Elsa-May added, “That’s when Greville decided to go along with Stacey to get the brother’s money. He was a murderer now and probably felt that he had no choice. It was either go along with what Stacey wanted or turn himself in for killing his brother.”
Kelly shook his head. “I don’t know why Stacey ran such a risk when she admitted to killing her husband. She should’ve stuck to her original story and left the whole thing as a mystery. She’s nothing but a cold-blooded killer. She was in on the plan to kill her own husband, and then covered up the crime that went wrong.”
“I think she knew the story wasn’t ringing true with anyone. There was no intruder and no evidence of one,” Elsa-May said. “She was just biding time so she could slip out of the country.”
Kelly nodded. “She must’ve been sure she wouldn’t go to jail. Now all we have to do is find Greville. He hasn’t used his credit cards or accessed his bank accounts and his cell phone has been switched off. We can’t trace him.”
“I’d say the son was in on it with his mother. He was the one delivering the messages to his uncle, while Stacey stayed at home pretending to be a battered wife.” Ettie nodded her head toward Stacey’s house. “Try next door.”
“What do you mean?” Kelly frowned.
“For Greville. It’s my guess he never left. That’s why he was able to communicate so well with Stacey. He’s hiding there somewhere.”
“Are you saying he was there when the evidence technicians were there?”
“Yes. I’ve no doubt he was there all the time.”
“They would’ve seen him. We combed that place for evidence.”
“Ah, but did anyone look in the attic? You weren’t looking for a missing person back then.”
Kelly’s eyes opened wide. “Wait right there.”
Ettie and Elsa-May rushed to the window and watched Kelly as he stood at the bottom of the next door driveway until four squad cars arrived. The officers hurried out of the cars and surrounded Stacey and Greville’s house.
“Oh, I don’t want to look,” said Elsa-May.
“I hope he comes out of this unharmed.”
“Who? Greville or Detective Kelly?”
“Both.”
Several minutes later, a handcuffed Greville was led outside by Detective Kelly.
Elsa-May slapped Ettie on her shoulder. “You were right, Ettie.”
Ettie rubbed her shoulder. “I don’t know why you’re so surprised.”
The sisters watched until every last police car left.
Ettie moved to sit down on her couch while Elsa-May sat in her usual chair. “It’s the end of an era, Elsa-May.”
“I know. How will you fill in your days now?”
Ettie frowned at her sister. “What?”
“I said, how—”
“I heard you, I just don’t know what you mean.”
“You spent nearly every waking moment looking out that window at the Charmers, studying their every move, that’s all I meant.”
“We’ll get new neighbors. Normal ones, I hope.”
Elsa-May chuckled. “Please don’t stare at them.”
“I won’t. I don’t know how you could say that. I was only watching the Charmers because they were acting oddly. You know me better than that.”
“Let’s not argue about it.”
“Suits me fine. You just keep on with your knitting and leave me be. If I want to look out the window, I will. I’m more of an outdoors person anyway. I don’t like to stay in the house all the livelong day like you do. I like the fresh air on my skin and the sun on my face.”
“Whatever you say. We’ll have to let Ava know what’s happened.”
“We will, but not when Jeremiah’s around.”
It was a week later when Detective Kelly visited them.
“He admitted to the accidental death of his brother. He also admitted there was a plot to recover the money and how he wanted no part of it until he found he’d killed Kevin. Him being in the house the whole time explained why there were no calls in or out from his cell phone. He was smart enough not to use his phone when he was taking cover within the house. And, I can tell you he had no idea what Stacey or her son had planned.”
“No of course he wouldn’t have.”
“So, what you’re saying is, Greville was innocent of any crime except for the crime of covering up his brother’s accidental murder?”
He faced Elsa-May. “Not exactly. He was just about to go overseas and get the brother’s money. They had airline reservations in fake names, the three of them. Greville, Stacey, and Logan, the son.”
“But, he didn’t go through with it.”
“We’ll let the courts decide his fate. Now, Mrs. Smith, I’ve been wondering how you knew Greville was still in the house?”
“Elsa-May’s grandson, who is also my grandnephew, went up into our attic to block off holes where a rodent might have been getting in. I started thinking that a person could hide under a roof—in an attic.”
“Is that it?”
Ettie nodded. “That’s all. Oh, that and the fact that Stacey kept bringing a lot of food to the house. I also think the son had been communicating with him and that’s why Stacey’s son went there that day. As you said, they couldn’t call each other.”
“What’s become of Logan, the son?” Elsa-May asked.
Before the detective answered, Ettie said, “I wonder if Stacey told him about the death of his uncle during the funeral service?”
“No. It was right before the funeral because he seemed upset. We noticed he left early and that’s not the sign of a son grieving for a father. But wait, they never got along.”
“Elsa-May, that was just a ruse to throw people off. That’s why they came here and told us the story of having no children. They thought they could just slip away unnoticed. The only thing that went wrong in Stacey’s plan was that the wrong brother was killed.”
“Well, if you two are quite convinced you know everything there’s no need for me to be here.”
“Are we right?” Elsa-May asked.
“Let’s wind back a few minutes, shall we? You asked me about the son. He was quite happy to give us evidence against everyone for a lighter sentence. It seems what you’ve been told about the son never getting along with the parents and vice versa was partly true, just not completely true.”
“What did he say?” Elsa-May said.
“Nothing that we didn’t already know.”
“All’s well that ends well.” Ettie smiled.
“Now, how about a cup of kaffe?”
Kelly nodded and a smile lit up his face. “I would love one right about now.”
“And, some fruit cake to go with it?” Elsa-May asked cheekily.
The detective threw his head back in horror and wagged his finger at Elsa-May. Then the three of them laughed.
Thank you for reading this box set. I do hope you enjoyed it.
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Samantha Price
ETTIE SMITH AMISH MYSTERIES
Book 1 Secrets Come Home
Book 2 Amish Murder
Book 3 Murder in the Amish Bakery
Book 4 Amish Murder Too Close
Book 5 Amish Quilt Shop Mystery
Book 6 Amish Baby Mystery
Book 7 Betrayed
Book 8: Amish False Witness
Book 9: Amish Barn Murders
Book 10 Amish Christmas Mystery
Book 11 Who Killed Uncle Alfie?
Book 12 Lost: Amish Mystery
Book 13 Amish Cover-Up
Book 14 Amish Crossword Murder
Book 15 Old Promises
Book 16 Amish Mystery at Rose Cottage
Book 17 Amish Mystery: P
lain Secrets
Book 18 Amish Mystery: Fear Thy Neighbor
Book 19 Amish Winter Murder Mystery
Book 20 Amish Scarecrow Murders
Book 21 Threadly Secret
About Samantha Price
USA Today Bestselling author, Samantha Price, wrote stories from a young age, but it wasn't until later in life that she took up writing full time. Formally an artist, she exchanged her paintbrush for the computer and, many best-selling book series later, has never looked back.
Samantha is happiest on her computer lost in the world of her characters. She is best known for the Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries series and the Expectant Amish Widows series.
www.SamanthaPriceAuthor.com
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Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries Box Set 6 Page 38
