“Does he ever pick up work?”
Snoop thought for a bit. “He does cleanup for construction, gardening. He works for old buddies. They slip him a few bucks. He gets them to hire some of us too. He’s good about that.”
“Ever talk about his past?”
“Nope.”
“Did you know he was a star halfback for the UVA football team in ’75? Made All-American.”
“Some of the other guys told me. Frank never mentioned it. Not much of a talker.”
“Ever talk about lost love?”
Snoop laughed low. “Hell, no!”
“Do you like him?”
“I do.” He rocked back and forth a little on the planter. “How come you’re asking?”
“I’m wondering if Frank knows reality from fantasy. I’ve heard the alcohol kills brain cells. People have hallucinations.”
“Screamers.”
“Beg pardon?”
“Usually they see things, they start screaming. Frank never screamed. Like I said, he was never much of a talker. Why would hallucinations matter? He knew who that woman was.”
Harry realized that Snoop was no dummy and, for now anyway, he thought clearly. “Well, first answer me one more question, then I can answer yours. Was Frank on the mall April eleventh?”
Snoop had no calendar, but counted days backward. “Don’t think he was. So what’s this about?”
“You’ve noticed he hasn’t been here for a couple of days?”
“Right. Figured he made enough for a bottle and he’s still drunk.”
“No. He confessed to a crime. He says he killed Professor McConnell, the father of the blonde woman he was yelling at. The professor was killed April eleventh on Farmington’s golf course.”
Snoop burst out laughing. “Old Frank couldn’t set foot on that golf course. Someone would throw him off. No bums allowed, except rich ones!”
Harry wryly smiled. “But he says he did it. Says he shot Professor McConnell, and he did get the location correct where the murder occurred.”
“Ma’am, why listen to a drunk?” Snoop stopped for a moment. “ ’Cept for me, of course.”
She couldn’t help but like the man. “Thank you. I didn’t mean to bother you.”
“You didn’t bother me. You talked to me like I’m a human being.”
This hit her. “Snoop, you are. Look, I don’t know you from a hot rock. Of course, I’m sad that you are in this state because you are intelligent and respectful.” She blurted out, “You’re a nice person.”
Snoop, dark brown eyes searching her face, replied in a hoarse voice, “I…Thank you.”
She reached into her pocket to hand him a ten-dollar bill. He put his hand over hers.
“Couldn’t you use a hot meal?” she asked.
“I will not take money from you. I’m afraid I’d go buy a bottle.”
Thrown for a loop, Harry paused for a moment, shoved the money back into her front pocket, reached into her back pocket, and pulled out her farm business card. “Here. If you need something, or you think of something that might help Frank, call me.”
He read the card in his hand. “Sunflowers. Bet your farm is something.”
“It is to me. Please, keep the card. And I mean it, you call me.”
As she walked away, Snoop watched. He pulled out the card, read it again. He wouldn’t lose it, no matter what.
—
Patiently accompanying Harry, Tucker said to her, “He’s telling the truth.”
“We’re almost at the car, Sweetie,” she said to the corgi.
“I can smell things. When humans lie or they are afraid, there’s a scent. That’s one of the ways I know how to protect you. Wrong scent, I get between you and that person. That Snoop, he’s okay, even if he does need a bath.”
Miracle of miracles, Harry had found a parking space big enough for the truck in front of David Wheeler’s office right by Jackson Square. A wooden door to the small front yard creaked as she pushed it open. David was Harry’s accountant and a good friend. She was bringing him documents she’d filled out for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The copies would be useful when she itemized her fertilizer and seed expenses.
After climbing a small series of wooden steps, she opened the office and found Marshall Reese and Paul Huber standing with David in the corridor outside his office.
“Well, hello.” Marshall beamed as the other two men also rushed to greet her and the corgi trailing her.
“Tucker and I just wanted to say hello. This looks like a UVA versus Tech standoff.” She knew David loved his alma mater and gloried in Virginia Tech’s football prowess.
David was never averse to expressing his opinion. “No standoff. The Cavaliers aren’t going to do squat.”
“I’m telling you, London is turning things around,” Marshall said, citing the UVA coach. “Look at the recruitment of outstanding high school players, and it takes a good two years to work those kids into any system.”
David grinned. “Marshall, we’re going to kick your butts into next week.”
“No way!” Paul protested.
“Fellas, I don’t have a dog in this fight,” Harry smiled. “I went to Smith, remember.”
They laughed, then with a glint in his eye, David said, “Given the transgender people at Smith now, I expect you’ll have your own football team.”
That set the men off and running at the mouth. “Do you let transsexuals compete with the sex they changed to? Do you keep them out of the locker room or let them in?” None of the males were shy about their feelings on this.
Harry held up her hands, surrendering. “Hey, I’m not responsible for my alma mater.”
“You haven’t said a word,” said Marshall. “Would you want to be in the locker room with a girl who was becoming a guy?” he queried.
“I don’t much care,” she answered. “I just think it’s incredible that we live in a time when someone can make a choice. I mean, think about it! Choosing your gender. If you have the money, the inner you can match the outer you.”
“I don’t get it.” Paul really didn’t.
“Well, Paul, you don’t have to.” Harry punched him in the arm, and they all laughed. “Hey, I just spoke with one of the homeless men on the mall. Really nice guy, Snoop. I wanted to know if Frank was on the mall the day Ginger was killed. Snoop said he wasn’t.”
“Could have been anywhere.” Paul slipped his right hand into his pocket.
“This is such an unfortunate situation,” Marshall noted. “Obviously, Sheriff Shaw has to consider Frank no matter how unlikely a suspect. Rick put Frank in a halfway house. He’s pretty fragile right now.”
“He’s getting three meals a day,” David sensibly noted. “That’s something.”
“Might put on some weight,” said Marshall. “Look, like I said, this is such an unfortunate situation, and Trudy doesn’t need to be dragged into it.” He sounded adamant.
“True,” both Paul and David chimed in.
Harry had full confidence in Sheriff Shaw. “I’m sure Rick and Coop will do the right thing by police procedure as well as by Trudy.”
“While you’re here, Harry, Paul and I were talking about an endowed chair for Professor McConnell that we wanted to announce at the gathering at the lawn after the service. Would you and Fair care to contribute?”
“Of course we will. He’ll be home from the conference tomorrow. I’ll call you then. You know we can only do but so much, but this is the best tribute possible.”
Marshall and Paul thanked her as Harry bid the three men goodbye. She walked down the few outside steps, the wood reverberating.
Tucker always stuck close to Harry in crowded areas and by roads. Once in the truck, the tough little dog stared at Harry. “Something’s not right.”
“We’ll be home soon.” She half-fibbed.
“Pay attention, Mom!”