In Plain View (Amish Safe House, Book 2)

by Ruth Hartzler

  Ryan roared with laughter. “Anyway, back to business. I’m actually here to try to get some information. I’ve been to several of the nearby farms, including the land where the victim’s body was recovered. We’ve gotten a few reports that a woman has been asking questions around town.”

  Kate’s eyebrow bunched and she stood back up. “A woman?”

  “Yes, you know - those people who aren’t a man.”

  Kate’s smile faded. “Ha ha, very funny,” she said. “I obviously know what a woman is. I meant, what woman? What kind of questions is she asking?”

  “Well, for starters, we tracked down one of the victim’s old friends. He pointed us in the right direction as far as the likely suspect, but he also mentioned something that threw the investigators for a loop.”

  Kate couldn’t help but laugh. “You really are terrible at story telling - just get to the point.”

  “The man told us that a woman came to see him shortly before we did. She claimed to be a police officer and asked him a barrage of questions, including several that pointed her toward the headquarters of the newly organized crime syndicate that has been invading the area.”

  Kate listened intently, but did not respond. She simply nodded and went back to working on the garden.

  “That’s not where it ends, though,” Ryan continued. “We aren’t certain, but it’s likely that the woman who showed up at a local diner was the same person. The man we spoke to pointed us toward a diner where he and the victim often met. When we arrived there, the waitress reported that she was also questioned by a woman about the victim. The only difference here is that the woman was dressed like an Amish woman and pretended to be the victim’s grieving friend instead of a cop. Something just doesn’t add up. Who is this woman, and what is she up to?”

  Kate rose to her feet once more and turned to the officer. “Ryan, I don’t understand what you’re expecting from me.”

  “I’m not expecting anything. I just wanted to ask you about it.”

  “I heard you telling me about this mystery woman, but I’ve yet to hear any actual questions.”

  Ryan sighed. “Kate, do you know who this woman is that’s been asking questions about my murder vic?” His voice was stern, but his facial expression was warm and kind.

  “Oh, well that seems quite odd. Wouldn’t you know every officer that has any involvement in your investigation?”

  “That’s why I’m here. We have one female officer investigating this with us, but other than Shelly, the only women that have anything to lose or gain from this case being solved are the women of this community.”

  Kate felt the pressure building up. “I don’t know anyone outside of the Amish community aside from you and a few people in town, so I doubt I could be of any help to you in this regard. Not only do I have no idea who or why someone would be questioning townsfolk, but I’m fairly certain it’s not anyone from our farm or community. You said the woman was dressed as an Amish woman – I bet she wasn’t an Amish woman at all.” Kate was relieved that she could tell the truth, at least in part. She hated lying, but her very life depended on it.

  “How can you be so sure?” Ryan asked.

  “It goes against everything we’re all about. We avoid technological advancement and the modern world, so we won’t succumb to the ways of the world in the same ways that Englischers do. We appreciate life and nature, and while a murder would definitely hurt our community, we are not the type of people to stick our noses in the modern world just to solve a crime. Isn’t that what you guys are for? Besides,” she added, “we Amish do not believe in violence or retribution.”

  Ryan smiled. He looked at her sincerely and spoke softly. “Have you ever considered a life outside of this community?”

  She stared at him. “You mean leaving the Amish way of life? Is that what you’re asking?” At first, Kate was concerned that he was prying because he suspected that she could be the woman who was asking the questions, but as she watched him closely, she could see something else in his face.

  “I’m sorry, Kate. I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just curious to know if you ever thought about getting away from here and living a different type of life. Of course, I’m not suggesting that you would be doing yourself a disservice staying here, but we city folk could sure use someone like you in our lives.”

  His words warmed her, and at that moment, she felt like jumping into his arms and telling him how much she appreciated his company. He was right about the outside world being a better place for someone like her, an Englischer, but of course she couldn’t let him know that. The Amish life was wonderful in many ways, and she had grown to appreciate it, but at the same time, she wasn’t Amish and she was living a lie.

  “I don’t know if or when it would be possible, but I’m not opposed to the idea, in all honesty.”

  Ryan looked surprised. “Oh, really? That’s awesome. I mean, um, I know a change of lifestyle like that would be difficult at first, but I’d be more than happy to help you out.”

  Kate smiled. “Do you make a habit out of going around and trying to help Amish women turn Englischer?” she asked.

  Ryan shook his head. “No, but I’d make an exception for you.” His tone was warm and gentle.

  Kate’s stomach turned cartwheels. Was Ryan as attracted to her as she was to him? She thought carefully before she spoke. “I’ve actually been thinking about leaving the Amish for some time, but I doubt it would be anytime soon. There’s so much work to be done on the farm, and after all that Isaac and Beth have done for me, I could never just up and vanish. I’d have to be ready and leave on good terms.”

  “Very true,” Ryan agreed. “The last thing you’d want to do is leave and then not be able to come back, once you realize how horrible we city folk are.”

  They both laughed.

  “If city folk are anything like you,” Kate said, “I don’t see any way in the world they could be considered horrible.”

  Proverbs 21:31.

  The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.

  Chapter 13.

  Pulling up to the gates located at 740 Floyd Street, Kate, once again in civilian clothes, tried to peer over the large hedges, but they were there for one specific purpose, to act as a wall, preventing unsolicited eyes from gazing into the property. The gate was made of solid, iron bars, and a security shack could be seen just beyond the iron barricade.

  Kate had the taxi circle the neighborhood a few times to survey the scene, and eventually had him drop her about three blocks away from the mansion.

  As Kate approached the wall of hedges on foot, she tried to stick her right arm through the hedges, hoping that gaining access to the property would be easier than it appeared. There was no such luck. The hedges looked like a wall, but they were just covering the actual barrier. A titanium wall encircled the entire premises, and hid behind the hedgerow. In an attempt to analyze the situation, Kate continued walking along the street, taking any chances she got to test the mansion’s defenses for weaknesses.

  Kate walked up to a bench that sat beside a small park to the west of the enclosure, looking down the street as the people of the town went about their normal business unaware of what was going on right under their noses. Logan White was close, she could feel it, and she needed to find out what was going on. Why was his organization settling in here, and what was his goal? As the thoughts swirled around her mind, she noticed the gates opening up to allow a small box truck to enter. Plastered across the truck was the logo for what looked like a catering company.

  As she watched, Kate noticed two armed guards walking out from the hedge line. They circled the truck, looked underneath, and then they asked for the driver’s ID. Shortly after, the larger man nodded and handed the license back, and then motioned for the truck to drive in. Perhaps if she could somehow disguise herself, she could get in the same way.

  Kate’s idea was great, but she realized immediately that it wouldn�
��t work without preparation. She had to improvise, and she had to do it soon. Walking toward the gate, she wasn’t sure what to do, but the thoughts were racing through her mind. As she got closer, the gate slowly started to open. The same truck was now pulling out, but the men were once again inspecting it. Coming to a stop halfway into the road, the truck was still partially obstructing the gate, ensuring it would stay open until the men were finished with their routine check.

  As the man on her side of the truck bent over to look underneath, Kate quickly but silently jumped through the gate and then slid into the first bunch of bushes she came across. It was already starting to get dark. What could she do now? Kate watched silently from her hiding place as she struggled to think of an idea.

  Kate had counted seventeen guards patrolling the exterior of the mansion, which was set far back on the land. They all had firearms and looked dangerous, but she knew this would be her only chance to get some information on Logan White and his organization. Fear started to creep in, but her training as a Federal Agent halted it.

  As time ticked away, one of the guards patrolled close to her location. He walked slowly, kept alert, and never kept his focus on one area for more than a few seconds. Kate studied him carefully. The man walked away, but moments later patrolled back toward her. This was her chance. Kate scooped up a handful of rocks from under the bush and tossed them a few yards in front of him.

  As soon as the pebbles crashed into the grass, the man reacted to the sound. Looking back and forth furiously, he kneeled down to examine where he thought the object had landed. Kate watched as he picked up some dirt in his right hand before dumping it back onto the earth. Almost immediately, his radio was making noise.

  “Yo, it’s Liam. Have you guys heard anything or seen any movement on the surveillance system? I think we might have an intruder.”

  After a brief silence and what sounded like someone grabbing the radio on the other end, a man spoke sternly. “Liam, what happened?” The raspy, authoritative voice boomed over the handheld radio.

  “Sir, something just doesn’t feel right. I heard some kind of noise and when I turned toward it, it looked like a rock or something was hitting the ground. It was like someone was trying to distract me.” Turning around, the man stared right into the bush where Kate was hiding. “Oh snap, I think I found the culprit.”

  “Liam, you get that intruder to me, right now.” The fury heard over the speaker terrified Kate. Her heart pounded as the goon reached into the bush. His hand touched her skin and gripped tightly around her right shoulder. She stood up and surrendered reluctantly, but only because she knew it was her only option.

  “Boss, I got her,” he reported through his radio.

  “Her? Bring that woman to my office. Do not let her get away, or you’ll be sorry you did.” The line went silent and the large, muscular man next to Kate took a deep gulp in fear.

  “Yes, sir!” His words were left unanswered.

  As they hurried through the yard toward the distant mansion, the thug kept pushing Kate forward with the butt of his weapon. Kate nearly lost her balance a few times, and took care to keep from stumbling to the ground. The last thing she wanted to do right now was to be completely defenseless, even though she knew she already was.

  “Let’s go. Keep yourself together.” His words stung, but she kept on.

  As they approached the entrance to the house, two guards in black suits held even larger weapons than the others. “Business?”

  “The boss wants this intruder.”

  The man on the right side of the door stepped forward. “All right. Go back on watch and I’ll bring her to White.” Her former captor nodded and backed away, leaving her in the presence of another man.

  When Kate entered the mansion, she was amazed by what she saw. Beautiful paintings and portraits lined the long halls of the first floor of the building.

  “Keep your mouth closed and your eyes forward,” the guard said. “The boss doesn’t like to be disrespected, so I suggest you let him do most of the talking.”

  Her mind drifted back to her days as an agent, but she could hear the voice of her boss echoing in her ears. “Play the part.” She knew White wouldn’t have a clue who she was, but even a hint of her training and he’d sniff her out like a bloodhound chasing after the scent of a wild boar. The plan was laid out before her eyes: play the role of the farm girl and let him think she accidentally stumbled onto his land.

  As they continued to delve deeper into the vast mansion, the guard nudged her toward a flight of steps. As they ascended the stairs, they came upon a water fountain in the center of the hallway. Kate could not help but notice the beauty of such a violent, dangerous place. It reminded her of a volcano that was due to erupt at any moment.

  The two kept on until Kate was facing a large set of white doors. Four men outlined the section of the hallway. She was able to analyze the situation and noticed that unlike the other men she had seen so far, these four were wearing bulletproof vests under their suits. This was Logan White’s office. It had to be.

  The four guards stepped aside, and one of them spoke into his radio. “Boss, they’re here.” The response was difficult to understand due to the large volume of static, but the man must have understood the order. “Yes, sir.” With those words, the doors opened, and she was ushered into the office.

  In the large room sat three desks. One to her left, one to her right, and the biggest one lined the wall parallel to the doorway. On the smaller desks sat two men counting stacks of money. Kate kept her eyes straight and held back any words that threatened to escape her mouth. Behind the central desk was a man in his mid-fifties or so. He had what appeared to be a scar over his left eye and he wore a very nice suit. He poked out his cigar in an ashtray and pulled his chair closer to the desk.

  “Hello there. Do you mind if I ask what a pretty little thing like you is doing snooping around my property?” The tone of his voice was unnerving.

  “I, um, I don’t even know where I am. I was walking my dog and he just ran away from me. I had the leash in my hand, but he yanked it right out. I think a truck was pulling out or something and he got through your gate when it was open. I saw his leash disappear around the hedges and chased after him. I didn’t even notice the guards at first, but as soon as I did, I hid in a bush. I was terrified.” Kate kept a straight face and even showed sincere emotion as she spoke.

  White turned to the guard. “Have you or your men seen any dogs running around the premises?” The man shook his head. “Very well. Have them start a search. As for you, my lady, who are you?”

  When Kate started to speak, White interrupted, looking at her guard once again. “Did she have any ID or anything on her when she was found?”

  “No, sir. She had nothing on her at all. Not even a cell phone.”

  “Interesting.” He turned back to Kate. Do you make a habit out of going for long walks without a phone or a wallet?”

  Keeping the fear at bay, Kate responded in an earnest tone. “I’m sorry sir, but I’m still new to city life. I was just visiting a friend a few blocks away and Ruffles had to go out.”

  The boss’ beady eyes felt like lasers on her skin. “Ruffles?”

  “My dog, sorry.”

  “Very well. If you’re not a city girl, what would you call yourself?”

  “A farmhand. I live on a farm and tend the crops, feed the animals. I’ve grown up doing that all my life.”

  “So a little farm girl found her way into the heavily guarded lion’s den? Sounds like a bad joke.” Logan leaned forward, cupping his chin in one hand. “We don’t take kindly to trespassers. Let us find your little dog and then we’ll have another chat.”

  His cold demeanor chilled Kate to her core. Kate bowed her head and kept her focus toward the ground.

  “Take her to the hold. Make sure she gets some food and water. I might be ruthless, but I’m not a monster.”

  White’s words trailed off as the doors closed behind her an
d the goon. “You did good in there, kid. Just keep your nose down and do what you’re told like in there, and he’ll let you go. We just have to be sure you’re not a threat.”

  “A threat? To whom? What could I do that would harm you guys?”

  “Listen, I don’t know what you’ve seen or what you haven’t, but you’re in over your head. Tread lightly, or you might not make it out of this nightmare.”

  They made their way back downstairs to an old, wooden door that had a large metallic lock and chain on the outside.

  “You’re home,” the man said with half a smile cracked across his face. It took the man at least two minutes to unlock the heavily secured door. He nudged her inside.

  In the square room sat a single chair that looked to be cemented into the floor. Two long chains with cuffs lay on the sides of the chair.

  Psalm 12:3-4.

  May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?”

  Chapter 14.

  Darkness. That’s all there was.

  After the guard had shut the door, Kate was left shackled in a small room with no windows. She knew it would be no use screaming. Nobody would hear her; at least nobody who would be willing to help. The only solace she found was in the form of the light shining underneath the heavily barricaded door. Fear clouded her mind as panic swallowed her whole.

  “What a nightmare!” she said aloud. A large part of her was hoping that somehow Ryan would show up to save her, but then her cover would be blown and everything would just get even worse.

  Kate figured there had to be a way out of there. She ran her eyes across the room, surveying every inch that the small fragment of light allowed her to see. There was nothing around her but an empty room.

  The one thing that her career had taught her was never to let the fear take over. Just a stupid joke and a small laugh could be the difference between giving up and overcoming the odds. Suddenly, she thought back to one phrase that White had said. “Make sure she gets some food and water. I might be ruthless, but I’m not a monster.”