Shunned and Dangerous (An Amish Mystery) by Bradford Laura

Author:Bradford, Laura [Bradford, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2014-03-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

She slid into the passenger seat of Jakob’s car and tried to narrow in on the best way to tell him Isaac’s accusations about Mose were correct. It wasn’t easy to find the words, especially when she knew they would only serve to increase the detective’s stress level.

“So you really didn’t see anything to back up what Isaac was saying the other night, huh?” he said as he shifted into drive and pulled out onto Lighted Way. “I mean, I guess that’s good. The less incriminating evidence aimed at my father, the better.”

Oh, how she wished her answer hadn’t changed the moment she hung up the phone outside Harley’s farmhouse. But it had. Now the only thing Claire had to decide was whether she should ask him to pull off at the park so she could break it to him gently or take the chance that he could handle the news while driving. “Um, actually . . . after we hung up earlier, I—”

The squawk of Jakob’s radio provided the momentary reprieve she hadn’t realized she’d been praying for until it happened. Yet, now that it had, she couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief as he excused himself to check in with the dispatcher, their subsequent back-and-forth quickly claiming her attention.

“The coroner’s office called, Detective. Mr. Zook’s body has been released. It was claimed for viewing and burial by his bishop, Atlee Hershberger, about an hour ago. The viewing, from what I was just told in the same phone call, has already started.”

Jakob nodded along as the dispatcher wrapped up her report. “I wasn’t sure I should bother you with this, but the chief said you’d want to know.”

“No, Sue, you did the right thing.”

“Also, Officer McKenzie is asking if you’d like him to sit outside the viewing and keep an eye on things for the next few hours?”

He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as they headed into the English side of town, Rita and Patrick Duggan’s home their intended destination. “You know, that might not be such a bad idea. Let him know I’ll be there to cover that spot by nine o’clock.”

Claire noted the time on the dashboard and the four-hour buffer he’d given himself.

“You got it, Detective. Should he raise you on the radio or your cell if something comes up?”

“Have him call my cell.” They passed four streets to their left and five streets to their right before the car began to slow and he shifted his focus from the road in front of them to the note he’d affixed to the center console between them. There, in his unusually neat handwriting, was an address that had them turning right at the next stop sign. “And Sue? Thanks for letting me know.”

“My pleasure.”

And then Sue was gone, the background noises on the radio disappearing along with her voice. “Sorry about that, Claire. But it was a tidbit of information I needed to know.”

She smiled at him across the seat and followed it up with a tiny shrug.

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