Amish Safe House. Debby Giusti

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СКАЧАТЬ appeared a bit off center, as if it had been broken. Lips pulled tight, and no hint of a smile on his angular face.

      “Mr. King doesn’t look happy.”

      Jonathan shrugged. “Law enforcement photos are never flattering.”

      Her stomach tightened. “He’s a cop?”

      “Past tense. He left the force three years ago.”

      Once a cop, always a cop. Her ex had been a police officer. He protected others but failed to show that same sense of concern when it came to his own family. After Charlie, she wanted nothing to do with men in uniform.

      The marshal seemed oblivious to her unease.

      “Abe is an old friend,” Jonathan continued. “A widower from my police-force days who owns a farm and has a spare house on his property. He lives in a rural Amish community.”

      “Amish?”

      “That’s right.”

      “Bonnets and buggies?” she asked.

      He smiled weakly. “You’ll be off the grid, Mrs. Bradford. No one will look for you there. If anyone asks, you’ll be working as Abraham’s housekeeper, at least until the trial.”

      “Has a date been set?”

      “Not yet. Everything takes time.”

      Julia tried to get her mind around a new identity in a new state. She didn’t understand the Amish connection, but she was okay with anything that meant William and Kayla would be safe.

      “My ex-husband...”

      She glanced into the adjoining bedroom where William was watching a sporting event on ESPN. Kayla stood nearby and pretended to feed her doll.

      Julia lowered her voice. “My ex-husband won’t know of our whereabouts?”

      “That’s correct.”

      “He won’t be able to find us,” she repeated, needing the reassurance she hoped the marshal would provide.

      “No one will find you, ma’am.”

      “William will be safe in Kansas?”

      “Yes, ma’am.”

      “As you probably know, my husband was a cop.” She glanced again at the photo. “I’m... I’m hesitant to rely on someone with that background. Do you know why Mr. King was forced to resign?”

      Jonathan stiffened. “Abraham had a stellar record with law enforcement, Mrs. Bradford.”

      “I didn’t mean to imply...” She held up her hand. “I’m just worried about the safety of my children. They come first.”

      “Of course they do, but let me assure you, their safety, as well as yours, is our top priority.”

      He retrieved his phone from her outstretched hand and tucked it into his pocket. “Abraham put a criminal in jail who wanted payback after he was paroled. The guy planted an explosive device in Abe’s car. The next morning, his wife tried to drive their daughter to daycare. The car exploded, and his wife and four-year-old child were killed.”

      The marshal’s matter-of-fact disclosure of the tragedy hit Julia hard. She glanced down at the table, fighting back tears that welled up in her eyes at the senseless loss of life. “I’m sorry.”

      Jonathan nodded. “It was a tough time for him, as you can imagine.”

      “Did Mr. King agree to shelter us?”

      “He did. Your identities and location will probably change again after William testifies, but for now, you’ll be Julia Stolz.”

      “A German name.”

      “Yes, ma’am. The area has a large German as well as Amish population. Stolz will fit in.”

      “I don’t speak German.”

      “That won’t be a problem.” He pulled a manila folder from his briefcase and placed it on the table in front of her.

      “Here’s the paperwork you need for your new identities. Social security cards with new names and numbers for you and the children. Birth certificates. A high school graduation diploma for Julia Stolz.”

      Jonathan glanced into the bedroom. “William and Kayla need to understand the importance of not revealing their old identities.”

      Kayla wouldn’t be a problem, but William was going through a defiant stage where he rebelled against everything.

      As if reading her mind, Mast added, “William needs to know that his safety as well as yours and your daughter’s depends on him agreeing to this new life.”

      Julia nodded. “I’ll talk to him.”

      But would he listen?

      Pushing his chair back from the table, Jonathan glanced at his fellow marshals. “We’ll leave at nine tonight.”

      “Why so late?” Julia asked.

      “At the present time, the Philadores don’t know your whereabouts. We don’t want that to change.” He stood. “Stacy and Karl will drive you to the airport. I’ll meet you there.”

      True to his word, Marshal Mast was waiting on the tarmac when Karl pulled the sedan to a stop next to the small charter plane that night.

      Julia and her children were ushered onboard. Kayla fell asleep not long after the plane was airborne. William nodded off soon thereafter. Julia stared out the window, peering into the dark sky. Her head throbbed, her eyes burned and she was cold, too cold.

      Stacy handed her blankets. “You’ve been very brave.”

      Julia covered her children and herself with the blankets and almost laughed. Not brave, but maybe foolish to think she could outsmart the Philadores. Her eyes closed. The jerk of the plane when the wheels touched down forced them open again.

      “We’ve landed.” Stacy patted Julia’s arm. “A van will take us to your final destination.”

      Julia ushered her children off the plane and into the vehicle parked on the tarmac.

      Karl slipped behind the wheel. Jonathan sat in the passenger’s seat, and Stacy climbed into the rear.

      Kayla fell asleep again, her head on Julia’s lap. William leaned against her shoulder. Soon, he too drifted off.

      Julia watched the lights of the city fade from view as they headed into the country. She quickly lost track of the twists and turns in the road and slipped into a half sleep.

      A hand tapped her shoulder. “We’re almost to our destination.”

      The car turned off the paved road onto a dirt drive that led to a two-story house with a porch and overhanging tin roof. A small light СКАЧАТЬ