“Did Horace know Terence Wheeler?”
“I don’t know; Detective Kelly didn’t say. All he said was that his name had come up in his investigations around Horace.”
“You said the key was taped to one of the boards?”
Ettie nodded. “So it was unlikely that it was dropped – it was hidden deliberately.”
“It seems so, Ettie.”
“Why would Wheeler hide the key under my house?”
“He could’ve been coming back to get it. He died not long after his arrest, and from what you’ve said that corresponds with the time that Horace went missing.”
“Do you think Wheeler killed Horace?”
Crowley shook his head. “From what you’ve told me so far, there’s not enough evidence to say anything of the sort.”
“Tell me more about these boxes. If someone loses the key can’t they just go to the bank and say they’ve lost it? And the bank opens it for them?”
“It’s not as easy as that. The person would need to sign a stack of paperwork; it would take about two weeks before the bank could arrange to have the box drilled open. Not the best way for someone to hide stolen jewelry.”
“He’s dead now, so no one will be getting into his box, I guess. Not without the key.”
“Sometimes a bank will shut down someone’s box when they know someone’s died. It’s hard for relatives to get the contents out; there’s a lot of red tape involved.”
“How can one tell which bank the key belongs to?” Ettie asked.
“You can’t. Detective Kelly would have to get a warrant and start with the local banks. Not all banks have safe deposit boxes. I’m certain only one in town does.” Crowley looked down at the key. “I’m guessing it’s too late to bother with prints?” He looked across at Ettie.
“I’m afraid so. I’m sorry, but we didn’t realize the importance of it. We’ve both touched it, Ava and I, and so has Jeremiah.”
Crowley slipped the key back inside the envelope before placing it in his inner coat pocket. “It’ll be very interesting to find out who this key belongs to.”
“I don’t know if you’ll have any luck speaking to that new detective,” Ettie said.
Crowley scratched his neck. “Don’t you worry about that, Ettie.”
Crowley stood and disappeared out the door. Ettie was happy that someone was finally listening. Crowley had been a little like Detective Kelly when she first knew him.
Ettie had just sat down with a cup of tea when she heard a knock at the door. She knew it wasn’t Ava because she always came to the back door. Maybe Crowley’s forgotten something. When she flung the door open, there before her stood Sadie.
“Sadie, how nice to see you. Come in. Come through to the kitchen – I’ve just made a pot of tea.”
“Denke, Ettie.” Sadie followed Ettie into the kitchen, dragging her feet. When Sadie was seated, she began. “Oh, Ettie, I’m just so upset over everything that’s happened. I’m too upset to live.”
“Life has its low points, but don’t go saying things like that. How’s your mudder coping now?”
“Still upset. Your visit the other day cheered her up. I always thought he had died, and that’s why he never came back.” She balled her hand into a fist and held it against her stomach. “I felt he was dead.” Sadie looked up at Ettie. “I didn’t want it to be true.”
Ettie racked her brain, trying to come up with words of comfort. “There, there, Sadie. He’s at home with Gott, and he’s happy now.”
Sadie nodded. “Oh, Ettie, I hope you don’t mind me coming here to talk to you. I don’t have many close friends and if I talk to mamm I know she’ll start crying all over again and not be able to stop.”
“That’s perfectly all right. Talk to me whenever you want. I remember how close you always were to Horace.”
“You do?”
Ettie nodded.
“Jah, we were close, weren’t we?’
“You were.” Ettie desperately wanted to ask her questions but feared now was not the time to do so.
“There’s another reason I came here today.”
Ettie raised her eyebrows.
Sadie continued, “I was hoping that you might have found something here in this house that belonged to Horace, since he was so close to Agatha. I’d like a memento, something to remember him by.”
“Wouldn’t he have left all his belongings at your haus? Surely all his possessions were left there.”
“Mamm threw everything out a long time ago when he didn’t come home. She thought he was living as an Englischer so she wanted to rid the place of his memory.”
“I can sympathize with you, and your mudder. I’ve been through the pain of losing someone many a time.” Ettie thought about her dog that had just died. No one or nothing would be able to replace him. “But, as Bishop John would say, death is a part of life.”
“Jah, but why did he have to go so soon?”
“Nee. He was still very young, but none of us knows when our time will come.”
As Sadie sipped her tea, Ettie noticed Sadie’s red-rimmed eyes and her paler-than-usual skin. She remembered the pain of losing her own brother. “There was a key found near him.”
Sadie gulped on her tea, then wiped her mouth with her fingers. “A key? Where is it?”
“On its way to the police. They should have it by now,” Ettie answered.
“Why the police?”
Ettie decided not to tell her about the floor being taken up. “Evidence I suppose, much like his clothing.”
Sadie nodded. “Do you know what the key is for, what it unlocks?”
“Nee, I don’t.” She paused. “All that’s happened shows us that we have to appreciate those we have, while we have them.”
“That’s true, Ettie.”
A loud knock sounded on the door. Ettie opened it to see a young man dressed in black. “I don’t want any trouble, lady, I just want the key.”
“What key?”
The young man reached behind him and pulled a gun from his back pocket. “I want the key and I know you’ve got it.”
“I did have a key, but I gave it to the police. A detective was here and took it to them.”
Sadie stepped forward. “Put that gun down! It’s true; she doesn’t have it.”
The man shifted his weight from one foot to the other. The gun shook when he said, “You better not be lying to me lady or I’ll be back.” He glanced over his shoulder with the gun still shaking in his hands. He looked back at Ettie and then ran away.
Ettie stepped outside and looked to see the young man get into the passenger-side door of a black car before it zoomed away.
Ettie put a hand to her heart to try and stop it from racing. “The way you spoke to him just now – Sadie, why weren’t you scared of him?
Sadie sighed. “Sit down. It’s a long story and I need to unburden my heart.”
Sadie helped Ettie to a chair.
“Just before Horace disappeared, he told me a little of what was happening. Horace’s boss was also running another business – against the law.”
“Stealing things?”
“Jah.”
“What was his boss’ name?”
“Settler, Bertram Settler.”
Ettie’s eyes flew to the ceiling. Bertram Settler would’ve been Bill Settler’s father. Bill Settler, from the construction company. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you, Sadie. Continue; I’m listening.”
“His rivals – well, Horace called them his boss’ enemies – were Terence Wheeler’s gang. I urged Horace to come back to the community; I knew no good would come of him knowing people like that.”
“Go on.”
“I heard from someone Horace knew that a man called Terence Wheeler said a key was hidden with Horace’s body, but where no one would be able to find it. That’s the first I heard that Horace was dead.”
Ettie gasped and her mouth fell open. “Who told you about all of that? And do you know what the ke
y opens?”
Sadie hung her head.
“Do you know who sent that man?” Ettie persisted but still Sadie made no reply.
Ettie frowned, pushing her lips together. “Who was that young man and why did he listen to you?”
Sadie shrugged. “He didn’t listen to me.”
“It certainly seemed that way. Look, Sadie, if you know anything, anything at all – and it appears that you do – it’s best you talk about it. If you don’t want to tell me, tell the police, but someone needs to know.”
Sadie stared at Ettie with large, round eyes.
Ettie continued, her voice louder. “That man just now, or whoever sent him, must want whatever that key opens, and judging by the gun, they might be prepared to kill for it. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather die of old age since the Lord’s spared me for this long.”
“Do you think someone else might get killed?”
Ettie nodded. “We need to tell the police about this. And you need to tell them everything you know – do it now.”
Sadie stood. “You’re right, Ettie, of course, you’re right. I’ll go and see them right away.”
Ettie took a deep breath and put her hand on her heart. “Jah, okay. I’ll sit here and try to recover. If they want to talk to me they can come here, or I’ll go into the station tomorrow. I can’t do any more today.”
After Sadie left, Ettie had a lie down on the bed in Agatha’s spare room, trying to get images of the gun out of her head.
It was just before dinnertime when Ava knocked on Ettie’s back door. Ettie couldn’t sleep and was glad for the interruption. She ushered her in and told her everything that had happened with Sadie and the man with the gun.
“Ettie, you poor thing! Let me cook you dinner.”
“That would be gut, denke. I feel so much better now that Crowley’s involved. He’s taking the key to Kelly and hopefully he’ll get a search warrant for the box at the bank.”
“How would the man know you had the key?” Ava asked.
Ettie said, “There were only four of us who knew. You, me, Jeremiah, and Crowley – but then again, Detective Kelly did have us talking at the front of the police station.”
“That’s true, and you said you found the key stuck to the boards. Anyone could have overheard it.”
“There were the two officers behind the desk, and people coming and going. I don’t remember anyone in particular that seemed to be listening. Sadie knew of the existence of a key, she’d heard those rumors regarding Terence Wheeler, a key and Horace’s body. I wonder why she never told the police that before now.”
Chapter 13
Ettie again spent the night with Ava in the grossdaddi haus. The next morning, Ava had left early to help her mother with some work at the farmers market. When Ettie heard a knock on the door, she looked out the window to see Crowley.
“Come in,” she said as she opened the door.
“Oh, good, you’re here. The young lady who lives here told me where you were.”
“I stayed here last night after everything that happened.” Ettie stepped back to allow Crowley to step through.
As he walked in, he said, “I’ve got some good news. Kelly finally agreed to get a warrant. Mind you, I was with him most of the day trying to persuade him, and then he had me helping him go over all the evidence.”
“Good. Have a seat.” Crowley and Ettie sat at the small kitchen table. “Then you would’ve been there when Sadie told Kelly all about the man with the gun?”
Crowley frowned. “About what?”
“I thought you would’ve heard.”
“No, I’ve heard nothing. There was a man with a gun?”
“Sadie came here yesterday, and while she was here a man came and pointed a gun at me. He demanded the key. Somehow he’d heard that I had it.”
“Ettie, you should have called the police straight away.”
“Sadie said she was going to go straight to the police station when she left here.”
“Well, she didn’t. I was with Kelly most of the day and no mention was made of it.” Crowley sprang to his feet and whipped his cell out of his pocket. “I need to make a call.” Crowley strode outside.
Ettie hadn’t had a chance to tell him the rest of her news.
Crowley came back. “There was no report made by her at all.” Crowley rubbed his furrowed brow.
“Is there some mistake? Perhaps she called instead of going there in person.”
Crowley shook his head and placed his hands on his hips. “Tell me exactly what happened.”
“I haven’t told you everything. Sit down.” When Crowley sat, Ettie said, “The man said he knew I had the key and Sadie stepped forward and said that I didn’t. He believed her and not me. I thought that odd.”
Ettie saw by the detective’s face he didn’t think that it was particularly odd.
“And, what’s more, she might have been hinting for the key, too, before the man got there. She asked if Horace had left anything at Agatha’s, saying she wanted something to remember him by. Then after the man with the gun ran away, she told me that someone told her that a man called Terence Wheeler said that he’d hidden a key with Horace’s body. She wouldn’t tell me who told her that.”
Crowley groaned. “Kelly’s sending someone to talk to her now, then we’ll know more. Do you believe what she told you, Ettie?”
Ettie blinked rapidly. “I have no reason to believe otherwise.” Ettie pulled her mouth to one side. “I wonder why she didn’t go to the police when she said she would. What about the young man who pointed a gun at me?”
Crowley nodded. “I’m sure that Kelly will want you to have a look at some mug shots.”
Ettie pulled a face, but when Crowley remained quiet, Ettie nodded. “I will if I have to, but I wouldn’t recognize him again. He just looked like any other young man, and all I was looking at was the gun.”
“Why don’t you go back home with Elsa-May until all this is over with? It’s too much for you to stay here with everything that’s happened.”
Ettie wondered if that might be best. She did miss Elsa-May – even though she was dominating and overbearing at times, it was nice to have her company.
“Come on. I’ll take you there now.”
“Thank you. I’ll leave a note for Ava. She might be scared on her own too, but I’ll let her know to she can stay with me if she gets frightened.”
“Okay. There’s no rush; I’ll wait in the car. I’ve got some calls to make.”
Crowley drove Ettie back to the home she shared with Elsa-May. She hoped Elsa-May had been watering her plants, and wouldn’t be too cross with her for not being there.
When he stopped the car in front of the house, Ettie said, “Do come in; Elsa-May has most likely just baked something.”
Crowley smiled. “I’ve missed her cooking, and yours too, Ettie. It wouldn’t hurt to have a small sample.”
Ettie laughed. “We’ll fatten you up yet.”
He followed Ettie into the house.
“Elsa-May, I’ve got Detective Crowley with me.”
Elsa-May came out of the kitchen smiling. “It’s good to see you again. Have you come to help us find out who killed Horace? I told Ettie to let you have your retirement in peace.”
Ettie frowned at Elsa-May. She was the one who’d said to let him have his retirement in peace. She didn’t want to argue in front of Crowley, but she’d certainly give Elsa-May a piece of her mind when he left. “He’s helping us and that’s that.”
“I don’t mind. The first few months of peace and quiet were good, but then the days wear on and they’re pretty much the same.”
“You’re okay with helping, then?” Ettie asked.
“I’m pleased to be back in the swing of things.”
“I’ll put the pot on the stove, then, and see if I can find some cake.” Elsa-May hurried back to the kitchen.
After Crowley sat down, Ettie said, “See, I told you there’d be cake.”
Before long, they were all seated with tea and fresh orange cake while Ettie told Elsa-May all the events she’d missed.
The sound of Crowley’s loud ring tone from his cell caused Ettie to jump.
He sprang to his feet. “Excuse me, I’ll take this outside.”
When Crowley was gone, Elsa-May said, “You’re awfully jumpy, Ettie.”
“A lot’s happened. I had a gun pointed at me.”
“Jah, you told me. That can’t have been good.”
Crowley walked back through the door. “It appears that Sadie Hostetler never came home last night. She’s disappeared.”
Ettie’s jaw fell open and her hand flew to her mouth. “Do you think she’s in danger?”
“We can’t be too careful, but you did say that the man put the gun down when she told him to. I think we can safely assume that she’s involved in some way with this whole debacle.”
“It wasn’t like that. She told that young man I didn’t have the key, then after that he left.” Ettie nibbled the end of her fingernail.
“Young man?” Elsa-May asked Ettie.
“The one who pointed the gun at me.” Ettie shook her head at Elsa-May – hadn’t she been listening?
The two ladies looked back up at Crowley and he sat down.
“Looks like there’s a whole lot more to this than first appeared,” he said.
“I’m sorry to drag you into all this now that you’ve retired,” Ettie said.
Elsa-May jutted out her bottom jaw. “That’s what I said in the first place. Leave him be; he’s retired.”
Ettie rolled her eyes.
“Anytime you need me, I’m always there,” Crowley said with a smile tugging the corners of his lips. He reached for his teacup.
“Yes, you’ve been good to us in the past.” Elsa-May glanced over at Ettie who narrowed her eyes at her.
“I wonder where Sadie could’ve gone to,” Ettie said.
Elsa-May said, “Would her mother know?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think she’d want her mother involved. Doris is too old to cope with the worry, which is why I’m surprised that Sadie’s disappeared.” Ettie turned to Crowley. “Do you think she’s in danger? Maybe that man with the gun didn’t leave and he was lurking up the road.”
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