Two days later Micah was in Lisa’s room as soon as he was allowed in. He hoped to be in and out before Mr. Kennedy showed up. He was not surprised when the nurses told him Mr. Kennedy had not been back and Mrs. Kennedy seemed relieved.
He quietly walked beside her bed trying not to disturb her, but she opened her eyes and looked at him. He was pleased to see her eyes were more alert and she showed signs of being able to think and talk.
“Good morning,” he smiled. “How are you feeling now?”
“Good morning. I feel fine, much better than I’ve been feeling. Is Willfred anywhere around?”
“No. I’m sorry. Did you want me to get him?”
“NO. Oh, sorry. I need to talk to you privately.” He sat in the chair by her bedside and waited. “I don’t know how to start.”
“Start anywhere you please. I’m not here to judge you, just to listen.”
“To begin I don’t have any proof of what I’m going to tell you. I only know about the expressions I’ve seen on my husband’s face, about his reactions to certain subjects and change in personality. His dental practice has suffered and he is not the same man I married. I don’t know whether it’s because of Darren’s death or if he’s involved as I suspect him to be.”
Micah sat quietly with no expression. He knew from experience that most people could not stand silence. If he kept quiet they would talk about anything they thought of and sometimes it was just what he wanted to know.
She continued. “Well, after that nice Mr. Kime was killed, Willfred seemed to have something on his mind. He wouldn’t talk to me, but he did get with his brother, Orville, a lot. They’re only fourteen months apart and are very close. As time passed, he got worse. He drinks more, he neglects his work, he runs to his brother’s and he is angry with me over nothing and everything. I can’t say or do anything that he approves of.”
She pinched the sheet between her fingers and nervously glanced at Micah out of the corner of her eye. “I asked him point blank one day if he was guilty of something and he threw a fit, storming out and driving to his brother’s to be gone a couple of days. At first I didn’t know where he was. I don’t know what he told them, but Orville and his wife have been ugly to me. I stopped trying to talk to either of them until the Sunday morning I lost control and went looking for someone to listen to me. I’m so ashamed that I interrupted the worship service, but there is where I began to get some help. Did you know several of the Amish have visited me and are concerned? I don’t understand how anyone can hate them so much when they are so kind.”
Micah shifted on the hard seat. He was trying desperately to remain calm and quiet to encourage her to feel free to talk.
“As I said I don’t have definite proof. That Sunday Willfred apparently thought I was still asleep. He was on the phone with his brother. I heard him say, ‘Don’t be worried. I’ll keep it to myself and Lisa doesn’t have to know. She would just blab it all over the county. I don’t care what you’ve done, I’ll stand by you no matter what. The more Amish we can get rid of, the better off we’ll be.’”
“He looked up then and saw me looking at him. He screamed at me and hung the phone up, yelling at me that if I said one word of what I had heard to anybody that I would join that Amish man in his grave. I lost it.
He ran out of the house and I guess I lost control and went hunting someone I could talk to. I’m so very sorry that I upset the Amish in their service.”
“They do not hold that against you. In fact they’ve been praying for you and want to help if they can. Remember they do not hate or hold grudges.”
Micah leaned forward and took her hand. “Do you think Willfred was the one driving the car that killed Adam Kime?”
“I did at first, but now I think his brother is guilty and he’s helping cover up for his brother. What can I do? What can you do?” She clung to his hand.
“I can’t do anything because, as you said, there is no proof. Our only chance is to somehow trick him into saying enough that I have grounds to arrest him and question him. A slick attorney would make mince meat of us and we’d lose a chance of finding the guilty party. Do me a favor. Keep quiet. Say absolutely nothing to Willfred about any of this. Play dumb. Let him get careless thinking you know nothing and haven’t told me anything.”
Micah realized that Lisa was now afraid of Willfred and his brother. She needed to be home with her youngest daughter who was a junior in high school. The older girl was away at college. They talked a few minutes more and he reminded her to pretend that all was well between her and Willfred.
As Micah started out the hospital door, he saw Willfred walking in from the parking lot. He quickly backed up and looked around for somewhere to stand so that he would not be noticed. He saw a restroom sign pointing around a corner and headed that way. He waited a few minutes and came out to walk to the parking lot hoping Willfred would not know he had been there.
For some reason, she could not explain, Charity felt compelled to visit Mrs. Kennedy a few times. They always talked about Jeremiah and the store. Charity was in the room one afternoon when Mr. Kennedy came in. Cold chills ran up her spine at the expression in his eyes when he discovered her. She quickly told Lisa and Willfred that she was praying for them and hurried out.
Jeremiah was proudly standing now by holding to furniture or people’s legs. He was very independent and wanted to do things on his own.
Jacob laughed and said, “That rascal is going to be running before long. Just wait until you have to go through rumspringa with him, then you’ll know what it is to be anxious. We never had worries with you, dochder.
You were not interested in rumspringa except for a few weeks.” He paused. “I need to wash the outside of your store. There is a weschp (wasp) building a nest near the front corner. You don’t want anyone stung.”
Jacob left the store as Amish friends came in. They wished each other a gut daag (good day) and talked of the usual things of interest to them.
The woman left the men talking while she went in to buy some brawn shugah (brown sugar). She also bought a large wooden schpoon (spoon) for stirring jams and jellies she was making.
Charity thankfully closed for the day and bid her helpers a fond good bye as she locked the door behind her. Lawrence was waiting with a buggy to take her and Jeremiah home.
Micah made excuses to talk to Willfred Kennedy about Lisa’s hospital stay. “Mr. Kennedy, is there anything I can do to help? Do you have any idea why your wife is so stressed out?” He leaned against his car.
“No, and it’s nobody’s business but ours. She isn’t right in the head for some reason. Maybe she’s been sick or taking medicine that I don’t know about. Has she said anything to you?”
“Such as? I don’t know what you mean. What would she talk to me about?”
“I don’t know. She’s crazy.”
“She’s been upset every since your son died. It was a big enough shock to know of his death and then to find that he killed himself.”
“No. He didn’t set out to kill himself.”
“I know that, Mr. Kennedy. Get a group of kids together, especially boys, and they will try to show off for each other. I’m sure he had no idea he would die.”
“He’d still be alive if those blamed Amish did not live so close.”
“What do the Amish have to do with it?”
“Well, none of the decent people want them here. They are a drain on our economy and do nothing to help.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way, Mr. Kennedy. They are not a drain on the economy. They pay taxes, they trade in our stores, they furnish food for our tables and milk. They are good workers and stay to themselves. They are strictly against quarreling or fighting of any kind. They believe in live and let live. They would never think of doing something bad to you or your property.’”
“Just the fact that they’re here is bad enough.”
“Have any of them done anything to you to cause you to feel this way? How does your brother feel about them?”
“They’ve done nothing personally to me. Just being here is annoying with their strange clothing and them going around like zombies. My brother hates them more than I do.”
Micah hoped he would continue talking without realizing that his brother had been brought into the conversation. “Has your brother had some problems with the Amish?”
Willfred laughed manically. “Problems with them. No, but they’ve sure had some with him.”
“Really? How’s that?”
Willfred slowly swung his head like a bull that didn’t know whether to charge or not. “I’ve said too much. Has my crazy wife said something about my brother?”
“She’s been in no shape to say anything about anyone. I’m hoping she’ll feel like telling me what caused her to have the breakdown. Do you have any idea what it could be? It would help her a lot if you could tell me something or tell the doctor. She needs all the help she can get.”
‘She sure does. I told you she’s crazy. Pay no attention to anything she says. She thinks my brother and his wife don’t like her, but she hasn’t tried to be friendly with them.”
“Why would she think they don’t like her? The four of you do things together, don’t you?”
“Naw. We have more fun without her old sour face and straight-laced ways.”
“Is that so? Don’t you try to get her to participate with all of you in visits or trips together -- maybe a dinner together at each other’s house?”
“I gotta go. I don’t know what you’re trying to prove or find out by pretending to be friendly with me. Just make sure you pay no attention to Lisa’s crazy talk.”
Willfred jumped in his car and drove off. Micah was frustrated. He felt that he got some information from Willfred, but not near what he needed. He made up his mind to try again. Maybe some time when his brother was in town he could talk to them both.
Lisa was well enough to go home, but she didn’t want to go. “My daughter, Alena, is staying with a cousin and she doesn’t mind staying there. My cousin wants her to stay. None of the family cares for Willfred. It took me a long time to open my eyes and discover why.”
Dr. Ford was talking to Lisa in the solarium. He was pleased with her progress, but realized that the core of her troubles had not been recognized, at least not by her.
“Mrs. Kennedy --”
“Please call me Lisa.”
“My pleasure. Lisa, are you prepared to tell me why you have been so stressed and worried? You’ve kept it to yourself so long that the brain decided to take a rest and not let you be bothered.” He smiled at her.
“I don’t really know what to tell you. I’ve discussed some of it with Sheriff Fleming, but not all of it. As I told him, I don’t have absolute proof of my worries, just suspicions. I can’t do anything until I know for a fact that what I’m suspecting is the truth. It would hurt too many people if I’m not sure.”
“If you’re not sure then it’s wise to wait until you have proof.”
Lisa’s cousin, Eilenna Newcastle, with whom Alena was staying, offered Lisa sanctuary to complete her rehab. She had put obvious facts together and came to the conclusion that Lisa might be in danger. Eilenna felt that Willfred had shown no concern for Lisa or his daughters. Instead he had been argumentative and uncooperative. Her husband, Morris, had heard Willfred calling Lisa crazy and other derogatory names.
A week later Micah was elated to see Willfred and his brother, Orville in town with a young man of early twenties. He parked his car and sauntered along the sidewalk as if he were just taking a stroll. He finally caught up with them.
“Hey. Hello. How nice to see you gentlemen. Isn’t this wonderful weather we’re having, but the news promises thunderstorms tonight. Hopefully we’ll all be inside and out of that.”
Orville grinned at him. “Yeah, we need the rain though and I’m not complaining. Hey Sheriff, have you met my son, Porter?”
Micah reached to shake his hand. “No, I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting Porter, but I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Porter looked startled and reluctantly shook hands. “You’ve heard of me. How?”
“I don’t remember at this moment, but I’m glad to meet you.”
Willfred barged in. “Did my crazy wife mention him to you?”
“Mr. Kennedy, in the first place your wife is not crazy. She was very sick and under a lot of pressure which was disturbing to her. I would love to know what caused her to become so upset. Do either of you have an idea?”
All three men just stared at Micah. Porter shrugged his shoulders. “I wouldn’t have any idea what caused her to go off like that. I’m not here that often so don’t see much of her.”
“I know you don’t come here to Shickshinny often, but I seem to remember someone saying they saw you here some time back. Something about a speeding car.” Micah said innocently.
“Speeding! Who would know me here that could judge how I was driving?”
“I don’t know, Porter. I only know what I’ve been told. I’m sorry to hear that you and your daddy have such an unreasonable hatred of the Amish. Your Uncle Willfred tells me they have done nothing personally to you, but you still don’t like them. Care to tell me why?”
Porter looked dumbfounded and said a few swear words. “I don’t exactly hate them, but I don’t have any love for them either. They don’t fit in here and no one wants them.”
“Really?” Micah acted surprised. “No one?” He stopped two business men who were walking by. “Abe Isaac and Levi Auspitz, just the men I would like to speak to for a minute.”
“Sure Micah, what do you want?” Abe asked.
“I’d like to know how you feel about the Amish living here?”
Abe and Levi looked at each other. “We have nothing against them. In fact they are good customers and Jacob Startz has made some beautiful furniture for me,” Levi said. “I’ll never understand why some misguided people hate them just because of who they are. They take care of their own and are not a burden to any of us.”
Abe spoke, “Yes, a good example is that sweet Charity Kime. She is only nineteen and is now a widow with a new little baby. She has been courageous and is working to support herself and make a life for her little boy. Adam was such a good neighbor and hard worker. I hope whoever the driver is that ran them off the road and killed Adam and his precious horse will suffer for it. Lawfully we can’t do anything about it, but boy if the whole town finds who did this cowardly deed, we’ll want to take care of him ourselves.”
Another voice spoke up. “Sorry, I’m not part of this group, but I couldn’t help hearing the topic of conversation.” Paul Meredith, President of the local bank was standing beside them. “I’ve had some dealing with the Amish and know how honest, God-fearing and kind they are. I hope that driver is caught. Even if we never know who did it, we know he’ll rot in hell.”
Levi slapped Paul on the back. “Yes. The coward who drove that car needs to see how Charity is struggling to be independent and provide for herself and her little boy. She is only nineteen and is to be admired. We need more citizens like that.”
Porter was seething. “Why do you say the driver was a coward? Maybe he didn’t know he’d hit the buggy. Besides, maybe he thought he was doing all of you a favor to get rid of an Aim-esh.”
“Get rid of them!!” Paul was shocked. “How can you say such a thing? It’s obvious you’re not a Christian or you wouldn’t think like that.”
Porter had started to walk away. He whirled around and before his daddy or his uncle could stop him he barreled up in Micah’s and the other men’s faces. “You sanctimonious hypocrites putting on a fake face pretending to embrace the Aim-esh when deep inside you hate them as much as I do. You should be thanking me instead of judging me.”
“Porter, are you saying you killed Adam Kime?” Micah calmly asked.
“Porter! You idiot. Don’t say anything else. You’re giving these people the wrong impression.” Orville yelled at him.
Willfred reached to grab Porter’s arm. “Come on boy before you let that slippery tongue get you in trouble.”
What they didn’t know was Micah had called for back-up when he first saw them on the street. At a nod of his head three deputies ran in and placed handcuffs on all three.
“I’m arresting you for the murder of Adam Kime and destroying valuable property. A little boy will never know his father and a young woman, not much more than a little girl, has lost a husband that she adored. She might be young but she is showing more maturity than you’ll ever have. Take them away boys and book them.”
Willfred was leaving yelling at the top of his lungs. “You’re as crazy as that wife of mine. I’ll sue you, I’ll sue the county and you’ll all be sorry.”
Orville just hung his head and plodded quietly along.
Micah gave a deep sigh. Paul was elated. “Good for you, Micah. I told everyone you’d find the answer to the mystery of Adam’s death. Maybe this will serve as a warning to others who might want to do the same thing.”
“Don’t celebrate yet. I don’t have the proof I need and a slick attorney can still get them off free and clear. I have to get busy now and find the one thing I will need to make murder stick.”
The three men did hire attorneys and were out on bail. Micah racked his brain until he had a headache. One day he was sitting at his desk and suddenly jumped up shouting, “That’s it.”
“What’s it?” Several deputies gathered around.
“I’ll tell you when I have the proof I hope to find. Glenn, I’ll be out of town for a day or so. You’re in charge until I return. Ellen,” he turned to the secretary, “notify the Mayor that I’ve left town searching for evidence I need and I’ll return in a day or two. Don’t let anyone else know I’ve gone.”
He ran home to pack an overnight bag and tell his wife where he would be. He drove to Wilkes Barre and checked into the Days Inn, 760 Kidder St. He called Anita to tell him where he was and then called Glenn. He went to a few auto repair shops that were nearby, but had to stop for supper and sleep.
Early the next morning he was up, had a quick breakfast and started hunting again. He began to feel discouraged and was afraid he had a bad idea. He decided that this would be the last auto shop and then he’d go home even though he felt like a failure.
He parked in front and went into the Avondale Auto Repair, 531 North Pennsylvania Ave. An elderly woman greeted him from behind a tall oak desk that almost hid her. She welcomed him and asked how she could help.
“I need to ask about a repair that was made either on 22nd or 23rd of September of last year.”
“Oh, my. That’s a long time ago. I’ll call my son and maybe he can help you.” She went to a door between the office and repair shop. “David, come here, please.”
“Ma, I’m busy.”
“This is very important or I wouldn’t bother you. Sheriff Fleming is here and needs to talk to you.”
“Whoa, boss. What have you done?” One man called as the others made remarks.
David came in wiping the grease from his hands. His coveralls were dirty from working under cars. “Hello, Sheriff, how can I help you?”
“I know this is a strange request, but I’m trying to find evidence in a murder case which occurred last September 22nd. I’m trying to find if a dark blue Cadillac sedan was brought in with a scrape on the right side. It might have left black or just took the paint off.”
David thought and shook his head. “Sorry. Nothing comes to mind.”
Micah tried one more time. “Do you know Porter Kennedy or his father, Orville? Do you ever do any work on their cars?”
David thought a moment and snapped his fingers. “Ma, find Porter’s record on the computer. If that date is in there, then I’ll have it in a hard file.”
David and his mother looked at Porter’s record. “Here it is,” his mother said excitedly. David read the report and then went to a filing cabinet. He brought out a folder and sat at a table, nodding his head to show Micah to join him. “Yes, it’s here.”
“May I read what you have? If it’s pertinent, I’ll need a copy for the court files.” Micah getting more excited as he read.
“The right front fender had a slight dent and a slash of black was running from that. The clincher is the blood found on the right rear tire.” Micah slammed the folder shut saying, “Thank, you, Lord.” He jumped up. “Thank you, folks, from the bottom of my heart. A twenty-one year old Amish husband was killed that night as was his horse. His nineteen year old wife gave birth to a little boy that night and the baby will never know his father.”
David’s mother wiped her eyes while David looked stricken. “Are you saying that Porter killed that young man?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know who was driving the car. I’ve been suspicious, but had nothing to go on. Now I must ask you both something that will be difficult to do. Please, please don’t talk about this to anyone other than us three. I don’t want to alert people to run and hide or do something to cover evidence.”
David and his mother promised that they would keep quiet. “I’ll just tell my men you wanted to ask about car repairs.”
Micah thankfully checked out and headed home. A soft rain had started spitting on the highway. He was singing to himself when a gun shot came through the windshield. “Holy creeps. Who can be doing that? Did someone follow me or did someone just happen on to what I was doing?”
He carefully controlled his car to keep the tires from spinning on the fairly wet pavement. A siren went screaming by him and he recognized a Pennsylvania State Police auto.
He saw the police car, almost a half mile ahead of him, pulling someone over. The driver did not want to pull over so the police car bumped the side of the sedan and forced it off the road. They stopped. Micah came behind them and pulled over. He stopped and cut his engine. Reaching for his hat, he exited his car and went to see what the police was doing.
“Orville Kennedy!” Micah was astonished. “Officer, this man is out on bail. He was arrested for suspicion of murder.”
“Sorry to meet you this way Sheriff, “State Police Jake Wickham said. “I saw this man point a gun out his window and saw the flash as it fired. I pulled him over to determine why he was shooting and at whom.”
“Look at the bullet hole and spider cracks in my windshield. He was shooting at me. How did he know I was in this area? I came to put together some evidence I needed to place his son at the scene of a murder.”
“Hello. This just adds to your evidence. If he had not been guilty, he would not have fired on you. I’ll have to arrest him and keep him here until I can take him before a judge.”
Micah groaned. “That means I’ll have to return to witness against him and then take him back to Shickshinny for a trial.”
“Looks that way. Let’s get out of this rain, Sheriff. I hope you get home safely. I’ll send someone back to pick up his car.”
Micah was glad to be headed home at last. He was very tired and frustrated. He wanted to get home to Anita whose pregnancy was causing joint pains, swelling and she had been nauseous the entire time. He kept thinking to himself. When are the two brothers and the son going to realize they can’t win? Sure they can go free for several weeks, but justice triumphs.