Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries Box Set 7

by Samantha Price

  Elsa-May nibbled on a nail. “Okay, I see what you mean.”

  “And he's a lawyer, so he's smart, and maybe he mimicked the old murders to really throw the police off the track.”

  “Come and sit down.” Elsa-May led Ettie over to a bench. “You think he’s responsible?”

  “I do. For certain, now I think about it.”

  Elsa-May flopped down next to her. “What about the doctor?” Elsa-May asked. “He seems a little weird and he’d be used to death.”

  “He could’ve done it too.”

  Elsa-May rolled her eyes. “You’ve certainly given up on Eugene quickly. You just said you thought he did it.”

  “Nee! Why don’t you ever listen? I said what if he did it—it would’ve been the perfect cover. Quite clever.”

  “What you said is that you were sure he did it.” Elsa-May rolled her eyes, and Ettie caught her.

  “Don’t be mean.”

  “I’m not,” said Elsa-May. "Why don’t we find out for sure if Eugene’s in England like everyone thinks?”

  “Okay, but how do we do that? I mean, Kelly said he was, for certain. He’s not going to listen to us.”

  “Maybe Kelly didn’t try too hard. He wasn’t thinking Eugene was a serious contender to be the scarecrow murderer.”

  Ettie said, “Why don’t we get Selena to call the place where Eugene’s staying in England and ask to speak to him herself?”

  “Good idea.”

  “Before that, I’d just like to eliminate someone who’s been nagging at the back of my mind.”

  “The doctor?”

  “Nee.”

  “The owner of the Amish furniture store who we’re on our way to see?”

  Ettie shook her head.

  “What? Someone else?”

  “That’s right.” Ettie nodded.

  “Who?”

  “Eli and Kate’s son, David. Let’s see if they’re still here.”

  “That’s right, he stands to gain a lot of money by Eli’s death. But we still haven’t been to the furniture store.”

  “The furniture store isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, but David and Kate are leaving soon.”

  “So, as well as the doctor and Eugene, you suspect David?”

  Ettie looked up at the fluffy clouds drifting across the sky while she was thinking about Eli and Kate’s son. Could David really have done the same thing as she wondered about Eugene, and killed others as a smokescreen for killing his father?

  Ettie soon got a jab in the ribs. “Are you going to answer me?” Elsa-May asked.

  “Did you ask me something?”

  “Forget it. You want to go see Kate and David?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Okay, let’s go. You sit there until I get a taxi.”

  When Elsa-May walked away, Ettie smiled. “I was going to do just that.” It was fun for Ettie to be fussed over for a change.

  Chapter 21

  The taxi brought Ettie and Elsa-May to Kate’s house. Already, there was a "For Sale" sign planted, and a big moving van out front. Two men from the moving company were bringing boxes from the house to the truck.

  “Let’s go inside and see what we can find,” Ettie said.

  Right at that moment, Elsa-May slapped Ettie on her arm.

  “Ow! What do you think you’re doing?” Ettie frowned at her in disgust. Elsa-May should’ve been looking after her because of her sore back, not hitting her.

  “Look at that car there.”

  Ettie turned to see a gray car. “What of it?”

  “A silver car was seen by Laine.”

  Ettie rolled her eyes. “Will you forget that? The car that was seen by Laine has already been identified. That’s why we were off to the furniture store.”

  “I’m sorry. You’re right. I forgot that.”

  “Keep up with what’s going on, okay? Sometimes I wonder …” Ettie came close to an eye-roll, but managed to stop herself.

  When Elsa-May nodded, Ettie walked ahead and knocked on the door.

  Kate flung open the door. “Ooh, it’s so nice to see you before I leave. No one else in the community has bothered with me. I was beginning to think you were going to forget me too, Ettie.”

  “I wouldn’t do that. How are you doing?” Ettie asked as she walked past Kate and into the house.

  “Better than I thought I would be. I don’t think it’s hit me yet. David's been so good. I don’t know how I could’ve managed without him.”

  “Where is he?”

  “He’s asleep inside. I’m not taking much with me. David wanted me to fill up the truck, but I’m just taking a few things that are important to me and I’ll leave the rest. The realtors said it wouldn’t matter if I left some of the furniture in here; although it’s not worth much.”

  “When did David arrive here? Wouldn’t it take days to drive from Canada?”

  “He was already here on vacation. The first time in ages that we’ve seen him. He came alone.”

  “Alone? Not with his wife?”

  “No, she had to work. It was convenient he was here with his car. Now I can drive back with him.”

  “Yes, very convenient,” Ettie said giving Elsa-May a sideways glance as they followed Kate further into the house.

  When they walked into the kitchen, Kate turned around to face them. “I do hope that they can find out who did this, but still, it’ll be too late for my Eli.”

  She brought them into the kitchen that overlooked the garden; poured them coffee and set down a plate of cookies.

  “Will you be okay living with David and his family?”

  “I’ll stay there for a while and might even buy a place of my own. David suggested I give him Eli’s life insurance money so he can buy a big place for us all to live.”

  “Eli had life insurance?” Ettie acted as though she didn’t know.

  “Yes, quite a bit. He sold insurance ever since we left the community, so he had plenty. He wasn’t trained for anything else and sales suited him so well. He loved being around people. I’m now a very rich woman, money-wise at least.”

  Ettie reached for one of the cookies and nibbled on it. Maybe David was the killer. He never got along with his father, and now he’d be a rich man if he got rid of his mother too, or got his hands on the money. He could’ve killed the others knowing the investigators would be looking for a scarecrow serial killer.

  When they left there, Elsa-May asked, “What did you think of that?”

  “We have to tell the detective what we’ve just learned.”

  “He already knows all about the life insurance, Ettie.”

  “Let’s just call him.”

  “You call him.” They got the taxi to stop at the nearest public telephone and Ettie called Detective Kelly’s cell phone.

  “Detective Kelly?”

  “Yes, I’m still working on it, Mrs. Smith,” he replied in his usual bored tone.

  “I’m calling regarding David, Eli’s son.”

  “What about him?”

  “He’s been here a few weeks and … well, I’m concerned about the life insurance. It was a sizable sum.”

  There was silence. “We have talked to him already, but I was thinking of bringing him in for another round of questioning.”

  Ettie was so pleased that she replaced the phone’s receiver without saying goodbye. When she realized she’d just hung up on Detective Kelly, she froze in shock, then she figured it didn’t matter because he so often did the same to her.

  “What did he say?” Elsa-May asked when Ettie got back into the taxi.

  “He’s going to talk with him again.”

  “Okay, now let’s go talk to Selena and see if your other theory has any credence to it.”

  “It’s not my theory, she’s the one who thought she saw him. I’m just thinking, what if she did? What if she really did see him?”

  “I know, no need to go over it a thousand times.”

  When Ettie and Elsa-May got back to
their house it was around lunchtime. Selena was there, in the kitchen making coffee.

  “Care to join me?” she asked.

  “Sounds good to me,” said Elsa-May as she and her sister sat down at the table.

  “Did you find accommodation?”

  “I did. I’m leasing a house on the same street as my house. They’ve had trouble getting a tenant because it’s only got one bedroom, but that’s perfect for me.”

  “Don't be in a hurry. Are you sure it’s right for you?”

  “I am. I feel bad for Gabriel moving out of his house and … do you think he only bought the one next door because of me needing somewhere to stay, so I could move into his place?”

  Ettie knew it was very likely. “If he had, he would’ve done it for another reason as well. Perhaps he wanted to buy a second place to rent out for extra income. Or to fix up and then sell for a higher price.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Elsa-May said. “The police said you can’t go back to his house.”

  Selena sat down with them after she’d given them their hot drinks. “I know, but it doesn’t stop me from feeling bad.”

  Ettie began, “So, you said Eugene was in London?”

  “Yes. He’s staying with a college friend of his.” She sipped her coffee.

  “Do you know this friend?”

  “I’ve met him a couple of times.” Selena poured the coffee into three mugs.

  “Could you call him and ask to speak to your ex-fiancé?”

  She looked up at Ettie. “Why would I want to do that? The last thing I want to do is to speak to him.” Selena placed two mugs on the table and then sat down with hers.

  “Yes, we quite understand that, but what if he’s really here and not there?” Ettie wrapped both hands around her mug to warm them.

  “Wouldn’t you want to know that?” Elsa-May asked.

  “Supposing you’re right. Wait a minute ... You don’t think he’s a killer or something crazy, do you?”

  “Ettie said that you told her he’s been very aggressive in the past.”

  “That’s right, he has, but he wouldn’t kill anyone. And he wasn’t even born in the seventies.”

  “What about if he’s killed the latest ones, Eli Schaeffer, John Fuller, and Laine?”

  Selena’s bottom lip quivered. “But he didn’t even know any of them. I would’ve known if he had.”

  “You’ve had an attempt on your life. He might be trying to kill you, and that could be his cover so the police don’t look for him. Number one, he’s not even in the country and number two the authorities were looking for the scarecrow serial killer. They won’t be looking for people who had motives to kill each of the individuals. Do you see?” Ettie asked.

  “Now you’re scaring me.”

  “I’m not trying to do that. I’m simply trying to eliminate him from my list of suspects.”

  Elsa-May said, “You don’t have to call him if you don’t want to.”

  Ettie frowned at Elsa-May. “Of course Selena has to call London and make sure he’s there if we’re to cross him off our list.”

  “Wait. He’s on a list? Okay, I’ll call him.”

  Ettie heaved a sigh. “Thank you, Selena.”

  Selena stood and fished around in her bag for her cell phone. She pulled it out. “I’m sure I’ve got the number of his friend where he’s staying. Eugene called him from my phone once and I saved the number.” She looked up at the sisters. “I’ll make the call outside.”

  “We’ll be waiting to hear what’s said.” Ettie sipped her coffee.

  With her heart pumping wildly, Selena found the number of Nigel Wallace and pressed it.

  A male voice answered and he sounded either half asleep or half dead.

  “Hello, is this Nigel?”

  “Yes. Who’s this?”

  “It’s Selena Lehman. I was Eugene’s fiancé. I met you once before when you stayed with him.”

  “It’s eight o’clock in the morning and I’m working nights.”

  “I’m sorry, I forgot about the time difference. I’m very sorry to wake you. Might I speak with Eugene? It’s important.”

  “He’s out. Why don’t you try his phone?”

  “He’s not answering.”

  “That’s because it’s eight in the morning?”

  “Where would he be then? I thought he was staying with you.”

  “Look, I don’t know what’s going on or why people keep calling him. He’s not really here, okay?”

  “What? Where is he?”

  “I’m sorry, Selena, but I can’t keep this up. He didn’t say I’d have to lie for him. I thought he was just going to tell people he was here and that would be it.”

  “Was he ever there?”

  “Only for a day. I even had to lie to the police. That wasn’t part of the deal. Now can I sleep?”

  “Where is he?”

  “I’ve got no idea, I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry to bother you, Nigel.”

  “It’s fine. If you see him, tell him he’s not cool.”

  “I definitely will.” She ended the call and then hurried back to the kitchen table and sat down with Ettie and Elsa-May.

  “What did he say?” Elsa-May asked.

  She switched her phone off and placed it down on the table. “Nigel said he was only there for a day. Eugene was using him as a cover, but Nigel got spooked because the police called him a few times.” She held her stomach. “Nigel didn’t expect that.”

  “Did Nigel say where he is?”

  “He doesn’t know.” Her hand moved from her stomach to cover her mouth.

  “Are you alright?” Ettie asked.

  “No.” She ran out of the room, out the back door and was sick in the yard. Exhausted, she sat on the cold grass with her head between her knees.

  Elsa-May heard Selena being sick out in the yard. “Oh dear. That doesn’t sound too good.”

  “We’ll have to tell Kelly this business about Eugene. You look after Selena and I’ll go down and call Kelly.”

  “Can you walk that far?”

  “Yes.” Ettie stood and grabbed her stick. “It’ll take me a little longer than normal, but I’ll get there.”

  While Elsa-May walked out back, Ettie slipped a leash around Snowy’s neck and together they walked out the front door and down to the shanty that housed the telephone at the end of their street.

  When she finally got through to Kelly and told him, he replied, “I’m way ahead of you, Mrs. Smith. We’ve actually got him in for questioning right now. The gentleman I talked to on the phone days ago in London didn’t sound convincing. He said he’d have Eugene call me. He never did. I ordered Eugene’s phone records and what do you know?”

  “He was here?”

  “Yes. We picked him up a half hour ago.”

  Ettie hesitated not wanting to ask the next question. “And you think he did the killings?”

  “I’m not one hundred percent convinced, but why the cover story? Was it a simple case of stalking an ex-lover, or was it something more sinister?”

  “You haven’t spoken to him yet?”

  “I was just about to walk into the interview room to speak to him when they told me I had a phone call.”

  “Oh, I won’t hold you up.”

  She heard a loud click in her ear. She replaced the receiver with a laugh and, with the help of the walking stick, hobbled home with Snowy sniffing every second blade of grass along the way.

  “Take your time, Snowy. I’m not in a hurry to tell Selena the news.”

  When Ettie and Snowy finally got to the house, Ettie unclipped the leash from Snowy, and he ran to the dog bed.

  Chapter 22

  When she got back home, Elsa-May sat next to Selena on the couch, comforting her. She told them the shocking news that Kelly had told her.

  “I can’t believe he’s here.”

  “It’s a shock.” Elsa-May nodded.

  “I just hope it’s not him who’s done all this. I
really won’t be able to believe it.” Selena rubbed her forehead.

  Since Elsa-May was sitting in her place, Ettie sat down in Elsa-May’s chair. “I don’t think it’s him.”

  Elsa-May rolled her eyes. “Would you make up your mind? You're flip-flopping from one to the other.”

  “I keep going back to the man in the retirement home—what was his name again?”

  “Don Shallot. What about him?” Elsa-May asked. “What about the doctor? We have someone accusing him, and what about the man at the Amish furniture store? We haven’t even gotten to speak with him yet. Then there’s David who’s getting the big life insurance pay-out if he can get his mother out of the way. He’ll kill her next.”

  “Oh, Ettie.” Elsa-May shook her head.

  “Now, hear me out.”

  “Nee! You’re going around in circles and I don’t want to listen. You’ve got no idea and you’re …”

  Ettie had to raise her voice. “I know what I know. I’ve got it all figured out. It’s fallen into place like the folds in my dresses after I press them.”

  Elsa-May frowned at her.

  Selena stood. “I just need a little fresh air.”

  “You’ve upset her, Ettie.”

  Selena was nearly at the door and turned around. “No one’s upset me. I just feel a little squirmy and need to walk around outside a bit. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  She walked out the front door.

  Ettie and Elsa-May sat there looking at one another.

  “Well, go on tell me, if you must,” Elsa-May said through gritted teeth.

  Ettie shook her head. “Nee. You didn’t want to hear it.”

  “We might not even know the killer. It could be a thousand people.”

  “It’s easy when you think about it. Someone who knew enough to wear gloves all the time, even back in the seventies when forensic technology wasn’t so advanced.”

  Elsa-May sat back further into the couch. “This is quite comfortable.”

  “I told you it was. Why don’t we get you a couch too, instead of this hard, wooden chair?”

  “The chair suits me fine. I like to sit upright as I knit. If I knitted while sitting on a couch, I’d fall asleep.” With her hands stretched out either side of her Elsa-May smoothed down the soft velvety fabric of the couch. “Is your latest theory that the murders from the seventies and these latest ones were performed by the same person?”