I’m not easily shocked; in the years I’ve been in law enforcement, I’ve seen things I wouldn’t have believed if I hadn’t witnessed them with my own eyes. I’ve seen things I later wished I could erase from my brain. I’ve met more than my share of people who were violent or foaming-at-the-mouth crazy or both. Individuals whose minds are as putrid and dark as a rotting carcass.

Eli Schrock is none of those things. He’s charismatic, with a gentle demeanor and kind eyes. He’s well spoken, outwardly religious, and caring to the point of discomfort. All of which makes him the most dangerous kind of criminal.

This community into which I’ve been thrust isn’t merely an Amish settlement. Eli Schrock is no more an Amish bishop than I am. He’s taken something sacrosanct and twisted it to meet his own self-fulfilling and perverse needs.

By the time I reach the trailer, my head is beginning to clear. I’m immensely relieved; as far as I know, he could have slipped me a dose of something nasty. Something fatal.

I check for footprints around the trailer before going inside, but the snow is coming down too hard for the precaution to do much good. Shivering, I open the door and go directly to the sink, yank a glass from the cupboard and down a full glass of water. Working the phone from my pocket, I dial Suggs.

“I just got back from Schrock’s place,” I tell him. “I think the son of a bitch drugged me.”

“Drugged you? Kate, Jesus Christ.” His voice takes on an urgency I hadn’t heard before. “I’ll get an ambulance out there now. Get you to ER.”

“That’ll draw too much attention. Dan, I’m not finished with this bastard.”

“But—”

“Can you pick me up?” Even as I say the words it occurs to me that someone could be watching. Frustrated, I smack my hand down on the counter. “Meet me at the Amish phone booth.”

“Damn it, Chief. Are you sure you’re okay to do that?”

“Make sure there’s no one around to see us.” I hear stress in my voice, make an effort to edge it down. “Don’t drive your official car.”

He curses again. “I’ll be in my wife’s SUV. Be there as soon as I can. If you get into trouble, call.”

*   *   *