A Dark Amish Night by Jenny Moews

started making cow eyes at her.
       “Good afternoon, Quinn, I wasn’t expecting to see you back so soon, but come on in. I’ll get you a cup of coffee.”
       “That’s all right, Hannah, I have to be getting on to the station. Got some people waiting on me. Wow, it looks like you’re busy anyhow.” Quinn couldn’t help but notice the stacks of boxes that had already been packed and sealed scattered around the front room.
       “Yes, I want to get this done so I can get started on opening my bakery in town as quickly as I can. Sure you don’t want a cup of coffee? I’ve got some strudel cooling on the counter.”
       “How ’bout I take some to go?”
       “Sure, I’ll just wrap you up some to take back to town with you.”
       Quinn followed Hannah into the kitchen and watched as she carefully wrapped the entire strudel for him to take. “So, has it been quiet here since I left this morning?”
       “Well, there hasn’t been any more signs of our visitor from last night, but Timothy figured out that visitor was looking for him. He’s frightened, Quinn, my boy is scared out of his mind, and he won’t talk to me about it, and he won’t come out of his room either. I just don’t know what to do.”
       “There has to be something the boy isn’t telling us. He’s got to know something or he saw something. There’s no other explanation.” Quinn took a deep sigh. “I’ve got to get into town right now, but I’ll be back later this evening. I think maybe it’s time for me to have another talk with Timothy. Don’t tell him I’m coming. Let him calm down, and maybe between the two of us we can get him to talk, okay?”
       “It sounds like that’s about all I can do. Maybe together we can get something out of him.”
     
     
     
       Quinn made it back to the office with only half of the strudel left. His old pal Ollie was standing out in front of the Sherriff’s office smoking a cigarette in a standard issue plain black suit.
      “Well, Quinn, I been here cooling my heels for a good couple of hours. Don’t tell me you already got this one solved and won’t be needing my services after all.” Ollie was only half joking. He knew Quinn to be a solid detective who had the most impressive track record of any one. Quinn Ramsey was an old dog who never lost a bone, ever.  Ollie was one of the few people who knew why Quinn left the city. Crying shame about that wife of his, a murder-suicide as it was.
       Quinn slapped Ollie on the back. “Good to see you, Ollie. I wish I could tell you this case was all wrapped up, but to tell the truth I need you more than I ever have. Quinn caught Ollie up to speed and the both of them went inside to wait for the forensic team to arrive.
       “So, how’s that partner of yours? Maggie, that’s her name right? She still looking good and keeping you at bay?” Quinn remembered Ollie’s partner well. There was a time Quinn had given Maggie more than a passing glance.
    “Maggie’s still around. She asks about you sometimes. So did you and her ever…”
       “NO! She and I never...” Quinn cut Ollie off but there was no mistaking the mischief in his old friend’s eyes. Ollie was teasing and Quinn had taken the bait.
       “Well then maybe you should come on back to the City and you and Maggie could…”
       “Yeah, maybe we could.” Quinn let the matter drop, but the truth was right now he only had one woman on his mind. And that woman was as far out of his reach as the sun, the moon, and the stars.
     
     
     
      Later that afternoon the forensic team finished gathering evidence and cleaned up the campsite. There was still no sign of the suspect in or around the camp, but Quinn did find some fresh tracks about a mile off the road from Hannah’s farm. Ollie confirmed with Quinn the obvious.
       “Yup, I’d say these were laid down last night sometime, and whoever made them left in a real hurry. Looks like an old pick-up