Piece of My Heart (Under Suspicion #7) - Mary Higgins Clark Page 0,57

Was that the type of hint they were looking for, or simply his way of trying to get to the TV producer whose show he wanted to manipulate?

“Why don’t we get started,” she said.

Chapter 35

As Ryan walked Gunther through his version of the story behind Lou Finney’s death, Laurie realized how badly she wanted to vindicate her father, even if it turned out Gunther had nothing to do with Johnny’s abduction.

The interview covered all of the events on the night of the murder, and the supposedly exonerating DNA evidence, without a single interjection from Gunther’s lawyer. So far, Gunther had not strayed from either his trial testimony or the motions filed in his wrongful conviction case. He was also nice-looking, articulate, and even charming at times. The average TV viewer would look at him and think it impossible for him to be a killer. Laurie knew from experience, though, that a murderer could reside inside the most unlikely people. There had to be some other explanation for the presence of Mason Rollins’s DNA on the murder weapon. Laurie would never believe that her father had fabricated a confession to frame an innocent man.

As if reading her thoughts, Gunther suddenly shifted away from the DNA evidence, looked directly into the camera, and said, “I know what people are thinking: even if I sound like a reasonable person to you; even though I’ve been a model prisoner for all these eighteen years, insisting on my innocence; even though I can prove, beyond any doubt, that it’s not my DNA on that murder weapon, but that of a known felon with a penchant for attacking people with knives”—he ticked each point off on his fingertips—“at the end of the day, many of you are going to think, But a decorated cop says he confessed, and for you, that will be enough. Because the cop I’m up against isn’t just any old man in blue, it’s former first deputy commissioner Leo Farley, who soared through the ranks like a rocket after my conviction. For people who don’t know what that means, he’s literally one step down from the commissioner himself. Farley was considered a shoo-in for the next commissioner if he hadn’t retired, but he’s still treated like a rock star. He gets profiled in New York magazine and hangs out with the mayor in a private suite at sports events.”

A jolt of electricity shot through Laurie’s brain at the mention of that magazine profile. That was the publication that had run the photograph of them in the mayor’s suite at Yankee Stadium. Timmy had looked then so much like Johnny did now. They now at least had confirmation that Gunther had seen that picture. She forced herself to focus as Gunther continued to list Leo’s many accolades.

“He marches beside the cardinal at the front of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, with the grand marshal’s float. My goodness, the man has so many commendations that the medals on his dress uniform flicker like a disco ball.”

“I think your point about First Deputy Commissioner Farley’s reputation has been made,” Ryan said. “You’re saying that in a swearing match between you and him, you suspect most people will simply defer to the decorated police veteran.”

“Precisely. But here’s the thing.” Gunther aimed his penetrating gaze directly into the camera again. “How did Leo Farley climb up to such rarified air? What made him so different from all the other beat cops and detectives whose names no one knows? What made Farley so special that he’s practically law enforcement royalty?”

Ryan seized his opening. “One explanation is that he’s the kind of dedicated investigator who, for example, goes back to the station house after his shift because he still hasn’t gotten to the truth. And then he’s so good at his job that he manages to get someone as smart and controlled as you to confess to stabbing a man in a fit of rage after being rejected by a woman at a bar.”

Gunther smiled quietly. “You sound like a man who works for Leo Farley’s daughter. I assume this production will disclose the blatant conflict of interest so viewers can take that into account when forming an opinion.”

“We always give our viewers the straight facts.”

“Well, did you know the straight fact that Leo Farley was under consideration for the job of deputy commissioner of public information at the time of my arrest? Until then, he was an ambitious cop, but hadn’t had the kind of high-profile cases that