Where Shadows Meet(97)

He reached them and stopped by his grandmother. “You said we could leave, go our way. Hannah came back to me of her own free will. She had nothing to do with her parents’ sins. You promised you’d help me get her back. You never said anything about killing her.”

Trudy slapped him. “You fool! She’s got you totally flummoxed. Can’t you see she only came because she was sure you had the brat?”

Reece put his hand to his cheek. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Do what I say, Reece. I’ve been working years for this minute.”

Over Reece’s shoulder, Hannah saw Matt and Ajax running up the path. She didn’t see Caitlin, so she prayed the little girl was on her way to safety. Trudy must have seen the expression on her face, because she turned to look.

She pressed her lips together and raised the gun to point it at Hannah. “If either one of you moves, she’s dead.” She pointed to the hole. “You’ve been looking for your mother, Matthew. Come say hello.”

Matt came toward them, clenching his fists. “You killed my mother?” His face took on a stricken expression.

“She killed my son.”

“No, she didn’t—he killed himself.”

“Because she wasn’t the wife he needed,” Trudy spat.

Matt couldn’t engage that kind of irrational thinking. “You had Reece hire that woman to pose as my mother. Just so I wouldn’t look anymore, right? Did you think just any woman would pass for my mother? I remember her too well to fall for that masquerade.”

Trudy waved her hand. “Hannah is about to join her. She can give her your greetings.”





TWENTY - SIX


“There have been cases of prejudice against the Amish in some communities. They are the perfect targets for hate crimes because they don’t fight back—they are peace-loving and gentle.”

—HANNAH SCHWARTZ, ON The Early Show

Trudy gestured with the gun again. “Would you like to say hello to your mother, Matt? She’s right down there if you’d like to stop in for a visit.”

“Stop it!” Hannah shouted. “Just stop being such a cruel witch.”

Trudy’s brows raised. “The mouse roars?”

This was where bitterness led. Hannah got it now. Forgiveness was much more beautiful when contrasted with this vengeful woman. How had she been so blind? She found it hard to look away from that twisted mouth, those eyes filled with hatred and judgment. Had she looked like that to Ellen earlier today? Is this what Reece saw when he looked in her face?

“Why, Trudy? Why all this hatred to people who never even hurt you? What did Moe ever do to warrant death?”

“That was his own fault. The flowers were meant for his mother.” Trudy glared at Reece.

“My aunt was a wonderful woman,” Hannah said. As long as she could keep Trudy talking, they might have a chance of being rescued.

“She was a busybody. She came to see me after your parents’ funeral, all the way in her little buggy as if I would be impressed. She told me she’d seen Reece coming out of Ellen’s house when Cyrus wasn’t there. She suspected Reece was a killer and came to tell me to be careful of him.” Trudy smiled. “She didn’t tell the police. She wanted to leave justice in God’s hands.”

“And of course she had no idea you were involved,” Hannah said slowly.

“When Reece told me what he’d done to lure you back here, I knew Nora would have to die. She wouldn’t keep that information to herself.” She glanced up at Reece as though seeking his approval. “I put you first in everything.”

“She never told me. You didn’t have to kill her.”

“She would have.” Trudy’s voice was matter-of-fact. “Shoot her, Reece. You need to do it to be rid of her in spirit.” Reece shook his head and dropped the hand with the gun to his side, but she seized his arm. Her voice rose, and even the wind didn’t drown it out. “If it hadn’t been for me, you would have been out on the streets, Reece. We’re in this together too far for you to back out now. It has to be done.”

“Let me keep Hannah.” His voice was weak and pleading.

“You’re so weak, boy. Would you fight me again? Want to knock me down like you did when you first got back? You’re pitiful.”

Hannah’s gaze went to Matt, and she saw from his expression that he had heard Reece too. His nostrils flared, and his lips thinned. She could see his coiled muscles waiting to spring into action. They weren’t going down without a fight.

“You’ve got my gun,” Matt said. “This time use it for a good purpose. Save Hannah and Caitlin.”

“Shut up, Matthew!” Trudy transferred her glare from Matt to Reece. “Reece, you’ll do what I say.”

Trudy finally seemed to badger Reece into submission. He brought the gun up and aimed it at Matt. “I’ll put your gun to good use, all right. You want to go first, big guy? See your mother?”

Hannah stepped in front of Matt. “Let’s leave now, Reece. Just go away, you and me. Matt can keep Caitlin. That’s all she knows anyway.” She didn’t think Reece would be able to shoot her. He never destroyed his possessions. Matt made a grab for her to shove her out of the way, but she evaded him and began to walk toward Reece. “You don’t have to listen to her, Reece. Look at me. Let’s leave here, start a new life. You’ll never have to see her again.”