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"What is this about?"

"That means your son was conceived in March You didn’t meet your husband until June, after you left Victoria--do the math"

"Mr McKenzie--"

"You didn’t date anyone in Victoria, Suzi Shiot to do?"

"Tell me about March"

Monteleone answered with a blank stare

"Jack Barrett is your son’s father Isn’t he? You were having an affair with your student and you becanant and that’s why you left Victoria--to keep it private Not even Jack knows"

Monteleone continued to hug the door while her face ca I’ve ever heard," she insisted

"Jack Barrett ith you the night Elizabeth Rogers was ht thirty He left a few ers was all about, hi her for you Only he never spoke of it He could have used you as an alibi for her murder He didn’t He cared for you soto protect you at his own peril Because of that, for over thirty years the chief of police and nearly everyone else in Victoria was sure he had coot aith his crime"

"That’s ridiculous"

"The truth often is Ms Monteleone, I’m not here to compromise you in any manner I’ll protect your privacy if for no other reason than that’s what Jack Barrett wants He’s an honorable ood long time But I need to know I need to be sure"

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why should I trust you to keep my secrets?"

For an instant I flashed on Jack Barrett and Lindsey, I saw Donovan and Muehlenhaus and all the others, and I heard the words they e in Muehlenhaus’s conference room You have already proven to us that you can keep a secret

"Because that’s what I do," I said "You don’t know me, so you have no reason to trustyou the truth I will never repeat to anyone what you tell ht You have my word"

"I will answer one question Only one"

"Was Jack Barrett with you the night Elizabeth Rogers was killed?"

"Yes"

"Good night, Ms Monteleone I’m sorry to have troubled you"