Unforeseeable by Nancy Mehl Page A

need a glass of milk for Charity.”
    â€œOh, sure,” Noah said, looking uncomfortable. “I’ll go out and tell everyone the road is open.”
    â€œDon’t worry about it. Ebbie already did.” I took the milk out of the refrigerator and got a clean glass out of the dishwasher.
    â€œThanks, Callie,” Lizzie said.
    â€œBy the way,” Noah said, “the KBI talked to Harold. Told him that he and Mercy weren’t to describe what she saw to anyone. Specifically, they’re not to mention the plastic around the body or exactly where the woman was found.”
    Lizzie snorted. “As if Harold can keep a secret.”
    â€œI know Harold’s a gossip,” he said, “but all in all, he’s a good man. He won’t say anything. He wants this killer caught as much as anyone. Maybe more. Mercy will have to live with that awful image the rest of her life. That’s got to be tough on a father.”
    â€œSpeaking of fathers,” I said, “how did your mother and stepfather take the news about Levi?”
    Noah shook his head. “That’s a call I never want to make again. They were shocked, of course. Marvin’s first reaction was to drive over to the jail, but I encouraged him to wait. I doubt he’d get to talk to Levi anyway, and I don’t think he needs the distraction. I told him we’d call if we heard from Levi first.”
    I nodded and poured the milk into a glass. As I put the milk container back into the refrigerator, I could feel their eyes on me. Were they wondering if I’d overheard Noah’s comment? Had they been talking about me? I wanted to ask them about it, but I couldn’t. What if it had nothing to do with me, and I ended up looking ridiculous? I grabbed the glass and left the room.
    I delivered the milk to Charity, who was sitting with her grandfather. “How about a piece of pie, Brother Matthew?” I asked.
    â€œThank you, Callie, but no,” he said. “Anna feeds me too much as it is.” He smiled at me, and I was struck by the difference in him over the past several months. He had definitely changed in some ways, although his earlier actions reminded me of the old Matthew.
    I was trying to come up with a topic of conversation when I heard the kitchen door open. Lizzie and Noah came into the room.
    â€œAre you hungry, Father?” Lizzie asked. I could hear the weariness in her voice. It had certainly been a tiring day. Emotionally and physically.
    Matthew shook his head. “Callie has already offered me food. I am convinced you are all trying to fatten me up.”
    Lizzie smiled, but Noah didn’t.
    â€œLevi is a good man, Matthew,” Noah said sharply. “He wasn’t trying to avoid going with those men.”
    Matthew sighed. “I did not mean to make it sound as if he was resisting. Perhaps I was not careful enough with my words. My intent was simply to encourage him not to fight their request.”
    Lizzie sat down at the table with us. “We should all be praying for Levi—and trying to help officials find the person who committed this horrible crime.”
    â€œI agree,” Matthew said. “The idea that something like this could come so close to us . . .” He shook his head. “It is hard to accept.”
    Noah didn’t say anything. He just kept frowning at Matthew. His lingering anger with his father-in-law was evident.
    â€œWhat happened?” Charity asked after swallowing a piece of pie. “What horrible crime is Grandpa talking about? Why is everyone so upset?”
    Lizzie reached over and brushed a dark curl out of Charity’s face. “Nothing for you to worry about, Cherry Bear. Finish your pie. We’re going home.” She looked at Noah. “Would you mind warming up the truck? It’s freezing out there.”
    He rose slowly from his chair. “No, I don’t mind.” He stood there for a