Mary Alford - Amish Country Murder

An Amish woman targeted by a serial killer

is the only living witness…

As the sole woman to escape the Dead of Night Killer, Catherine Fisher’s the key to catching him—if he doesn’t kill her first. Now it’s up to FBI agent Sutter Brenneman to protect her. But with her memory missing and all clues indicating the serial killer took her for very personal reasons, it’ll take everything Sutter has to keep her safe.

MARY ALFORDwas inspired to become a writer after reading romantic suspense greats Victoria Holt and Phyllis A. Whitney. Soon, creating characters and throwing them into dangerous situations that tested their faith came naturally for Mary. In 2012 Mary entered the speed-dating contest hosted by Love Inspired Suspense and later received “the call.” Writing for Love Inspired Suspense has been a dream come true for Mary.

Also By Mary Alford

Forgotten Past

Rocky Mountain Pursuit

Deadly Memories

Framed for Murder

Standoff at Midnight Mountain

Grave Peril

Amish Country Kidnapping

Amish Country Murder

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Amish Country Murder

Mary Alford

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-0-008-90638-2

AMISH COUNTRY MURDER

© 2020 Mary Eason

Published in Great Britain 2020

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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“Stop right there!”

Sutter! Relief swept through Catherine’s limbs. He would save her. But the killer jerked toward the sound and fired off several rounds.

Catherine scrambled to her feet and charged. She hit his midsection. They stumbled backward. His hand snaked around her throat.

“Drop the weapon!” Sutter yelled.

Her attacker swung her around in front of him like a shield. He shoved the gun against her temple.

“Take it easy,” Sutter urged. “Drop the weapon and let her go.”

Instead, the man lifted Catherine up high and tossed her. She hit the ground hard, landing on her wrist.

The man had the gun pointed at her again.

She started crawling toward Sutter. If she could just reach him…

Gunshots drowned out her labored breathing. Catherine ducked low and covered her head with her hands, certain she would be dead soon. But someone dove toward her.

Sutter.

He tucked her beneath his body and returned the killer’s fire, the noise deafening as bullets landed all around.

Dear Reader,

Even through the darkest moments of our lives, the one constant we can count on is God’s love.

One of the best parts of writing suspense is being able to create good to triumphant over the darkness. I love showing God’s grace and love on the pages of my stories through the eyes of the main characters. In Amish Country Murder, even as FBI Profiler Sutter Brenneman and Catherine Fisher journey though the valley of the shadow of death to face down a serial killer, hope exists. Just as it does in real life. No matter where our journey takes us, God is already there waiting to help us through.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my second Amish Suspense. And I love hearing from readers anytime. You can connect with me by visiting my website, www.maryalford.net, or you can find me on Facebook and Twitter.

Blessings always,

Mary Alford

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

—Psalm 23:4

For my brother, Leon, who passed away May 4, 2019. Leon was a minister, a chaplain for the Texas State Guard, a constable and a man of God who touched so many lives. Mine especially.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

About the Publisher

Her memory before waking up in the basement the night before was blank. Her head ached. Vision blurred. Dried blood caked the makeshift bandage secured around her head. She was completely at her kidnapper’s mercy. And he had none.

Thinking clearly with her heart threatening to explode from her chest was nearly impossible, but she had to try.

Her hands were zip-tied in front of her body. Beneath her, the cold of the cement floor seeped deep into her limbs. She was tethered to a support beam by a rope around her ankle.

He’d blindfolded her, but she’d pulled it free the second he was gone. She’d been in and out of consciousness most of the day, her body broken from the things he’d put her through.

The room was dark now. A twelve-by-twelve-inch window displayed the blackness of the night outside.

Through the drilling pain in her head, a niggling of something far more terrifying was just out of her reach. A nightmare waiting to be revealed. Last night, when she’d awakened to find the monster standing over her, she thought she’d heard another woman scream. Her stomach clenched. She prayed it was but a hallucination.

“Is anyone there?” Her frightened voice echoed through the basement and received no answer.