Where Shadows Meet(52)

Matt wanted to hurt someone, preferably Reece. Any man who hit a woman was a coward, and Reece had done more than just slap her around. He’d hurt her badly. “She disappeared from the hospital after giving birth prematurely at home, but the fetus was never found. The detectives questioned him, but it doesn’t look like a warrant was ever issued.”

“So she escaped him. Do we have any idea what she’s been doing for the past five years?” Blake asked.

“She told me she worked for a museum. Milwaukee, I think.”

“Want me to see what I can dig up in Wisconsin?”

“I don’t think it’s necessary. It’s pretty clear she was running from Reece. Anything new on him?”

“Yeah.” Blake tossed another folder on his desk.

Matt glanced through the report. It didn’t surprise him. “He hasn’t worked anywhere longer than a few months at a time over the past few years. Odd jobs, a stint or two as a guard. He’s sure floated around.”

“I think he was probably looking for Hannah.”

Matt closed the folder. He flipped open the main folder that contained the copies he’d made from Hannah’s notes.

“What’s that?” Blake peered over his shoulder at the drawings.

“From the first murders ten years ago. The word anathema and a peace symbol.”

“Seems weird.”

“Also called Nero’s Cross or the Broken Cross, according to Hannah. We pursued the peace symbol, checking out various groups in the area. I’m not sure how we missed its other meaning. Maybe because it’s so obscure.”

Blake raised his brows, and his tone was skeptical. “Isn’t peace what the Amish believe in? They won’t even serve in the military or take any kind of government assistance. Peace or protest. The same symbol represents the annihilation of faith or peace with everyone. Weird, don’t you think?”

“Hannah thinks this instance is about annihilation. A declaration of war against everything the Amish stand for. A hate crime.”

“You think it’s Reece?”

“Why would he hate the Amish? The woman he loved was Amish. He must have seen something good in them. And now he says he’s converted, too, and joined a district in Shipshewana in northern Indiana.”

“I could check that out. Go to Shipshewana.”

“Good idea. Do that.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s what, four hours or a little over? Head up there in the morning and stay until you find the bishop of his district. See what he tells you.”

“Okay, but what if none of this is true? What’s Reece want?”

“He wants Hannah to come back to him.” His gaze went back to the files. And Reece probably wanted Caitlin too. Matt had to figure out what to do. At least Caitlin was hidden where Hannah couldn’t find her. Whether Reece knew of Caitlin’s whereabouts was another question. “Any sign of lurkers out your way?”

“Nope. I think Gina was imagining things when she thought someone followed her. But I’ve got all the security systems activated. And Gina packs that small pistol in her purse. She can handle anyone who tries to mess with her or Caitlin.”

Matt wished he could confide in Blake and Gina about why Caitlin had to be hidden. And just who was after her. Carrying this burden alone was wearisome. But he’d do anything to keep his daughter.



HANNAH’S HOPE, WHICH had seemed so bright that afternoon, fizzled with the sundown. Hannah began to question whether she was on a wild-goose chase. It looked like the little girl had a loving family. Did she have any right to disrupt that kind of happiness? And her accusation of Matt proved she was getting a little off-kilter.

She needed to get her mind on something else. “Let’s cut my hair,” she said. Angie had been after Hannah to let her cut it for months.

“What did you say?”

“I’m not kidding. Let’s cut it.” Hannah jumped up and tugged Angie to her feet. “I’m ready. After I left Reece, I rejected anything that might make me attractive to men. I hated the clothes he made me wear, the come-hither hairstyle. I think I went too far the other way. I’ve used my professional status as an excuse, but I’ve always known the real reason.”

“Why now?” Angie’s sly smile came. “Does the handsome detective have anything to do with it?”

Hannah averted her eyes. “Of course not. FOX & Friends is coming next week. I want to look nice.”

“Uh-huh, if you say so.” Angie turned toward the kitchen. “You don’t have to tell me twice. I’ll get the scissors. Any idea what you want me to do?”

“I’m in your hands.” She grinned at the delight on Angie’s face and followed her to the kitchen.

Something outside, a branch or the wind, caught her attention. “Did you hear something?” Hannah tipped her head to one side.

“No.” Angie pushed her into a chair. “Come on, let’s do it before you change your mind. It won’t hurt a bit.”

“That’s what you think.”

“Just a trim.” Angie lifted a long lock of Hannah’s hair. “It’s all thin on the ends. We’ll trim a couple of inches and give it a few layers. You’ll be amazed at how much better it looks.”