by Dana R. Lynn
“Let’s just answer their questions. Hopefully, this won’t last too long.”
Watching the forceful gait of the firefighter striding toward them, he knew he was being overly optimistic. They were in for a long day.
The firefighter halted in front of them. Levi forced his impatience down while they endured his scrutiny. The man’s gaze intensified as it took in the scratches and dirt covering them. When it landed on Levi’s head, concern edged its way in.
His injury must be a mess. It sure felt like it was.
“You two know anything about this fire?” The man’s voice was deceptively calm, as if he were asking about the weather or their favorite restaurant.
“Levi, I see Officer Dawson.” Lilah slid the comment in before he could answer the firefighter.
Levi twisted his head to look where she was pointing. Officer Dawson was there, involved in a deep conversation with the fire chief.
“We need to speak with her,” Levi informed their questioner. The man’s mouth flattened. He might not like it, but Levi was tired and ached too much to care. “This is all part of another case she is working on. Trust me, she’ll want to know.”
Scowling, the man left them and sauntered over to the female cop. Her eyes widened and her head whipped around to see them. Nodding, she motioned for the chief to join her as she strode in their direction.
“Levi. Lilah. I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”
Was there disapproval in her voice?
“You had said the crime scene was cleared,” Lilah ventured. Levi disliked the despair that crept into her voice. “I wanted to come and take another look at the shed. When we got here, it was on fire.”
Levi took over when she stuttered to a stop, explaining about the fire and the explosion.
“What caused the explosion?” Her eyes were intent.
Lilah sighed. Without thinking, Levi hooked his left arm around her shoulders and hauled her close so she could rest against his side.
“That might have been an accident.” She didn’t sound so sure. “We kept our propane and our kerosene on a shelf right inside the barn.”
Officer Dawson shook her head. “I disagree. I think that he—”
“She,” Levi butted in. “Pretty sure the arsonist was a she.”
“Okay. Let’s start with the fire itself. The chief here tells me that the arsonist used an accelerant. Probably kerosene. A trail was left between the debris where the fire started and the barn. My guess is she used your kerosene, knowing that it was kept there, hoping to confuse the matter.”
“You think she planned for the barn to explode.” Levi rubbed Lilah’s shoulder, silently offering comfort and support.
“I’m almost positive none of it was an accident. Now we have to decide why.” She caught them both with a level stare. “It’s your turn. Why are we looking for a female arsonist?”
Briefly, Levi and Lilah related the conversation they’d overheard while hiding from the two who were hunting for them.
“Tammy. Hmm. Tammy.” Officer Dawson tapped her chin. “We have a name. And you say you got a good look at both of them?”
“Jah, I did,” Levi confirmed.
“My back was to them,” Lilah admitted. “I couldn’t turn around to look without giving away our position.”
Officer Dawson excused her with a wave of her hand. “One of you did. That should be enough. I will need you two to come with me to the station. If we have either of these two in our database, you could pick them out. It would make it much easier to solve this and find out who killed Jacob.”
Levi and Lilah exchanged glances. When Lilah nodded, Levi said, “Jah. We will cumme.”
“Wait!” Lilah said. “Before we go, my brother said there had been something in his office. I just remembered, after his office had been broken into a few years ago, he had been concerned that his confidential papers would be at risk. Jacob had had a special compartment dug into his floor. The shed might be gone, but it’s possible that whatever he buried in that compartment is still there.”
There was no mistaking the excitement dawning on Officer Dawson’s face. “If you’re right, whatever the arsonist was looking for—it might still be there. Wait here.”
The police officer hurried away. They saw her grab her partner and watched as the two of them engaged in a high-energy conversation. Several times she pointed to where the shed had stood. Her partner pivoted and ran toward the still smoldering shed, yelling for the fire chief.
Officer Dawson ran back to where she’d left them. “Okay, it’s being taken care of. I’m sorry to tell you, Lilah, this is once again a crime scene. So, you two will have to come with me as soon as the fire chief officially declares this arson, which he will. Believe me. But as soon as that happens, we’re going to bring in some samples of the debris and dig up that compartment. If this all goes well, we should have whatever your brother buried by the end of the day.”
Levi looked at Lilah. He knew she would hate having her home designated a crime scene again. However, they were close to getting answers. That had to be a relief.
Officer Dawson looked him over once more. “I’m also thinking we should stop by the hospital and have you two looked over. Levi, that injury on your head looks like it could be nasty.” Part of him wanted to ignore her advice. They were wasting so much time. He squelched the urge to protest. Despite his impatience, he had to be prudent. If he was seriously injured and became incapacitated, what good would he be then?”
Reluctantly, Levi agreed with the police officer’s suggestion.
There was one positive aspect to all of this, though. “Well, at least we have a ride now.”
Lilah reached up and pinched his arm hanging over her shoulder.
“Oomph. What was that for?”
She shook her head as if disappointed, but the corners of her mouth were twitching.
Officer Dawson drove to the hospital first. Levi wasn’t happy when he and Lilah were separated. He waited for nearly two hours to be seen. The doctor who came in brought a clinical student with him. Levi shifted uncomfortably as the doctor discussed him with the student as if he were a fascinating science experiment. When the examination was complete and his discharge papers were signed, he couldn’t leave the room fast enough.
Officer Dawson was waiting inside the waiting room for him.
“Where’s Lilah?” He scanned the room and the hallway. His mouth went dry.
“Relax. She was called back to see a doctor a few minutes ago. It might be a while. You were more of an emergency because of the head wound.”
He forced himself to sit. Lilah was gone for over an hour. The moment she returned, he stood, ready to leave. Officer Dawson stood at a more leisurely pace.
Lilah reached up and gently touched the bandage on his head. Levi froze. “Is it bad?” she asked.
He didn’t want to move. “Nee. I have a concussion. The doctor told me not to go to work for the next couple of days. If my head stops hurting, I can go back on Thursday.”
She dropped her hands to her side. “I’m glad. I was worried.”
“Jah, I knew you were. Danke, but I’m fine. Really.”
“Now we can go to the station,” Officer Dawson announced. “I called ahead, so we can start working as soon as we arrive. The way I see it, the sooner we get done, the sooner you two can go home.”
That sounded gut to him. Levi was ready for life to get back to normal.
Except that would mean no Lilah.
Suddenly, going back to his normal life was a bleak prospect.
* * *
Lilah didn’t know what she expected the police station to look like. Maybe she expected that all the officers would have their own little office, a private place to work. When Officer Dawson led them into the main room at the station, she was surprised to see so little space b
etween each desk.
Not that there were a lot of desks. They were just a little more crowded than she expected. Officer Dawson greeted an officer sitting at a desk piled high with files and general clutter. Seeing Lilah’s amazement, she chuckled and pointed to another desk. This desk was the antithesis of the desk they had just passed. Everything was in its place, and the center of the desk was empty except for a closed laptop situated precisely in the center. There were no picture frames, nothing really personal. It was the epitome of an efficient work center.
“That’s my desk. I can’t function with any sort of clutter.”
Lilah nodded. She approved of the cleanness and organization. What hurt her, though, was that the desk said nothing about the officer who worked at it. It could have been a desk for anyone to sit at.
Officer Dawson didn’t stop at her desk. The carpeted floor masked the sound of her heels as she continued to a door near the back of the room. Entering, they saw a large conference table surrounded by several chairs. A laptop was set up on the table.
“Go ahead and take a seat. Next to each other, preferably.”
Lilah and Levi each pulled out a chair and sat down side by side at the table. Officer Dawson fiddled with the laptop for about half a minute before setting it back down in front of them.
“This is a database where we keep images and profiles of known felons. I’d like you to go through and see if any of these individuals match the two you saw today. This is not something that you have to do quickly. Take as much time as you need. If you need a break, or if you need to walk around, we can do that before we get started. Can I get you something to drink?”
Levi and Lilah both requested water. Officer Dawson left to get their drinks.
“Are you okay with this?” Levi asked in a low voice.
“I guess. It’s a little intimidating. Never been in a police station before.”
“Me, neither. Let’s get this done and go home.”
That was easier said than done. It was terrifying how many people were on the database. They clicked on each page. They searched for a full forty-five minutes. Suddenly, Levi stopped.
“That’s her,” he said, staring intently at the image before them. “That’s the woman I saw. Tammy.”
Tammy was short for Tamera. Tamera Dawn Spitts.
“Are you positive that’s the woman you saw?” Officer Dawson marked the name and information on the file.
“Jah, I’m sure. I had a clear view of her, and I watched her for several minutes.”
“I can have her brought in for questioning. Why don’t you keep looking? See if you can find the man she was with.” Officer Dawson went out the door, closing it behind her with a soft click.
Lilah sat next to Levi, watching as he went through page after page. Could he feel the way the tension ramped up when the police officer left? His eyes remained focused on the images before him, but she knew he was aware of her at his side. Several times, he reached out and touched her shoulder or her hand. It was a gesture of comfort. But she had to wonder, was he offering consolation or seeking it?
She knew he’d been through some dark times. He had confronted evil in a way she could never imagine, even after what she’d been through. With every page, his face grew just a little more drawn.
He forwarded to the next page. Not content to just watch anymore, Lilah stretched out her hand and took hold of his left hand, squeezing it tight.
His fingers wrapped around hers. In some ways, it was as intimate and as healing as an embrace.
“I need to turn to the next page.” There was a new huskiness to the texture of his voice.
He probably meant for her to release his hand. Instead, she continued to hold on tight while she brought her other hand up to move the screen forward. They continued that for the next few slides.
“That’s him.”
Lilah leaned forward in her chair.
The man in question was lanky with thick dark hair that fell over his forehead. He had a narrow face with hollowed out cheeks and deep squint lines near his eyes. His eyes—they looked like those of someone who’d be able to kill another.
She was shocked that she’d even had such a thought. Lilah wasn’t one to think ill of those she didn’t know. Although, technically, she knew of him, since she’d overheard his casual conversation with Tammy.
How were these people connected with Jacob? She’d never seen anyone suspicious hanging around the haus. So, if he was meeting them, or involved with them, it must have been during those times when he’d worked late.
The door creaked open and Officer Dawson slipped back into the room. She glanced over at the table.
“I found him,” Levi announced without expression.
Lilah knew better. She could feel the stress strumming through him by the way his grip on her hand tightened. His handsome face was taut.
The fact that they were dealing with hardened criminals willing to kill seemed very real when she saw the face of those hunting them. She could no longer pretend, even in her own mind, that Jacob’s death had been an accident.
Officer Dawson took down the name and information of the man. This time she didn’t ask if he was sure he had the correct person. Going to the door, she called out to one of the other officers and handed the information off.
Returning to the table, she lowered herself into a chair across from Levi and Lilah.
“I thought you should know,” she began, looking directly at Lilah, “I have gotten off the phone with the hospital. Ben and Waneta Hostetler are both making progress. Waneta should be able to return home this weekend. Ben will have to stay a few more days, but he will recover.”
Lilah blinked as her lids burned with tears. Thank You, Gott. “Will she be all right by herself?”
“Don’t you worry about that. We’ve already talked with her children. One of them is coming down with his family to stay in the home for a few days.”
“What about Hannah?” Worry for her sister-in-law gnawed at her.
The officer leaned forward with a smile. Her eyes stared straight into Lilah’s. “We’re not giving up on her. Even as we speak, officers are out looking for her.”
Relieved, she rested back against the seat. She felt Levi’s gaze on her face. Lifting her head, she saw his concern and smiled, letting him know she was fine.
Officer Dawson cleared her throat. Lilah blushed, breaking the contact with Levi. She hadn’t realized she was staring.
Lilah frowned. “I hear a duck quacking.”
She felt ridiculous making such a statement, but it was true.
The officer laughed and drew out her phone. When she answered, the ring was cut off mid-quack. “Hey, Lewis. What you got for me?”
Her grin faded. Intense satisfaction and excitement bloomed on her face.
She hung up and looked directly at Lilah and Levi. “You were right. Your brother had buried something under the floor of the shed. They’re bringing it in now.”
For a moment, Lilah forgot how to breathe. This could be it. She might finally learn why Jacob was killed.
She wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
THIRTEEN
Lilah jumped to her feet, breathing fast. She braced her hands on the table to keep steady. She didn’t feel she could handle this sitting down, yet was afraid she’d slip to the floor while standing up. She was alone and about to face a truth that might shatter her.
She was not ready for it.
A warm hand landed on her shoulder. She bowed her head and lowered her lids, gratitude filling her soul. Levi was here. He would stay with her. In this station full of strangers who didn’t know her brother, he was here and would understand.
An officer entered the room, carrying a dust-covered black metallic box in hands covered with gloves. It had a handle, and on the front, there was a spot to enter a combinati
on code.
She had never seen that box before in her life.
Her shoulders tightened as the officer lowered the box onto the table. Lilah stared at it like it was a venomous snake poised to strike.
“Lilah?” Officer Dawson circled the table to stand on the other side of her. “Have you ever seen this box?”
She shook her head but couldn’t seem to look away from the box. “Nee. I have never seen it before. I didn’t know it existed until today.”
Officer Dawson turned to the other police officer. “Lieutenant Quinn, can I ask how this was found, sir?”
Lilah finally removed her gaze from the box to see the other police officer. Until Officer Dawson had addressed him, she hadn’t realized that he outranked the other police officer.
Lieutenant Quinn gave Lilah a reassuring smile. He must have seen how nervous she was. “Just like the young lady said, when we removed what was left of the shed, we found a compartment under the floor. It was almost like a very small cellar. We didn’t have a key for it, so we broke into it and this box was the only thing there.”
“Have you looked inside it yet?” Was that tiny voice really hers?
Levi rubbed her shoulder.
“No. If you know the combination, we won’t have to break the box. I thought we would try that first.”
Lilah looked doubtfully at the box lying on the table. “I don’t know the combination. Like I said, I didn’t even know Jacob had this box.”
Both police officers frowned and exchanged glances.
“Lilah, is there anything you can think of that your brother might have used? The combination is four numbers,” Officer Dawson entreated.
Lilah hated to disappoint the officer. She had been so kind and patient. But she didn’t have a clue. What four numbers would have been important to her brother? An idea popped into her head.
“Maybe let’s try his wedding date.” She rattled off the month and day when Jacob had married Hannah. Lieutenant Quinn punched the numbers into the keypad. When he attempted to open the box, nothing happened. The combination had not worked.
