You found the suitcase, she pointed out.
Link did. Chief Byler shot a look at the other man. If he hadnt been renovating the house, we wouldnt have known anything about it.
But you have to investigate. A thought struck her with the force of a blow. You must have investigated then. Well, I mean not you personally. He was far too young for that, probably not much more than in his early thirties. But the police must have.
Shed never known. She could only wonder at herself. A child accepted what she was told by the authority figures in her life, of course. But later, when shed wanted to understand, it hadnt occurred to her to ask her father what the police had thought.
True, they did. Adam Byler leaned against the rough table, seeming to resign himself to the questions. Ive looked into the reports, talked to officers who were working then.
And what did they say? Was she going to have to drag information from the man? Ordinarily she probably wouldnt have had the nerve to confront him, but these werent ordinary circumstances.
She couldnt read anything in his square, impassive face. She suspected he was trying to decide what and how much to tell her.
As for Link Morganwell, hed backed away, as if trying to disassociate himself from the whole business. He probably regretted that he hadnt thrown the suitcase on the trash heap without opening it.
People noticed that your mother wasnt around any longer, Byler said. Your father said shed left him. That she hadnt been able to go on living English and shed gone back to her people in Indiana. For the most part, the police accepted that.
Bylers lips clamped shut on the words. Was the implication that he wouldnt have?
You know that your mother was Amish? Link Morgan asked the question with a kind of reluctant concern in his voice.
She nodded. That she did know, but only because shed pried it out of her grandmother, who was easier to talk to than her father. I know. And my father said shed gone back to her family because that was what he thought shed done.
A shiver skittered along her nerves. She believed that. She had to.
My grandmother said my mother had talked about going back to her family, she went on. Grandma said my mother found it hard to give up her people and her faith the way she had.
But how could she leave me behind? The child who lived inside her asked the question she couldnt.
You might want to see what else is in the suitcase, Link suggested.
She shot a look at him. That fine-drawn face, with the skin taut against the bonesshe still had the urge to draw it every time she looked at him. What made him look that way? Illness? Grief? Guilt?
Slowly she lifted out folded clothing. Her fingers hesitated when they touched the black garment. Then she lifted it, shook it out.
Its the kind of apron an Amish woman wears. And theres the prayer covering they always have on their heads. He nodded toward the object in the bottom of the case, not moving.
She picked it up, her fingers tingling a little. White organdy, a kind of small hat with long strings. Shed seen pictures of Amish women, looking almost like nuns in their dark dresses and identical hair styles, with the white covering on their heads. Shed taken a book out of the school library, she remembered, and hidden it under the mattress so Daddy wouldnt see.
That would seem to confirm that she was planning to leave, Chief Byler said. As to how that suitcase ended up here, and where she wentwere as much in the dark as we were twenty-three years ago.
For her fathers sake, she had to ask the question. Is this a criminal investigation?
Bylers expression didnt change, but Link Morgans mouth tightened, as if in pain.
Not at this time, Byler said. For all we know, your mother did disappear back into an Amish community somewhere. Thats possible, even in this age of instant communication. If so, and if she doesnt want to be found, the Amish would never give her up.
I know. Her thoughts flickered to her own futile effort to find out something from her mothers relatives in Indiana. So, if its not a criminal investigation, will you do anything? She didnt mean that to sound critical, but she had to understand.
Well pursue the leads we have. That sounded final, and the police chief closed the suitcase and lifted it from the table. If youre intent on staying, please let my office know how to reach you. Well contact you if we find anything.
She nodded, watching him walk to the door. He hadnt sounded particularly hopeful.
He turned at the door, hand on the screen. Dont forget, Ms. Angelo. Let us know as soon as you hear from your father. Wed like to speak with him. He didnt wait for a response.
Her stomach tightened in apprehension as she watched him walk toward the patrol car. The fact that the police would suspect her father hadnt occurred to her when shed rushed off in response to the phone call.
He thinks my father had something to do with this, doesnt he? The moment she asked the question, she regretted it. Link obviously didnt want to be involved in her troubles, and she certainly had no reason to confide in him.
Adam is a fair-minded person. He wouldnt jump to any conclusions.
But the husband is always a suspect. Thats what youre thinking, isnt it?
Im not thinking anything. His tone was cool and dismissive. Im sorry for your he hesitated, and she suspected hed been about to say her loss your situation, but its nothing to do with me.
You found the suitcase. Its your uncles house. You have a responsibility
I dont have any responsibility at all. The words came quick and angry. Theres nothing I can do.
Hed walk away, she thought, except that it was his house, which meant she was the one who had to walk away. Marisa took a deep breath and realized she was trembling. Confrontation definitely wasnt her strong suit.
I see. She managed to keep her voice calm. Thank you for your trouble.
She turned and walked to the door. Shed come here looking for answers, but it seemed all shed found were more questions.
LINK SCOWLED AT THE high-school photos that still adorned the wall of the room that had been his as a kid and yanked open a drawer to find a clean shirt. Mom wouldnt hear of his being on his own when theyd finally released him from the military hospital, of course, and hed been too weak to argue the point. But looking at the remnants of the life he used to live wasnt doing a thing for his morale.
Well, it would soon be over, and hed move on. This business with the suitcase could have been worse. Now it was in Adams capable hands, and Marisa Angelos troubles were Adams concern.
Hed been telling himself that all afternoon. So why did he still feel like such a loser? He wasnt responsible for the woman.
Trouble was, hed always been a sucker for vulnerable brown eyes.
He pushed away the image of that heart-shaped face. Marisa wouldnt stick this out, anyway. Shed get tired of waiting around for news that didnt come and go back to wherever shed come fromBaltimore, Adam had said.
Adam didnt want the woman here. But he did want to see her father. Marisa had been right about one thing. The police did always suspect the husband when a woman disappeared.
Adam didnt want the woman here. But he did want to see her father. Marisa had been right about one thing. The police did always suspect the husband when a woman disappeared.
Funny that the cops hadnt looked into it more thoroughly at the time. Hed have thought
No, he wasnt going to obsess about Marisa Angelo.
He started down the stairs, running his hand along the railing that four or five generations of Morgans had touched. He never used to spare a thought for things like that. Trey was the oldest sonhed always figured Trey was responsible for carrying on the family traditions.
But somehow the tour of duty in Afghanistan had made Link look at things differently, like this old house and the countryside that surrounded it. Morgan land, just like probably half of Spring Township was Morgan land.
We have a duty to the land, Grandpa used to say. And to the people who live here.
A stickler for duty, the old man had been, accepting no excuses for not doing what you should. Like dealing with Marisa Angelos problem. And Uncle Allens possible involvement.
But he wasnt going to see Marisa Angelo again.
Voices came from the living room. Mom had said that Jessica Langdon, Treys fiancée, was coming for dinner tonight, so apparently they were gathering there. He paused for a moment and then headed toward the archway.
Not that he didnt like Jessicashe was a smart city attorney whod recently gone into partnership with an old friend of his fathers. But tonight he wasnt in the mood to be sociable. Maybe he could
He reached the living room and stopped. Jessica and Trey were there all right, talking to Mom, who was poised like a butterfly in flight, waving a tray of appetizers while she talked to the woman who sat in the Queen Anne armchair. Marisa Angelo.
Link, there you are. His mother spun with one of her quick moves, the sleeves of her filmy top fluttering and the tray waving.
Here I am, he agreed, taking the tray from her. And these cheese puffs are about to be on the floor.
Nonsense. I had a firm grip on them. She patted his cheek as if he were about four. Now, youve already met Marisa, havent you? I stopped by Adams office while I was in town to see what hed found out about that suitcase, and Marisa was there. So I just brought her along home for supper so we could all talk it over. Mom beamed, obviously pleased with her solution.
He had to suppress a groan. Geneva Morgan was known far and wide for her warm hospitality and her habit of adopting any stray that crossed her path, but he wished for once shed restrained herself.
He nodded to Marisa, trying to look as if he wasnt aghast to find her in his mothers living room. Marisa. I didnt realize you were headed back to the police station after you left my place.
Her eyes said it wasnt any of his business where she went. I thought of a few more things I wanted to say to Chief Byler.
Trey must have thought that sounded ominous, because he frowned. Adam Bylers a good man. If theres anything to find, Im sure hell find it.
That was not exactly what worried Marisa about him, Link suspected.
Yes, hehe seems very capable. Marisas expression suggested that she didnt want to discuss it, and probably also that she was wondering what had induced her to accept Moms invitation.
Plenty of people had occasion to wonder how Geneva Morgan became entangled in their affairs. Trey had had his hands full since Dads death. Their mother never saw a problem that she didnt consider it her duty to resolve.
You must have been so shocked at Adams call. His mother leaned over to pat Marisas hand. Poor child. And with your father out of touch, it all falls on you.
Marisa stiffened. Mom wouldnt understand that the subject of her fathers absence was a touchy one, of course. His mind scrambled for something to say that would divert the conversation, but he couldnt come up with a thing.
I understand youll be staying around for a few days. Jessica broke what was becoming an uncomfortable silence. Its fortunate you were able to take time off work.
Marisa turned to her gratefully, maybe glad to see someone who wasnt a Morgan. That wasnt an issue. Im a freelance illustrator, and as long as I turn projects in on time, it doesnt matter where I do them.
Really? Thats fascinating. I dont think I ever met an illustrator before. What are you working on? Jessica leaned forward, her interest sounding genuine.
Right now Im doing illustrations for a childrens book. The story is set in a rural area, as a matter of fact, so these surroundings are perfect.
The first smile Link had seen from her curved Marisas lips and lit her eyes. With the stress momentarily wiped from her face, she seemed to glow with enthusiasm for her work, drawing him closer. Too bad she couldnt look like that all the time. He hadnt given much of a thought to women since his injury, but now he felt that flicker of interest that was the first step toward attraction.
But about this suitcase. Mom perched on the edge of a chair, clearly not distracted. Have you any idea how it got there? Did your father ever mention that it was missing?
I dont think so. Marisas lips tightened again. Not to me, anyway. I was just five when my mother left. She hesitated. If she did leave.
Treys hand clenched. He was probably thinking, as Link was, about the implications of Uncle Allen being involved in the womans disappearance. Mom had had enough grief in her life with Dads death. She shouldnt have to face any more.
Surely the fact that the suitcase was packed indicates that she at least planned to leave, Trey said.
Thats true, but why?
Moms question was interrupted by a movement in the archway. Katie Zeller, one of several Amish teens who helped Mom around the house, stood there, probably waiting patiently for a break in the conversation.
Mom turned. Oh, Katie, Im sorry. Is everything ready?
Katie nodded. Ja. Did you want me to dish up already?
Please. Ill come and help you. Mom rose, waving toward the dining room. The rest of you find seats. Well get the food on right away. Im sure Marisa is starved, and here weve been keeping her talking instead of feeding her.
Im not Marisa began, and let the word trail off when Mom vanished toward the kitchen.
Pretend youre hungry, Trey advised, taking Jessicas hand as they moved into the dining room. Our mother is only happy when shes feeding people.
Well, now, I might resent that if it werent true. Mom and her helper carried steaming bowls and platters to the table. Katie and I made chicken pot pie for supper. I thought Marisa ought to sample some traditional Pennsylvania Dutch food while shes here.
Link held Marisas chair while she sat down. Manners might be a vanishing art some places, but not in his mothers house. Marisa, he noticed, was staring at Katie, something almost tragic in her eyes.
Thinking about that Amish apron and kapp in her mothers suitcase? Both looked identical to the ones Katie wore at the moment. He sat down next to Marisa, turning that over in his mind.
By the time the food platters had circled the table, Marisa had regained her poise, as far as he could tell.
His mother glanced around the table, blue eyes sparkling. This is nice, having a full table again. And you know, I think I can answer at least one of the questions thats perplexing Marisa.