by Mary Barbee
Anna looked around the room. “How many people did he owe money?” she asked. Suddenly all the men looked suspicious. She wondered if there was anyone amongst them right now who could harm the sheriff.
“A lot of them... and no, before you ask, no one in here killed that man... no matter how furious we were with him. What do you think this is? A congregation of murderers?” Samuel said, fire flashing across his eyes.
Anna had heard and seen enough, and Beth was already halfway to the door. “Oh no, of course not. Thank you so much for your time, Samuel,” she said.
Samuel waved them off as if he were swatting at an annoying housefly. He turned back to the bar and motioned for the bartender to pour him a drink.
Beth was holding the door open for Anna as she approached. She couldn't wait for the two of them to get away from this place and try to decipher what all of this new information meant to their investigation.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
JUDE’S HOUSE WAS CERTAINLY not his dream house, but it would have to work for now. Its small size often made him feel claustrophobic - he never understood how he could get the word “cozy” to apply to his home.
The storm door banged in response to a loud knock. He sighed, dropped the book he had been reading, and stood, feeling sore muscles as he moved. Pulling it open, he was shocked to see the old twins from the Amish community on his doorstep. Why wouldn’t these women let him rest? He was just the county’s deputy and didn’t have the clearance to discuss the case with them.
“Dear Lord, what are you doing here? It’s almost dusk,” he said, peering above their heads at the darkening sky. Jude recognized Anna as the one who seemed to do most of the talking. He liked how active she still was despite her age. Not that the other twin, Beth, wasn’t active enough but she lacked the confidence her sister had and often avoided eye contact. Her eyes were shifted down toward her chest as her sister spoke. It was little tells like this that proved to be the easiest way to distinguish which twin was which.
“Please let us in, Jude,” Anna said, remembering that he asked them to call him Jude earlier that day at the diner. “We want to talk to you about a potential angle to the case that we feel could exonerate Moses.”
Jude sighed and pulled the door open. The women filed in. They stamped their feet hard on the welcome mat, releasing the sand, stones, and browned grass that was stuck underneath their shoes. Jude pointed them to the couch. They sat down carefully and close to each other.
“Do you need anything?” he asked. They shook their heads and thanked him for the offer.
Jude fell into the chair and crossed his legs. “So, what did you want to talk to me about?” he asked.
The ladies exchanged glances before Anna decided to speak for them, again.
“You are probably tired of hearing this from us, but we are one hundred percent sure that Moses didn’t kill that man. So, we started asking around town, trying to find out who did. Did you know that Derek was not actually a very popular sheriff... meaning, a lot of people really didn’t like him,” she said inquisitively.
“You shouldn’t do that. You need to leave this case for the police to figure out. You could be in way over your heads,” Jude said. ‘These women are out playing detective when they have probably never even witnessed a hint of violence or law-breaking in their entire lives,’ Jude thought, shaking his head.
“My son-in-law is in jail right now. We don’t even know if the judge will be lenient enough to grant bail. So yes, we are taking matters into our own hands. It’s not like we have a choice,” Anna snapped ...and paused. When Jude didn’t respond, she continued.
“We found out that Derek wasn’t exactly liked in this town. So many people had so many reasons to hurt him. What if one of them did? Look at Samuel Graber for instance.... he fought with Derek and....” She paused when Jude gestured to her. He knew about the fight. Samuel and Derek were never close. It was not a surprise that the fight happened.
“A fight doesn’t prove anything, Ma’am. It doesn’t hold up in court next to circumstantial evidence,” he said.
Anna’s face fell. “All we are asking for is your help. We need help. There must be something you can tell us. Since you are not allowed to investigate this case, maybe we can. We need to do something to save Moses,” Beth pleaded, before turning to look back at Anna.
Jude exhaled noisily. “Alright, alright... Stewart is going to kill me... but we found a piece of paper with an address on it. We haven’t checked it out because Stewart doesn’t think it’s worth his time... and he is just set on charging Moses anyway... but that address feels strangely familiar. Have you ever heard of 1507 Peace Lane?” he asked.
The twins stared at each other, confused but excited.
“I don’t know what the address has to do with anything, but it could be worth looking into,” He said hurriedly. “I would never forgive myself if something happened though, so promise me that you’ll leave right away and head straight to the sheriff’s office if you find anything at all that might be dangerous.”
The girls thanked him for his help and bounded out of Jude’s house with spirited energy. He smiled as he watched their reactions. It crossed his mind that the old women may be experiencing more excitement than they’ve ever had in their life. Why deny them that? He picked up his book, pushing the guilty conscience that plagued him to the back of his mind.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THOMAS STRUGGLED WITH the heavy secret that threatened to burst out of him. He would never forget the sight of the bloodied body he found in the tool shed. Since then, he had not been able to sleep well at night. When the police asked questions, Thomas hoped they couldn’t see through the lies. He wanted to tell them that the keys to the shed had been stolen from him the previous day when he went into Samuel’s bar for a drink and a game, but he was ashamed of the truth coming out. He couldn’t bear revealing that he was one of the Amish men who patronized Samuel Graber’s unholy joint. Neither could he reveal that gambling was part of the reason his business was nearly destroyed.
Pity for Moses filled him, almost paralyzing him. Moses saw through him. When Thomas asked for help, Moses refused until he knew the cause of his money troubles. Thomas eventually opened up about his gambling problems, but Moses had already suspected and needed Thomas’ confirmation as a sign of trust. And now, Thomas carried so much guilt for Moses’ arrest.
He was grateful that Moses didn’t reveal his secret to the entire community. He kept quiet about the issue and tried to help Thomas the best way he could, but now, he was sure that everything would come into the light. And how could Thomas blame Moses if it did? Moses had always been there for him and as far as he knew, his secrets still remained quiet.
A few nights before Derek was found, Thomas lost the set of keys that included his house key. On that set was also the extra key to the shop and tool shed that Moses graciously entrusted to him. Thomas spent the drunken night searching around for it. When he couldn’t find it in Samuel’s bar, he headed to the shop. He thought perhaps he must have left it absentmindedly somewhere around the shop.
That night, he saw some figures in the dark - two men - arguing at the corner located just a block down from the store. Although he had heard two voices, only one of the figures came into view, and it was Derek.
“Hey, Derek!” Thomas called out drunkenly. Derek seemed agitated that night. He glanced around near the bushes anxiously. Thomas neared him and reached out for a friendly handshake greeting. Derek ignored it.
“Man, are you wasted...” Derek said, with disgust. Thomas and Derek were buddies at Samuel’s bar. They were drinking buddies, really. He knew that Derek drank a lot, too, so Thomas was taken aback with the rude greeting. On what moral ground could Derek stand to judge Thomas? It wasn’t surprising that the bishop had recently chastised Thomas for his reckless behavior, but he didn’t need to be scolded by Derek, too. Derek’s drinking was just as bad, if not worse than his, Thomas thought sulkily.
“What are you doing out here so late at night?” Derek asked. Thomas stumbled around, nearly tripping. Derek reached out to catch him before he fell.
“I could ask you the same thing...” Thomas said defensively. Derek steadied him on his feet.
“I am on night patrol. Jude’s out sick.,” he replied.
Thomas raised his eyebrows slightly. “Is that so? Well, I’m just looking for my keys. I must have dropped them somewhere” he said, trying to pull it together after realizing if Derek was on the job, he could potentially book him for being intoxicated.
“Did you check your pockets?” Derek paused, waiting for Thomas’ response.
“Of course, I did,” Thomas slurred.
“Well, it’s dark out here and everything is closed, so you’re not going to find them tonight. It’s too late. Let’s get you home,” he said. Derek led him to his car. It was the second time Thomas had ever ridden in a car. The first time was during his Rumspringa. Thomas wondered if he would even remember this ride tomorrow.
Once at Thomas’ home, Derek picked the lock until the door opened. He pulled Thomas into the room and pushed him onto his couch. Derek took off, banging the door shut, and Thomas proceeded to pass out.
Thomas slept through the next day and on the second day when he returned, he found Derek’s body in the tool shed.
Even in the haze of his mind, he could sense that something had been up with Derek that night. Who had he been arguing with? He heard voices but only saw Derek because he stormed out of the bushes. Or perhaps, he was hallucinating and remembering things that didn’t really happen.
Thomas didn’t tell the police about that night because he was embarrassed and wasn’t even one hundred percent sure of what he saw and remembered. The only thing he knew for sure was that he was very drunk that night. His mind could have fabricated everything else.
So, why did he feel so guilty? And how could he explain the body found in the locked tool shed?
Thomas had decided it was time to talk to Moses and tell him what he knew. As he sat in the sheriff’s office, waiting to visit Moses, he pushed back the fear that accompanied opening up to him about that night. Moses would be disappointed in him for not speaking up sooner.
Jude led Thomas through the kitchen into the room with the cell. There was a chair sitting on this side of the bars. Moses was standing on the other side. His beard was disheveled. His eyes were bloodshot. His body was feeling sore from the cot and lack of activity, and Moses looked tired and defeated.
“Good Gotte, you look so worn out, Moses. ...But still better than me on my bad days,” Thomas said, trying to lighten the mood. Moses smiled slightly, in more of an effort to help make Thomas feel more comfortable. It didn’t go unnoticed. Thomas wouldn’t have expected Moses to act any differently. He was probably the most selfless man Thomas knew.
“How are you doing, Thomas? Are things turning around for you?” Moses asked. Thomas nearly teared up. Even though Moses was in more trouble than Thomas, he still took the time to show Thomas that he cared about him very much.
“Yes, thank you for asking. Things are better,” Thomas replied. Moses nodded, seemingly glad to hear that.
“I’m proud of you. How’s business? Sarah said you offered to hold down the shop? That is much appreciated” Moses said, his eyes already fixed on the book Thomas was holding. Thomas’ hands held the book strongly.
“Things are fine, indeed, Moses. But I didn’t come here to talk about business as much as I did to see how you are doing. So, tell me, how are you really doing?” he asked.
Moses shrugged. “I’m here. How do you think I’m doing?” Moses asked sarcastically. Thomas sensed a lacing of bitterness in his words... or was that the guilt again? Thomas felt helpless. He knew how he could help but... ‘oh, Lord, forgive my cowardice,’ he thought.
“I know that you are innocent, and the Lord will vindicate you soon enough. Please, don’t lose faith, Moses. You have so many people praying for you,” Thomas said. He hated how much he sounded like his mother. When his father was dying from a terminal disease, his mother never wavered in her faith. Whenever he felt his faith waning, she would call him back to the fold. Her words were so full of confidence and assurance that Thomas believed his father would get better. When he didn’t, Thomas was so angry with her and at the weightlessness of her comforting words. Right now, he wanted to share them with Moses but thought of their futileness.
“Thank you, Thomas,” Moses said, not knowing what else to say.
Thomas flipped open the hardware shop’s ledger book he had brought to show Moses. Since Moses’ incarceration, he had retrieved an extra set of keys from Sarah and began managing the business. He was comfortable running the shop, and he was actually enjoying it quite a bit. Thomas was excited to review the books with Moses and show him how well he was doing. It was a relief that Thomas was able to manage the store, but Moses longed to return to his previous life, one in which he hugged his wife and children before heading off to work.
He trusted Thomas to manage the shop’s finances and cover his household’s expenses while things were being sorted out, and the books solidified that things were indeed in order.
Jude arrived to let Thomas know that his visiting time was up. Thomas stood and shook Moses’ hand through the bars. Moses thanked him emphatically for filling in for him. Thomas thanked Moses for believing in him enough to handle it. Stepping up to Moses’ responsibility required a certain level of sobriety, and Thomas was willing to step into those shoes. He liked wearing them. With no reason to drink again, he channeled all his energy into the business.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
BETH WALKED AROUND the trailer, looking for an opening. Anna was on the lookout. The address Jude gave them turned out to be a flower field. The flowers were blooming brightly, uncurling toward the sun to absorb the energy and life it gave them. At first, the twins had been confused. They wondered if the address had been wrong. But as they ventured into the depths of the flowers, they discovered an overgrown gravel path that led to a shrub-covered backyard. A gently flowing river cascaded against rocks nearby, making a loud splashing sound that comforted the soul.
The girls were convinced the trailer had been empty - and deserted - for many months, if not years, but the door was tightly locked and secured. Beth picked up a rock and hammered on the lock. The loud noise was stressful even though there certainly couldn’t be anyone within earshot.
“Don’t do that, Beth. We don’t want anyone to know that we were here, and I don’t need you to hurt yourself” Anna chided her sister. Beth didn’t love that Anna tended to scold her like a child sometimes, but now wasn’t the time or place to get into that. She made a mental note to discuss it another time and tossed the rock aside.
“Let’s try the windows...oh look, this window is open. Beth, help me push,” Anna squealed excitedly. Together, they pushed the window until it opened. Anna climbed in, with Beth’s help from below. She landed with a noisy thud on the floor. She groaned quietly in pain. After rising carefully from the ground and stretching out her body, she manually opened the door from inside, letting Beth in.
The trailer was almost empty. There was a bed in a corner and some papers scattered across the table. There was no electricity - nothing happened when the light switch next to the door was flipped. Sunlight streamed in through the sheer curtains, casting an odd glow and enough daylight to see by. ‘It would have been a different story if we had come to explore this place last night,’ Beth was thinking. It had taken a light argument and a lot of convincing for Anna to wait until the morning, but it simply was not smart to go searching around for clues to a murder at an unfamiliar property after dark.
“Look at this,” Anna cried out, interrupting Beth’s thoughts. Paper clippings from newspapers were attached to the wall.
“Dear Lord! Derek was involved in a drug bust in New York. This newspaper shows his picture as Robert Williams, not Derek McCall. It says that he was involved w
ith taking down some drug lords...it looks like his undercover work led to the arrest of some pretty scary people.” she said in wonderment.
This could be it. The answer they had been waiting for. Derek had changed his name and was hiding in Little Valley. What if some career criminals from New York had found him?
“Are you sure about that?” Beth asked. Anna nodded, flipping through the papers. She grabbed the papers and stuffed them into the bag they came with. Derek was hiding and all she could think of was approaching the detective with this information. This was much bigger than them, but there could be a whole shift in the angle of the case. Moses could be exonerated.
Suddenly, Beth clapped her hands across Anna’s lips.
Beth put one finger up to her mouth. Anna held her breath. She was realizing two terrifying things just at that moment.
First, she realized how much danger she and her sister could be in, standing in the living room of what could be the headquarters used to hunt down Derek.
And second, Beth had heard someone approaching the trailer. The footsteps were getting louder and louder on the gravel path that led through the front yard.
Anna quickly and quietly reached over and turned the lock on the front door. “Quick, we need to get out the way we came,” she whispered to Beth. The twins squeezed themselves through the window, one at a time, hitting the ground just as the key was turning in the doorknob of the front door.
Anna could feel the wind whip past her face as she ran through the field of flowers towards the cover of the woods, holding tightly to her sister’s hand. As she ran, she only wished for one thing: that she had gotten a clear view of the person who had a key to that trailer...
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ANNA PACED UP AND DOWN the room impatiently. She clutched the papers close to her chest. Beth sat on the chair, trying to catch her breath.
