I can’t remember if I locked the door, so I go to it, twist the lock. I head to the kitchen, drag a chair to the door and wedge it beneath the knob. Dizziness presses down on me when I straighten and I have to lean against the bar. The shivers are starting to return. I make my way back to the kitchen, fill the kettle with water and light all four burners. I don’t set down my revolver, instead warming one hand at a time over the flame, knowing it’s going to be painful when the feeling returns.

I find a mug and a teabag and pour hot water. I sip the tea without tasting, trying to get the hydration and warmth into my body. My hand is shaking so violently some of it sloshes over the side of the cup. I go to the table and sit. I’m nauseous and hungry at once. My hands and feet ache. The skin on my face and my ears burn and for the first time I worry about frostbite. As bad as it is, though, my mind is beginning to clear. By the time I pour a second cup of tea, I feel steady enough to call Suggs.

“Yeah?” he answers in a sleep-rough voice.

I have no idea what time it is. “It’s Burkholder.”

“Chief, what the—Is everything okay?”

“No.”

I hear rustling on the other end. “What’s going on?” he says, urgency and concern sharp in his voice.

“A couple of guys on snowmobiles broke into the trailer. Caught me sleeping. I couldn’t get to my phone or weapon and they hauled me away, locked me in a fucking chicken coop.”

“What? Kate, what the hell? Who?”

“I’m pretty sure it was the same men I saw with those women night before last.”

“You get names? Description?”

“No. Dan, they wore ski masks. All I know is that they’re young. Early twenties maybe. And Amish.”

“Shit. Are you okay?”

“I barely made it back to the trailer. Those sons of bitches left me in that coop to freeze to death.”

“How long ago?”

I look at the clock on the stove. “Two hours.”

“Look, Kate, you’re slurring words. Unless you’ve been hitting the booze, you’re probably hypothermic. I’m going to get an ambulance—”

“No,” I cut in. “I’m fine now. I just need to get warm.”

“You sure you don’t need to get yourself checked out? I can be there in ten minutes and take you to the ER myself. No one will be the wiser.”

“Sheriff, I’m okay. I made hot tea. I’m on my second cup. Going to bundle up in a minute, get my core temp back up. I thought you should know what happened.”