The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-03-29
Chapter %
LathrOp's Story

LathrOp's Story
Tim LATHROP shook his head.
L mo, Richard wasn't in his
apartment, but the door wasn't
locked. so l went in to wait for
him"
"Was the street door locked?"
81 don't know. You see, had a
key, so I used it, but the door
might have been unlocked. / real
ly couldn't tell you"
Go on"
well, smoked a couple of Gig
arettes and looked over maya
zine or two and then left"
Were you in the car long be-
fore your wife drove you away
from here?"
about five minutes, l guess.
That ride was a nightmare" he
went on in a low voice. "She was
beside herself, and you know
there was a heavy storm last
night. Driving was difficult and
dangerous. l begged her to be
careful, but that only made her
worse. and all of the time she was
talking about Joan"
He broke off unexpectedly and
buried his face in his hands. And
the Sergeant, smoking with a
Thoughtful expression on his face,
didn't prod him to go on.
After a moment and almost in
audibly he continued. ut seemed
as though Louise had been stor-
ing up hatred and resentment for
years and Joan was her outlet.
She was completely irrational;
there was nothing l could get out
of her except that she'd been to
see Joan and they had disagreed
violently" He pulled himself up
short. 81 don't know when she
saw JOAN" he said hastily. at
might not have been last night.
"She threatened to kill herself
and me. too. but l paid little at
tention to that. She has cried wolf
so often. Crossing Forty-second
Street the car skidded once or
twice / tried to take the wheel
from her, but she fought me off
When we got to First Avenue
expected her to turn left, because
her apartment is uptown on the
corner of First, but before l could
stop her she stepped on the gas
and we shot off the pier into the
river. It was horrible" he cried.
Rising suddenly, be walked to the
window and stood with his back
to us, his shoulders shaking. He
seemed terribly shaken.
And your wife was outside in
the car waiting for you all of the
time you were in the shop and in
Rich ard MacDonald's apart
ment?" the Sergeant said softly.
Tim Lathrop turned around, his
gray eyes again on the Sergeant.
81 don't know" he said in a muf-
fed voice. 81 guess so. She must
have seen me come in here or she
wouldn't have been waiting"
The same thought was in every
ones mind.
Louise Lathrop might have left
the car and come upstairs again
TO Joan Kent's apartment. She
had plenty of time to do that,
The Sergeant cleared his throat
] expected him to lombard Tim
Lathrop with his d GU b is and
questions. Instead, he thanked
him politely for the information,
and when he spoke again it was
TO Dirck.
by the way, Kolff, the autopsy
showed nothing :. new"
Considering the Sergeant's usu-
ally tactless way of laundering
out with things this statement
showed admirable restraint.
A Kiss
WELL, I've got to be going" he
w said, limping towards the
door. "In case any of you folks
are nervous I've got a man sta
toned in the shop tonight"
That's fine" Dirck looked up
at him quickly and nodded.
Tim Lathrop left with the Ser
geant, and after the door closed
behind them Mary Ann uncurled
herself from the chair, showing
nice length of good-looking leg.
"Tve got to be going" she said
in a desolate little voice as she
stood up.
Then Dirck invited us down to
the Knife and Fork for a bun and
coffee. But it was half past twelve
and / was too tired.
"Tm too old to CAD around at
night" l said.
But Mary Ann fluttered de-
lightedly and ran to her apart
ment for her coat md hat.
Dirck came over to me. For
heavens sake, Chris, be careful"
he said. "Tll sleep in the shop to-
night with the Sergeant's dick, so
I'll be around, but stay in your
room. Dom go wan d erin g
around"
Charlie Whitefeld is rather
attractive" l said so that he
wouldn't see how uneasy I felt.
He bent over and, much to my
amazement. kissed me soundly on
the mouth.
Then quite suddenly he moved
away and l heard Mary AIMS
high heels patter down the hall
Dirck, with a backward glance at
me, walked to the doorway to
meet her. She was wearing her
squirrel jacket and a small green
hat back on her forehead like a
halo It made her look very young