Lamb to the Slaughter (Serenity's Plain Secrets Book 1) Read Free Page A

the Amish?”
    Bobby smiled as if he was a grandpa humoring his grandchild. “No, that’s not it at all. I’m simply telling you in advance to expect them not to be forthcoming with you. I’ve been dealing with their nonsense for thirty years. I know whatI’m talking about. The quicker you wrap this case up, the better.”
    It didn’t take long for Naomi Beiler’s body to be bagged and loaded into the ambulance. I remained in the field for some time after the van had driven away and Bobby had left in Todd’s patrol car.
    I walked out into the corn stalks, searching the ground and trying to figure out which way the girl had come from. Any tracks she might have left had been washed away by several days of rain. The plants themselves left no traceable clues, with so many of them sporadically broken from the wind or deer crossing through.
    I stopped and looked around. The stalks lightly brushed against each other in the warm breeze and there was the scurrying sound of a small animal in the leaves on the ground. It was just a cornfield, and yet, I had to admit to myself that standing there alone felt pretty damn creepy.
    Why the hell would Naomi Beiler have been out here?
    I’d remember Bobby’s advice, but I hoped he was wrong. There were too many questions running through my brain to let them go easily. Maybe the pretty young woman was killed in a random hunting accident, but if that hadn’t been her fate, I was determined to bring the truth to light.
    And dammit, I wouldn’t be handling the Amish any differently than any other citizens.

2
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    NAOMI
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    August 2 nd , three months earlier
    N aomi kept her eyes locked on Eli Bender’s, daring him to turn first. The handsome Amish boy wouldn’t glance away, even when he called out the hymn number and the singing began again. Butterflies danced in her belly when Eli finally tore his eyes from hers, the one side of his mouth tilted mischievously.
    Naomi wasn’t surprised at the attention Eli was showing her. She’d always known he was sweet on her, but his sudden openness about it was perplexing. Maybe he was ready to begin courting and he’d chosen me, Naomi thought. She wouldn’t know for sure until later, when the ball games were going on. If Eli had any inkling of wanting her, he’d surely show his attentions then. At least that was her wish.
    Three songs later, her back sore from sitting on the hard bench for over an hour, Naomi smacked the hymnal closed and handed it down the line. In a flurry of movement, everyone else was doing the same. The popping noises of so manybooks shutting filled the air—a sound that was sweeter music to her ears than all the songs before it.
    “I saw the way you were so brazenly staring at Eli. You should be ashamed of yourself!” Sandra whispered loudly in Naomi’s ear, her hot breath tickling her friend’s lobe.
    “Hush, now. That’s none of your concern.” Naomi giggled, bumping softly into Sandra’s side.
    “We’re best friends, aren’t we? That makes it my concern.” Sandra snorted, hands on her hips.
    The room had emptied quickly. The only inhabitants other than Naomi and Sandra were a few of the mothers packing the hymnals away and chatting non-stop as they worked.
    Naomi clasped Sandra’s arm, tugging her toward the barn door opening and the blazing maroon sunset. The rush of warm air caressed Naomi, pressing her sky blue dress against the front of her body. She exhaled in excitement, relishing the way the hot breeze made the blood bubble inside of her. She was feeling pretty tonight and she had the inkling that Eli thought so too.
    She leaned in closer to Sandra, not wanting anyone to hear, not even the other girls. “Did you catch the way Eli was staring at me during the singing?” she practically hummed the words.
    “Yes, I did. I reckon you two will be courting in no time. Then you won’t have need for me any longer.” Sandra said it in a joking way, but Naomi could see that her friend’s smile