Free Secrets Come Home by Samantha Price Page B

want the key.”
    “What key?”
    The young man reached behind him and pulled a gun from his back pocket. “I want the key and I know you’ve got it.”
    “I did have a key, but I gave it to the police. A detective was here and took it to them.”
    Sadie stepped forward. “Put that gun down! It’s true; she doesn’t have it.”
    The man shifted his weight from one foot to the other. The gun shook when he said, “You better not be lying to me lady or I’ll be back.” He glanced over his shoulder with the gun still shaking in his hands. He looked back at Ettie and then ran away.
    Ettie stepped outside and looked to see the young man get into the passenger-side door of a black car before it zoomed away.
    Ettie put a hand to her heart to try and stop it from racing.  “The way you spoke to him just now – Sadie, why weren’t you scared of him?
    Sadie sighed. “Sit down. It’s a long story and I need to unburden my heart.”
    Sadie helped Ettie to a chair.
    “Just before Horace disappeared, he told me a little of what was happening. Horace’s boss was also running another business – against the law.”
    “Stealing things?”
    “Jah.”
    “What was his boss’ name?”
    “Settler, Bertram Settler.”
    Ettie’s eyes flew to the ceiling. Bertram Settler would’ve been Bill Settler’s father. Bill Settler, from the construction company. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you, Sadie. Continue; I’m listening.”
    “His rivals – well, Horace called them his boss’ enemies – were Terence Wheeler’s gang. I urged Horace to come back to the community; I knew no good would come of him knowing people like that.”
    “Go on.”
    “I heard from someone Horace knew that a man called Terence Wheeler said a key was hidden with Horace’s body, but where no one would be able to find it. That’s the first I heard that Horace was dead.”
    Ettie gasped and her mouth fell open. “Who told you about all of that? And do you know what the key opens?”
    Sadie hung her head.
    “Do you know who sent that man?” Ettie persisted but still Sadie made no reply.
    Ettie frowned, pushing her lips together. “Who was that young man and why did he listen to you?”
    Sadie shrugged. “He didn’t listen to me.”
    “It certainly seemed that way. Look, Sadie, if you know anything, anything at all – and it appears that you do – it’s best you talk about it. If you don’t want to tell me, tell the police, but someone needs to know.”
    Sadie stared at Ettie with large, round eyes.
    Ettie continued, her voice louder. “That man just now, or whoever sent him, must want whatever that key opens, and judging by the gun, they might be prepared to kill for it. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather die of old age since the Lord’s spared me for this long.”
    “Do you think someone else might get killed?”
    Ettie nodded. “We need to tell the police about this. And you need to tell them everything you know – do it now.”
    Sadie stood. “You’re right, Ettie, of course, you’re right. I’ll go and see them right away.”
    Ettie took a deep breath and put her hand on her heart. “Jah , okay. I’ll sit here and try to recover. If they want to talk to me they can come here, or I’ll go into the station tomorrow. I can’t do any more today.”
    After Sadie left, Ettie had a lie down on the bed in Agatha’s spare room, trying to get images of the gun out of her head.
    It was just before dinnertime when Ava knocked on Ettie’s back door. Ettie couldn’t sleep and was glad for the interruption. She ushered her in and told her everything that had happened with Sadie and the man with the gun.
    “Ettie, you poor thing! Let me cook you dinner.”
    “That would be gut, denke . I feel so much better now that Crowley’s involved. He’s taking the key to Kelly and hopefully he’ll get a search warrant for the box at the bank.”
    “How would the man know you had the key?” Ava asked.
    Ettie said, “There were only