When the Bishop Needs an Alibi by Vannetta Chapman

Author:Vannetta Chapman
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780736966504
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Forty-Four

Emma pulled the young woman into the house before she collapsed on the porch. “Ya, we knew Sophia. We’re so sorry for your loss. It’s a real tragedy.”

Lexi sniffed the woman’s shoes, determined she wasn’t a threat, and trotted back into the kitchen.

Sophia’s sister halted just inside the room, staring in wide-eyed wonder. “You don’t have electricity. Just like it says in the book.” She dropped her phone into her handbag and pulled out a slim paperback book with the photograph of two Amish girls on the front. At least it was tastefully done. The girls were facing away from the camera.

“Ya. Just like in the book,” Emma agreed. “Why don’t you come into the kitchen?”

Henry raised his eyebrows, so Emma held back as Rachel walked out to greet their guest.

“You’re sure this is a gut idea?” Henry asked.

“How can it hurt?”

“Things have a way of twisting and turning in unexpected directions, as you and I know all too well.”

“But Henry, she’s grieving. It’s plain to see she’s devastated by what’s happened. Surely our first responsibility is to minister to her.”

“You have a terrible habit of sounding more bishop-y than I do.”

She sighed, relieved that he could joke about their situation. “Let’s go see why she’s here.”

Katie Ann and Rachel were guiding Sophia’s sister to a chair. She accepted a mug of coffee, but her hands were shaking so badly that she had to place it on the table, which was when she noticed the drawings.

“What…what are these?”

“I can explain,” Henry said evenly.

“They’re all of Sophia. Every one of them.” Tears began to fall down her cheeks.

Emma expected an accusation then, that Henry had been infatuated with her, that Henry had been stalking her, that Henry had killed her. Instead, the young woman picked up one of the drawings, the one with Sophia helping the old woman. She hesitantly ran her fingertips across the page, touching the inside of Sophia’s wrist that was marked by the tattoo. “It’s like Sophia said. It’s more than a drawing. It’s more like a photograph.”

She set it down and took a big gulp of coffee before she realized they were all watching her. “I haven’t even introduced myself. I’m Tess Savalas. I’m Sophia’s younger sister.”

“You look very much alike,” Rachel said. “Same cheekbones, same nose.”

“I suppose we do, or rather we did.” She swiped at the tears running down her cheeks. “I always thought her hair was shinier and her face was prettier.”

Emma sat down next to her. “It’s natural enough to envy your older schweschder—sister.”

“Yes. I guess that’s what it was.” She drank more of her coffee and then stared down into it. “I still can’t believe she’s dead.”

“Your sister was a very kind woman,” Henry said. “Everyone in this room knew her, and we will miss her, though of course our grief can’t compare to yours.”

“I was so surprised when she mentioned you.” Tess raised her eyes to Henry’s as he sank into the chair across from her. “She doesn’t usually talk about strangers.

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