While Andrew was showing the girlfriend the paintings, Elsa-May pulled the detective aside and whispered in his ear.
The detective stood behind the girl and asked, “Tell me, Lacey, were you at Frank’s haus the day that he died?”
“No, she wasn’t there. She waited in the car for me,” Andrew answered for her.
“I’m asking this young lady, not you, sir.” The detective looked back at Lacey. “Well, young lady?”
“No, like he said, I was in the car.”
“In that case you wouldn’t mind giving me a DNA sample would you?”
Lacey’s face stiffened. “No, I’m not going to waste my time with such a thing.” Lacey looked at Andrew. “Tell them, Andrew.”
“How long will it take, detective?” Andrew adjusted his trousers. “We’ve got lunch reservations.”
“I’ll have someone here in ten minutes.” The detective stepped outside and made a call on his cell phone.
“Is Lacey a suspect?” Andrew asked when the detective came back inside.
“Not especially, but everyone is giving DNA samples and we haven’t got one from her yet. I could get a warrant, if need be.”
Andrew slumped into the couch and wiped the sweat off his forehead. “We can wait ten minutes. You don’t mind if we inconvenience you for ten more minutes do you, Wil?” Andrew asked.
“Nee, of course not.”
“I’ll make us some tea,” Emma said and hurried to the kitchen with Elsa-May close behind her.
“What do you think?” Elsa-May whispered to Emma.
“She does have the long, pale hair and that red flake we found could be that nail varnish she was wearing,” Emma whispered back. “She was after the thing of value that old Frank had spoken of. She could have come back after Andrew ransacked the place and tried to get it out of the old man, where the valuables were.”
“Jah, that makes sense because he was poisoned with a lethal dose of sodium pentothal.” On seeing the blank look on Emma’s face, Elsa-May said, “Truth serum.”
“When did you find that out?”
“Crowley told me as soon as he found out. I didn’t put two and two together at the time. Now, it makes sense.”
“What about all his money disappearing from the bank? Do you think Bob could’ve had anything to do with it?” Emma asked.
“I’d hate to think so. I don’t think Bob would’ve done such a thing. He’s always been honest in his dealings,” Elsa-May said.
When they brought the tea into the living room, Andrew and the detective were speaking to each other on the couch.
“I’ve admitted to looking through the house, but I didn’t kill him and I didn’t ransack the place,” Andrew said.
The detective said, “You’ve told the police all this in your statement, haven’t you?”
Andrew nodded.
The detective continued, “Did you see Bob Pluver?”
“I was parked up the road with Lacey later that day and we saw him go past in the buggy with Bob Pluver.”
“Then where did you go?” the detective asked.
“Lacey had a hair appointment…”
Lacey interrupted as she bounded to her feet. “I don’t want to wait for the DNA people. I already told you that I’ve never been to the haus.”
“I could get a warrant; it’ll only take me a couple of hours.” The detective’s tone was firm.
Lacey walked toward the door. “Come on, Andrew. Let’s go.”
“We should just wait and get it over with, Lacey. He said he could get a warrant and then you’ll just have to go to the bother of doing it another time.”
Lacey’s voice rose. “I said that I don’t want to stay, Andrew.”
Andrew looked shocked as if he had never heard Lacey raise her voice. “Whatever’s gotten into you, just stay? It won’t take long.”
“We found some hair and some other material we can identify. The hair was long and blonde. Is there anything you’d like to tell me, Lacey? We can also check with the hairdresser to see if you kept that appointment.”
Lacey looked at the floor. “It was an accident. I didn’t mean to kill him. I just wanted him to tell me where the valuables were. I gave him truth serum, only a bit. He must’ve had an allergic reaction or something.”
Andrew jumped to his feet. “You did what?”
Lacey began to cry and ran to Andrew and put her head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t give him much at all.”
Andrew whispered to her. “Don’t say anything until we get a lawyer.”
“Where did you get the sodium pentothal from?” The detective asked.
Lacey shrugged and raised her head slightly. “I’m not saying any else.”
“One more thing I should tell you, Andrew.” Detective Crowley said.
“And what’s that?” Andrew asked.
“The will you have in your possession has been superseded. He wrote a new will the day that he died. I’m afraid that you and your brother are no longer the benefactors.”
“No. It must be a fake will. It can’t be real.”
“He had a lawyer witness it. I can assure you it is real.” Detective Crowley said.
Lacey jumped back from Andrew. “You idiot, Andrew. Can’t you do anything right?”
“Shut up, Lacey. Clive and I will contest it. Who’s the benefactor?”
“Bob Pluver is the sole benefactor. I wouldn’t waste your time or your money contesting anything, not after you both terrorized the old man and finally killed him.”
Lacey hurried to the door. “Let’s go Andrew.”
The detective stepped in front of her. “Lacey, you have to come with me.”
Sirens sounded and everyone stayed still. Seconds later, two police officers ran into the house.
Emma remembered she saw the detective on his phone minutes before and realized he had called for backup.
The detective pointed to Lacey as he spoke to the officers. “You can take this one back to the station.”
As the officers led Lacey away, Andrew said, “I’ll follow them in my car, sweetie.”
The detective sat down.
“Tea?” Elsa-May said as she held up the teapot.
The detective grunted. “I’ll need something stronger than tea, but I suppose tea will do for now.”
“Did I hear you right? Bob inherited everything?” Emma asked.
“It appears that Bob was preparing to have the old man move into a small haus that he’d built on to his own. He called it a daadi haus. You Amish look after your own, I’m told.” He smirked at Emma.
Emma smiled back. “That’s right; we do.”
Wil said, “His sons hadn’t visited him in years so I don’t see that they would’ve taken him in when he got too feeble to look after himself. Bob was doing a gut thing.”
“I knew Bob wouldn’t have done anything bad,” Maureen said.
Emma signaled to Bailey to meet her in the kitchen.
“Bailey, have you thought of how upset Silvie will be when she knows that this was all not real – you intending to join the community?”
“Yes, I have and it’s upset me from the start. I feel such a pull toward her that I couldn’t bring myself to stay away from her.”
Emma was annoyed with Bailey for pursuing a relationship with Silvie in the first place when he knew that he would not be staying. “She took quite a liking to you and she has never shown interest in any other man since her husband died.”
“I’ll go straight to her place and tell her, as soon as I can. I’m sorry to deceive you and Wil too, but that’s the nature of my business, I guess.”
Emma folded her arms. “Maybe you should get into a different business then.”
Bailey nodded. “Excuse me, I’ll have to arrange to take the paintings away.”
“Once again, Elsa-May, thank you for your assistance,” the detective said then quickly drank the rest of his tea. “I must be going – paperwork.”
“Detective, I must ask. Was the hair that we found useable for the DNA test, did it have the root follicle attached?”
Detective Crowley grinned, “They weren’t able to use it, but we don’t need it now that we have a confession.”
* * *
Silvie sat at the kitchen table and took a moment to enjoy the peace and quiet in the haus now that Sabrina had taken the buggy into town. A car pulling up in her driveway disturbed her peace. As she opened her front door, she saw Bailey getting out of a car.
“Bailey, why are you driving a car?”
Bailey hurried toward her. “Silvie, can we speak inside?”
“Jah, of course.”
Bailey led her by the hand to her couch, sat her down, and said, “I’ve a lot of things to tell you. You just missed all the action at Wil’s haus.”
“I did? What happened?”
He filled Silvie in on what happened with the paintings, Lacey’s confession and Bob inheriting Frank’s estate.
Bailey reached for Silvie’s hand and held it in his. “I’ve always been fascinated by the Amish. I’m a Christian and I have admired the faith and strength of the Amish for a long time.”
“What are you trying to say? Have you changed your mind about joining us?”
“I’m afraid I’ve deceived you. I am a detective – undercover, and I’ve been on the trail of stolen paintings. My real name is Bailey Rivers.”
Silvie tilted her head slightly to one side. “So you’re a detective and you don’t want to be Amish?” Silvie pushed her fingertips to her forehead. “I can’t believe what you’re saying.”
Bailey nodded. “I’m interested in becoming Amish now, but at the start I admit I was deceiving everyone. Elsa-May and Ettie are my grandfather’s sisters. He left the Amish when he was fourteen and had no contact with his familye for a good twenty years after that. It was Elsa-May who persuaded the bishop to let me in to do my job.”
Silvie pulled her hand away from his. “So that’s how you did a gut job in your lies, you knew all the right things to say from your Amish relations. You didn’t need to act so keen to be Amish. I’ve been deceived”
“Please don’t be like that Silvie. It was my job.”
Silvie turned her body away from his. “You should get another job.” I can’t let him see me with tears in my eyes, she thought.
He stood up and sat down on her other side. “Don’t cry, Silvie, or you’ll break my heart.”
Silvie cried more at his words. “Would you ever join us?”
“I would, I think I would, only being a detective is part of who I am, a big part of who I am. I can’t be Amish and a detective.”
“It’s just a job, Bailey. A job shouldn’t define who you are,” Silvie turned her face away from him once more.
“I can’t explain it to you, Silvie. I’m sorry.” Bailey put his hand gently on Silvie’s cheek and turned her head to face him. “Silvie, what if I come back and join the Amish, for real?”
Silvie sniffed a couple of times. “You’d do that?”
Bailey stared intently into her eyes. “I’m seriously thinking on it, but I have to find the stolen paintings first. I can’t let them get the better of me.”
“How long will that take?”
He dropped his eyes from hers. “It’s taken me nine years already.”
“How close are you?”
Bailey shook his head keeping his gaze to the floor. “I headed down a wrong path thinking that Frank or his father had stolen some paintings. Now, I’ll have to back track and pick up the trail again.”
Silvie rose to her feet. “I hope you come back, but for now, it would be better if you left.”
“I understand.” Bailey stood up, walked toward the door and then turned around. “I’ll always be thinking of you, Silvie.”
“Don’t say anything, Bailey. Just go.” Silvie turned her back until she heard Bailey shut her front door. She turned around to check that he had gone then all strength left her legs and she sank to the floor. As tears came to her eyes, she knew that her mudder was right about love. It was all too hatt, and she was better off without it. Why hadn’t she listened to her mudder?
Chapter 12.
For if a man know not how to rule his own house,
how shall he take care of the church of God?
1 Timothy 3:5
As the widows sat around munching cookies, Maureen said, “I knew Bob wouldn’t have been involved in anything bad. Besides, he didn’t even need the money that Frank left him.”
“Jah, he seems to be doing quite well for himself,” Emma said.
Silvie and Ettie giggled.
“What are you two laughing at?” Maureen asked.
“We think you’re growing fond of Bob,” Ettie said.
“I’ve found out this week that there’s more to Bob than we know. Just because he’s quiet and doesn’t speak to anyone people think that he’s simple. He’s not simple; it’s just that when he doesn’t have anything to say, he doesn’t speak.”
Elsa-May said, “I know a few people who could learn from him.”
The widows laughed. They all knew a few folk in the community who liked to gossip a little too much.
Maureen said, “What about you, Silvie? What about Bailey?”
Silvie shrugged her shoulders. “I haven’t heard from him.”
Maureen put her hand on Silvie’s shoulder. “Ach, it’s only been a week, Silvie. I’m sure you’ll hear from him. I know he likes you.”
Silvie clenched her jaw. “Love’s too much pain. I’m better off without it.”
“Nonsense,” Elsa-May said in her usual booming voice. “Love is precious and if you find it, you need to treasure it. It’s just like a plant; starts with the seed, you cover it with the warm earth, water it and look after it.”
Emma thought on Elsa-May’s words. Maybe listening to Wil prattle on about his silly inventions would be the same as watering the seed. Emma knew she showed her love by cooking the things that he liked, but maybe she could do other things like listen to him and pay attention when he spoke on things that mattered to him.
“What do you mean, Elsa-May?” Silvie said, “I’m hardly in a position to do anything. I just have to wait until he comes back to the community – if he ever comes back.”
“Silvie’s right, Elsa-May. She just has to wait and if he comes back, he does, and if he doesn’t, then it was never meant to be and she has to forget him,” Maureen said.
“Nonsense,” Elsa-May said. “I think Silvie should pay the man a little visit. Remind him what he’s missing.”
Silvie’s hand flew to her mouth. “Really? Do you really think I should visit him?”
“Why not? I would,” Elsa-May said.
Silvie swung around to face Emma. “What do you think, Emma?”
Emma wished she hadn’t been put on the spot. If she agreed with Elsa-May and things went wrong, Silvie might blame her. On the other hand, things could go well and Bailey might come back and join the community. “I can’t say. I’m sorry, Silvie. You just have to listen to your heart. Maybe forget all those things your mudder told you about love; she sounds as though she was a very unhappy woman.”
“What do you say, Maureen?” Silvie asked.
“I think you should pray about it, then listen to Gott’s promptings in your heart. It’s your decision.”
“Nee, I’m totally against you going out and throwing yourself at the mann,” Ettie said with unusual decisiveness.
Elsa-May gave a little chuckle. “Only you can decide, Silvie.”
Silvie nodded. “Denke for all your opinions. I’ll pray about it and have a think on it.”
Elsa-May clapped her hands. “Okay, back to business. Lacey has been arrested for the murder of Frank.”
Maureen interrupted. “What about Andrew. Was he charged with anything?”
“Nee, he wasn’t. Bob is keeping old Frank’s haus and he’s going to rent it out.”
“Maybe Sabrina
might want to rent it from him.” Silvie giggled.
“Ach, is your schweschder still visiting?” Maureen asked.
“Jah, I’m afraid so. I guess I don’t mind a bit of company. She does talk about Wil a lot though.” Silvie turned to Emma. “Is everything okay with you and Wil?”
Emma forced a smile. “Jah, everything is just perfect.”
“When are you going to marry the man?” Ettie asked.
“It’s not been long enough.” Emma was referring to the fact that it had only been just over six months from the death of her husband, Levi.
“I’d marry him straight away. What if he starts looking around? You know what these young single girls are like,” Ettie said.
All eyes were on Emma waiting for a reply. She licked her dry lips. “I just need to wait until it feels right.”
“How did we get back on to love when we were speaking on the case?” Elsa-May asked.
“Sorry, Elsa-May. I think it was when Bailey’s name was mentioned.” Silvie responded.
Elsa-May shook her head. “The paintings were original and worth a great deal. Bob is most likely the wealthiest Amish man ever.”
All eyes turned to Maureen.
“Why’s everyone looking at me?” Maureen asked.
The widows giggled.
“I think I will visit Bailey,” Silvie said.
“Gut,” Elsa-May said while she reached for a chocolate fudge bar.
* * *
On Emma’s way home, she passed Wil’s haus and saw his lights still on. Wondering if she should speak to him, she pulled off the road and into his driveway. Nee it’s too late at night; it’s not proper, she decided. She was just about to turn her buggy around when Wil opened his front door.
“Emma?”
“Jah, Wil, it’s me.”
“It’s late.”
“I know, I was just returning from visiting.”
Wil walked over to her buggy and stood at the door. “Emma, I was going to call and see you tomorrow. I’m sorry; I was too hard on you. I just wanted more of your attention. Maybe it’s me who’s the selfish one.”
Hidden (Amish Romance Mystery) (Amish Secret Widows' Society Book 2) Page 8