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“The outside world can be enticing, for all the wrong reasons,” conceded Kelly.
They climbed out of the vehicle and approached the two men, who came forward and extended their hands in greeting. They all introduced themselves to one another.
The older man was Peter Gunther, who was the minister of this particular colony, and his companion was Milton Ames, the secretary. The woman, who had remained standing back, was Ames’s wife, Susan, her husband told them. She was the tailor of the colony, Gunther said.
“And what does that mean?” asked Jamison curiously.
“She picks all the clothes or at least the fabric and is in charge of the making of the clothes,” offered Ames.
Jamison turned and waved at the woman, but she simply stared back and didn’t return the gesture.
Gunther warily looked at Decker. “So the FBI? Joe didn’t say why you wanted to meet with us.”
Kelly said, “Can we go inside? We’re going to tell you why we’re here, but it’s not going to be pleasant.”
Gunther and Ames exchanged a startled glance. Gunther turned and led them toward one of the buildings.
It was a startlingly clean communal kitchen with two long picnic-style tables down each wall and a similar table in the middle of the room. The appliances were commercial grade. A woman in a dress similar to Susan Ames’s was unpacking some supplies and placing them neatly in overhead cabinets.
“Excuse us, Martha,” said Gunther. “We need to talk to these folks about some important matters.”
Martha glanced suspiciously at Decker and Jamison and hurried into another room.
They sat down at the table in the middle of the space. Gunther clasped his hands in front of him.
“Now, why are you here?” Gunther asked Kelly.
“Irene Cramer.”
Gunther kept his surprised gaze on Kelly. “Irene? What about her?”
Decker interjected. “We understand that she was going on a trip?”
Ames spoke up. “That’s right. Our school had just started back up. But we saw no reason not to let her go. She coordinated with Doris, the Colony teacher. It was only a week or so. She should be back soon.”
“When did she tell you about the trip?” asked Jamison.
Gunther said, “Why all the questions about Irene?”
Kelly glanced at Decker, who nodded. “Irene was found dead,” Kelly said to Gunther.
“Dead?” exclaimed a horrified Gunther. “Where? How?”
“The ‘where’ was out in the middle of nowhere. She was found by a hunter. The ‘how’ was that she was murdered.”
“Well, I’m not surprised.”
They all turned to see Susan Ames standing in the doorway where Martha had earlier walked through.
“Susan?” exclaimed Ames. “What in heaven’s name do you mean you’re not surprised?”
“Mindy? It was only a matter of time.”
“OKAY, IADMITthat one hit me out of left field,” said Kelly. They were outside in the heat, and he was smoking a cigarette. Decker stood there looking back at the building they’d left a few minutes ago. Jamison was standing a little away from Kelly’s cigarette smoke.
Gunther and Milton Ames had apparently been so taken aback by Susan Ames’s statement that they had quickly ushered Decker and company out of the building, while they “discussed” things among themselves.
“She knew about Cramer’s other life,” noted Decker. “Which begs the question of why she continued to allow her to teach their kids. And there’s something else.”
