Evil in My Town

by Karen Ann Hopkins

  The expression on his face hardened, and I remembered his cold demeanor when he identified Naomi Beiler’s body in the cornfield. “The woman was never truly one of us. She was an imposter. Who knows what kind of trouble she got herself into?”

  I had to take a breath to compose myself. I also ignored Toby, who had gone from a relaxed slumping position to sitting up straight and still.

  “That’s rather harsh, Bishop. Erin Swarey was a member of your church for seventeen years. I’d hardly call her an imposter after that much time,” I pointed out.

  He snorted with a bellowing laugh. “She pretended until she couldn’t lie to herself any longer. Don’t get me wrong, I accepted her into our community with open arms when Nicolas brought her to us. But it’s her influences that created what Monroe became.”

  “And his father, a violent and abusive man, had nothing to do with it?” I spat.

  He backed away from the vehicle and lifted his shoulders slightly. “Nicolas has his own demons. I say if he hadn’t been ensnared by that woman, he might have turned out differently.” He fiddled with the end of his long beard. “It’s funny how English women sometimes poison our young men. It wasn’t long after Nicolas brought his bride to us that Daniel Bachman was spirited away by another English woman.”

  I gaped at the elder, chewing on my bottom lip and trying to gauge whether he was deliberately trying to goad me or just trying to make a point. He tilted his head idly, and I decided it was a combination of both.

  “I don’t have time for a philosophical discussion about the differences between Amish and non-Amish women, and the men who love them. Rest assured, I have my eye on Monroe Swarey. I just ask that you don’t do anything to spook him. Let’s keep this conversation between us.”

  “Of course, Sheriff. It’s in my best interest to be discreet. I wouldn’t waste any time if I were you. You never know what such a youth might do.”

  The bishop turned on his heel. His words replayed in my mind, you never know what such a youth might do. The cold breath I inhaled pricked my throat and goosebumps rose on my arms.

  “Damn. Is he always so cryptic and creepy?” Toby asked.

  “Unfortunately, yes. He normally likes to take care of policing his own territory.” I met Toby’s uneasy gaze. “The fact that he’s so gung-ho, makes me want to tread carefully.”

  “Do you think it’s possible that the Amish would cover for Nicolas if he did, in fact, do something to his wife?”

  It was a good question, and one that had been rattling around inside my head since he stepped up to the car. “They have a vigilante streak, no doubt, but this particular leader tries to keep things as close to legit as he can. He is a good man at the core. Even if he didn’t like Erin Swarey, I find it hard to believe that he would cover up for anyone hurting her. It’s just not his style.”

  “Unless he felt she was dangerous to his people in some way. Look how he’s trying to get rid of her son.”

  Toby’s words sent a jolt through me. I couldn’t ignore the truth of what he had just said. Maybe Aaron Esch was capable of finding a way to eliminate a woman, who he viewed as poison, from his community.

  “Lord help him if he had anything to do with Erin’s disappearance,” I mumbled.

  My phone rang and I picked it up. It was Todd.

  “Hey, I’ll be there in thirty minutes.” I didn’t bother with a greeting.

  Todd wasn’t interested in what time I was returning. I listened to him talk and closed my eyes. “Yep, got it. I’ll make the call when I get there.”

  I hung up and turned to Toby. “Indy authorities found two female bodies in the White River. They’re too decomposed to make a quick ID, but there are enough similarities to our missing women to get a hit in the database.”

  “How far away is that?” Toby asked.

  I replaced my sunglasses and started the car. “Way out of my jurisdiction, and enough distance that it wouldn’t make sense for a local person to dispose of the bodies there.”

  “Perhaps our mystery is solved.”

  It would be a sad outcome for the families, but they needed closure.

  But then why was I still on edge?

  29

  Taylor

  “Taylor!”

  My fingers were on the car door handle when I heard my name being shouted. I turned to see Hunter jogging up to me. Sarah stopped on the other side of my car and waited.

  “Hey, you haven’t been answering my messages.” He caught his breath.

  My mind went blank as I looked at Hunter. “Huh?”

  He pulled his phone from his pocket. “You know, text messages. I’ve been trying to get a hold of you.”

  I had been ignoring his texts. There was too much going on to talk to Hunter, but having him stand there in person had thrown me for a loop. Had he really just run across the parking lot to catch me?

  I cleared my throat. “Uh, we’re kind of busy right now.”

  He inhaled sharply. “I wanted to see how Lindsey was doing. I haven’t heard anything new.”

  I couldn’t help my brow from furrowing. “She’s better. The doctors think she’ll be released from the hospital next week.” I turned to get into my car and he touched my shoulder.

  “Wait.”

  I slowly faced him.

  His voice softened. “How are you holding up? It was pretty intense what we went through at the school…”

  Hunter’s voice trailed off. A blond lock of his hair had drifted over the corner of his eye, and I had the urge to reach up and push it back. But of course, I didn’t.

  “It wasn’t any more intense than having Monroe Swarey point a gun at me in the woods,” I challenged. I felt a little bad when he leaned away from me. His nostrils flared.

  “You know the guy’s name?” he said incredulously.

  For an instance I wondered what Hunter would have thought about the meeting with the Amish kids in the dark barn.

  “Yeah, why does it matter?” I replied.

  “Are you kidding me? He needs be in jail for what he did to you”—he paused, staring off into space—“and especially for what he did to Danielle.”

  “Don’t worry, we’re taking care of it.” I had lost all patience. I wasn’t looking forward to going with Sarah and Matthew to talk with Monroe, but I had promised her that I would. If Hunter stalled me any longer, I might lose my nerve.

  Hunter looked over the car at Sarah and then back at me. “You and the Amish girl are…taking care of… the lunatic drug dealer yourselves?”

  “Monroe is not a lunatic,” Sarah said from the other side of the car. “He’s having a difficult time and we’re going to help him.”

  Hunter looked at me with pleading eyes. “That’s not a good idea, Taylor.”

  My heart quivered and I watched a young couple walk by, holding hands. Two small children skipped in front of them. The little girl squealed when her dad tossed a small handful of snow at her back. The child’s laughter was music to my ears. The normalcy of the picture gave me some hope that Blood Rock wasn’t in fact completely warped with evil.

  I reluctantly returned my gaze to Hunter. “I promised Sarah I’d go with her and Matthew when they talked to him.” My voice weakened. “I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

  “You’re going now?” His gaze drilled into me.

  “Yeah.” I opened the door and slid into the driver’s seat.

  “If you insist on being stupid, then I’m going too.” Hunter quickly jumped into the backseat.

  I swiveled around. “You can’t come with us,” I nearly shouted.

  He leaned back and crossed his arms on his chest. “Why not?”

  My mouth opened, but no words came out. I glanced at Sarah, who was already in the seat next to me.

  She shrugged. “I don’t care if he comes.”

  Hun
ter’s face froze in a smug expression. He looked as if he’d grown roots into the backseat.

  “What…about…your truck?” The words stumbled out of my mouth.

  “I rode here with Josh and the guys. I’ll simply text him to say I left with you.” He began texting on his phone. “It’ll get the gossip mill going, but it’s the price I pay for being a Good Samaritan.” He glanced up with a coy smile. “You can drop me off at my house later. I’m only a couple roads away from you.”

  “You know where I live?”

  Sarah giggled, but abruptly stopped when I shot her the most menacing look I could manage.

  “I just know things. It’s no big deal.” He didn’t look up from his phone.

  I started the car. I was annoyed that Hunter had taken it upon himself to be my bodyguard, but my heart also raced with the thrill of it. He wasn’t such a jerk after all.

  30

  Serenity

  I rubbed my forehead as I left the conference room and walked down the hallway to my office. The gruesome pictures of the school’s crime scene didn’t get any easier to look at. Tomorrow’s news conference would be the worst yet. We’d be officially releasing the stats on the kids and teachers killed. The contrast of their before the shooting and after photos were striking, and it left a hollow place in my stomach. Being able to connect the dots from Jackson Merritt to Monroe Swarey was becoming increasingly more frantic in my mind. Did Monroe’s actions and Danielle’s death set off the troubled teen? The little evidence we had pointed in that direction. Having a motive for Jackson going off the rails was not just important to me. Everybody needed some kind of explanation. Otherwise, the random horror of it all would make us a bunch of paranoid and helpless individuals. Knowledge was empowering in a case like this. The truth wouldn’t bring any of the dead back, but it would at least make the citizens of Blood Rock feel that they had some control over their safety.

  Daniel was waiting for me when I entered my office. He stood up and crossed the room, wrapping his arms around me. I sagged against him and pressed my face to his chest. Tears clouded my eyes and I couldn’t speak.

  “I’m sorry about the way I acted this morning. You take all the time you need, Serenity.” He cupped my chin and tilted my head up. “I’ll wait for you forever.”

  I sniffed and dabbed the corners of my eyes. The sun had set and snow was lightly falling. It looked cold and lonely beyond the window. Daniel’s strong arms around me and his genuine smile were like a smack to my senses. This man was the main bright point in my life. With every new murder investigation, my mood had darkened. I was cynical and worried too much. Fun times were something most people took for granted. Not me. The beach honeymoon we were planning would be the first real vacation I’d taken in years. When I walked through the door, late at night, depressed about how hopeless society was, Daniel was always waiting for me. Just like right now, he wrapped his arms around me and chased the horrific images from my mind. If he wasn’t in my life, I’d be lost.

  I drew in a deep breath and looked into his eyes. “Are you okay with maybe just one kid in the sometime distant future?”

  He looked surprised. “I didn’t think you wanted children.”

  “I’m not sure if I do or not, but I love my niece and nephew, and they started out as babies. It might not be so bad.” The tears threatened to fall again and I fought to hold them back. “Especially if it’s something you really want. I don’t think anyone regrets having a kid, but some probably feel remorse later in life if they didn’t. I won’t always put my job ahead of everything else.”

  “You don’t have to say this for my sake. I want to be your husband, with or without children.” The side of his mouth lifted. “Making a baby would be something to look forward to, though.”

  I punched his arm and pulled out of his embrace. His teasing brought my emotions under control and I was good again. I certainly didn’t want to break down in my office. I had too much to do.

  “Is the wedding back on?”

  His voice was so tentative I looked up from the other side of my desk and smiled. “I’m not guaranteeing we can pull it off with my schedule, but I’ll try.” I ignored the tingling feeling of panic spreading through me. “You weren’t going to invite too many people, were you?” Before he answered, I rambled on, “Because it will be more likely to happen if it’s an intimate gathering at the courthouse.”

  Daniel chuckled. “Didn’t you look over the list I gave you a few weeks ago?” I shrugged and he shook his head in an, I’m not surprised way. “I’ll take care of everything, Serenity. All you have to do is show up.”

  My nerves quieted. “All right. Sounds good to me.”

  “I was thinking about a different wedding venue,” he said.

  “What did you have in mind?” My stomach did a somersault.

  His grin returned. “The old Arch building I’m renovating downtown is just about completed. There’s a large room with hardwood floors and floor to ceiling windows. The tile fireplace is gorgeous and in working order. I talked to Mr. Arch and he says we’re welcome to use it for our wedding.”

  I found it difficult to breathe. “That sounds kind of fancy for what we had in mind.”

  “All you have to do is walk through the door. I’ll take care of everything else. I promise.”

  My mouth was dry and I felt queasy. Daniel was beaming, so I didn’t say anything about how the thought of a formal wedding made me want to vomit.

  The office door was ajar and the knock on it was quickly followed by the appearance of Toby and Todd.

  “Wedding plans, eh?” Toby smirked at me.

  My cheeks burned and I glared back at him for making me feel ashamed. I should never have talked to him about my reservations about getting married. “That’s what people do when they’re getting married.” I avoided looking at Toby and focused on Todd’s anxious face. “What’s going on?”

  Todd handed me the copy of a report and I scanned over it.

  “One of the women found in the river was quickly identified using dental records, and she isn’t either of our missing ladies,” Todd said.

  The morbid relief I experienced earlier was replaced with a racing heart. I looked up. “Then we need a search warrant for the Swarey farm.”

  “Will the judge grant it with only a little circumstantial evidence?” Todd asked.

  I stood and placed my hands on the desk. “His grandson died of a heroin overdose last year. Given Monroe’s connection to Danielle Brown and Jackson Merritt, I’m betting he’ll be on board.”

  “You’ve had that in your back pocket this entire time?” Toby asked.

  “I just wanted a little more before I pulled the card.” I glanced at Daniel. “Aaron basically gave me permission to do what I needed to do to get Monroe Swarey out of his community for good.”

  “What if you don’t find anything?” Daniel ran his hand through his hair.

  “I already have enough to haul Monroe in for his connection to the drugs that killed Danielle Brown. As far as the missing women, I’m not so sure.” My gaze flicked between the men. “Erin Swarey’s and Charlene Noble’s trails ended in the Amish community. That’s where we have to begin.”

  “Do you want me to join you?” Concern was etched on the lines around Daniel’s eyes.

  “We’re just going to take a look around and ask a few more questions.” I forced a smile. “If the Arch building is going to be ready for our wedding, you need to concentrate on that project.”

  Daniel looked conflicted, but he finally nodded.

  “Todd, I need you here to answer any calls that come in from the feds or the mayor. We’ll”—I gestured at Toby—“head over to the courthouse for the warrant. Should be back in a few hours.”

  Several minutes later, I was getting into my patrol car when Toby said, “It’s a mighty large farm to search in a few hours.”
>
  “It’s enough time to take a closer look and pick up Monroe Swarey,” I said.

  “What are your thoughts on the missing women?”

  My headache grew worse as I started the car. The horror of the school shooting had occupied most of my thoughts lately, but Erin Swarey’s disappearance had bothered me for weeks leading up to it. The revelation that her friend, Charlene Noble, was also missing catapulted the investigation to a more sinister level.

  “It’s been a while. I’m afraid whatever happened to those women wasn’t good.”

  31

  Taylor

  I stumbled and Hunter’s hand shot out to catch my arm before I went down in the snow. After I had both feet squarely beneath me, I tugged free from him. Sarah and Matthew were a little way ahead of us and I could hear the soft mutterings between them. The sun had set a few minutes ago, and now a gloomy semidarkness had fallen. The snowflakes fluttering down were large and our feet sank into the snow as we traveled along the narrow trail through the woods. The Amish kids had insisted we park my car in the neighboring field and trek the rest of the way to the Swarey’s farm. This back way to Monroe’s was supposed to provide us with an opportunity to have a secret talk with him without his dad finding out. When I’d asked why it mattered to Mr. Swarey if we talked to his son, Sarah snickered at me, saying something about me being clueless.

  Hunter and I glanced at each other. I could tell he was just as nervous about sneaking up on the Amish drug-dealing teenager as I was. He stayed close by, and we frequently bumped shoulders. His eyes rolled several times when they met mine.

  “Hey, slow down,” I whispered loudly to the leaders.

  Sarah stopped and turned around. Matthew went a few more steps before he looked back.