Lamb to the Slaughter (Serenity's Plain Secrets Book 1) (30 page)

“Why the hell would the woman lie to Heather about her son falling from a horse?” Todd questioned me.

I shook my head. “I don’t think she lied to Heather—she lied to Serenity. And Serenity caught on to it at the Diner when you all were talking.”

Todd picked up his jacket and headed for the door with me close on his heels. He didn’t even turn around when he asked, “Do you know where this Lapp family lives?”

“Yeah, I sure do.”

“So what do you think is going on here?” Todd growled as he cut through the last bit of traffic before leaving the town’s bustle and heading into the darkness of the countryside.

I exhaled, not really sure that I wanted to share all my thoughts on the subject with Todd. But, glancing over at his anxious face, I caved.

“The Amish are secretive about everything—even things that they have no business being tight lipped or even lying about. For some reason, Esther didn’t want the outside world knowing the particulars of Mervin’s injury, which isn’t totally surprising. What I can’t get my head around is why Serenity is so interested in the kid.”

Without hesitation, Todd said, “Serenity’s smart. I’ve been impressed with her from day one. Even though Tony was a lot more experienced, working for Serenity has been a hell of a lot more enjoyable.”

“Why’s that?” I asked in a low voice.

Todd laughed at me, and the sound of it made the heat rise on my face.

The amusement in his voice came through clearly, when he said, “Hey now, you don’t need to worry about me and Serenity. We’ve known each other since before puberty. Even though she’s gorgeous and all, her personality is way too overpowering. It would take a very strong guy to put up with all that, but I’d imagine there’d be a pleasant reward in the end.”

“You didn’t tell me why you like working for her so much though,” I said, not entirely believing Todd’s words. I’d bet five hundred bucks right then that if Serenity showed her sidekick the time of day, he’d pee himself.

“Well, for one thing, she actually talks to me and the other guys in the department, and asks our opinion on matters. Tony never did that. He was a scary tough dude to work for. You just nodded your head and said, ‘Yes, Sir,’ whenever he told you to do something. I think Serenity’s collaborative approach is nice.”

I digested Todd’s words as we sped down Route 27, heading toward the Amish community. The full moon was huge against the night sky, but the fluffy clouds kept blocking it from vision, causing the passing fields to darken and lighten intermittently. My heart still raced and I couldn’t seem to shake the feeling that Serenity was in some kind of danger. I didn’t even know the woman that well and already she’d gotten under my skin enough that I knew if something happened
to her I’d be devastated. Dammit, I didn’t like that kind of feeling at all.

The dispatcher came over the radio notifying Todd of a house fire at the same time his cell went off.

“No fucking way,” Todd said angrily into the phone as he hit the brakes, nearly throwing me into the windshield, the seatbelt slicing across my chest and stomach. He made an abrupt U-turn while he grunted a few more words into the phone.

When he tossed the phone down onto the console, he looked at me with a wide frown on his lips.

“We need to go back to town, man. There’s a house fire,” he said.

“Dammit—let the fire department handle it. What we need to do is go to the Lapps and see if Serenity was there today.”

Todd sighed irritably before saying, “Its Serenity’s house that’s on fire.”

35

SERENITY

November 18th

T
here was no use in struggling further. Tony had me in a tight hold and I decided that conserving my energy was my best bet at the moment. There was a dreamlike feeling to the whole scene; the puffy dark clouds in the sky framing the moon’s giant orb, the sight of a dozen black horses and buggies lined up in the tall grass, each hitched to a long length of wooden pole running down the side of the barn. And, of course the fact that I was being half dragged, half carried by the ex-sheriff of Blood Rock into a remotely located barn filled with riled up Amish men, added to the surreal feel of the night.

I was so pissed at myself that I couldn’t completely let the fear that probably should have been gripping my insides take hold. I’d been such a fool to approach the barn by myself. I guess, somewhere in the sleepy part of my brain, I’d really believed that dealing with the Amish wasn’t something to be feared. Unfortunately, I’d learned differently, the hard way.

My eyes were accustomed to the darkness, but I was still surprised when Tony hauled me into the inky interior of the building and I was able to make out the silhouettes of the men’s frames. Our scuffling caused them to turn our way. The sight of the bearded men, with their black coats blending into the shadows around them, and staring their accusing eyes staring silently at me, made my heart skip. I swallowed a gulp when Bishop Esch came to us with long, purposeful strides.

“What is the meaning of this, Tony?” the bishop hissed, the whites of his eyes meeting mine for a second before he raised them to Tony’s face.

I felt a little better that the Amish leader sounded bothered that Tony had a hold of me, but not much.

“Look what I found peeking in between the boards on the far side, Aaron—a little blond spy.” Tony chuckled.

I began struggling again with more vigor and Tony gripped me harder.

“Let her go, Tony,” Bishop Esch ordered.

When Tony didn’t immediately comply, I said, “Yeah, Tony, listen to your boss like a good doggie.” I probably shouldn’t have goaded him, but I couldn’t help it, feeling that the bishop might be swayed to my side. Again, the fact that these were Amish people kept invading my brain, telling me that, surely, they wouldn’t hurt me.

“Tony, release her!” Moses Bachman called out from the group. The sound of his voice was music to my ears, and seeing him stride from the crowd made me go limp in Tony’s arms.

“God dammit,” Tony growled near my ear before he shoved me toward the group. The hard push sent me sprawling onto
the ground and into the musty dirt that smelled as old as the barn looked.

The thirteen Amish men, plus Tony, folded in around me, making an impassable circular wall. No one came forward to offer me a hand up from the ground. Instead, they all stood silently watching me, waiting. What they were waiting for, I didn’t know, but I’d been quietly observing the nonsense long enough.

I pushed myself up off the ground in as fluid a movement as I could muster. After wiping the dust from my hands to my jeans, I turned to face the bishop. I noted that Moses was beside the leader, but I ignored him, directing my question to the Amish preacher.

“Could you please explain to me, Bishop Esch, what the hell is going on here? And why your goon, Tony Manning, attacked me, forcing me into this building? Hell, if you’re going to be answering questions, I’d like for you to explain to me why this shithead,” I jabbed my thumb towards Tony, “is your bull dog anyway?”

“You’re not in the position to be demanding answers, girlie,” Tony said, all anger gone from his voice, to be replaced with an amused drawl.

I turned, walking the few steps to reach him. I pointed my finger in his face and said, “You are in such deep shit over this one, Tony. I’ll see to it that charges are brought against you for assault and kidnapping. Being that I’m a police officer
and
the sheriff, you won’t be wiggling your way out of it.”

Tony lifted his head and laughed heartily, sounding like a mad Santa Clause. I noticed from the sides of my vision that several of the men were shaking their heads at Tony’s display.
The bishop and Moses were statues though. From my quick survey of the circle and the men’s closer proximity, I took in something else about my captors. Most of them were the older men of the community.

“I’m just shaking in my boots.” Tony held out his hand. “Can’t you just see how I’m shaking?”

“Hush, now, Tony. That won’t help matters at all,” Bishop Esch said. His voice forced my gaze back on him, and I reluctantly left my arch nemesis to stand before the Amish leader again.

“Are you going to answer my questions, Bishop? Or do I have to haul all your asses into town?” I made a sweep with my head of the group, before I settled back on the bishop, who, to my amazement and chagrin, held a placid expression on a face that hinted of no worry at my authority over him.

“Really, Serenity, Tony is right. You are in no position to be ordering me around. You are in our territory now—private property owned mutually by each and every Amish man in this building.
You
are the one trespassing a and thus, breaking the law,” the bishop said smugly.

I could barely believe my ears. Was he for real? Since I was investigating a murder I had some rights that the bishop was obviously not aware of. But the numerous posted NO TRESPASSING signs I had ignored on my way to the barn plagued my mind a bit. A good defense lawyer would have a field day with that.

“Regardless of the trespassing issue, Mr. Esch, it is a crime to hold me here against my will,” I thundered the words to the room, hoping that at least a few of them would be willing to stand up to the others in my defense. My eyes met Mo’s again, and I thought—of all the Amish, he owed me one.

With a sweep of his hand and a sudden opening of the circle, the bishop said, “By all means, Sheriff Adams, you are welcome to leave us. We do not keep you here against your will. So be gone from us with your meddling mind. We have nothing more to say to you.”

Aaron Esch’s voice held the determination of a serious man, and my heart suddenly plummeted realizing that I would get no evidence about Naomi’s death, and besides the assault charges I could press against Tony, I had nothing on the Amish. I wasn’t really confident that District Attorney Riley, a good old buddy of Tony’s, would be all that helpful either.

Still, as embarrassing as it would be to walk away from the old barn and the laughing eyes of the Amish men, it would also be a huge relief. For a minute there, I really thought I might end up like the women in Will’s horror movies—in several pieces.

Shaking my head in disgust, I turned and headed for the opening in the man-made wall. I didn’t get the chance to cross out of the circle though, before there was a rushing sound up behind me, joined with the frantic words, “I know who done it, Sheriff. I saw who shot Naomi Beiler.”

Just as I was turning to see who’d spoken, the force of a hard object hit the side of my head. What it was, I can’t say, but immediately, a thousand sparks peppered my vision.

Then I hit the hard, dry dirt of the barn.

36

DANIEL

Early Morning, November 19th

T
he sight of Serenity’s home completely engulfed in flames stopped my heart. Even with the two fire trucks and their hoses spraying water at the towering streaks of red and yellow, there was no doubt that the house would be a complete loss. But, much more important than the house, was Serenity, and the unthinkable—that she might be in there.

I was being kept back by a volunteer fireman who’d grabbed hold of me when I ran with Todd towards the flames. Todd had shouted to the man to restrain me. I felt pretty sure that if I fought a little harder I could have broken free from the burly, bearded fellow who held me, but the sight of the skeleton of the house collapsing made me stop struggling. No one could have survived that. If Serenity was in there, she was a goner.

The cries of a nearby woman pulled my shocked gaze sideways until she came into view. The woman had dark blond
hair and a slender body. She was clutching a man, and a teenage girl in a tight embrace. Recognition dawned on me—Serenity’s family.

The fireman, who must have sensed that I’d given up trying to reach the house, released me. He jogged over to the nearest fire truck, but I barely noticed, my focus on watching Todd as he stood huddled with the woman, who could only be Serenity’s sister.

Serenity couldn’t have been in the house, my mind reasoned. She would have had the emergency training to get out of a burning building. That is, unless, she wasn’t able to. I started to think dark, sinister thoughts as I approached the little group, taking in the tear streaked face of the teenager as she stared, open mouthed at the remnants of her aunt’s home.

“Are you absolutely sure, Laura, that you don’t have any ideas where Serenity could be?” Todd asked, his one hand resting on Laura’s shoulder.

She sniffed and wiped her face roughly with her hand. Shaking her head, she said, “No. She didn’t say a thing to me about leaving town, or going anywhere, even for a day. Like I told you, the last time I heard from her was when she texted me about the baby’s paternity. I texted her back, inviting her to dinner, but she never responded.”

As activity swirled around us, voices boomed out, and the heat from the fire touched my skin with an awful caress. The whole fiasco had gotten so damn out of control. Did Tony Manning—or the Amish, have something to do with the burning of Serenity’s house, and her disappearance? I could hardly believe that the Plain people would be involved in any of this, but then suspicions still nagged at me about the men I grew up respecting and fearing. I remembered with
a cold chill, even with the flames at my back, how the older men, father included, would disappear some nights. There had been talk among the young people of secret meetings in the dark, where our community’s business was decided and manipulated. Would Aaron and my father be so intent on protecting the community that they would hurt an outsider? I didn’t want to believe it, but I couldn’t completely deny the possibility any longer.