by Debby Giusti
Hannah disliked doctors as much as she disliked cops. Yet Lucas insisted on taking her to the medical clinic in Willkommen. The receptionist greeted them warmly before handing Hannah a pile of forms to fill out.
“I’m feeling better, Lucas,” Hannah assured him. “You can leave me here and run errands or pick up supplies for the inn. I’ll be fine.”
He shook his head. “I’m not leaving. I want to know what the doctor has to say. Besides, I don’t want you running out on me.”
In spite of her aching head, she almost smiled. “Would I do that?”
He laughed quietly. “You look as skittish as a colt ready to bolt. You need to tell the doctor everything that happened.”
“I’ll tell him that I took a fall.”
“That you were thrown to the ground forcefully, hit your head and have been woozy ever since.”
“If I tell him all that, he’ll keep me for observation.”
“Which would probably be best. I’ll be in the waiting room. Send the nurse to get me if you need anything.”
The doctor was duly concerned about Hannah’s condition when he finally entered the examination room more than an hour later.
“You’ve got a significant hematoma on your head, Ms. Miller.” He glanced at her over the top of his bifocals and pursed his lips. “We need to make certain there are no complications before we decide how to proceed.”
“I really don’t think all the fuss is necessary.”
“I’ll order lab work and a CAT scan,” the doctor suggested, “and go from there. Fortunately, a mobile imaging service is on site today.”
Hannah knew arguing was useless.
The scan was painless and she was surprised to see Lucas waiting for her when she came back to the exam room. “I thought you would have gone to the sheriff’s office by now.”
“We’ll go together as soon as you’re released.”
Four hours later they left the clinic with instructions for Hannah to rest. Lucas placed his hand on her back and escorted her to the car.
“You need to take it easy.”
“I’m a guest at the inn. It’s a relaxing place. I don’t need a doctor to tell me to relax.”
Except she didn’t mention the man who had tried to do her harm. She wouldn’t focus on that or on him.
“The sheriff’s office isn’t far,” Lucas assured her.
“I’d rather not talk to law enforcement today.”
“I know, but we need to notify the authorities about what happened.”
She sighed. “What can they do?”
“Hopefully they can be on the lookout for the guy with a burned-out taillight.”
The sheriff’s office was small but tidy. A deputy greeted them. He introduced himself as Lamar Gainz and motioned for them to sit in chairs across from his desk.
Lucas took the lead and quickly explained about the attacker who had accosted Hannah last night and again today on the trail.
“Do you know the man’s name?” the deputy asked.
“I saw him for the first time at a filling station.” She explained about the hole in her radiator and how the man had stopped to offer his so-called help.
“He threatened you?” Gainz asked.
“His comments were offensive. I feared for my safety and ran into the woods. He followed.”
“Did he hurt you?”
“Not then. Not until today.”
At the deputy’s prompting, she provided a description.
“And he was the same man who came after you today?” the deputy asked.
She nodded. “That’s correct. It has something to do with my sister Miriam Miller. The man mentioned needing to know where she was. I’m hoping you have information about a carjacking she was involved in. My mother was killed and my young sister Sarah was kidnapped.”
The deputy’s eyes widened. “You’re related to Miriam Miller?”
Hannah scooted forward in the chair. “I saw on a news report that Miriam left Willkommen. Do you have any information as to her current whereabouts?”
“You probably saw the clip about her boarding the bus. The local news station has run it frequently over the last few weeks.”
Hannah nodded. “That’s the one.”
“Your sister left Willkommen but then returned to the area some days later. While here, she stayed with the Zook family, Abram and his sister Emma.”
The deputy glanced at Lucas. “I doubt anyone at the inn would know Zook. He kept to himself. His farm is located a distance outside of town. From what I heard, Ms. Miller decided to join the Amish faith. I believe she and Mr. Zook planned to marry.”
Hannah’s eyes widened. “Are they at the farm now? I need to see my sister.”
“’Fraid that can’t happen. The carjacking was front-page news in our local paper and was picked up by radio and television stations in Atlanta. Lots of newsmen came to town looking for information. Abram was worried about Miriam’s safety, so they left the area. Ned Quigley has been the acting sheriff while Sam Kurtz has been out on medical leave. Ned and Sheriff Kurtz are the only people who know how to get in touch with Abram.”
“Then I need to talk to the acting sheriff,” Hannah insisted.
“Yes, ma’am, but he’s tied up at the Georgia Bureau of Investigations headquarters in Atlanta at the moment. Don’t expect him back for a few more days.”
“Give me his number and I’ll call him.”
The deputy nodded. “You could, but I doubt he’ll divulge any information about their whereabouts.”
“But Miriam is my sister,” she reminded the deputy.
“Yes, ma’am, but that’s the way they wanted it kept so no one could come after her.”
“I don’t understand.”
“There’s speculation a human-trafficking ring has been working in the area. When your sister’s car was stopped on the mountain road, two men captured Miriam and her sister Sarah.”
Hannah’s heart thumped harder hearing her younger sister’s name. “Do you know where I can find Sarah?”
He shook his head. “There’s an ongoing investigation, but so far nothing has turned up. Your mother tried to protect Miriam when one of the men grabbed her. Guess Mom went after the guy. That’s when she was killed.”
“Would anyone else have information? Perhaps the sheriff who was injured?”
“Sheriff Kurtz? He’s leaving rehab tomorrow, although I’m not sure where he’s going after that. He needs to find a place to recuperate.”
“Surely he has an apartment or home.”
“Indeed he does, but that doesn’t mean he can take care of himself. He’ll need time to regain his strength.”
“I want to talk to him,” she demanded.
The deputy nodded. “I’ll gladly give you information as to where he’s staying once he lets me know his plans.”
She raised her hands in frustration. “Can you tell me anything else about my sisters?”
“Only that Miriam was in good health and she seemed happy.”
“Happy that our mother was dead and our younger sister kidnapped?” Hannah asked, unable to understand his comment.
“Happy with Abram, ma’am. Those two make a nice couple.”
She wasn’t convinced. “Are you sure my sister is safe with Zook? If what you said is true, Miriam might not be acting rationally. I never thought she would become Amish.”
The deputy glanced at Lucas and then back at Hannah, making her realize her last comment may have been out of line.
“It’s not that the Amish aren’t good people,” she said, hoping to walk back her comment. “But I can’t see her settling down with an Amish widower, which is what she said he was on her voice mail.”
“Abram’s a good man,
” the deputy chimed in. “His wife died three years ago. He’s had a hard time getting over her death.”
“Can you assure me that Mr. Zook didn’t abscond with my sister? For all I know, he could be working with the traffickers.”
“Ma’am, Abram would never harm a woman.”
“Yet he’s keeping my sister’s whereabouts secret.”
“Which means the traffickers won’t find her.” Lucas squeezed Hannah’s hand. “We’ll find out more information when we talk to the sheriff.”
Although she appreciated Lucas’s optimism, she still had questions. “Did Miriam say anything about our mother?” she asked the deputy.
“Only that she was sometimes hard to handle due to her ALZ.”
Hannah leaned closer. “You mean Alzheimer’s?”
“Yes, ma’am. Your mother hoped to reconnect with her sister. That’s why the girls brought her to Willkommen.” The deputy shrugged. “Sad part was that the hijacking happened before they ever arrived in town.”
“I didn’t know my mother had a sister.”
“Annie Miller’s her name, as I recall, although Miriam could never locate her.”
“What about my mother’s burial?”
The deputy frowned. “Sorry to say that, due to the murder investigation, her body hasn’t been released yet.”
Hannah’s heart sank. “It’s been more than six weeks.”
He nodded. “With the sheriff in the hospital, things are taking a little longer.”
A lot longer, she wanted to say. “Would you see when her body can be released? I’ll make the arrangements.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
But not today. She wasn’t up to picking out a casket or planning an internment.
“Where did the carjacking take place?” Lucas asked, changing the subject, for which she was grateful.
“A few miles past the Zook farm and the Beiler dairy. The road angles up the mountain to the county line. The Petersville police have jurisdiction on the other side of the county line. That’s where your sister abandoned her car when she escaped from the cabin where she was being held.”
“How far away was the cabin?” Hannah asked.
“A couple miles.” He turned to Lucas. “An old guy named Ezra Jacobs lived near the road that leads up to Pine Lodge Mountain Resort. The two sisters were held not far from his place.”
“What about Sarah?” Lucas asked. “Has anything been done to find her?”
“Here’s the problem,” the deputy admitted. “One of our men was injured in a vehicular accident the day Miriam’s abandoned car was found by the river. He’s been hospitalized in Atlanta since then.”
“The accident was in connection with the carjacking?” Lucas asked.
“Not that we can determine, although nothing can be ruled out at this point. With Sheriff Kurtz needing medical care and Ned Quigley at GBI, it leaves us short-staffed. We haven’t received any leads for a few weeks. Miriam described the guy who took her younger sister as tall and slender with red hair. He shouldn’t be too hard to spot, but so far, no one has seen him.”
Hannah hung her head, thinking of the last time she’d seen Sarah, the night she’d left home. Her younger sister hadn’t wanted Hannah to leave.
Swallowing hard, she glanced up at the deputy. “Please let me know if any information surfaces about either of my sisters. I’ll be staying at the inn for at least a few days.”
She turned to Lucas. “I’d like to visit the Zook farm and see it for myself, if we have time.”
“Follow the main road out of town, heading west,” the deputy told Lucas. “You’ll see the farm just after the fork in the road. Two Amish lads, the Keim twins, are helping to maintain the property and livestock while Zook is gone. Tell the boys who you are.”
He glanced at Hannah. “They don’t have information about Abram or Miriam’s whereabouts.”
“What about Isaac Beiler?” she asked.
“His dairy isn’t far from the Zook place. I haven’t seen him or his wife and son for a few days. His wife’s name is Emma. She’s Abram’s sister. I’m sure she’d like to meet you.”
Hopefully Emma would provide more information and know how to contact Miriam.
“This case has all of us concerned,” the deputy continued. “Plus, there was a young Amish girl who went missing some months earlier.”
“Rosie Glick?” Hannah asked.
The deputy raised his brow. “You’ve heard of her?”
“Her name was mentioned on the late-night news report. She was thought to have run off with a boyfriend.”
Gainz nodded. “That’s right. Most folks think that’s what happened, but when you’ve got a case like this with two women captured and another killed, you have to wonder if there’s something we didn’t see in the Glick investigation.”
Lucas leaned closer. “Can you provide any more information about Rosie?”
“Only that she was seeing a young man in the area. A non-Amish guy.”
“An Englischer?” Lucas asked.
“Exactly. His name was Will MacIntosh.”
“You mind providing an address so we could talk to him?”
“Don’t see how that would hurt if you can track him down. He left town the same time—that’s why we thought they were together. His family used to live around here. The father wasn’t the nicest of men.”
“How old was Rosie when she disappeared?” Hannah asked.
“Seventeen. She would have had a birthday since then. The boy was three years older. The sheriff put out a BOLO on both kids but nothing turned up.”
Gainz wrote directions on a piece of notepaper and handed it to Lucas. “You can talk to the girl’s parents, although they might not be very welcoming. You know how the Amish stick to themselves.”
He glanced at Lucas’s clothing. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to insult you.”
“The Amish stick to themselves because they live apart from the world, Deputy. Not in the world.”
“Sometimes their lives interact with worldly issues and that’s when law enforcement gets involved, but that’s something you might not understand.”
Lucas scowled. Evidently he didn’t appreciate the deputy’s inference that someone dressed Amish wouldn’t have a handle on law enforcement.
Hannah stood and shook hands with the deputy. “Let us know if you find out any additional information.”
“I’ll be in touch,” Gainz said before they left the office and hurried to the car.
“There’s not much to go on,” Hannah admitted. Lucas opened the passenger door for her. “But it’s a start.”
He nodded and glanced at the sky. “Looks like a storm is rolling in. We can postpone the visit to Zook’s farm until tomorrow when you feel a little stronger.”
She shook her head. “I came to Willkommen to find my sisters. I don’t want to give up now.”
SIX
Storm clouds gathered overhead and rain began to fall as Lucas pulled onto the road heading out of town. He eyed the sky, concerned about the weather and Hannah’s safety. Glancing at the rearview mirror, he checked for anyone who might be following them.
The rain increased in intensity. He turned the wipers to high and activated the defroster. Inwardly, he questioned his lack of common sense for exposing Hannah to danger that might lurk along the country road.
“We should turn around and head back to the inn,” he suggested, seeing the stretch of isolation that lay ahead of them. “I’m worried about your safety.”
“Don’t be silly, Lucas. If I’m reading the GPS on my phone correctly, we’ll be at the Zook farm before long.” She stared at the screen, no doubt estimating the distance they still had to drive. “It would be a shame to turn around now.”
Lucas flicked another glance at the rearview mirror. The road behind them was clear. The horizon was, as well.
“Promise me,” he said, “that we won’t stay long. We’ll walk around the house, maybe check the barn, and then head back to the car.”
“I told you, I just want to see where Miriam stayed. I won’t cause a problem or dally too long.”
“You’re not a problem,” he assured her.
She almost smiled. “Have you always been a worst-case type of guy?”
“What’s that mean?”
“That you envision the worst.”
“Seems you forgot that I found you hiding on the top of a deer stand.”
She nodded. “Which I appreciate. I’m not sure what I would have done if you hadn’t happened along.”
“Knowing you, Hannah, you probably would have stuck a wad of chewing gum into the hole in the radiator, filled the reservoir from your stash of water bottles in the trunk of your car and driven to Willkommen to talk to the deputy sheriff.”
“It was the middle of the night. The sheriff’s office would have been closed, and I don’t like to talk to law enforcement.”
“But you did fine today.”
“Because you were with me,” she admitted.
“You’ve got a beef with police?” he asked.
“I’m a private person. Sharing information is difficult, especially with strangers.”
“Your policeman is your friend. Didn’t your mother teach you that?”
“My mother threatened me by saying she would call the cops.”
The comment surprised him. “You were a difficult kid?”
“No. In fact, I was easygoing. I worked hard to help pay the bills and bring money into the family.”
“But?” He stared at her.
“But my mother didn’t believe everything I did was in the family’s best interest. Deputy Gainz said she was suffering from Alzheimer’s. That might answer some of the questions I’ve struggled with since leaving home. My mother hadn’t been herself, only I was too stubborn to realize the deeper issues that must have played into her change of temperament. Unfortunately, I didn’t see the signs. Evidently Miriam was more observant than I was, but then, that’s what my mother had always said.”
