Hidden (Amish Romance Mystery) (Amish Secret Widows' Society Book 2) by Samantha Price Page A

from?”
    Crowley shook his head, then pushed back in his chair and let out a deep breath. Did the detective think that she was wasting his time?
    “Mrs. Kurtzler, what’s the real reason you’ve come here?”
    “To tell you about the two cups. You said if I think of anything to let you know.”
    “Mrs. Kurtzler, Emma, I have to tell you that I do not need your help to solve a crime.”
    Emma gasped and jumped to her feet. “I’m tying to be of help. You told me to come to you if I thought of anything and that’s what I’m doing.”
    The detective stayed seated and interlocked his fingers in front of him. “It’s funny that I come across you again, in another murder case. Would that be fate or destiny?”
    “I thought I might be able to help you, that’s all. Seeing that I was the one who found him and I’m looking after his cat, and all.” Emma knew she was not making any sense. Why did she mention Frank’s cat? “I’ll be going now, then.” Emma walked straight out of Detective Crowley’s office without saying goodbye to him.
    She was glad that she did not mention the fact that Bob was there the day that Frank died. Bob was not one who was good with words, and he would never be able to explain himself to the police.
    All the way home, Emma felt sick in the stomach. Why is that detective so mean all the time? He always finds the very thing to say that would upset me.
    The next morning Emma called in on Wil. She knew it would be awkward to see him. She was not ready to speak of their disagreement.
    Emma took a deep breath when he opened the door. “Can you give me the keys to Frank’s haus ? The ladies and I want to go and give it a gut clean.”
    “ Jah , I’ve got a spare key. I’ll fetch it for you. Do you want to do that today?”
    “Both Maureen and Silvie aren’t working today, so today suits all of us.”
    Wil rubbed his chin. “Do you think it will be safe? They haven’t found who did it, you know.”
    “Jah , it’ll be safe with the five of us. Elsa-May and Ettie are going too.”
    Wil went around the corner into the kitchen and then came back with the key and handed it to her. “Emma, can we talk?”
    “Not now, Wil.”
    The widows met at Frank’s haus at noon, as they had planned. Maureen was to arrive as soon as she talked to Bob Pluver.
    “What exactly are we looking for, Elsa-May?” Silvie asked.
    “I don’t really know. Tell me if you find anything, anything at all.”
    They were immediately disturbed by a knock on the door. Elsa-May opened the door to see Thomas Graber, Frank’s next-door neighbor. “Hello, Thomas.”
    “Hello, Elsa-May. What are you ladies doing in here?” Thomas seemed jittery as he shifted his weight between his feet.
    “We’ve come to give the place a gut cleaning,” Emma said.
    “Sad news about old Frank, wasn’t it,” Thomas said.
    “ Jah, that it was,” Elsa-May said.
    Thomas tipped his hat slightly back on his head. “Wonders me that anyone would have anything against old Frank and wish him harm.”
    Emma knew that the two men had many disagreements, the last one being about a fence that Thomas wanted to build between the two houses, but did that mean that Thomas would wish him harm? Surely not.
    “Did you notice anything unusual in the last few days? Any strangers or visitors hanging around?” Elsa-May asked.
    Thomas scratched his cheek. “Can’t say so. Except the day he died, I heard some kind of ruckus. Someone was yelling I’m sure of it.”
    “I see, did you tell the police that?” Emma asked.
    “ Jah , there was a detective who questioned everyone in the street. I’m sure no one heard or saw anything, just me and the yelling.”
    “Okay, well thanks for popping by.” Elsa-May tried to close the door and Thomas put his hand up against the door to hold it open. “Are you sure you ladies are supposed to be here?”
    “Of course we are. Did you want to help us clean? We’ve got a spare scrubbing brush and soap. We could