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forced entry.” He directed the two officers to walk around the house and find the point of entry.
    “I didn’t lock the door,” Ettie said.
    The detective’s mouth fell open. “Why not?”
    Ettie pulled a face. “I never do when I go out during the day. No one locks their doors around here.” When Ettie saw the detective looking at her in disbelief she added, “I lock it at night when I go to sleep.”
    Detective Kelly shook his head. “I know you trust your neighbors and you’re surrounded by your Amish people, but anyone can come into the area.”
    Ava said, “They could’ve just as easily come up through the floorboards, couldn’t they? If they were looking for something under the house?”
    The detective ignored Ava, kept looking at Ettie, and took a deep breath. “I suggest you find yourself somewhere else to stay tonight.”
    “Stay with me, Ettie.” Ava placed a hand on Ettie’s shoulder.
    “I might as well since I’m here already. Will you have the fingerprint team go over the place for evidence?” Ettie looked up at the detective who towered above her.
    He shook his head. “Trespassing and damage to property are crimes, but Mrs. Smith, you left your front door open.”
    “Unlocked, Detective. The door was closed.”
    Kelly heaved a sigh. “I’ll see what the men have found and I’ll make a report.” He looked back over his shoulder at the loose boards that had been thrown in a corner. “Do you have someone to fix this?”
    “I’ve got my great nephew, Jeremiah. He’s a builder.”
    “He’s the one who found Horace,” Ava said.
    “Ah, yes. I met him the other night. Well, very good.” He looked at Ava. “And you’ll look after Mrs. Smith tonight?”
    Ava nodded. “I will. She’ll be fine with me.”
    The detective walked out the door.
    Ava put her arm around Ettie’s shoulder. “It’s nearly dinnertime. I’ll heat us up some soup.”
    “Tomorrow morning do you think you could tell Jeremiah what happened and have him come as soon as he can? I don’t like to leave it like this for too long.”
    “Jah, I will. Don’t worry about another thing. You can sleep in my bed tonight and I’ll take the sofa.”
    “Nee, I can’t put you out like that.”
    “I won’t hear another word, Ettie – you’re taking the bed.”
    Ettie smiled and nodded, then tried to remember if she’d told Elsa-May she’d be back that night, or whether she told her she’d be staying at Agatha’s house.

 
     
    Chapter 12.
     
    Ettie woke to hammering coming from the main house. When she saw how light it was she knew she’d slept in. The noise had to be Jeremiah already at work fixing her floor. She got up and looked around for her dress. Ava had been good enough to loan her a nightgown. She closed the bedroom door and saw her dress hanging on a clothes peg. After she changed into her dress and kapp , she looked around the grossdaddi haus for Ava. When she realized Ava wasn’t in any of the rooms, she peered out the window and saw Ava’s horse was gone, too.
    Ettie went straightaway to see how Jeremiah was getting along with the work. She pushed her door open and saw Jeremiah leaning over, placing the boards back. He looked up when he saw her.
    “Aunt Ettie, I found something.” He placed his hammer down, stood, and stepping on the joists, made his way over to the side of the room. Ettie stepped forward to see what it was. Jeremiah picked something off the windowsill and made his way over to hand it to her. “There’s a key inside.” Jeremiah wiped his sweaty forehead with the sleeve of his shirt.
    Ettie examined the small, rectangular envelope in her hand. It seemed brittle and she was almost afraid to handle it. It was undoubtedly old from the yellowing of the paper. The number 157 was printed on the outside.
    “There’s a key inside,” Jeremiah said.
    “Yes, I heard you, but I’m still looking at the envelope. From the look of it, it’s been here for some time. Where exactly did