Lamb to the Slaughter (Serenity's Plain Secrets Book 1) Read online

  Taking a gamble, I focused my introduction at the oldest man. “Hello, I’m Sheriff Serenity Adams.” I extended my hand. Sure enough, the snow-bearded gentleman stepped forward and grasped it warmly.

  “It’s a shame that we have to meet under such trying circumstances, Ms. Adams. I’m Aaron Esch, the bishop of the community. This is James Hooley and Joseph Bender, both ministers in our church.”

  I shook James’ hand first. He was probably in his fifties with a fair share of gray speckling his black beard and the bit of hair flaring out from under the brim of his hat. His handshake was weak compared to the bishop’s, but his huge size was intimidating at a glance. Joseph didn’t reach out to take my hand, instead tipping his hat and nodding.

  Knowing how close knit Amish communities were, I realized that the girl lying dead in the dirt behind us could be related to any of these men. I sobered at the thought before I spoke again.

  “Mr. Esch, has there been a young woman missing from your community recently?”

  The warm air quieted, only a few chirping birds at the hedgerow breaking the silence. My skin tingled at the stoic looks the men exchanged. After several uncomfortable seconds, Bishop Esch finally spoke.

  “Could we please see the body, Ms. Adams? We are all busy men, needing to get back to our day’s activities.”

  I held the bishop’s gaze. His eyes were steady, almost arrogant. They didn’t look away in embarrassment at what he’d just said. They should have though. He was treating the body of a girl like a dead cat in the road that nobody cared to claim.

  I needed to know who the girl was—that was my first priority. The bishop’s cold demeanor could be put aside until later.

  “It might be better for you all to come down to the morgue in town to view the body after we’ve processed it fully,” I suggested.

  The crime scene wasn’t the best place for the body to be identified, even though there wasn’t any indication at this point in the investigation that a crime had been committed.

  The bishop spoke for his buddies, saying, “We’d like to see her now, if it’s possible.” His voice indicated that he was not taking no for an answer.

  We’d already spent several hours combing the area for evidence, finding few clues to what happened to the young woman, other than her being shot dead in the corn. Allowing the men to view the body now might give me the victim’s name that I so desperately wanted and possibly shed a little light on this tragedy.

  Making up my mind, I said, “Right this way gentleman.” I turned, not glancing back. I didn’t need to. I could hear their steps behind me, crunching on the cropped corn stalks.

  Bobby and Todd stepped aside. They were joined by Jeremy, who didn’t look at the body. The young man stared into the tree line instead. After I folded the sheet down to reveal the girl’s face, I moved to stand with them. Even with their uncomfortable behavior toward me, I still felt drawn to their little group and away from the black coated, bearded men.

  I watched intently as the three men leaned over the body for only a moment. After simultaneously bowing their heads and closing their eyes for a silent prayer, they looked up at me with no emotion at all. Their hard eyes stilled my heart.

  The bishop spoke, his voice level and calm. “This is Naomi Beiler. She is the daughter of Timothy and Patricia Beiler.”

  I pulled the little notepad and pen from my back pocket and began writing.

  “Do you know how old she is?” I asked the Amish men.

  The bishop glanced at James, who finally spoke. “I do believe she’s the same age as my Roseanna—eighteen.”

  James Hooley’s nonchalance startled me, but I was careful not to let it show. “Has Naomi been missing?”

  The two ministers looked in opposite directions, and neither at me. Bishop Esch took a few seconds to gather his words. “You will need to speak with the Beiler’s about that, Miss. I ask that you give them a few days to deal with the loss of their child.”

  I couldn’t help but glance at Bobby who slightly shrugged his shoulders when he met my gaze. Jeremy looked at the Amish men with wide eyes and mouth slightly gaping. Todd held the small smirk of a very amused man.

  I exhaled and said, “Yes, of course. We’ll give the family time to mourn…but, we’ll need to have a few questions answered for the report today. I promise you, Mr. Esch, I’ll be very discrete when I notify them of the death.”

  Too quickly, the bishop said, “Oh, there will be no need for you to talk to them today. I’ll bring the news to their home.” He must have recognized my incredulity at his dismissal of my authority. He added with a somber frown, “It will be much easier for Timothy and Patricia to hear the news from me, rather than a stranger. Your presence will upset them needlessly.”

  I was a newly elected sheriff and I already had a young woman dying under strange circumstances in my jurisdiction. As if that wasn’t trying enough, I now had a clash of cultures on my plate too. The worst part was that I got what the bishop was saying. Still, I hated to deviate from protocol on my first investigation in Blood Rock.

  I looked to Bobby for the answer. He seemed to be expecting me to do just that and was ready. He nodded his head subtly.

  “Jeremy, please escort these men back to their homes.” I focused on the bishop, “Mr. Esch, I’ll honor your wishes on this matter, but I’ll be visiting the Beiler’s in a few days to get some questions cleared up. We need to know what happened to Naomi.”

  “Yes, of course.” He tipped his hat to me and walked briskly back to the patrol car with the ministers.

  Jeremy raised his eyebrows as he passed by. He was obviously as disturbed by the Amish men’s behavior as I was. Bobby made a soft huffing noise and began to motion to the emergency medical personnel to come over to help him with the body bag when I stopped him.

  “Don’t you think those men were acting awfully blasé about seeing a young woman from their community dead in a cornfield?” My voice rose a little higher than I intended. I turned my back to the paramedics who were patiently leaning up against the ambulance, waiting for someone to give them the sign to approach.

  Bobby said, “Ms.…ah, Serenity, you had better get used to the fact that the Amish will not be any help to you in your investigation. They don’t like outsiders, and they don’t want them knowing their business.”

  As my mouth opened, Todd cut me off, “Hell, they’re practically their own nation—not having to pay social security tax or serve in the armed forces. Did you know that they’re done with school in the eighth grade?”

  “Actually, it’s my understanding that the Amish can be drafted, but they only serve in non-combat roles, such as medical and food service,” Bobby told Todd.

  Listening to the men shoot off their knowledge of the Amish made me realize how little I knew about the simple, yet flourishing culture. I’d grown up in town, only a few miles away from the field that I now stood in. I’d spent my time playing soccer, going to movies and hanging out with friends—that did not include any Plain people. The only interaction I’d had with the Amish back then was when I’d worked part-time at Nancy’s Diner in high school. Occasionally, one of the families had come in for lunch. When I’d left Blood Rock for college, I was even more separated from the rural living of the place I’d grown up in—a county that had a relatively small population, but a very large land area.

  Before the two men could get into a long, drawn out conversation about the Amish lifestyle, I interrupted, “Bobby, are you telling me that there are different rules involved when we’re dealing with the Amish?”

  Bobby smiled as if he was a grandpa humoring his grandchild. “No, that’s not it at all. I’m simply telling you in advance to expect them not to be forthcoming with you. I’ve been dealing with their nonsense for thirty years. I know what I’m talking about. The quicker you wrap this case up, the better.”

  It didn’t take long for Naomi Beiler’s body to be bagged and loaded into the ambulance. I remained in the field for some ti
me after the van had driven away and Bobby had left in Todd’s patrol car.

  I walked out into the corn stalks, searching the ground and trying to figure out which way the girl had come from. Any tracks she might have left had been washed away by several days of rain. The plants themselves left no traceable clues, with so many of them sporadically broken from the wind or deer crossing through.

  I stopped and looked around. The stalks lightly brushed against each other in the warm breeze and there was the scurrying sound of a small animal in the leaves on the ground. It was just a cornfield, and yet, I had to admit to myself that standing there alone felt pretty damn creepy.

  Why the hell would Naomi Beiler have been out here?

  I’d remember Bobby’s advice, but I hoped he was wrong. There were too many questions running through my brain to let them go easily. Maybe the pretty young woman was killed in a random hunting accident, but if that hadn’t been her fate, I was determined to bring the truth to light.

  And dammit, I wouldn’t be handling the Amish any differently than any other citizens.

  2

  NAOMI

  August 2nd, three months earlier

  Naomi kept her eyes locked on Eli Bender’s, daring him to turn first. The handsome Amish boy wouldn’t glance away, even when he called out the hymn number and the singing began again. Butterflies danced in her belly when Eli finally tore his eyes from hers, the one side of his mouth tilted mischievously.

  Naomi wasn’t surprised at the attention Eli was showing her. She’d always known he was sweet on her, but his sudden openness about it was perplexing. Maybe he was ready to begin courting and he’d chosen me, Naomi thought. She wouldn’t know for sure until later, when the ball games were going on. If Eli had any inkling of wanting her, he’d surely show his attentions then. At least that was her wish.

  Three songs later, her back sore from sitting on the hard bench for over an hour, Naomi smacked the hymnal closed and handed it down the line. In a flurry of movement, everyone else was doing the same. The popping noises of so many books shutting filled the air—a sound that was sweeter music to her ears than all the songs before it.

  “I saw the way you were so brazenly staring at Eli. You should be ashamed of yourself!” Sandra whispered loudly in Naomi’s ear, her hot breath tickling her friend’s lobe.

  “Hush, now. That’s none of your concern.” Naomi giggled, bumping softly into Sandra’s side.

  “We’re best friends, aren’t we? That makes it my concern.” Sandra snorted, hands on her hips.

  The room had emptied quickly. The only inhabitants other than Naomi and Sandra were a few of the mothers packing the hymnals away and chatting non-stop as they worked.

  Naomi clasped Sandra’s arm, tugging her toward the barn door opening and the blazing maroon sunset. The rush of warm air caressed Naomi, pressing her sky blue dress against the front of her body. She exhaled in excitement, relishing the way the hot breeze made the blood bubble inside of her. She was feeling pretty tonight and she had the inkling that Eli thought so too.

  She leaned in closer to Sandra, not wanting anyone to hear, not even the other girls. “Did you catch the way Eli was staring at me during the singing?” she practically hummed the words.

  “Yes, I did. I reckon you two will be courting in no time. Then you won’t have need for me any longer.” Sandra said it in a joking way, but Naomi could see that her friend’s smile was pinched. Poor thing was jealous, Naomi realized.

  “Silly bean, I’ll always need you and you know that. Besides, I’d wager that if Eli asks me to court, Matthew Yoder won’t be far behind in asking you.”

  The girls flopped down in the grass near the volleyball nets the same as they’d done every Sunday for the past few years. Naomi didn’t enjoy playing volleyball. Instead, she liked sitting on the sidelines and watching the other girls look foolish as they tried to hit the ball over the net. Of course, a few of the girls were really good, like Melinda or Susie. But they were built similar to boys, with no curves at all to get sore after a whack from a hard ball.

  The other girls who weren’t playing the game didn’t approach Naomi and Sandra. They took their seats on the far side of the net. Naomi was glad that she didn’t have to be bothered by the company of the snooty, goody-two-shoes girls anyhow. They were all so boring. Still, Naomi followed the girls with her eyes, watching them whisper back and forth to each other, and wondering what they were saying.

  “Did you see the look that Lydia gave you when she spied Eli making eyes in your direction?” Sandra spoke softly into Naomi’s ear after she’d taken a good look around first to make sure no one was close enough to hear.

  Naomi tore her gaze away from the gossipy girls at the same moment that Lydia looked up, staring straight at her. Naomi felt the hair on the back of her neck tingle. It was almost as if the horrible girl had heard Sandra’s whispered words from across the net and over the voices of the players. Of course, Naomi knew that was impossible, but she couldn’t help the wariness that swept over her. The threat of spies was always present.

  “Course I did. Like she thinks she’d have a chance with a guy like him anyway. Is she nuts or just stupid?”

  “Maybe both!” Sandra giggled.

  When Sandra calmed herself, she added, “You were probably too busy to notice that David was watching how you and Eli were acting too. He wasn’t pleased either.”

  “Oh, who cares about him anyway? David is so moody—I don’t know how any girl could put up with him. He always looks as if he just swallowed a lime.”

  Naomi did her best impression of the sour look that usually resided on David’s face, sticking her tongue out limply for good measure. Sandra shook her head and scolded, “You’re awful!” Her outburst drew the eyes of the girls standing nearby.

  Naomi felt his presence before he even sat down in the grass beside her. When she looked over, she wasn’t disappointed. Eli held the same amused expression on his face that he had earlier. A handful of dark brown locks nearly covered his left eye. She was surprised that his mother hadn’t gotten onto him about his hair needing cutting yet. But then, knowing that she had eight children, and four of them under the age of five, she probably hardly even noticed her oldest son’s head. Naomi really wanted to reach out and brush the stubborn hair away from his eye, but of course she couldn’t do that. Instead, she let her fingers play with the soft blades of grass, plucking them in frustration.

  “How’s it going?” Eli asked. His voice was deep and husky, making Naomi’s heart speed up. She was well aware of the closeness of his body to hers. She could even smell the cologne on his skin.

  “I’m wonderful. What about you, Eli? Are you enjoying this lovely night?” She tried to keep her face straight, but the tug of a smile was too great. She glanced down, shielding her mouth from his gaze for a second.

  When Naomi looked up, he was grinning at her confidently. “Do you want to help me get the marshmallows? Mother talked Father into starting a bonfire. We’re going to roast them.”

  It was way more information than she needed or cared about. She would have gone with him to clean the toilets if he’d asked.

  “Sure!” She bounced up and he was right behind her. Seeing the grumpy look on Sandra’s face, Naomi winked at her, “I’ll come back soon, Sandy. Maybe, you should go over there and talk to that person that I mentioned earlier.” She pointed her chin in Matthew’s direction. He was leaning up against the side of the barn with a few of the other guys clustered around him.

  Sandy rolled her eyes, shooing Naomi away with her hands. Naomi hated abandoning her friend that way, but she reasoned that maybe sitting alone for a few minutes would give Sandra the incentive to flirt with the boys a little bit. At this point, she’d hardly even look at any of them. She certainly wasn’t going to have Matthew asking after her unless she loosened up and took Naomi’s advice. After all, Sandra was always dispensing advice to Naomi about men. Even though the girl had no experience at all, Naomi still l
istened.

  Eli and Naomi walked as slowly as was humanly possible, a full foot of space separating them, to the two story, white sided house. Eli’s home was as plain as the rest of the homes in the Amish community, but the display of flowers in the beds leading to the porch was a brilliant burst of color even in the low light of dusk. Naomi focused on the purple blooms creeping over the trellis, ignoring the eyes of the other teens, and even the few adults present. She felt the heat of their stares as she walked by. Naomi knew that their minds were speculating already.

  Just before they entered the house, she caught David’s angry gaze. He stopped talking to the other boys and snapped his blond head in her direction as she passed by. His face was red and scowling, and the sight of it caused a prickling sensation to run along her arms. She looked away quickly, determined not to allow his jealousy to dampen her good mood.

  The busy kitchen was hot from everyone gathered there. Even though the women were spread out in small groups around the room, all dressed similar with navy, hunter green or maroon dresses and pristine white caps adorning their heads, it took only a second for Naomi to spot who she was searching for. Eli’s Mother, Katherine, was in the corner seated comfortably on a plush sofa and nursing her littlest one. Eli walked past her without glancing in his mother’s direction, but Naomi purposely slowed to acknowledge her.

  Careful not to stare at the pale flesh of the breast surrounding the babe’s face, Naomi said, “Good evening, Mrs. Bender. Are you doing well today?”

  Katherine’s light blue eyes looked up and she smiled warmly. Even though the woman was well into her thirties, she looked younger. She was still attractive, her features fragile and soft. Unlike most of the Amish women, she’d maintained her youthful weight and hadn’t blossomed into a pear even after eight pregnancies.

  “Why, I’m very well, Naomi. How may you be doing?”

  “I’m enjoying this lovely weather and your beautiful farm. If it’s all right with you, I’ll be helping Eli gather up the marshmallows now.” When Naomi’s eyes drifted a fraction, she noticed Esther Lapp’s frown. The middle-aged woman sitting close beside Katherine looked as if she’d bit into a lime from the same bucket as her son. When Naomi’s eyes drifted Esther’s way again, she saw the same dark expression that David often held. The woman didn’t shy away when the girl’s eye’s locked on hers for a second either—forcing Naomi to drop her gaze in submission.