Southern Justice, Part 65

I’m Fixin’ To present part 65 of Southern Justice:

Chris Adams was stunned to hear from Rick Junior that he was a suspect in the drowning of Jackie Payne-Haselton.

“What! Are you sure she’s dead? And why would anyone suspect me? I haven’t been to the lake in weeks!”

Rick Junior held his hand up with his palm toward Chris as a gesture to calm him. “Calm down,” he said, the sheriff claims it happened late last Tuesday afternoon. We all know that you were here at that time.”

“Did you tell him that?” Chris asked with a painful look on his face.

“Of course I did, however, he still wants to talk to you. The sheriff and a GBI agent are scheduled to arrive here at one o’clock. Is that acceptable to you?”

“Well, yeah, I guess so,” Chris consented hesitantly. “But I still don’t understand why they want to talk to me.”

Rick Junior turned toward Jones and said, “Why don’t you tell him?”

Jones cleared his throat and said, “They say your car was seen leaving the area shortly after the drowning. Someone got the license plate number off it.”

“But Rick Junior just confirmed that I was her until late the day they say the drowning took place,” Chris mused as if to himself.

“Yes, that’s true,” Jones confirmed, “but your car wasn’t.”

Chris was startled for a moment before he said, “What’s that supposed to mean?

“If you remember,” Jones told him, “we worked late that day and I drove you home. You said Patty had driven your car to the GSU Law Library.

What time did she get home that night?”

“A-a-about nine-thirty” Chris stuttered.

Jones turned toward Rick Junior and said, “It only takes about an hour and fifteen minutes to get back to the city from the lake.”

With a stunned look Chris looked from one to the other before he said, “Wait a minute, fellows. Your’re not suggesting—–”

Rick Junior interrupted, “Chris, we know you weren’t there, but your car was seen there and Patty had your car. What are we supposed to think? I certainly hope she can prove that she was at the law library during this time.”

“By the way,” Jones asked, “how does she swim?

Chris grimaced as he answered, “Like a fish—she went to college on a swimming scholarship.”

“Damn!” Rick Junior declared, “it just gets worse!”

Suddenly it hit Chris. “Wait a minute!” he almost shouted. “My license plate! I noticed it was missing from my car after our meeting Saturday morning, and, now get this, the damn thing was back on my car this morning!”

He watched as Rick Junior and Jones looked at each other trying to analyze this new information. Jones spoke first. “Did you mention this to Patty?”

“Yeah. She’s as puzzled as I am about it. What do you guys think?”

Everyone was quiet for a few moments. Rick Junior spoke first. “I hate to say this, buddy, but in my opinion Patty removed that plate and then replaced it just to cover herself.”

“Wait a second,” Jones said, “that doesn’t make sense. If she was going to the lake to murder Jackie, why would she leave the license plate on the car during the act?”

“Good point,” Rick Junior replied. “Still, everything points toward her, including the motive. Chris, we all know that you are her guy, and potentially a very rich guy. With Jackie out of the way there’s no one to take your share of Pic-Ric Products away from you.”

“But that doesn’t make sense either,” Chris said, “because of the list I sto—uh, uh, the list your dad wrote proved that he didn’t leave the company to Jackie anyway.”

“By her own admission, Patty didn’t know that for sure until Friday. Jackie was murdered the Tuesday before,” Jones summed up.

In spite of all the incriminating circumstances Chris could not believe he was in love with a murderess, especially one who was attempting to incriminate him. “Well, fellows, I’m sure there is an explanation for all of this. I’ll just have to figure it out. In the meantime, what do I tell the cops who are coming to visit?”

Jones answered without any hesitation. You should answer their questions truthfully without volunteering any information. However, sooner or later they are going to want to talk to Patty.”

“So should we tell her the situation?” Rick Junior asked. “We need advice from our lawyer, but she seems to be the suspect. As far as I’m concerned it’s your call Chris. Jones?”

“I think Chris should ask her in here right now and let’s see what she has to say.”

“Is that okay with you Chris?” Rick Junior asked.

“I suppose it’s the best thing,” Chris said dejectedly. “I’ll go get her. She’s up front waiting for Hormel.”