Morning-Noon-and-Night - By Sidney Sheldon Page 0,40
' 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 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 approval. Today is Wednesday. We should be able to exhume the body on Monday."! Tyler hesitated. ''re going to need. a DNA expert, someone who will be convincing in a courtroom, if it ever goes that far. I was hoping you might know someone! . Steve said, J know just the man. His name is Perry Winger.
He's here in Boston. He's given expert testimony in trials all over the country. I'll call him."'d appreciate it. The sooner we get this over with, the better it will be for all of us! 158 -ten O'clock the following morning, Tyler walked to the Rose Hill library, where Woody, Peggy, Kendall and Marc were waiting. At Tyler's side was a stranger. 61 want you to meet Perry Winger,' Tyler said. ' is hetwoody asked.
"He's our DNA expert.' Kendall looked at Tyler. ' in the world do we need a DNA expert fort Tyler said, ' prove that this stranger, who so conveniently appeared out of nowhere, is an impostor. I have no intention of letting her get away with this.' 6you@ re going to dig the old man upon'Woody asked. ''s right. I have our attorneys working on the exhumation order now. If the woman is our half sister, the DNA will prove it. If she's not - it will prove that, too. Marc said, ''m afraid I