did you two meet?” Dylan finally asked.
“Naomi cleans homes in town.” Dylan wished Cheryl would let Naomi speak for herself.
“The extra money helps my family,” Naomi said, her voice low.
“You were at the Webbs’ house—right?—and heard about his party.” Cheryl didn’t wait for Naomi to answer. “Aaron Webb had a big party and invited you. I was floored when I found out you were Amish.” She scooted up on the edge of the backseat so her voice got louder. “Naomi was dressed normally, like in jeans and T-shirt.” Then as if realizing her backhanded slam, Cheryl added, “I mean, you weren’t dressed Amish. Anyway, we started seeing each other around at different parties and stuff and became friends. Like what, six months ago?”
“Yah.” Naomi sounded resigned. “Cleaning all those homes, I started to think I’d rather live in the outside world. But I was wrong.”
“Well, thanks.” Cheryl laughed, obviously not offended.
“You know what I mean,” Naomi said. “I’m more suited to the Amish Way. I went to the party tonight dressed the way I was raised because I was hoping to talk to a friend. I wasn’t looking to drink and I certainly never expected to have someone put something in my drink.” Her voice grew softer and Dylan looked in the rearview mirror to see Naomi staring out the window. “I should have never had that beer.”
Christina shifted in her seat to face Naomi. Christina’s hair had begun to dry in ringlets around her face. “None of this is your fault.”
“Turn right at the stop sign,” Cheryl interjected.
In the rearview mirror, Dylan noticed Naomi biting her bottom lip. Something about this entire story didn’t add up, but it wasn’t his job to figure it out. He wasn’t FBI. Not while he was on leave. He was a college professor. He was only here because he cared for Christina and for the well-being of this young woman.
Dylan stopped at the corner and was surprised to see a young Amish man in a wagon entering the intersection. It was after ten in the evening. The rain had stopped and a bright moon illuminated the countryside.
In the back, Naomi gasped and slouched in the seat.
“It’s Lloyd,” Cheryl whispered, a hint of awe in her voice. Then to him and Christina, “Lloyd Burkholder is the boy Naomi hoped to see at the party.”
Naomi covered her face with the palm of her hand. It was unlikely the young man would have recognized anyone inside the dark cab of the truck, but she obviously didn’t want to take any chances. “He’ll never take me back if he thinks I haven’t forsaken my former ways. Do you think he knows what happened?”
“You know how people talk,” her friend said. “You’ll have to explain what happened. He’ll take you back. I know it.”
“How can I explain when I don’t even know?” The young woman sounded on the verge of tears.
“I’ll help you any way I can,” Christina said. “Maybe you should reconsider calling the sheriff.”
“Neh.”
The horse and wagon proceeded through the intersection and Lloyd tipped his broad-brimmed hat in their direction, not an unusual gesture in the friendly Amish community.
Dylan lifted a hand in greeting, then turned right as instructed. He knew they were almost near their location when Naomi slid farther down in her seat; any farther and she’d be curled up in a ball on the floor. “The barn is behind the house with the sign on the front lawn.”
Dylan scanned the landscape and noticed a gold Sold sticker splashed across an Apple Creek Realty sign staked in the front lawn. The house and adjacent barn were dark.
“Doesn’t look like anyone’s moved in yet,” Christina said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Do either of you know who was hosting the party?”
“Neh,” Naomi said.
“A bunch of kids probably heard it was an empty house. Prime party spot,” Cheryl said. “I heard about the party in town.”
“I don’t see any cars or horses by the barn.” Dylan slowed to a near stop.
“Like I said...” Cheryl sounded like a girl who didn’t like to repeat herself. “Everyone scattered when Ben went tearing out of there with Naomi in the backseat.”
Dylan glanced over at Christina who seemed intent on studying the landscape. “Do you think anyone’s still out there?” she asked.
“Not likely. Don’t you remember bolting from a party when you were a kid? They’re probably long gone by now.”
Christina clasped her hands in her lap. “I’m not sure what we should do now.” She glanced over her shoulder into the backseat. “Are you okay, Naomi?”
“I’m gut.”
“Please know you can talk to me anytime. Sometimes after the event...” Christina’s voice trailed off and she seemed to change course. “Know that I’m here.”
“Yah.” Naomi’s reply sounded less than convincing. “How did you know Lloyd was supposed to show up?” Naomi asked Cheryl.
“Just heard a bunch of people talking, that’s all.” A hint of defensiveness crept into Cheryl’s tone. “You were the one who really wanted to go.”
“It wonders me what I was thinking.” Naomi tugged on the bottom of the sweatshirt. “Lloyd, the boy in the wagon, was courting me. We rode home together after Sunday singings. I thought it was a matter of time before we started making plans for marriage. And then...” She sniffed. “I started to doubt things. I met Cheryl. I thought she had so many more choices in life. I thought maybe it would be fun to live Englisch.”
“Bubble burst.” Cheryl laughed and Dylan watched her make an explosion gesture with her widespread fingers.
Dylan drove past the property, scanning the entire area without detecting anything suspicious lurking among the shadows. But that only meant the kids were good at hiding. He went to the first cross street and turned around.
“When I realized Lloyd wasn’t there, I was upset and decided to have a beer.” Naomi’s voice got very soft. “I’m stupid.”
“You’re not stupid, Naomi. Don’t be hard on yourself.” Christina shifted in the seat next to him.
“I had the beer and then I felt dizzy. Tired. I still feel a little dizzy.”
Christina sighed. “The lab will be able to determine from your urine sample what they gave you.”
“I don’t see why it matters. I want to forget the whole thing.”
“That’s probably a good idea,” Cheryl said. “Easier to move on. Lloyd will never know what happened. You guys might get back together yet.”
Dylan cut a sideways glance at Christina. She was clenching her jaw, obviously holding back. Staring out the windshield, she asked him in a softer voice, “You see anything
