by Dana R. Lynn
Tucker nodded. “Very well. I’m going to go make some calls. I especially want to know what on earth made Holly’s sister post about the kidnappings on social media.”
* * *
Not long after, Sergeant Zee arrived with Rebecca, and escorted her into an interview room. Miles made his way back to Rebecca reluctantly. The last thing he wanted to do was to give her the bad news. But there wasn’t any choice. Either she found out from him, or she found out from someone else. And he couldn’t bear the thought of her having to hear the tragic news from someone she didn’t know.
He’d wasted enough time. If he was going to protect her, he needed to get moving.
Setting his jaw, he shoved open the door and entered the room. Rebecca’s head shot up, her blue eyes searching his face. The fear he saw there just about broke his heart before he pushed the emotion away. He couldn’t let himself get distracted. Not now, when there was so much at stake.
He sat at the table across from Rebecca. The move was deliberate. He needed distance between them. The interpreter smoothly stood and moved beside him. He didn’t even spare her a glance. Lieutenant Tucker shut the door and sat at the head of the table. He gave Miles a nod to go ahead.
Taking a deep breath, he began. “I have bad news. Holly’s dead. She was murdered early this morning.”
All the blood leeched from her face. Tears pooled in her blue eyes.
He hated this.
“She was killed after the news reported her missing,” she signed, her hands shaking. “And reported her connection to Terry Gleason.”
He knew she’d pick up on that fact. “Yes. We believe the man is in a hurry to finish his attacks before he can get caught now that a connection has been made.”
“Why wasn’t Brooke’s name mentioned?”
Lieutenant Tucker broke in. “Probably because she was a minor when it happened. I talked with Holly’s sister this morning. She started this by posting about it on social media. But she never had Brooke’s name. Even during the trial, Laurie wasn’t there, and the names of the minors involved were not released.”
Now for the new plan. Miles took over when the lieutenant stopped talking. “You can relax about Brooke. She’s safe.” For the moment. He quickly relayed what he’d learned that morning. “I don’t think you should stay at your apartment tonight. It’s just not safe.”
She cocked her head at him, her brow crinkling. “But I thought I would have Claire with me again.”
Claire? Oh! Sergeant Zee. He almost chuckled. There was so much innocence in her, even after all she had been through. She never tried to keep people at arm’s length. Everyone was a friend. The amusement faded. As much as he hated the thought, it would be better for her if she stopped trusting so easily.
“Your apartment is too well-known now. Obviously, your attacker is aware of it. And the security code wasn’t enough to keep him out. I don’t think the place is secure. You’ll be safer somewhere else altogether.”
“Where will I go?”
“We’ll think of that. First, let’s go back to the apartment and you can pack a bag. Grab whatever you need to last you several days.”
The moment the lieutenant gave him leave to go, they departed for her home. Jackson met them there. He waved at the other officer, who was on his phone. Jackson had come to add another layer of protection as Miles moved Rebecca. He followed her into the apartment and waited while she gathered her things. She came out of her room sooner than he expected.
“All done?”
“Almost. But I’m worried. My brother’s getting married in less than a week. I can’t miss his wedding.”
Great. One more problem to work around. Part of him considered telling her he couldn’t guarantee that she’d be able to go. If her attacker was still at large, then even a special family event wasn’t worth the risk. But looking at her weary face, he found he couldn’t do it. He compromised.
“I can’t make any promises, but if it’s at all possible, I will get you to the wedding.”
She wasn’t completely satisfied with his answer, he could see that. But it was the best he could do under the circumstances. A frown pulled down the corners of her mouth. He had to give her credit, though. She dealt with her disappointment calmly and returned to her room to complete her packing.
He made a few phone calls while he waited. He had just ended a call when she returned, a large duffel bag slung over one shoulder. Her hair had been pulled up under a baseball cap. A backpack was on her back.
“Got your laptop? Your textbooks?”
She jerked a thumb at the backpack. “All in there.”
He smothered a grin. She might not appreciate the sentiment, but she was adorable. And the image of the typical all-American girl. No one seeing her would have any clue that until a handful of years ago, she’d been part of the Amish community.
How difficult it must have been growing up unable to share more than the most basic communication with her family. It wasn’t just that her family was Amish. He knew that many hearing families struggled learning how to communicate with their deaf children. But being Amish would have limited the opportunities and resources available to them. He was grateful that he could be there for her now, help her through this ordeal. Be her protector...
Mentally, he backpedaled. He was getting too involved. Too close to her. Experience had taught him that he made mistakes when his emotions were involved. Mistakes that had almost cost him his job. And could cost Rebecca her life.
He needed to distance himself. That was the only way he could keep her safe.
* * *
She was in the middle of a nightmare. Holly dead. Ashley in a coma. Who would be next? Her? Brooke? She was on the edge of a gigantic black hole, just waiting for it to suck her back into the vortex. Only this time, how would she get out?
Or would she be able to escape at all?
The last time had cost her so much. And not just the innocence stolen by the abuse the girls had endured. She’d been forced to make the decision that ultimately led to her leaving her Amish community. She didn’t know if she had it in her to survive the terror a second time. Especially now that she was alone.
Alone. How was she going to be able to handle living in the apartment without Holly, knowing that her friend was never coming home? When Miles had decreed she couldn’t stay there for the next few nights, she’d worried about where she would go—but she’d also been so relieved that she’d be able to get away. That she wouldn’t have to stay somewhere where every corner reminded her of the friend she’d never see again. Where she couldn’t block out the memory of her attacker grabbing hold of her, trying to drag her away.
Relief and confusion warred for her attention. She wanted nothing more than to follow blindly if it meant that she would not have to step foot back in that apartment. But that wouldn’t be smart. She needed to be responsible. Which meant not letting Miles, as sweet as he was, make decisions for her.
Rebecca held her breath. If he suggested that the department would put her up in a hotel for the night, she would have to shut that idea down fast. That would put her way too far into debt. Not that they would ever expect her to pay them back. It was the principle behind the idea that mattered, though.
She shot a covert glance his way. He was standing, talking into his watch. She could see a piece of plastic in his ear. A Bluetooth. It seemed odd to her, but it fit him. He was obviously into gadgets. Miles shook his head. His bangs flopped across his forehead. My, he was adorable.
Which meant nothing, she reprimanded herself, ignoring the way her breathing hitched in her chest.
Sergeant Jackson entered the apartment as Miles finished his conversation and went to stand near him. Every now and then he would nod at something Miles said. A few minutes later, Jackson moved outside again and Miles made another call.
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Rebecca hated to be petty, but the fact that she hadn’t been in on the conversation really bothered her. Because she knew what they were discussing revolved around her. She and Holly and what had happened so long ago.
Don’t be silly, she admonished herself. Even if she had been involved, she knew that it was also police business. Even if she had hearing, she wouldn’t have been let in on those discussions. Anyway, she was used to being excluded from conversations. Growing up, neither of her parents had been able to become fluent signers. They had tried. She knew that. But Pennsylvania Dutch and ASL weren’t exactly compatible. Her parents spoke English, it was true, but they always preferred their native tongue.
It wasn’t all bad. Levi and Lizzy had learned ASL very well. Out of all her siblings, he and Lizzy were the ones she was closest too. At least emotionally. Thomas and Joseph were between her and Lizzy chronologically, but the boys had been too busy to learn more than rudimentary signs. The youngest, Ruth, had been just a toddler when she’d left the community.
“I have a plan,” Miles announced, reverting back to ASL now that his phone call was done. “I was just on the phone with Jess. I’m going to drop you off at her house. She and Seth have agreed to let you stay with them. I’ve also cleared it for a cruiser to be placed on watch.”
She shook her head. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate her friends, and the kindness of their gesture. She loved Jess, and Seth was great. But without warning, a deep longing for her mother filled the empty cavity in her chest.
“Can’t I go stay with my family?” She put as much pleading into her facial expression as possible as she signed to him.
“Your family is Amish.”
“I know that.”
“We wouldn’t be allowed to put a cruiser in front of their house. You’d be an open target. Especially with the renewed interest in the case.”
“Would they even know that I grew up Amish?”
“I’m sorry.” She believed him. Those deep blue eyes were pools of remorse. “I looked over the information from the trial yesterday while I was on my laptop. Your name wasn’t released then, but the fact that one of the girls was Amish was. I can’t take the chance. You’d be putting yourself, and your family, at risk.”
He was right. As much as she wanted to argue, she had to accept it. She couldn’t bear to bring this danger into her parents’ home. Disappointment filled her. Lowering her eyes, she tried to conceal her feelings. A pair of spit-shined shoes entered her line of vision. Miles had moved to stand directly in front of her. She had to raise her eyes, tilting her head back so she could look into his face and see his hands moving.
“I wish I could let you go to your family. But you know it wouldn’t be safe. At least at Jess’s house, I can protect you.”
And with that, she had to be satisfied. She followed Miles out to his car. Jackson was outside, standing guard. Rebecca turned and took one last look at her apartment building. Because there was no way she would ever be able to go back there now. She could return long enough to pack up her things for good, but she’d never live there again. Even while she had packed, goose bumps had popped out all over her skin. She had constantly looked over her shoulder. It was the quickest packing job ever as she threw her clothes in helter-skelter. She could only hope she had actually packed the clothes and toiletries needed to last several days.
One thing was certain. The moment this nightmare was over, she was looking for a new place to live. Even if she had to break her lease.
Within fifteen minutes, they were speeding on their way toward Jess and Seth’s house. The darkness inside the car enveloped her like a cocoon. Her head started to nod. Leaning back against the headrest, she allowed herself to drift, thinking about the day’s events.
A hand on her shoulder awakened her. Blinking, she pushed herself upright in her seat just as they passed the sign for River Road Stables. Jess had originally run the training and boarding stables with her brother, Cody. After he had died last year, she’d taken over the business. Seth and she now resided in the large white ranch house, which was adjacent to the stables.
The comforting scent of the recently mowed grass and dust mingled with the smell of horses drifted in through Miles’s partially open window. She inhaled deeply, feeling soothed by the aromas that had surrounded her as a child in the Amish community. She tapped the button on her door panel to roll down her own window. A cool fall breeze tickled her cheeks, but she didn’t mind.
The car swept past the stables and continued up the well-lit driveway. Jess had married a prince of a man. Seth had state-of-the-art security lights installed almost the minute they returned from their honeymoon. He knew how much his wife hated the dark—the result of a childhood trauma. The lights she’d had previously had been seriously outdated.
A pretty woman with a medium-brown ponytail moved onto the front porch as the car came to a halt. Jess. Rebecca hopped out of the car and ran up the steps to greet her friend. And to get into the familiar environment of the house.
She knew Miles was right behind her. She could feel his presence on the stairs behind her. His solid presence steadied her and brought her comfort. That worried her. She didn’t want to start to depend too much on him. Yes, he could sign, and he was very protective. That didn’t mean anything. He was a police officer. She was a case. That was all.
It had to be.
“Stay for dinner, Miles?” Jess signed and spoke simultaneously.
He flashed a brief smile, making Rebecca’s pulse spike. “Thanks. But I need to get back to the station. Continue working the leads. I know Seth is working tonight, so you ladies lock the doors and set the alarm as soon as I go. A police car will be stationed here overnight. An officer should be here within the hour.”
He waited for them to agree, then departed.
Rebecca watched his car turn around and start down the drive.
“You okay?” Jess signed.
Rebecca nodded her head.
“Okay. I left the phone in the kitchen. Seth wants me to call to let him know you arrived safely.”
Touched, Rebecca hugged her friend. Pulling back, she signed, “Thank him for me, please. It really means a lot that you and he are letting me stay.”
As she expected, Jess laughed and shook her head, making her ponytail bounce. “Silly. You’re my oldest friend. Of course you can stay.”
Rebecca watched Jess amble to the kitchen, taking all the cheer with her. Returning her gaze to the window, she sighed. Miles was gone. She hadn’t expected him to stay. He had a job to do. And a killer to catch.
She had never felt so alone.
SIX
What kind of person kidnapped young women and murdered them?
Rebecca tried to study, but finally had to concede defeat. The events of the past couple of days weighed too heavily on her mind to allow her to concentrate on anything else. Setting her books and laptop aside, she went to her bag and pulled out her Bible.
Under the Bible was an old quilt her mother had made for her when she was younger. She pulled that out as well, then wrapped it securely around her shoulders. The blanket soothed her with the memories that were stitched into it. Martha Miller had made quilts for each of her children when they were young. A necessity when living in Pennsylvania where the winters were cold. She’d used the quilts as a way to teach her three daughters the fine art of quilting. Warmth mingled with disappointment in those moments.
Rebecca had sat at her mother’s side, watching her hands carefully. She’d learned by watching how to form the stitches. Whatever words Martha had said, however, were wasted. She’d needed both hands for the sewing and could not use even the limited sign language she’d mastered to sign to her daughter. How could one feel so loved and so isolated at the same time?
She did, though. For most of her life.
&nb
sp; Sighing, Rebecca turned to God for comfort, glad that she had really gotten to know Him through her friend Jess. Especially now, when she needed to be strong, and wasn’t sure if she had enough courage to stand on her own.
Miles will protect you.
Would he? Had God sent Miles in His Providence? A protector who could communicate with her without needing to take the time to write everything down or go through an interpreter?
These questions were still swirling around in her mind when she went to bed an hour later. She had worried that she would be too wound up to sleep, but exhaustion soon caught up with her.
She woke up suddenly. Confusion and disorientation dazed her mind for a moment, until she remembered where she was. Jess’s house.
The clock beside her bed said four thirteen. She had hoped to be able to sleep in this morning. She sighed. It would have been great to snuggle back down under the covers, but she was wide-awake now. It would have been nice to talk with someone. No one else in the house would be up for at least an hour. If it was later, she could have used Jess’s videophone to call someone. She’d used it to call the bookstore last night and talk with Tracy to let her know she might not be in today. Something she wouldn’t have been able to do without the device. Tracy didn’t sign. That wasn’t an issue though. The videophone connected directly with the Pennsylvania Relay System. She’d been able to sign to the interpreter on her screen. The interpreter voiced what she signed to Tracy on the other end. It didn’t even matter that Tracy was using a regular phone.
I wonder what Miles is doing?
She snorted. What did she think he was doing? Sleeping. The odds that he would answer a text or a call were not in her favor. Did he even own a videophone? He had to. Didn’t he say once he had deaf grandparents? And the way he liked his gadgets, she couldn’t see that not being one of them.
Antsy, she sat up and tapped the touch lamp near the bed once. The low light glowed like a night-light, making the room just light enough for her to see the shapes of the furniture throughout the room. Through a broken slat in the blinds, she could barely make out little pinpricks of light. She loved stars. They were like a connection to God. The window beckoned to her.
