“My mother and father and my five older brothers live in Ohio. All my brothers are married but one.”

  “It would be rare for an Amish person never to marry, wouldn’t it?”

  Sabrina opened her mouth to speak, but Jamie cut across her, “You lot always get married young and have loads of ankle-biters it seems.”

  A frown crinkled Sabrina’s forehead. Did he know he was being condescending? “To answer your first question about Amish people not marrying, it does happen. There are some older folk who have never married. And what about yourself?” Sabrina put her elbow on the table and rested her chin in the palm of her hand and looked into his eyes.

  “Me?” Jamie asked, his eyes twinkling.

  Sabrina smiled and nodded.

  “I’ve never married if that’s what you’re asking me. Never came close to it. I wonder sometimes if love is real or whether we talk ourselves into feeling it. People watch movies and read books and get all caught up into trying to find their one true love. It could be all a lie.”

  “Well, I know that love is real.” Sabrina had been in love before, and she saw how much Silvie and Bailey were in love.

  Jamie said, “I’m sure it does happen to some people – finding love I mean, but I can’t believe that the majority of the people in the world find it. I think it could be a myth, a fairytale, like the tooth fairy, Santa Claus and G…” Jamie threw his head back and laughed.

  “And God, right?” Sabrina knew what he was about to say. He thought that Gott was a fairy tale. It was clear that they would never find common ground if he did not believe in love or in Gott.

  “I’m sorry, Sabrina. I’m forgetting my manners and I’m embarrassing you.”

  Sabrina smiled at him. “A little.”

  Sabrina had never met anyone like Jamie before. Maybe she should eat something with a lot of garlic in it just in case he had any ideas of getting too close to her on the drive home. She had to fight her attraction toward him. The fact that he did not believe in love made him more appealing, almost as if it were a challenge to her. Could she make this man fall in love with her?

  “Look, Sabrina, I’ll get straight to the point of why I’ve asked you to lunch. I didn’t want to talk about it in the office.”

  Sabrina felt silly; she thought that he was interested in her and that’s why he asked her to lunch. She knew many men found her attractive and because she got compliments all the time; she thought that he was another man interested in her. She should have been relieved, but she was disappointed. “What is it?” She pretended to look interested to hide her embarrassment of thinking that it was something other than a business lunch.

  “For the past few years my father has bragged about some great investments he was putting his money into. He tried to tell me about it, but I didn’t want to hear about it because I’m wary of anything that makes money too fast. Anyway, about a year ago he suddenly stopped talking about his investments, and whenever I asked about it, he changed the subject.” He stared into Sabrina’s eyes. “Do you have any idea why he would suddenly stop speaking of his investments?”

  Sabrina scrunched up her nose and thought hard if she had heard him mention anything. Had he given money to those two men who had phoned? What about the man whose name she found in his notebook? “Well, you know that I’ve only worked for him for a little over a year and it’s only been part time doing the bookwork, so I’m probably not the best person to ask. Maybe you could ask May or Trevor. What about his accountant?”

  “That’s the odd thing. His accountant won’t talk to me at all. He said he’d send across my father’s paperwork once he has proper legal instruction to do so.”

  Sabrina nodded. She thought that a little odd, but had no idea how these things worked. “I’m sorry I’m not able to help you.” And I’m sorry that you paid for lunch for nothing, Sabrina thought.

  “Did he ever mention having a business partner?” Jamie picked up a glass of iced water and took a mouthful.

  Sabrina watched his lips as they gently touched the cool glass. Concentrate Sabrina, she told herself. “No.” She shook her head. “I only do the simple bookwork, send out invoices, do filing, answer the emails, that kind of thing.”

  “Yes, I know.” Jamie pressed his lips together and looked thoughtful.

  Chapter 11.

  I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel:

  my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.

  I have set the Lord always before me:

  because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

  Psalm 16:7-8

  Sabrina rushed in her front door to see Silvie cooking dinner. “Silvie, you’ll never guess what happened.”

  “Bailey told me.”

  “So you know about May and Trevor; how they both confessed to killing their father?”

  Silvie looked up from mashing potatoes. “Jah.”

  Sabrina pulled out a chair from under the kitchen table and sat down. She thought about May coming to see her the same night that her father was found murdered. She hadn’t seemed overly upset. Perhaps she was in some kind of shock. “Why would May tell me that she thinks Trevor killed their father then go and confess to it herself?”

  “Love. She’s trying to protect him from going to jail I’d say.”

  “She didn’t seem to be feeling too protective of Trevor when she was speaking to me yesterday. Where’s Bailey?”

  “He went back to the police station.”

  Sabrina picked up a bean out of the colander and bit it in half. “I didn’t think he wanted to get too involved.”

  “Nee, he didn’t. He’s coming with us tonight, so he should be home anytime.”

  Tonight the widows were all meeting again.

  “Trevor and May have an older bruder called Jamie. He’s stepped in to run the place while things are being sorted out.”

  Silvie turned around to face her. “Am I hearing something in that voice of yours?”

  Sabrina giggled. How did Silvie hear in her voice how attractive she found Jamie? “Okay, I do find him a little interesting. He took me to lunch and he’s given me the fulltime work that Mr. Caruthers promised me.”

  Silvie raised her eyebrows. “Be careful, Sabrina. He’s an Englischer and he’s your boss.”

  “That’s the least thing on my mind with May in jail. Anyway, Bailey was once an Englischer, Silvie.”

  Silvie turned back to the potatoes. “That’s different. Well, I suppose you’re right, but not every Englischer will want to become Amish, it’s a big risk to think that it might happen.”

  “If it’s Gott’s will it will happen. Don’t worry, Silvie, I know I made some mistakes in the past, but things like that won’t happen again.” Sabrina recalled the terrible time when she had gotten involved with an Englischer and he was found murdered. It was a dark time in her life and Silvie had been there to help her through it.

  “You still have to be wary. If you’re not careful, you’ll be in a bad situation before you know what’s going on. You have to keep away from temptation, not go near the edge of temptation,” Silvie said.

  “Okay.” Even though Silvie was being annoying, Sabrina knew that what she was saying was true. She could not go to lunch with him again or get too close.

  After dinner, Bailey, Silvie and Sabrina went to meet with the widows again at Elsa-May and Ettie’s house.

  Emma, one of the widows, was the last to arrive. “Maureen’s had to work tonight so she won’t be able to come,” Emma said.

  Once Ettie came back into the living room with the tea tray Sabrina spoke. “There’s been a development with the murder.”

  “What is it?” Elsa-May leaned forward.

  “Mr. Caruthers’ son and daughter both admitted to killing him and each say that the other was not involved. They’re in jail right now.”

  Ettie pressed her lips together and began to pour tea into everyone’s cups.

  “Bailey was there today with Crowley and he said that neither of them is weakening with their story.”

  Bailey said, “Crowley says that they most likely each think that the other did it, so they are protecting each other.”

  “Well, do you think that one of them did it or do you think it might have been someone else?” Elsa-May asked.

  “Did you find anything out about those two names I gave you?” Sabrina asked Elsa-May. “Clarkwell and Addison?”

  “I found out that Addison does lawsuit loans.”

  “What’s that?” Sabrina asked.

  “I didn’t know either, but I found out that people who are waiting on a lawsuit claim or money from an insurance company can get their money earlier – before the claim is settled. They also provide litigation funding if you want to sue someone.”

  “I’m not sure I understand, but anyway, what about Clarkwell?”

  “He is a simple loan shark. If someone isn’t able to get a loan from a bank, they can go to a private lender. From what I found out, Clarkwell’s interest rates are high, so someone would only go to him as a last resort.” Elsa-May sighed heavily. “That’s all I’ve been able to come up with for the names and phone numbers you gave me.”

  Ettie was back in her chair after pouring all the teas. “It doesn’t make sense that one of them killed Mr. Caruthers, does it? If he’s dead, how would they get their money? Sabrina can’t find any record of her boss owing them that money, so to me it seems unlikely that either of them killed him.”

  Elsa-May turned to Ettie. “Who do you think might have done it?”

  “Most likely one of his children,” Ettie said.

  “Speaking of Mr. Caruthers’ children. His eldest son, Jamie, is running the stables while both May and Trevor are in prison. He was there this morning when I got to work.”

  Ettie looked at Bailey. “Have the police questioned him?”

  Bailey nodded. “He was interviewed yesterday. He’s got a solid alibi for the time of his father’s murder. He wasn’t even in the county.” Bailey put both hands to his chest. “I’m trying to step away from helping Crowley. I thought I’d left that kind of thing behind me. I’ve got enough to do with looking for a job and still helping Jack out on the dairy farm.”

  Ettie took a lemon cupcake from the table in the center of the room. She peeled back the paper casing. “Are you going to the funeral, Sabrina?”

  “Jah, I’m going.”

  Ettie nodded. “When is it?”

  “It’s the day after tomorrow. I hope May and Trevor will be out by then.”

  “If not, I’m sure they’ll get permission to go, as long as they are accompanied by some officers. Their lawyer probably has already submitted a request,” Bailey said.

  Chapter 12.

  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;

  but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

  2 Timothy 1:7

  The next day, Sabrina made sure she took her lunch to work just in case Jamie made a habit of asking her to go to lunch with him. As she walked past his office door at 8.30 a.m., she saw that the door was closed. She put her ear to the door and heard some music playing softly; she assumed that Jamie was already there.

  While she answered the overnight emails, her mind drifted to the funeral. She had never been to an Englisch funeral, and she did not have May to go with her, unless May happened to be released beforehand.

  Sabrina almost jumped when her phone sounded. It was the intercom system to Mr. Caruthers’ office. “Yes?”

  “Coffee, please.”

  “Coming up.” Sabrina hurried to the lunchroom. One thing in Jamie’s favor is that he is a hard worker, she thought. The early mornings at work had always been Sabrina’s favorite time because she was always the first one to arrive – it was so peaceful. She knocked on Jamie’s door.

  “Come in.” Once Sabrina walked in he said, “You can leave the door open now.”

  Sabrina put the coffee on his desk.

  A moment later he looked up. “Is there something that you want to say?”

  “It’s just that I was concerned about your father’s funeral and whether May and Trevor would be going.”

  “I don’t know, and neither is it any of my concern,” Jamie said. “I’ve got other things to worry about.”

  Sabrina frowned. “But they’re your sister and brother. I know they’d both want to go to their father’s funeral.”

  “Whether they do, or they don’t, it hardly concerns you.”

  Sabrina knew she had crossed the line. Of course, none of their family matters concerned her, but May was her friend, and Mr. Caruthers was her boss. Surely it was only natural for her to want what was right for his funeral.

  “I’m sorry, Sabrina, that came out wrong. One of them or maybe both of them are the cause of me having to bury my father tomorrow and until I know the truth of the matter it does not upset me to have them both stay away.”

  Sabrina dropped her eyes away from him and nodded. His excuse seemed a reasonable one; his father was dead after all. “I’ll get back to work.”

  “Yes, good idea. I’m sure you’ve got a lot of filing to do.”

  “A ton of it,” Sabrina went to close the door, but then remembered that he had asked for it to be kept open, so she pushed the door wide open.

  “Oh, Sabrina, one more thing.”

  Sabrina turned around. “Yes?”

  “Have you ever heard of a Mrs. Wright, or did she ever come here?”

  “Oh, yes. I think she trades horses. She comes in here quite a bit.”

  Jamie bit the end of his pen.

  “Why?”

  “I think my father was very friendly with her, that’s why. If you know what I mean by friendly. I think she’ll be at the funeral, and I have to find a way of keeping her and my mother apart. If you can come up with a way to do that let me know.”

  Sabrina nodded.

  “That’s all.”

  As Sabrina left his office, she remembered an argument that Trevor had with his father. Trevor had mentioned Mrs. Wright. It all made sense why he brought her name up. Trevor knew that his father had crossed the line of decency with Mrs. Wright. Is that another reason Trevor killed his father, to avenge his mother?

  Once she sat behind her desk, her thoughts went to the people who had loaned Mr. Caruthers money. They had both phoned yesterday; surely they would phone again today and what could she say to them? Jamie was not the least bit concerned. Sabrina wondered what happened to a debt when a person died.

  Sabrina looked at the time on her computer. It was not yet 9.00 a.m., her official starting time. She looked on the Internet to try and find out who owns the debt once someone dies. After fifteen minutes reading up on probate processes, 401ks, and dying with credit card debt, she was none the wiser. Some articles seemed to say that the debt was wiped and other articles suggested that the debt would only be wiped if there were no assets left after everything of the deceased had been sold, leaving no funds left for that particular debt. To make matters worse, each state had different laws, which made it harder to find out what happened to personal loans when one dies.

  Sabrina glanced up at the clock and noticed it was five minutes past nine. She logged into the work emails and sure enough there were emails from Addison and Clarkwell. She didn’t open them; she had already wasted five minutes of work time and if Jamie was adamant that he was not going to pay them, it was a waste of time her even reading the emails. Instead, she forwarded them on to Jamie. She knew that doing so might make Jamie cross, but they could have some important information in them. What if either Clarkwell or Addison intended to sue the Caruthers family?

  “Morning, Sabrina.”

  Sabrina knew that the deep voice belonged to John. She looked up from the computer. “Hi, John.”

  John looked at Jamie’s open office door then leaned toward Sabrina and whispered, “I just called to the police station hoping to speak to May or Trevor, but they said neither of them can speak to anyone.”

  “I know, that’s what my brother-in-law told me. I don’t know how long they will be held for. Their father’s funeral is tomorrow.”

  “Speaking of which – would you like to go in my car? That is if you intend on going.”

  “Yes, I wanted to go. Mr. Caruthers was always good to me; I’d like to pay my respects.”

  John smiled down at her and said, “I’d better get to work.”

  Chapter 13.

  Wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

  The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

  Proverbs 8:12-13

  Sabrina met John at work, and they went to the funeral from there. Mr. Caruthers’ service was held in a church building with steeples and stained glass windows. This was the first time that Sabrina had gone inside an Englisch church building. To the Amish, the church was the gathering together of people coming together to worship Gott; the church was not a building.

  John and Sabrina were pointed to the position where they were to sit. It was a closed casket service. Very different to the Amish funerals where the body is taken to the family home, and people view the deceased and say their goodbyes before being taken to the graveside.

  Sabrina slid into the highly polished wooden church pew and John sat beside her. The fancy coffin was placed at the front of the church. There was a large photo of Mr. Caruthers, and there were two huge pitchers of flowers either side. A large white bunch of lilies lay on the top of the glossy, black coffin.

  “That’s his wife over there.” John pointed to a woman dressed in black in the front pew. She had her head bent over and appeared to be crying into a large white handkerchief.

  “Poor woman,” Sabrina said as she recalled the pain her schweschder, Silvie went through when she suddenly lost her first husband, John. Silvie and John had expected to grow old together and not be torn apart by a tragic accident. What Jamie said made a little sense – don’t expect too much, and you won’t be disappointed.

 

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