Among the Wicked: A Kate Burkholder Novel (35 page)
Read Among the Wicked: A Kate Burkholder Novel Online
Authors: Linda Castillo
Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #United States, #Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, #Mystery, #Police Procedurals, #Women Sleuths
Behind him, Mona grins like an idiot. Slipping into my chief of police persona, I make eye contact with her. She loses the smile, but gives me a thumbs up, then melts back into the hall.
“Sorry to interrupt right before your meeting,” he says as he enters my office.
“It’s okay,” I tell him. “Going to be a short one.” I glance out the window. “Looks like we’re in for some snow and I wanted to get everyone out of here early.”
“You’re such a hard ass.”
“I do my best.”
I turn my attention to the good-size cardboard box tucked beneath his arm. He sets it on my desk. “I had to drive into town so I thought I’d bring this by.”
“What is it?”
“Not sure.” He extracts a pocketknife from his slacks. “From Roaring Springs.”
I look at the return address and something warm quivers in my chest. “The Calico Country Store.”
He cuts the boxing tape seal and pries open the box. We peer inside. A pretty handmade card on top. Something wrapped in white paper.
Tomasetti plucks out the card and hands it to me. “Never liked the card part when I was a kid.”
I grin at him. “You were probably too anxious to get to the good stuff.”
We both know the good stuff is inside the card.
Dear Kate,
I hope this letter finds you well. Our sewing circle is meeting five days a week now. (So much gossip to cover, especially since we’re about to nominate a new bishop!) We’ve been working hard here at the shop and taking on new sewing projects, one of which is a crib quilt for Lena’s baby, which will be coming any day now. We finished the tulip basket quilt we were working on while you were here. We decided we should send it to you, since you couldn’t make a quilt to save your life. Ha! (I think Rebecca would have agreed!)
Wishing you all things good and God bless!
Laura, Ada, Naomi, and Lena
I read the card a second time, smiling, while Tomasetti pulls out the quilt.
“Nice of them to mention your quilting skills,” he mutters as he peels away the protective paper. “Looks like a king.” He raises his brows Groucho Marx style. “I guess they knew you’d be sharing it with someone?”
“Don’t ever underestimate the judicious nature of Amish women,” I tell him. “One look at you and they knew we’re sleeping together.”
“I have a whole new respect for them.”
I run my hands over the fabric, taking in the intricate stitching, the beautiful patchwork of colors, and I can’t help but think of the strong, capable hands that created it.
“It’s an heirloom.” I bring the quilt to my face and breath in deeply, not surprised when it smells of lavender and cinnamon and for an instant, I’m transported to that homey little shop on Main Street.
“It’s the only thing I miss about being Amish,” I whisper.
“The quilting?”
I elbow him in the ribs. “Being part of … something. The camaraderie. The friendship. Especially among the women. They don’t have easy lives.”
“It’s nice.” Wrapping his hands around my upper arms, he turns me to face him. “I’m assuming those are tears of happiness.”
I feel a quick wash of embarrassment. The heat of a blush. “Not a great way to start a meeting with my officers.”
“They might think you’re human if you’re not careful.”
I choke out a laugh. Pulling away from him, I set the card on the corner of my desk where I can see it. Together, we begin folding the quilt and tucking it back into the box.
“Going to look nice in our bedroom,” I say.
“
You
look nice in our bedroom.”
We look at each other and smile. “I’ll be home in a couple hours.”
“See you then, Chief.”
ALSO BY
LINDA CASTILLO
Linda Castillo
is the
New York Times
bestselling author of the Kate Burkholder novels, including
Sworn to Silence
, which was recently adapted into a Lifetime Original Movie titled
An Amish Murder,
starring Neve Campbell as Kate Burkholder. Castillo is the recipient of numerous industry awards, including a nomination by the International Thriller Writers for Best Hardcover Novel and the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence. She also received a nomination for the RITA. In addition to writing, Castillo’s other passion is horses. She lives in Texas with her husband and is currently at work on her next novel. You can sign up for email updates
here
.
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CONTENTS
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
AMONG THE WICKED
. Copyright © 2016 by Linda Castillo. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
Cover photographs: woman and landscape © Stephen Mulcahey/Arcangel; clouds © Mark Owen / Trevillion Images; frozen bushes © Andrew Astbury/Shutterstock
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Castillo, Linda, author.
Title: Among the wicked: a Kate Burkholder novel / Linda Castillo.
Description: First edition.|New York: Minotaur Books, 2016.|Series: Kate Burkholder; 8
Identifiers: LCCN 2016001434|ISBN 9781250061577 (hardcover)|ISBN 9781466867277 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Burkholder, Kate (Fictitious character)—Fiction.|Women police chiefs—Ohio—Fiction.|Amish—New York (State)—Fiction.|Murder— Investigation—Fiction.|Undercover operations—Fiction.|BISAC: FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Police Procedural.|GSAFD: Suspense fiction.|Mystery fiction.
Classification: LCC PS3603.A8758 A83 2016|DDC 813/.6—dc23
LC record available at
http://lccn.loc.gov/2016001434
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First Edition: July 2016
