Amish Country Murder (Love Inspired Suspense) Read online

  Catherine pulled in a breath. “I remember her hair. It’s the same color as mine. And I think we are close. Friends, maybe.” She shook her head. “Only that doesn’t make sense. I didn’t see her at the killer’s house,” she said to herself.

  Unless the memory wasn’t from his house. “Maybe you’re beginning to remember something from before you were taken.”

  Her eyes widened again. “You think so?”

  For her sake, he hoped it was true. “It makes sense. You said you didn’t see the woman while you were held there. It’s the only other explanation.”

  Sutter checked the time. Almost four in the morning. By most people’s standards, it was quite early. Not for the Amish. The Warrens’ day would be beginning soon.

  “I think we need to interview all the people in these women’s lives again,” he told his partner and the sheriff. “We’ll need more manpower.”

  Sheriff Collins readily agreed. “I’ll call Sheriff Wyatt in the adjoining county. Have him send as many people as he can spare.”

  “Good. We need them now. If Catherine’s memories are correct and we don’t find this woman soon...” Sutter didn’t finish. Didn’t need to. Everyone in the room understood her time was running out. And Sutter couldn’t imagine the outcry that would happen when the body count continued to rise.

  SIX

  She kneaded her temples. The pain there made it hard to concentrate. Her head swam with doubts. How did she know the woman’s hair color? Was it possible something from her past before the nightmare was coming out?

  Someone touched her arm and she started. Keeping back the panic was difficult. Would there ever be a time when she wasn’t scared of every little noise? Of her own shadow?

  “I’m sorry,” Sutter said quietly. She glanced over and found him watching her with the same look of compassion she’d seen many times.

  “It is okay.” She let go of a breath. “I guess I’m still a little on edge.” She’d been living there since she’d escaped.

  Catherine sensed he wanted to ask her something. “What is it?”

  “I’d like you to take a look at the photos of the other women. See if any of them are familiar to you.”

  In her mind, she had no choice. Those women had all died. She owed them. Owed the woman who was still missing.

  “Oke,” she agreed, without hesitating. “Of course I’ll do it.”

  He smiled at her answer and she couldn’t take her eyes off him. Sutter Brenneman was such an attractive man. She found herself curious about his life. Like her, he wore no wedding ring. Was he involved with someone? Married to his job?

  Together, they headed to the dawdi haus attached to the main structure, though a door she’d seen James and other law enforcement personnel enter. Her footsteps stuttered. How did she know what the addition was called?

  There was no time to consider the answer as she stepped into a room buzzing with activity.

  Several officers milled around a table where a number of photos were scattered. Catherine paused. Was she ready to face these women?

  “They’re not crime scene photos,” Sutter was quick to assure her. “The victims’ families gave us additional pictures of their loved ones.”

  Sheriff Collins called the men over to where he and James stood near the door, giving Catherine some privacy. She slowly moved closer. An array of photos depicted the smiling faces of the women. Pulling in a breath, she sat and picked up the first one and studied it.

  “That’s Shelly White,” Sutter supplied. “The first victim. She was twenty-two.”

  She stared at the young woman, who had straight black hair and eyes that matched. Her whole life had been ahead of her. Cut short by a monster. Catherine put the photo down and reached for another, then another. None of the women seemed familiar.

  Catherine finally faced Sutter, hating to have to tell him the truth. “I’m sorry. I don’t know them.”

  The disappointment on his face made her wish more than ever that she could remember something useful.

  “It was a long shot. Do you mind looking at some different photos? These were taken of the surrounding countryside where the victims were found. Maybe you’ll recognize something in one of them.”

  The first one appeared to be a hiking trail. “Is this a park?” she asked. Sutter nodded.

  “Shelly was hiking when the killer took her. We believe she disappeared on a Sunday night. According to her family, she loved to spend time by herself out in nature. Only it grew late and she never came home.”

  Nothing about the location was familiar. She picked up another photo and felt instantly drawn to it. “Where was this taken?” Her voice shook. She couldn’t take her eyes off it.

  Sutter studied her face. “That’s near Lake Koocanusa. The second victim’s family lived nearby. Do you recognize something in the photo?”

  Catherine couldn’t be sure. “I think so. It looks familiar.” She closed her eyes and tried to bring out any details, but couldn’t. “I’m not sure why.”

  He pressed her arm. “It’s a start. We’ll search the area more thoroughly.”

  Sutter moved away, but Catherine couldn’t put the photo down. Had she been there before? Was this where she and the woman met?

  She closed her eyes again and willed the details to come out.

  Run! The word snaked out of her mind like a hand around her throat. Someone had been there with her when he’d taken her.

  The woman. She recognized her scream. She’d ran toward the back of the house, but he caught her. Stuck a needle in her neck and she went down. Catherine tried to get to her, but he came after her. He’d brought only one syringe. Had he not expected them to be together? He grabbed something near the woodstove and struck her. Everything disappeared in a blink of an eye, including her memories...

  A breath slipped from her body as she relived that terrifying experience, and then the next one, of waking up in the basement.

  “Catherine?” She had forgotten Sutter was there until he spoke.

  She jerked toward him, the memory still fresh, like a shadow standing over her. “I beg your pardon?”

  He scanned her face with concern. “Everything okay?” he asked.

  Catherine struggled to slow her breathing. She was safe. Sutter wouldn’t let the killer near her again.

  “Yes, but I think I’ve remembered something from before I was taken.” Her voice was barely there. “We were in a house. Me and another woman.” She drew in a breath and struggled to hold on to the vague recollection. “He appeared from out of nowhere. Everything was fine...and then he was there.” There was something more, but she couldn’t get it out.

  Sutter slipped into the chair next to her, his full attention on her face. “Was he wearing the disguise?”

  “Yes.” He’d been terrifying. Covered in dark clothing, his face obscured by the mask. “He came after my friend.” Catherine told Sutter everything.

  “So you’re sure you knew the woman before you both were kidnapped?”

  She nodded. “I’m positive.”

  “Your memories are starting to return.” Relief emphasized each of his words. “Can you tell me anything about the house where you stayed before the attack?”

  What had they been doing before the killer appeared? Talking! It had been a while since they saw each other. Squeezing her eyes shut, she struggled to picture the woman’s face, but it was just beyond her reach.

  Frustrated, she opened her eyes.

  “It’s okay. You’re doing great, Catherine. Just be patient. The rest will come back. Wait here for a second.” Sutter rose and caught the sheriff’s attention from where he stood talking to James. He stepped out of earshot of Catherine.

  The little girl with dark hair popped into her head once more. Who was she? How did she fit into what had happened? Was she a memory from childhood? Whe
n she drew a blank, Catherine concentrated on the woman. How did she know her?

  She knew the type of things he would do to this woman. He’d be prepared this time. Make sure she wasn’t able to escape, like Catherine had. Catherine didn’t want to think about what would happen to the woman when the killer’s macabre game ended.

  * * *

  “We’ll do this quickly,” Sutter assured her, as they stepped out into a new day and headed for the SUV parked in the barn.

  As much as he hated taking her out in public again, they needed Catherine’s help to pinpoint the exact area where she’d been taken.

  There were miles and miles of woods around the lake, accessed by the Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway. Finding the right cabin without her help would be akin to locating a needle in a haystack.

  Even with the extra manpower lent to them by the sheriff of Sanders County, it would take days to search every cabin and house in the area. At this point, Sutter wasn’t sure what they were hoping to find even if they located the place. Perhaps something that would help them identify the second woman with Catherine. Some clue about Catherine herself.

  Sutter held the passenger door open for her. She ducked her head and slipped past him while he dragged in a breath. The need to protect her ran deep. It was because she’d been through so much, he told himself, but he’d dealt with plenty of victims in his career. Always managed to keep his distance emotionally. Catherine was different.

  Once behind the wheel, Sutter pulled the SUV from the barn. Waving as Noah shut the door behind them, they headed down the drive.

  “What if he recognizes this vehicle?” she asked, her eyes locked on the side window as snow-covered trees flew past them.

  “It’s possible,” Sutter said, because he couldn’t lie to her. “But this is a pretty nondescript SUV. There are plenty like it running around town. I think that’s why the FBI chose to use the Suburban.” He sure hoped his gut instinct was correct and the killer had believed Megan and Cole were them leaving the Warrens’ place last night.

  Catherine accepted his answer without a word and sank back against the seat. They drove in silence for a long time. Her fear became like a third occupant.

  “It’s going to be okay,” he said, and reached for her hand. “We’ve a lot of good people working on this case. We’ll catch this guy.”

  She stared down at their entwined fingers, then back at him. “Do you think she’s still alive?”

  As much as he wanted to reassure her, the Dead of Night Killer’s attacks appeared to be escalating. The first three victims were taken within two weeks of each other. After that, the gap shrank to a week, then a couple days. Now, two victims at the same time.

  “I hope so,” Sutter said, because he couldn’t give her false hope. There was a good chance they wouldn’t find the woman alive.

  The drive to the lake would take them through the heart of Amish country. Though his old community didn’t have the same breathtaking mountain views, West Kootenai reminded him a lot of home.

  “Were you once Amish?” she asked, her intuition surprising him. He thought he’d kept his past hidden well, but Catherine was the second person to figure it out. Being back among his former people opened up old wounds.

  Sutter braced before facing Catherine. “Yes, I was.”

  Their eyes met for a moment. Her smile held sadness. “What happened to make you leave?”

  His brother’s face stole from its hiding place in his heart. Talking about Thomas was never easy.

  “My brother died when I was seventeen.”

  She stared incredulously. “Sutter, I am so sorry. What happened?”

  Normally, he’d shut the conversation down without answering, but she was easy to talk to. The kindness imprinted on her pretty face made it easy to open up to her.

  His gaze shifted to the road. “He was walking along the side of the road like we’d done dozens of times in the past. But this time was different. It was getting dark and...” And Thomas had been alone.

  Sutter shook his head. “A car struck him from behind. It was a hit-and-run. Thomas didn’t have time to get out of the way.”

  “Oh, Sutter,” she murmured, and he tried to swallow the lump in his throat.

  “I couldn’t stay. Not without Thomas. I saw his face everywhere. Blamed myself.” He stopped the SUV and stared at her.

  “But it wasn’t your fault.” She said the same thing his parents had.

  Through the years, he’d grown accustomed to sharing his life with the guilt.

  His mouth twisted into a bitter smile. “But it was. Thomas wanted me to go hunting with him. I told him I would, but then changed my mind. I could have saved my brother.”

  “Or you might have died, as well. Your mamm and daed would have lost two children that day.”

  He knew the argument by heart. Both parents had pleaded with him to forgive himself. Stay. He couldn’t.

  Sutter kept his reaction to himself and focused on the passing scenery as he drove toward the lake.

  The Lake Koocanusa Bridge spread out before them, one of the longest bridges around. As Sutter slowly started across it, he noticed Catherine sitting up in her seat.

  “Does this look familiar?” he asked, holding on to hope.

  She stared at the water. “I’m not sure, but I think so.”

  If she had been a visitor here with the other woman, chances were they’d been staying at one of the cabins nearby.

  Sutter called the sheriff. “Let’s stop at the first set of cabins on the right?” He explained how Catherine seemed to recognize the area.

  “Most of the cabins are still closed at this time of the year, but the owner occasionally rents them out during off-season. There are a few houses that are vacation homes a little way up. We’ll check those out next.”

  “Thanks, Sheriff.” Sutter ended the call and then told her what the sheriff had said.

  The first set of cabins came into view and Sutter pulled up in front.

  Within a few minutes, Sheriff Collins parked next to them and he and James climbed out.

  Sutter faced Catherine. “Are you sure you’re up to this?” She’d been through so much. Forcing her to relive any of the terror was more than he wanted.

  “I’m sure.” She smiled for his sake, but he suspected she was anything but. Peering into her eyes, he found all the things he’d pushed out of his life as impossible rising up in his chest. Sutter swallowed. He couldn’t look away. Didn’t want to. Catherine possessed the type of beauty that radiated from a caring heart.

  As she continued to watch him, a breath escaped. More than anything he wanted to...kiss her. The thought shocked him to his core.

  A tap on his window had him jerking toward the sound. Sheriff Collins leaned down and watched them, James waiting beside him. Sutter couldn’t imagine what his partner might be thinking.

  Blowing out a breath, Sutter realized he’d behaved recklessly. She was a victim and needed his protection. Nothing more. He’d let Thomas down all those years ago, and because of that, his brother had died. He wasn’t about to do the same to Catherine.

  Sutter climbed from the vehicle, his skin flushed as he tried to recapture his composure under Walker’s careful scrutiny.

  “I figure we can peek through the windows of these cabins. I called Margaret Hillman, the owner. She said no one’s rented any of the cabins recently, but it doesn’t hurt to look around,” the sheriff said without commenting on what he’d witnessed.

  Sutter went around to Catherine’s door and opened it. She emerged and stood next to him, unable to meet his gaze.

  He pointed to the first structure. “Does anything about this seem familiar?”

  Catherine stared up at the simple wooden cabin with its tiny porch. She shifted toward him, regret on her face. “I’m sorry, it doesn’t.”

  “Don’
t get discouraged. We’ve only begun.”

  “I say we do a quick search of the place, then move on to the houses down the road,” James said.

  “I agree. Sheriff, how many cabins are there here?”

  The sheriff glanced down the row. “Probably twenty or more.”

  “We need to split up. Catherine and I will start here. James, why don’t you stick close to us?”

  Sheriff Collins nodded. “I’ll take the far end. Holler if you find anything.” He headed toward the last cabin.

  James circled the one in front of them, while Sutter stepped up on the porch and peered through the window. No one had been in the place in a while. A thick layer of dust blanketed everything.

  Catherine moved on to the neighboring cabin.

  “Keep in sight,” Sutter warned, as an uncomfortable feeling settled within him.

  “I will.” She climbed the steps and looked in. “There’s nothing here.” She stepped off the porch. Her head jerked toward the space between the two cabins.

  James came back around, drawing Sutter’s attention away for a second.

  When he turned back to Catherine, she was gone.

  “No.” Fear worked its way into his throat.

  “What’s wrong?” James asked. “Where’s Catherine?”

  Sutter ran to the last place he’d seen her. With James at his side, he reached the corner of the cabin and rounded it. She was gone. “Catherine!” he called out, but received no answer.

  Sheriff Collins heard and hurried over. “What’s going on?” The strain in the sheriff’s voice was clear.

  “Catherine was just here.” He glanced down. There were two sets of footprints and then a single set of large footprints headed away from the cabin. “He has her.”

  With their weapons drawn, all three men followed the tracks. The footprints headed out toward a heavily wooded area. Time was critical. If they lost her, she’d be dead.

  Sutter raced into the woods with James, while the sheriff called for backup. The temperature dropped considerably as they entered. Trees grew close together, blocking out sunlight.