When the sisters were at their front door, they stopped and looked back at Kelly who was now talking with Stacey just outside her house. “Do you think he thinks we did it, Elsa-May?”
“Don’t be crazy. Of course, not.” Elsa-May wiped her boots on the outside mat.
“Then why did he say we haven’t always gotten along? What was the point of mentioning that?”
“He was making a statement. It’s true—we haven’t always gotten along with Greville or Stacey.”
Ettie shook her head. “What a dreadful way for him to go. Killed by robbers.”
“We’ll wait until the police leave and we’ll go back and stay with Stacey. She must be dreadfully upset.”
“Jah, that’s true. Okay, good idea.” Ettie was impressed with her sister’s compassion and wished she’d thought of staying there with Stacey. She’d been too busy trying to work out what had happened rather than thinking to feel empathy for Stacey. “It’s so unexpected.”
“I know. Wipe your feet,” Elsa-May said as she stepped through the doorway.
“I already did,” Ettie replied as she followed.
After a few cups of hot tea, Elsa-May and Ettie walked out of their house to see Stacey’s place flooded with onlookers, press and photographers. Kelly’s car had gone and so had the officers who had first arrived on the scene. Only one police car remained.
“It’s the newspapers, Ettie.”
“That’s dreadful. Why can’t they leave people alone? It's still the middle of the night.”
“I guess they have a job to do.”
Ettie shook her head. “That’s no excuse to harass people.”
They looked on as they stood on their porch. There were two police officers keeping the crowd back from the house. “We can’t go over there until they go,” Elsa-May said. “They wouldn’t let us in, I’d imagine.”
“No, they wouldn’t.”
“We should’ve insisted on staying with poor Stacey.”
“Jah, maybe.” Ettie bit her lip imagining how Stacey would feel right at this moment. “Too late for that now. Seems like they’re all waiting to see Stacey.” Ettie pulled on Elsa-May’s sleeve. “Why don’t we go through the backyard?”
“What do you mean?”
“We’ll take down a few fence palings and knock on her backdoor, or her side door. She must have one. Everyone has more than one door in their house.”
“You’re right, Ettie, and I remember there was a door in the sunroom. The room we … the only room we were allowed in after the police got there. The door was off to the back corner.”
“Perfect.”
They closed Snowy in the house. Ettie picked up a large metal hooked tool that Jeremiah had recently left behind and managed to use it to pull down three palings. Ettie slipped through nicely, but Elsa-May got stuck. From the other side of the fence, Ettie got Elsa-May to stand back while she gave another paling an almighty kick, dislodging it from the nails. With a four-paling gap, Elsa-May was able to get through.
“You’ll have to nail these back up,” Elsa-May said as soon as she was on the Charmers’ side of the fence.
“I have hammer and nails in the haus.”
“Good.”
They made their way around the side of the house to the sunroom door and Elsa-May knocked on it.
“Who is it?” Stacey asked.
“It’s just us, from next door,” Elsa-May said just loud enough for Stacey to hear.
Stacey opened the door wide to let them through. “He was dead. They’ve taken him away.”
Elsa-May shook her head. “We’re so sorry.”
“Yes, we are. Do you have someone coming to stay with you?”
“I don’t have anyone. I have no children.” Stacey blinked rapidly looking like she was holding back tears.
“Is an officer with you?”
“Only one. There’s only one staying in the house making sure I don’t contaminate the scene.”
“Would you like us to sit with you for a while?” Elsa-May asked.
“That would be nice.”
While Stacey and Elsa-May sat, Ettie peeped around the corner to see a police officer standing in front of the room where Greville had been. There was yellow crime tape across the doorway.
When Ettie sat down with them, Stacey said, “They’re coming back with a crime-scene team, the detective told me.”
“What did the police say?” Ettie asked.
“They said there have been break-ins around here. At least two in the past couple of days. They broke the frame of the front door just like this one to get in.” A tear trickled down her cheek, and she repeated what she’d told them. “The police will only let me in this room because they said the rest of the house is a crime scene. They asked me to leave for a day or two but I’ve got nowhere to go.”
“Are you sure there’s not someone you can call?” Ettie asked.
“There’s only my sister. She lives an hour away and we haven’t always gotten along.”
“Have you called her?” Elsa-May asked.
“No.”
Ettie suggested, “Why don’t you call her and tell her what happened at least?”
Stacey nodded. “I’ll call her first thing in the morning.”
Elsa-May leaned over and patted Stacey on her shoulder. “It would be good if you could stay with her for a few days.”
Stacey sighed. “There’ll have to be a funeral and everything. You're right, Elsa-May, I’ll ask her if I can stay.”
Elsa-May nodded. “That’s best. Call her now and let her know what happened, yes?”
“I don’t want to bother her.” Cautiously, Stacey picked up her cell phone from the center of the table. “Do you think I should?”
“Yes.” Both sisters nodded for emphasis.
Looking down at her phone, she mumbled, “I’ll send her a message and let her know what happened. That way, if she’s asleep I won’t wake her.” Stacey pressed some buttons on her phone and then placed it down. “Why would they kill him?”
“Tell us exactly what happened,” Ettie said. “What do you remember?”
“We were in bed, Greville heard noises and told me someone was in the house and to stay where I was. I begged him not to go out there. He never listened to me. Then I heard scuffling sounds, there was a thud and then I heard a car driving away. I ran out to the living room and saw my dear Greville on the floor, dead.”
“Where did the tie come from?” Ettie asked.
“Tie?”
Elsa-May nodded. “He had a tie around his neck.”
“I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about and I don’t know why you didn’t hear that car.”
“I was asleep,” Ettie said. “Elsa-May woke me when she heard you scream.”
“The police will question you. That’s what he said. It’s your friend, isn’t it? I’ve seen him at your house on many occasions. Detective Keldron, he said his name was, or something like that.”
Ettie chuckled. “That’s Kelly not Keldron.”
“Oh, he spoke quickly and I knew it started with a K. I had a school teacher once called Keldron and that’s what I got mixed up.”
“We do know that detective. He’s not a friend though,” Elsa-May was quick to point out.
Stacey leaned forward and placed a hand over Elsa-May’s. “Can you say you heard a car, Elsa-May? Could you do me that favor?”
“No, because I didn’t hear one.” Elsa-May pulled her hand away and gave Stacey a little pat on her shoulder. “I was asleep when you screamed and that’s what woke me. No matter how many times you ask me, I’m not going to say I heard something that I didn’t.”
Ettie asked, “Why would you want her to say that? What’s so important about hearing a car?”
“I just want the police to believe me.”
“Of course they will,” Elsa-May said. “Why wouldn’t they?”
“I don’t know. I guess you’re right.” Stacey rubbed her head. “I’m just so
upset I’m not thinking properly. I’ve never been good with authority figures, like the police, they scare me.”
Elsa-May patted her shoulder. “Just say what happened and you’ll be fine.”
Stacey nodded.
Ettie suggested, “Why don’t you spend the night with us? We’ve only got the couch, but you might feel better than staying here sitting in your sunroom and it seems like your sister is asleep since she hasn’t called back.”
“Would you mind?”
“That’ll be fine,” Elsa-May said. “We can tell that policeman in the next room where you’ll be if you’re needed for anything.”
“Thank you. I’ll just change into some clothes.” When she walked out of the room, the policeman on duty wouldn’t let her go back into her bedroom. “But that’s where my clothes are,” the sisters heard Stacey say.
“I’m sorry, ma'am. I can’t let you go anywhere but that room where you were.”
Ettie walked over to Stacey. “Just come as you are and we’ve got some lovely warm blankets over there for you. You’ll feel better after a rest.”
Stacey glared at the officer, and then said to Ettie, “Thank you.” She turned back to the officer and told him, “I’ll just be next door.”
The young officer nodded, seeming uninterested where she went as long as she didn’t go where she wasn’t supposed.
“What happens now?” Elsa-May asked him.
“I’ve just been told to stay here and make sure no one goes anywhere they shouldn’t. The house is a crime scene.”
The sisters ushered Stacey out of the house and through her backyard, through the broken fence and into their home.
Chapter 4
After only two hours sleep, Ettie woke with a start. The memories of what had happened at Stacey’s house flooded through her mind. She always knew there was something odd about the Charmers and what happened to Greville was more than a home invasion resulting in his murder. Ettie was determined to get to the bottom of it and there was no time like the present. Too many things didn’t add up.
Once she flung off her quilt, she got out of bed and changed into her day clothes. Carefully, she walked out of her room so the floorboards didn’t creak, and she listened for sounds of anyone who might be awake.
The first thing Ettie noticed was Elsa-May’s door was closed, and when she made her way into the living room, she saw Stacey sitting on a chair looking out the window. Stacey sat in exactly the same spot where Ettie had spent many an hour studying Stacey and Greville’s movements. It was odd to see her neighbor now in that exact same spot.
Stacey looked around. “Morning, Ettie.”
“Hello. What’s happening out there?”
“There are so many people outside. They look like a lot of little ants and there are people standing around looking. I guess they live around here. You and Elsa-May are the only neighbors I’ve met since I’ve lived here. They all keep to themselves. A policeman came to the door and said I should be allowed back into my house this afternoon.”
“Oh, I didn’t hear a knock.”
“He didn’t. I saw him walking up to the door early this morning and I opened it before he knocked.”
“Well, that explains that.” Ettie walked forward and looked out the window over the top of Stacey’s head just in time to see another car stop in front. A man holding a camera jumped out. “It’s more of those reporters.”
“I didn’t think of that. It’ll be in the paper. Oh, this is dreadful. Why can’t people just leave me alone?”
“How are you feeling?” Ettie sat down on the couch nearby.
“Wretched and I can’t believe all this is happening. It doesn’t seem real. Greville’s gone. He’s gone.”
Ettie was sorry for her. “It’s a dreadful shock.”
Stacey jumped up. “I’m going to tell all those people to leave me alone.”
Ettie stretched out her hand. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. That’s what they want, a good story and to see someone upset. It’s best to stay away from them.”
“My sister should be coming soon, I hope. I told her in my message to come as soon as she could in the morning. I hope I can stay with her.”
“Do you feel like something to eat?” Ettie asked. “Then you can call your sister again when you feel better if she’s not here by then.”
Stacey held her head. “I couldn’t possibly eat.”
Elsa-May walked out of her bedroom and must’ve overheard. “You have to keep your strength up, Stacey.”
“Oh, Elsa-May, the newspaper’s come to write a story.” Stacey put her hand to her heart and a tear trickled down her cheek.
“You don’t have to say anything to them. I’m sure the police would rather you didn’t.”
Stacey shook her head. “I don’t want to say anything unless they can help me find the person responsible for hurting Greville.”
Elsa-May stood between Ettie and Stacey. “Don’t talk to them unless Detective Kelly thinks you should make an official statement of sorts.”
“That sounds like a good idea.” She looked back out the window. “Oh, that’s her now, my sister. I should get to her before she gets close to that crowd and I’ll explain what’s happened.”
“Come back with your sister and have something to eat with us,” Elsa-May said.
“I can’t eat, thanks anyway. If my sister will have me, I’ll go and stay with her.”
“Okay.”
The sisters walked her to the door and once she was outside, they hurried to look out the window at what was unfolding. The crowd was staring at the house where the murder had happened as though someone was inside and would soon come out. No one was looking at Ettie and Elsa-May’s house next door to see who was coming and going.
Both Ettie and Elsa-May looked out the window at Stacey’s sister stepping out of a late model white car. The woman was similar in appearance to Stacey and looked a little older.
“I do hope she can stay with her sister. She needs family around her at this time,” Ettie said.
“I’m going to make pancakes. Want some?”
Ettie put her hand over her heart. “Oh, where’s Snowy?”
“Still asleep, why?”
“The fence. I have to fix it. I’ll do that right now.” Ettie took the nails and hammer from the cupboard where they kept the tools and headed out to the backyard. In the dark, she’d managed to pull out four palings without harm to them or the rest of the fence. In no time, Ettie put enough nails in them to keep them solid and upright. When she stepped back, she noticed they were a little crooked, but she didn’t mind. All that mattered was keeping Snowy contained in their yard. She headed back inside and replaced the hammer and the rest of the nails, hoping she’d never need them again—at least not for the fence.
“Wash your hands, Ettie,” yelled Elsa-May from the kitchen.
“I will. Give me a chance, would you?” As Ettie walked to the bathroom, she was nearly knocked off her feet by Snowy heading out into the back yard.
“Ettie, do you want pancakes? You never answered me.”
“Jah, of course.”
“How many?”
“I don’t know. You choose. Two, three or four.” Ettie washed and dried her hands before she went to the kitchen where Elsa-May was singing a hymn.
“Ettie!” The shrill call came from Elsa-May causing Ettie to jump. “How many pancakes?”
“I’m right here. No need to yell.”
Elsa-May swung around. “Oh, I thought you were still in the bathroom.”
“No. I’ve been here waiting for breakfast. I already said I don’t care how many.”
“How many?”
Ettie gave up. “Three please.”
“Coming up. Is Stacey coming back today?”
“I’m not sure because she didn’t say. It seems tragedy has reunited the sisters.” Ettie suddenly realized how hungry she was. “How long until they’re ready?”
“Two minutes.”
/> Ettie pushed herself to her feet. “I’ll just see what’s happening outside.” Snowy rushed into the kitchen nearly knocking her off her feet again on her way to the window. “Watch that dog, Elsa-May. He's all wound up this morning.”
“Don’t mind her, Snowy,” Ettie heard Elsa-May say just as she reached the window.
“Pancakes are ready! Pull yourself away from the spectacle and come back into the kitchen.”
Ettie had a last look out the window at the crowd next door and noticed Stacey and her sister were sitting in the car.
Once Ettie sat down, Elsa-May asked, “What’s happening out there?”
“Nothing, just the same, and that’s all I saw because you ordered me to the kitchen. Where is the breakfast?”
“One more minute.”
“I’ll make the tea.”
When the pancakes were done, Elsa-May placed a plate down for herself and one for her sister, then she slid the steaming pancakes onto their plates. “It’s just awful.”
“Denke for this,” Ettie said. “It’s horrible to think something like that happened so close to home.”
“I haven’t heard of any robberies happening around here. Surely we would’ve known. Someone would’ve said something to us. I talk to most people in the street as I’m walking Snowy. They would’ve mentioned something ... I would’ve thought.”
“I agree, but Detective Kelly would know best what crimes happen around the area.” Ettie poured maple syrup over her pancakes.
“Do you believe her?” Elsa-May took a sip of hot tea.
“Nee, do you?”
“Nee. That’s not surprising. Something’s not right, and I can't buy her story. Why would she ask me to pretend I heard a car?” Elsa-May shook her head.
“I thought that was odd too. Maybe she killed him,” Ettie suggested.
“By strangling?” Elsa-May asked.
“Maybe not. He could’ve died some other way. There could’ve been a bullet hole we didn’t see.”
Elsa-May grimaced. “It looked like he’d been choked with that tie around his neck and he did look like he’d been strangled. Not that I’ve seen too much of that kind of thing. I’m not an expert by any means.”
Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries Box Set 6 Page 27
