“Not usually no, but lately…” She chopped into a carrot rather viciously, so hard that the sound echoed around the room.
“But lately what?”
“Lately she’s been acting strange. Leaving the house at all hours, sometimes at the drop of a hat. She’d get a phone call sometimes and just drop everything and go.”
“How long has this been going on?” She stopped with the knife in her hand and looked up to the ceiling. “I’d say it all started about a year and a half ago, but here lately it got worst.”
“And she never told you where she was going?”
“Why would she? I’m just the housekeeper.”
“And what time do you come in to work?”
“I live in, in the carriage house over the garage.” She pointed with her knife out the window. “I’m here by six every morning rain or shine.” She went back to her chopping with a look on her face that said she was not enjoying this in the least.
“And what was their relationship like?”
“Happy as anyone I guess. They have their rows like any married couple, nothing too alarming. He’s never hit her if that’s what you’re getting at. He…” Her voice was testy, defensive even and Detective Sparks took note of it.
“I’m not accusing anyone Ms. Nettie, just trying to get a picture that’s all.” Nettie went back to her chopping with less force this time and a slight blush as if only now realizing that she’d overreacted to the question.
“So you say she changed in the last year and a half. How about him, did he change in anyway that you’ve noticed?” She shrugged her shoulders.
“Mr. Niall works very hard, it’s understandable if he has an off day here and there.”
“In what way do you mean?”
“Well, after the babies came so close together, it was a bit chaotic around here. Even with the nanny they’re a handful. Mr. Davis would sometimes wander off by himself, but then again she’d wander off herself sometimes too like I said.”
“And where did they go in these wanderings?”
“I wouldn’t know and it wasn’t my place to ask.’ She stopped and gazed off into space for a second as if recalling something of import before going back to her chopping again.
“I did notice that she was a lot happier lately, in and out of the house more and more often, but she was always here when he came home in the evenings.” It was obvious that the elderly woman did not approve.
It was sounding more and more like Sonya Davis had indeed been having an affair, but it was too early to tell yet. Still, it was a place to start. “Did you like her Ms. Nettie?” The knife stopped mid slice and the older woman looked at her a bit miffed.
“Why what a question to ask. Of course I liked her, in my own way. But I don’t need to-to do my job now do I.”
“And where were you between the hours of eight and nine this morning Ms. Nettie?”
“I was here, where I always am.” She stomped over to the stove and added a handful of vegetables to the stew she had going on the stove.
“One more question; how long have you worked for the Davises?”
“I raised Mr. Niall when he was a boy and then I came here when he got married to look after the house and his family.”
“Okay, that’s all for now, can you direct me to the nursery please?” She pointed with her knife. “Up the stairs, first door on the right, next to the master bedroom.” Detective Sparks turned and left the room, stopping in the doorway to look back at the other woman who had gone back to her stirring.
“I might have some more questions for you later, give me a call if you think of anything that might help.” She passed one of her cards to the woman who shoved it in her apron pocket.