by Mary Alford
Walker spoke to one of the crime scene techs before he and Noah went back to the house and waited for Rachel to unlock the door.
Noah followed Walker inside and closed the door, waiting for his boss to begin.
“Do you mind if we talk for a bit?” Walker asked her.
She glanced from Walker to Noah before shaking her head. “Nay, I don’t mind. Would you like some coffee?”
Walker smiled at the offer. “That would be nice.”
After she poured three coffees, they sat at the table. Seated next to her, Noah sensed Rachel’s uneasiness and reached for her hand.
Walker took a sip before setting down his cup. “Since we don’t have any idea what we’re up against yet, I want you to think back to a few weeks ago. Can you tell me what happened during that time? Even if it seems insignificant, I want to hear about it.”
Noah released her hand and pulled out his pad and pen, ready to write down her answers.
Her brows slanted into a frown. “I’m not sure if this means anything, but two weeks ago my mamm left to visit her sister in Colorado. Aenti Deborah has been ill for a while with the flu.”
“How did she get to Colorado?” Walker prompted.
Rachel stared at him. “She took a bus. I drove the buggy to the bus stop in Eagle’s Nest.”
Walker nodded. “Did you notice anything unusual while you were in Eagle’s Nest? Or on the trip back?”
She thought for a moment. “No, nothing.”
Before Walker asked another question, someone knocked on the door.
Noah could feel Rachel’s startled reaction from where he sat.
“Let me answer it,” he told her and moved to the door. Pulling it open, he was surprised to see Anna Lapp standing on the porch.
“Is Rachel here?” she asked in a tentative voice.
“She is. Come inside, Anna.” Noah stepped aside and let the young woman pass.
Anna’s gaze darted around the room.
“Is something wrong?” Rachel asked and hurried to Anna’s side.
The young woman appeared as pale as a sheet. “I need to speak with you about something important.”
“What is it?” Rachel asked.
Anna glanced at the two men before answering. There were tears in her eyes. “I didn’t tell you the truth when you asked me about Eva before.”
Rachel clutched Anna’s arm. “You didn’t tell the truth about what?”
“About Eva being interested in a young man,” Anna admitted softly.
“Are you saying she does have a young man?”
Anna nodded. “Jah. She didn’t want you to know because he’s not Amish. She met him in town while he was visiting.” Anna paused. “He is older than she.”
Shock showed on Rachel’s face. She clutched her hands to her chest. “Have you met him? How long has she been seeing this man?” Noah asked.
“Nay. I haven’t met him. And Eva didn’t know him for long. A few days, perhaps.”
Noah wrote down what Anna said. “Do you know his name?”
Anna shook her head. “She wouldn’t tell me. She said he worried about others trying to keep them apart.”
Noah’s heart sank. “Did she tell you where they would meet up?”
Anna’s next answer was disappointing. “She wouldn’t say. I advised her not to see this man again. If he wanted her to sneak around—keep things from her family—he is not a gut person.”
“Did she mention meeting this man last night?” Walker spoke up.
Tears glistened in Anna’s eyes. “I do not know. Eva stopped telling me about meeting him when I advised her against seeing him again. Do you think this man did something to her? Should I have tried to stop her?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Anna,” Noah said. If Eva was supposed to meet this man, why was her purse found on the side of the road? Unless Eva realized something was wrong and struggled with her kidnapper. The purse may have been left behind in the kidnapper’s rush to get Eva out of sight.
Rachel’s gaze clung to Noah’s, desperate for assurances. He did his best not to show his fears while praying Eva’s foolish mistake wouldn’t end up costing the young Amish woman her life.
SEVEN
“I’ll be there with you at all times,” Noah assured Rachel. He reached for her hand and squeezed it. “How long have you worked at Christner’s Bulk Foods Store?” He kept his attention on the road ahead.
Rachel studied his handsome profile. The tiny lines around his eyes and mouth reminded her the carefree Noah of their childhood was gone. Once again, she wondered about his life now. Had he been in love? The thought hurt, but she had no right to feel this way. She’d married Daniel during Noah’s first year at university.
“Rachel?”
The tips of her ears burned with embarrassment at being caught staring. She cleared her throat. “Almost a year now. Since Daniel’s death.” Her world had collapsed when she’d learned her husband had not survived the accident. Then the baby died, too. Barely three months pregnant, she’d lost her last piece of Daniel and so much more.
Noah’s hands tightened on the wheel. “Losing your husband must have been hard. It’s difficult to lose someone you care about.”
His words settled into her heart like a knife. He spoke like someone who knew firsthand the pain of such a loss.
The questions she wanted to ask would not come. She was grateful when Noah pulled up in front of the bulk foods store.
He checked his watch. “Almost eight.” Time to open the store.
He studied the dark store before exiting the vehicle. Rachel did the same before handing him the key to the store. He unlocked the shop. As soon as they were inside, he relocked the door.
“What are you doing?” she asked, her heart pounding. Had he seen something?
“I’m going to check around the store first. Once things are secured, we’ll unlock it.”
Rachel drew in a breath and nodded, trying to keep the panic from taking life. At seventy, Esther Christner had suffered some health issues recently and had been forced to slow down. Rachel had agreed to manage the store for her a couple of days a week.
Esther and her husband did not have children of their own. Since Levi’s death more than ten years earlier, Esther had been running the bulk foods store all by herself.
“The place is clear. It should be safe to open,” Noah said when he came from the storeroom. “How many people do you see on an average day?”
Rachel unlocked the door. “It depends. If the weather is gut, perhaps there may be ten or more. Bad weather like this tends to keep customers away.”
Noah nodded. “I’ll try to be as inconspicuous as possible. You should go about your daily duties. We’ll keep this as normal as possible.”
She smiled at his consideration. “Denki. I will put on the kaffe. Esther likes to serve hot coffee to her customers.”
Picking up the coffeepot, Rachel carried it to the small kitchen at the rear of the store and filled it. A battery-powered pump brought water to the store. All of the Amish businesses around the community used diesel generators to power their lights.
With the coffee brewing, Rachel straightened the canned goods shelves. After double-checking their surroundings, Noah came to help.
“I might as well make myself useful,” he said when she arched a brow.
While they worked, all the questions she wanted to ask plagued her, but did she really want to know he’d fallen in love with another?
“How are your parents and your sister, Cassie?” she asked instead.
A single muscle worked along his jaw. “They are doing okay, I guess. Mom and Dad moved to Texas a while back to be closer to Cassie.”
His response produced more questions than it answered, but she sensed he didn’t want to talk about his family. Noah was cl
ose to his mother and Cassie, but his relationship with his father had been strained in the past since his father openly opposed the time Noah spent with Rachel and his son resented the interference in his life.
Waneta Glick, one of the Amish ladies from the community, came in, and Rachel stepped to the counter to assist.
“Ach, good morning, Rachel. I am so happy to see the store open. I wasn’t sure in such weather.” Waneta glanced out the window as the snow continued to fall. “It is coming down in buckets out there.”
Rachel smiled at the older woman. “It is. May I help you find something?”
“Jah, I am in need of something to treat a cold. Henry isn’t feeling well this morning. I said he should rest, and I would take care of the chores, but you know how men are.” Waneta chuckled. “Now he’s feeling much worse.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” Rachel said. She showed the woman to the shelf containing medicines. “I have used this one before, and it seems to work nicely.” She pointed to one of the cold medicines.
“Denki. I’m sure this will be fine.” Waneta paid for her purchase. She started to leave when she spotted Noah and stopped. “Is all well here?” she asked with a frown on her face.
Keeping the nightmare to herself was hard. “Jah, it is. The deputy is an old friend.”
Waneta didn’t appear convinced, but with one final glance Noah’s way, she headed outside to the buggy parked next to Noah’s patrol car. Rachel let go of a breath. She hated keeping the truth from the older woman.
The ringing of Noah’s cell phone rattled along her frayed nerves. He glanced at the number, frowned and stepped away to take the call.
She watched him for a moment before turning away, in need of something to do to keep her mind occupied.
There were boxes in the storeroom that needed to be placed on the shelves. Rachel unpacked several and stacked the canned goods on a cart.
As she worked, she broke down the boxes, then carried them outside to the trash bin behind the store.
She’d barely cleared the door when someone seized her from behind. A large hand covered her mouth. She fought and kicked with all her strength, unable to call out for help.
“I have you now. This time, you’re not getting away. He’s waiting for you.” She recognized his voice. It was the same man who broke into her home. He dragged her toward a car parked behind the store. As hard as she struggled, it was useless. He was too strong. Her kidnapper had found her, and she had no way to let Noah know what was happening.
* * *
The call could not have been more discouraging. Walker had spoken to the Stoltzfuses. They didn’t recall Eva coming into the bakery with anyone. Another dead end along with the results from the search of the barn, where the crime scene unit hadn’t been able to obtain any viable prints.
Noah returned the phone to his pocket and tried to keep his frustration from showing. He had to stay positive for Rachel.
He glanced around. Rachel was nowhere in sight. The rear door stood open. Dread slipped down his spine. Drawing his weapon, he ran toward the open door.
As soon as he stepped across the threshold, he spotted Rachel struggling with a man who was trying to force her toward a waiting car.
“Sheriff’s department. Let her go and get your hands in the air! Now,” Noah called out.
The man jerked toward Noah, his face covered in a mask like the other assailants.
“Get your hands in the air!” Noah repeated while quickly advancing on them.
Rachel’s panicked gaze fastened onto him.
“That’s far enough,” the man yelled and pulled a gun from his pocket. “I need her. You, not at all.”
Noah stopped, but kept the gun trained on the man.
“Let her go and put your weapon down.”
The man pushed Rachel hard. She stumbled forward, and Noah caught her before she hit the ground. The man jumped into the car and slammed it in gear, tires squealing down the alley.
Rachel trembled as he held her close. He pulled out his phone and immediately let Walker know about the attack. “I’m with Rachel behind the Christner Bulk Foods Store. Someone tried to kidnap her.” Noah gave a description of the man and the four-door black sedan. “I have a plate number, as well.” He gave it to Walker.
“Ryan’s close. I’ll have him intercept the man.”
Ending the call, Noah held Rachel a little away. “Did he hurt you?” he asked, searching her face. He’d been so terrified when he saw the man trying to force Rachel into the car. What if he hadn’t been able to stop it from happening?
“Nay, I am oke.” She pulled away and straightened her prayer kapp and apron. “I recognized his voice. He’s the one who broke into my house. He grabbed me the second I stepped outside.”
Noah glanced around the alley, blaming himself for what happened. He should never have let her out of his sight. “Let’s get you inside.” With his hand resting against her back, he hurried her inside and quickly relocked the door.
“I don’t think it’s wise to stay here any longer. We need to close the store, Rachel.” Before he got the words out, she rejected the idea.
“I cannot leave now. Mrs. Christner is counting on me to be here.” She lifted her chin. He’d seen that same look many times in the past whenever Rachel made up her mind about something. It was pointless to argue.
While he admired her loyalty, the men targeting her knew where Rachel lived and worked, and they’d proved themselves more than capable of getting to her.
“All right, but I’m calling for backup to help watch the place. And if the weather doesn’t clear soon, we’re leaving before we get stuck here.”
She smiled and reached for his hand. “Denki,” she said. The touch of her skin against his sent him to places best left alone. The first time he’d worked up the nerve to hold her hand. Their first kiss.
He linked their fingers. “I’m sorry this is happening to you.”
Her emerald eyes held on to his, reclaiming the piece of his heart she would always own. As much as he wished he could rewrite history, it was impossible. He’d made so many mistakes in life. Believing his father instead of his heart. Olivia’s death.
The argument he’d started that ultimately caused her to storm out of the house. He couldn’t even remember what it had been about anymore. Only its consequences. Olivia had told him she was finished with him. At the time, he hadn’t cared. With an unexpected storm dumping snow on the remote mountain area, Noah should have stopped her, or at least gone after her. Anger and pride had kept him home, and Olivia had driven off the side of the mountain to her death.
He carried the guilt of her death with him each day. He’d hit rock bottom. When Walker invited him to church, Noah had agreed to go. God met him at that tiny church and changed his life. Yet he hadn’t been able to forgive himself for his part in Olivia’s death.
Swallowing deep, he let Rachel go and stepped back. The mistakes he’d made were there to remind him he’d messed so many things up. Hurt people, including Rachel. He couldn’t do that to her again. Rachel deserved so much more than the damaged man standing before her now.
EIGHT
She turned away, Noah’s rejection just as stinging as it had been seven years earlier. An awkward silence she could not associate with them stood between them. Rachel struggled to think of something to say and was grateful it proved unnecessary with the arrival of deputies Ryan and Cole.
“Any news on the car?” Noah asked once they closed the door.
Ryan shook his head. “I’m guessing he’s familiar with the back roads. Which seems to indicate he either lives here now or has in the past.”
The news couldn’t have been more discouraging.
“I doubt that he will try anything more here after what happened, but I’d feel better having you two close,” Noah told them.
“No problem,” Cole said. “We’ll pull around behind the store and out of sight.”
When it was the two of them again, Noah came over to her, the intensity in his eyes leaving her breathless. “You can’t give up. Eva needs you to stay strong.”
Tears were close, and she couldn’t stop them. She’d grown up believing in peace and harmony. She didn’t understand violence. He brushed the tears away with his thumb. “We’ll figure it out,” he said gently. “We’ll get her back.” She needed to believe him.
“I spoke to Walker earlier. He talked to the Stoltzfuses. They haven’t seen Eva in a while, certainly not with anyone. In other words, we don’t know who she was meeting with or even if it happened.”
“Do you think this man she met is A. Miller?” Rachel couldn’t believe Eva had kept something this big secret from her.
“It’s possible. Walker is running the name through our system to see if anything comes up.”
“What do you think happened to her?” she forced herself to ask because she had to know. Though six years separated them, she and Eva had always been close. She felt Eva in her heart whenever they were apart. Since her sister’s disappearance, that connection was no longer as strong.
“I wish I could give you the answers you need. Eva is a strong girl. She won’t give up. I need you not to either.”
She would never give up on her sister.
Outside, the snow continued to pile up on the road. Clouds completely obscured the mountains in the distance. Rachel shivered as a chill that had nothing to do with the cold bored down deep.
With several hours left before the store closed, Rachel rolled out the cart she’d loaded with canned goods and took them to the shelves.
She and Noah worked to put away the food, yet all Rachel could think about was her sister. She’d been so busy dealing with her own pain that she hadn’t realized Eva was changing. Growing up. Though her sister seemed content with her life, Rachel wondered if that was an act. Had discontent made Eva reach out to an Englisch man?
Hours passed without a single customer and the weather continued to deteriorate. Rachel agreed it was time to close up the store.
