Where the Crawdads Sing
by Delia Owens
Contents
49. Disguises
Overview
The prosecution advances a disguise theory using two bus drivers to suggest Kya secretly traveled between Greenville and Barkley Cove the night Chase died. Under cross-examination, Tom Milton exposes their identifications as speculative, the timing uncertain, and notes the late arrival and lack of any confirmed sighting on the return bus.
Summary
In court, Eric calls Trailways driver Larry Price, who confirms that a person could ride from Greenville to Barkley Cove and back the same night. Price testifies he drove the Greenville-to–Barkley Cove bus the night Chase died and saw no one matching Kya, but recalls a very thin young man in a bulky blue cap who kept his head down. After looking at Kya, Price agrees it is possible she could have disguised herself as that man and that the figure’s height matched hers.
On cross-examination, Tom Milton emphasizes that Price did not think the passenger was a woman at the time and that the disguise idea originated with the sheriff, not Price. Pressed on the date, Price concedes he is not certain the passenger was on October 29. Tom also establishes the bus was twenty-five minutes late, arriving in Barkley Cove at 1:40 a.m., complicating the state’s timeline.
Eric then calls John King, driver of the 2:30 a.m. Barkley Cove-to–Greenville bus. King testifies he did not see Kya on that bus but remembers an older, tall woman with short gray curls. When asked, King allows it is possible Kya could have disguised herself as that woman.
Under cross, Tom rejects speculation in a murder trial and confirms King did not see Kya and that there was no other return bus that night. The net effect is to frame the prosecution’s disguise-and-bus theory as conjecture lacking a firm date, direct identification, or reliable linkage to Kya.
Who Appears
- Tom MiltonDefense attorney; undermines bus-driver testimonies as speculative, highlights date uncertainty and the late bus arrival, and confirms no return sighting.
- Mr. Larry PriceGreenville-to–Barkley Cove bus driver; recalls a thin male passenger; concedes it could have been Kya in disguise but isn’t sure of the date.
- Mr. John KingBarkley Cove-to–Greenville bus driver; did not see Kya; remembers an older tall woman; allows it’s “possible” Kya disguised herself.
- EricProsecutor; advances the disguise theory, eliciting drivers’ statements that travel and disguises were possible.
- Kya (Miss Clark)Defendant; briefly stands for comparison as witnesses speculate she traveled in disguise.