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
Sworn to Silence
Pray for Silence
Breaking Silence
Gone Missing
Her Last Breath
The Dead Will Tell
After the Storm
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Epigraph
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Also by Linda Castillo
About the Author
Copyright
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.
www.minotaurbooks.com
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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[email protected] First Edition: July 2016
Linda Castillo, Among the Wicked
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