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of this, not because of Stephanie or reports, but because it was all over the news and on morning talk shows. “I saw that on Good Morning Hartford. You don’t want to meet your son ? ”
    “I don’t know . I do but I don’t think I should . His life is different. Better without me. I’m scared of why he wants to see me.”
    “Maybe because you are his mother,” I suggested.
    “Come on . ” She shook her head and released an airy laugh . “I’ve been in a mental institute.”
    “Tell you what. How about I meet with the boy first, see if I can figure out his true intentions, and if I think they are pure and good , w e meet here.”
    She fiddled with her hands. “That could work. I would like to see him. I just don’t want to hurt him by not being what he expects. I lost everything.” She puckered her lips , and I saw her eyes gloss over. “To find out I still have him s eems too good to be true. Like there’s a catch.”
    “Then we’ll find out.” I pulled my notes and a pen forward. Since she did n’t want to talk about that fateful day, her past , or Sharon, I stayed on the subject of her son. To me it was a positive subject and a good start for a first full session.

Chapter Twelve - Sharon
     
    “Did Richie have other women?” my father asked me, before the trial, after the murders and before he lost his mind.
    A strong man, the chief of police, he was forever marred by the case , and eventually it took its to l l and he got lost in himself. He’s been in Willow Brook Nursing Home for six years. Too young to be in such a place.
    “Did he?” My father repeated the question when I didn’t answer. “ ’ Cause you know, you repeatedly told me he was a good man.”
    “Richie is a good man. A good father. He just has bad habits.”
    “Like cheating on his wife. He says he was leaving her for another woman? What do you know about that? ”
    “Not much. He was always leaving Pam, so she says. But he always stayed. Why are you asking? ”
    “Because he said that was why she snapped. Why the kids were killed , ” m y father said. “And I got to thinking. Marion Blake.”
    My heart skipped a beat. “What about her?”
    “Her body and child’s body were found days before the babies were killed.” He sighed out. “You went to school with her. Did you know her?”
    “Yes,” I nodded. “We did.”
    “Did Richie know her?”
    I tightened my lips.
    “Did he?”
    “I think so.”
    “You know more ; why aren’t you saying?”
    I shook my head. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”
    “When did you go to Hartford?”
    “We went … a little over a month ago.”
    “That’s when they’re saying she was killed,” my father said. “Did Pam ever leave you r sight? ”
    “Not for a second. What reason would there to be to kill this woman and her child? ”
    “Because her family said she was involve d with a married man. That’s why she moved to Hartford , because he didn’t want anything to do with her. I was thinking, just random thinking, she was involved with a married man … and Richie was always leaving for another woman, maybe…”
    “No.” I cut him off. “No.”
    “The state prosecutor is looking into it.”
    I stood. “Did you say this stupid theory to him? ”
    “Hey! What the hell is this attitude? ”
    “I was there. I was in Hartford. Looking into t his is pointing the finger at me.”
    “A little rash of a reaction , don’t you think? What are you scared of?”
    My own father used that moment that we were together to interrogate me. That strained ou r relationship forever. I know he was under duress about the murderers, they hit home, but why was he interrogating me?
    It had to do with Pam calling out that I knew something about th ose murders. What was that about? Why would she do that? I wanted to kill her for that. Fortunately, Richie was already pointing his finger at her , and I wouldn’t have to deal with it .
    But Hartford was there.
    Despite what I