"I don't think I did."
"Anything distinctive about the sound of that car?"
"Well, a buzzy thing, and of course I—"
"Was the motor shut off?"
"Not right away—oh, I remember something. A rattle, while the motor was running, loose metal, like a license-plate or something."
Edith saw Callista lean to Warner for a quick whispered conference; Cal seemed unexcited, but the Old Man was pleased. His back turned, Hunter would have missed it.
"Motor not shut off right away—how long did it run?"
"A minute, maybe, before the car door opened and shut."
"Can you establish the time you heard that car stop?"
"Yes; ten minutes past nine. Looked at my watch. You see, I wondered if the Chalmerses were expecting anyone, didn't think they were. Anyhow, all the talk you hear about juvenile delinquents in parked cars, naturally I—" her voice dwindled and came alive again briskly: "My watch runs good."