glanced over her shoulder. “Your father must be in the barn with Samuel.” She spun on her heel. “Let me get him.”

Eli reached out and caught his mother’s arm. “Wait. How are you? The plane crash this morning must have been a shock.”

Mariam fidgeted with the edge of her cape. “Those poor people. Do you know how they are?”

Anna’s cheeks grew warm.

“I’m afraid the pilot died. His passenger was the youngest child of the Christophers, Tiffany. She’s in the hospital.” Eli placed a reassuring hand on the small of Anna’s back.

“Oh, dear.” His mother’s eyes grew wide. “Katie Mae does some housekeeping for the Christopher family. I wonder if she knows....”

“I can talk to her if you’d like,” Eli said.

“I hope we’re not stopping by too late.” Anna found herself studying the space, suddenly fascinated to find herself inside an Amish home. Two oak rocking chairs sat in the middle of a room with wall-to-wall oak hardwood floors. The wood continued halfway up the wall and stopped at the chair rail. The room had a scarcity of knickknacks. Her mind’s eye flashed to the assortment of crystal trinkets her mother had collected with reckless abandon. Her childhood home had never lacked for stuff. A lump formed in her throat and she pushed the thought aside.

“I’m glad you came.” Soft frown lines accentuated Mariam’s mouth. “Did the plane crash bring you here?” She gathered her apron in her hands. “The noise. It was horrible.” Tears filled the corners of her eyes.

“Yes, I’m afraid it did.” Eli momentarily found Anna’s hand by her side and gave it a quick squeeze. Anna held her breath, relieved he didn’t explain that her brother was killed in the crash. In her exhausted state, she feared any outpouring of sympathy would send her crumbling.

“Do you need a room for the night? I could check with your father. I’m sure under the circumstances it would be acceptable.” Mariam stepped deeper into the entryway and called, “Katie Mae, please come here.”

“I don’t want to cause any trouble.” Eli slipped his car keys into his pocket.

Mrs. Miller seemed to study her son’s face. “I suppose your brother Samuel won’t mind having a bunkmate.” She hesitated a fraction. “You weren’t planning on sharing a room?”

Embarrassment flushed Anna’s cheeks. She imagined that the Amish views on premarital cohabitation ran toward the conservative. “We’re not...” She glanced at Eli for help, but apparently they didn’t know each other well enough to have their signals worked out.

“My brother was piloting the plane that crashed.” She swallowed hard. “I just met Eli today.” There, she said it out loud. The reality of her words crashed over her. Biting her lower lip, she hoped to keep her emotions at bay.

Mariam’s eyes grew wide. “I am so sorry. Do you need to contact your family? The Jones family down the road has a phone.”

Anna closed her eyes briefly. She couldn’t find the words to say she didn’t have any family. Not anymore. “It can wait,” she lied.

A hint of confusion flashed across Mariam’s face. Eli’s shuttered expression gave nothing away, yet something niggled at her brain. Why hadn’t he asked about her family earlier?

A young woman, probably in her late teens, appeared in the hallway. She had on a calf-length dress in a beautiful shade of blue that matched her eyes. Her flawless skin was untouched by makeup. A loop of brown hair poked out the side of her bonnet. The strings on the bonnet dangled by her chin. When her eyes landed on Eli, she smiled broadly. She covered the distance between them in a few short steps and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her cheeks blushed a pretty pink and she quickly stepped back, running her hands down the front of her dress. “Hey, big brother.” Her eyes sparkled.

“Hey, Katie Mae.”

“So nice to see you. I just got home from work.”

“Still working for the Christophers, I hear.”

Katie Mae rolled her eyes. “Yes. I’m supposed to do light housework, but half the time I’m watching the grandchildren. They are a handful.”

A small smile lifted the corners of Eli’s mouth. “I’m sure you handle them just fine.” He hesitated a moment, as if weighing his next words. “I imagine it was a little chaotic over there today.”

“Oh, dear, yes. Thank goodness Tiffany wasn’t killed in that horrible plane crash. Mrs. Christopher is beside herself. Her mother didn’t even know she was on the plane until the sheriff showed up at her door to tell her about the crash.”

“How horrible,” Anna said.

Eli made the introductions between the women, then turned to his mother. “So, Father’s still out working in the barn? It’s getting late.”

“He and Samuel are checking on Red.” Katie Mae’s voice grew quiet. “He’s getting old.”

“I brought Red, an Irish setter, home when he was a puppy.” A faraway look settled in his eyes. “Must have been more than twelve years ago.”

“Why don’t you show Anna the extra room upstairs?” Mariam motioned to her daughter. “I’ll go discuss the arrangements with your father.”

* * *

Katie Mae led Anna up the wooden stairs to a bedroom down a short hallway. “Can I get you anything?”

Anna glanced around the tidy room. The furnishings were sparse but clean. A beautiful quilt in shades of blue and green covered the bed. A lone calendar was tacked to the wall. “This is fine. Thank you.”

“The bathroom is at the end of the hallway. I will put some clean linens on the chair.” The young woman’s blue gown rustled around her ankles, revealing black laced boots. “If you’d like, I’ll make you some tea and a little something to eat.”

“Thank you.”

Katie Mae paused at the door, and curiosity lit her face. “Is my brother courting you?”

Anna shook her head. “Oh, no. We just met today.”

The young woman frowned. “Too bad.” She shrugged. “He could use someone in his life. He’s too tied up in his job... Well, your tea will be downstairs.” She turned on her heel and disappeared, leaving Anna mildly amused by the question.

Anna flopped down on the bed and closed her eyes. She nearly groaned when she remembered she’d have to retrieve her suitcase from her car. She had packed for a week, knowing she’d have to take care of her brother’s apartment in Apple Creek and other details.

“Are the accommodations okay?”

Anna sat up and adjusted the hem of her shirt. Eli leaned on the door frame, a strange look on his face. He had shed his suit coat and rolled his white shirt sleeves to his elbows. Realizing she was staring, she dropped her gaze.

“Oh, man, you’re a lifesaver.” She stood, relieved to see her suitcase at his feet.

“I try.” He stepped into the room, brushing past her, and set the case on the trunk at the foot of the bed. She was keenly aware of him sharing the small space. “I still had your car keys from this morning.” Eli tossed them on the dresser. “I’ll let you get settled.” He turned to leave.

“Wait.”

He paused in the doorway and glanced over his shoulder.

“I appreciate all you’ve done for me today.” She held up her palms. “Including this room. But tomorrow I’ll go to the motel, because I really don’t think I could stay at my brother’s place. It would just be too hard.” She bit her lower lip.

“One day at a time.” The kindness in his eyes warmed her heart.

She tilted her head, studying him. “You grew up here? You’re Amish?” She blurted out the questions on the tip of her tongue. She had no right to be intrusive, but she couldn’t help herself.

Smiling, he pivoted on his heel. Dark whiskers colored his square jaw. “There is nothing to tell. I was born into the Amish community, but I am not Amish. I left before I was baptized.”

Anna narrowed her eyes. “And your parents are okay with that? I thought if you left, you were shunned for life or something.”

Eli stepped back and leaned against the windowsill. He undid the knot of his tie. Pulling one end, he unlaced it from his collar, then he ran the silky material through his fingers. “They tolerate the occasional visit, but I’m careful not to overstay my welcome. I don’t want to cause them any trouble.” He looked like he wanted to say more but didn’t. “My parents were disappointed I didn’t choose to stay. All Amish parents dream of their children accepting their way of life.”

“But it wasn’t for you?”

He folded the tie accordion style and gripped it in one hand. He looked up and met her gaze. “It’s complicated.” He crossed the room and adjusted the brightness on the lamp. “Do you have everything you need? There should be a flashlight in the drawer, too.”

Unable to hide her amusement, she shrugged.

“A few less modern conveniences than you’re used to?”

“How’d you guess?” She arched an eyebrow.

“The light is fueled by a propane tank in the nightstand.”

Anna jerked her head back, marveling at the ingenuity.

“Are these accommodations okay with you? I didn’t want to offend my mother when she extended the invitation. I think you’ll find it far more comfortable than the Apple Creek Motel.” He stuffed his hands into his pocket and crossed his ankles.

“It’s fine. Thanks. Really, you’ve been too kind.”

He pulled out his cell phone. “You won’t get reception here, either. If there’s someone you need to contact at home, a boyfriend, maybe, we can go to the neighbors. I don’t mind driving you.” Was there a glint of expectation in his eyes, or was she imagining it?

“No. There’s no one.” A pain stabbed her heart and she sat back down on the edge of the bed. Then realizing how pathetic she sounded, she added, “I’ll update work next week.”

“I’m sorry about your brother,” Eli said. “It’s hard to lose someone close to you.” He spoke the words as if from experience, but she figured she had pried enough already tonight.

“I can’t believe he’s gone.” She ran her hands up and down her arms. “I dread going to his apartment. It’s going to be hard to pack away his things.” Once again tears burned the backs of her eyes. “My brother had called me a few times recently, but I never called him back.” Her voice cracked.

Eli left his perch at the windowsill and sat next to her on the bed, pulling her hand into his. “Take it one day at a time.”

Their eyes locked. An emotional connection sparked between them. The walls of the bedroom seemed to close in on her, and she closed her eyes to stop the swaying. Exhaustion was catching up with her.

“I avoided my brother’s calls because I couldn’t deal with him and the demands of my job. He seemed so different after the war. Paranoid. I used to tell him he reminded me of Mel Gibson in Conspiracy Theory.” She ran a shaky hand over her mouth. “Remember that movie?” She bowed her head. “I’m so ashamed. I spent my life helping the students at school but I couldn’t take five minutes to answer a call from my brother.”

“Don’t beat yourself up. You didn’t know.” He squeezed her hand.

Her mouth twisted in skepticism. “But if I hadn’t avoided him, I would have known something was wrong. Now I’ll never have another chance to talk to him. To tell him I love him.”

Bowing her head, she covered her face and fought her emotions. Eli placed his solid hand at the back of her head and pulled her into his chest. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she settled into his arms. A mixture of laundry detergent and his aftershave filled her senses.

“Eli—” Anna sat upright. A man with an unkempt beard and blunt-style haircut stood in the doorway “—I need to talk to you downstairs.” His cool manner and stare tightened Anna’s gut.

“Father,” Eli said, his tone even, “nice to see you. This is Anna Quinn.” He turned to Anna. “My father, Abram Miller.”

The man gave her a curt nod. “If you’ll excuse us, I’d like to talk to my son in private.”

After his father left, Eli angled his head and brushed his thumb across her cheek. “You okay?”

Anna forced a smile. “You better go talk to your father.”

* * *

A man of few words, Eli’s father descended the stairs and headed outside to the porch. Eli flinched when the screen door slammed against its frame. He caught his father’s profile against the backdrop of the night sky. His father was a commanding figure and Eli knew he’d talk when he was ready to talk.

With work-worn hands wrapped around the rail, his father stared out into the distance toward the crash scene. “I never understood man’s need to fly. It seems to go against nature.” He hesitated a moment before adding, “I pray the man is in God’s hands now.”

Eli bowed his head. It had been a long time since he had said a prayer. Not so much because of disbelief, but because of apathy, distraction and his job. He scrubbed a hand across his face. Wasn’t that part of the reason why his parents—and the entire Amish community—set themselves apart? So they wouldn’t be distracted by the outside world and instead could focus on God? Under the night sky, the fields seemed to stretch forever. The Amish believed the agricultural life was as close to God as you could get.

“Anna’s brother died in the crash.” Eli leaned back in the rocker. The wood felt cool through his thin dress shirt. His grandfather had made these chairs when Eli was a boy. He had been fascinated watching his grandfather work.

“Your mother told me.” Abram faced his son, his features heavily shadowed. “But you have been in Apple Creek often over the past month.”

“Yes, but never overnight. I drove back and forth to Buffalo.” Eli was reluctant to share too much information with his father. They lived in different worlds. “If our staying here is going to cause problems, I’ll take Anna to the motel in town.”

Abram lifted his hand. “I suppose the bishop will understand the circumstances surrounding your temporary stay.” His emphasis was not lost on Eli.

“Thank you.” He wrapped his fingers around the smooth arms of the rocker. “How did you know I’ve been in town recently?”

“Isaac Lapp mentioned he saw you in town.” Figures. The same age as Eli, Isaac had been courting his sister, Katie Mae, almost ten years his junior. Isaac had left Apple Creek to work on a ranch out west years ago, only to return to fully join the Amish faith about eighteen months ago. His family owned the Apple Creek General Store in town and had welcomed him back with open arms.

And Isaac liked to talk.

“You’re chasing a ghost.” Abram’s statement startled Eli. His father never asked about the investigation that had consumed Eli for the past ten years.

“I have new leads.”

“You need to let your sister rest.”

My sister. Ten years ago, his sweet sister Mary had disappeared while in town with him. She was only five at the time and he was eighteen. She had been his responsibility. Guilt and anguish sat like rocks in his gut. “I can’t.”

Under the white glow of the moonlight, his father’s eyes flashed. “You are wasting your life. You need to forgive the man who did this.”

“You say you have forgiven him, but you have not moved on. Last time I stopped by, you were still leaving Mary’s chair empty at the table.”

“Your mother...” His words trailed off. Eli waited for his father to continue, but he didn’t.

“Dat...” The word felt strange on his lips. “I didn’t come here to fight. I came here because I have unfinished business.”

“Your unfinished business is a constant, painful reminder to your mother of everything we have lost. We need to have faith and trust in God that Mary is now in His care. Does Anna know you are investigating her brother?” Abram’s pointed words hit their mark.

Eli looked up with a start, then glanced toward the screen door. “Did you hear that from Isaac?”

“Isaac had told me to keep an eye on Daniel Quinn because he had been taking photographs in the area.” Abram pointed to the cornfield across the way. “This is the same man who died today?”

Eli nodded.

Abram’s hand dropped to his side. “Daniel spent a lot of time taking photographs. Claimed they were for a book or some magazine or some such. He seemed respectful. He only took photos of the property. He knew we didn’t want to be photographed.” Abram fingered his unkempt beard. “Isaac thought we should be aware of who was wandering our property.”

Eli scratched his head. “Who else knows I am investigating Daniel?” His mind raced with the implications.

“No one else in the family as far as I know. I told Isaac not to scare the women with his gossip. The next time Daniel had come around, I had asked him to please respect our privacy. I thought it best he not take photographs on our farm anymore.”

“How did he respond?”

“He complied. He was always polite. Seemed like a sincere young man,” Abram said. “I can’t believe this man hurt a child. I am reluctant to believe Isaac.” His voice grew low. “It’s hard to comprehend such evil.”

The pain in his father’s eyes tore at Eli’s soul. His father rarely mentioned his youngest daughter, Mary.

Eli glanced toward the door, hoping Anna was still upstairs. “Father, we can’t discuss this now. I don’t want to jeopardize my investigation.”

Abram crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the railing. “You have not chosen our way of life, but I raised you better than this.”

“I am not going to stop looking for the truth.” Frustration and anger warred for control.

“Truth?” Abram’s bushy eyebrows shot up. “Then don’t lie to Daniel’s sister. Tell her your suspicions.”

“I only met her today. I owe her nothing.” The harsh words scraped across his nerves. Had he become so single-minded in his focus that he had lost all sight of others’ feelings? Anna’s trusting eyes came to mind. It had always been about finding the person who hurt Mary. He never imagined his prime suspect would have a family of his own who might be destroyed by his investigation.

Eli softened his tone. “You’ll never understand my choices, but there are things I have to do for my job.”

His father’s lips drew into a straight line. The Amish were not selfish people. They didn’t make choices based on personal preferences and desires. They made decisions for the good of the entire community.

He met his father’s gaze. “I have to do it for Mary.”

FOUR

Dressed in sweats, a T-shirt and a hoodie, Anna stuffed her feet into her running shoes and tiptoed downstairs. A recurring nightmare had her up before dawn and she thought she’d go crazy inside the small confines of the sterile room. No television, no radio, no electronics. Nothing to distract her. She opened the front door, surprised to find it unlocked. Stepping onto the front porch, she took in the Miller’s barn and the dense foliage on the surrounding hills. The first hint of pink colored the sky. The sun hadn’t yet poked out over the trees.

A quiet rustling made her glance over her shoulder at the house. For all she knew, the Miller women were up preparing breakfast already. The men were probably in the barn doing their early-morning chores. Not ready to face anyone yet, she jogged down the porch steps and stopped by the road to stretch. A soft wind blew across the cornfields, sending a hint of acrid smoke in her direction. A tightness squeezed her chest.

Focusing all her attention on the ground directly in front of her, she tipped her head from side to side, easing out the kinks. Determined to exercise away her mounting stress, she started her jog on the left side of the road, facing traffic. However, she didn’t expect to see any cars at this early hour in the country. As her sneakers hit the pavement, she tried to get into a rhythm. But the image of her brother’s cold dead body in the morgue seeped into her brain only to be replaced by more graphic images of her dead mother and father.

She pumped her arms harder. The steady incline of the road forced her to concentrate on her breathing, the placement of her feet, her stride. Soon, her thoughts cleared. She crested the hill and sidestepped some horse manure in the road. A horse and open wagon approached. The combination of the brim of his hat and the dim early-morning light shadowed the driver’s features. He waved as he passed. Befuddled, she ignored his greeting and kept running, feeling rude.

The first hint of sun became visible over the treetops. Sweat trickled down her temples. Lost in thought, she realized she had gone much farther than she anticipated. Slowing her pace, she looked up and down the long country road. She crossed to the other side to face the nonexistent traffic as she made her way back.

City habits die hard.

When she reached the road in front of the Miller’s home, she leaned over and braced her hands on her thighs, trying to catch her breath. She found herself staring at the cornstalks. She glanced toward the quiet farmhouse, not detecting any activity. But surely they were all up by now. Sucking in a quick breath, she stepped off the road into the soft soil. She held out her arm to push aside the cornstalks. Their sweet smell tickled her nose, and she pinched her nose to stop the threatening sneeze.

Pushing her way through the stalks, she realized she should have followed the beaten path made by the rescue workers. When she reached the clearing, she froze. A small crater of dark soil marked the spot where her brother had met his fate. Tiny white dots danced in front of her eyes. Covering her mouth, she backed away as her stomach heaved. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a dark shadow flicker between stalks. Training her gaze on the form, she sensed her fight-or-flight response kick in.

She spun around and plowed through the stalks. Each of her frantic steps was met with a rustling off to her right. Her heartbeat ratcheted up in her chest. Stalks whacked her face. Please help me, Lord. Sensing she was losing ground, she spun back around to face her potential attacker, but she twisted her ankle on the uneven earth and bit back a yelp. Two strong hands gripped her upper arms. A blood-curdling scream died on her lips when she glanced up to find Eli’s concerned gaze on her.

“Thank goodness you’re here.” Her breath came out in ragged gasps.

“I came outside to look for you when you didn’t answer my knock on your bedroom door. What’s wrong?”

“Were you walking through the cornstalks?”

“No, I just saw you when you lost your footing.” He narrowed his gaze. “What’s going on?”

“Someone...” Anna swallowed hard. “Someone was in there.”

“Are you okay?”

Unable to find the words, she nodded. He pointed to the house. “Go wait up there while I check it out.”

Anna nodded and jogged toward the house. Her ankle seemed fine under her weight. She reached the top step and her rubbery legs went out from under her. Dropping down on to the top step, she wrapped her arms around her middle and leaned forward, her eyes locked on the cornfield.

After what seemed like forever, Eli appeared and strode toward her. Her heart rate had returned to normal. “I didn’t see anything.” He narrowed his gaze. “What exactly did you see?”

“I...” Her shoulders dropped. “I don’t know. Maybe I was imagining things.” She pushed a hand through her hair. Maybe I’m as paranoid as my brother.”

Eli planted one foot on the bottom step of the porch and leaned his elbow on the railing. “You’ve had a lot to take in.” He offered her his hand and she pushed off the step to stand next to him.

“My nerves are shot.” Her laugh came out high-pitched and grating.

“Why did you go into the field?”

“I thought it would help me move past this nightmare if I saw the spot where his plane went down.” She had always regretted not returning to her childhood home after her mother’s murder. “I guess it was stupid.”

“No, it’s just that your brother was worried about you.” He glanced back toward the fields. “Until I figure out why, I want to keep an eye on you.”

Anna climbed a step to gain some distance. She didn’t know whether she should be flattered or annoyed. “I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for most of my life.”

Eli pinned her with his gaze. “Humor me, would you?” When she didn’t answer, he added, “Come on. Let’s go inside. My mother is making breakfast.”

“Mind if I clean up first?” He held open the screen door for her. She ran up the stairs, aware of Eli watching her. Now he was worried she was in danger. Had someone been following her in the fields? Shards of ice shot through her veins.

* * *

Despite the unseasonably warm October weather, Anna threw on a thin cardigan and capris, compelled to cover her exposed flesh. Anything less and she would have felt severely underdressed—disrespectful even—in this Amish house. Besides, she couldn’t shake the chill from her encounter in the cornstalks.

When she finally wandered downstairs to the kitchen, she was quickly ushered to the breakfast table. Mother and daughter in their long gowns, hair neatly pinned underneath their bonnets, moved in a practiced rhythm.

“We trust you had a good sleep, Miss Quinn,” Mariam said, never once slowing from the hustle and bustle of preparing breakfast.

“Yes, thank you.” The lie flew from her lips. It was easy because Eli’s mother never met her eyes. Anna rolled her shoulders, trying to ease the kinks in her back. A bead of sweat rolled down her back in the close quarters of the kitchen. The cooking stove gave off immense heat.

“Are you okay?” Mariam’s soft voice snapped her out of her reverie. “Please have a seat.”

Unable to find her voice, Anna nodded and pulled out the closest chair.

“No, please, sit in this one.” The older woman pointed to another chair. Mariam smoothed her hand across the top of the empty chair and slid it back into place.

Anna sat and leaned into the slats of the wooden high-back chair. A fragrant aroma wafted from the stove. Her stomach growled. Until then, she hadn’t realized she was hungry. A moment later, Eli strolled into the kitchen dressed in blue jeans and a dark-blue golf shirt.

“Feel better?” The intensity in Eli’s gaze unnerved her and she nodded. He pulled out a chair across from hers and sat down. The silence stretched between them.

Nervous energy finally got the best of Anna. “I thought I’d drive by my brother’s apartment today. Clean out his things.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“That’s not necessary.” She blurted out the words on reflex, despite knowing he’d insist. “I don’t want you to go to any more trouble than you already have.”

“I’d like to see if I can find anything at your brother’s apartment that might answer why he was worried.” Eli seemed to be selecting his words carefully. His mother placed a bowl of scrambled eggs on the table and smiled but didn’t say anything. “I have two weeks of vacation. I arranged it yesterday afternoon with my supervisor.”

Anna took a small spoonful of scrambled eggs, then pushed them around her plate with her fork. “For your cold case investigation?” Out of the corner of her eye, Anna noticed Mariam watching her son with keen interest. “Why did you have to take vacation for a case? Isn’t it part of your job?”

“It’s kind of a personal project.” Eli’s lips flattened into a thin line. Anna flicked a gaze toward his mother standing by the stove.

“Do you think my brother’s worries had anything to do with your investigation? It’s not likely, right? He didn’t know anything.” Dread washed over her as they locked gazes, an unreadable emotion in his eyes. Shaking his head, he cut a sideways glance toward his mother. She took a bite of scrambled eggs despite the knot in her stomach.

A teenage boy dressed in a blue shirt, pants with suspenders and a straw hat burst in through the back door. Despite a scolding from his mother, he raced from one window to the next.

“Hey, Samuel, what’s going on out there?” The legs of Eli’s chair scraped across the hardwood floor as he stood up.

The teenager leaned on the window’s ledge and peered out. “There’s a big truck with a long pole on it. One of the English is carrying something big on his shoulder and they’re coming this way. Dat told me to get in the house. To tell Mem and Katie Mae to stay put.”

Eli strode toward the front door and yanked it open. When Anna reached his side, she was struck by the hard expression on his features. Eli was a formidable man. A cold chill ran down her spine despite the warm breeze.

A camera crew stood a few feet from the porch steps. A well-coiffed woman with a blond bob and a microphone in hand took a step forward, doing a quick check of her shoes as if she had stepped in something. “Can we speak to someone regarding the plane crash?”

Eli glared at her until she lowered the microphone and gestured to her cameraman to turn off the camera. She pointed the mic at Eli. “Do you live here?” She rearranged her lips into a phony smile. “Help us out here. I need some footage for the evening news.”

Eli jerked his chin toward the street. “Take footage from the road. This is private property.”

“We’d like to interview someone. We’re working several angles.” The woman persisted. “At first we thought it was a cruel twist that a plane crashed in the middle of an Amish field. Two different worlds colliding.” Her lips quirked. “And, I think a lot of people would be surprised to learn of the thriving Amish community in western New York.”

“They can read about it in the guidebooks.” Eli started to close the door. The woman raised her voice. “We learned Tiffany Christopher was critically injured in the crash. I’m sure you’re aware they’re a prominent family in this area.”

Anna froze and held her breath. She had the sensation of standing on the ocean’s edge about to be clobbered by a giant wave. The reporter’s focus turned toward her. “I was told the pilot’s sister was in town.”

Eli held his hand in front of Anna protectively.

“Do you know—” the reporter consulted her notepad “—where we could find Daniel Quinn’s family? His sister?”

Seemingly in an effort to intimidate, Eli moved toward the reporter. “I asked you to leave.”

The reporter tilted her head. “I thought maybe we could get a comment from the sister. To clear his name.”

Tiny white dots floated in Anna’s line of vision. “What are you talking about?”

“Mr. and Mrs. Christopher have alleged the man piloting the plane was unstable. That he had suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and was drunk when he took the plane up with Tiffany on board.” The pounding of her heartbeat in her ears nearly drowned out the reporter’s allegations. “I understand there was a history of violence in his family.”

Panic pierced Anna’s heart. She stepped forward and wrapped her hands around the smooth railing for stability. “My brother died in the crash. Let him rest in peace.” Tears clogged her throat, making it difficult to speak. She didn’t want her family’s tragic past splashed all over the news again.

“Your brother?” The reporter’s eyes lit up, but she obviously already knew who Anna was. “Would you be willing to go on camera?”

The implications ran through her mind. She didn’t know anyone in this small town. Maybe if people knew she was here they’d help her piece together what her brother was doing in Apple Creek that had him spooked.

Keenly aware of the camera trained on her, she inhaled deeply. Daniel wouldn’t have risked his life by drinking before flying. None of this made sense. She wished she could rewind time. If only she had kept in touch with her brother.

Anna walked down the porch steps and stared straight into the camera. “My brother, Daniel Quinn, died in the plane crash. If anyone knows—” she started over “—if anyone knew my brother, please contact me.” After she rattled off the digits of her cell phone number, Eli placed his firm hand on her shoulder. If his touch was meant to be a warning, it came too late.

An internal voice scolded her for announcing her cell phone number on a newscast, but right now she didn’t care. She had nothing to lose. Worse case, she’d get a new cell phone number after things calmed down. “I want to talk to anyone who saw my brother early yesterday morning or the night before his flight. Or anyone who had ties to my brother while he was in Apple Creek.”

She was desperate to shed some light on his frame of mind. Had he gone off the deep end with his conspiracy theories? Twin ribbons of shame and grief twisted around her heart. Daniel had always looked out for her. He even saved her life when she was twelve years old. Tears burned the backs of her eyes. It was too late for her big brother, but she owed him this much—to clear his name in death.

“Was it a scheduled flight?” The woman’s hawkish eyes shifted from hers to Eli’s and back.

This time Eli answered. “Neither Miss Quinn nor I have any information regarding the investigation. You’ll have to talk to the sheriff.” He lifted his chin. “Now, if you’ll please respect the privacy of the family who lives here, we’d appreciate it.”

The reporter lowered her microphone and offered her business card to Anna. “If you’d like to do a full interview, please call me.” She pursed her lips. “I’m sorry about your loss.”

“Thank you.” A dark part of Anna’s heart suspected the reporter took pleasure in other people’s misfortune. It made for good news.

Eli’s solid hand rested on her shoulder. She resisted the urge to lean into him for support. After the news crew crossed the road and started filming the crash site, she looked up at him. “Do you think I made a stupid mistake?”

“Sometimes you have to go with your gut.”

A mirthless laugh escaped Anna’s lips. “You don’t know me very well. I’m not one to shoot from the hip.”

Seeming to regard her carefully, he rubbed a hand across his whiskered chin. “Will getting answers help you sleep better at night? Bring you peace?”

She searched his brown eyes, feeling an unexpected connection as if he understood her pain. “I hope so,” she whispered.

Eli brushed a knuckle across the back of her hand, the motion so quick she thought she imagined it. “You’re not convinced?”

Anna shrugged. She turned and climbed the steps, the wood slats of the porch creaking under her weight. Katie Mae appeared in the side yard and placed a wicker basket on the grass. Bending at the waist, she lifted a wet dress and pinned it to the clothesline. Anna stood transfixed as Eli’s younger sister completed the chore. Three rows of garments in subtle hues of gray, bright blue, dark blue and lavender weighed down the lines. Something about the simplicity of the chore, the repetitiveness of it, appealed to Anna. Could peace be found in the simple things?

Anna swept a strand of hair out of her eyes. Nothing about her life had ever been simple.

* * *

After the commotion outside the Miller’s farmhouse, Eli drove Anna to her brother’s place. On the drive over, she finally got the nerve to ask the question that had been haunting her since the reporter first brought it up. “You met my brother. He sometimes gets crazy ideas, but he didn’t seem unstable, did he? Had he been drinking?” Her voice cracked over the last word. Their father had been an abusive alcoholic.

Eli ran the palm of his hand across the top of the steering wheel, never taking his eyes off the road. “I can’t say he was drinking, but he was agitated. He was worried about you.”

“It doesn’t make sense. Does any of this have to do with your cold case?” Anna was afraid of his answer. No way had her brother been involved with a child’s disappearance. But she had to ask.

Eli cut her a sideways glance. “I don’t know. He was reluctant to tell me what he knew, if anything. He seemed afraid.” She sensed Eli wasn’t telling her the entire truth.

The car came to a stop at the intersection. As frustration welled inside her, a sign on the lawn of one of the churches at the corner came into focus. No Jesus, No Peace. Know Jesus, Know Peace. Slipping her hands between her knees and straightening her arms, she wondered why she couldn’t instinctively shut off her worries and rely on God. Only her faith could get her through this.

Curiosity nudged her. “Growing up in an Amish community, faith was a big part of it, right?” The entire concept fascinated her. “Do you still go to church?”

Anna studied Eli’s profile. A muscle worked in his jaw. He gave her a measured stare. “What is the old saying? Don’t discuss religion and politics.”

“I didn’t mean to offend you.”

He stared out the windshield. The silence between them grew thick with tension. Obviously she had touched on a sore subject. About a half mile past the center of town, they turned into the driveway of a well-maintained home. Pots of yellow and purple mums lined the porch steps. Large windows overlooked the front yard.

Eli navigated the driveway until he reached the back of the house. He jerked his chin toward a three-car garage and a set of steps hugging one side of the structure. The furthest bay was open. “Your brother rented the garage apartment.” He parked and climbed out. Anna joined him around the front of the vehicle.

A man about her brother’s age stepped out of the open garage, wiping his hands on a dirty rag. Something flashed in his eyes when he saw Anna. His unshaven face and buzz cut made her think of her brother’s appearance when he got off the plane six months ago from his service in the Middle East. The man wore oil-stained jeans and a ripped T-shirt. It appeared they had pulled him away from his work.

“You must be Daniel’s sister,” he said, his voice gruff. “I’d see the resemblance even if Eli hadn’t contacted me to tell me you were on your way.” He stuffed the rag in his back pocket. “Sorry. That was horrible what happened to him. I hear my cousin Tiffany’s putting up a good fight, though.”

Anna’s eyelids fluttered. “Oh, I’m sorry. Tiffany is your cousin?”

The man gave her a solemn nod.

“Did you know my brother well?” she asked, eager to get any information she could.

He jerked his thumb toward the steps. “Daniel rented out the garage apartment. He was busy on some photography project.” He narrowed his gaze. “I think he was putting photographs together for a book or something. People seem to be fixated on the Amish.” He hooked one thumb through his belt loop. “It’s beyond me.”

“Did he tell you about his project?” Anna asked. Her gaze drifted to Eli, who stood off to the side with his hands loosely crossed over his broad chest.

“Yeah, he seemed eager to wrap up the project and move on all of a sudden. I figured he needed to finish the job to get paid.” He rolled his eyes. “There’s not much to do in this town.”

“Do you have the key?” Eli asked. “Anna would like to see her brother’s apartment.”

The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring filled with keys. “Sure, man.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name,” Anna said as they moved toward the stairs leading to the second-story apartment.

“Tom Hanson.”

Something jogged in her memory. “Did you know my brother from when he went to college in the area?” Something about the way he was staring at her—almost through her—unnerved her.

“A little bit. He and my cousin Chase, Tiffany’s brother, were tight.” Jangling the keys, he scrunched up his face, thinking. “They were in the same fraternity at Genwego. I wasn’t the college type. I went to trade school. I do pretty good as a handyman and jack-of-all-trades for my aunt and uncle.”

“Tiffany Christopher’s parents?”

Tom nodded. “My mom and Aunt Beth are sisters. My mom married some loser and moved up to Buffalo a bunch of years ago. Aunt Beth and Uncle Richard have always looked out for me.”

Anna glanced at the main house, her chest growing tight. “Is this...their house?” She should have thought of that the minute he introduced himself as Tiffany’s cousin. She imagined the back door swinging open and Mrs. Christopher emerging, fury in her dark eyes.

Eli smiled gently and mouthed the words, It’s okay.

“Doctor Richard Christopher, Senior, lives here. He’s like a grandfather to me. I hang around in case he needs anything.” He held up his hands. “Ah, don’t worry. I’m the black sheep of the family. It’s my Uncle Richard that runs this town. I’m just another one of their servants.” He smirked. “Long story.” He shrugged. “Actually, I don’t mind. It’s steady work. Good pay. Not much else going on jobwise in the booming metropolis of Apple Creek.” Tom separated a key from the ring. “Here.”

Eli took it from him. “We’ll keep this. I’ll return it in a few days after Anna goes through her brother’s things.”

Anna’s attention shifted to the stairwell leading to her brother’s apartment and she suddenly felt light-headed. Eli flashed her a concerned glance and she forced a smile.

“I think I should hold on to that key.” A deep line marred Tom’s forehead.

“It’s fine,” Eli assured him. “It’s the beginning of the month. Daniel’s paid up to the end, right? I’ll hold on to the key.”

“I guess so.” Tom stuffed the key ring back into his pocket.

The wood creaked under their weight as they climbed the steps. At the top landing, Eli had reached out to insert the key into the lock when the door swung inward. Anna’s heart plummeted. Eli held out his arm to stop her forward momentum. “Wait here.”

She covered her mouth to stifle her shock. Papers littered the floor. A lamp was upended. Couch cushions had been tossed across the small space. Anna’s shoulder hit the doorframe, her knees having gone weak, and she fell to the floor.

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