The headlight flicks off and the man shuts down the engine. Removing his helmet, he sets it on the seat, peels off his ski mask. I don’t recognize him. White male. Mid-twenties. Dark hair. Medium build. Even from this distance I can see he doesn’t have the “bowl” haircut representative of so many Amish men. This guy doesn’t get his hair cut at home. He’s English. Interesting.

The three men converge. The newcomer looks agitated, gesturing animatedly and looking around. Yoder and Smucker don’t look happy. Voices are raised. Shouting, Yoder shoves the newcomer. The other man reels backward. For a moment I think they’re going to fight. Then the third man stalks to his snowmobile, yanks the ski mask over his head, and puts on his helmet. He mounts the snow machine. The engine fires. Shouting something at Smucker and Yoder, he peels out, showering them with snow, and then disappears into the woods in the same direction from which he came.

“Fuck you!” Yoder kicks snow in his direction. “Stupid pussy!”

Rushing now, the men don their masks and helmets and speed away in the opposite direction, toward Schrock’s farm.

I hold my position until the sound of the engines fade completely. Finally, shivering and stiff, I rise and leave the copse of trees. I cross to the place where the men congregated. There’s nothing there except the track marks and a couple of cigarette butts.

What did I just witness? Three friends out for a midnight snowmobile ride? Did they simply get into an argument over something inconsequential? If that’s the case, why did someone leave me a note? Is there more to it? More to come? Ever present in the back of my mind is the fact that Rachel Esh’s body was found less than a quarter mile away.

Pulling the phone from my pocket, I hit the speed dial for Suggs.

He answers on the first ring. “You okay?”

“I’m in the woods a quarter mile north of my trailer.” I tell him about Yoder and Smucker, the third man, and the argument between them. “I couldn’t get the plate number. Dan, I think Smucker and Yoder are headed toward Schrock’s place. There’s something going on and I think it’s happening tonight. A quick look-see and I’m out of there. If things get dicey, I’ll back off.”

“Hmmm.” He’s not convinced, but doesn’t call me on it. “I got a deputy parked out on that two track so if you get into any shit, he’s just a few minutes away.”

“I appreciate it.”

“Be careful, and if the cold becomes a problem, let me know and we’ll pick you up.”

“Roger that.”