Murder, Plain and Simple by Isabella Alan Page A

Thank you for stopping by the department for fingerprinting and to give your statement. I have a few more questions to ask you about the case.” His voice was stern. “There seems to be some information you neglected to share with me. We can discuss this when I drop by. By the way, you’re not answering your phone, which means either you aren’t home or you are screening your calls. I hope it’s the second one because, remember, I told you not to leave town.”
    I pressed the erase button.
Could I be wrong, or was the sheriff teasing me?
    I must have imagined the teasing. Yep, that’s what happened. “I’m cracking up, Ollie. I guess that’s what happens when you find a dead guy.”
    “Woof!”
    I let Oliver outside. He peered left and then right, sniffing the wind for birds. Seeing and smelling none, he ventured out.
    Going over the conversation with the quilting circle in my head, I decided I needed to get a lawyer. Ryan’s handsome face instantly came to mind. He wasn’t a criminal lawyer, but his expertise would certainly be helpful in this situation. I grimaced. However, he was partly responsible, wasn’t he? Had he not dumped me, I would never have moved to Ohio, taken over my aunt’s shop, and met Joseph Walker. It’s funny how I had the ability to pin everything back on Ryan. Surely, it wasn’t fair to him, but it made me feel a touch better about my circumstances.
    I did know one lawyer in Holmes County, and that was better than nothing, and I needed to ask Harvey about the shop key. I opened the back door and called Oliver. He dug in the garden with his rear end sticking high in the air. “Oliver! Come!”
    Nothing.
    “Oliver! Incoming robin!”
    His head popped up. He ran for the door, almost knocking me over in the process. The bird fear came in handy at times.
    • • •
    Harvey Lemontop’s office was in an old house that looked as if it could double as a barn. His wasn’t the only office in the building. A dog groomer also shared the converted home. The groomer was on the first floor, and Harvey was on the second. Since the building seemed pooch-friendly, I decided to bring Oliver inside with me. He wiggled his stubby tail and started toward the sound of the barking emanating from the groomer’s door.
    “Sorry, buddy. Maybe we can come back later to make some friends.” I noted the dirt on his paws from digging in the garden. “You could use a bath too.” Considering my new business was about to go under because the quilt shop was closed, the only bath he would be getting was a hose-down in the backyard.
    My hand trailed along the ornately carved banister as we walked up the rose-patterned carpeted steps. On the second floor, a door flew open and an Amish man rushed through it. He nearly collided with me as he pushed his way down the stairs. Oliver ran down the steps to get out of the way and ducked behind a huge potted plant. The man muttered an apology but didn’t stop to see if he’d knocked me onto my behind.
    The front door slammed closed after him, and the dogs in the groomer’s office began to howl and bark at the commotion. Oliver’s quivering nose appeared around the plant.
    Harvey stepped out of the door holding a black felt hat. “Elijah?” he called, only to find me standing gap-mouthed on the stairs. “Oh.” He pulled up short. “Hello, Angela. Can I help you with something?”
    Elijah?
    I stared as the front door swung open on its hinges and turned back to the lawyer. “Was that Elijah Knepp?”
    The lawyer cleared his throat. “Umm, yes. Do you know Elijah?”
    “No,” I said. Mentally adding that I planned to meet him. He was my best chance of clearing my name. Benjamin Hershberger was a good option too, but Elijah had a record, making him the much more appealing murder suspect. If Aunt Eleanor could hear me now. Contemplating murder suspects, looking to clear my name. I was sure this wasn’t what she expected to happen when she left me the shop.
    “Can I