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file:///G|/EBOOKS/Fiction1/Sidney%20Sheldon/MorningNoon%20Night.txt
out of a tree and had to have your leg stitched up. You had a scar.'
Woody said reluctantly, ' still do.' , She turned to the others.
"One of you was bitten by a dog. I forgot which one. My mother rushed
you to the emergency room at Massachusetts General.' Tyler nodded. ' had
to have- shots against rabies.' Her words were coming out in a torrent
now. ', when you were eight years old, you ran away. You were going to
Hollywood to become an actor. Your father was furious with you. He made
you go to your room without -dinner. Mother sneaked some food up to your
room.' Woody nodded, silent. ' ... I don't know what else I can tell
you. I ... She suddenly remembered something. ' have a photograph in my
purse.' She opened her purse and took it out. She handed the picture to
Kendall. 154 They all gathered around to look at it. It was a picture of
the three of them when they were children, standing next to an
attractive young woman in a governess's uniform.
"Mother gave me that.' Tyler asked, ' she leave you anything else?" She
shook her head. '. I'm sorry. She didn't want anything around that
reminded. her of Harry Stanford.' ' you, of course,' Woody said.
She turned to him, defiantly. ' don't care whether you believe me or
not. You don't understand ... I ... I was so hoping -' Slid, broke off.
Tyler spoke. ' my sister said, your sudden appearance is rather a shock
for us. I mean ... someone appearing out of nowhere and claimingto be a
member of the family ... you can see our problem. I think we need a
littl e time to discuss this.' ' course, I understand.' ' are you
staying?, ' the Tremont House.' ' don't you go back there,? We'll have a
car take you. And we'll be in touch shortly.' She nodded. ' right.' She
looked at each of them for a moment, and then said softly, "No matter
what you think - you're my family.' ''ll walk you to the door,' Kendall
said. She smiled. ''s all right. I can find my own way. I feel as-if I
know every inch of this house.' 155 They watched her turn and walk out
of the room. Kendall said,'Welll It ... it looks as though we have a
sister.' 11 don't believe it,' Woody retorted. ' seems to me ... ' Marc
began. They were -all talking at once. Tyler raised a hand. ' isn't
getting us anywhere. Let's look at this logically. In a sense, this
person is on trial here and we're her jurors. It's up to us to determine
her innocence or guilt. In a jury trial, the decision must be unanimous.
We must all agree.' Woody nodded.
"Right.' Tyler said, ' I would like to cast the first vote. I think the
lady is a fraud! ' fraud? How can she be?'Kendall demanded. ' couldn't
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possibly know all those intimate details about us if she weren't real.'
Tyler turned to her. ' how many servants worked in this house when we
were childrent Kendall looked at him, puzzled.
"Why?' ', right? And some -of them would have known everything this
young lady told us. Over the years, there have been maids, chauffeurs,
butlers, chefs. Any one of them could have given her that photograph as
well.' ' mean ... she could be in league with someone?2 "One or more,'
Tyler said. ''s not forget that there's an enormous amount of money
involved.' 156 ' says she doesn't want the money.
Marc reminded them. Woody nodded. ', that's what she says.' He looked at
Tyler. "But how do we prove she's a fake? There's no way that - ' is a
way,' Tyler said thoughtfully. They all turned to him.
"How?' Marc asked. ''ll,,have the answer for you tom6rrow.' Simon
Fitzgerald said slowly, ' you saying that Julia Stanford has appeared
after all these yearst - ' woman who claims she's Julia Stanford has
appeared.' Tyler corrected him. ' you don't believe hert Steve asked.
"Absolutely not. The only so-called -proof of her identity that she
offered were some incidents from our childhood that at least a dozen
former employees could have been aware of and an old photograph that
really doesn't prove a thing. She could be in league with any one of
them. I intend to prove she's a fraud.' Steve frowned. ' do you. propose
to do that?' ' I t s ve I ' ry simple. I want a DNA test done.' Steve
Sloane was surprised. ' would mean exhuming your father's body.' '.'
Tyler turned to Simon Fitzgerald. ' that be a problemt ' the
circumstances, I could probably obtain an exhumation order. Has she
agreed to this test?' 157 ' haven't asked her yet. If she refuses, it's
an affirmation that she's afraid of the results! He hesitated. ' have to
confess that I don't like doing this. But I think it's the only way we
can determine the truth.' Fitzgerald was thoughtful for a moment.'Very
well.' He turned to Steve, ' you handle thist ' c9urse.' He looked at
Tyler. ''re probably familiar with the procedure. The next of kin - in
this case, any of the deceased's children - has to apvly to the
coroner's office for an exhumation permit. You'll have to tell them the
reason for the request. If it's approved, the coroner's office will
contact the funeral home and give them permission to go ahead. Someone
from the coronees office has to be present at the exhumation! ' long
will this take?' Tyler asked. ''d say three or four days to get an [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]