Death in a Solitude Time Capsule

By Saundra McKee

In the 13th of the Amish Country Murder Mystery Series, a grisly discovery is made when a 100 year old time capsule at Dana's church is opened. The next day the minister of the church is found dead. Solitude's amateur sleuths, Fannie, Dana and Sharon, seek to find answers and in the process uncover some long buried secrets.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Saundra McKee
• Release date: Jun 4, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476150949

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.

Book preview

Death in a Solitude Time Capsule by Sandy McKee (13th in the Amish Country Murder Mystery Series)

Published by Saundra McKee at Smashwords. Copyright 2012. Saundra McKee

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.

Chapter 1

Sunday

The Porta Potties were beginning to overflow in the steamy summer heat marking an anticlimactic end to the big festive weekend. The only event left was less publicized and mostly anticipated by longtime members of Solitude’s Methodist Church. The local faithful as well as the district superintendent and bishop gathered outside the old brick structure at six p.m. to open a one hundred year old time capsule. Before long another odor permeated the air. It was the smell of human death and decay.

Reverend William Harkins lifted the mummified head out of the cement time capsule while onlookers gasped in disbelief. The Reverend looked helplessly to the bishop and superintendent for guidance. The bishop recited a quick prayer and dismissed the group, promising to inform everyone of what had happened as soon as they got additional information. The superintendent was already punching 911 into his smart phone.

Dana and Larry and Sharon and Bob, long time members of the congregation, were stunned. My grandmother talked about burying the time capsule when she was a young girl, said Dana. I think she said that there was a newspaper, photographs of the congregation, a Bible, hymnal, a letter to the people of the future and other stuff like that. She made no mention of a severed head. I guess they wanted to surprise us.

Bob Switzer, ever the retired state policeman, made an observation. Clearly someone opened the capsule some time ago. That head looks really old and shrunken. The police will have a real challenge identifying the victim and the perp. My guess is that whoever put the head in the time capsule is long gone.

What a sad way to end the summer festival, said Sharon. I feel sick at my stomach. This is so morbid. I’m ready to go home. I’ll call you later, Dana.

The friends parted company forgetting prior plans to have dinner together. Dana spotted her friend Ralphie, a Vietnam vet confined to a wheelchair, shaking his head and smiling at the disappointed crowd. Larry said he was heading home and told Dana to enjoy her visit with her old school chum.

By the time Dana reached Ralphie, he was laughing through his cigarette smoke. How in the world can you find this funny? asked Dana alarmed at her friend’s behavior.

Aw lighten up, Dana. You’ve got to admit it’s pretty funny. It’s like you’ve all been punked. Maybe I think it’s so funny because I’m not a church member.

Dana shrugged. I imagine we’ll all be talking about this and maybe even chuckling about it one day. I wonder who it could be?

I think I have a pretty good idea, admitted Ralphie. It’s a bit of a story. Want to go and get something to drink? I’ve got a few cold beers left in my cooler.

The two friends wandered down along Big Bass Creek and stopped at a grouping of picnic tables. Ralphie opened two green glass bottles of Straubs handing one to Dana. Okay, let’s hear it, said Dana.

First a ground rule. I’m only talking to you, as usual. I’ll deny everything if you tell anyone. I’d appreciate your confidence. I don’t need any hassles.

Dana nodded. Fine. You know you can trust me.

Ralph took a long draw of his brew and uttered a belch. "Now that felt good.