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Jack said, “What the hell are you talking about, Jeff? Christine and Gordon were both in Washington when her parents were killed.”
“Not accordin’ to what Patsy just told me. She said Christine went out in the afternoon, and then came back later. Patsy said she looked like death itself. Told Patsy to go home and not to talk about anythin’ to anyone.”
DuBose said quickly, “Can you go with us to Patsy’s home? Right now?”
CHAPTER 88
PATSY LIVED IN A SMALL house on a narrow gravel road with four other similar homes. The Black woman was in her fifties, and her long graying hair was tied back into a bushy ponytail. She was surprised to see the Lees and DuBose at her door, but quickly invited them in. She had taken off her uniform and was in blue jeans and a white shirt.
They sat in her front room.
Jack said, “We understand that Mrs. Hanover was very upset when she got back from her parents’ home the day they were killed?”
“Oh, yeah. Sobbin’ and everythin’. I ask her what was wrong and she say somethin’ bad had happened to her momma and daddy. I was real upset, too. I used to work for them when Christine was just a little thing.”
“What was she doing at her parents’ that day?”
“Miss Christine say her momma called and was upset ’bout somethin’. So she went over there to see what was the matter.”
“Did she drive?” asked DuBose.
“No, it just a short walk over there.”
“But wouldn’t she have to go out the main gate?” asked DuBose.
“Oh, no. They got a locked gate back ’a the home. She go out that way, then through a little path in the woods and right to her momma and daddy’s through their back gate. I done it lots of times. Only takes five minutes.”
“That’s right,” said Jack. “She told us about the back gate at her parents’ house. What time did she go over there and what time did she get back?”
“Oh, she leave the house ’bout quarter past three or thereabouts.”
DuBose glanced sharply at Jack. “And what time did she get back?”
“She got back close to five.”
“Did she walk back?”
“Well, I thought she would. But then I see her gettin’ out a car over by the garage. I see it through the kitchen window when I was cleanin’ up.”
“Was it a blue convertible?” asked Jack.
Patsy smiled. “How you know that?”
DuBose said, “Was she wearing the same clothes that she had on when she left?”
“Well, I guess so.”
“You guess so?”
“I couldn’t really tell. She had on a long coat. I guess she got it from her momma and daddy’s house. I wondered why she had it on ’cause it was real hot that day.”
“And when she came in? What did she say?” asked DuBose.
“She say somethin’ bad happened. She told me to go on home right then.”
“And she told you not to talk to anyone?” said DuBose.
“That’s right. Then come to find out they dead.” She shook her head. “So sad. They was real good people.”
