Proverbs 18:10.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs
into it and is safe.
Going for a walk was the best thing Kate could do, if she wanted to clear her head, and clearing her head was her priority at this time. She could not get the murder out of her head. She had the urge to sort things out, which was no help at all. She figured she’d be able to do better than any of the local cops could, although she had a feeling Ryan was one of those who’d do well in the city if he ever decided to move. All at once, Kate realized that her thoughts were prideful. I’m turning Amish, she thought with a giggle.
As Kate walked down the road, she pushed all thoughts of the murder, and Ryan, from her head, focusing instead on the world around her, which was the one good thing about being dumped in the middle of nowhere.
The scents of the city were so different to the scents of the country, and Kate was beginning to think she preferred the county. She thought about how clean everything smelled without any big industry. She was beginning to understand why so many people had another home in the country. That idea was a silly one, so Kate pushed it from her mind. She did not need a home in the country; she didn’t make enough to pay for one, and she still had absolutely no idea when she would be permitted to return home. What Kate needed to do was to make the most of every moment she spent in the country. She would miss it when she returned home. It was lovely to be able to walk somewhere without worrying that she might be run over by someone who wasn’t looking where he was going.
It was when she was walking past the Kauffmans’ pond that Kate found herself thinking about what it might be like to live in the country for the rest of her life. She knew it was a possibility, if things didn’t get sorted out, and she didn’t feel like it was going to be anywhere near as much of a problem as she thought it would be at the beginning of her time in exile. Of course, the country would be far nicer if there weren’t a murderer out there.
Kate really needed to call her boss, David Harper. He had given her a throwaway cell phone to use if she ever had an emergency, and right now, this sure felt like one.
Kate reached inside her Amish dress for the small pocket sewn specially to hold the phone, and finally came upon her treasure. Pulling the phone from the pocket, she called her boss and waited in anticipation.
“Hello, Kate?”
“Hi, sir. I’m sorry to call you.” The shakiness of her voice hung in the air as she tried to find the right words to use. “They found a homicide victim - the vic was found here. They found him submerged in a pond, so they can’t precisely pinpoint the time of death.”
“Okay, but why is telling me about that worth risking your cover?” Her boss’s voice sounded frustrated, even a little annoyed.
“That’s not it. The vic had a tattoo. I’ve seen that same one on two men, and they both turned state’s evidence. The state ended up giving them immunity and putting them into WITSEC. I think someone might be trying to hunt them down.”
“Tell me more.”
“These guys were notorious thugs for Logan White. They were his goons, his hitmen. They did his dirty work for him, so that he could keep his hands clean.”
“I see where this is going. Keep your nose clean, and I mean it. Let the local badges do their thing and keep your cover safe.”
Kate knew he was right, but she was frustrated. It was hard to be a helpless girl stuck on a farm. “Understood.”
“It shouldn’t be much longer, I promise. It’s just a bit difficult trying to track down a mole in your own organization.”
“Could you at least do one thing for me then?” She knew the chances were slim, but the ever-burning determination in her heart wouldn’t allow her to give up without trying. “Can you at least relay the information about the tattoo to the local police investigating the homicide?”
Silence was the response, and silence hung on the air for what seemed like an age before David finally answered. “I wish I could, Kate, but that would raise too many questions. If there were a better way I might consider it, but any direct contact with them about the case would put up red flags. Please, just let this play itself out.”
Defeated, Kate exhaled slowly before responding. “Sure.”