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for a killer, before he really understood what evil he was trying to expose. She’d been newly married, and neither had known her husband would soon be dead. It wasn’t because the woman wasn’t desirable, but he wondered what suddenly made her attractive to a vampire. His gaze shifted from the peaceful scenery of farmland toward Hannah.
    â€œI think…” She spoke softly as she stared down at her lap, the ties of her headpiece trailing downward. She wore the simple clothes he’d learned were required by the Amish. The white kapp , the plain dress of some earthy tone, this one being green, the apron pinned in place with straight pins, and the solid black tennis shoes.
    â€œIt’s all right, Hannah,” Levi said in a soothing voice.
    She gave a bob of her head. “I think he wants to hurt me.” She glanced up then, her brown eyes seeking understanding from Roc. “Because of what happened.”
    Roc remembered how Hannah had agreed to go with Akiva. It had been her sacrificial attempt to save Levi. But the vampire had pushed her away, not wanting her without love, if her heart had belonged to Levi. None of it frankly made sense to Roc at the time and made even less now. But if anyone knew Akiva, Hannah did. Still, the voice of reason intruded. “It’s been six months. Why now?”
    â€œWhy not now?” she asked in return.
    â€œBut why wait so long?” Roc persisted.
    â€œMaybe,” Levi suggested, “Akiva was waiting for the right opportunity. As I said, we had been keeping a close eye on Rachel.”
    Roc quirked an eyebrow. “So you thought Akiva would return?”
    Levi rubbed his jaw where it was covered by a thick growth of beard. “We worried about Rachel, wanted to help her if she needed it. But I also had concerns, not only for Rachel, but also for Hannah. Revenge is a powerful tool.”
    â€œAkiva…Jacob”—Hannah used the vampire’s human name, the boy she had known and loved—“he knew Rachel. She went with him to New Orleans during their rumschpringa years.”
    Both of Roc’s eyebrows lifted. “Were they together back then?” He wasn’t sure Hannah and Levi understood what he meant by that particular English word. “Were they dating? Or whatever you call it?”
    Hannah plucked at the ties of her headpiece. “I don’t think so…but…”
    â€œBut” told him more than anything else. He read the hesitation in her eyes. She wasn’t sure. “But what? The more I know the easier it will be for me to find them, to help her.”
    Hannah rolled her lips inward before speaking. “Rachel wanted Josef even then, but I’m not sure what went on between her and Jacob. She said nothing about that time, but…”
    When she didn’t continue, he voiced her doubts: “You’re not so sure.”
    Her slim shoulder lifted in a shrug. “I wasn’t there. It is not for me to say anyway. Gossip is—”
    â€œGossip is about all we have to go on, apparently.” Roc walked over to the table and took a long drink of the sweetened tea, the ice clanking in the glass. Rattled, he focused on the details. Details mattered. “Do you have a recent picture of Rachel?”
    Hannah shook her head. “We don’t hold with—”
    â€œYeah, yeah, I know.” He frowned. Searching for a missing person was never easy. The list of those missing in each state was astronomical and sobering. But the Amish rules for not allowing photographs complicated things. “No photographs. The Ordnung should reconsider just for safety purposes.”
    â€œThe Lord is in control,” Levi stated.
    â€œIf you were so convinced of that, then why did you call me?” Roc challenged.
    â€œThe good Lord can use you too, Roc. And I believe He will help us to find Rachel.”
    Roc could never understand this quiet young man’s