Page 73 of An Evil Heart
“Everyone loved him so.” Angela moves like a ghost as she comes around the counter. “You have news for us, Kate Burkholder? You know who took him from us?”
“Just a few follow-up questions.” I pull out my notebook and pen. “Do any of Aden’s friends own a crossbow?”
Lester’s brows knit as he seems to consider. “Not that I know of.”
I make eye contact with both of them, keenly aware of their pain, and that they’re not going to like some of the questions I’m about to ask. “I’ve talked to a lot of people in the last few days. People who knew or had dealt with Aden. Some of the things I heard raised some questions.”
He cocks his head, his eyes like razors on mine. “What kind of questions?”
I lock eyes with him. “Mr. and Mrs. Karn, I’m going to ask you some questions that aren’t going to be easy to hear or to answer. I’m going to ask you not to read anything into them. I’m following up on some information that I received. Please bear with me.”
The couple exchange uneasy looks, but I push on. “Did Aden have a temper?”
Angela chokes out a sound that’s akin to a laugh. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
I look at Lester and repeat the question.
The Amish man shakes his head. “No.”
“Did he ever strike anyone? Or get into a fight?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Angela put her hand over her mouth.
“Of course not,” Lester says quickly. “That’s not our way.”
“Did he have any problems or arguments with any of his girlfriends?”
“‘Girlfriends’?” Angela blinks. “You mean Emily?”
“Any female,” I clarify. “Girls or women.”
“No,” Lester says.
“Were you ever concerned about the way he perceived women?” I ask. “Or the way he treated them?”
“I don’t understand these questions,” Angela says, her voice rising. “Aden was a good boy. What exactly are you getting at?”
I ignore the question. “Did Aden get along well with Emily?”
“Of course he did,” the Amish woman tells me. “He was going to marry her.”
“Did he have any other girlfriends?” I ask.
“No!” Angela hisses.
“Did he see any girls before he started going out with Emily? Or while he was onrumspringa?”
The woman stares at me, blinking. “No.”
I pause, give them a moment to digest the direction of my questions. “Did he ever exhibit any problems with impulse control?” The question doesn’t translate well from the English mindset to the Amish way of thinking, but I struggle through. “As a boy or an adult?”
“Sell is nix as baeffzes.” Angela looks helplessly at her husband. That’s nothing but trifling talk.
“Chief Burkholder, what does this have to do with our son’s death?” Lester asks.
“It sounds like you’re trying to blame him for what happened,” Angela says, her voice rising.
“No, I’m not.” I stop speaking, holding her gaze. “I’m following up on some information—”
