Plain Murder (Amish Romance Mystery): Clean Mystery series (Amish Secret Widows' Society Book 8) (2 page)

Chapter 2.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

"Sabrina." A frazzled looking Mr. Caruthers poked his head around his door. "Could you bring me a cup of tea?"

"Certainly, Mr. Caruthers." She made his tea strong with a lemon slice and moved swiftly to his office. After Mr. Caruthers’ row with his son, she doubted he would be in a good mood, and she did not want to get on his wrong side today. "Here you go, Mr. Caruthers, nice and hot." She turned to leave, but stopped at his request.

"Close the door and sit with me a moment, Sabrina."

She did as asked silently praying he wasn't the type to take a bad mood out on his employees, especially females who he was just about to promote officially. She sat in the high black leather chair opposite him and placed her hands neatly in her lap.

"I'm going to treat you with the respect you've earned during your time here, and not ignore the fact that you overheard my altercation with Trevor." He squeezed some lemon into his tea and took a sip.

She wanted desperately to deny it, but that would not be respectful and could lose her the job since he valued honesty. She could not lie to him. "I did hear bits and pieces, the loudest bits and pieces.”

"Well, from my recollection, that's pretty much the whole thing."

"Um, perhaps. If you say so, sir."

"I want to apologize for anything you might have heard. Much of which, no lady should be exposed to." Mr. Caruthers scoffed. "Trevor is a disappointment to me."

Sabrina felt sorry that a father should feel so let down by his own child and sorry that a son should feel such a let down to his father. But she had to come across as neutral as possible. "I wouldn't know I'm afraid, not knowing Trevor at all I mean." She did know Trevor well enough to know that she did not care to spend too much time in his company. He was loud and opinionated and condescending to all the staff.

"It gives me no pleasure in saying these things; you should know that, Sabrina. If and when I open the new auction stables, and Trevor doesn't instantly get the job he thinks he deserves, any former bad behavior will seem angelic in comparison." The stress of the argument with his son crinkled his forehead and his jaw flexed in a grinding motion.

Sabrina bit her lip; he had promised her fulltime work so if he did not go ahead with the new auction house, what would happen to her job? "I'm sure it will all work out for the best, sir." What else could she say? This wasn't her business; she had no right to comment on his personal life. She glanced awkwardly at the exit, wishing she could get up and get on with her work. "Who will get the job of managing the new place?"

"Ah," he smiled, clearly relieved to think of someone other than his son. "That would be a man who’s worked for me for ten years. He's such a wonderful fellow, and when he takes the job, I'll be able to sit back and relax, safe in the knowledge that the place is in good hands. I could never do that with Trevor. I mean, can you imagine? He'd gamble it away in a month; the boy has no sense of responsibility, no sense full stop."

"Oh, um."
Change the subject.
"I was under the impression that it was all going ahead.”

"Maybe, I’ve run into a few stumbling blocks though."

"Who's the man who’s worked for you for ten years?”

"It's John Steele.”

"Ah, John
." Lovely, lovely John.
Sabrina hid her inner swoon. "Yes, I know him."

A knock at the door disturbed Sabrina's roaming thoughts about John and her awkward conversation with her boss, and was soon followed by May entering the office. May was always bright and happy and lit up every room she entered.

"Hello Daddy, and Sabrina. I wondered why you weren't at your desk."

"I'll leave you two to chat. Can I get you tea, May?"

"Oh, do stay, Sabrina, no need to rush off. No to the tea, thank you.”

“Sabrina and I have finished our conversation.”

“I want her to stay.” She stared at her father. “I'm sure you know exactly what I'm here to talk about."

"I've no idea, I'm sure." Mr. Caruthers frowned as May sat in the chair next to Sabrina.

"Come now, Father. There's no need trying to deny it. Trevor told me you'd had a row about something again, and I mean to find out why."

"It really isn't your concern and I'm too tired to go through the whole sorry tale again. He's wasted enough of my day."

"Did he demand more money? That's it isn't it? And the horse auction you're opening soon at.... oh where did you say again? Anyway, was it that? Did you refuse to give it to him - the management job?"

"No, that quarrel is another thing I have to look forward to.”

Sabrina felt embarrassed at witnessing their personal conversation of family concerns. “I really have work to do.”

May ignored her and spoke to her father. "Can't you give him a chance? Is he really so useless? He might redeem himself, surprise everyone, given half the chance."

Her kindness reminded Sabrina of her own sister, Silvie. That may be why Sabrina had gotten along so well with May as soon as she met her.

"I've already chosen the man for the job, May. I can't give Trevor the chance to let me down again."

May's tiny nose wrinkled. "Oh, please stop."

Mr. Caruthers frowned at his daughter. "Sorry?"

"So, who's getting the job?" May asked.

“John Steele."

"John? Really?" Sabrina noticed the flush at May's throat and cheeks, the quickened blink of her lashes. "Heavens."

"A good choice?" Her father smiled at her reaction.

"Oh my, yes." May rose to her feet with a jump, and then the pretty grin slipped. "But he'll be...  how far away will he be?"

"Around fifty miles. He'll have to relocate of course, which is a shame. I won't be the only one who will miss the fellow; he's very popular."

Sabrina now knew for certain that May had feelings for John Steele. Sabrina could not deny her own attraction to John, but she could not compete with May. For a start May was an attractive and wealthy
Englischer
and Sabrina was Amish, which had to be a distinct disadvantage if she was to gain John’s attention. Anyway, there was not much point to either of them liking John if he was going to leave the area. Today was going from bad to worse. "Excuse me, would you mind terribly if I got back to my work? It won't complete itself and I promised Silvie I'd be home on time tonight. She does so hate it when I'm late for dinner."

Chapter 3.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live,

but Christ lives in me.

The life I live in the body,

I live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

Sabrina had been sitting at her desk for more than half an hour, organizing documents and tallying up figures. This had been one of the days where her work never seemed to be finished, although she never complained. Sabrina loved her job and considered herself quite lucky to have found herself in the employ of the stables. It wasn't until the arrival of an unexpected visitor did she properly look up from her work.

"Silvie," Sabrina called out, seeing her sister enter the office area. "What a pleasant surprise." Sabrina crossed the room to greet her older
schweschder.
After sharing a brief embrace, Sabrina asked, "What brings you here?" You should have let me know you were coming here today."

"You’re always asking me to come and have a look where you work, so today’s the day." Pausing to take a quick look around Sabrina's office, Silvie flashed a wry grin. "And to be totally honest, Bailey’s thinking of buying another horse.”

Sabrina laughed. “You’ve come to the right place. Most of the horses for tomorrow’s auction have arrived." Remembering there was still a large measure of paperwork to get through, Sabrina said, "I'm going to be busy here for another five minutes or so. Why don't you go and take a look around the stables? I'll be through in no time at all, and I’ll come and find you."

Silvie looked out the side window that looked across to the stables then she made her way back towards the door. "I'm sure I'll be able to find my way there; I'll see you soon."

Sabrina quickly set about filing away the last batch of documents. After putting away the final piece of paper, Sabrina let out a satisfied sigh and hastily went out to meet Silvie.

* * *

Silvie paced slowly through the stables. It was a huge stable block, and Silvie guessed there to be upwards of sixty horses. An attractive bay with a large white blaze drew Silvie’s attention. She saw what looked like a foot jutting out from behind the horse. Stepping slowly sideways, Silvie saw someone lying in the back of the stable. Silvie called out to whoever it might be.

"Hello? Are you okay?" When there was no response, Silvie opened the stable door hoping the horse was a quiet one. To her horror, Silvie saw the lifeless body of an older male sprawled out with a knife in his back and blood seeped into the hay either side of him. Silvie ducked back away and shut the stable door.
Is he dead?
“Help, someone, help,” she screamed. Silvie knew that time was of the essence. She fastened the horse’s halter with a nearby clip-rope, opened the stable door, led the horse and tied him to a railing in the center of the building. She rushed back to the stable and leaned down and touched the neck of the man. There was no pulse; this man was dead.

* * *

Sabrina hadn't even stepped foot into the stable when she heard her
schweschder's
scream. Rushing to her side, she quickly felt her stomach lurch when she saw the body of her boss with a large knife sticking out of his back, lying before her. Feeling her body begin to shake, Sabrina stumbled backward and screamed while struggling to process what she saw.

“Do you know him?” Silvie asked, holding her stomach.

“He’s my boss. Is he…?”

“
Jah
, he’s dead.”

A few stable hands who had heard the loud scream ran in.

“Looks like he’s dead. Someone call 911,” Sabrina yelled.

Minutes later Sabrina heard Silvie say, “Sabrina, the police are on their way.”

Looking vacantly up at Silvie, Sabrina managed to form a sentence. “I don’t know how it happened. How
could
this happen? He was alive this morning.” Still suffering from the numb grip of shock, Sabrina remained where she was until the police arrived. She didn’t register how long it took, but when the police entered the stable area, she noted that her hands were still shaking.

“Hello, Miss?” The taller of the two males came to speak to her while the other talked to Silvie. “My name is Constable Fowler, I understand you were the one to find the body?”

Moving up from her seated position, Sabrina eventually found the strength to speak with a degree of lucidity.

“No, that was my sister, Silvie.”

“I see,” Fowler responded, amending a note in his pad. “But you do work here? Mr. Caruthers was your boss?”

“He was, yes,” Sabrina attempted to continue her reply but was cut short.

“Would you mind accompanying us to the station, for a few questions?”

Sabrina thought how cold the officer seemed, almost as if he thought she were responsible. But on further thought she surmised he would be like this with everyone involved in a case like this.

“Of course. I’ll just fetch my coat.” Exiting the office, Sabrina joined her sister in the walk toward one of the many police cars in the carpark.

The trip to the police station was a short one. Sabrina soon found herself in a room with Constable Fowler.

“So....” the officer began, flicking through the scrawls of notes that had accumulated in his note pad. “Sabrina, you have been working as Mr. Caruthers’ employee at the stables for several months now, yes?”

“That is correct, yes.” Sabrina’s reply was weak, but she had been gradually regaining her strength. “I work there part time at the moment.”

“Did you and Mr. Caruthers ever engage in a relationship outside of work?”

For a moment, Sabrina thought she had misheard the question. Once she realized that she had heard the officer perfectly clearly, she said, “Pardon me?” Was he seriously asking a question like that? Constable Fowler stared at her waiting for a response. “Absolutely not. Mr. Caruthers was my boss, nothing more.”

Sabrina was about to enquire why he would ask such a thing when another officer poked his head around the door. “Fowler, we have something.”

Fowler sprang to his feet, leaving Sabrina alone in the room.

They thought she was having some sort of an affair with her boss; did they also think she knew something about his death? When Constable Fowler returned, his expression seemed more sullen than it had been previously.

“You’re free to go, Sabrina. But we will need to keep your sister, Silvie, here for further questioning.”

That last statement alone commanded Sabrina’s attention, forcing her to speak out. “What, why? Silvie’s done nothing wrong.” Sabrina stood up and followed the officer out of the room. Struggling to see her sibling through the gathered throng of officers that had collected in the hallway, Sabrina yelped as someone grabbed her shoulder and spun her round.

“Trevor,” Sabrina called out, seeing her boss’s son standing before her. “What are you doing here?” As soon as she asked the question, she realized her folly.

“Why do you think I’m here? The same reason you are, of course.”

Trevor barked his words, seeming to be angrier than grief stricken by the ordeal.

“I came here with John Steele; he’s at reception.” Trevor looked around at the surrounding officers, letting out an exasperated sigh. ”To be honest, I think he’s hoping for an opportunity to take over the stables. Well, I’ll be lying beside my dead father before I let that happen. That business is staying in the family.”

No sooner had Trevor finished speaking than John Steele appeared, the look on his face suggesting he had heard every word Trevor had said.

“Sabrina,” John Steele said softly, greeting Sabrina with a nod. “How are you?”

“I’m okay, John.” She forced a smile as she replied, “Thanks for asking. I’ve already been questioned; they said I can go, but they’re keeping Silvie here.”

“I’m sure it’s just procedure,” John said.

“Silvie was the one who found him.” Sabrina fought back tears.

“What was your sister doing in the stables in the first place? That’s a restricted area at that time of the day,” Trevor said.

“I was going to show her the horses, but I let her go ahead of me. I was only a couple of minutes behind her.” Sabrina bit her lip hoping she wasn’t going to be in trouble with Trevor, who looked as though he would be her new boss.

“Let’s not trouble Silvie with things like that, Trevor. She’s had a bad shock,” John said.

“So have we all.” Trevor glared at John. “You go home; Silvie and John and I will stay here and see what the police have to tell us. Unfortunately, the show must go on, and we’ll have to have the auction tomorrow. Will you be up to coming into work?

“Yes. I’ll be alright. I’ll go home as soon as they finish speaking to Silvie.” At that moment, Silvie appeared in the hallways in between two large policemen. “Oh, here she is.”

“They haven’t finished with me yet, Sabrina. They want me to do a recorded statement. They’re just setting up the equipment now.”

“I’m sorry, Silvie. I’m sorry I didn’t go into the stables with you.”

“Go home and tell Bailey to come here. I’d like him to be here. Go in a taxi, and he can get the same taxi back here.”

“I don’t want to leave you here, Silvie.”

Silvie squeezed Sabrina’s hand. “It’s okay; they don’t think I killed him. They just need to know how I found him and all that. I’d like Bailey to be here. I want him to be here when they finish interviewing me. Go now, Sabrina, please.”

Sabrina studied the strain on Silvie’s delicate, pale features. She wanted to lean on her husband. Sabrina nodded and wanted to give Silvie a kiss on the cheek, but didn’t, not with the two large officers either side of her. Sabrina made her way out of the police station where she caught a taxi.