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“So you’re saying they didn’t care which of us got the property so long as it was just one of us?” said Christine slowly.
“Oh, grow up, Christine,” exclaimed her brother. “It was as good as left to you. I’m much older, not in good health, and I will almost certainly predecease you, and soon, as Dad obviously knew. And then you can walk away with millions.”
She said, “I don’t need millions, Sam.”
“Of course you don’t,” he replied in a skeptical tone.
“Actually, she’s right, we don’t,” said Gordon testily. “And if they had disinherited you, Sam, would you be surprised? You’ve done nothing the last several years except act abominably toward them. And toward Christine and me as well.”
Randolph rose and stormed out, slamming the study door behind him.
Jack excused himself and followed the man.
At the front door, Jack watched as Randolph walked off at a rapid pace, turning the corner at the next street.
Jack hurried after him. He reached the corner to see that Randolph had slowed considerably and his breathing appeared to be labored. He started to cough violently. Next, he threw up in the grass. He took a few moments to recover, sucking in air in short bursts, before slowly walking off.
When Jack reached this spot, he noted the spatters of blood on the lawn.
At the next block, where Randolph had turned left, Jack paused and watched.
Randolph exited through the front gates and walked to the corner where there was a bus stop. Five minutes later he climbed onto a bus and it pulled away.
CHAPTER 49
LATER, AFTER THEY LEFT THE Hanovers’ house, Jack told DuBose about following Randolph.
“He took a bus, so I don’t think he even has a car. We’ll have to confirm that, but something tells me he’s not driving a blue convertible.”
DuBose looked thoughtful. “But he clearly needs money, he even said so himself. So he had a motive to kill his parents to get what he thought would be a substantial inheritance. But he didn’t know about his parents’ lack of liquid assets, and the tontine. So if he did kill them, he’s probably going to end up with nothing.”
“Unless Christine dies first.” Jack glanced at her. “Do you think he might...?”
“Desperate people do desperate things, Jack. But you said he threw up blood?”
“Yes. He’s obviously seriously ill. Maybe he doesn’t have much time left.”
“Then why does he care about getting his parents’ property?”
“Well, he has kids. He may want to leave it to them.”
“Okay, it’s time to meet with our clients.”
They saw Jerome first. He was sitting on his bunk. The head bandage was gone and he looked and sounded better than he had the last time they had seen him. The first thing he asked about was Pearl.
“The last time we saw her she was doing okay,” DuBose told him. “Now, Jerome, did Leslie Randolph ever mention to you that he was going to put you in his will?”
Jerome gaped. “What for? His wife already give me fifty dollars.”
“Did you ever have angry words with Mr. Randolph?” asked DuBose.
His features scrunched up. “Angry words? With Mr. Leslie? You crazy?”
“Tyler Dobbs said as much. And the Randolphs’ lawyer said the Randolphs were scared of you. That they were going to fire you. And there’s another witness who will testify that Mr. Randolph thought you had been stealing from him.”
Jerome shook his head. “I didn’t steal nothin’. And if I do, why did he invite my family over for lunch? Why Miss Anne give me fifty dollars if they gonna fire me?”
“They might claim that Mr. Randolph thinking you were stealing from him happened after the lunch and pool visit,” said Jack.
