A Perfect Square (15 page)

S
AMUEL THANKED THE TRUCKER
for the ride as he let himself out of the eighteen-wheeler. He’d purposely avoided smaller vehicles. Didn’t want to end up thumbing a ride from anyone he knew.

There was no way he was ready to face friends — today would be difficult enough.

He carried his one bag over his shoulder. He’d left Katie’s bag on the doorsteps of a less prosperous-looking Amish home on the outskirts of Middlebury. Hopefully someone there would be able to use the clothes. It had hurt him to leave them, but he told himself that Katie would have been glad to know they were helping make someone else’s life easier.

As soon as the farm came into sight, a sweat broke out across his forehead. He’d stopped in a gas station last night and shaved off the beard. Not that it was very thick yet — despite what Katie had predicted.

The memory was a sharp ache in his side, like the cut of a knife.

He raised his hand to his cheek, as if to remind himself that it was real, that it had all actually happened. But the envelope in the bottom of his pack proved the last week hadn’t been just another nightmare.

As he walked toward the farm, toward Katie’s parents, he rehearsed again the story he planned to tell them. Lying didn’t come easily, but he couldn’t think of another alternative. And it was wrong. He knew that. It certainly wasn’t the Amish way to lie, but in this case not lying would hurt Katie’s family more, would be an even bigger sin. Samuel had worked through his options, and he didn’t see that he had any other recourse available.

Working on Timothy’s farm was the last thing he wanted to do. He’d left just over a week ago, unable to stomach the thought of spending another season under Timothy’s backward ways.

Now what?

A lifetime making atonement for his and Katie’s mistakes? The old anger burned in him, but he tapped it down. One thing he knew — none of this was her fault.

Katie’s error had cost her life. And what had her mistake been?

Trusting him.

The knowledge of that nearly drove him to his knees.

He paused, caught his breath as Timothy’s silos came into view while the afternoon light slanted across the fields.

His sins, they were much worse. He should have protected Katie, should have been a better husband. For that he was prepared to pay with years.

Placing one foot in front of the other, he continued slowly walking down the lane that led to Timothy’s house. They wouldn’t be home from church yet, so there was no need for him to worry about being seen. It would give him time to think. Time to be sure he had his story straight.

As he neared the old farmhouse, he didn’t see the rambling structure where he’d first met Katie or the fields where he’d worked over a year hoping to earn her father’s respect. Instead his mind went back once more, and he saw their eldest daughter, saw her how she’d looked the morning after their wedding night …

Samuel turned from his place at the window where he’d been
watching the sun rise over the countryside bordering the LaGrange Inn. Pink and purple clouds fanned out above the hills that rolled one after another as the sun broke through the morning mist.

Just one thing was prettier than that sight.

Samuel heard her stirring in the king-sized bed across the room. He walked over, sat beside Katie, and combed his fingers through her golden hair — he’d never imagined that she had so much of it. When she’d taken off her kapp and removed the pins last night, it had fallen nearly to her thighs. Thick, the color of wheat, and with a slight curl to it, he thought he would be happy to stare at it for days.

Then she’d taken his hand, and he forgot about her hair.

“Gudemariye,” she said sleepily.

“Gudemariye to you, sweet Katie.” Samuel leaned forward, kissed her softly on the lips. “How did you sleep?”

“Wunderbaar, when I slept at all.” A blush stained her cheeks, but she laughed at the memory and reached for his hand. “Do we travel on to Shipshewana today?”

“First there are some things I’d like to take care of.”

“Like?”

“Like feeding you breakfast.”

“That shouldn’t take long.” When she reached forward and ran her hand down his cheek Samuel felt his heart begin to thump faster. He’d rather stay here, in this room, and forget the list he’d been making by the window. But the list wouldn’t wait. It was important as the man of the family to take care of his wife. It was important to start their marriage out as well as possible.

“We need to return your father’s horse and wagon.”

“I don’t understand.” A frown creased her forehead, and Samuel’s patience began to ebb.

“It’s not right to keep what belongs to him, Katie. He’ll be needing it, and we can get by without one at first.”

“How will you send it back?”

His hand came down hard upon the nightstand, causing the lamp
to rattle and Katie to jump. Samuel stood, walked to the window, and forced himself to take several calming breaths. It was only the pressure of starting over. She didn’t mean to question his every move. Turning back toward her, he started again.

“I met a man at the feed store yesterday who has a load he needs to take to Goshen. He said he could catch a ride back and was happy to pay me for the use of the horse and wagon. We can use the money.”

“Won’t father wonder why his horse is coming back, without us?”

“I’ve thought of that, and I prepared a note.” Samuel walked over to the small table in the corner of the room. He picked up the sheet of paper and brought it back to Katie. As he handed it to her, he began explaining even before she could have read to the end. “I know this is hard for you, and I know that you don’t like lying to your dat — “

“Do you really think we can’t tell him the truth now?” When she raised her eyes to his, it felt like a razor was being drawn across his heart.

The razor opened a crevice and doubt began to creep in.

What if they were doing the wrong thing?

What if they were wrong about marrying this way, about moving away from people who could help them?

What if he couldn’t find work in Shipshe? How would he support them then?

Samuel stomped back to the window. “If you don’t trust me, then how are we supposed to build a marriage? If you’re questioning me at every turn, I can’t see how I’m supposed to hold up. It’s not easy figuring our way, you know. “

He didn’t hear her cross the room, but he did feel her arms reach around his waist. She pressed her face to his back and spoke softly, her words like a slow spring rain to a newly planted field. “I didn’t mean to question you, Samuel. I only meant to ask if this is the way it must be. If it is, then we will do it, and we’ll do it together.”

Turning to look in her eyes, he didn’t see the condemnation he
expected to find. “Lying is hard, and I realize it’s wrong,” she continued. “But it’s better than having them worry. You’re right about that.”

“And it’s only for a few days.” He took her hand in his, drew her back to the bed. “Don’t you see? We’re buying ourselves a few days so that we can reach Shipshe without them calling the police or contacting the local bishop. Once we’re settled, once our marriage is a few days old, and once we have a place to stay and I have a job — “

“You will have a job. Of that I’m certain. You’re a gut worker. My dat often said that about you. “

“Then we’ll send the note with the man and the buggy?”

Katie picked up the single sheet of paper, and they read it silently, slowly, one last time.

Mr. Lapp,

Katie has run off to the city. She’s run off to the
Englischers.
I suppose she’s run off because of her
rumspringa.
I’m sending back your horse and buggy and traveling on to find her. I’ll send word when I know something. Don’t worry. I’ll bring her back.

Samuel

“Send the note. What else do we need to do?” Katie stood and began gathering her few things, placing them into her duffel bag.

“I want to go to the store in town and purchase a phone. “

“A phone?” Katie caught herself and put her fingers to her lips, then giggled. “I sound like a parrot I heard once. He was in the Englisch store in downtown Goshen. The one that sells pets. He repeated the last phrase you’d say.”

Samuel smiled as he pulled his own things together.

“And who will we be calling with this phone?”

As he explained, Katie combed and braided her hair, then pinned her prayer kapp carefully into place. Samuel wanted nothing more than to take it off her, pull the pins out, unbraid her hair, and forget all their errands.

The sun was rising though, the smell of
kaffi
was drifting up the stairs, and they had more miles to put between them and Goshen. They were now a few short hours from their new life together. For that Samuel was grateful.

As he walked toward the dining room with Katie, his heart swelled with hope, just as it had the day before when the justice of the peace had declared them man and wife. The Mennonite preacher had said a prayer over them afterwards, had offered his name and phone number.

Samuel still had it on a piece of paper in his pocket.

But they wouldn’t be staying in Goshen.

Their future was to the north, in Shipshewana.

D
EBORAH WAS HELPING
E
STHER
in Tobias’
grossdaddi
’s house on Monday morning. Shane had finally allowed them to remove the crime scene tape and begin cleaning it.

“This woodwork is beautiful.” Deborah ran her hand over a cabinet face.

“Tobias told me that their
grossdaddi
made all the cabinetry himself.”

“It’s still in very
gut
condition.”

They had already wiped down all the cabinetry and placed the new shelf paper in the drawers and on the lower shelves. “Do you want it on the upper shelves as well?”

“I know no one can see them, but I like the idea of it being there. Is that silly?”

“Not at all, and you bought plenty. Might as well use it.”

“Exactly, plus it’s easier to clean a shelf that has been lined.” Esther pulled a table chair over to the kitchen counters and stood on it. The extra two feet allowed her to reach the top shelf, given her height. “If you’ll cut the lengths, I’ll lay them down.”

“Fair enough. We should be done in here before Leah and Joshua wake from their naps.”

“I can’t believe they still rest in the mornings.”

“Well, you may not be so lucky with your next
boppli.
The twins were not sleepers. I think they took naps until they were six months old. After that, I was lucky to have the evening hours to myself.”

“You’re the second person to mention another baby to me in the last week.” Esther accepted the long strip of blue paper and stretched to place it on the top shelf. “How do I know I’ll have more babies though? Maybe after all this time I won’t be able to.”

“Not likely that your body has forgotten how.”

“I suppose. It seems so odd though. It’s been me and Leah for so long now that I don’t know what to think about the idea. When Tobias mentioned it the other day, I felt all disoriented, but at the same time excited.” Esther put her hands on her hips and studied the cabinets. “Looks gut.”

Climbing down, she smiled at Deborah. “I suppose it will all work out.”

“Of course it will. It’s like I tell Mary. God will bring babies when he’s ready for them and not before.” Deborah pulled Esther into a hug.

“
Danki.
You’re a
gut
friend. How about we go and see what needs to be done to the sitting room?”

They walked into the room, walked in front of the large window that looked out over the yard and the dirt road leading off the property, when they both saw it, or rather, them.

Esther drew in a sharp breath and pulled herself up straighter.

“What do you suppose it’s about?” Deborah whispered.

“I don’t know, but it can’t be good if there’re three cars of them.”

They walked outside and reached the patrol cars the same time as Tobias, who had come in from the fields. Taylor, Gavin, Black — they were all there, and more.

“Tobias, Esther, Deborah.” Taylor was the one to step forward and hand a folded sheet of paper to Tobias. “This gives us the right to search the premises again. It’s been approved by Judge Stearns.”

“I don’t understand.” Tobias quickly scanned the document. “What is it exactly that you’re looking for?”

Shane had been speaking to Gavin and several other officers who now fanned out — some moving toward the pond, others going in the direction of the barns.

“What is this about?” Esther asked.

Taylor cleared his throat. “Officer Black is going to need to ask you some questions, Tobias. You have a right to have an attorney present.”

“I don’t have an attorney. I didn’t know that I needed one.”

Shane stepped forward. “Are you waiving your right to legal counsel?”

Tobias stared down at the paper again, began reading from the top.

“Why are you here, Shane?” Deborah slipped her arm around Esther. The way she had begun shaking, there was a possibility this new blow might be too much. Certainly there was a limited amount of shock a body could take.

Instead of answering, Shane showed them an eight-by-ten photo he was holding. It was a picture of a teenage
Englisch
girl. She had long auburn hair, a smattering of freckles across the tops of her cheeks, and the sweet smile she sported revealed a mouth full of braces.

“Do you know her? Have any of you seen her?”

“No,” Deborah said.

Esther shook her head, her gaze flying to Tobias.

“I have never seen this girl. Now why are your men on my land?”

“Because she’s missing, Tobias. She’s been missing for two weeks, and we have reason to believe that Reuben had something to do with it.”

Tobias’ face flushed blood red. “You don’t mean that.”

“I do mean it, and we will search this property.”

“To find what?”

“To look for her body, man. What do you think?” Shane stepped closer then, and his next words pulled the breath out of Deborah’s lungs. “And if we find her, it’s going to be harder for you to explain away. One girl you might not have noticed. One girl you might have an alibi for. But two? That’s not very likely. Two you’d have a harder time explaining. Two, he’d probably need an accomplice, someone who helped or knew what was going on or at least covered for him.”

“I am a peaceful man.” Tobias was within an inch of Shane’s face now. “But if you say one more word to me, if you make one more false accusation, I will take my fist, and I will put it — “

“Tobias!” Esther’s scream split the morning. She pulled herself away, out of Deborah’s grasp, and threw herself into Tobias’ arms. “Come with me. Come inside. Let Shane’s men look for what they must. Then they’ll go. They will find nothing, and then they will go.”

She linked her hand with his and pulled him toward the house, and though his face had turned a deep red, he went.

Deborah followed them as Shane turned back toward the pond.

Why would they think Tobias or Reuben had anything to do with this missing girl?

How could they think such a thing? Certainly Tobias had nothing to do with the first one, and now … now there was a second? It seemed once doubt had been cast on a person’s character, then it was too easy to make the next connection.

She thought of the conversation that Esther had suffered through with Mrs. Drisban in the General Store. The one where the woman had given her a Christian pamphlet — as if Amish folk weren’t Christians. On telling her about it, Esther’s cheeks had paled, and she’d pulled the pamphlet out of her bag like it was a hideous thing.

Deborah had been curious though.

Drisban and Shane had known Reuben, Esther, and Tobias all their lives. How could they doubt them so? Was it that they believed they’d changed? Or was it that they believed all men were capable of such evil?

It wasn’t like Shane Black to jump to conclusions without some evidence — the blood he had found in the house didn’t prove anything in Deborah’s opinion. Yes, there were questions. Yes, Reuben should answer them if he could, but still he was not guilty. What else had Shane found? Tobias said they’d searched the woods with dogs before the arraignment. Why?

Something else was at work here, and Deborah was ready to find out what it was.

Since the shop was closed on Mondays, Callie used the day to place stock orders, catch up on paperwork, and run errands. Today’s errands were going to take her by the
Grossdaddi
House on the edge of town. First, though, she stopped at The
Kaffi
Shop.

“I thought Amish people kept their parents at home with them.”

“Most do,” Margie agreed, handing Callie a to-go cup of coffee with a shot of espresso, all topped off with whipped cream. Margie’s bright red hair was cut in a short ‘do that looked great, and Callie wondered for a minute about her decision to grow her own hair out. “I think with Mr. Bontrager the problems were twofold. The son sold his farm and bought a place here in town above the CPA office where he works.”

“How does an Amish person work in a CPA office. I mean — “ Callie stopped, not sure how to continue.

“I know what you mean. It’s the schooling thing, but many times they do have a talent for professions that traditionally require more education. For instance, the younger Bontrager — I
don’t remember his name now — was always very good with numbers. He had a real gift. No doubt he would have gone to one of the big schools with a scholarship if he’d been an
Englischer
.”

“But because he’s Amish he didn’t.”

“Right. He tried a few different jobs and finally answered an ad at the CPA office, just as an errand boy at first. He was older even then — too old to be an errand boy.” Margie swiped a dish towel across the already clean counter.

“So what happened?” Callie sipped her coffee and reached into her to-go bag to pinch off a corner of her cranberry muffin.

“Didn’t take long for the owner to realize his gift for numbers. They kept promoting him, until now he handles almost as much work as the CPA.”

“But he’s not a CPA.”

“No. He makes a good living though, and he seems satisfied with that. Married late and they had no children. But living in town, there wasn’t really a good place for his father to live once he couldn’t stay alone. The
Grossdaddi
House seemed like the best place when you add in the complication of Mr. Bontrager’s dementia.”

“How do you know so much about everyone?” Callie smiled and folded her to-go sack shut. “It’s not as if you’re a gossip. Yet, you seem to know everyone’s history.”

“It’s a small town, Callie. Live here long enough, and you’ll know as much as I do.” Margie walked around the counter and squatted down, gave Max a good rub behind the ears. Then she stood and pushed a box of cookies into Callie’s hands. “These are oatmeal raisin. The old folks like them. Mind taking them out there for me?”

“Not at all.”

“And next time you come by, you can tell me what this is all about.”

“I’d love to. In fact, I might have some more questions for you. Want to grab a bite to eat next Monday evening?”

“It’s a date. Hubby has a late meeting, so I was on my own anyway.”

Callie felt more optimistic as she climbed into her car than she had in the past week. Finally, it seemed, things were starting to come together.