Third in the Sticks Hetrick mystery series
Retired police chief Daniel ‘Sticks’ Hetrick, still serving as unofficial consultant to his less experienced successor, has another murder to deal with in rural Swatara Creek, Pennsylvania. It soon develops the death of a local waitress is not the only trouble in the township. An elderly man has been seriously injured in the latest of a string of burglaries from the Amish, the burglaries may have a connection to unscrupulous antique dealers, there are items missing from the police department evidence room and rumors of drug dealing are circulating. What--if anything--do all of these have in common? Could it be the strange Amish girl who may, or may not be, Flora Vastines new friend?
Excerpt
The Amish greeted him in dialect and an elderly woman Hetrick suspected must be Teddy’s wife surrendered her chair at his bedside to the bishop. Stoltsfus laid a hand on Teddy’s shoulder, bowed his head and muttered a prayer in German. The others bowed their heads and said “amen” in unison when he finished. The bishop put on a pair of wire-rimmed glasses and looked up at Sticks.
“Guttag, Bishop,” Amos said. “This here’s Chief Hetrick.”
“He’s not chief no more,” the bishop said.
“No, sir, I’m not. Chief Brubaker asked me to come out on his behalf. We’re sorry about what happened to Mr. Funk. About all that’s been happening out here.”
“Thank you for your concern.”
“We weren’t aware of what was going on. If we had…”
The bishop nodded. “We prefer to handle things ourselves. This,” and he gestured at Teddy’s languid form, “is beyond our capability. We appreciate your willingness to help.”
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