Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries Box Set 6 Page 32

  “Oh, what did the owner say?”

  “She didn’t want to know about it. As long as the place made money. That was all she cared about.”

  “And did it?”

  “The place is deserted by day and at night when I’m in charge we’re running at capacity, turning the tables over three and four times since we are open until midnight.”

  “I see. It must be very hard for you to work there.”

  “It’s convenient. I only live two blocks away, but I am … well, I was looking for another job. Now I’m manager again and as long as I stay that way I’ll be happy.”

  “Good for you.”

  “Yeah, thanks.” He smiled for the first time since they’d been speaking.

  “I went there with my sister the other day for pizza. I must say that I did like the food, as much as I didn’t want to.”

  “You should come there at night. I make the best pizzas.”

  “We don’t go out at night much, but I’ll keep it in mind if we ever do.”

  Ettie noticed that Nate’s hair was far too dark for his face and it accentuated some of his fine lines. It was also darker than his eyebrows. The man dyed his hair to look younger ... when in fact, it made him look older. Ettie wondered why no one told him.

  “How long did you know Greville?” Nate asked Elsa-May.

  “They moved into the house next door a few months ago.”

  “I feel sorry for you.”

  Elsa-May leaned in toward him. “It wasn’t very pleasant.”

  “Oh yeah, I can imagine.” He chuckled.

  “He took an instant disliking to my poor little dog.”

  Nate smiled. “The brute of a man!”

  “I know. At first, I thought that and the other things were just teething problems and they’d settle down and get used to the neighborhood, but …”

  “Complaining all the time, was he?”

  Elsa-May chuckled. “A good part of the time, yes. Oh, listen to me. I shouldn’t be complaining about the man at his funeral.”

  A wide smile appeared on Nate’s face. “What better time?”

  Ettie had listened into the whole thing and didn’t think Elsa-May was finding out enough about Nate. “Oh, there you are, Elsa-May.”

  “Ettie, this man here used to work with Greville.”

  “It’s nice to meet you.” Ettie held out her hand and he shook it.

  “I’m Nate Bowen.”

  “Ettie.”

  “Oh, sorry, I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Elsa-May. Ettie and I live together.”

  “Ah, so you lived next to Greville too.”

  “That’s right and speaking about Greville’s house, I heard a whisper that they might have found some evidence there.”

  His eyebrows shot up. “Is that right?”

  “Yes. I can’t tell you more than that because that’s all I know. I wouldn’t be surprised if the police make an arrest soon.”

  “I hope so. No one deserves to be murdered like that. Not even him. Excuse me, will you ladies?”

  “Of course.”

  The ladies stood together as he left and Ettie noticed he headed over to his employer, Evelyn.

  “What evidence have they got?”

  “Nothing. I was just seeing how he’d react and he went to her. Interesting.”

  Elsa-May sighed.

  “What did you learn from him? You were talking to him long enough.”

  “I know you were hovering behind listening to every word. You already know I didn’t find out anything useful. I might have, if you hadn’t interrupted us.”

  “I only did that because you were getting nowhere. I heard you laughing and giggling with him. We’re here to find the man’s killer not make new friends.”

  Elsa-May adjusted Ettie’s prayer kapp causing Ettie to slap her hands away. “Stop it.”

  “It was crooked.”

  “I don’t care.”

  Elsa-May said, “I wasn’t making him a friend. Although, he could’ve had some good pizza-making secrets.”

  “I doubt it. To make good pizzas you’ve got to have the right equipment and a pizza oven would take over our entire kitchen.” Ettie stared at Elsa-May.

  “Who should we talk to now?”

  Ettie looked around the room. There were the people who worked at Emilio’s Pizzeria in one area. In another group, some ladies were huddled around Stacey, and a man in a suit, possibly someone from the funeral home was over in a corner talking to the minister.

  Elsa-May sneezed.

  “You stay here and I’ll see what those ladies are saying to Stacey.”

  “Wait a minute.” Elsa-May looked around the room. “Where’s Detective Kelly?”

  Ettie couldn’t see him anywhere. “He must’ve been called away.”

  “What did he say to you before he left?” No sooner had Elsa-May spoken than she started sneezing violently. Ettie had to walk with her outside. Gone was her chance of finding out more.

  “Your cold has returned—and gotten worse, too.” Ettie offered her a clean handkerchief.

  “I know. Let’s go home.”

  “You stay here where you won’t spread your wretched germs and I’ll go back inside and have someone call us a taxi.”

  “Okay, I won’t move.”

  “I’ll say goodbye to Stacey for the both of us.”

  “Denke.” Elsa-May sneezed.

  Ettie located someone to call a taxi for them, and then she found Stacey. “Elsa-May and I are going home now, Stacey. She’s got a dreadful cold coming back so I really should get her home out of the weather and away from everyone.”

  “Thank you for coming. I appreciate it.”

  “How are you?”

  Stacey managed a smile. “I’m doing okay.”

  Ettie didn’t ask her about her son. It wasn’t the time or the place. “Stop by soon, okay?”

  “I will. I’ll be coming home soon. I wanted to come home before now, but my sister said I should stay with her longer.”

  “That’s good. Elsa-May is already outside. I made her wait there because she kept sneezing.”

  Stacey smiled and nodded. “I’ll see you later, then. Bye, Ettie.”

  Ettie hurried outside and found Elsa-May waiting in a taxi. She opened the back door and climbed in with her.

  “What took you so long?” Elsa-May asked.

  “I was saying goodbye to Stacey.”

  Elsa-May sneezed again as the taxi pulled away from the curb.

  Chapter 12

  The morning after the funeral the sisters saw Stacey again. From the window, Ettie watched her take two bulging plastic bags from the car into her house. Two minutes later, Stacey locked her door and headed to their house.

  She bustled through their door when the sisters opened it. “I want to tell you that you can stop helping find out who did it. I’m just about to turn myself in.”

  “What? What for?” Ettie opened her mouth in shock.

  “I did it. I killed him.”

  “Sit down, Stacey,” Elsa-May said calmly.

  Stacey inhaled deeply and then walked to the couch and sat down. Ettie joined her. Elsa-May leaned down and grabbed Snowy, who had been about to charge at Stacey. He often got excited to see visitors.

  Elsa-May said, “I’ll just put him outside.” Ettie and Stacey sat waiting for Elsa-May to return. When Elsa-May had sat down, she looked at Stacey and said, “Now, what’s this nonsense about?”

  Ettie was glad her sister was able to stay so calm with a self-confessed murderess in the house. Elsa-May corrected her every time she said “murderess,” insisting that “murderer” was now the accepted form for a killer of either sex, but Ettie had decided she would still use the feminine version in her mind. It just sounded better, she believed. “You killed him?” Ettie blurted out, turning sideways on the couch so she could see Stacey's face.

  “I did, but it was in self-defense. You saw how he was. He often hit me. You saw the bruises on me, didn’t you?
You heard him yelling? He was always so aggressive.”

  “So, you slowly poisoned him?” Ettie blurted out.

  Stacey licked her lips. “I didn’t know how much of the stuff it would take. I’ve never had to do anything like it before.”

  “You haven’t told Detective Kelly yet?” Elsa-May asked.

  “No, I haven’t.”

  “Did you tell your sister?” Ettie asked.

  “No. She’d only talk me out of turning myself in. It’s the right thing to do. I came to ask the both of you to stop looking for who killed him because I did it.”

  “Okay,” Ettie managed to utter.

  “Do you want one of us to come with you to the station? I'm fighting this cold of mine, but Ettie could do it.”

  “No thank you. It’s something I’ll do alone.”

  Ettie felt dreadfully sorry for her. They sat there in silence for a moment before Elsa-May asked, “Is there anything we can do for you?”

  “No. I’m fine. I’ll get a lawyer and I might get off or just stay in jail a few years. Everyone knew what he was like and what a temper he had. I don’t know how I put up with him for so long.”

  “Well, we all do what we have to do. My husband would never remember to take off his boots when he walked into the house. I was forever cleaning up after him and I do hate dirt on the floor, or even dust.”

  Ettie stared at her sister in disbelief. “Elsa-May, that can hardly compare with what Stacey’s been through.”

  Elsa-May leaned forward. “I’m talking every single day, Ettie. I’d have to say, ‘Please take off your boots.’ By that time, he’d have tracked dirt halfway through the house.”

  “How could he forget? You had a mudroom.”

  “I know. Even the boys remembered.” Elsa-May shook her head.

  “Did your husband ever yell at you?” Stacey asked.

  “No. He was a gentle and quiet man. It was only his messy ways that bothered me. I mean, how could he forget something that I told him every day?”

  “Then Ettie’s right, it doesn’t compare. And, I’m guessing he never hit you?”

  “No.”

  “I thought you two might’ve noticed what I went through with him.”

  “We did. We noticed it was hard for you, but what could we have done?” Ettie asked.

  “Nothing. There was nothing you or anyone else could’ve done. I was too scared to leave him, or even tell anyone how I felt. For a start, where would I have gone? I would’ve felt like a failure if I’d left him, lived with my sister and had people feel sorry for me. I didn’t have any money either. It was not easy. I thought about leaving him many a time.”

  “Was it easier to kill him?” Elsa-May asked. “He was poisoned over a period of time, so you had to have thought it through.”

  “I did, and I thought that was the solution. I would get to keep the house and what little savings we had. Everyone feels sorry for a widow. I suppose they won’t feel sorry for me when they find out I killed him.” She stood up. “I don’t know when I’ll see you again.”

  “And, Stacey, are you saying you strangled him?” Ettie asked, knowing that it didn’t seem feasible.

  “That’s right. I’d had enough of him and his bullying ways.”

  Elsa-May stood too. “If you’re turning yourself in, I guess they’ll arrest you and you’ll go before a judge, and you’ll most likely get bail.”

  “You think so?”

  “Yes. And then there’ll be a trial, but these things are never fast. It might be a year or two away.”

  “That long?”

  Elsa-May nodded. “That’s right. Maybe quicker if you’re pleading guilty.”

  “We don’t really know. The lawyer would be the best one to advise you.”

  Stacey sighed. “Well, thank you.”

  “I’ll water your plants while you’re away.”

  “No, Ettie. Truly, don’t bother.”

  Ettie shook her head. “It’s no trouble.”

  “No. I don’t want anyone near the house. I want it left the way I left it and that includes the garden.”

  Ettie nodded. “Okay, if that’s what you want.”

  “Thank you.” Stacey walked to the door, and then she turned to face them. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away. I don’t know how I thought I could get away with it.”

  “Why now, Stacey?”

  “It was my conscience, Ettie. I couldn’t live with the lie.”

  Elsa-May nodded. “Fair enough. Before you leave, I want to ask you something.”

  Stacey raised her eyebrows at Elsa-May. “Go right ahead.”

  “Your sister looks very fit, like she plays sport and I was wondering ...”

  “She used to play tennis professionally when she was young. She still plays in the senior sports division at the elite level.”

  “Ah, I knew she was an athlete,” Elsa-May said.

  Stacey lifted her hand and waved to them. “Bye now.”

  “Goodbye, Stacey,” said Ettie. “Are you sure you wouldn't like me to come with you?”

  “No. This is something I must do myself.”

  The two sisters stayed by the door until Stacey got into her car and drove away.

  “That was the last thing I expected.” Elsa-May closed the door.

  Ettie nodded. “Me too. I thought it was the sister, and maybe, just maybe it is.”

  “And I was leaning toward the son. Hmm. Wait, what do you mean by maybe it is?”

  “Stacey could be protecting her sister, don’t you think? Stacey doesn't have the strength in her small hands to have strangled Greville.”

  “Why would the sister want him dead? He ran her business and increased the profits, she said. Besides, she might not even have known what Stacey was going through. Remember how reluctant Stacey was to call her?” Elsa-May sat down in her chair.

  Ettie gasped.

  “What is it, Ettie?”

  “I don’t know if it's anything, but it crossed my mind a while ago that Stacey seemed to be setting Greville up for something by having us think he was abusive. We never saw him hit her ... and did we ever hear him yelling at her?”

  “I don’t think so, but he was plenty aggressive with us.”

  “Possibly that was only to protect his wife from what she reported were her ghastly neighbors. Remember how Greville said Snowy was barking and then we found out that it was Stacey who had said he was barking? Greville hadn’t even been home, and he was just going by what Stacey said. Then there was the fence that had the palings pulled down. We thought Greville did it when he blamed Snowy, but perhaps it was Stacey. That way, we’d only see the aggressive side of him and we’d testify in the trial. Or she’d want us to testify on her behalf.”

  “Now you’re saying that, Ettie, but you never said that before.”

  Ettie opened her mouth wide in shock. “I thought that just recently, when I was thinking back. Why would I say it before I'd even thought about it? It certainly makes sense, though, as a possibility. If she long-termed poisoned him—which she admitted—what was to stop her long-term plotting and making herself a cozy alibi or even two?”

  Elsa-May shook her head. “All I know is that you kept saying he’d kill her. Over and over, that’s what you said. When they were quiet next door you kept saying he’d killed her, and you wanted me to go look in their windows with you.”

  “Jah, I admit I was wrong about that. It seems like Stacey did it. It’s so obvious and everything points to her. I don’t believe her.” Ettie shook her head. “Something’s not right.”

  “Why would she confess if she didn’t do it?”

  “To know that, we need more information. Perhaps she is protecting her son. Even though she had disowned him, maybe she still has the mother’s instincts to protect.”

  “Maybe you’re right about that.”

  A smile spread across Ettie’s face at her sister’s words.

  Elsa-May lifted her hands. “Now don't get excited. I said �
��Maybe you're right,' Ettie.”

  Ettie chuckled.

  Chapter 13

  The next morning, Ettie just happened to be looking out the window when she saw a car pull up outside the Charmers’ house. Naturally, she had to keep looking to see who it was. Two men jumped out and one was holding a large black camera. It was the press. Instead of them going to Stacey’s house as she had expected, they walked toward her and opened their front gate. Ettie jumped to her feet. “Ach nee.”

  “What is it?” Elsa-May asked looking up from her knitting.

  Ettie made her way to the door. “It’s reporters and they’re coming here to our haus.”

  “What do they want?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll find out.” She opened the door before they knocked. “Good morning.”

  “Yes, good morning,” the man without the camera said, smiling.

  “What can I do for you?”

  “Are you aware of what happened next door?”

  “Yes. Of course. Everyone in the whole street knows.”

  He nodded. “Stacey Charmers confessed to killing her husband. What kind of person was she?”

  “I have nothing to say.” Ettie went to close the door and the man put his hand on it and held it open.

  “Your neighbor, Stacey Charmers, turned herself in for killing her husband. Would you like to make a comment on the TV? The videographer will be here in a few minutes.”

  “No! I would not. Good day.” Ettie closed the door, and then they knocked again. She opened the door. “Yes?”

  “Would you like to make a statement off camera?”

  “No.” She closed the door again.

  “She’s confessed, then,” Elsa-May said from her chair.

  “I’d say so.” Ettie walked over to the window and stared at the reporter and the cameraman leaving.

  “Come away from there, Ettie.”

  “They can’t see me.” The reporter got to the gate, turned and smiled at Ettie. When Ettie scowled, he lifted his hand and gave a flippant little wave. “Cheeky, man.” Ettie stood up and closed the curtains.

  “What happened?”