Amish Quilt Shop Mystery

by Samantha Price

  “Better early than never,” Elsa-May said, holding up a cake box.

  “You brought something? How thoughtful,” Bethany said, taking the cake from Elsa-May.

  When Bethany went to the other side of the room to take the cake out of the box, Ettie walked up beside Elsa-May. “I'm glad you brought something. I completely forgot. It didn't even occur to me until I was nearly here.”

  “The cake store was closing for the day. I was fortunate that they had one cake left. They had plenty of cupcakes. I’d rather get a big proper cake, and I’m glad I did.”

  “How did Snowy do with his training?”

  “Fine, but Quinton wants to change the way I give Snowy commands.”

  “In what way?” Ettie was unsure if Elsa-May had ever given Snowy commands.

  “He says that when I say the word ‘come’ I have to put my hands up in the air. I have been pointing at my feet when I want him to come. I told Quinton that, but he said if Snowy is running away in a field somewhere he can easily see me put my hands up, and he won't see me pointing to my feet.”

  “That does make sense. Did Snowy know that pointing to your feet meant to come?”

  Elsa-May nodded. “Jah, he knows all my signals to come, sit, and stay.”

  That was news to Ettie. She hadn’t seen the dog do anything he was supposed to do since the day he’d arrived. Ettie wasn't brave enough to say that to Elsa-May, though. She was certain the last thing that Bethany wanted was to have two old ladies bickering at her opening night.

  “And are you going to change the way you signal for Snowy to come?”

  “I guess I'll have to if I want Quinton to help me with the training.”

  “I suppose you will. Has Snowy improved so far?”

  “He’s doing well for his age.”

  “I’m sure he is.”

  Elsa-May looked around the store. “It’s looking good, and it’s bigger than I imagined it would be.”

  “It’s a good-sized store, and I like the way she’s got it set out. She should do well here.”

  “Let’s see if we can help with something.”

  The food was spread out, the drinks lined up ready, and it was ten minutes before five when the first people began to trickle into the store.

  Half an hour after opening time, it was so crowded that Ettie and Elsa-May stepped outside the store to allow other people in.

  Just before six, the press came and asked Bethany questions.

  “I think we can go now, Ettie. We’ve done our bit,” Elsa-May said.

  When Ettie agreed it was time to go home, they said their goodbyes and called for a taxi.

  On the way home, Ettie said, “I think the night was a success. Everybody looked interested in the quilts, and I hope she got a few sales. I saw people looking interested in them. And two people unfolded one and I’m sure they wanted to buy it.”

  “I can't see why the store wouldn’t do well in such a good position. What used to be in the store space, Ettie, before Bethany took it over?”

  “It was an old bookstore, a secondhand bookstore to be precise.”

  “That's right, it was. I never went inside, but it always looked dark and dusty from the outside.”

  “And that just shows how much work she’s done to the place.”

  Chapter 3

  After everybody had gone home from the opening night, Bethany stayed late and cleaned up. She sent her friends Jill and Kathy home even though they had insisted on staying to help with the cleaning. All Bethany wanted was to be alone; it was late and she was tired. All the food had been eaten and all that was left to do was bundle the paper plates and the scraps into large garbage bags. She was glad there was a big dumpster in the alleyway outside.

  Once she’d cleaned all the tables and wiped them down with a cloth, she pulled the tables into the back of the store as best she could. Jabez had arranged to collect the tables early the next morning before the store opened.

  Jabez was one person she could rely on. He’d never let her down. She glanced at the clock and was pleased to see that it was only half past ten. There was still time enough to go home and get a decent night’s sleep before she had to make the trek back there to meet Jabez at eight.

  Taking one more look around the store, she felt she’d finally done it. She’d achieved her dream of opening the store. Already she’d sold three quilts just from the people who were there for the opening. Tears came to her eyes. As nice as it was to realize a dream, she had no one to share her happiness with. Her mother had been an only child of two only children, and she had no living relatives.

  Even though the community was her family and she had good friends, she felt a hole in her heart—something was missing. If only she’d had even one sibling, or was married, then she’d have someone who could be just as happy about the store as she was. She dabbed at her eyes with the corner of the hem of her apron. One has to take care of oneself was what her mother had always said to her. Mer muss uff sich selwer achtgewwe. Bethany could almost hear the words. Now with the store opening, she would be able to take care of herself.

  Closing her eyes, she said a prayer of thanks, and then she grabbed the keys and turned off the lights. When she locked the door, she thought about home. She wasn’t looking forward to going home to a quiet and empty house.

  Bethany managed to make it back to her store the next day before eight in the morning. Her heart jumped with delight when she saw Jabez was waiting in the alley. The moment she saw his smiling face she relaxed. He always made her feel better.

  “Did it end up being a gut night?” he asked as she drew closer.

  “It did.”

  “I saw you selling some quilts, so that’s got to be positive.”

  “I didn't expect to sell any on the first night. The purpose of the opening was to let people know about it, not to sell things, but I was pleased to make some sales.” Bethany pushed the key into the lock and turned it. “Did you bring anybody to help you with the tables?” Bethany asked when she saw he was by himself and David was nowhere in sight.

  “They aren’t that heavy. I just need you to guide me out and then I can do it myself.”

  “Are you certain?”

  “Jah. I’ll get the tables and then get out of your way. I'm sure you're anxious to start your first day.”

  “I am, and I'm scared.” She walked into the store and flicked on some lights. “It's a little chilly in here.”

  “It is, and it smells like something I can’t put my finger on.”

  “It smells like freshly cut fabric, that's what it smells like.”

  He grabbed one end of one of the tables. “I'll take all the weight. All you'll be really doing is guiding me.”

  After the tables were loaded in the wagon, Jabez asked, “Are you feeling a little less nervous?”

  “I can't stop shaking. I don't know if it's because it's so cold or because I’m so nervous.” She rubbed her hands together.

  He laughed. “Why don’t I buy you a cup of coffee to warm you up?”

  “Nee, you don't have to do that. I've got a kettle at the back of the store.”

  “Kettle? No coffee machine?”

  “There's barely enough room for the kettle. There's definitely no room for a coffee machine, even a small one.”

  He held a hand up in the air. “It'll only take me five minutes. I know how you like your coffee.”

  Before Bethany had a chance to say anything he was striding off toward the only coffee shop that was open at that time of the morning. He was right. He did know how she liked her coffee since they had spent many hours together in cafes—unfortunately, mostly with David in tow.

  Bethany set up the store for her morning sales. She logged into the credit card sales terminal and put change in the till. There wasn't much else to do except wait for customers; everything that could’ve been done she'd done the night before. With a nervous glance at the clock on the wall, she saw it was half an hour before her nine o'clock opening.<
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  Having Jabez there early in the morning was a good start to her first day. With him around she didn’t feel so alone.

  Jabez came through the back door. “There you go. One half-shot cappuccino with extra froth and extra sprinkles.”

  Bethany giggled at the thought of him going into the café and asking for such an odd coffee. When she took the coffee from him, she noticed he didn't have one for himself. “You’re not joining me?”

  “Nee, I thought it best I get out of your way.”

  “Oh.” Did her face reflect her disappointment?

  “I'm looking forward to hearing how it all goes, though,” he said as he walked out the door. And then he was gone.

  Sitting on her own behind the counter, she took a sip of cappuccino. I have to have some customers today. What if no one comes in? What if people just come in to look and they don't buy?

  To stop her mind running away with fearful thoughts, she bit the inside of her lip. At once she closed her eyes and prayed for God’s will to be done for her store and her life.

  It was very much in her mind that whether the store was a success or not was out of her hands. All she could do was work hard and do everything in her power to make it a success—the rest was in God's hands.

  Even though it was still earlier than nine, she unbolted the double doors that were the entrance to the shop.

  The surrounding storekeepers had told her that nothing happened until after ten in the morning. That’s why those stores opened at ten rather than nine. Starting at nine was no problem to Bethany; it wasn't as though she had a family to look after so she might as well be spending her time in the store.

  Bethany’s first customers came in at half past ten. They were a group of people from a tour bus. One looked at her most expensive quilt and said she’d think it over and would be back for it in the afternoon if she decided to take it. Two others in that same group bought quilting kits.

  After lunch, a lady from Bethany’s community purchased a baby quilt that she’d seen the night before. The woman from the tour bus never returned for the expensive quilt, but by the end of the day, Bethany had reached the minimum quota she’d written down for herself.

  When the day was over, she bolted the door, turned off the lights, and then sat in the semi-darkness of the evening and cried with relief.

  It was only the first day, but it was a strong indication that her business was going to work.

  When a taxi delivered her to her small house, she walked in the door hoping that one day soon she might make enough to repaint the house and make it less dark inside. It hadn’t been done for years. Jabez had offered to help with anything around the house and she’d taken him up on his offer twice already since her mother had died.

  As she reheated some leftovers on the stove, she closed her eyes and hoped she wouldn’t always feel so alone.

  Chapter 4

  “I might go and see how Bethany’s getting along.”

  “Do you want me to come with you?” Elsa-May offered.

  “Nee, I’ll go by myself.” Ettie knew that whenever Elsa-May offered to go somewhere with her, she didn’t really want to go. Otherwise, Elsa-may would’ve just stated she was coming—no question about it.

  “Okay. I’ll go over the commands with Snowy.”

  “Again?” Ettie pulled her mouth to one side. “Doesn’t he know them by now?”

  “We’ve only had two lessons with Quinton. These things can’t be rushed. I need to do them a few times a day so Snowy can get used to things.”

  “Please yourself.”

  “Say hello to Bethany and tell her I’ll be back to visit her and the store soon.”

  “I need a few bits and pieces. Cotton and a few things like that for my needlework.”

  “Why don’t you make a quilt?”

  “I’ve stopped making quilts because they’re too big a project for me now. I prefer to work on smaller things.”

  “Isn’t the real reason because you don’t know if you’ll be around to finish it?”

  Ettie laughed. “Stop it. You shouldn’t be saying those things when you’re older than I am.”

  Elsa-May chuckled. “That’s why I can say things like that; I know you won’t be too offended.”

  Ettie arrived at the quilt store just before nine. She tried the front door, but it was locked. Unsure what time Bethany opened the store, she went down the alleyway to see if Bethany was about.

  “Ettie!”

  Ettie swung around and saw Bethany heading down the alley toward her. “Bethany, there you are. What time do you open?”

  “Officially I open at nine, but I have been opening earlier—whenever I get here. I’m later than usual today.”

  “I’ve come in to get a few bits and pieces.”

  “I’ll let us in through the back.”

  “How has everything been going? With the store I mean?” Ettie asked.

  “It's going well, better than I expected. If sales stay the way they have been, I’ll be very happy. When the article about my store came out in the newspaper, the store became really busy. The day after the article, I sold three of my most expensive quilts. I had to contact my suppliers for more stock.”

  “That’s so good.”

  Bethany pushed the key in the lock and turned it. Then she jiggled the key. “Ach nee Ettie. I must’ve forgotten to lock it last night.”

  “That’s not like you.”

  “It is lately. I’ve had too much on my mind. I’ve been looking for someone to do a little part-time work for me and trying to source a wider variety of quilts. It’s a lot for one person to do.” She stepped through the door first, then stepped back to let Ettie through.

  “It's handy to have two entries to your store.” Ettie walked through the doorway.

  “Jah, and it's good to have this storage area even though it's only tiny.” Bethany flipped the lights on and continued further into her store.

  Ettie was flung against a wall when Bethany stepped back. While Ettie tried to regain her balance, Bethany lunged forward.

  “What's the matter, Bethany?”

  The next thing Ettie heard was a high-pitched scream. Something was very wrong. She took two steps, bringing her beside Bethany, and it was then that she saw a body spread out on the floor.

  “Is… is he…?” Bethany stammered.

  “Call 911,” Ettie called out while she crouched down beside the man and felt for a pulse. She was fairly sure by the ghastly tone of the man’s skin that he was well and truly dead. After she had found no pulse in his wrist, she put two fingers to the side of his neck to feel for a sign of life. There was none.

  Ettie pushed herself to her feet. “He's gone.”

  Bethany was answering the operator’s questions.

  “He’s dead,” Ettie said again in case Bethany hadn’t heard it the first time.

  She told the operator the man appeared to be dead. Two minutes later, Bethany had set the phone down without disconnecting, as the operator had told her. “They’re sending someone.” Bethany stepped closer and looked at the man.

  “Do you know him?” Ettie asked.

  Bethany tipped her head to one side and crouched down. “He looks a little familiar, but I can’t think where I might have seen him before.”

  “A customer?”

  “So far, my customers haven’t been male, and none of them are that well-dressed. The suit he’s wearing is not a cheap suit.”

  “He seems a tall man and the suit was probably tailored to fit him. When I felt for a pulse, I noticed he’s wearing a heavy gold watch. I wouldn't know if it’s an expensive watch or not, but going by his suit, it's likely that it is.”

  “What was he doing in here? I wonder how he died?”

  “My guess is he’s been shot.” Even though his suit was dark and the rug beneath him was red, Ettie could see he’d been shot in his back. “Take a better look at him, Bethany. Think where you might know him from.”

  Bethany covered her
face with her hands. “Do I have to?”

  “You might know the man from somewhere.”

  Bethany breathed out heavily, crouched down again, and had a better look at his face. “He looks vaguely familiar but that's all. I might've seen him in a crowd or something. I can’t really say for certain where I’ve seen him.”

  Ettie scratched her head. Bethany was being no help at all. The man must’ve had some connection to her, otherwise why would he be there?

  “I think we can rule out robbery,” Ettie said.

  “Maybe he had lost his way and came in here to use the phone?”

  “How would he have known that you’d left the door unlocked? Anyway, most Englischers have cell phones.”

  “I guess the store will be shut for the day now.”

  “Jah, the store will have to be closed for at least a day, possibly more, and we shouldn’t touch anything. The police will need to dust for fingerprints and all those things that they do.”

  “I touched the phone,” Bethany said.

  “Don’t touch anything else.”

  Bethany peered at the body. “He was shot?”

  “Seems so, but we’ll soon find out.”

  “I’m glad you were here with me, Ettie. Maybe Gott knew this is one thing I wouldn’t handle well on my own.”

  Ettie smiled and nodded. She’d been thinking she should’ve come any other day but today. Maybe Detective Kelly has the day off—that was Ettie’s hope.

  “Are you all right, Ettie? Don’t faint on me now.”

  “I won’t faint. We’ll be strong together. Maybe you should make a sign to put on the door that you’ll be closed for the day.”

  “Okay, but I’ll have to touch things to do that.”

  “That should be all right, as long as you don’t touch anything else,” Ettie said.

  While Bethany busied herself writing a sign, Ettie was concerned over what effect a dead body being found in the quilt store would have on Bethany’s young business. Everything would have to be taken out of the store, cleaned, and then put back. With the amount of stock in the store, that would take more than a couple days.