“I prefer the chocolate cake myself, but I think she might prefer the passionfruit sponge.”
Somehow Ettie doubted that. How could her sister possibly know what kind of cake Mrs. Lapp liked—they weren’t that close with her.
“Can I help you there?”
Ettie looked up at the sales assistant. “I’ll take the passionfruit sponge please.”
Elsa-May smiled and rubbed her sister's shoulder. “A great, good choice, Ettie. I’m sure she’ll like that one.”
“Would you like that in a box?” the assistant asked.
“Yes, please, a box would help us carry it better. A box is a lot better than putting the cake on a plate and then in a paper bag.”
Elsa-May leaned in and whispered to Ettie, “A yes or no was all that was required.”
Ettie whispered back, “I’m just being nice to the poor girl. She looks tired and I think she’s had a hard day.”
“Haven’t we all?” Elsa-May said.
* * *
“How nice of you to visit me again.”
“And we’ve brought cake,” Elsa-May said.
“Jah, your favourite passionfruit cake,” Ettie added.
“Wunderbaar!” Once they were all inside, Mrs. Lapp said, “Come through to the kitchen. Have you any news of Paula?”
“Nee. We were wondering if you’d heard anything.”
Ettie set the cakebox on the counter, and they all sat down at the kitchen table.
Diane Lapp shook her head. “Nee. We only went to the hospital the one time, and we weren’t allowed to see her. That policeman came again today to speak to Obadiah.”
“The detective—the one that came when Elsa-May and I were here?”
She nodded. “That’s the one. He didn’t look like he was going to give up so I let him ask Obadiah some questions. I didn’t know what else to do because Boris wasn’t home.”
“Did you stay with Obadiah?” Elsa-May asked.
“Yes, I did because I knew Boris would’ve wanted me to stay with him. I hope Boris won’t be angry with me when he gets home.”
“What did he ask him?”
“Nothing much. Did he know how to drive a car, how well he knew Paula, had he ever been to Paula’s house. That’s some of the questions I can remember.”
“What did Obadiah say?”
“He answered him honestly and I think the detective was satisfied with his answers.”
“Did the detective say anything else?”
“Let me put the pot on to boil while I think about it.” She filled the pot with water and placed it on the stove. “Will you open the cake box for me, Ettie? While I fix the tea?”
“Of course.” Ettie busied herself at the counter, cutting the cake and serving it onto small plates.
When Diane Lapp sat back down, she said, “I can’t think that he said too much else. He showed Obadiah some photos and asked him if he recognized the people, then he told him some names and asked if he knew them.” She shook her head. “Don’t ask me what names; I wouldn’t remember now, as they weren't people I know and neither did Obadiah.”
“I hope that wasn’t too upsetting for Obadiah.”
“He didn’t seem to mind at all.”
“Can Obadiah drive a car?” Elsa-May asked.
“He’s never been on rumspringa and he wouldn’t be able to go. He can’t look after himself. I wouldn’t be able to trust him to live on his own, or with others.”
“Was Paula ever frightened of anyone that you know of?”
Diane shook her head. “An Englischer?”
“Jah.”
“Nee, she never mentioned anything of the kind.”
Ettie stored it in her brain for later that Obadiah’s mother evaded the question about whether Obadiah could drive a car. “You two were close, weren’t you?” Ettie asked.
“Quite close.” Diane nodded. “We never spoke about her past life, though, from before she arrived here. Well, she did in little bits and pieces, but only generally. She never gave me details and I didn't ask.”
“What kind of things?” Elsa-May asked.
“She mentioned she’d had many disappointments in her life.” Diane stood. “Let’s have some of this lovely cake.”
“Denke, that would be wunderbaar,” Elsa-May said with a huge grin.
“We weren’t sure what cake you like best. It was either this one or a chocolate cake,” Ettie said.
“I like either. Now, tea or kaffe?”
“Tea for both of us, please,” Elsa-May said.
Chapter 12
Right after they left Diane Lapp’s house, Ettie and Elsa-May headed to the police station. They had to find out why the detective would speak with Obadiah at all since last time they spoke with Kelly, he'd seemed certain the guilty party was either Cameron George or his wife, Nora.
“What possible reason would you have to want to speak with Obadiah when you’ve got so much evidence against Cameron George?” Ettie asked when she and Elsa-May sat opposite him in his office.
“That’s none of your business.”
“It became my business when you asked for my help,” Ettie said firmly.
He sighed heavily. “I can’t put my investigation at risk by telling you.”
“You won’t be winning yourself any friends once word gets around that you deliberately went to the Lapps’ house when Mr. Lapp wasn’t home and forced Mrs. Lapp to allow you to speak with Obadiah.”
Detective Kelly scowled. “That’s not how it happened.”
“Isn’t it?” Elsa-May asked. “That’s the way we heard it.”
Ettie said, “If it wasn’t, that’s what everyone will think. Why do you ask for my help at all?”
“You know most of the people in your community slam the door in my face. Not literally, but you know what I mean.”
“Why couldn’t you tell us what you wanted to find out from Obadiah?”
“Last time I checked you weren’t a member of the force. Anything you asked him wouldn't be on record.”
“What was so important? How can he possibly be involved in any of this? None of his prints were found in Paula’s house,” Ettie said.
The detective remained silent and lowered his head.
“What? They found his prints in Paula’s house?” Ettie asked.
He sighed. “I wasn’t going to tell you, but yes. They found many of his prints in the house.”
Elsa-May asked, “But not on the weapon or the locket?”
“No, as I said, the only prints on the locket and the tire iron were Nora’s.”
“Did he say what he was doing inside Paula’s house?”
“He admitted to going there a week or so ago. Paula wasn’t home, so he walked inside. After waiting, he left and went home. Now, it’s possible that all his prints that were found in the house were left on that occasion.”
Ettie and Elsa-May looked at each other. Mrs. Lapp hadn’t mentioned any of that to them.
“Elizabeth mustn’t have seen him,” Elsa-May said. “But she didn’t mention anything to us. She said she’s home most of the time.”
“Not many people are home all the time, or by their windows all day. Obadiah said he couldn’t drive a car, but I found out that’s not true. I see many Amish boys in cars.”
“Only on their rumspringa,” Ettie informed him.
“With ten older brothers, or however many he has, I’m certain most of them would’ve gone on rumspringa and brought cars back home,” Kelly said.
“Some do when they visit their parents, but I think you’re reading too much into things.”
“I think the only thing he’s guilty of is going into someone’s home when they weren’t about, but we do that all the time if we know the people well enough,” Elsa-May said. “We generally don’t lock our doors.”
“Last time we spoke with you, you were confident you had the guilty party behind bars already.”
He sighed. “I threw out a hint, but you didn’t take it. I might as well tell you
that we had Obadiah’s prints already in the system.”
Ettie gasped. “I didn’t even put two and two together.”
“Neither did I. Has be been arrested previously, then?” Elsa-May asked.
Kelly nodded. “And he lied to me, which makes me think if he lies about one thing he’ll think nothing of lying about another.”
“What was he arrested for?”
“Driving unlicensed, speeding, and driving under the influence of alcohol. He had a court appearance, and according to our records, it was Paula Peters who stood up for him in court and explained his situation. He didn’t get jail time, he got a stern warning and a fine.”
Ettie’s fingertips flew to her mouth. Mrs. Lapp hadn’t mentioned any of that to them. And, more than that, she and her husband had made it seem as though Obadiah barely spoke to Paula and hardly knew her. Now Ettie knew that was not the case—unless Diane Lapp was totally unaware of the situation.
“Mrs. Lapp told us none of that,” Elsa-May said.
“She was protecting her son. That’s why Mr. Lapp didn’t want him to speak with us. He knew his son had that past run-in with us.”
“So, knowing that Obadiah knew Paula better than any of us thought, do you think he played any part in her attack?” Ettie asked.
“I’m just putting all the pieces of the puzzle together. I had to find out why his prints were in her house and I wanted to hear it from him.”
“Did you know all this the first time you came to the Lapp’s house?”
“I can’t tell you that, Mrs. Smith.”
“Why not?”
“Let’s just say I’ve known since we got all the results of the prints back.”
“What about fingerprints of Cameron George? Were any of his prints found at the house?”
“Yes, I think I told you that already. When I first identified him from the photo in the locket and went to his furniture store, I had a long talk with him. He told me the situation between Paula and himself and that he’d visited Paula recently to make certain she was doing okay. He was very distressed to find out she was harmed.”
“He must be a good actor,” Elsa-May said.
“And a quick thinker,” Ettie added.
“What do you mean?” Kelly asked.
“That was quick thinking to tell you he’d visited Paula.”
“You two certainly have it in for this man.”
Ettie turned down her lips and wondered if she were being influenced by Cameron George’s behaviour.
“Would you let us talk with Nora again?” Elsa-May asked.
“No! I can’t. I couldn’t if I wanted to. She was removed to another prison today where she’ll await trial.”
“The big prison?” Ettie asked.
“Yes, the state prison. She’ll have to get used to it. It might be her new home for many years.”
“Are you that certain she’s guilty?” Ettie asked.
“That’s up to the courts to decide.”
“What about the taxi driver you were going to question. The one who said he took a woman to Paula’s street.”
“We had no luck with the taxi driver. He picked up the woman late at night, but he said he wouldn’t be able to identify her and she didn’t book the taxi by phone.”
“So there’s no record of her?”
“That’s right. She paid by cash, he remembers that much and he didn’t record it on his books.”
“And he told you that?” Ettie asked.
“I’m not the IRS.” Detective Kelly said.
“So that doesn’t give us any information. Does he remember exactly where he picked her up and what time?”
Kelly shook his head. “I showed him a photograph of Nora George and he said it might have been her but he couldn’t say one hundred percent whether it was her or not.”
“Was it on the same night that Paula was attacked?”
“He says he was certain it was the same night.”
Ettie breathed out heavily.
“If you’ll excuse me I’ve got a few things to check on.”
Chapter 13
“Why don’t we ask Crowley if he’ll go and talk with Nora? I’m certain she’ll be allowed visitors. Crowley should know all about how to get in and see her.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Because you’ll ask him.”
Ettie pouted. “I suppose he would know all the things to ask her. It’s probably a good idea to ask him to do it.”
“I won’t argue with you.”
“I admit it was a good idea. Crowley respects the force of the law and that’s why he’ll most likely try to help.”
“Let’s go home and call from there.”
They asked the taxi driver to stop just down the road from the house, and Ettie called Crowley from the phone in the shanty. She knew Crowley’s cell phone number by heart.
He answered on the third beep. “Detective Crowley, is that you?”
“Ettie?”
“Yes.”
“I told you, call me Ronald.”
Ettie giggled. “Yes, I forgot.”
“What is it?”
“Elsa-May and I were wondering if you might visit Nora George.”
“Isn’t she in jail?”
“That’s the one.”
“What does Kelly say?” Crowley inquired.
“Kelly has doubts now that she did it, but I guess he’s not in a position to work too hard to get her out. Unless other evidence comes out, he’ll probably leave it to the courts to decide. That’s what he’s always saying—let the courts decide.”
“Is she still in the station’s lock up?”
“No, she’s been removed to a different jail, but I don’t know where. Is there more than one she could’ve gone to?”
“Yes, there’s more than one. I’ll make a few calls and find out where she is. What would you like me to find out?”
“You’ll do it?”
“I don’t know yet. You’ll have to tell me a little more first. Convince me.”
Ettie told Crowley everything she knew and all that she and Elsa-May suspected. Most of it, he already knew from when they'd spoken to him before.
“Okay leave it with me,” Crowley said.
“You’ll do it?”
“Yes. I’ll come to see you after I speak with her.”
“Thank you, Cr… Ronald. I hate to see the poor woman in jail for something she didn’t do”
“Well, if you want me to help, you’ll need to get off the phone so I can make some calls.” He chuckled.
“Oh. Yes, right away.” Ettie replaced the receiver.
“Ettie, you didn’t say goodbye to him.”
“He said he needed to make calls.”
“Come on, let’s get back home and I’ll take Snowy for a walk.”
It was after dinner when the sisters got a surprise visit from the retired detective, Crowley.
“Ronald!” Elsa-May said when she opened the door.
“I have some news.”
“Come inside and take a seat.”
When he walked inside, Ettie pushed herself up from her couch. “Have you been to see Nora already?”
“I have.” Crowley sat on a wooden chair opposite Ettie, and Ettie and Elsa-May sat down in their usual spots. “Nora’s very frightened. She doesn’t belong in a place like that. I put it to her that her husband framed her. She admitted that it made sense, but she said that would be the worst thing in the world she could think of.”
“Did you bring up her husband’s affairs?”
“Yes. She finally admitted she knew about his affairs, but blamed herself for not being a good enough wife.”
“That’s interesting that she knew about them. Did she know he'd had more than one?” Ettie asked.
“I referred to them as ‘affairs’ and she didn’t correct me. I can’t see that she has enough venom in her to kill anyone,” he said.
“Then you believe us that she’s not guilty?” Elsa-May
asked.
“Yes, but unless her husband confesses, I can’t see her getting off the hook.”
“Hmm, I wonder, what would it take for him to confess?” Ettie said.
“Nothing, I’d say. He’ll know what he’ll be facing if he confesses. He wouldn’t have gone to all the trouble to frame her and then confess to it. This is what he wanted.”
“Am I right to say that if he confesses now, his charges will be less than if the police keep investigating and then arrest him?” Ettie asked.
“What Ettie means is, if he steps forward now, will things be easier for him? Will he be able to cut a deal?” Elsa-May asked.
“I don’t know if there’s any deal for him to be able to make in this scenario, but you’re right about things maybe going easier for him if he confesses.”
Ettie said, “All we have to do is let him know all the evidence Kelly has against him, and then if he has any sense he’d come forward before Kelly arrests him.”
“Good luck with that,” Crowley said.
“What do you mean?” Elsa-May asked.
“Kelly has strong evidence on the wife. All the husband did was have affairs and the only thing that points to him was the Internet search which could’ve been easily performed by Nora herself.”
“His laptop was password protected,” Elsa-May pointed out.
“The prosecution will say that she might have known his password. She is his wife and knows the way he thinks. She could've figure it out.”
Ettie fiddled with the strings of her prayer kapp. “What evidence is there that he did it, Elsa-May?”
“There isn’t any, except that he benefits from getting Paula out of the way and his wife out of the way. There’s the car that has a similar plate number. Then there are his prints that were in the house, but he covered himself there.”
“Yes, by admitting to visiting her.”
“You’re going to need something more than that,” Crowley said.
“What else did Nora tell you?” Ettie asked him.
“Nothing much besides the fact that there is the possibility that her husband framed her. She wouldn’t hear of it—she seems very sweet and unassuming. Although, she is worried that the lawyer Cameron got for her isn’t good. She’s also concerned that her husband has made no effort to visit her. She told me her husband isn’t visiting her because he’s ashamed of her because he thinks she’s guilty.”
Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries Box Set 3 Page 8
