Amish Undercover

by Samantha Price

  “Yes, I got all of it. He accused them of giving him a forgery and asked them to explain themselves. They said they stole the one in the gallery and that’s all they knew.”

  “Is that enough for you to arrest someone?” Emma hoped it was, because she was about to tell Bailey she did not want to go back there the next day.

  “We pulled the two men over as they left Mr. Starks’ house and took them in for questioning.”

  “What, the two men who were there today?”

  Bailey nodded. “Detective Crowley interviewed them and told them that Richard Starks had given him their names and had said that they were the ones who had committed that robbery in 1990.”

  “Mr. Starks didn’t, did he?”

  “No, he didn’t, but the important thing is that those two men think that Mr. Starks gave their names to the police. They admitted to everything and said that Starks was the one who had organized the whole thing. Now we’re organizing a warrant for Starks’ arrest. I have to get back there straight after I take you home.”

  Emma bit her fingernails all the way home. She wondered if she should have been a part of it all. Something seemed wrong. Maybe she should have listened to Wil and not gotten involved. Bailey was going to join the Amish anyway to be with Silvie so what did it matter if the paintings were found or not? “So, I don’t have to go back there tomorrow?”

  Bailey glanced over at her. “No, Emma. Your help was invaluable.”

  Emma wondered whether Bailey could live a quiet Amish life away from all the excitement of his current life. Then she remembered how happy Bailey and Silvie always looked when they were together.

  Chapter 13.

  If we confess our sins,

  he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,

  and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

  1 John 1:9

  Maureen took the usual midday meal over to the safe-house. Marvin, who signaled for her to keep quiet, met Maureen at the door. When she got closer, he said, “Peters is asleep.”

  Marvin took the basket of food from Maureen and placed it in the kitchen, and Maureen followed close behind. “How long has he been asleep for?”

  “A while now.”

  Maureen unpacked the food. She had made a mixture of salads and some cold cuts with plenty of crusty, fresh bread rolls.

  “Those look great, Maureen,” Marvin said as Maureen put his lunch onto a dinner plate.

  Maureen smiled. “It’s nice having someone to cook for.”

  “You’re not married?”

  “I was once, but he died.”

  Marvin looked away from Maureen. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “He was sick for a long time, so I knew it was coming. In a way, it was a blessing that he was sick for so long because I had time to prepare myself.”

  Marvin bit into a hunk of crusty bread. After he swallowed, he said, “You don’t know what people have been through until you start talking to ‘em. I just found out today that Peters was an orphan and brought up with some relatives who beat him – daily.”

  “That’s awful,” Maureen said as she put some food on a plate for herself. “What’s next for you when you finish up here?”

  “I don’t know what I’ll do for money when I get out of here and go back home.” Marvin rubbed his cheek with his palm while he clutched the bread roll in his other hand. “There’s a lot of pressure on me; I’ve got two kids, the wife doesn’t work. I’ve got no idea what she’s been living on since I’ve been inside.”

  “You’re an artist though. Don’t people buy your paintings?”

  Marvin scoffed. “It’s a hard road. Doesn’t matter how good you are, you have to have a name for yourself before you get decent money. I had some gallery opens, but as you can see…” Marvin looked down at himself. “I don’t look like the average artist. I only started making money when I started painting fakes.”

  Maureen nodded. “Couldn’t you do that then? Bailey said it’s not a crime unless you pretend that the paintings are authentic.”

  “I could, but there are a lot of people who do that kind of thing. I suppose that’d give me enough to live on, but not enough to really get ahead, know what I mean?”

  “What sort of things did you use to paint when you had your own showings?”

  “Landscapes are my passion.”

  “There’s some beautiful countryside around here. Why don’t I take you in the buggy and show you some of the sites that you could paint.”

  Marvin glanced over at the sleeping detective. “I’m not supposed to go anywhere. Would we be quick?”

  “We’d be about an hour.”

  “Can’t hurt. Bailey’s not due back for a while. I’ll leave a note telling him I’ve gone with you.”

  When they had both finished the midday meal, Marvin scribbled off a note and left it on his bed. If Peters ever woke up and went looking for him, he’d find the note.

  * * *

  After Richard Starks had been taken into custody, Bailey went back to the safe-house only to find that Marvin was missing. Bailey hit his head with his palm. “Why would he do this? We had a deal.”

  Peters was outside the house looking around for Marvin when Bailey drove up to the house. “I’m sorry, I fell asleep and when I woke up he was gone.”

  Bailey did not know what to say. He could not blame Peters, after all, neither one of them expected Marvin would walk away from the deal only to land back in prison once he was found.

  Bailey decided to check Marvin’s room to see if his clothes were missing when he saw the note on Marvin’s bed. He heaved a sigh of relief and in the next moment he heard the clip clop of the buggy coming back to the house. He headed out to meet them.

  “Marvin, what the devil did you think you were doing? I nearly called the police because you violated our agreement.”

  “Sorry ‘bout that, but I left a note and I was with Maureen. I didn’t think I’d be violating nuthin’. You can’t expect to keep me cooped up for weeks.”

  Bailey was just about to remind him that it was better than being in prison when Maureen spoke.

  “Don’t blame him, Bailey; it was all my idea. I just wanted to show him the countryside. He paints landscapes you know and there’s such pretty sites around these parts that I wanted to show him.”

  “Maureen, he won’t be doing any kind of painting if he lands back in jail.” Bailey turned his attention to Marvin. “Now get back into the house with you and this time stay there. No second chances.”

  Marvin got out of the buggy and nodded at Bailey. “Is it alright if I use those left over paints?”

  “There all yours, we won’t be needing anything else.”

  Marvin’s face brightened and he turned around and smiled at Maureen.

  “I’ll be back with the midday meal again tomorrow. You boys can’t live on take-out.”

  “Thanks, Maureen, but no more driving him anywhere unless I say. Understood?” Bailey’s tone was firm.

  “Agreed,” Maureen said before she drove the buggy back up the driveway.

  * * *

  When Maureen came with the midday meal the next day, Peters told her that a search warrant was obtained for Richard Stark’s house. The police had searched the house and they recovered five stolen paintings and three paintings that were possibly stolen. One of the paintings was from the theft in 1990.

  “Well, you boys will be leaving soon,” Maureen said to Peters, as she looked around for Marvin. She was disappointed that she would have no one to cook for.

  “Come in ‘ere and see what I’ve done, Maureen,” Marvin called out from the kitchen.

  Maureen took her parcel of food with her into the kitchen and was surprised when she saw that Marvin had completed three paintings. “Marvin, they’re beautiful and how did you do them so fast?”

  “I haven’t slept.”

  Maureen looked from one painting to another. “I’m simply amazed. Mind you, I know nothing about art, nothing at al
l. I don’t see why these wouldn’t sell. And you painted them so quickly.”

  “Nothin’ else to do here, is there?”

  “Did you do this all from memory?” Maureen recognized the creek she took him to the previous day and also recognized the old red barn down by the Millers’ old grossdaddi’s haus.

  “Had to do it from memory; can’t risk going out to look at them again, can I?”

  Maureen laughed. “I suppose not.”

  * * *

  The very next day Richard Starks had gotten out on bail and was back in his house. Emma knew that by not going back there that they would know that she was the one who the police had planted there, but she could not go back. Even if she wanted to go back, Bailey had told her that it was far too dangerous. Emma hoped that she would never meet the butler or Mr. Starks again. Hopefully, they would not recognize her in her Amish clothing if she did happen to see them again.

  Detective Crowley, the local police detective who had helped the widows many times in the past, had worked with Bailey and had people keeping an eye on the comings and goings of Starks’ house.

  Chapter 14.

  And he shall judge the world in righteousness,

  he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

  Psalm 9:8

  Bailey kept his word and joined the Amish. The bishop placed Bailey with the Fuller family. They were a family with five young children and Jack Fuller ran a dairy farm. Bailey decided that until he worked out what to do and while he was staying with the Fullers he would work on their farm. The work was grueling with early starts and late finishes. If there was one thing Bailey knew he would not do – that was farming.

  Bailey received a letter and opened it eagerly wondering who it could be from. It was from Marvin. Bailey smiled as he read the letter. Marvin and his wife were now regularly attending church with their boys. Marvin was busily painting for an art show and his wife had gotten a job and was supporting them until Marvin’s painting career took off. There was an endnote to the letter where Marvin asked Bailey to let Maureen know that he was painting copies of old Masters on the side for extra money, but he was selling them as copies.

  Bailey folded the letter up. Somehow, Gott had reached through Maureen and himself to touch Marvin’s heart. Bailey knew that Marvin was taking his second chance seriously.

  Months after Bailey had returned to the community, he had taken all the instructions that newcomers have to take, and was ready to get baptized. He sat with Silvie in the bishop’s living room.

  “It’s a lifetime commitment,” the bishop said.

  “I know it is. This is what I want out of life. Firstly, I will admit that it was Silvie I was coming here for, but now I’ve seen how Gott works to restore peoples’ lives and hearts, I want to be a part of it.”

  The bishop’s face was serious. “We live as one, and not one is above another.”

  Bailey nodded. “As soon as I get baptized, I would like to marry Silvie.”

  The bishop looked at Silvie with a glint in his eye. “This meets your approval?”

  Silvie smiled at Bailey. “Very much so.”

  “In four weeks you can be baptized after the gathering. That gathering will be at Peter Byler’s haus, so we can baptize you in the creek that runs along his property line.”

  “Denke.” Living with the Fuller familye had helped Bailey along with his Pennsylvania Dutch. He already knew a little from his grandfather and Silvie had taught him some more.

  The bishop continued, “The gathering after that, we can announce your wedding.”

  Bailey and Silvie looked into each other’s eyes. Bailey felt as though he were a teenager, as he blinked back a tear.

  “Now be off with you, looking at each other like that.” A smile tugged at the corners of the bishop’s mouth.

  Bailey and Silvie stood up and left the bishop’s house.

  * * *

  “Well, Bailey’s case is closed. Well, part of his case. He got one of the stolen paintings he was after returned, and they found other stolen paintings in Richard Starks’ house. He’s going to trial this week,” Elsa-May said as the five widowed friends sat in Ettie and Elsa-May’s living room.

  “I never did find out what that key opened.” Emma bit a fingernail in frustration.

  “Emma, you’re biting your nails again,” Elsa-May said. “Who knows? It might have had nothing at all to do with the paintings.”

  Emma put her hand in her lap clutching it in her other hand. One day she would stop biting her nails.

  “We achieved what we set out to do again,” Ettie said with a grin on her face.

  “Well, you’d have to be happy now that you are betrothed to Bailey, Silvie, wouldn’t you?” Elsa-May asked.

  “Jah, can’t you tell? I can’t stop smiling,” Silvie said. “Now, it’s you who’s left, Maureen.” Silvie quickly put her hand to her mouth. “Ach, I mean, you two don’t want to be married again, do you?” She looked at the elderly Ettie and then at Elsa-May.

  Both Elsa-May and Ettie shook their heads.

  “Not now,” Elsa-May said as she concentrated on transferring her knitting onto different sized knitting needles.

  Maureen breathed out heavily. “I’ve told myself it won’t happen for me. I’m not pretty like Emma or Silvie. Menner just aren’t coming my way.”

  “You are attractive, Maureen. Anyway, it’s the heart that matters, the inside of a person,” Silvie said.

  Maureen blinked hard. “Jah, that’s what they say, but menner always go to the pretty girls first. And look at my teeth, there’s a gap in the front. I’ve always hated my teeth.”

  “Maureen, your teeth are pretty. They’re white and evenly spaced.” Emma hoped that Maureen believed her words, as she was saying what she truly believed. Although Amish say that it’s the inside that counts, everyone knew that it was often looks that drew people together at first.

  “I’m going to pray to Gott that a gut mann comes your way, Maureen,” Ettie said, bringing her teacup to her lips.

  “Denke, Ettie, but I’m happy as I am. Don’t go praying for me, pray for something useful like for Emma and Silvie to have bopplis.”

  Emma and Silvie looked at each other and giggled.

  “If it’s Gott’s will, it’ll happen,” Emma said thinking of the long waiting and the hoping she had already been through when she was married to Levi. She found it easier not to think about it at all. The only time she thought about it was when she held a brand new boppli. The last boppli she’d held was Lizzy Esh’s newborn. She held him close and breathed in the newborn scent from the top of his sweet baldhead. One day, just one day, she might hold her very own in her arms.

  “Gott gave you a mouth to ask for what you want,” Ettie said. “Have you ever thought that it might be Gott’s will for you to ask Him for something? My old daed used to tell me to talk to Gott as if He were your worldly father, or as if He were a friend you could talk to.”

  Without looking up from her knitting, Elsa-May said, “Jah, he did say that. I’d forgotten.”

  “And what do you want, Ettie?” Maureen asked.

  Ettie smiled. “I’m perfectly content as I am. I’ve got gut friends and I’ve got my dog, Ginger, and that’s all I need.”

  Emma looked at the old dog slumped on the floor. It had never moved once all night. She wondered if he was dead. She stared at his belly and finally saw it rise and fall. How terrible it would have been if the dog had died just while Ettie was saying how happy she was to have him. But still, how much longer could the old dog live? Emma dare not ask the age of the dog. She guessed by the look of Ginger that he had lived a lot longer than any dog had lived before.

  The widows had gone on to speak of other things, but to Emma their voices were a rumble in the background as she considered the things for which she was grateful. She was grateful for Wil, for her fat cat Growler, and for the home that Wil had surprised her with. She was also grateful for her wonderful group of friends.
Sometimes they got irritable with each other and had a cross word here and there, but they were like familye. She silently thanked Gott for all with which He had blessed her.

  * * *

  Bailey took a little break from the flies, the cow manure and looking at cows’ udders to sit on a bale of hay in the sun behind Jack Fuller’s red barn.

  He could see how God had arranged his whole life so he would come and join the Amish. Everything finally made sense; God had taught him many things along the way. He’d soon be married to Silvie and looking after her and starting a family.

  One thing that stood in his way of being content was the thing that he feared the most - the darkness of his memories.

  The Scripture that he had heard at Wilhelm and Grace’s wedding played over in his mind. For all have sinned and fallen short. Bailey thought on those words. Did that mean that all men were sinners, and a small sin was just as bad as a large sin in God’s eyes? Was one sin as bad as another, or were there different degrees of sin? It had always been so important to Bailey to do the right thing and to follow the rules.

  A chill ran down Bailey’s spine as he remembered the verse in Matthew: For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

  Marvin had seen straight through Bailey. Marvin knew that Bailey thought that he was better because he was a law-abiding citizen. Bailey knew that God was changing his heart and teaching him things. He picked up a piece of straw and popped the end in his mouth.

  A tear came to his eye and Bailey let it fall down his cheek. Even though he had seen some terrible things, God had blessed him. He’d blessed him with a close-knit community and with Silvie. He knew he could never go back to the life he once knew, a life of judging others, a life where one is above another, a life where someone is put down to make another feel superior.