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“The law.”
“I don’t see no law ’round here.” He brandished the over-and-under shotgun. “Just this gun.”
“Well, let me put it to you this way. If you don’t talk to us, we can have your testimony stricken from the record and you may end up getting our clients found innocent. I wonder what the police will think of that?”
Dobbs said sourly, “What you wanna know, lawyer?”
DuBose took out her notebook. “You said that the Randolphs were going to get rid of Mr. Washington because he was belligerent?”
“You talkin’ to me?” Dobbs snapped.
“Yes, I am. Belligerent? Can you give me an example?”
Dobbs came off the steps and said, “Who the hell are you? As a rule I don’t allow coloreds on my property. They’re always stealin’ stuff.”
Jack said, “I already told you who she is. She’s an attorney for the Washingtons.”
Dobbs looked like he might laugh. “A colored woman lawyer?”
DuBose said brightly, “They’ve actually been turning us out for a long time now.”
“The hell you say?”
“Now, an example of belligerent?” she prompted.
“Well, that was the word the lawyer used, not me.”
“What would be your word then?” asked DuBose.
“He was being, you know, uppity. Shooting off his mouth.” He stopped and looked at DuBose. “They were scared ’a him.”
“And when did this happen?” she asked.
“Lot ’a times.”
“Then why did they keep him on?”
“They were scared ’a him, like I said. He’s a big man. Could put the hurtin’ on you. And he did, he killed ’em.”
“Why would he do that?” asked Jack.
“’Cause he needed money. He told me so.”
“When?”
“Few weeks ago. Said he needed money and was figurin’ out how to get it.”
At that moment they heard a dog barking. A few seconds later a large German shepherd hurtled from the open door and sprinted flat-out at them.
Jack jumped forward to block the dog, but Dobbs kicked the animal as it passed by him, sending the beast sprawling violently in the dirt. It lay there, whimpering and shaking one of its paws. Dobbs walked over and kicked the dog in the side, making it yelp.
“Damn dog. Now it’s lame. Well, that’s that.” He pointed the shotgun at the animal’s head.
DuBose rushed over to stand between him and the injured dog. She screamed, “Don’t you dare shoot that dog!”
“The hell I can’t. It’s my damn dog.”
DuBose knelt next to the panting and injured dog. She placed a calming hand on its heaving chest and said in a soothing voice, “It’s okay, baby. We’re going to take care of you.” She looked at Dobbs. “What’s her name?”
