Dana R. Lynn - Amish Christmas Abduction

So now they needed to search for a missing child and a missing girl. They would start searching in the local Amish communities. If they didn’t succeed there, then they would widen their search.

“Thanks, Irene. I mean it. Every detail helps.”

“How’s Mary doing?”

His heart softened. Irene, always thinking about the plight of others. She’d always been that way. “I left her with Sergeant Zee.”

“Did she go quietly?”

“Yeah, but that was probably because she was asleep.”

“Paul!”

He sighed, rolling his eyes. She couldn’t see him, after all. “I will check on her first thing in the morning. Promise.”

After disconnecting the call, he went to the room where Olsen was taking pictures.

“What did you want to see me about, Olsen?”

“Look at all this stuff, Chief. What do you make of it?”

There was a trunk full of children’s clothes in various sizes and colors. All of them showed signs of wear. And there was a pair of Amish breeches on top. Beside the trunk, there was a bottle, still half-full, and a dirty sippy cup.

“Mary wasn’t the only child these people have taken, is my guess. Maybe they still have one or two of them. What they were planning to do with them, I don’t know. But we need to find them. Fast.”

Before any more children were taken. Or worse.

* * *

Irene couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so tired. Last night, she had tossed and turned. When she had finally fallen into a restless sleep, it was to be disturbed in her dreams by images of being chased at gunpoint. She finally gave up. It was only quarter after six, but she knew trying to fall back to sleep was hopeless. Throwing back the covers, she padded to the boys’ bedroom and peeked in. Both were still sound asleep. She sighed, aching with tenderness at the sight of the peaceful children.

Since the peace wouldn’t last, she might as well get ready for the day. She dressed in casual jeans and an emerald green turtleneck sweater. She lugged out her workbag, shaking off the memories.

Pulling out her laptop, she spent some time finishing an evaluation report. By the time it was completed, she could hear the boys arguing in the kitchen. They were up early. Normally, the thought of facing their fighting at seven o’clock on a Saturday morning would annoy her. The memory of the night before washed away any trace of aggravation. She was here, safe, with her kids. That was a lot to be grateful for.

She entered the kitchen, kissed her boys and ruffled their hair as she walked past. Their dog, Izzy, was peacefully snoozing under the table.

“Hi, Mommy!” Matthew peeked up at her with his ragged grin, his front teeth missing. “Can we have waffles for breakfast?”

That was Matthew. His stomach always came first.

“Waffles sound good to me. AJ?”

Her older son peered at her through his new glasses. My, he was looking so grown-up. When had her baby become such a big boy?

Tony would have loved this.

“Waffles are yummy. Can we set up the tree today?”

Ugh. The Christmas tree. One more thing she didn’t want to face. But at least she could give her children the fun parts of Christmas.

She made them waffles, and then the boys helped her drag out the artificial tree and ornaments. She sat down in the center of the living room floor to sort the ornaments, AJ by her side. As she was unraveling the lights, Matthew stood at the window, his face intent. She frowned when she noted him standing on his tiptoes, straining to see something.

“Matthew, why are you staring out the window?”

“I’m watching the man, Mommy.”

She set aside the strand of lights in her hands, unease dancing down her spine. It could be nothing, but she wasn’t taking any chances.

“What man, darling?” Calm. Stay calm. The last thing they need is for you to overreact.

“That man across the street.” Matthew hadn’t turned around, still intent on the stranger.

“Matthew, come away from the window.” How she was able to keep from raising her voice she’d never know.

Something in her tone must have said she meant business, though, because Matthew left his place and skittered down on the floor beside her, his small face pale. The freckles on his cheeks stood out.

“Mommy, I’m scared.”

Her poor baby.

“It’s okay, love, I’m going to call Chief Paul. He’ll know what to do.”

Crawling over to the end table, she grabbed her phone and dialed Paul’s number with shaking fingers. It wasn’t until the phone started ringing that she wondered why she’d instinctively called him and not Jace. Because Paul helped her last night? Of course that was why. She moved to the window and peered out, taking care to keep out of sight. There parked on the street across from her was a dark sedan. Was that the one that had been sitting at the bearded man’s house?

“Hello.”

Paul’s deep drawl sent a shiver down her spine. She scolded herself. She didn’t have time for that. Sure, he was strong and was well respected in LaMar Pond, but he was hiding something. She was certain. Only, right now, it didn’t seem to matter.

“Paul,” she whispered. “There’s a man sitting in his car outside my house. He’s watching us. And I can’t be sure, but it may be one of the people from that house. The car looks familiar.”

“Irene, are the boys with you?” His voice had lost all trace of the lazy, relaxed drawl. Its intensity communicated his concern over the phone.

“Yes, we are all here.”

“Okay, this is what I want you to do. Make sure the doors are locked. And keep away from the windows. Whatever you do, do not answer the door unless it’s me or Jace. I’m going to call him right now. He’s closer to your house. I will be over as soon as I can.”

Click.

She slid the phone back into her pocket and looked at the two frightened faces before her.

“Boys, let’s go back to the kitchen.”

“Aren’t we setting up the tree?” AJ asked, disappointment on his face.

Matthew didn’t argue. He was already halfway there.

“We’ll make Christmas cookies first,” Irene declared, coming up with an impromptu diversion. Both faces brightened.

Her phone rang again. Paul.

“Jace is on his way, too. Sit tight, Irene. We’ll be there ASAP.”

Her nerves were shot by the time Jace arrived. She saw his car pull around the corner from the kitchen window. Immediately, an engine revved. She heard tires squeal as a car raced in the opposite direction. The watcher had left. The cruiser’s lights burst into a swirl of blue and red as Jace followed in pursuit.

Less than five minutes later, someone pounded on her front door. Yelping, she dropped the bowl of icing she’d just whipped together. The silver bowl bounced, flinging white icing on the cupboard doors and all over her blue jeans.

“Irene? It’s me. Paul.”

Paul. She placed a hand over her pounding heart and closed her eyes, fighting the urge to wilt against the countertops.

“Mommy, Chief Paul is here.” AJ frowned as the chief called out again. “Should I let him in?”

“No! No, I will do it. You boys stay here and wipe up this mess. Please.”

They looked less than thrilled, but both nodded. She had expected some protest. Especially from AJ. That neither boy offered even a token resistance told her that they had sensed the seriousness of the situation.

She moved to the door and opened it. She came face-to-face with Paul, his hand raised to knock again. Patent relief flashed across his face as he saw her. His gaze moved over her, checking for injury or signs of distress. She knew the moment he spotted the icing by the way his mouth curled up at the sides. Not exactly a grin, but she could tell he was amused.