to one aspect of the case that had never come out in court. Just prior to Suzanne Reardon's death, Skip and Beth had started to see each other again. A few weeks earlier, they had bumped into each other, and Skip had insisted on taking her to lunch. They had ended up talking for hours, and he had confessed to her how unhappy he was and how much he regretted their breakup. "I made a stupid mistake," he had told her, "but for what it's worth, it's not going to last much longer. I've been married to Suzanne for four years, and for at least three of them I've been wondering how I ever let you go."
On the night Suzanne died, Beth and Skip were scheduled to have dinner together. She had had to cancel at the last minute, however, and it was then that Skip had gone home to find Suzanne arranging the roses.
At the time of the trial, Geoff had agreed with Skip's chief counsel, Tim Farrell, that to put Beth on the stand was a double- edged sword. The prosecution no doubt would try to make it seem that in addition to avoiding the expense of a divorce, Skip Reardon had another compelling reason for killing his wife.
On the other hand, Beth's testimony might have been effective in dispelling Dr. Smith's contention that Skip was insanely jealous of Suzanne.
Until Kerry had told him about Dr. Smith, and about the look- alikes, Geoff had been sure that they had made the right decision. Now he was less sure. He looked squarely at Beth. "I didn't tell Kerry about you yet. But now I want her to meet you, and to hear your story. If we have any chance at all for a new and successful appeal, all the cards have to be on the table."
... Tuesday, October 31st
When she was ready to leave the house for her early morning appointment with Dr. Smith, Kerry shook wake a protesting Robin. "Come on, Rob," she urged. "You're always telling me I treat you like a baby." "You do," Robin mumbled.
"All right. I'm giving you a chance to prove your independence. I want you to get up now and get dressed, Otherwise you'll fall asleep again. Mrs. Weiser will phone at seven to be sure you didn't let yourself fall back asleep. I left cereal and juice out. Make certain the door is locked when you leave for school."
Robin yawned and closed her eyes.
"Rob, please."
"Okay." With a sigh Robin swung her legs over the side of the bed. Her hair fell forward over her face as she rubbed her eyes.
Kerry smoothed it back. "Can I trust you?"
Robin looked up with a slow, sleepy smile. "Uh-huh."
"Okay." Kerry kissed the top of her head. "Now remember, same rules as any other time. Don't open the door for anyone. I'll set the alarm. You deactivate it only when you're ready to leave, then reset it. Don't take a ride from anyone unless you're with Cassie and Courtney and it's one of their parents."
"I know. I know." Robin sighed dramatically.
Kerry grinned. "I know I've given you the same spiel a thousand times. See you tonight. Alison will be here at three."
Alison was the high school student who stayed with Robin after school until Kerry came home. Kerry had thought about having her come over this morning to see Robin off but had acceded to her daughter's vigorous protest that she wasn't a baby and could get herself off to school.
"See you, Mom."
Robin listened to Kerry's steps going down the stairs, then went over to the window to watch the car pull out of the driveway.
The room was chilly. By seven o'clock, when she usually got up, the house was toasty warm. Just for a minute, Robin thought as she slipped back into bed. I'll just lie here for a minute more.
At seven o'clock, after the phone had rung six times, she sat up and answered it. "Oh, thanks, Mrs. Weiser. Yes, I'm sure I'm up."
I am now, she thought as she hurried out of bed.
Despite the early hour, the traffic into Manhattan was heavy. But at least it was moving at a reasonable clip, Kerry thought. Nevertheless it took her a full hour to drive from New Jersey, down what was left of the West Side Highway and across town to Dr.
On the night Suzanne died, Beth and Skip were scheduled to have dinner together. She had had to cancel at the last minute, however, and it was then that Skip had gone home to find Suzanne arranging the roses.
At the time of the trial, Geoff had agreed with Skip's chief counsel, Tim Farrell, that to put Beth on the stand was a double- edged sword. The prosecution no doubt would try to make it seem that in addition to avoiding the expense of a divorce, Skip Reardon had another compelling reason for killing his wife.
On the other hand, Beth's testimony might have been effective in dispelling Dr. Smith's contention that Skip was insanely jealous of Suzanne.
Until Kerry had told him about Dr. Smith, and about the look- alikes, Geoff had been sure that they had made the right decision. Now he was less sure. He looked squarely at Beth. "I didn't tell Kerry about you yet. But now I want her to meet you, and to hear your story. If we have any chance at all for a new and successful appeal, all the cards have to be on the table."
... Tuesday, October 31st
When she was ready to leave the house for her early morning appointment with Dr. Smith, Kerry shook wake a protesting Robin. "Come on, Rob," she urged. "You're always telling me I treat you like a baby." "You do," Robin mumbled.
"All right. I'm giving you a chance to prove your independence. I want you to get up now and get dressed, Otherwise you'll fall asleep again. Mrs. Weiser will phone at seven to be sure you didn't let yourself fall back asleep. I left cereal and juice out. Make certain the door is locked when you leave for school."
Robin yawned and closed her eyes.
"Rob, please."
"Okay." With a sigh Robin swung her legs over the side of the bed. Her hair fell forward over her face as she rubbed her eyes.
Kerry smoothed it back. "Can I trust you?"
Robin looked up with a slow, sleepy smile. "Uh-huh."
"Okay." Kerry kissed the top of her head. "Now remember, same rules as any other time. Don't open the door for anyone. I'll set the alarm. You deactivate it only when you're ready to leave, then reset it. Don't take a ride from anyone unless you're with Cassie and Courtney and it's one of their parents."
"I know. I know." Robin sighed dramatically.
Kerry grinned. "I know I've given you the same spiel a thousand times. See you tonight. Alison will be here at three."
Alison was the high school student who stayed with Robin after school until Kerry came home. Kerry had thought about having her come over this morning to see Robin off but had acceded to her daughter's vigorous protest that she wasn't a baby and could get herself off to school.
"See you, Mom."
Robin listened to Kerry's steps going down the stairs, then went over to the window to watch the car pull out of the driveway.
The room was chilly. By seven o'clock, when she usually got up, the house was toasty warm. Just for a minute, Robin thought as she slipped back into bed. I'll just lie here for a minute more.
At seven o'clock, after the phone had rung six times, she sat up and answered it. "Oh, thanks, Mrs. Weiser. Yes, I'm sure I'm up."
I am now, she thought as she hurried out of bed.
Despite the early hour, the traffic into Manhattan was heavy. But at least it was moving at a reasonable clip, Kerry thought. Nevertheless it took her a full hour to drive from New Jersey, down what was left of the West Side Highway and across town to Dr.
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