Amish Murder: Amish Mystery (Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries Book 2) Page 7

  Ettie smiled. “Yes, thank you.”

  “Have a seat. I’ll call him.”

  Ettie did as she was instructed and sat on the wooden bench in the waiting area. She’d barely sat down when she saw Kelly walking toward her. When their eyes met he smiled and told her, with a wave of his hand, to come into his office.

  Once she was sitting opposite him, he asked, “What can I do for you today? By the way, thank Elsa-May for the food, would you?”

  “You ate it?”

  “Of course I did. I haven’t had a good meal like that in a long time.”

  Ettie smiled. “I was the one who cooked it, but it was Elsa-May’s idea when I told her about the donuts you ate for lunch.”

  “I am going to make an effort, and try to eat healthier.”

  “Glad to hear it.”

  “Now, what can I do for you?”

  “From the list of numbers you gave me, I found out that most of the incoming and outgoing calls were from the same person. She’s a doctor at the hospital. Sometimes she’d call Camille from her cell phone and other times there were calls to Camille’s cell phone from the number at the hospital. Then there were calls from Camille to the doctor’s mobile, but Camille never called the hospital – not within the time-frame that the list you gave me was constructed.”

  Detective Kelly frowned. “Was Camille sick or something?”

  “I don’t know, but the doctor was working with volunteers so maybe Camille was one of those. The other thing I had to tell you was that two people saw Camille in town arguing with a woman who had long dark hair, and Dr. Mackelvanner has long dark hair.”

  Kelly rubbed his nose.

  “I did have a thought,” Ettie said.

  “What was it?”

  “The doctor is a neurologist. I thought their contact could be something to do with Camille’s mother’s death. Her mother died of some rare condition, and I believe a doctor who had the same qualifications as Dr. Mackelvanner would’ve treated her. It’s a big coincidence, isn’t it?”

  “I’m not following you.”

  Ettie squirmed in her seat. She wasn’t certain what it all meant, and was hoping Kelly might be able to shed some light on it for her. “I was hoping that you might be able to question this doctor and see how she knew Camille.”

  “I don’t see that it matters.” When Ettie glared at him, he said, “I’ll make a note of it. I don’t have the time to follow it up right now. I’m glad you came in.”

  “You are?”

  “Yes. I’ve got some bad news.”

  Ettie braced herself, hoping it wasn’t about Jacob. “You’re glad I came in so you can give me bad news? I'm not glad I came in if all you have for me is bad news.”

  “The bullets found in Camille’s apartment match one of the firearms we took from the Esh house. I’m waiting on the warrant for Jacob Esh’s arrest to come through.”

  Ettie gasped and covered her mouth. “No! It can’t be.”

  “I appreciate your loyalty, Mrs. Smith, but sometimes people can fool us. Just because he was born into an Amish family doesn’t mean he’s a saint who is not capable of murder.”

  “He didn’t do it, and I’ll prove it one way or another.”

  Kelly raised his eyebrows. “I suppose it’s my fault for getting you involved in all this, and for that, I’m sorry.”

  “I dare say I would’ve gotten involved anyway once I found out that you arrested the wrong man.”

  “We’ve got enough evidence to arrest him.”

  “The gun?”

  “Yes, the gun.” He rose to his feet. “I don’t want to appear rude, but I’ve got a lot on my plate.”

  Ettie put both hands on his desk and pushed herself to her feet. “Good day, Detective.” Ettie walked out of his office, not sure what to do. Should she warn Mildred what was about to happen? Mildred would be so upset, but as Elsa-May had said to her, Mildred wasn’t without people she could call on. Mildred had a telephone in her barn and she could call someone whenever she needed. Ettie got a taxi home, had the taxi wait while she collected some fresh clothes and a nightdress for Elsa-May, and then continued on to the hospital. Elsa-May had picked a bad time to get sick.

  Chapter 11.

  Supported by pillows in her upright position in the hospital bed, Elsa-May smiled when Ettie came into the hospital room. “I’ll be glad to get out of this place. They keep asking me what my name is. I keep telling them it’s written there.” She pointed to the name behind her.

  Ettie giggled. “They’re trying to find out if you’re still in your right mind.”

  “They should find a better way of doing it, then. I’m not a three-year-old. And all the nurses speak loudly to me as though I’m deaf.”

  “I know. I remember that from when I was in hospital with pneumonia.” Ettie placed Elsa-May’s clothes in a drawer of the nightstand. “I’ve brought some things for you.” Ettie then slumped on the edge of Elsa-May’s bed.

  “Well, what happened this afternoon when you left here? You look like you’ve had the wind knocked out of you.”

  “A lot happened. The short version of it is that Kelly’s probably at this very moment arresting Jacob.”

  “Really?”

  Ettie nodded.

  “That’s bad news.”

  “He said one of Jacob’s rifles, or some type of gun, was a match with the bullets found in Camille’s apartment. That’s not all I found out today.”

  “What else?”

  Ettie told Elsa-May about the doctor whom Camille had often been speaking to, and the possibility that the doctor might have been the woman Camille had been seen arguing with.

  “Did you tell Kelly that?”

  “I did, but he didn’t seem interested. He said he’d look into it later, but I’m sure he only said that to keep me quiet or make me happy. Nee, not to make me happy. He wouldn’t care if he made anyone happy or not. He said it just for something to say, I’m certain of that.”

  “I suppose he had his mind on making the arrest. Didn’t he say he was up for a promotion?”

  Ettie nodded. “I hope he doesn’t let that cloud his judgment over whether Jacob is innocent or not.”

  “Looks like it’s too late for that if he’s gone ahead with the warrant. At least Jacob knows a lawyer now. Is he any good?”

  “The lawyer?”

  Elsa-May nodded.

  “He’s a little odd, and very young. I don’t know if he’s good, but he did get Jacob out of the police station pretty fast; perhaps he is good. He was questioning Jacob today so he does seem enthusiastic.”

  “Does that doctor you were talking about work at this hospital?”

  “According to the phone records she does.”

  “Now, what about that man from next door to the Eshes’ property, the one who wanted to buy the farm? With Camille dead, and if Jacob goes to jail, that would leave Mildred with the farm, and she’d most likely sell to him.”

  “That’s right. He could’ve gone into the Eshes’ home, taken one of Jacob’s rifles and shot at Camille, and then put it back. He could’ve killed Camille, and then because of the bullet matching Jacob’s gun it would have looked like Jacob made an attempt on his sister’s life.” Ettie tapped on her chin. “The only thing is that Mildred’s at home all the time, so he wouldn’t have had a chance to take the gun and then put it back.”

  “There’s the gatherings she goes to every second Sunday, and she goes out to the knitting circle when it isn’t held at her haus. What if he planted a gun there and it wasn’t Jacob’s gun after all? Did anyone think of that?”

  “Nee, I don’t think they did, and I wonder if they even checked the prints on the gun. I suppose they would’ve.”

  “Yes. I’d expect so,” Elsa-May said.

  Ettie continued, “Mildred wouldn’t know what gun was what. She said there were quite a few guns, and some were Nehemiah’s. Also Mildred did say that the neighbor keeps an eye on the place. While I was visiting Mildred he was just standing there staring at their haus.”

  “Now what about Camille? How do you think she knows the doctor?”

  “Jacob said his mother had some kind of mental illness and was treated for some disorder or other. She could very well have been seen by a neurologist.”

  “What illness was it?”

  “I can’t remember. I should’ve written it down. It was a strange name that I’d never come across before.”

  “What did Camille do when she was away from the community? I assumed she would’ve worked somewhere. Could she have met the doctor while she was working?”

  “From what I heard, Camille worked at a winery. Something to do with making the wine.”

  “Stomping on grapes?” Elsa-May said with a laugh.

  Ettie smiled. “Perhaps something in the office, since she told Nehemiah she had management experience.”

  “Should you find this doctor and talk to her?” Elsa-May asked.

  “Ach, nee. I wouldn’t like to. Detective Kelly should be the one to do that. It might not have anything to do with anything.”

  “Perhaps,” Elsa-May said. “And it doesn’t sound likely that a doctor would’ve killed Camille. Doctors are supposed to try to prolong lives, not cut them short.”

  “Jah. Intriguing, though, isn’t it? The woman’s not an ordinary doctor, and they had so many conversations.”

  “Perhaps Camille was sick.”

  “No one mentioned that might be the case. Certainly Jacob or Mildred weren’t aware of any illness.”

  “Was Mary’s illness something that might have been passed on?”

  “I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. What was it now? It was something or other Jacob disease.”

  “Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease?”

  “That was it. How do you know about it?”

  “Yes, I think it can be passed on in some cases.”

  “How do you know about it?” Ettie repeated.

  “It’s one of the diseases that there’s no cure for. I remember reading about it and I can’t remember where. When people get it, I’m certain they go downhill quickly. I think, as I’ve already said, it might be something that could be passed on. We’d have to find out for certain.”

  “I wonder if Camille had the disease and didn’t tell anyone. If so, why would she be arguing with her doctor?”

  “Perhaps it wasn’t her doctor she was arguing with. It could’ve been someone else,” Elsa-May suggested. “Although the description did match the doctor. Anyway, you’d better go and see how Mildred is. Don’t worry about me; I’m okay. I still remember who I am.”

  “Are you sure? I can stay with you longer. I don’t want to run into Detective Kelly, and I certainly don’t want to arrive there before he’s been out to Mildred’s haus.”

  Elsa-May glanced at the phone on the nightstand beside her. “Why don’t you call Mildred? Tell her you’re going to come there. You’ll soon find out if the detective’s been there.”

  Ettie made the call and found out that Detective Kelly had arrested Jacob, and they’d just left. When Ettie hung up the receiver, she turned to Elsa-May. “She’s near hysterical. I told her to phone the lawyer and that I’d be right over.”

  “Jah, I heard what you said.”

  “I do hate leaving you. I’d like to sit by you longer.”

  “Nee, don’t be silly; you go. There’ll be someone coming in soon asking me my name. I might have some fun with them this time. I’ll tell them I don’t know my name.” Elsa-May chuckled.

  Ettie wagged a finger at her sister. “Don’t you do that.”

  “Okay, I won’t.” Elsa-May settled herself back into the pillow and closed her eyes. “I’ll have a little sleep before the next meal comes ’round.”

  “Nee, you can’t eat, remember?”

  Elsa-May chuckled. “I was just testing to see if you were listening to me.”

  “You can’t be too sick.”

  “Tell that to the doctor on your way out, would you?”

  Ettie patted Elsa-May on her shoulder. “I’ll come back and see you in the morning.”

  “Denke,” Elsa-May said, without opening her eyes.

  Chapter 12.

  “Ettie, I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “Did you call the lawyer?”

  Mildred nodded. “Jah, he said he’d go straight to the police station.”

  “That’s good of him.” Ettie looked Mildred up and down. “You don’t look as poorly as you sounded on the phone.”

  “I prayed and left things up to Gott. I know Jacob’s innocent no matter what the police say. They’ll find that out soon enough.”

  “That’s the way,” Ettie said, thinking she should’ve stayed with Elsa-May.

  “The lawyer said Jacob would probably get bail, so if he does he’ll be out in the morning just as soon as he can go before a judge.”

  “Very good.”

  “Ettie, you don’t look well.”

  Ettie put her fingertips to her face only to feel that her cheeks were burning. “I’ve been busy over the last couple of days.”

  Mildred looped her arm through Ettie’s. “Come sit down and have a cup of tea. Would you stay for dinner?”

  “I’d love to stay, denke.” Ettie hadn’t given any thought to dinner and with Elsa-May in the hospital, she most likely would’ve only eaten fruit when she got home.

  After an early dinner, Mildred insisted on driving Ettie home rather than her getting a taxi. After Mildred hitched the horse and buggy, she said, “Why don’t you just stay the night? Elsa-May’s in the hospital and I’ll be alone too.”

  “All right. I will.” Ettie gave a little laugh. “Now we’ve hitched the buggy for nothing.” Ettie patted the fine chestnut gelding on his neck. The horse turned his head and Ettie rubbed his soft nose. “You’re a beauty,” Ettie said to the horse.

  “It doesn’t hurt for me to practice hitching the buggy. If anything happens to Jacob I’ll be on my own. I’ve never been on my own. I went straight from my mudder and vadder’s haus to Nehemiah’s.”

  “Don’t talk like that. We have to stay steadfast in trusting Gott.”

  Mildred nodded. “I’m trying, but sometimes I let the worry overtake me.”

  “Let’s put the horse back in the paddock. Then you and I can sleep.”

  That night, Ettie stayed up much longer than usual while listening to Mildred tell stories of when she and Nehemiah were courting. Ettie felt a little sad for her. It didn’t seem like there had been any real courtship; it wasn’t a romantic time for Mildred. It sounded to Ettie like Nehemiah hadn’t gotten over Mary’s death. It seemed more a marriage of convenience for Nehemiah, but Mildred obviously hadn’t seen things like that, or if she had she wasn’t admitting it. Nehemiah had needed someone to look after his children while he worked the farm and Mildred was glad to finally be someone’s wife and have an instant family.

  “Camille couldn’t have remembered Mary very well. Why do you think that she never truly accepted you as her mudder?”

  Mildred heaved a deep sigh. “I don’t know where I went wrong with her, what I could’ve done differently. Nehemiah stopped talking about Mary so the kinner could adjust better to me. I didn’t want them to forget her or anything. I just wanted to do the job that Mary would’ve wanted me to do; to look after and care for them properly.”

  Ettie yawned and saw that it was nearly eleven. “Excuse me. I think my old body’s telling me I need some sleep.”

  “Jah, me too. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?”

  * * *

  The next morning, Ettie heard the front door shut loudly. She opened her eyes and looked around, taking a moment to realize that she was in Mildred’s house. Then she heard someone bustling around in the kitchen downstairs. Ettie poured some water into a bowl and splashed it on her face before she changed out of the borrowed nightgown and into her dress. Once she’d slipped her over-apron on, she wound her hair up on her head and placed her prayer kapp over the top. She made the bed and then headed downstairs.

  “You awake already, Mildred?” Ettie said as she walked into the kitchen.

  “It’s half past nine.”

  Ettie opened her mouth in shock. “Is it? I never sleep this late.” Ettie looked out the window to see a gray sky. “Usually the light wakes me. Looks like we might be in for rain.”

  “Have a seat, Ettie, and I’ll make you some breakfast.”

  Ettie smiled, glad to have someone look after her for a change. With Elsa-May’s leg being so bad for weeks, Ettie had been left to do all the cooking and all the chores.

  “I was making the bread this morning when I heard the phone in the barn ringing.”

  “Did you make it there in time to answer?”

  “Jah. It was the lawyer. He was saying something about them having Jacob’s fingerprints somewhere.”

  “Where?”

  “I couldn’t really hear – the phone had a crackling in it. He said he’d either call me back or come here. He’s hoping to get Jacob out this morning. Could you wait with me, Ettie?”

  “Of course I can.”

  Mildred smiled at Ettie while she poured hot water into a china teapot. Ettie did want to see how Elsa-May was, but she figured Elsa-May wouldn’t be ready to go home until the afternoon.

  It wasn’t long after they’d finished breakfast when they heard a car. Both ladies looked out the window to see the lawyer’s car heading toward the house.

  “He’s got Jacob with him,” Mildred said.

  “Jah, I can see someone sitting next to the driver.”

  Mildred rushed to the door and waited on the porch for the car to pull up. Just as the car stopped, the rain pelted down.

  Jacob got out of the car and Mildred ran and wrapped her arms around him. He put his arm around her and then they ran back to the cover of the porch.

  “Everything’s okay, Mamm,” Jacob said.

  Ettie stood in the doorway. She saw the lawyer get out of the car and hurry toward them. When he stood next to Jacob, he wiped the rain off his suit and said, “The latest is…”