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“The commonwealth’s theory is that they planned the murders together.”
“That slip of a young woman I saw that day helped plan the murders of two people?” He shook his head and said forcefully, “No, I just don’t see it. Not at all.”
“We don’t, either, but Mr. Battle seems confident.”
He made a show of checking his watch and said, “Now, how can I help you?”
They asked him if he knew the terms of his in-laws’ will and about the tontine.
“I didn’t know until I spoke with Curtis Gates this morning and he gave me a heads-up. He handles our estate matters, too. I have no idea what Leslie was thinking with this tontine business. It’s like something out of an Agatha Christie novel.”
“We understand that you’ve been paying their expenses,” noted DuBose.
He nodded. “Their problem was simple: They had outlived their money. So, we helped them. It just seemed like the decent thing to do.”
They asked him about the man with perhaps a medical bag visiting the Randolphs.
He shook his head. “That’s the first I’ve heard of it. Anne and Leslie had a regular doctor, Joseph Browder.”
“Can you describe him?” asked DuBose.
“Around sixty-five, short, bald, and overweight.”
“No, that doesn’t match the man’s description,” said Jack.
“Are you close with Sam Randolph?” asked DuBose.
“No, as a matter of fact, I’m not. He was just never very friendly to me.”
“He seems to be in ill health and in dire financial straits,” commented Jack.
“Then he could come to me and I’d help him. I’ve actually tried reaching out to Sam, but he’s rebuffed my every attempt.”
“He told us that his father informed him he was going to leave Jerome some money in his will. Do you know anything about that?” asked DuBose.
“No.”
“The files that Mr. Battle shared with us indicate that you have information about something your father-in-law told you?” said DuBose.
Hanover sighed. “I don’t think you’re going to like what I have to say.”
“We know some of it, but would like to hear it from you,” said DuBose.
“I was over at the house, about a week before their deaths.”
“So after Jerome and his family came to eat and swim?” noted Jack.
“Yes. Leslie told me that he suspected Jerome might be stealing from them.”
“Why, exactly?” asked DuBose.
“Some tools from the garage were missing, Leslie said. And he kept a box with petty cash in his study. Some of the money was gone as well.”
She said, “And what was Mr. Randolph going to do about that?”
“Fire Jerome, I believe.”
“Did he tell Jerome this?”
