Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries Box Set 6 Page 19

  “A dinner meeting?”

  “Yes.”

  It seemed she was always doing the wrong thing. “Sorry, do you want me to call you back later?”

  “I’ll call you. When are you coming home?”

  “I thought you wanted me to stay for a few days.”

  “I do. I am just asking for an approximate date you’ll be home. I’m not looking to be told what I said. We both know what I said.”

  “I'll be there in a couple of days, maybe three, um, maybe four,” she added when she remembered how slow everything was at getting done there.

  “Okay. Is everything going all right?”

  “Yes, pretty good.”

  He yawned. “Are you relaxing?”

  “I am. I'm feeling very relaxed,” she lied through her teeth. She was anything but relaxed. She was tense and worried, and now bloated thanks to eating a whole pizza by herself the night before.

  “Have you got an approximate house value yet?”

  She had forgotten all about getting a realtor to put a value on the house. Eugene still didn't know that there was a family living in the house and paying rent when they felt like it. “I'm getting onto that today.”

  “Great. Let me know when you get a price. I don't imagine it's too much, but it will help toward buying a house together.”

  “So, we are buying something together?”

  “Of course we are. I’ll sell the apartment, you sell that and we’ll buy something with the money.”

  “I thought you didn't want to put something in my name.”

  “It won’t be in your name, it’ll be in my name.”

  “If I'm putting money toward it why would it solely be in your name?”

  “It’ll be in a company name, or a family trust. I haven’t figured it out yet.”

  She didn’t like the sound of that. If they divorced, she was pretty certain her money would not be classed as a joint asset. She had to protect herself. “We need to talk about these kind of things before we marry, and before I decide what to do with the house.”

  “We do need to have a discussion, but not so early in the morning. Call me back at a reasonable time of day. There’s another call.” He hung up on her.

  Was it her, or had his personality changed since she’d been away? He was behaving like a person that she didn't like, much less want to marry. She rubbed her head wondering why he wanted the money in his name, or a company name; it didn't make sense.

  She knew Eugene worked hard and so she decided to just put it down to stress from the job. He was working on a few hard cases and that must've been taking a toll—that plus the lack of sleep must be giving him the bad moods. She pushed him out of her mind and made a mental note to call the realtor today in between visiting Wayne’s sister and whatever else happened.

  She changed into comfortable pants and blouse and headed to the dining room for breakfast.

  Chapter 14

  After a light breakfast, Selena waited by the window in her room. From there she could see vehicles coming and going. After waiting ten minutes, she grabbed her phone, threw it into her bag and headed outside. When she looked up the road, she was pleased to see the buggy in the distance. As it drew closer, she saw Gabriel’s smiling face. Even though he was slightly annoying and rather odd, he was a happy person to be around.

  “Sorry, I’m a little late,” he said when he stopped the buggy near her.

  “It’s fine. You’re not that late.”

  “That’s true. How are you this lovely day?”

  She looked at his smiling face and felt much better. “I’m good. And you?”

  “Good. And, you’re looking lovely today.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes.” He walked his buggy up the road. “You’re a very nice lady.”

  “Oh, thank you. I think.”

  Glancing over at her, he said, “It’s true. You are.”

  “I’m happy you think so.”

  “I’d be mad if I didn’t. You’re an amazing-looking woman and I’m happy to spend another day with you. It’s even better that you’re Abner’s daughter.”

  “Granddaughter,” she corrected.

  He threw his head back and laughed. “I’m always getting that wrong, aren’t I?”

  “Yes, you are.”

  “You’re way too young to be his daughter.”

  “That’s true.” Frustration set in at the pace the buggy was going. It would be faster if she got out and walked. “Can this horse go a little faster?”

  “You’re in a hurry?”

  “It’s just that I’m used to going by car, and this is so slow.”

  “I’ll go faster.”

  “Yes please.”

  The horse broke into a trot when he called out a word that sounded like it was German. He then looked at Selena and smiled. He was making no attempt to hide he was smitten by her. Since Gabriel was so handsome, it was a well-needed confidence boost for Selena.

  They collected Ettie and Elsa-May and headed off to Jill James’s place as planned. “Now, from memory. Jill lived here with two of her brothers, and then one moved out and the other died. Last time we talked to her, she’d been married and divorced and was still living in the same place. I do hope she hasn’t moved,” Ettie said.

  “Was that five years ago?”

  “Yes, we met her around the time your grandfather confessed.”

  From the backseat of the buggy, Selena held her head. It was a lot to take in and she was on her own with this. Her mother didn’t seem to think it was a big problem, and she certainly couldn’t tell Eugene what she was going through.

  “This is it,” Gabriel said.

  It seemed like it had taken forever to get there.

  When they got to the door. Elsa-May elbowed Ettie out of the way so she could knock. She then stood square in the doorway so she’d be first one the woman would see.

  A small lady in her fifties or early sixties opened the door after several knocks. She stared at them, and before she could say anything, Elsa-May said, “Do you remember us?”

  “Yes, I do. You were asking questions about my brother.”

  “That’s right, and this is my sister, Ettie, who was with me at the time. This is a friend, Gabriel, and another friend of ours Selena. We’re here because Selena is the granddaughter of the man who claimed to have run over your brother.”

  “Oh.” The woman craned her neck to get a better look at Selena.

  Ettie said, “We need to ask you a couple more questions if that's okay.”

  “I guess so. Come inside.” She took them into the living room. Once they were seated, Jill said, “What is it you want to ask me? I don’t know that I know anything. I never thought that man ran my brother down.”

  “Firstly, I want to thank you for talking with us. I don’t know if my grandfather accidentally ran over your brother or not. Everyone seems to think he didn't. I didn't really know him. I only met him once in my life, but if he didn’t do it, I feel strongly about proving it.”

  “You’re not responsible for what your grandfather did or didn't do,” Jill said.

  “Thank you. Do you know anybody who would have had reason to harm your brother?”

  “As I told your friends last time. I don’t. It wasn’t me. There was talk that he and I were having an argument about a dog and yes, we were having an argument about the dog. It was his dog, and he left me with a six-thousand-dollar vet bill when a car hit the dog. I told him if he didn’t pay, I was keeping the dog and I did,”

  “Do you still have the dog?” Elsa-May asked.

  “Unfortunately, the dog passed away. I did find out recently, and this is something I didn't know last time, Wayne was blackmailing someone. There was some secret or other and then there were his constant stream of girlfriends. Any one of them could’ve done it.”

  “Who was he blackmailing?” Ettie asked.

  “That is something I don't know.”

  Selena asked, “Have you told the
police?”

  “No. I didn’t think of it in connection with the accident. Do you think I should tell them?”

  “How did you know he was blackmailing someone?” Elsa-May asked.

  “I guess I didn’t, and I don’t know for sure and I certainly don't have any proof. It was just a rumor that I heard when I ran into some friends of his. I heard it was a man he was blackmailing, and that's all I know.”

  Later, just as they were leaving, Jill said, “If Wayne’s death wasn’t an accident he might have been murdered by an angry woman. It wouldn’t have been anything to do with the robbery.”

  Ettie’s eyes opened wide. “Robbery?”

  Elsa-May cut across Ettie, “How many of these angry women were there?”

  “Hard to say.”

  Selena said, “Were any of these angry women Amish?”

  “I believe at least one of them was.” She chuckled. “I don’t know that she was angry, but I know he was seeing an Amish woman somewhere along the way. I saw them together once.”

  When they left Jill's house and were discussing where to go next, Selena interrupted, “Is everyone keeping something from me?”

  Gabriel turned around. “What do you mean?”

  “My mother was in a relationship with this Wayne man, wasn't she?” She put her head in her hands. “This is terrible. This is such bad news. Then my grandfather must have thought she killed him and that’s why he confessed. Why didn’t I see that before? I’m so stupid. What if my mother killed a man?” She broke into sobs.

  “I don’t know that it’s true,” Gabriel said.

  No one else was saying anything, so she knew at least part of it was true. She looked over at Ettie, who was sharing the backseat with her. “My mother was having a relationship with this man, wasn't she? Just tell me the truth please.”

  Ettie nodded. “It is true. She was having a relationship with Wayne.”

  Elsa-May added, “That's what we found out. We went back to Terrence’s house yesterday, fearing he wasn’t telling us the entire truth because you were there. It was a secret and illicit relationship. She was still in the community at that point.”

  “This is dreadful. Gabriel, will you wait while I call my mother?”

  “Sure. We’re doing this for you, Selena. None of us has anywhere else to be.”

  Selena grabbed her bag and jumped out of the buggy. Once she was out of earshot, she called her mother.

  “Selena?”

  “Yes, it’s me.”

  “I’ve told you never to call when my shows are on. Luckily you called in an ad break. What is it?”

  “For once, forget your stupid shows. This is way more important. Mother, I need the truth. Were you having a relationship with Wayne Robinson?”

  “Now there's a name I haven't heard for a while.”

  “Did you know him?”

  “Yes. We had a brief dalliance, and then I moved away and married your father. Why are you asking about this now?”

  “He was murdered, Mom. Run down in cold blood in the street.”

  “I know that.”

  Selena looked over her shoulder, not wanting the people in the buggy to hear her shouting, but it might’ve been too late for that. “The police asked questions of your father a few years ago and he must’ve thought you killed Wayne and that's why he said he did it. Don’t you get it? He was protecting you.”

  “Now wait a minute, you're jumping to conclusions. Why would I have killed Wayne?”

  “It makes sense. Anyone might've thought the same in his position.”

  “Are you blaming me?” her mother asked.

  “Did you have reason to want him dead?”

  “You can't be asking your mother things like this.”

  “I’m trying to get to the bottom of things.”

  “I don't like the way you’re going about it. These Amish people are turning you against me. I have to go. Call me tomorrow when you're in a better mood.” Her mother ended the call.

  Now things were getting worse. What if her mother was the one who was responsible for Wayne’s death? Things were bad enough thinking her grandfather did it. How bad would it be if the guilty party was her own mother and she’d sat back and let Abner take the blame?

  “She admitted she was in a relationship with him,” Selena said as she climbed back into the buggy. “My grandfather obviously thought she killed him. No one wants to go to jail for nothing. He must've thought he was protecting her.”

  “That's what we thought too, but on all our visits he never admitted to it.”

  Selena looked at Gabriel as he held the reins. “Gabriel, did he say anything to you about it?”

  “No, and I asked him a few times myself why he said he did it. He was stubborn and he refused to talk about it. Normally, he wouldn’t stop talking.”

  “That's why my mother left the community when she did. I wonder if she left right after the accident.” Selena sobbed and Ettie patted her shoulder.

  “Do you want to continue this, or have a rest?” Ettie asked gently.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Where to now, Selena? Do you want to continue or leave things be?” Gabriel looked concerned.

  “I don't know. I just don't know.”

  Elsa-May twisted around to look at Selena from the front seat. “How about we leave that much as done for the day, and we’ll take it up tomorrow, if you still want to. We’ll leave it up to you.”

  Selena nodded. “I think I need some time by myself to figure some things out.”

  They drove in silence to Ettie and Elsa-May’s house, and then Gabriel drove back toward his house. “Shall I take you back to your bed-and-breakfast?”

  “No. Just take me to my car, thanks.”

  He stared at her. “Are you sure you're alright to drive?”

  “Yes, I'll be fine.”

  “Can I do anything for you or get you anything?”

  “No thanks, Gabriel. I really feel the need to be alone.”

  “I'm worried about you. Can I stop by in the morning to check on you?”

  “Sure. Yes, that would be fine.”

  “I'll stop by around nine and then we'll take things from there.”

  Selena bit on the inside of her mouth to stop herself from crying. “Thank you. That sounds good. Instead of that, though, I’ll come to you.”

  “Okay. I’ll be waiting.”

  Chapter 15

  “Hello, is this Ms. Lehman?”

  Selena was still trying to wake up after a restless night’s sleep. She sat bolt upright in bed at the official-sounding voice. She’d reached out and answered her phone thinking it was Eugene. “Yes, this is she.”

  “Detective Kelly here.”

  “Oh yes. Did you find out anything?”

  “I found out something interesting, and I also had a visit from Mrs. Lutz and Mrs. Smith yesterday. Is it possible for you to meet me at their house at eleven today?”

  “Yes, I can do that. Can you tell me anything now?”

  “It is best that I tell everybody at one time.”

  “Yes of course. Thanks for looking into it for me. It means a lot to me.” She knew he was probably doing it more for the old ladies who were his friends rather than she, but nevertheless, she was grateful.

  She suddenly remembered she had ended the conversation with Gabriel from the day before by saying she'd come to him. She swiftly gathered her things and drove to his place.

  When she walked up the steps to the front door of Gabriel’s house, a dreadful burning smell filled the air. The front door suddenly opened and smoke billowed out around Gabriel. “What’s this?” She waved the smoke away with her hand.

  “I was delayed, but I was coming to see you soon. I was concerned—I thought you'd be here before now. How are you?”

  “I’m fine. Sorry I'm later than planned—I'd forgotten that the plan was me coming here. What’s all this smoke?”

  “This, well, it was my breakfast,” he said with a wry g
rin.

  Selena laughed. “Oh no. What was it?”

  He laughed. “It was to be bacon on toast but I've managed to create burnt offerings.”

  She laughed along with him. “The detective friend of Ettie and Elsa-May’s wants me to meet him at their house. Would you like to join us?”

  “Yes, thank you. I would like that. What time did you say?” He flicked his dark hair over to one side.

  “Eleven.”

  “Do I have time to try again with breakfast?”

  “Um, sure. Would you like me to cook it for you?”

  “You would?”

  “Sure. Unless you want to risk burning your house down.”

  He laughed. “Come inside. I’ll see what I can do about getting rid of this smoke, and I’ll get you a clean frying pan.”

  “That would be a good start.”

  Selena fixed him eggs, toast and bacon and then sat down with him while he ate it.

  When he’d taken his first mouthful, he nodded. “You’re a good cook. I knew you would be.”

  She smiled and resisted asking him whether that was on the list of what he was looking for in a woman. All Amish women were good cooks. They’d been raised learning to cook and keep house.

  “Are you sure you don’t want anything?”

  She shook her head. “I’ve had plenty already.”

  “Are you okay?”

  Selena looked up at him surprised. “Yes, why?”

  “You seem very quiet.”

  “I couldn't sleep. I had too many things on my mind. It was such a shock about my mother. Anyway, all I can do is find out all I can.”

  He nodded as he ate more of his breakfast.

  “You don't work?”

  When he finished his mouthful, he answered, “I do, but not every day. I have a store in town and my staff told me it runs better when I'm not there.” He laughed. “There’s a lot of other work involved with the store that doesn’t actually involve being in the store. I do the ordering and keep the books. I can do that at night and from home.”

  She nodded. “That sounds like good work.”

  “I enjoy it the store too, when I’m there.”

  “What sort of shop is it?”