by Nancy Mehl
“Me either. Why would John Keystone ask about Glick? Could he possibly know something about his death?”
Sam shook his head as he turned onto the main road. “How could he? He was a baby when Glick died. Besides, he only moved here a year ago, and he barely knew Ben. It doesn’t make sense.”
“He said it had something to do with family business. What could that mean?”
“I don’t know, but he must have been referring to his family. I remember Abel saying Glick had no relatives.”
“So John was talking about his own family,” I repeated. “Glick was a predator. We can’t assume all his victims lived here. John’s interests may have nothing to do with anyone in Harmony.”
“You could be right. But what if he lied? Maybe he was just trying to keep Ida from getting suspicious about his questions.”
“But why? Who is Glick to John Keystone?”
Sam just shrugged.
My brain kept trying to wrap itself around this new twist. What information was John fishing for? I thought back to Saturday. John’s meat market was right across the street from Ruth’s shop. He easily could have slipped in and stolen the vase after Ruth left. But why would he want to cause trouble for me? I was no threat to him.
“Could Mary have overheard me asking about Glick and told John?”
“They’re pretty good friends,” he said slowly. “I think she’d tell him whatever he wanted to know.” He frowned. “But was Mary even in the room when you mentioned Glick?”
“She was there all right. Every time I looked her way, she was shooting me dirty looks.”
He sighed. “Well, Abel’s pretty loud. Even if Mary didn’t hear you, she easily could have heard him. And he mentioned Glick very clearly.”
“I—I don’t know what to make of this.” I stared at him. “Can you ask Mary if she talked to John about me? And if Glick’s name came up? I have to know if John had any reason to take Ruth’s vase.”
“Oh man. You don’t know what you’re asking. Mary would like to take off my head and serve it as the main course for supper. Besides, even if she did mention our conversation, it doesn’t mean John had any reason to frame you for theft.”
I patted his arm. “I know that. I’m just trying to follow the trail to see where it leads—even if it’s a dead end. Talking to Mary might be difficult, but you’ve got to mend fences with her anyway. Surely you’re not planning to avoid the café for the rest of your life.”
“Well, actually that was the plan,” he said with a smirk. “It may be the safest alternative.”
The silly look on his face made me laugh. “I think you can come up with something better than that.”
His only answer was a grunt.
We passed Ben’s house and reached Main Street. I looked at my watch. Four fifteen. We were supposed to meet Levi at four thirty. A little early for supper, but he had something else planned around six. We had just enough time to pick up sandwiches. “You know, even if we find out that John knows of my interest in Glick, we still have no idea what that means.”
“I agree. That’s why we have to confront him.”
“Confront him!” I tried to keep a note of hysteria out of my voice, but I failed miserably. “Since coming to Harmony, I’ve taken a long-held secret and blabbed it to so many people I’m surprised my family skeletons haven’t danced their way onto the front page of the local paper!”
Sam cast a disapproving look my way. “First of all, we don’t actually have a local paper. Secondly, if we did, I hope we could come up with something better than your exploits. Besides, just who have you blabbed to? Me? Sweetie found out on her own. You didn’t tell Emily the truth.”
“But I more or less confirmed her suspicion that Glick was dead. And as far as Sweetie goes, she found my uncle’s letter because of me. Because of my carelessness.”
“Now hold on there,” Sam said sharply. “You weren’t careless. Sweetie was overly nosy. There was no way for you to know her part in all this or that she was actually spying on you. That’s not your fault.”
“I guess you’re right, but it sure feels like this situation is spiraling out of control.”
“This situation has been out of control for thirty years. We’re the ones who need to bring it back under control. You’ve convinced me that discovering the truth is our only hope.”
Of course, he was right. Every moment I’d spent in Harmony had only proved that secrets buried in emotional graves eventually turn deadly. The truth had to come out. I was also well aware of the fact that at the end of my two weeks, if I still didn’t have the answers I needed, I would have to tell my father everything. Now that I knew he hadn’t actually caused Glick’s death, I certainly felt better about that possibility. However, just because I knew my father wasn’t involved didn’t mean the authorities would believe it. As of now, he was the only person we knew about who’d fought Glick the night he died. And then he’d left town. No matter how you sliced it, Dad looked guilty. The only outcome that would absolutely protect my father was handing over the real killer. I prayed God would help Sam and me find him before it was too late.
We were nearing the bakery. “So what are we going to tell Levi?” I said.
“I don’t know. I guess we’ll tell him the truth.”
“Will he keep our conversation secret?”
“If we tell him to, yes.” He pulled up in front of the bakery.
“I hate passing this burden on to someone else.”
“I do, too.” He turned off the engine. “But we’ve got to have more information, and he’s the only person I can think of who might be able to give it to us.” He smiled at me. “Don’t worry. I’ve known him all my life. If there’s anyone in Harmony we can trust, it’s Levi Hoffman. He’s been like a father to me.”
I nodded. “Okay, okay. Guess I’m just getting a little antsy. Seems like we take off down one rabbit trail and another pops up. I just hope this journey we’re on has a satisfying conclusion. We’re dragging a lot of lives behind us.”
Sam reached over and turned my face toward his. “You’ve got to have some faith, Grace. God brought you here for a purpose. He won’t desert us now. The results of this journey, as you called it, aren’t on your beautiful shoulders. They’re on God’s strong ones.”
I gazed into his eyes and saw the sincerity there. “Exactly what I’ve been telling myself. But you might need to remind me several times a day. Think you can live up to the challenge?”
He laughed softly. “I’ll try.” He learned over and kissed me on the forehead. “Now, let’s go pick out some sandwiches.”
We exited Menlos’ a few minutes later, loaded down with sandwiches, pop, and cookies warm from the oven. Mrs. Menlo gave us paper plates, napkins, and plastic utensils—something I hadn’t thought about. She also stuck three pieces of baklava into our sack.
We got back in the truck, and Sam drove while I balanced our meal on my lap. I’d passed the city park on my way into town, but this was my first chance to actually scout it out. We turned onto a dirt road that wound around the small lake. A group of geese glided smoothly across the shimmering crystal water. Several small ducks quacked noisily as a woman and her daughter threw pieces of bread to them.
We passed a lovely stone water fountain surrounded by whitewashed wooden benches. Water gently danced down the four-tiered stone fountain. “It’s beautiful,” I said to Sam. “Looks expensive. Where did it come from?”
He slowed the truck down, backed up, and pulled over to the side of the road. “We’ve still got a few minutes. Get out and I’ll show you something.”
I followed him down a stone path leading to the fountain. It was even more beautiful close up. I peered over the edge of the bottom tier. The floor of the fountain was layered with coins dropped in by people with wishes in their hearts.
“I left my purse back in the truck,” I said. “I want a penny to throw in.”
I turned to go back to the truck when I felt Sam’s hand
on my shoulder. “Here.” He reached into his jean pocket with his other hand. “I’ve got change from the bakery.” He pulled out several coins.
I took a penny, thought a minute, then threw it into the sparkling water.
“You really think that will help?” he asked with a smile.
“I don’t actually wish when I throw coins in a fountain. I pray. I just prayed that God’s will would be done in Harmony—and in my life.”
“Pretty dangerous prayer,” Sam said in a quiet voice, the sound of water splashing lightly in the background.
“How so?”
“What if God’s will isn’t your will?”
“I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”
He cocked his head to one side and raised both eyebrows. “A real prayer of consecration—saying not my will but Yours. It means your life may take a turn you hadn’t planned on. Are you ready to accept that?”
I stared into the water. Had I really meant what I prayed? Or was I trying to fit God into my plan? Doubt flooded my mind. “I—I don’t know. I guess I’ll have to think about that.”
Sam laughed easily, his blond hair blowing gently in the afternoon breeze. “You’d better decide pretty fast. You may have to face that question sooner than you imagine.”
I squinted up at him, not quite sure what he meant. The look in his eyes caused a strange tickling sensation to run down my spine. I swallowed hard. “We—we better get going. Levi will be here soon.”
“I told you I wanted to show you something.” He grabbed my hand and led me around to the other side of the fountain. He pointed to a plaque attached to the front of the structure. It read:
HARMONY, KANSAS
WHERE LOVE REIGNS
1 CORINTHIANS 13:8—LOVE NEVER FAILS
DONATED BY THE MENNONITE WOMEN OF HARMONY
Where Love Reigns 1 Corinthians 13:8—Love Never Fails Donated by the Mennonite Women of Harmony
“Oh my,” I said. “How wonderful.”
“The women I told you about—the ones who got together after Angstadt died? One of them, Kendra McBroom, had a brother who was a stonemason. The women worked hard to save enough money for his materials, and he donated his labor. They gave this fountain to Harmony as a symbol of their prayers, asking God for His blessing on the town. Your grandmother was one of them, you know.”
“I—I didn’t know that. No one ever told me.”
He nodded. “Your grandparents were well loved in this community. I’ve heard stories about them ever since I came to live here. Wish I could have met them.”
“They were very special people,” I agreed. “But I didn’t realize just how special until I came here. Funny how sometimes we see those we love through fresh eyes when we see them through the eyes of others.”
Sam nodded. “I wish people would see my aunt through my eyes. She’s an amazing woman. Just because she comes wrapped in a rough exterior, people sometimes miss how beautiful she really is.”
His voice cracked with emotion, and I reached over and slid my arm through his. We stood for a few moments, watching the water dance from tier to tier.
“Levi just pulled up to the shelter,” Sam said finally. “We’d better get going.”
Sure enough, Levi’s Suburban was parked next to a picnic table at the farthest point of the lake. We got into the truck and drove to where he waited. He waved as we approached. Sam carefully carried the sack from Menlo’s to the table, and within a few minutes I was chomping away on the best chicken salad sandwich I’d ever tasted.
Sam laughed at my sounds of satisfaction. “I take it you approve of your simple supper?”
“Harmony could have restaurants on every street the way people cook here. I’ve never had so many delicious meals.”
Levi nodded and patted his rounded stomach. “I used to be skinny,” he said with a sigh. “But eventually I gave in. Life is too short to miss out on all this great food.”
Sam raised his eyebrows and tried to look serious. “Life might actually last a little longer if you said no once in a while.”
Levi sighed deeply. “But it wouldn’t be as enjoyable.”
I laughed. “We haven’t even told you about the baklava Mrs. Menlo gave us.”
“Oh mercy,” he said. “She makes the best baklava in town.”
“Well, I’ll just add that to my growing list. The best strawberry pie, the best peach cobbler, the best baklava. I see a trend here.” I put my sandwich down and wiped my mouth with my napkin. “When do I get something healthy?”
“Now wait a minute,” Sam said. “We did have fruit salad the other night. That was very healthy.”
“One healthy meal. Great. It’s a wonder I can still fit into my clothes. Beginning immediately, I’m cutting down.”
Levi chuckled. “My goodness, you’re barely there as it is. If you lose any more weight, we won’t be able to see you.”
I reached over and patted him on the arm. “I knew I liked you the first minute I saw you. Now I know why.”
Sam and Levi laughed. The conversation turned to weather forecasts, crops, and harvest. As they exchanged information, I glanced around me. Several families ate together in the lush park. A small playground on the other side of the lake entertained a handful of happy children who shrieked with laughter as they begged their parents to push them higher on the swings or run faster as they clung to the merry-go-round. A man wearing jeans and a T-shirt pushed a little girl, who wore a long dress and a prayer covering on her head, on the swings. And a man with a beard and a large straw hat played ball with a father and his son who both wore jeans and T-shirts. My eyes wandered over to the fountain erected by the praying women of Harmony, and I got a lump in my throat. God had so clearly answered their prayer. Could what Sam said be true? Would my foray into the past actually bring healing to this community? Or would it tear a fabric in the peace that hung over this place like a comforting quilt? I silently cried out to God, asking Him to bind me to the prayers of my grandmother and the other women who had lifted up this town to Him. Show me the truth, Lord. Use this situation to help Harmony.
“Did you hear me, Grace?” Sam’s voice cut through my thoughts.
“I–I’m sorry. What did you say?”
He frowned at me. “You okay?”
“Yes. Sorry. I just drifted away for a minute. This really is a beautiful park. I guess it’s owned by the city?”
“Actually, the church owns it,” Levi said. “They donated the land for the city’s use. Both churches worked together to put in the facilities and the playground equipment. And they maintain it together.”
“That’s amazing,” I said. “Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of churches that cooperate like that.”
Levi shrugged. “I guess Harmony is unusual.”
“You said something to Sweetie about not being a churchgoer,” I said. “Yet I understand you used to be an elder at Bethel. I don’t mean to be nosy but...”
“But what happened?” Levi sat his sandwich down and wiped his mouth. “Let’s just say that I’ve had all the religion I can stand.”
“Jesus felt the same way,” I said gently. “He told us to strive for...”
“I know. Relationship not religion. Abel has told me that more than once.” He rubbed his hands together and smiled at me. “Maybe one of these days I’ll give in and go back to church. I have to admit that Abel and Marcus Jensen aren’t anything like Amil Angstadt.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry. Amil Angstadt was the old bishop at Bethel.”
“I—I know who he was, Levi. He’s one of the reasons Sam and I asked to talk to you this evening.”
His eyebrows shot up as he looked at Sam. “I figured you two had some specific reason to meet with me. Why in heaven’s name would you want to talk about Bishop Angstadt? That man’s dead and buried. Best to leave him where he is.”
“Levi,” Sam said slowly, glancing around to make sure no one was near enough to hear us, “something odd has happened. Grace and I need yo
ur help. We want to ask you some questions about your old bishop. And about a man who worked for him. Jacob Glick.”
Levi’s eyes widened. “Jacob Glick? My goodness. I haven’t heard that name in many, many years. Why would you want to know about him? He left Harmony a long time ago. And good riddance, by the way.”
Sam reached over and knitted his fingers through mine. “We have something to tell you, Levi. But first we need you to promise you’ll keep it between us.”
“You can tell me anything—you know that, Sam.” Levi stared at us quizzically.
Sam shook his head. “You need to consider our request more carefully than that. What we’re going to share involves a very serious crime.”
