"We're just wondering what you were doing at the fair the other day?"
He scrunched up his face. "What do you want to know that for?"
"Because we know the police brought you in for questioning, but we don't think you did it."
"You're right about that. I didn't. How do you know that's what the police think?"
"We’ve heard talk, that’s all. We’re trying to find out who did kill her.”
“Would you know anything about that?”
He shook his head. “Nah, can’t help you.”
“You might be able to help us out.”
"How? I told the police I was on the other side of the fairground when she was killed. I was gettin’ a bagel."
"Yes, those bagels are delicious," Elsa-May said. “I should’ve got one while I was there. Now I’ll have to wait until next year.”
Ettie glared at Elsa-May. They were there to ask questions, not to talk about bagels. She was wasting time and it looked like he was heading to a basketball game.
"I got arrested once, so now the cops never let me alone. I didn’t even do it back then. Now they think I’m a criminal and keep taking me in for questioning all the time whenever anything happens. They won’t let me forget it.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Ettie said. “Do you know anyone who was upset with Greta or wanted her out of the way?”
“She was worried one time when she had a visitor come to her house. It was that dude who’s on the council."
"Councilor Martin Cruise?"
"Yeah, that's the one."
"He visited her at her home?" Elsa-May asked.
"Yeah, that's right."
"Do you happen to know why?"
"Nah, cannot tell you anything about that, sorry, but she didn’t like him being there. I know that much."
“Interesting.”
“Is that all? I’ve got people waiting for me.”
“Yes. Thank you,” Ettie told him.
“I sure hope you can find the killer, cause it ain’t me.” He got into the beat-up purple car in the driveway and Ettie and Elsa-May walked back to the taxi.
Ettie said to Elsa-May, “I wonder if we should talk with Martin Cruise.”
“Jah, Ettie, good idea. Talk with him. What would you say?”
“I’d ask him what he knows about the buyer for the building where Greta’s store was.”
“Maybe his visit was nothing about the store.”
Ettie bit her lip. “You could be right about that. What’s the time?”
Elsa-May scrunched her shoulders. “I’m not sure.”
“Is it about the same time of day when we saw Martin Cruise at the coffee shop the other day?”
“Possibly.”
“Let’s go.”
“Where?” Elsa-May put her hand on the handle of the taxi’s door.
“Most people, I’ve noticed, are creatures of habit. They like to stay in a fixed routine and do the same things at the same time. Perhaps Martin likes to go to the coffee shop every day at the same time.”
“Jah, you might be right or he could’ve only gone there the once.”
“It’s not far from the town hall where his office is. I think I have a better chance of being right than I have being wrong. Have a little faith.”
Elsa-May opened the door and motioned for Ettie to get in first. “I’ll try.”
They arrived at the coffee shop to see Martin Cruise walking out. He looked up and spotted them and started walking quickly in the other direction.
“Mr. Cruise,” Ettie hollered so loud that the councilor had no choice but to stop.
“Hello.”
“Hello. Remember me?”
“Yes, I do.”
“What do you know about someone wanting to buy the building where Greta’s shop is located?”
“Why are you asking?”
“Do you know who wants to buy it?” Elsa-May asked.
He carefully studied each of their faces. “What’s this about?”
“We know about the notes,” Ettie told him. She watched him closely. He’d swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple rising and falling, and then he nervously adjusted his tie.
“What notes?”
“The secret love notes,” Elsa-May shot back.
His cheeks turned bright red. “That woman tricked me. And that’s no business of yours and it’s certainly got nothing to do with the sale of a building. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m running late for an appointment.”
He’d taken two strides away from them when Elsa-May asked, “A meeting with the police?”
He spun around and closed the distance between them. “No.”
“Oh, they must be waiting at your office then because we happen to know they have questions for you.”
Ettie stood in silence listening to her sister’s tall tales. If Kelly found out, he’d be furious.
“Question me about what exactly?”
“Greta’s murder.”
He glared at her and then frowned at Ettie. “You were there. You know I didn’t do it. The police have already asked me enough questions.”
“That was before the new evidence,” Elsa-May shot back.
Ettie gave a slight tug on Elsa-May’s sleeve, fearing she’d gone too far.
“I have nothing to hide.” He turned and walked away.
Elsa-May faced Ettie. “Why did you pull on me like that? We needed to maintain a united front.”
“Kelly would be furious if he found out you said there was new evidence.”
“There’s always new evidence. If we go there now, he’d tell us he had news of something else. It wasn’t a lie.”
As they walked away, Ettie said, “What did he mean by Leonora tricking him?”
“He said that?”
“Jah, when you were talking about the notes. He said, 'That woman tricked me.'”
“I should’ve asked. I was too busy trying to find out who wanted to buy the building. Sorry, Ettie, I should’ve let you speak.”
“It’s not too late. Come on.” Ettie hurried up the street after the councilor. “Yoohoo, Martin. It’s Ettie.”
He walked faster, but he couldn’t outwalk them. Finally, when he was just outside the town hall, he turned around to face them. “What in tarnation do you two want from me?”
Ettie did her best to catch her breath. “You said something. The woman tricked you. The woman with the notes.”
He scoffed. “I thought she was a young and attractive woman. Then I find out she was an old lady."
"I think she's about the same age as you, wouldn't she be?" Ettie asked.
He put his hand over his tweed sports coat and gave a sly grin. "Not meaning to be ageist, but she's not to my personal taste.”
"What made you think she was younger?" Elsa-May asked.
"Nothing really, I just had it in my mind. She must’ve said something to make me think that. Exactly what she said in those first few messages escapes me now.”
"She said you were planning a life together."
"It was all just a game, it wasn't real. She knew. And, I knew."
"You led her on. You even said you’d buy her a cottage by the river. To her, it was very real."
"Well, I can't help that, can I?"
"Yes, you can. You gave her hope, sold her a dream, and now you’ve crushed her."
“There’s no law against it. That’s my personal life. I don’t know why we’re even talking about it. It’s no one’s business but my own.”
“When you take on a position like being a councilor, people expect a certain level of decency from you.”
“I am decent. Decent enough not to be tricked. I begged her to meet me and she refused. Now I know why. The whole thing is preposterous. How could we have a life together when we've never met?"
Ettie wanted him to feel bad for leading the woman on when he had no intentions if she was past a certain age. "She hoped you would meet."
"What's this all about anyway?"
>
"You had every opportunity to kill Greta. With Greta out of the way, it was easier for the person you were working with to get the quilt store."
"I wasn't with anyone and I’d never kill anyone for anything."
"I happen to know that you were in cahoots with the people buying the building where she had her store. Councilors have been known to take bribes."
“Not me, never.” He pointed to the town hall. “I’m about to go inside and you better not follow me, or I’ll have security throw you out on your ear.” He turned and left.
“Oh, Ettie. The fabric.”
Ettie realized they no longer had the bag with their quilt fabric in it. “We must’ve left it in the taxi. Don’t worry, we’ll call the taxi company.”
“Please tell me the nearest phone’s not at the library?”
“I’m afraid so.”
They had only taken two steps when a car pulled up beside them. It was a taxi. Ettie lowered herself to see that it was their driver and he was lowering the window. “You ladies missing something?”
“Yes.” Elsa-May opened the door and grabbed hold of the bag. “Thank you.”
Ettie said to the driver. “Are you still on duty?”
“Sure am."
"Good. Get in, Elsa-May, we’re going home.”
Once they were sitting at home Elsa-May was enjoying the breezy spring evening. Ettie abruptly got up off the couch and looked out the window. “Elsa-May, I can’t go on like this.”
“Oh, Ettie, you’re not even that old. You’ve got plenty to live for.”
Ettie glared at her sister. “I didn’t mean I wanted to die.”
“Oh.” Elsa-May looked over the top of her glasses. “Can’t go on?”
“Can’t move forward with who killed Greta until I know more about Greta.”
Elsa-May went back to clicking her knitting needles together. “We haven’t even gone through all our ladies on the list. We need to talk with them all before you give up.” After a loud sigh, she said, “Just another example of you not finishing what you started.”
Ettie narrowed her eyes at her sister when she heard her mumble something about French knitting. “I’m not giving up. We just need to do something else. We need to have a look in Greta’s house.”
“What?”
“Jah, what better way to learn about someone? Her death wasn’t an accident. There might have even been two potential killers if they’re right about poison in her system.”
“How do you suppose we do that? Kelly’s not going to allow us into her house. There might be someone else living there by now.”
Ettie walked to the door and opened it. “Are you coming or not?”
“What are you proposing?”
“That we look around her house?”
“The outside of it?”
“Jah, that too.”
Elsa-May shook her head. “I’ll have to come along to keep you out of trouble. Just let me finish this row.”
It was getting dark when the taxi pulled up at Greta’s house. Ettie was pleased that there were no lights on inside.
“Can you come back and collect us in half an hour or thereabouts?”
“Should be able to.”
Ettie hoped that meant yes. “There’ll be a little something extra for you if you come back.”
He grinned. “I’ll be here.”
When the taxi drove off, Ettie and Elsa-May wasted no time walking to the back of the house so they had less chance of being seen by the neighbors.
“Are you sure this is the right place?” Ettie whispered.
“Jah, I saw the address on one of Kelly’s reports when we were in his office.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Well, what do we do? All the windows and doors will be locked. Are we going to break a window?”
“Nee, that’s vandalism.”
“Ah, and what we’re doing is just trespassing, so that’s okay?”
“Be quiet now while I think.” Ettie started picking rocks up in the garden by the back door.
“What are you doing?”
“Looking for a hidden key. Most people have one outside somewhere just in case they lock themselves out. I figure she only had her niece here, and wouldn’t want to bother Valerie if she accidentally locked her key inside.”
“We could be here all night looking for something that doesn’t even exist.” Just as Elsa-May lowered herself onto the back doorstep, Ettie held up a key.
“Got it.”
“Very clever. Now we’ve just got to hope it fits.”
Ettie walked past her sister and placed the key into the back door's lock. When she slowly turned it, they both heard a loud click.
Ettie pushed the door open and they walked into the house. There was just enough daylight left to allow them to see. “Let’s spread out and see what we can find.”
“What are we looking for?”
“Anything that might tell us who killed her.”
Elsa-May walked down the hallway. “I feel bad about this,” she said over her shoulder.
“We’re doing it for a good reason. Less talking, more looking.” Ettie came across some letters on the side table by the couch. She sat down to read them before they lost any more daylight.
Ten minutes later, Elsa-May walked out of the bedroom. “Ettie, look at what I’ve found.”
Ettie looked up to see Elsa-May holding up a long stick-like object.
“It’s a backscratcher.” She then proceeded to scratch her back. “I’ve always wanted one of these.”
“Ach, put it back. I think I know who killed Greta.”
Chapter 37
When the day of the make-up fair rolled around. Ettie had reserved a tent the same size as the quilt tent. And she’d set up the tables in exactly the same pattern as Greta had placed them. The only difference was that this tent had no quilts.
Ettie had invited certain people to an exclusive event entitled, 'The Reveal of Greta’s Killer.' What better place to hold it than in a tent at the same fairground?
It was eight in the morning and Ettie was surprised that everyone she’d invited was there, plus one extra. That was Shand Hollow's bodyguard. He was never far from her.
Ettie had enough chairs for everyone to sit and the bodyguard moved to stand by the doorway. Even Kate from next door was there while the bishop’s wife minded Matilda.
“Thank you all for coming. I suppose you’re wondering why you’re all here.”
“Well, the invitation did tell us why we’re here,” said Ann Maree from Ann Maree’s Quilt Store.
“Ah, yes. It did. Today, Greta’s killer or killers will be revealed. Leonora, your quilts are so lovely and always win first prize.”
“Thank you.”
“But we know about your pocket sewn into the quilt. There was poison hidden inside, and then you had your ‘friend’ finish off the job by strangling Greta and that’s why I saw him put something into his pocket—perhaps the vial of poison that you’d forgotten to take with you?”
“It’s not so, Ettie. I would never do that.”
“I hope you’re not talking about me being the friend,” Martin Cruise called out.
“Martin, you could’ve easily killed her. You had the opportunity, the access, but what about the motive?”
“I had no reason to kill her.”
“Ah, but you did want her gone. Someone you know wanted her gone, didn’t they?”
Ettie paused, and then stared at Mondo. “Mondo, the police arrested you for Greta’s murder.”
“I told ya I didn’t do it.”
“Greta wrote you out large checks.”
“That was for my education. I was doing a course.”
“I found out that was true. Greta was always willing to help people and she thought she was giving you a helping hand, but you never used the money for the course that you claimed to be doing, did you?”
He looked down. “No.”
“Mrs. Smith. That m
akes perfect sense,” Valerie said. “Aunt Greta was always working for charities. We should’ve realized the money was for helping the young man make a better life for himself and break free from the chains that kept him in a life of crime.”
“True, but why wouldn’t he have told the police that? Perhaps there’s more to Mondo’s story of why he wanted Greta dead. Do you think everyone tells the truth all the time?”
“Nee, I don’t, but surely he must’ve told Kelly that story and the detective had it looked into and it can’t have checked out. That’s why this man is still under suspicion.” Valerie pointed to the young man.
Ettie ignored her comment and looked at her new neighbor. “Kate. You’ve come to the community here under a veil of secrecy. I’m not even sure we know your real name. Are you even Amish?”
“I am. Born and raised. I reverted to my maiden name for myself and my daughter, after my husband died.”
“Kate. I’m only saying this because … I’m sure you’re the kind of woman who values honesty above all else.”
“That’s true, I do.”
Ettie took a step forward. “But you haven’t been honest, have you?”
Kate breathed out heavily. “I haven’t.”
“Shall we be honest now?” Ettie asked.
Kate took a deep breath and put her hand over her chest. “Okay, but I didn’t kill anyone if that’s what you think and if that’s why I’m here.”
“Your husband died from poisoning and now you arrive here wanting to open a quilt store and the owner of the best quilting store in town gets poisoned. Is that a coincidence?”
When Kate didn’t say anything, Ettie stared at the person sitting next to her. “Ann Maree.”
“That’s my name,” she said brightly, sitting up straight.
“You’re known for having a store, but you’ve never been able to attract the best sellers of Amish quilts, or the customers that Greta had.”
“That’s because of the location. Greta’s was better for that kind of thing because she was closer to the farmer's markets.”
“Exactly. I’m glad you made that point."
"Shand, it’s no secret you wanted your aunt out of your building and even offered her a large sum of money to relocate and break the lease. Maybe she said no and insisted on staying.”
“She said she was happy to go as soon as she found a new shop.”
Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries Box Set 7 Page 42
