Hidden Amish Secrets by Debby Giusti

Author:Debby Giusti
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-11-23T19:44:29+00:00

TWELVE

“There’s nothing going on between us, Gloria,” William said as he tried to distance himself from the receptionist. They had been friends in their youth. Maybe a little more than friends for a few weeks. Gloria had wanted him to leave the faith then, and he had made no pretense of his desire to remain Amish ever since he returned home to care for his father.

Excusing himself, he hurried to the sheriff’s office. Deputy O’Reilly was at the desk.

“Is Julianne with the sheriff?”

“The sheriff’s meeting with the mayor.”

“Julianne hasn’t been here?” William’s stomach tightened. “She parked in the rear lot. Something happened between there and here.”

O’Reilly followed Will outside. They hurried to her car and then raced around the side of the building.

William spied her scarf on the ground beside the Dumpster.

A garbage truck backed into the alley.

His heart nearly stopped, and he ran toward the truck. “No!”

O’Reilly followed. “What’d you see?”

“Her scarf. Something tells me—”

Nearing the truck, he pounded on the driver’s door. “Stop the truck. I want to check that receptacle before you throw the garbage in the hopper.”

The guy peered from the window. “Hey, buddy, I’ve got a job to do.”

“I hear ya, but the deputy sheriff wants you to cut your engine and give it a break.”

The guy looked at O’Reilly and shrugged. “Whatever.”

William ran to the Dumpster. The lid was closed. “Give me a hand,” he called to both men.

The truck driver jumped from his cab and hustled to where they stood. “You guys want to tell me what you’re looking for?”

“Just help us lift the lid.”

Working together, the three of them raised the metal top and pushed it back. William climbed to the top of the receptacle and looked down. His heart nearly stopped.

Julianne was lying on a pile of garbage. He jumped into the bin and placed his hand on her neck.

“She’s got a pulse.”

Lifting her into his arms, he held her close for a second and then passed her over the top of the container to the deputy. The stench was terrible, and his feet sunk into the refuse.

“Looks like a rodent bite on her leg. Call the paramedics.”

An ambulance arrived in less than three minutes. William’s heart pounded. She was pale and unresponsive.

“We’ll take her to the clinic,” the lead EMT said. “The doc will decide whether she needs to go to the hospital.” They loaded her into the ambulance.

William retrieved Julianne’s purse from the Dumpster and climbed in beside her. “I’m catching a ride.”

The sirens screamed as the ambulance raced to the medical clinic on the outskirts of town.

William held her hand. “Come on, Julianne. Open your eyes. Tell me you’re okay.”

William never should have talked to Gloria. Had she pulled him away from Julianne on purpose? Her comments about still wanting to be together had seemed foolish, unless she had distracted Will so someone could attack Julianne.

As soon as they arrived at the clinic, she was wheeled into a treatment room. William had to remain in the waiting area.

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