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“I’d have nothing to offer. He endangered my life that day, best intentions on his behalf or not.”
For her to tag on the latter bit, a part of her must have thought Darrell had her interest at heart, even if his way of showing that was misguided. Whatever the case, Natalie’s conflicted feelings toward her father kept her from testifying for him at the hearing, and that might have been a good thing. If she had, Lonnie Jennings and Dennis Eaton may have taken her. Though maybe they didn’t think she had anything to offer. Maybe coming here was a waste of time. “You think he took you from your mother because he had good intentions?”
“My mother said that, but I think it was to make me feel better for the risk he placed me in.”
Sandra nodded. “Your mother also said your father was trouble. Did she ever say what kind?”
Natalie licked her lips and didn’t meet Sandra’s eye when she responded. “I gathered it was the illegal kind.”
“A bank robbery possibly?” Brice put out there and earned Natalie’s gaze. She blinked slowly a few times and crossed her arms.
“Honestly? I think Mom suspected something like that. She never came out and said it, but there were subtle hints she dropped throughout the years. They usually came when money was tighter.”
“Did he send money to your mother for you?” They could be wrong to think the gold was just hiding somewhere untouched.
“Don’t think so.”
“What sort of comments then? I’m not sure I understand,” Brice said.
“Just that she wished she could rob a bank and get away with it like Dad.”
Sandra glanced at Brice, then back to Natalie. “Nothing really subtle in that.”
“Is it true? Is that also why you’re here? You mentioned a girl being in trouble though.”
“We’re just gathering information right now, but we have our suspicions. But he never mentioned any of this to you? Tried reaching out over the years?” From Natalie’s standpoint if she knew about the gold’s location, she’d do her best to keep it to herself. Sandra studied the woman’s reaction to the question. A slow shake of the head, steady eye contact.
“I swear to you I don’t know anything about it. As I said, I’ve never talked to him, and I don’t have any interest in doing so now. I’ve gotten by just fine without him in my life. But, yes, he has reached out over the years. I’ve always rejected his collect calls and put any letters he sent in the trash.”
Patton may have been trying to tell Natalie about the gold. The letters may have even contained some clue as to its location. But Sandra could appreciate that Natalie had sided with her mother and moved forward in her life, even if that didn’t help find Olivia. “Were these letters sent more recently?”
Natalie shook her head. “It was before I got married, so over seventeen years ago. He wouldn’t know where to find me now unless his mother somehow knows.”
“I see,” Sandra said. They were left with one other play here. Patton’s possessions. “Where are his things, do you know?”
“As far as I know his mother has his stuff locked up in a storage unit. Where, you’d have to talk to her about. I’m not exactly in contact with her either. But I’m still a bit lost on how your questions about the robbery and my father pertain to that teenage girl you mentioned.” She narrowed her eyes and studied Sandra.
“We’re just gathering information,” Sandra reiterated in a soft tone. “Do you know a Lonnie Jennings and Dennis Eaton?”
“Ah, kind of… well, I very vaguely remember having an Uncle Lonnie.”
“Have you been in touch with him?” Brice asked.
Natalie shook her head, and her forehead bunched in confusion. “No. As I said Ivaguelyremember a Lonnie. I was just a kid when he was around.”
It would seem when Patton went away, Natalie’s mother made sure to shield her from the man’s friends too. Sandra’s earlier thought gained more credit. Jennings and Eaton wouldn’t have reason to think Natalie would be helpful in recovering the gold. “I appreciate these questions must be coming out of left field for you,” Sandra said, showing empathy, “but the men I just mentioned are suspects in an FBI investigation pertaining to the abduction of a teenage girl. We believe they were friends of your father’s and that the three of them were involved in a bank robbery thirty-three years ago.”
Natalie paled and wet her lips. “I…Idon’t know what to say. I wish I could help more, but as I said, my dad and I aren’t in contact. At all.”
“We appreciate you taking the time to talk to us,” Sandra said, getting up. “I realize you have a lot on the go today.”
“Oh, shoot. Kids!” Natalie bopped up. “We’ve got to leave!”
Sandra and Brice saw themselves out.
“I’d say she’s telling the truth,” Brice said as he slipped behind the wheel.
“I agree, but why do you think that?”