Undercover Amish

by Debby Giusti

  “Yah. He does not want to be coddled, but he is not as strong as he thinks. The man can be stubborn.” Fannie smiled impishly. “He will hurt himself if he pushes too hard. I told him he could not do any work for the first week he is here. He did not like that, but it was the only way I would agree to having him stay with us.”

  “You and the sheriff are friends?” Hannah asked.

  Fannie smiled knowingly. “Yes, for many years. He was new to Willkommen when we first met. My father did not think he was someone with whom I should spend time.”

  There was a longing in Fannie’s voice that Hannah had not heard before. Then just that quickly, the Amish woman wiped her hands on a napkin and rose. “You have reminded me that I must check on him.” She glanced at Hannah. “Lucas has chores, but you can join me. I think you want to talk to him about your sisters. You could also tell him what you found today.”

  “I’m...” She glanced at Lucas.

  His gaze softened. “You don’t have to be fearful of the sheriff.”

  “Of course not. I’m not afraid. It’s just that—”

  She didn’t want either of them to learn the truth about her past and about the man who had given her life. Her gut tightened. She rubbed her hand over her abdomen, hoping to stem the rumble that ensued.

  “You are tired and would perhaps want to rest?” Fannie offered.

  “Yes, that’s it exactly. I just need to shut my eyes for a few minutes.”

  Hannah pushed away from the table, carried the cup to the sink and left it on the sideboard, and then hurried upstairs to get away from both their questioning gazes. Hannah needed time to forget Lucas’s kiss and gather strength and the wherewithal to face the sheriff.

  She didn’t like law enforcement, never had, and especially not since her mother had threatened to call the authorities. Hannah needed to run away and pretend she had never been involved with her mother or her criminal dad.

  * * *

  Lucas was worried about Hannah. Today had almost been her undoing. He and Fannie left her to rest, locked the doors to the house and hurried to the inn. Fannie scurried into the kitchen to help with preparations for the evening meal while Lucas knocked at the sheriff’s door.

  “Sheriff Kurtz, it’s Lucas Grant. If you’re not too tired, I’d like to talk to you.”

  The door opened and the sheriff, looking a bit older and more stooped than he had the last time they had met, extended his hand. “Good to see you, Lucas. Come in. Fannie said you’ve been involved in a new situation.”

  Lucas closed the door and gave the sheriff time to return to the easy chair in the corner by the bed. “Draw up that other chair,” the older man said, pointing to a straight-back chair near the door. “I never knew recuperation from a gunshot wound could take so long. Guess it says a lot for my age.”

  “Sir, from what I heard, you took a close-range hit to the abdomen. The surgeons had a lot of work to do.”

  “I’m not faulting their ability, mind you. I just don’t appreciate being laid up so long. I expected to be back at my job by now, but the docs insist I need more time to heal.”

  Gingerly he rubbed his side. “I have to tell you they’re right. No way I could sit at a desk or drive around in my squad car the way I’m feeling. Fannie invited me to stay at the inn. She claims three good meals a day and fresh air will have me back on my feet in no time.”

  “She’s a thoughtful woman, and I know she’s been worried about you. We all have.”

  “Appreciate it, Lucas. Coming close to death as the docs said I did makes a man look at life anew, if you know what I mean.”

  Lucas thought of his own gunshot wound. The ache in his leg was minor compared to what the sheriff had experienced. Still, Lucas could relate. His own inability to regain his strength had been a proverbial thorn in his flesh.

  “You know, Fannie took me in when I was struggling,” Lucas shared. “She gave me a dose of tough love when I started feeling sorry for myself. That coupled with her chicken soup got me on the right track. You’ll be feeling strong in no time.”

  “Just so I don’t get used to the soft life.”

  Lucas smiled. “I don’t know if I’ve ever heard the Amish life called ‘soft.’”

  The sheriff laughed heartily and then sobered. “You may have heard my story. I was raised Amish in Ethridge, Tennessee, but decided to leave the faith and moved to Georgia.”

  The sheriff’s words took Lucas by surprise. “I’m doing just the opposite. After working here for the last eleven months and with Fannie’s love for Gott, as she says, rubbing off on me, I’m considering seeking baptism.”

  “Have you talked to the bishop?”

  Lucas shook his head. “Not recently. We talked a while back.”

  “From the sound of your voice, I take it the talk didn’t go well.”

  Lucas shrugged. “He asked some direct questions and I answered truthfully. Seems I have a few issues to resolve before he can accept me as a member of his community.”

  The sheriff narrowed his eyes. “You told me you were a cop. That’s not the easiest life, as we both know. Most folks thought I was crazy growing up Amish and then going into law enforcement.”

  “The two don’t seem to coincide, do they, sir?”

  “Not a bit. But there was something inside me that wanted to help. To make order out of some of the disorder I saw around me. I wanted that peaceful life for the folks I knew. No better way, in my opinion, than to be an officer of the peace.”

  Lucas appreciated the sheriff’s take on law enforcement. Too many people thought cops went into criminal justice to carry a gun and order people around, which was the farthest thing from the truth.

  “I appreciated you coming to me when you first arrived in this area, Lucas, and telling me about Savannah and the trouble you had experienced there. I told you then that I was sorry about your partner’s death and knew you carried a heavy burden.” The older man leaned closer. “You weren’t at fault—I’m sure of that.”

  “She called me with information she’d received from a dubious source who I thought was taking her for a ride. We hadn’t been able to find anything in two months. I doubted the new intel was legit.”

  “But she went in without you.”

  Lucas nodded. “She told me she wouldn’t. Then the next thing I get a phone call telling me she’s in trouble. I got there too late.”

  The sheriff steepled his fingers. “We all make mistakes, Lucas, although the mistake was your partner’s and not yours. She should have waited for backup. But then, that’s easy to say all these months later. I’m sorry for your loss.”

  Lucas nodded. “Thank you, sir. I thought I was over it. Then...” He hesitated. “Then I stumbled upon Hannah Miller in the woods.”

  Lucas told the sheriff what had happened and explained about the subsequent attacks and what they had found at Rosie Glick’s boyfriend’s trailer. “The two cases seem connected.”

  The sheriff rubbed his jaw. “You know we thought Rosie had run off. Hate to think we got that wrong and that she’s been held captive all this time, especially if she’s been caught in a trafficking operation.”

  “Did you talk to Miriam Miller? Hannah’s worried about her whereabouts.”

  “She’s safe. I’ve got an address to contact her somewhere in my things. As soon as I find it, I’ll pass it on. Assure Hannah that her sister’s with Abram Zook and he’ll take care of her.”

  “I’ll tell Hannah. What about Sarah? Supposedly she was carted off by a red-haired man.”

  “Which is what Miriam told us. I’ve had people looking for him. So far he hasn’t surfaced.” The sheriff shook his head with regret and then raised his gaze to Lucas. “What did you uncover in the Savannah operation?”

  “A shipping tycoon by the name of Vipera. It�
�s thought that he buys young, good-looking women and ships them out of the country on his cargo ships.”

  “Takes them to foreign countries?”

  “Some, and some are taken to his private island where he entertains business people and government types from foreign countries.”

  “He needs to be stopped,” the sheriff said.

  “My thoughts exactly, but then someone wanted me out of the picture in Savannah. My partner was set up and they tried to get me, as well. I was politely told to turn in my badge and leave town.”

  “Seems the tycoon has pull, even with law enforcement.”

  “That’s how I saw it. I had been wounded in a run-in with some of Vipera’s goons and knew there was nothing I could do to change my past. I had to make a new future.”

  Again the sheriff stared long and hard at Lucas. “I think I know what caused the bishop to question whether you should join the Amish faith. He doesn’t understand a man’s need to bring the guilty to justice. Sometimes there’s a fine line between justice and vindication.”

  Lucas didn’t respond but he was relieved to know the sheriff understood. Lucas wanted to apprehend the thug who’d killed his partner even if retribution wasn’t the Amish way. He also wanted to nab Vipera.

  As much as he wanted to join the Amish faith, Lucas knew he’d be hard-pressed to turn the other cheek even if that was what the bishop demanded before he could gain entrance into the faith.

  The sheriff narrowed his gaze. “Now tell me about this man who came after Hannah.”

  Lucas provided a description and recounted everything that had happened, which brought him back to today. “Rosie Glick’s boyfriend worked at the lodge. Have you heard anything about that place?”

  “Funny you should mention it. One of my deputies was in a vehicle accident the day Miriam escaped from her captor. He’s been on a ventilator since then and hasn’t been able to talk. According to his wife, he suspected something was going on at the lodge. High rollers from Atlanta and points south come in for a little hunting and fishing. My deputy suspected other things were happening, as well. The men rarely brought their wives and families, so I’ll let you put the pieces together.”

  “Did he find proof of his suspicions?”

  “Not that I know of, but his car was struck by a delivery van. The only info I have is that a small snake was on the side of the truck’s paneling.”

  Lucas leaned forward in the chair, his pulse kicking up a notch. “Are you sure about the snake?”

  “Deputy Garner spelled out a message, and I determined he was trying to say ‘snake.’ Could have been wrong. I’m not sure. Why?”

  “It’s a long shot, sir, but as I mentioned, the shipping tycoon’s last name is Vipera, which is a genus of venomous snakes. A coiled snake is part of his shipping logo. In fact, the night my partner was shot, she texted me, saying she had seen the snake.”

  “The tycoon?”

  “Actually, two of his men. Vipera has a vast wealth and lots of holdings, including the Pine Lodge Mountain Resort. That’s what drew me to this area initially. I was trying to find anything that might have bearing on my partner’s death, but the trail went cold soon after I got here. In my search for evidence, I left no stone unturned but could find nothing that implicated Vipera in anything illegal on this end. The lodge is run by a group of managers, and Vipera has no involvement in the day-to-day operation.”

  The sheriff pursed his lips. “Yet if women have been taken around here and if the same thing has happened in Savannah, then there could be a very real trafficking connection.”

  Lucas nodded. “Which might be the link I was looking for.”

  “The problem is that I’m short-staffed, Lucas, or I’d send someone in to check out the lodge.”

  “The resort has been closed for renovation and is scheduled to open this weekend. Fannie delivers there. Pies, fresh-baked bread, produce. They placed an order for tomorrow. I’ll make a delivery and check out what’s going on.”

  “Everything will be under wraps, Lucas. I doubt they’ll show any dirty laundry. They wouldn’t be foolish enough to expose themselves.”

  “Sometimes the laundry is on the line and in full view, especially in an Amish area.” He rose and extended his hand. “Thanks for giving me this time to talk, Sheriff.”

  The sheriff struggled to stand. “Wait a minute.” He walked to a small suitcase beside his bed, unzipped the case and dug inside. “I know you’re living Amish, but if you place yourself in danger, you’ll need protection.”

  The sheriff pulled out a Glock, along with a holster and an extra magazine. “You might need this.”

  Lucas shook his head. “I left all that in Savannah. The only weapon I have is a .30-30 for hunting deer in season. I took it with me today because of Hannah but—”

  “I understand, and that’s commendable, yet you need to be realistic.” Sheriff Kurtz held out the weapon. “Take it or I won’t give you permission to help with this investigation.”

  “I’m not involved with the investigation, Sheriff. I’m trying to find two women who have disappeared.”

  “Then take it for the women.”

  Lucas thought of the firestorm he had walked into in Savannah. He hadn’t expected the shooter. He hadn’t expected being injured. He hadn’t expected the surgery and recuperation. Then he thought of Olivia, who hadn’t had backup and who had been slaughtered on a dock in the dead of night.

  He raised his gaze to the sheriff, whose open expression told Lucas that he understood the former cop’s conflict. “Thanks, sir.” Lucas accepted the firearm. “I’ll take the Glock, but I pray I won’t have to use it.”

  “Stay safe,” the sheriff cautioned.

  Lucas nodded then hurried from the room, closing the door behind him.

  The gun was heavy in his hand. He hadn’t handled a sidearm in eleven months. He used to live with one, but he’d changed.

  Night had fallen by the time he left the inn and hurried along the path, eventually seeing Fannie’s house in the distance. A light appeared in the window. Hannah was waiting for him there. She didn’t know he was an ex-cop. The sheriff and Fannie were the only ones who knew.

  Lucas couldn’t be law enforcement and Amish. He couldn’t carry a gun and be Amish. He couldn’t embrace the plain way and be baptized into the faith and track down a killer.

  But a killer was on the loose and he could have ties to the man who was coming after Hannah.

  Amish or cop?

  Lucas didn’t know which he wanted to be.

  “Hannah?” He unlocked the door and walked into the house calling her name. Only silence.

  He turned and hurried back to the inn. Something didn’t feel right in his gut.

  Hannah? He started to run.

  TWELVE

  “I’m glad you had a nice nap and then came to help me with the sheriff’s dinner,” Fannie said as she carried the meal tray and walked next to Hannah. The two women headed along the hallway to room three, the room where Hannah had stayed two nights ago.

  “I wonder if the sheriff has a minute to talk to me about my sisters.” Hannah kept her voice low so as to not disturb the other guests.

  “We can ask him, dear. Samuel is a very considerate man, although I know he might be tired after leaving rehab.”

  Before entering the far wing, Fannie stopped in her tracks and sighed. “Silly me. I forgot to bring his coffee.” She turned and placed the tray in Hannah’s hands. “Take this to Samuel while the food is still hot. I’ll get the coffee from the kitchen.”

  Before Hannah could offer to run the errand, Fannie was halfway down the hall, heading toward the dining area.

  Hannah walked quickly to room three, stopped at the door and knocked lightly. “Sheriff? I have your dinner tray.”

 
; She heard a muffled response. Believing he had invited her to enter, she pushed open the door, stepped into the room and gasped.

  A man stood over the sheriff. One hand was around his throat and the other was fisted as if to strike a blow.

  “No!” Hannah screamed.

  The man shoved past her, knocking the tray out of her hands. “Get outta my way.”

  She fell back against the doorjamb. The tray and its contents clattered onto the floor, the china plate shattering into tiny shards of porcelain.

  Hannah struggled to her feet and stumbled toward the easy chair next to the bed where the older gentleman sat slumped, his head on his chest.

  She touched his shoulder, fearing the worst.

  A sound at the door made her turn. Was the assailant coming back to do more harm?

  “Hannah?”

  “Lucas, help me. The sheriff’s been hurt.”

  Lucas was beside her, searching for the sheriff’s pulse. “He’s got a heartbeat. Come on, Sheriff. We need you to come to.”

  “It happened so fast,” Hannah told him.

  “Did you see the attacker?” Lucas asked.

  She nodded, trying to find her voice.

  “Who was it?”

  “Oh, Lucas...” She gasped. “It was the same man who came after me. The man in the blue flannel shirt.”

  * * *

  Lucas hadn’t done enough, and Hannah had been placed in danger again. Thankfully the sheriff regained consciousness and seemed to be all right in spite of a blow to his jaw.

  “The guy didn’t expect me to fight back—that was evident,” the sheriff said as he held an ice pack to his face. “He came up behind me and called me Hannah.”

  He looked at Fannie, sitting close by holding ice against her elbow. The assailant pushed her to the floor as he ran down the hallway and out the door.

  “He kept saying ‘Where is she?’” Fannie shared.

  Lucas turned to look at Hannah, her hand resting on the older woman’s shoulder.

  “It’s my fault,” Hannah moaned. “He was looking for me. This is the room I stayed in the first night at the inn. The Hispanic man had delivered the note and the young Amish girl was involved. Belinda must have told him where I was staying.” She looked down at Fannie. “The keys were hanging in the entryway.”