by Amy Lillard
Edie and Kappy found seats between the other two people waiting. Kappy wished she had brought a leash for Elmer. At least then she could place him on the floor like the other dogs in the waiting area.
“What exactly are we waiting for?” Kappy leaned close to Edie as she asked. The puppy squirmed against her as her motion decreased his space.
“Our turn . . . ?” Edie replied, tapping the records form with the end of the ballpoint pen.
“No, why are we waiting here? Isn’t there a way to find out what we need without taking Elmer back there?”
Upon hearing his name, the puppy wiggled his way up and started licking the underside of Kappy’s chin.
Edie frowned. “They’re not going to hurt him. Besides, he needs the rest of his shots. He’s the only one that Mamm didn’t bring on her last visit.”
“Okay. If you’re sure.”
Kappy shifted in her seat and repositioned Elmer back into her lap as Edie studied her. “You like him, don’t you?”
“Who? El—the dog?”
Edie laughed, shook her head, and went back to the form.
“So what if I do like him?” Truth be told, she more than liked him. And she had never had a dog before.
Thankfully, Edie didn’t answer. She filled out the form and returned it to the lady behind the counter.
Kappy kept her hold on Elmer and looked around the office. “It doesn’t look like the office of a killer,” she whispered to Edie.
“What does the office of a killer look like, exactly?” Edie whispered in return.
Kappy glanced around once more. “Not like this.”
A large fish tank filled with colorful fish sat against the far wall. Cheap paneled walls were covered with notices on how to protect your dog from heartworms and other diseases. A bulletin board hung next to the reception desk and contained pictures of lost cats as well as reader notices and special requests. The linoleum floor showed more than its fair share of wear, but the place was clean and as far as Kappy was concerned that was very important.
“I’m just saying a man who cares about animals this much . . .” She shook her head, unable to find the words she needed. “I just can’t see that sort of person being capable of murder.” Her voice rose a little louder than she had intended. The two people in the waiting area looked up and frowned as if they weren’t sure they had heard what they thought they had heard, then they went back to their magazines.
“Human beings,” Edie said, “whether they love animals or not, are capable of all sorts of evil acts. They just have to be pushed too far. That’s all it takes.”
“That’s the thing.” Kappy’s voice returned to a whisper. “What’s his motive? What would push him that far?”
Edie sniffed. “I don’t know yet.” She reached toward a magazine sitting on the chair next to her. She flipped it open and pretended to study it even though the magazine was upside down.
“You don’t know because there’s not one.” Kappy sat back in her chair. In her lap, Elmer had started to tremble. “Maybe we should just take him home.”
“Wasn’t it your idea to come here?”
Kappy shrugged. “I changed my mind.”
“Elmer King,” the nurse or receptionist or whatever she was called from the doorway leading to the exam rooms.
Edie elbowed Kappy in the side. “That’s you.”
“Oh.” She jumped to her feet, still cradling Elmer close.
Beside her, Edie stood as well.
“This way,” the woman said.
They followed her down a short hallway past two doors before entering a small exam room.
“The doctor will be in momentarily.”
The receptionist laid her clipboard on the small counter, then shut the door as she left.
Like the waiting area, the exam room was filled with more posters on caring for pets, as well as ones showing all the bones in a dog’s body.
Elmer whined to get down and Kappy obliged him, setting him on the floor so he could snoop around and sniff all the new smells. She took a step closer to the poster examining the bones. Interesting stuff. And she wondered, had she not been Amish, maybe she would have been an animal doctor. Or maybe even a scientist.
Edie propped her hands on her hips and looked around the room. “What exactly are we trying to find?”
Kappy checked to see where Elmer had wandered off to, then turned her attention to Edie. “I don’t know. Just anything, I guess. Something suspicious maybe.” She gave a small shrug.
Edie gave the room another once-over. “Nothing suspicious here.”
Perhaps this trip was just a waste. It wasn’t like the vet would have an appointment book that said Today I killed Ruth Peachey.
“I say we get Elmer his shots, then head back home,” Edie said.
All Kappy could do was nod in agreement.
A small knock sounded at the door a split second before it opened. Elmer jumped as if he’d been goosed, turning around and barking at this newcomer.
Kappy rushed across the room and scooped him into her arms as a very old man shuffled into the room. He wore a white coat with DR. BREWER stitched above the pocket. Underneath he wore a yellow shirt and brown slacks. This was the doctor? Carlton Brewer had to be nearly as old as Nathaniel and Ephraim.
“Well, hello there—” He looked down at the clipboard the receptionist had left on the counter. “—Elmer.”
In her arms Elmer squirmed to get down, barking the whole while.
“I’m Dr. Brewer.” His voice was frail and thin, his hands trembling as he reached out in greeting.
Kappy managed to contain Elmer in one arm and shake Dr. Brewer’s hand. His grip was weak, soft. Jah, their trip was definitely a waste. There was no way this man could have killed Ruth Peachey. Kappy wasn’t sure that he could lift more than an ink pen.
“Let me just take a look here.” He took Elmer from Kappy and set him on the table. She caught Edie’s glance over his bent head as he listened to Elmer’s heart. Edie’s expression reflected her own. They had hit another dead end.
“Is this one of Ruth Peachey’s dogs?” He looked from Edie to Kappy then back.
A moment of panic flashed across Edie’s face, then she took a step forward. “Um . . . why do you ask?”
The doctor rolled Elmer over, pointing to the writing on his belly just off to one side near his right leg. “He’s got a tattoo.”
Busted. And they thought they could get in and get out without anyone knowing why they had come.
“Well . . . yeah,” Edie said, obviously stalling. “She’s my mother. Uh, I mean she was.” Clouds of sadness floated across Edie’s expression, then she pulled herself together. “This is my friend and she wants to buy this dog, and so I wanted to make sure that everything was okay with the dog, right?” She turned her sharp gaze to Kappy.
“Jah, that’s right.” Kappy flashed the doctor a quick smile.
If the doctor was suspicious, he didn’t let on. “That was a sad, sad situation with Ruth.” He shook his head. “There was none better than Ruth Peachey.”
Edie mumbled something inconsequential, but it seemed to satisfy the doctor. He finished his exam, declared Elmer was in perfect health and once he got the last of his shots would be ready to go live with his new owner. He shook their hands once again, called for the assistant to come finish the vaccinations, and bid them both a farewell.
“Well, that was a waste,” Edie said as they gathered their things and prepared to leave the exam room.
“Look at it this way: If we hadn’t come, we would forever be wondering.”
“That’s true,” Edie agreed.
Kappy gathered Elmer into her arms once more and together they walked to the reception desk. The woman they had spoken with earlier already had their chart and was tallying the cost of today’s visit.
“I suppose Dr. Brewer has been practicing for a long time,” Kappy said. She wasn’t sure what made her voice the words, and once they were out
she wished she could call them back. She had all but called Dr. Brewer ancient.
“Over fifty years,” the receptionist said with a quick smile. “I’m surprised he comes in anymore at all.”
“It would be a shame if he retired,” Kappy murmured. He might be as old as dirt, but he seemed like a nice man. He obviously loved animals, handling Elmer with the utmost care and offering him a treat after the exam was complete.
“What would you do then? Would he sell the clinic?” Edie asked.
The receptionist chuckled, her ponytail swinging from side to side as she shook her head. “No, the young Dr. Carlton Brewer would take over.”
Chapter 8
“Wait,” Edie said. “There’s a young Dr. Brewer?”
The receptionist smiled. Kappy noted that the name on her badge said BONNIE. “That’s right.”
“And he’s a veterinarian as well?” Edie pressed.
“Oh, yes. He took over the practice several years ago. The elder Dr. Brewer only comes in on Mondays and Friday afternoons.”
“And the young Dr. Brewer?” Edie asked.
“He works the rest of the time.” She smiled and pushed their statement across the counter toward the two of them.
Kappy could only give it a cursory glance. She was too busy assessing the information she had just received. Ruth was killed on a Tuesday, and if she had an appointment with a Dr. Brewer, chances were it was the young Dr. Brewer and not the fragile man they had just met.
“Does the doctor make house calls?” Edie asked.
Kappy juggled Elmer in her arms as Edie took the necessary bills out of her wallet. She pushed the money across the counter toward the receptionist.
“Just the young doctor.” She smiled at them. “Let me get you a receipt.”
Kappy nodded, then caught Edie’s stare.
Now what do we do? Edie mouthed.
“Is by chance the young doctor here today?” Kappy asked.
Bonnie counted out her change and shook her head. “Not today. But he does live around back if you ever need him for anything else.”
Kappy wasn’t sure if anything else also included a murder investigation, but she really wanted to talk to the young Dr. Carlton Brewer.
“Thank you.” Edie flashed her a quick smile, and together she and Kappy walked Elmer out to the car.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Edie asked.
“I am if you’re thinking we should go around the back and see if we can find the young Dr. Brewer.” With any luck he would be outside mowing his grass or even watering his garden or something where they could get a good look at him. Maybe even talk to him for just a moment.
Edie thoughtfully tapped her chin. “We have to have a reason. . .” she said. “So we take Elmer back there to show him how big he’s gotten and just bring up Ruth from there.”
Kappy frowned. She wasn’t sure that would actually work, but she couldn’t come up with anything better. “Let’s go.”
Once again Kappy wished she had brought a collar and leash for the little pup. He didn’t weigh hardly anything, but he wanted down so bad to sniff the ground and see what was new around him that her arms began to ache as she held him in place.
She would definitely have to invest in a leash when she took him home—She reined her thoughts to a quick stop. She wasn’t taking Elmer home. She might like him and she might have even been contemplating getting a dog the night before, but the reality was . . .
Well, the reality was she lived alone, she had no friends except for Edie, who would be leaving soon, and she lived alone. Wait. She’d already said that. It wasn’t like Elmer would fill in the spots when she came home alone. But she knew he would fill other voids.
“There he is.” Edie cocked her head in the direction of the large Victorian-style house. It was painted pale yellow and looked similar to Amish houses other than the color and the ornate trim that seemed to drip from every flat surface. A man sat on the front porch in the rocking chair, a glass of tea on the table at his side and a cell phone pressed to his ear.
“Should we go talk to him?” Kappy asked.
“We’ve come this far,” Edie replied.
The man caught sight of them and seemed to understand their intentions. He held up one finger as if to say he would be off the call shortly and didn’t protest as they climbed the porch steps.
“I’ll call you back,” he said into the receiver. “Yes, that’s right. Okay then. Bye.”
He tapped the phone off, then turned to Edie and Kappy with a smile. “Is that one of Ruth’s puppies?”
“Yes.” Edie spoke as Kappy took one giant step forward and pressed Elmer toward the young Dr. Brewer.
He accepted the dog without complaint, scratching him behind the ears.
“I take it you’re her daughter.” He didn’t look at either one of them as he said the words.
Edie inched closer. “I am.”
“I’m sorry for your loss. It’s such a shame.”
“Yes,” Edie said. “Did you come out to the house last Tuesday?”
Nothing like jumping in feet-first.
If he thought her question strange, his expression showed no indication. “I did.”
Kappy’s heart gave an excited thump. Maybe they were onto something now! He was certainly stronger and more capable of a physical confrontation than his father.
“Are you aware you may be the very last person to see her alive?” Edie asked.
Dr. Brewer stopped rocking. “How so?”
Elmer continued to sit in his lap, content and not wriggling to get down. Maybe Kappy just wasn’t a dog person.
“She had an appointment with you and then a little over an hour later she was found dead.”
He shook his head. “That would’ve been the case if I’d made the appointment. I had a flat tire on the other side of Jacks Mountain. I didn’t make it to Ruth’s house until after the police were there.”
“I was there,” Kappy said. “I didn’t see you.”
“I didn’t stop. I drove by, saw all the commotion, and figured whatever Ruth needed we could take care of another time. I had no idea she was dead.”
Kappy and Edie shared a look. His alibi was plausible, even believable, and they might even be able to verify it. Or it could all just be one big lie.
“Can anyone back up the story?” Edie asked.
A frown marred the doctor’s handsome face. “Are you questioning me?” He stood and handed the puppy back to Kappy. She accepted the dog, which immediately began to squirm to get down.
“Just merely trying to find out what happened to my mother.”
“I thought they had arrested Jimmy.”
“That’s true,” Edie said. “But just because he’s arrested doesn’t mean he’s guilty.”
“I’m sure the police had their reasons. I’m sorry. I know this must be hard on you.”
He didn’t sound sorry to her.
“My brother did not kill our mother. He loved her very much.” Tears welled in Edie’s eyes. Her lips pressed together in a line that Kappy recognized as anger.
“Most murders happen between people who love each other.”
Kappy had never really thought about it. Actually, she didn’t know much about murders at all, but his statement almost made sense.
“Regardless,” Edie said, “I don’t believe Jimmy is guilty.”
Dr. Brewer flashed them a quick smile that didn’t reach his ice-blue eyes. “Neither am I.”
* * *
Less than five minutes later, Edie and Kappy were asked not so politely to leave Dr. Brewer’s house.
“That didn’t go as planned, huh?” Edie said. She grabbed a tissue from the center console and dabbed at her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Kappy said. She could only imagine how Edie felt, trying to protect her brother while the whole world thought him guilty.
“I’m just worried about him.” She wadded up the tissue and started the car.
�
��Of course you are,” Kappy said. “I would be worried about you if you weren’t.”
“I just don’t understand how everyone can think the worst of him.” She pulled the car onto the main road and headed back toward their houses. “I mean he’s not that different, is he?” She cast a quick look at Kappy.
“I don’t know. Not to me.” And that was the truth. He was different, yes. But weren’t they all? But just because he was different didn’t mean he was dangerous or capable of violence.
“If the cops could have seen him taking care of the dogs that first day, petting the rabbits, feeding the ducks, and all his other chores, they would know he couldn’t hurt his mother.”
Edie gave a quick nod but kept her eyes trained on the road ahead. “You don’t think he just . . . snapped?” The last word was nearly whispered.
It was a question Kappy didn’t want to answer. “I suppose anything is possible.” All one had to do was look at a newspaper these days and that was evident.
“I know,” Edie said. “But what do you think?”
“I don’t think he snapped,” Kappy said. “When I got on the scene he was crying, trying to wake her up, and praying to God for her to be okay. I don’t think someone who snapped could recover that quickly. Jah?”
“I don’t know.”
They rode in silence for a few miles, each lost in her own thoughts. At least Kappy was. They seemed to be chasing themselves around in her brain a lot like Elmer chasing his tail. But one thing always came back. She didn’t believe Jimmy was guilty. That meant someone else out there was. But who?
Edie pulled into Kappy’s drive, the corners of her mouth turned down into a frown.
“Do you want to talk to the neighbors?” Kappy asked.
Edie shook her head. “I think I’m going to lie down for a while. I feel a headache coming on.”
It was no wonder, with everything that Edie had been through.
“If you’re sure,” Kappy said. She got out of the car and set the puppy in the passenger seat.
“Go ahead,” Edie said. “I think you should keep him.”
Kappy shook her head. “No, no, no. I don’t need a dog.”
Edie gave her a sad smile. “No one needs a dog,” she said. “But everyone needs a dog.”