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    Solitude Justice: An Amish Country Murder Mystery-4th in Amish Country Murder Mysteries Series
    Solitude Justice: An Amish Country Murder Mystery-4th in Amish Country Murder Mysteries Series
    Solitude Justice: An Amish Country Murder Mystery-4th in Amish Country Murder Mysteries Series
    Ebook67 pages50 minutes

    Solitude Justice: An Amish Country Murder Mystery-4th in Amish Country Murder Mysteries Series

    By Saundra McKee

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    About this ebook

    In the aftermath of a national outcry surrounding the trial of a mother found not guilty of killing her small child, an infant's skeleton is discovered in a garbage bag in Big Bass Creek in the peaceful Amish community of Solitude. Retired history professor Dana Blades with the help of her childhood Amish friend, Fannie Byler sort through clues to determine who the child was and who murdered him. Allegations of human trafficking, pagan rituals and old family secrets emerge. As the two women seek justice for an innocent child, the story builds to a shocking conclusion that neither Dana nor Fannie could have predicted.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSaundra McKee
    Release dateSep 8, 2011
    ISBN9781465744890
    Solitude Justice: An Amish Country Murder Mystery-4th in Amish Country Murder Mysteries Series
    Author

    Saundra McKee

    I am a retired educator. I taught in the public schools for 15 years and at the university level for 22 years. I love to travel the world. I enjoy politics, dogs, mysteries and water sports. I am a lay speaker in the United Methodist Church.

    Read more from Saundra Mc Kee

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      Book preview

      Solitude Justice - Saundra McKee

      Solitude Justice: An Amish Country Murder Mystery -4th in series

      All characters and events in this story are fictional. Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental. While some of the places mentioned actually exist, they are used in an entirely fictional manner.

      Published by Saundra McKee at Smashwords. Copyright 2011. Saundra McKee.

      Chapter 1

      July 2011

      Monday

      The red sweet sticky liquid formed small glistening pools on the grey tiled floor. A small furry creature licked at the scarlet rivers. On the stove, a huge black kettle boiled emitting sweet metallic aromas. The countertops were strewn with sharp knives of varied shapes and sizes covered with pieces of torn matter and dripping with red.

      Your kitchen is a mess, laughed Fannie as she wiped perspiration from her brow with a terry cloth kitchen towel that depicted a quaint Amish scene. The cleanup is going to take longer than the canning of the tomato juice.

      Hey, I’ve never done this before, protested Dana. I used to watch my mother and grandmother, but this is new territory for me. Thanks so much for helping. I’ll do the cleanup. Nellie is already licking up spills. She loves tomatoes. Dana brushed her brown curly hair back out of her face, dabbed her tan brow and pushed her reading glasses back upon her nose. Larry will be fishing in Erie until Saturday or Sunday, so I’ll have plenty of time to get the kitchen shined up. Of course he’ll bring home a bunch of Walleye that will need prepped for the freezer. I’m sure there will be plenty for you and Eli too.

      Good. The fishing has been lousy in the creek this summer. Eli only caught two small perch yesterday. It must be all this dry weather. The water is so low. At least it gives him a good way to relax and spend time with our boys. We just eat more beef and pork.

      Dana nodded. We really need rain. I’ve been watering the garden and flowers every morning. Our well has never gone dry, but I’m getting concerned. I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve ordered a couple panini’s from the bakery for lunch. I’ve been pretty obsessed watching that trial on television. I’m glad the trial is over, but people can’t stop talking about it. I needed to do something else and get my mind off of it.

      Is that the one where the young mother was tried for killing her child? asked Fannie. I read about it in the newspaper. Didn’t the jury find her not guilty?

      Yeah, they didn’t think there was sufficient proof that she did it. Over two thirds of the country think she did it, but the jury felt there was reasonable doubt and they let her walk, replied Dana. I don’t see who else could have done it. I love our system of justice, but think it let us down this time. Of course I’ve been wrong before.

      Fannie nodded. It reminds me of the story of Susanna Cox. Have you heard of her?

      Dana looked to the ceiling as she dropped more tomatoes into the kettle. Wasn’t there a song about her? I’m afraid my memory isn’t what it used to be. I can’t believe I’m sixty years old!

      Me too, laughed Fannie, but we got our health. Both women thanked God daily for their recovery and remission from breast cancer. Anyhow, Susanna was a beautiful indentured servant back in colonial times. She was unmarried but had a child to a married man. The baby was found dead. Susanna was found guilty of killing the infant and hiding it and hanged to death in Reading in 1809. There’s a Dutch ballad about the tragedy, but don’t ask me to sing it.

      I guess history does repeat itself, sighed Dana. I think they reenact the hanging at a folk festival out east now days. Seems kind of morbid. I guess it’s just a scary story to most folks. Doesn’t seem to discourage young women from having babies out of wedlock either, not that I have any room to talk. I guess this Alabama trial will just be a footnote in history some day too. I really fear for that mother’s safety when she’s released. I imagine she’ll have to go into hiding. Hopefully she’ll get some counseling too.

      The doorbell rang announcing the arrival of lunch. Dana poured iced teas and the two friends retired to the patio that overlooked Big Bass Creek. Dana gave Nellie, her beloved Jack Russell Westie mix Dana called a Jestie a rawhide bone to chew on while they ate.

      Chapter 2

      He knew that his people called it that awful deed and the abominable sin. The Amish suicide rate was half that of the national average. At least that was what a counselor had told him once. But he also knew that other men in his family had ended their lives early. He wondered if they’d committed a sin as horrible as he had. He’d give it one more day. One more day to see if life was worth the effort.

      *******

      "This is

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