“The company that Brittney’s stepdad works for as a security guard, right?”
“Right.”
“Hmm. Why does a party rental operation need an ex-cop or security guard working there?”
“Exactly. I was wondering the same thing. So I called a friend of mine at Metro and he said this guy, Jackson, is slick—a dirty cop with big-time connections. Watch your back, Miller.”
“Will do.” Elijah folded the phone and put it back into his pocket. Slowly, he walked back to Hannah and Daniel, wondering what to do next. He could clean up the house. Get Abigail’s buggy from the ditch before Thomas would be left to deal with it. Or he could tell Hannah that exactly what she feared most was true—that Jessica had befriended some pretty bad people.
* * *
Hannah wasn’t sure what she thought of Daniel’s story. It surprised her that Elijah had not called Chief McClendon to make a report, neither about the ransacked house nor about Daniel’s participation in the whole affair. When Thomas and Nana returned, he solicited Daniel’s help in pulling the broken buggy back to the barn and later in cleaning up the house.
Nana and Thomas remained quiet as they all worked to restore order to their home. It was late when Elijah drove Daniel home. Even later when he returned and they all went to bed.
Another short night and Hannah did not sleep well even knowing Elijah had camped out on their living room floor in order to watch all points of entry into the downstairs.
He was still sleeping when she descended to help with morning milking. She stopped and studied the angular cut of his jaw. A warm pang flashed through her belly. She leaned forward and replaced the quilt, which had fallen from his shoulders. Her fingers brushed over his tight chest.
“You do not need to help with milking, Hannah.” Thomas stood at the bottom stair, rolling up the cuff of his sleeves. Disapproval in his eyes. “Our nephew Samuel is coming. You could sleep another hour.”
Hannah shrank away from Elijah. Once again she had hurt Thomas’s feelings and looked ungrateful for all he had done for her. How he must loathe her and think her a reckless woman. Was she? She had always been so prudent in her actions, as a youth and as a woman. Had that changed? Had seeing Elijah again made her forget her place? She prayed it was not so but that she acted only in sisterly love for her old friend even though she knew that in this matter, her head and heart were not in agreement.
“You must be glad your money has been returned,” she said, wondering what Thomas thought of last night’s events. “Will you go to the elders with what the boy has done? And with the break-in?”
“I will not. This is Elijah’s puzzle to solve. I want only that you are safe. If he sees no need for it, then I do not, either.” He turned away, placing his straw hat over his long brown locks. “Anyway, the youth seemed punished enough in his fear. His involvement with my own niece forced his behavior. I cannot punish him for that. He will work the next two Saturdays with me in the fields. And I will welcome his help.”
She bowed her head to him, then scurried to the kitchen and began to brew the tea and coffee. “I am glad your money has been restored. You are a good steward.”
“The money belongs to God.” He corrected her praise, as such things were not to be said aloud. “Even when it is taken, it belongs to God. But since it is again in my care, I have an idea. We will purchase a new buggy for Abigail. And when you return from the city, she will take my dun-colored gelding. He is an easy fellow—a much better match for her than that young, green mare. We will keep the mare for training and return her smooth and steady in a year’s time.”
Hannah was not surprised by Thomas’s generosity. He was a good man. She was surprised that he had approved the plan that she go into the city with Elijah and Abigail. Elijah must have spoken with him last night. She had not really agreed to go, and after the break-in and the story from Daniel, it did not seem the rational thing to do. “Thomas, I have no desire to go into the city. You must know that. I admit I wonder what Jessica had gotten involved in, but I am perfectly satisfied to let Elijah find those answers on his own. I have plenty to tend to here.”
“I do not care for you to go to the city, either, Hannah, but I think perhaps you are safer with Elijah. I am not trained in the ways of the world as our friend is. I must trust you to him for the day. And I do trust him. It seems his intentions toward you and his motivations for being here are truly noble. I understand as well as any man wanting to prove that past choices were justified. Be careful.” He tipped his hat to her. “I will take no breakfast this morning. Good day.”
As he left through the kitchen door, Hannah struggled to comprehend Thomas’s meaning. After she and Nana had retired, the two men had spoken of the day’s events and apparently of other things as well, such as her. She must conclude from Thomas’s attitude and Elijah’s words the previous night that Elijah had no lingering feelings for her. He was only there to prove to all of Willow Trace that his profession was respectable. She should be relieved that her heart was therefore not in danger, but she was not. She was disappointed, but that would pass. Elijah would go home when this journal or whatever was found, and she would stay there. The realization left Hannah feeling more alone than ever before.
* * *
Elijah watched as Hannah, seated beside him in the Mustang, clung with one hand to her starched prayer Kapp. A serene smile fixed on her lips. He wasn’t sure if she enjoyed the open-top ride into town, but she had asked for it and he had obliged her. An occasional laugh slipping from her lips as Abigail leaned forward between the two of them, recounting the details of her “date” with Mr. Phelps. Although Elijah paid more attention to the way the sun sparkled over Hannah’s porcelain skin. He studied the happy curve of her mouth. And when the wind would blow just the right way, her scent would tease him into wanting a taste of her lips and a touch of her hand.
Good thing he’d left Willow Trace when she married Peter. It would have been torturous being around her all the time with her married to someone else. It was hard enough being back there and even thinking about the fact that she would soon marry Thomas. Not that he didn’t wish them well. He wanted Hannah to be happy and he obviously wasn’t the man for that job. Didn’t mean he loved her any less.
He’d been careful the night before to convince both Hannah and Thomas that he had no interest in a relationship beyond friendship with Hannah. But the truth was, he did. He missed home. He missed the Amish ways. He missed feeling that close to God all of the time. He missed Hannah.
But then there was his Dat who would never change his opinion. His father would never understand his calling to police work. He would never accept Eli back in Willow Trace. So there was no reason to even entertain the idea of making amends, much less bring it up with Hannah or his sister. Abigail would push him to come home, no doubt. But Hannah? She had tender feelings for him. That was clear. But she had always had those feelings and it didn’t lead to anything before. Who was to say it would now? And if it didn’t, could he take another rejection from the same woman? He wasn’t willing to find out.
Once he knew Hannah would be safe again—that they all would be safe again—he would get as far away from Willow Trace as possible.
“So, no second outing with Mr. Phelps?” he teased his sister, trying to push his mind away from his own emotions.
“No. An old Maidel I am and always will be.” Abigail laughed.
“And what about you, my brother? Have you never thought to take a wife?” she asked.
“No. I haven’t really,” he said. “I’ve been married to my job.”
“That is a strange expression.” Hannah turned to him. “Surely you do not mean that. In our spirit we should be married to Christ, no? Not our work.”
Elijah swallowed hard. Hannah had misunderstood and his words had disappointed her. “Yes. It’s a strange expression. I just me
ant that I spend more time working than I do courting.”
“Oh, I see.” That seemed to relieve her somewhat, but she still seemed a bit displeased. “But you used to want a family so badly. Is this not a desire of yours any longer?”
He wanted a family with her so badly. But he would not say that aloud, as she had chosen to have a family with someone else. “We want many things when we are young. But our paths don’t always take us where we think they will,” he said instead.
Hannah’s face washed over with sadness. Of course, her path had brought her many losses. He should have been more careful of his words. He hadn’t meant to upset her.
Abigail leaned up between them. “That’s what makes life so exciting. You never know which way your path will go next. Who knows? God could have new spouses for us all.”
Hannah didn’t comment. She seemed to suddenly realize she was in the heart of downtown Philly.
“I’m sorry your first trip into the city is to this part of town,” Elijah said to her.
“I only want to find out about Jessica,” she answered.
“Are you sure this is the right address?” Abigail asked.
“Yes, this is the place.” Elijah indicated a large high-rise apartment on the corner. He circled the block until he found a spot to parallel-park his car against the curb. “This neighborhood is worse than I remembered. Maybe you ladies would like to stay in the car? Abs, you remember how to drive, right?”
“No way. I wouldn’t drive in all this traffic for anything. I’ll take my chances on the street.”
“Me, too.” Hannah nodded, though he could see she was filled with fear. “I’ve come this far. I might as well meet this friend of Jessica’s.”
Eli nodded. He closed up the car and led the ladies to the front of the building. A group of young men appeared as they turned the corner. There were six of them, all wearing caps, chains and jeans so large they fell halfway down their thighs. Elijah could only assume it was the same welcoming gang that had escorted Daniel to the train.
When they saw that the three of them wanted to enter the building, they formed a barricade in front of the door.
“Can we help you?” one of them asked.
Elijah put the ladies behind him, standing like a wall in front of the gang of young men. “We’re not here to make trouble. We’re on a social call.”
“A social call, huh?” the kid continued. “Perfect. ’Cause we are the social committee. Welcome to the hood.”
Another young man in the group stepped forward. “Hey, guys, they dress like that other girl—remember? That girl with Britt?”
Elijah tried to remain calm. “You know an Amish girl?”
“We know everybody. Amish. Polish. Italian. It’s our job.”
“Yeah, it’s our job to know everyone…especially the ladies.”
“And these ladies are fine.” One of the gang circled around and came close to both Hannah and Abigail. He reached out and touched Hannah’s bare neck. She flinched, and lowered her eyes to the ground.
“Even under all that dress. Can’t hide what looks fine,” said another boy, joining his friend.
“Mmm-hmm,” they hummed together. The two largest boys stepped between Elijah and the two women. Elijah was wishing he’d brought Tucci with them. At least then he would not feel so outnumbered and unable to protect both his sister and Hannah.
In any case, he did not want to fight with these hooligans in case they had any information about Jessica and the night she was killed. Possibly even they were the killers as Daniel had suggested. However, seeing them in person, he doubted that. He knew the type—at this age, they liked to throw their weight around, but they were mostly talk. They certainly didn’t have the discipline yet to rise to any kind of high level within a gang. And that made him wonder if any information they had was worth subjecting Hannah and his sister to their rough language and crudeness.
He looked back to Hannah. “Let’s just get inside. We can talk to them later if we need to,” he whispered.
But the group had circled around them. They laughed and continued to make offensive suggestions.
“That’s enough, guys,” Elijah said. “Let the ladies pass. We have someone to talk to.”
“You married to these girls?” one of them snarled. He reached out and touched the strings of Hannah’s prayer Kapp.
“Who cares if I am or I ain’t?” Elijah let his cop street training fall into practice. “I said to let the ladies pass or I’ll—”
The most aggressive of the group pushed Elijah at the shoulder, knocking him back into the boys behind, who stiff-armed him, shoving him back forward. “Or you’ll what, Blondie? We ain’t afraid of you.”
“You’re assaulting a police officer,” Abigail announced. “I’m a witness. How about you, Mrs. Nolt? Are you a witness?”
Hannah nodded, while Elijah reached into his coat.
“That true? You a cop?” one kid said. The others backed away.
Elijah pulled his ID card from his pocket and showed the boys.
“You Philadelphia P.D.?” the leader asked.
“That’s what the card says, doesn’t it?”
“I ain’t never seen you on this street.”
“I’m I.A.”
“You don’t look like no cop,” he said.
“Look like one of those guys in a BVD ad,” another said. The others laughed and snorted.
“Why are you here?” the leader said. “Nothing funny goes down on this block. You would know that if you were really Philly P.D.”
“Like nothing funny happened here when an Amish girl came to visit, then returned home murdered?” Elijah asked.
The boys moved away faster. “Hey, we was just kidding. We don’t know any Amish. We don’t know what you talking ’bout, man.”
“Tell me about Brittney Baker,” Elijah said.
“What’s there to tell?” one boy answered. “She lives here. We don’t talk to her much. She’s quiet, you know.”
“That’s not what we heard. We heard you are good friends and that you do anything she asks.”
“Look, man, no one touches Brit. Her dad’s…” He looked around to his friends, who had backed up even farther.
“Her dad is what?” Elijah pushed.
The kid eyed Hannah and Abigail, took a step backward and shrugged. Then he turned and hightailed it away from them as fast as possible, catching up to his buddies already a block away.
TWELVE
Hannah looked over at Eli. “Are you okay?”
“More like are you okay?” Eli gave her a cockeyed smile. “I’m fine. But I am anxious to get going. We need to get to Brittney before she and her father hear that we’re coming. Are you two able to handle that? Or was this too much already?”
“We are fine. Maybe not used to being eyed like animals for the purchase. But fine,” Abigail answered.
“I will be fine.” Hannah nodded. “This is why you did not tell them you were a police officer? Because they will bring more trouble? Do you not think that they—that they…”
“Killed Jessica?”
“No. I don’t think they are killers. Not yet. They are just the lookout. Brittney’s father must have some power over them. I’d guess they are on their way right now to warn him that we are here.”
They entered the building and took an elevator to the fifth floor. The apartments had a strange odor, although the interior proved to be much nicer than what the outside had first promised. The paint was clean. The woodwork and carpets were fancy and colorful.
Elijah knocked at door 502. He held his little card to a small glass hole in the center of the door and announced himself as Detective Miller of the Philadelphia Police Department. The door creaked open though it was still connected to the w
all by a link chain, as if someone expected a person to knock and then come bursting into the house. These English were most strange. She didn’t know how Elijah had made his way among them for so many years.
“My stepfather isn’t…” The dark-headed girl at the door stopped speaking as her eyes fell on Hannah and Abigail and their clothing.
Through the tiny slit of a doorway, Hannah could tell the girl was thin and tall. And very pretty. Much like the dark looks of her girl Jessica. Most certainly they were close in age. Was this girl the reason for Jessica’s death? Hannah bit her lip, trying to shut out the wild surge of desperate emotions that filled her heart.
“Not here to see anyone’s father. We’re here to see Brittney Baker,” Elijah said. “Are you Brittney Baker?”
The girl was wide-eyed. “Why do you need to talk to Brittney Baker?”
“We understand that she’s friends with a girl named Jessica Nolt. We have some questions for her.”
The girl seemed to consider his words for a few seconds, and then the door closed fast. Hannah heard the metal of the chain slinking behind the door, and then the girl opened it again, completely, and bade them enter, but only into the foyer.
“I haven’t seen Jessica in a week.” She stared at Hannah. “Are you her mom? She said her mom was young and had green eyes.”
“Are you Brittney Baker?” Elijah asked before Hannah could reply.
“Yeah, I’m Brittney.” She shuffled her weight from side to side and pulled the small, short jacket tight around her shoulders. “So what?”
“Can we ask you a few questions about Jessica? It won’t take long.”
She nodded, albeit reluctantly.
“Tell us about the last time you saw her,” Elijah said.
Again, she looked at Hannah. “This isn’t going to get her in trouble, is it?”
“No,” Elijah assured her. “You aren’t going to get Jessica in trouble.”
“Then…why do you need to know about her?” She folded her arms across her chest. “Cops only come around asking questions when someone’s gonna get in trouble. I don’t have to answer any questions.”
Plain Secrets Page 11
