“John will know tomorrow whether he’s inherited the orchard,” Florence said as she sat down at the table in Ettie and Elsa-May’s kitchen.
Elsa-May tucked a paper napkin over the top of her dress and straightened it, smoothing it down against her dress. “And by now, Detective Kelly will know about the nurse and he’ll be looking into her background.”
Ettie added, “He’ll also be able to see whether she deposited a large sum of money into her bank account.”
“Surely she wouldn’t have been stupid enough to put it into her own bank account,” Florence said.
“You never know.” Ettie ladled the soup into three bowls and when all of them were seated with soup in front of them, they closed their eyes and said a prayer of thanks for the food. “Bread, anyone?”
“Jah, please,” Florence said.
“I’ll cut it.” Elsa-May grabbed the breadknife before Ettie reached it. “You always cut the bread crooked.”
Ettie scowled at her oldest sister. “I do not.”
“You do.”
Florence laughed. “I don’t know how you two have managed to live together for all this time.”
“Why do you say that?” Elsa-May asked in her oldest-sister tone.
“Every time I come here there’s an awful lot of arguing.”
“There’s no arguing,” Elsa-May said. “Not when I’m always right.”
Ettie giggled. “I don’t know what to say about that.”
Florence said, “I think maybe you should just keep quiet, Ettie.”
“Jah, that’s what I’ve found is usually best.”
Elsa-May finished cutting the bread and held up a perfectly even slice. “See? It’s the same on all sides.” She slowly turned the piece of bread from side to side.
“Wunderbaar,” Ettie said sarcastically.
Florence laughed. “You can cut the bread any time you’re at my place, Elsa-May.”
“Would you like a piece of bread, Ettie?” Elsa-May asked.
“Jah, please. If you can replicate that perfection.”
Florence laughed again.
“No problem.” Elsa-May turned her attention to cutting the bread and then handed Ettie another perfectly cut slice.
“Denke,” Ettie said with a nod.
“Where were we up to with things?” Florence asked.
“We were saying you’ll find out tomorrow whether John’s inherited his father’s orchard. Kelly would now know about the story of the missing money and about Levi complaining that the nurse had taken his money,” Ettie said.
Elsa-May buttered her bread.
Ettie stared at the thick layer of butter on Elsa-May’s bread. “Not too much butter. Remember what the doctor said?”
“Humph. Are you still convinced Levi was killed, Florence?”
“If you had been there too, you would’ve seen him most insistent that someone was trying to kill him and his death wouldn’t be an accident. He told me that about three times.”
“That’s right, I remember now. He told you it would be the man next door, his son, the nurse, and I think you mentioned one more person.”
Ettie placed her soupspoon down and stared at Florence. “Who?”
“I can’t remember, but it’ll come to me.”
“He actually thought his son might try to kill him?” Elsa-May asked.
“I know it’s surprising, but that’s what he said. I remember now. It was Tony Troyer. Remember? I had you put him on that list. Many years ago, they had plans of going into business together. Levi said something about Tony not being able to raise all the money, so their partnership didn’t go ahead.”
Elsa-May asked, “Was Tony Troyer at the funeral?”
Ettie shook her head. “He wasn’t. There weren’t many people there and that’s how I remember he definitely wasn’t there.”
Florence said, “Ettie, perhaps we should pay Tony a visit?”
“What reason will we give for being there?”
“I’m not sure. We’ll think of something before we get there.”
“We’ll do it another time, perhaps in a few days. There are other things that need looking at first,” Ettie said. “Like seeing who the real beneficiary of the will is. If Levi was murdered that might give us a good clue where to look for his killer.”
“Okay. Good idea.” Florence placed another spoonful of soup into her mouth.
“It’s good soup, Ettie,” Elsa-May said.
“Denke.” Ettie could scarcely believe her ears. A positive comment from her older sister was rare indeed.
Elsa-May screwed up her nose, and added, “It just needs a little more salt.”
Ettie’s elation was short-lived, and she pushed the saltshaker toward Elsa-May.