Secrets Come Home by Samantha Price Read Free Book Online Page A

today.”
    “Just taking a break, Pa.”
    “These ladies here need to be escorted over to the unit where we keep the old files. They’re looking for people who worked here ’round the time of that guy they found under that house – the one that was in the paper.”
    Chad nodded. “Okay.”
    Bill pushed the door open for the ladies to walk out. “This is my son, Chad.”
    The ladies said hello.
    Bill said, “Follow him, and please don’t make a mess of the records. My father was meticulous, so please, leave everything where you find it.”
    Ava asked, “Might we borrow pen and paper to write with?”
    “Of course you can.” Bill went back into his office and came out with an empty notebook and two pens.
    “Thank you, Mr. Settler. You’ve been so helpful.”
    He laughed. “I’ve been called many things in my time, but helpful – not so often.” He looked at his son. “What are you waiting for?”
    “This way,” Chad said to the ladies.
     

Chapter 9.
     
    Ettie’s eyes fell on the right box immediately – the years were written in large black letters on the end. She pointed at the box, knowing Horace had worked there in the mid-seventies.  “There.”
    Chad pulled the box out for them. He leafed through the files until he found the ones with the employees. He handed some folders to Ettie.
    Ettie leafed through them. “Here he is, Horace Hostetler. Write down these names, Ava.” Ettie handed Ava a stack of papers. Each page contained an individual employee’s name and address.
    “That’s going to take some time,” Chad said. “Why don’t you photocopy them?”
    “Do you have a photocopier?” Ava asked.
    “In my father’s office, but he probably won’t let you use it. You can take them with you and bring them back when you’re done.”
    “Your father seemed protective of these records. I daren’t take anything,” Ettie said.
    Chad shook his head. “We’re only required to keep records for so many years – I think it’s seven or something like that. We don’t need to keep all these ancient ones.” He flung his hand toward the rows of boxes. “I’ll copy them for you, and I’ll bring them by when I finish work.”
    Ettie looked at Ava. “What shall we do?”
    Ava looked down at all pages in her hand. “Well, there’s an awful lot here, Ettie.”
    “We’ve had a lot of people work here. People come and go all the time, always did. I don’t mind doing it. Just tell me your address.”
    “It’s on the other side of town.”
    “That’s okay. I just got my license and I need the practice.”
    “That’s awfully kind of you. Ava, why don’t you write down our address for Chad?“
    While Ava wrote, Chad asked, “What are you trying to find out?”
    “The police think that Horace was killed by our friend who died recently. We know she didn’t do it,” Ettie said.
    “You’re trying to find out who really did kill him? Aren’t you scared?”
    “No, not a bit,” Ettie admitted.
    Chad’s eyes widened. “You think one of these people killed him? Someone who used to work here?”
    Ettie shook her head. “No, we just want to talk to someone he knew back then. You see, he left our Amish community briefly on what we call a rumspringa – that’s when young people can leave our community for a time and they are free from following our rules. Anyway, we want to talk to people who knew him, people other than our Amish folk.”
    “I know, my father told me about the Amish. I hope you find something out. Why do the police think your friend did it, then? Surely they’d have to have some kind of evidence to suspect her.”
    “Someone told the police about an argument our friend had with him,” Ava said.
    Chad nodded. “I read about how the body was found under the floor of the house. Funny that the body was there for so long without anyone knowing. You’d think that a body would smell after a while. It would rot or something, wouldn’t it?”
    “He was wrapped up,” Ava