Katie looked through the cupboard for more glasses and lining them up on a second tray, filled them with the remaining ice cubes. Taking a carafe of lemonade, poured lemonade into each glass and took the tray outside. The young men took the lemonade, though none were particularly warm as they spoke with her. On the other hand, they were hot and tired. Maybe that was the reason why they hardly spoke or smiled at her.
When she reached Amos, he was busy hammering lumber to the barn’s frame. Libby was there, and the two were smiling easily at each other as he worked.
Jealousy, hot and painful, stabbed through Katie. She pushed it down. Libby was her friend, and Amos was her boyfriend. “Hey!” she called out. “I brought lemonade.”
Amos’s cheeks flushed. He’d rolled up his shirtsleeves and undone the collar of his shirt. Even so, the fabric was dark with sweat, and his exposed arms and face glistened. He held out his hand for a glass. “Denki.” Katie handed it over. He drank it down in five longs swallows. “Gut.”
“I was just telling Amos what you said about the fire investigator.”
“Ja,” Katie said, wishing they could talk about something else. “I told him about the feeling I was getting sometimes that someone was watching me.”
“I’m sure that’s not it,” Amos said, firmly.
“How would you know?” Katie asked.
“How do you know it’s not the same person who painted that sign or left those horrible notes?”
Those horrible notes? Katie blinked. Her guts turned to ice. Nobody had mentioned her second note, but here Amos was, bringing up the ‘notes’ casually as if they were common knowledge.
“Was there another note?” Katie asked.
Amos clutched his glass. Holding it to his mouth, he tipped his head back and made like there was more than a few drops of melted ice to take a swallow from. When he had finished, he asked, “What do you mean, another note?”
“Nothing. You just said notes, and that’s why I asked.”
“Nee...” Amos made a show of sipping from the glass again, letting an ice cube fall into his mouth and holding it in his cheek as he added. “I meant the sign and the first note, that’s all.”
First note. Amos was lying to her.
“I should get back to work,” Amos said.
Katie nodded. “Ja. Of course.” She held out her hand, and Amos handed the glass back. “I’ll just go then,” she said. Her throat felt too large, and her eyes stung, but she pushed the tears down. She pushed them down with the stories and the kernel of truth that nurtured them.
For the rest of the day, Katie didn’t say much at all. She did as she was told, smiled as she offered the others food and drinks she could not stomach passing her own lips. By the time the sun had begun to set, the frame of the barn was up. They would come back tomorrow to finish the walls and start laying out the inside.
Katie was numb to all of it. She heard some of the other girls talking about going out that night to listen to English music in a local field. Katie pretended she couldn’t hear. It was almost a relief to return to her dat’s buggy and go home.
Chapter 8
Monday morning after the barn raising, Bishop Lapp, along with Lovina, drove into Big Valley and stopped at the mayor’s office. At the reception desk, they announced themselves and asked to speak to Mayor Winters. “We have some important news for her.”
The receptionist, a savvy, tall man in an off-white button down shirt and navy slacks, looked closely at the bishop’s beard and attire. “Sir, is this about that rumor?”
“Yes, and another development we need to keep her office informed about. We need to let her know so she’s ready.”
The receptionist sighed. “If it’s what I think it’s about, she already knows. Let me buzz her for you. Have a seat.”
A few minutes later, the mayor strode out of her office. “Bishop Lapp, Mrs. Lapp, come with me.” She smiled, looking preoccupied. Closing the door, she said, “Jake can get you coffee. Or did you prefer tea?”
“No need to trouble yourself,” Lovina said.
“It’s no trouble.” The mayor tapped on the intercom on her desk. “Jake, can I get three coffees?” She looked up. “Coffee is alright?”
“Ja,” Bishop Lapp agreed. “Black with three sugars for me. Extra cream for my wife.”
After the orders were given, the Mayor asked, “Is this about the fire? I hope you haven’t gotten any more threats! Detective Hollis informed our office about his investigation after Mr. Shrock expressed that there might be some connection between the person who has been threatening you and this potential arson.”
“Has he made any conclusion yet?” Bishop Lapp asked.
“Not that he’s told me about.”
Bishop Lapp sighed. “We know it’s Katie Miller. One of the kinder saw her tack another note to a tree by the creek near Eli Smits home.”
Lovina put her head in her hands. “I never thought she would go so far as to set a fire. I want to treat her with Christian charity and not be forced to cast her out, but setting a fire in the middle of the night! We’re very lucky nobody was killed.”
Bishop Lapp put a hand on his wife’s shoulder. “Lovina, we don’t even know if the fire was intentional. It may have been an accident. But the rest of it...” Bishop Lapp looked over at the Mayor. “We are so sorry. We beg your forgiveness, Mayor. And we will do everything we can to make sure that Katie Miller is stopped.”
“I know you were hoping to handle this situation within your own community, but if she is responsible for starting a fire, that is a more serious crime than mere rumors. We will have to bring the authorities in to question her, and she may face arrest and trial if she’s found to be the one responsible.”
“She needs help,” Lovina cut in. “We spoke with a psychiatrist. There has to be a reason for Katie’s behavior. If this young lady does have a serious psychological problem...”
“Our first duty is to the safety of our community,” Bishop Lapp said forcefully. “We have eyes on her at all times. We are just waiting for the fire investigation to be complete to decide what we will do next.”
“That makes sense. Can I see this second note?”
Bishop Lapp handed it over.
Mayor Winters read over the note. “This is very troubling. Have you shown it to Detective Hollis?”
“Ja. He said he was waiting for lab work before he could say anything else about it. But I wanted to let you know what was happening.”
The door to the office opened, and Jake came in balancing a tray with three mugs. “Coffee,” he said, placing the tray on the mayor’s desk.
Lovina stood up. “I can help with that,” she said. She stood.
Mayor Winters grabbed a bright blue mug with a yellow smiley face and a palm tree on each side. “This one’s mine. Thanks, Jake.”
Jake nodded. “There’s cream and sugar on the tray,” he said. “Did you need anything else?”
“No thanks.”
“Ring if you need me,” Jake said and left.
Lovina heaped three spoonfuls of sugar into her husband coffee and handed it to him. Then she poured cream and a spoonful of sugar into her own. They sat back on the chairs and sipped.
“Gut,” Lovina said. “Very gut.”
“My niece was in Columbia doing a study abroad, and she sent me some beans.” Mayor Winters closed her eyes and gave a hum of pleasure as she took another drink of the coffee. “Some days you just need a little extra kick.”
“Ja,” Bishop Lapp agreed.
After another sip, Mayor Winters said, “Educate me, please. If the fire was an accident, you have chosen to handle the rest of it within the confines of your own community. When you confront her, what will you ask her to do?”
“Her age and status make it all more difficult. She hasn’t completed her baptism instruction. Because she hasn’t taken her Kneeling Vows, she’s not a full member of our community. Therefore, we don’t have the full strength of the ban behind our eff
orts. At the most, we can talk to her, ask her why she did this and prevail upon her to stop. She can promise not to do this all she wants, but we will have no guarantee she won’t do this again.”
“As I recall, she came here with her parents from another state.”
“Yes. Because she’s now eighteen at least, we can now make her leave on her own if she won’t stop this kind of behavior. Beyond that, all we can do is alert other Amish communities of who she is and what she’s done.”
“Just one request from a non-Amish person? There are legal consequences for her actions. As you have chosen to handle this within your own community, and we respect that, we have not taken further steps within our own legal system. But if she is asked to leave your community, be aware that we will not be so lenient with her threats and hate speech. Can you accept that?”
“Ja,” Bishop Lapp said. In truth, he felt relieved. Katie was their problem, and he didn’t want to shirk on his own responsibilities, but it was good to know she wouldn’t just be set free to wreak havoc on another community. “Ja. We agree. I know you’re busy and I don’t want us to take up too much of your time.”
“Finish your coffee,” Mayor Winters ordered. “And take your time. A cup of this is meant to be savored.”
ON THE AFTERNOON OF when the bishop and his wife had returned by a driver from the mayor's office, the fire inspector, Mr. Hollis knocked on Tom Schrock's door. Mrs. Schrock outside, behind the house with her daughter, hanging the family’s wash on the line. The new barn was up, though it would take another full day to complete the rest of the work.
Mark, Tom Schrock's oldest unmarried son, opened the front door. When he saw detective Hollis, his face lost all color. Mark was tall and lanky with a shock of reddish blonde hair. He was handsome and a bit wild, though he kept his wild side known mostly and only to his rumspringa activities.
Detective Hollis asked, "Are your parents home?"
"Is this about the fire?"
"Yes. I had some of the debris sent to the lab for analysis, and we have the results. I would like to speak to your parents." Mr. Hollis’ eyes narrowed slightly, as he added, "and also you and any of your other siblings who were asleep at the time."
"But Katie Miller did it, didn't she?"
"What makes you say that?"
Mark averted his gaze. "Dad says it was Katie Miller."
"Why don't you go and get him and your mother and sister?"
Mark fled.
Mr. Hollis waited in the living room until Mark returned with his sister and mother. “Dad will be along in a minute,” he said.
When they were all gathered, Hollis explained his findings. "The fire was most likely ignited when the kerosene lantern tipped, breaking the glass globe. The dead flame style of lamp is much more dangerous because the wick isn’t encased.”
“Ja, that’s why I made sure to put those in storage. We use the flashlights on the rare times we have to go into the barn at night. I keep the batteries separate and watch the charging to make sure we're not wasteful.”
“I see. Well, the lantern tipped, and the straw beneath caught fire.”
“I still don’t understand how—.” Tom turned to his son and daughter. “You weren’t using those old kerosene lamps, were you?”
“Nee, dat!” Hannah, his daughter, exclaimed. “I’m scared to even try and light one of those.”
“Mark?”
“I didn’t start any fire, dat! I didn’t.”
Mr. Hollis continued. "An accelerant was also found near what we presume was the initial start of the blaze. The lab confirms it was alcohol."
Mrs. Shrock cocked her head. “Was it rubbing alcohol?”
“No. The results were consistent with alcohol used for recreational consumption.”
"Impossible!" Tom Schrock declared. “We have nothing like that in our home.”
His wife said, "Tom, I know your father – –."
"I haven't touched a drink since I was nineteen at Adam’s barn party, and that was months before I asked you to marry me."
Tom Schrock at the fire inspector and said earnestly, "Search wherever you like. There is no alcohol in our home. I know the bishop says we are not to judge people, but we all know that if anyone set a fire, it was Katie Miller. She started a rumor about a made up English person wanting us to leave, she painted that threat on that fence, and then she vandalized the Yoder's barn. Now this. She must be stopped. And if Bishop Lapp won’t take action, then I will."
Mrs. Schrock gasped. "Tom! No! We have to speak with the elders and listen to their counsel."
Mark said, “Eli wants me to work afternoons part-time at his carpentry. Can I go now?"
"I thought you started tomorrow," his mother asked.
"I wanted to ask him some questions and take another look around."
Mr. Hollis said, "I would like to speak with you for a few minutes before you go, you and your sister, okay?"
Mark nodded and rubbing his hand over the back of his neck, said, "Sure. But I didn't see anything that night. Are you sure it couldn’t have been an accident?"
“It certainly could have been if anyone had been drinking in the barn and forgotten to blow out the lantern after spilling some alcohol.”
Mark looked at the floor as his Mr. Shrock declared, “Nee, it was that Katie Miller. My family knows our community’s and my personal feelings about the bottle.”
Inspector Hollis looked through the house, but as expected, found nothing. He then questioned each member of the Schrock family once more. A theory had begun to form in his mind. But before he could make a conclusion, he would need to speak with Katie Miller.
Chapter 9
Katie's parents, ironically, had been starting to trust her more and more after the fire. So Katie was by herself, preparing dinner, when Inspector Hollis arrived at her house. Hearing the knock, Katie wiped her hands on the dishtowel and hurried to the front door, thinking perhaps her mom or dad had forgotten something.
A shiver of fear ran through Katie when she saw it was Mr. Hollis. "Is everything okay? I still haven't seen anyone doing anything suspicious," she added.
"May I come in?"
"My parents aren't here, and..." Hopefully, that excuse would be enough to make him go away.
But the fire investigator persisted. "I only have a couple of questions. We can stand on the porch of that makes you feel more comfortable. Or I can wait in my vehicle until your parents have returned."
A light blue Honda was parked on their dirt driveway.
“That could be hours!" Katie exclaimed.
"I can also come back. I really mainly needed to speak with you. And sometimes, if someone has something they would like to share, they might prefer to do so in private."
Katie swallowed. He definitely suspected her. "I didn't set any fire," Katie said quickly. "I know people think – – with English person and the threats and – –."
"Do you know who has been making these threats?"
Katie's heart pounded in her chest. If Investigator Hollis was talking about the rumors, and he was investigating the fire, that meant he thought they were related. He thought she had set the fire. Acid rose to the back of her throat as her mind moved in frantic circles. She had to deflect his interest somehow. "I think I did see someone. That night.”
“You did?”
“I’m sorry. I wake up sometimes, and I went downstairs for a glass of water, and then I stood on the porch, you know, for air, and I saw somebody. A man.” Better it was a man. “He was English, and he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt. I didn't see his face. And... I don't know. It just scared me, so I went back in the house." The words tumbled out of Katie’s mouth so quickly she almost believed them herself. "I'm sorry. I should've said something before, but I really thought it was nothing.”
“You were scared though. Scared enough to run away. Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“It was stupid. I wasn’t really that scared. Just a little scared. I don’t know. Wh
en I’m tired, I don’t think clearly.” Katie forced herself to take a breath. She asked, “Why would anyone set fire to the Schrock's barn? Someone could have died. Animals could have died. I don’t know anyone who would do something like that.”
"Can you describe this person? The man you saw that night?”
"He was big. I didn't see his face, but he was wearing jeans. And boots. They were brown."
"You were able to see all of that? How far away was he?"
Of course, Katie wouldn't have been able to see all of that. It had been dark. "Over there." Katie pointed to the edge of the pasture. "I don't really know what color his shoes were. I think... You know, boots are either brown or black. I don't know why I said brown. It was really dark. And I just stayed quiet and still in case he saw me. I was scared."
“I thought you said you went into the house.”
She was messing this up horribly. “After,” Katie said. “After he left. I was still so he wouldn’t see me, but after he left, I ran inside. That’s what I meant.”
“It is very important that you tell me the truth here, Miss Miller.”
Katie wanted to cry, but she couldn’t. She had to hold it together. “Are you going to arrest me?” Katie asked.
“Why would I arrest you?”
“I don’t know. I know some people think I’ve done things like with the rumor. Is that what Annie Yoder said when you talked to her? But I didn’t set that fire. By Gott, I didn’t,” Katie heard the pleading tone in her voice. Investigator Hollis had to believe her. Someone had to believe her. “I wouldn’t. Someone could have died.”
“But you think someone did set the fire,” Investigator Hollis said mildly. He leaned back with his palms on the porch railing. “You don’t think it was an accident?”
“I don’t know. I thought it was an accident, but then you came back and said you had more questions, so I thought maybe you thought someone had set it.”
“The man you described is troubling. Do you remember anything else about him?”
Usually, Katie’s mind gave her odd details when she was telling a story. He had a limp or spoke with a lisp. But now, under the sharp eye of the fire investigator, Katie couldn’t think of anything else to add. She bit her bottom lip, trying to think of something else vague but credible. Eventually, she shook her head. “Nee. I’m sorry.”
Amish Love and Healing Page 7
