Secrets Come Home by Samantha Price Page A

happened.”
    Ettie wondered if that might be best. She did miss Elsa-May – even though she was dominating and overbearing at times, it was nice to have her company.
    “Come on. I’ll take you there now.”
    “Thank you. I’ll leave a note for Ava. She might be scared on her own too, but I’ll let her know to she can stay with me if she gets frightened.”
    “Okay. There’s no rush; I’ll wait in the car. I’ve got some calls to make.”
    Crowley drove Ettie back to the home she shared with Elsa-May. She hoped Elsa-May had been watering her plants, and wouldn’t be too cross with her for not being there.
    When he stopped the car in front of the house, Ettie said, “Do come in; Elsa-May has most likely just baked something.”
    Crowley smiled. “I’ve missed her cooking, and yours too, Ettie. It wouldn’t hurt to have a small sample.”
    Ettie laughed. “We’ll fatten you up yet.”
    He followed Ettie into the house.
    “Elsa-May, I’ve got Detective Crowley with me.”
    Elsa-May came out of the kitchen smiling. “It’s good to see you again. Have you come to help us find out who killed Horace? I told Ettie to let you have your retirement in peace.”
    Ettie frowned at Elsa-May. She was the one who’d said to let him have his retirement in peace. She didn’t want to argue in front of Crowley, but she’d certainly give Elsa-May a piece of her mind when he left. “He’s helping us and that’s that.”
    “I don’t mind. The first few months of peace and quiet were good, but then the days wear on and they’re pretty much the same.”
    “You’re okay with helping, then?” Ettie asked.
    “I’m pleased to be back in the swing of things.”
    “I’ll put the pot on the stove, then, and see if I can find some cake.” Elsa-May hurried back to the kitchen.
    After Crowley sat down, Ettie said, “See, I told you there’d be cake.”
    Before long, they were all seated with tea and fresh orange cake while Ettie told Elsa-May all the events she’d missed.
    The sound of Crowley’s loud ring tone from his cell caused Ettie to jump.
    He sprang to his feet. “Excuse me, I’ll take this outside.”
    When Crowley was gone, Elsa-May said, “You’re awfully jumpy, Ettie.”
    “A lot’s happened. I had a gun pointed at me.”
    “Jah, you told me. That can’t have been good.”
    Crowley walked back through the door. “It appears that Sadie Hostetler never came home last night. She’s disappeared.”
    Ettie’s jaw fell open and her hand flew to her mouth. “Do you think she’s in danger?”
    “We can’t be too careful, but you did say that the man put the gun down when she told him to. I think we can safely assume that she’s involved in some way with this whole debacle.”
    “It wasn’t like that. She told that young man I didn’t have the key, then after that he left.” Ettie nibbled the end of her fingernail.
    “Young man?” Elsa-May asked Ettie.
    “The one who pointed the gun at me.” Ettie shook her head at Elsa-May – hadn’t she been listening?
    The two ladies looked back up at Crowley and he sat down.
    “Looks like there’s a whole lot more to this than first appeared,” he said.
    “I’m sorry to drag you into all this now that you’ve retired,” Ettie said.
    Elsa-May jutted out her bottom jaw. “That’s what I said in the first place. Leave him be; he’s retired.”
    Ettie rolled her eyes.
    “Anytime you need me, I’m always there,” Crowley said with a smile tugging the corners of his lips. He reached for his teacup.
    “Yes, you’ve been good to us in the past.” Elsa-May glanced over at Ettie who narrowed her eyes at her.
    “I wonder where Sadie could’ve gone to,” Ettie said.
    Elsa-May said, “Would her mother know?”
    “I don’t know. I don’t think she’d want her mother involved. Doris is too old to cope with the worry, which is why I’m surprised that Sadie’s disappeared.” Ettie turned to Crowley. “Do you think she’s in danger? Maybe that