“So he’s never been arrested,” he tells me.

“Nick Kester has a sheet as long as my arm.”

“What about his wife? Maybe she loaded the rifle for him.”

“She’s not a match.”

“Doesn’t mean he didn’t get someone else to do it.”

“I know.”

He nods, thinking. “What about the John Doe you’re working on? The remains? Have you been pushing someone who might’ve pushed back?”

“I’ve been asking questions.” I think about that a moment and shake my head. “Amish mostly.”

“A lot of Amish have .22 rifles.”

“True, but I can’t see any of them doing something like that.”

“No one ever does.” He picks up his water glass. “Who are your suspects?”

Pleased to be on comfortable ground, I tell him everything I know about the case. “I’m getting some odd vibes from Abigail Kline. I’m pretty sure she lied about the quilt. She lied about not having any new quilts for sale, because she didn’t want me to see that she embroiders her initials on them.”

“People don’t lie without a reason.”

“I can’t prove it, but I think she was the woman involved with Nolt when he disappeared.”

“Why would she lie about it?”

“That’s where things get complicated. Abigail Kline is Swartzentruber, which is one of the most conservative sects of the Amish. Leroy Nolt was New Order Mennonite, which is pretty much on the opposite end of the spectrum. It’s generally frowned upon for Amish people to marry outside their church district, particularly if the person they choose is from a more liberal congregation. The gap between some of the church districts is huge, and a relationship between the two of them would have undoubtedly caused big problems, especially for Abigail.”

“You think she lied simply because she doesn’t want anyone to know she was involved with Nolt?”

I nod. “That’s certainly a possibility.”

“But you think there’s more to it.”

“I don’t think she killed him,” I tell him. “But she might know who did.”

“She’s protecting them?”

“Yes.”

“How does Jeramy Kline fit into all of this?” he asks. “Or does he?”

“If Nolt’s death was the result of some sort of love triangle gone bad…” I let my brain run with that train of thought. “Abigail Kline has known Jeramy since she was a kid. She always knew she’d marry him. Everyone expected it, and in the Amish community those kinds of expectations are taken very seriously.” I look at Tomasetti. “What if Leroy Nolt came along and screwed it up for Jeramy?”

“I think you have a viable motive for Jeramy Kline to want Leroy Nolt gone for good.”

“I’ve not been able to link them.”

“You have the initials on the quilt. And didn’t Nolt’s sister see them together?”