Morning, Noon & Night

"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.’ [email protected] 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 don’t understand about this DNA.’ Perry Winger cleared his throat.

"Simply put, deoxyribonucleic acid – or DNA – is the molecule of heredity. It contains each individual’s unique genetic code., it be extracted from traces of blood, semen, saliva, hair roots, and even bone. Traces of it can last in a corpse for more than fifty years." see. So it is really quite simple,’ Marc said. Perry Winger frowned.

"Believe me, it is not. There are two types of DNA testing. A PCR test, which takes three days to get results, and the more complex RFLP 159 test, which takes six to eight weeks. For our purposes, the simpler test will be sufficient." do you do the test?’ Kendall asked. ‘ are several steps. First, the sample is collected and the DNA is cut into fragments. The fragments are sorted by length by placing them on a bed of gel and applying an electric current. The DNA, which is negatively charged, moves toward the positive and, several hours later, the fragments have arranged themselves by length.’ He was just getting warmed up. ‘ chemicals are used to split the DNA fragments apart, then the fragments are transferred to a nylon sheet, which is immersed in a bath, and radioactive probes -‘ The eyes of his listeners were beginning to glaze over. ‘ accurate is this testt Woody interrupted. ”s one hundred percent accurate in deteriniffing if the man is not the father. If the test is positive, it’s ninety-nine point nine percent aecurate. Woody turned to his brother. ‘, you’re a judge. Let’s say for the sake of argument that she really is Harry Stanford’s child. Her mother and our father were never married. Why should she be entitled to anything?" the law,’ Tyler explained, ‘if our father’s paternity is established, she would be entitled to an equal share with the rest of us." I say let’s go ahead with the damned DNA test and expose her!’ 160 0",Tyler, Woody, Kendall, Marc and Julia were seated a table in the dining-room restaurant at the Tremont House. Peggy remained behind at Rose Hill. ‘ this talk about digging up a body gives me the creeps,’ she said. Now the group was facing the woman claiming to -be Julia Stanford. 11 don’t understand. what you’re asking me to do."’s really very simple,’ Tyler informed her. ‘ doctor will take a skin sample from you to compare with our father’s. If the DNA molecules match, it’s positive proof that you’re really his daughter. On the other hand, if you’re not willing to take the test ..