“Good idea. You get the pie ready to take to the neighbors while I go down to the phone and call Ava to see if she’s free tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
Chapter 16
When Ettie got back to the house after arranging their trip with Ava, Elsa-May had the pie wrapped in a tea towel. “Are you all set to go?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
The two sisters closed the front door behind them and walked to the house next door. As they approach the front door, Ettie said, “It’s very quiet.”
“That must be how they like it.”
Ettie stepped back a little way and allowed Elsa-May to knock on the door. She knocked three times and then waited a good four minutes before she knocked again. Then a woman that Ettie had already identified as the other new owner, apparently married to the bald man, slowly opened the door. She was a small skinny woman with curly dark hair and brown eyes.
“Yes?” she asked as she looked them up and down. There was no hint of a smile on her face.
“Hello, I’m Elsa-May and this is my sister Ettie. We live next door.”
“The dog barking house?”
“Well, your husband visited us recently and mentioned that our dog was barking. We’re very sorry about that.”
She nodded. “As long as it doesn’t happen again.”
Ettie nudged her sister in the ribs, prompting Elsa-May to hold the pie out. “We baked you a pie.”
When her eyes fell to the pie, her face softened and she opened the door a little wider. “How kind. Would you like to come inside?”
“We don’t mind if we do,” Ettie said and then bit her tongue. It was a strange thing to say, but the woman didn’t seem to notice. At least she was smiling now.
“I’m Stacey and my husband’s Greville. How about I make us a cup of hot tea?”
Ettie was worried that the husband would come back and throw them out. “We can’t stay long, but thank you for asking.”
“Can you at least sit for a moment?”
“Of course,” Elsa-May said as she followed Ettie through the door.
Stacey led them through to the living room.
Once they were seated, Ettie asked, “What brings you to our nice little town?”
“We needed a change of scene and somewhere quieter.”
“It is quiet around here. I’m sorry about the dog barking,” Ettie said.
“It didn’t really bother me. He only barked a few times, and he is a dog, after all. You have to forgive my husband. He’s like a bear with a sore head sometimes.”
“Is he at work now?” Ettie asked, hoping he wasn’t in the house somewhere.
“Yes. He finishes at six.”
Ettie’s eyes traveled to the clock on the wall to see that it was already five thirty. They would have to leave soon to be sure they were gone before he got home. “And is it just the two of you living here?” Ettie asked.
“Yes, just the two of us. We don’t have any children, sadly. And is it just the two of you living next door?” Stacey asked.
“That’s right. Ettie and I are widows. Both of our husbands died many years ago and we sold our farms and moved in together.”
“I’ve never met any Amish people before. This place is on the edge of the Amish community and we thought it would be peaceful and more out of the way from the hustle and bustle that we’re trying to escape from.”
“It is fairly quiet I suppose. We have a few other Amish people living on the street. Only one or two of us.”
“Three households on the street, including ourselves,” Elsa-May corrected Ettie.
“You’re very kind to bring me pie. I haven’t seen much kindness over the last few years.”
“Really? Why is that?” Elsa-May asked.
“My husband doesn’t like it when I leave the house or have friends visit. That’s why my friends have stopped coming to see me.”
“What is his reasoning for that?” Elsa-May’s head tilted to one side.
“He’s always been jealous and suspicious of me. I hope you didn’t hear him yelling last night at a late hour?”
“If it was late, we would’ve both been asleep,” Ettie said, feeling bad for the woman. Did she mean her husband was yelling at her?
“Oh,” the woman looked down, appearing quite sad and embarrassed.
Ettie felt sorry for her, being married to such an angry man. And then she noticed Elsa-May glance at the clock. Then Ettie became worried that Greville might come home early and see the two of them there. He wouldn’t be happy with them being there if his wife wasn’t even allowed to have her own friends visit. “We should go,” Ettie said.
“Already?” Stacey asked.
“Yes.” Elsa-May nodded.
“Thanks for the pie and thanks for coming to see me.”
“If you ever need anything we’re not far away,” Elsa-May said.
A smile met Stacey’s lips and she nodded.
Ettie rose to her feet. “I’m glad you’ve got over that migraine.”
Stacey frowned slightly, and then said, “Oh yes, thank you. I do get them from time to time.”
When they reached the door, Greville loomed before them. Ettie jumped with fright at the sight of him. He glared at them and then offered his wife a filthy stare. He stepped back out of the doorway to allow them to pass.
“Our neighbors just brought us a pie,” they heard Stacey say as he shut the front door with a thud. He hadn’t even given Stacey a proper chance to say goodbye to them.
“We don’t need pie. We need them to stop that dog yapping. Was it yapping again today?”
“No, not all.”
Elsa-May had stopped still to listen, and Ettie took her arm and pulled her away. “That was horrible, Ettie. Did you see how cranky he looked with us?”
“I did. It was dreadful. He was even crankier with poor Stacey. He’ll probably make her throw the pie out now.” Ettie put her arm through Elsa-May’s and together they walked down the driveway.
“How old do you think she is? I'd guess only in her early forties.”
“Or a very well preserved fifty,” Ettie said.
“It also occurred to me that the husband asked her if the dog had been barking again, which means that she must’ve told her husband about the barking in the first place. It’s my guess she told him she was sick and the dog was barking all day and made her feel worse.”
“What’s your point, Elsa-May?”
“Well, it would be no wonder he was angry with us.”
“Ah, so you think she told him lies about Snowy barking?”
Elsa-May nodded. “It’s possible. Or at least exaggerations.”
“For attention?”
They pushed their front door open. “Maybe,” Elsa-May said, “She just gave me an odd feeling, and Granville, or Greville, or whatever his name was, scared me.”
“Hmm. Not the neighbors we were hoping for.”
“Not at all. I think I’ll put the kettle on before I prepare the evening meal.”
“Good. I feel like a hot tea right now since we didn’t get one at our neighbors’ place.
Elsa-May placed the teakettle on the stove and sat down at the kitchen table in front of Ettie. “I’m afraid there’s nothing we can really do to help Stacey.”
“I know. Not when we have Myra’s problems to resolve.”
Elsa-May nodded. “That’s true, exactly what I was thinking.”
Chapter 17
Ettie and Elsa-May had just sat down after washing up the dinner dishes when there was a knock on the door. Ettie’s heart nearly stopped. “I hope that’s not Greville.” Snowy barked and Ettie immediately picked him up and closed him in Elsa-May’s bedroom.
“I doubt it’s Greville. If he had anything to say he would’ve said it earlier.” Elsa-May got up to open the door. It was Detective Kelly. “Come in and sit down. Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“No thank you.” He looked over at Ettie and she knew imme
diately that something was wrong.
“What is it?” Ettie’s hand flew to cover her mouth.
“I’m afraid I’ve had to arrest your daughter, Mrs. Smith.”
Ettie moved her hand to her chest. “Why?”
“There’s a matter of the poison and now she also has motive.”
“But how … how did she have the motive? She told us she was only left the crystal collection. Was there more?”
“Why don’t we sit?” Elsa-May said, guiding her sister to the couch.
Once they were all seated, Kelly explained, “In that crystal collection was the most valuable thing of all. It was an uncut rare blue diamond.” He added, “Gem quality, internally flawless, I’m told.”
Ettie and Elsa-May stared at one another, and then Ettie asked, “Myra didn’t know?”
“That’s what she claims, but why wouldn’t she know if she knew his crystal collection? She claims she was a good friend and knew the man very well.” Detective Kelly wiggled his eyebrows as if to let them know Myra’s relationship with the deceased might have been more than client and practitioner.
“Where is Myra at the moment?” Elsa-May asked.
“In custody.”
Ettie gasped when the reality hit her. “In jail?”
He nodded. “She should get bail in the morning.”
“This is just awful,” Ettie said. “Can I talk to her or see her?”
“Not until she’s out on bail. Don’t worry, she already has a lawyer, and she’ll go before the judge in the morning. The judge will decide whether she may get bailed out or not. I would be very surprised if she was denied bail since there are no direct witnesses to the crime.”
“She knew nothing about that crystal. She visited us directly after the reading of the will and was so pleased that she wasn’t left anything of monetary value.”
“Pleased she wasn’t left anything?” he asked.
“Yes, and that way she thought people would realize she wasn’t guilty. She didn’t think the crystal collection was of much value.”
Kelly pressed his lips together. “It sounds very much like something a guilty person would say.”
“But she wouldn’t have had a motive,” Elsa-May said. “because she didn’t know about the will or the diamond crystal.”
“According to the wife, Ian and Sparkle were having an affair. Jealousy is a strong motive.”
“They weren’t having an affair. And she’s the one who pointed the finger at Myra in the first place. She lied about Myra and Ian plotting to kill her. It’s all lies. Can’t you see that?”
He scratched his cheek. “How do you know?”
“Because Myra said so,” Ettie said.
“Does she always tell you the truth?”
“Yes, she does. I raised her well. She might be a lot of things but she’s not a liar.”
The detective chuckled. “You can’t have raised her as well as you’d hoped, I’m sure.”
Elsa-May butted in. “Why do you say that?”
“Because she’d be Amish and married with eight children by now, wouldn’t she?” Kelly smirked and appeared pleased with himself.
Under the circumstances, Ettie thought it was a cruel thing to say. “Everyone has to follow their own individual path. Myra has followed hers and that has been her choice.”
“She’s no killer,” Elsa-May said.
Ettie was pleased with her sister for backing her up so vehemently. “Where did you say Myra is right now? In your station’s jail or somewhere else?”
“At my station, but don’t even try to see her. It’s forbidden for anyone to visit after an arrest and before appearing before the judge and requesting bail. Except, those arrested are allowed to talk to their lawyers, of course. Oh, and your friend got a few stamps.”
“Our friend?”
“Alice, the housekeeper. She inherited a meagre stamp collection.” Detective Kelly put a comforting hand on Ettie’s shoulder. “Put it out of your mind and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” He got up and walked to the door.
Ettie stood and followed him. “How can I put something like that out of my mind?”
Elsa-May slipped her arm through Ettie’s. Ettie felt sick to her stomach and couldn’t even look at the detective who had arrested her daughter on a flimsy charge. When he had gone, Elsa-May closed the door.
Ettie let Snowy out of the bedroom and he scampered out the door sniffing all over the living room. Snowy had a liking for Kelly, but the feeling was not mutual. Elsa-May led her through to the kitchen and Ettie sat down at the table while Elsa-May filled the teakettle with water.
“What you need is a cup of good strong tea and some cookies.”
“What I need is a good sleep and I doubt I’ll get that tonight.”
“Neither of us will.”
Nothing would stop Elsa-May from sleeping. Ettie knew she’d be snoring loudly in no time at all, keeping both herself and Snowy awake. “Myra didn’t know about that crystal. It was obvious the way she was telling us that she was relieved that she only got his crystal collection. Had she known there was something valuable in there, she wouldn’t have been so happy.”
“I know. We both know Myra didn’t do it and now we have to somehow convince the detective of that.”
“We need some kind of a plan.”
“Something will come to us, don’t worry,” Elsa-May said.
Chapter 18
Early the next morning they opened the door to Ava. She was to be driving them to talk to the detective that morning.
“Ava, we’re so sorry. So much has gone on and we forgot you were coming today.”
“You don’t need to see the detective today?” she asked.
“He was here last night,” Ettie said.
They sat Ava down in the kitchen and Ettie gave her the update on Myra and her arrest.
“I’m so sorry, that’s awful.”
“Would you like kaffe?”
“Nee denke.”
“Tea?”
“Jah, please, weak and black.”
While Elsa-May set about making the tea, Ettie moved closer to Ava and stared into her face. “Pale, dark circles under your eyes and instead of coffee, you’re having tea... You’re pregnant!”
Ava covered her mouth and giggled.
Elsa-May abruptly put the teakettle back down on the stove and turned around. “Are you?”
Ava nodded.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Ettie asked.
“Well I … I wanted you to guess.”
Ettie leaned over and hugged Ava.
“You can’t keep anything from us, Ava. You should know that by now, what with Ettie’s keen nose for finding things out.” Elsa-May then embraced Ava. “You’re finally expecting after all these years of marriage. How exciting!”
“It’s only been about two years, hasn’t it?” Ettie asked.
“Jah.” Ava nodded.
“Jeremiah must be out of his mind with joy.”
“He is. We told his parents last night, and we were going to have you over for dinner, but I couldn’t wait to tell you. I tried to give enough hints to you last time I was here, but … can you come for dinner on the last Friday night of this month?”
“Jah, of course we can. This boppli will be my newest great grandchild, and your great grandniece, Ettie.”
“I’m four and a half months along. Early on, I had morning sickness, but I’m fine now, just very tired. Jeremiah and I don’t care whether it’s a girl or a boy as long as …”
“Everything will go well, Ava. Don’t worry about a thing.”
She nodded. “I know it.”
Elsa-May moved over and placed a hand over Ava’s stomach.
Ava squirmed and laughed. “There’s nothing to feel yet. It’s too early. I can feel movements, but I don’t think you will.”
“I’m just saying hello.” Elsa-May grinned.
Ettie and Elsa-May passed a few relaxing hours with Ava and soon after she left, My
ra arrived. Ettie and Elsa-May watched her walk up the steps.
“You got bail?” Ettie asked.
“Obviously.”
“Come in.” As soon as she walked in the door, Elsa-May said, “Kelly told us about the diamond.”
Myra shook her head. “I never knew about that diamond. That wasn’t any part of the crystal collection that I knew about. It was there in the list that the lawyer gave me on the day he read out Ian's will, but I didn’t know it was going to end up being so valuable.”
“Where is it now?”
“The police have it, along with the other crystals. Now they have my entire collection and Ian’s. Even my own precious personal crystals that I would always have beside me when I sleep at night. What’s your plan to get me off? I hope you have one.”
Ettie wished she had a plan to get her daughter off, but right now things didn’t look too good. “I don’t know yet. Who do you think did it?”
“The wife.”
“Second or first?” Elsa-May asked.
Myra shot back, “The second one, Tiffany. I’ve always known she did it. Detective Kelly got in touch with Ronald and he’s flying back tonight.”
“That is good news,” Ettie said.
“I don’t know. I didn’t want him to get mixed up in all this.”
“Why not?” Ettie asked.
“Because it’s such a dreadful business. He was a detective for so many years and now with me, his girlfriend, being accused of murder, it must be horrible for him.”
“Have you spoken to him about it?”
“Briefly. This morning when he was waiting at the airport to board the plane. He said he’d sort it all out once he got back. I hope there's something he can do.”
“There will be. He can investigate the wife and find holes in her story and that kind of thing.”
Elsa-May agreed, “Jah, and we can’t do things like that on our own.”
“We need to find out who got into your house and put the poison there. It would’ve been good if you had some kind of surveillance security system.”
“I don’t.”
“What about your neighbors?” Elsa-May asked.
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