Part 14 (2/2)
”It's a settin' out in the shed. That no-good young'un o' Ezekiel's, c.o.o.n Hawkins, tried to buy it off'en me a year ago, but I turned him down flat.”
”Didn't he offer enough?” Penny asked curiously.
”'Twasn't that. Fust place, I don't think much o' c.o.o.n Hawkins! Second place, that car belonged to my departed husband, and I don't aim n.o.body else ever will drive it.”
”Then you didn't have the car out today or loan it to anyone?”
”No, I didn't! Say, what you gittin' at anyway with all these questions?”
”Your car was involved in an accident this afternoon in Riverview,” Salt explained.
”What you sayin'?” the woman demanded. ”You must be out o' yer mind! My car ain't been out of the shed fer a month.”
”We may have been mistaken,” Penny admitted. ”The license number of the car was K-4687.”
”Why, that's the plate number of mine!” the Widow Jones exclaimed.
”Leastwise, I recollect it is!”
”You're certain the car still is in the shed?” Salt asked.
”You got me all confused now, and I hain't cartain of anything. Come in while I get a lantern, and we'll look!”
Penny and Salt stepped into a clean kitchen, slightly fragrant with the odor of spicy catsup made that afternoon. On a table stood row upon row of sealed bottles ready to be carried to the cellar.
The Widow Jones lighted a lantern and threw a woolen shawl over her bony shoulders.
”Follow me,” she bade.
At a swift pace, she led the way down a path to a rickety shed which stood far back from the road.
The woman unfastened the big door which swung back on creaking hinges.
Raising her lantern, she flashed the light on the floor of the shed.
”Hit's gone!” she exclaimed. ”Someone's stole the car!”
Only a large blotch of oil on the cracked concrete floor revealed where the automobile had stood.
”Have you no idea who took the car?” Penny inquired.
Grimly the Widow Jones closed the shed door and slammed the hasp into place.
”Maybe I have an' maybe I han't! Leastwise, I larned forty years ago to keep my lips shut less I could back up my words with proof.”
In silence the widow started back toward the house. Midway to the house, she suddenly paused, listening attentively.
From a nearby tree an owl hooted, but Penny and Salt sensed that was not the sound which had caught the woman's ear.
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