Hidden (Amish Romance Mystery) (Amish Secret Widows' Society Book 2) Read Free

said. He was right; there was no need to tell Frank at all since Wil would have driven him there and back. If only Wil didn’t have his head in the clouds all the time. But, then again, she was also to blame. “I see. I guess I didn’t think about it too much. Anyway he’s an old man on his own; it doesn’t hurt for people to call in on him every now and again.”
    “Hmm.”
    Emma wondered what ‘hmm’ meant.
    “Do you, or did you – I should say, know the deceased very well?”
    “ Nee , not that well. Wil knows him well and did a lot of things for him; like repairs and anything he needed done around the haus. He used to take him places, but so did others in the community. We look after our own, you know.”
    “Hmm, I know.”
    Emma studied the detective’s sharp, angular facial features and figured that they matched the sharpness of his tongue and his blunt personality.
    The detective walked around the living room and Emma followed him. As he circled one of the couches, he said, “It looks as though someone was looking for something, wouldn’t you think? Someone’s done a thorough search for something.”
    “Can I go now, detective? I’ll have Wil call one of Frank’s sons and I’m sure they’ll take care of things.”
    As she walked toward the door, the detective said, “Mrs. Kurtzler, have you forgotten something?”
    Emma spun around to face the detective. “No, I don’t think I have.”
    Detective Crowley looked down at the cat that was purring around his legs.
    “Oh dear, the cat.”
    “Looks like it was the old man’s cat. Why don’t you take it home, Mrs. Kurtzler?”
    “I can’t have a cat. I’ve got enough animals to look after.” She stared at the large tabby; he had stopped purring around the detective’s legs and was staring at her, as was the detective. “I’ve never liked cats. Besides he’ll likely chase all the birds that come into my garden.”
    “Don’t trouble yourself. I’ll call animal welfare and have it put down.”
    “No, you can’t do that.” The cat looked at her as if it knew exactly what the detective had said. Emma felt guilty and sighed. “All right. I’ll take the cat.” Emma crouched down. “Come on, kitty.” The cat slowly walked toward her and did not object when Emma picked him up and tucked him under her arm. “Oh, he’s such a heavy cat.”
    “Yes. It doesn’t look like he’s gone without too many meals.”
    “Well, goodbye, Detective.”
    “As usual, Mrs. Kurtzler, I will need to ask you some questions; don’t leave town.”
    Emma headed to her buggy, glad to get away from the detective. She put the cat in the seat next to her, half hoping that he would jump out and run away. She’d had dogs before, but never a cat. Despite her hopes, the gray cat curled into a ball and immediately fell asleep. He looked so peaceful and cuddly that Emma felt bad for hoping he’d run away.
    When she pulled up in front of Wil’s haus, he came out to meet her.
    “Wil, it’s Frank.”
    “What’s happened, Emma? You look as white as a sheet.” Wil put his hands on Emma’s shoulders to steady her.
    “Frank has died. The police think that he’s been killed. I found him on the kitchen floor and then waited for the ambulance to come. He had no pulse.”
    Wil’s face was blank. “Is he dead?”
    “Murdered, killed, jah , dead.” Emma collapsed into his arms.
    Wil held Emma tightly for a moment, before he said, “I should have gone. I never should have sent you.”
    “I offered to go. There shouldn’t have been any harm in going. You weren’t to know.” Emma gave a couple of sniffs. “That horrible detective was there too.”
    “Crowley?”
    Emma pulled her head back from Wil’s shoulder. “That’s the one. He said that from the look of the place that someone was searching for something.”
    Wil shook his entire body. “I’m having trouble taking it all in. Come and sit inside and tell me everything from the start.”
    Wil led Emma