Penny Rawling snagged the last empty table at the Starbucks on Cooper Square. She was happy to find a copy of today’s Post left behind. As she sipped her skinny venti mocha, she flipped through the pages, skimming the headlines.
Most of her attention was elsewhere, though. Ever since she’d gotten that phone call from her ex-boyfriend about that television show, she couldn’t stop thinking about him. I’d hoped I was totally over him, she thought to herself. He moved on, and so did I, or at least, that’s what I wanted to believe. But here I am, daydreaming about him again.
He had tried to sound nonchalant about Under Suspicion when he called, but she still knew him better than everyone, after all these years. She could tell from his voice that he did not want her involved with the production. But who was he to tell her what to do? After Virginia died, he had dumped her like a piece of trash.
When he first called, she had thought a reality show would be a good way to launch her real estate career, but after she thought about it further, she realized an additional benefit to participating on the show. She might be able to see him again. She imagined them both showing up at the studio. He would see her and realize she had been the right one for him all along.
Or if he knew that she was going to be interviewed about Virginia’s murder, he might call again. Maybe he’d want to meet her in person to find out what she planned to say. When he saw how far she had come, certainly he would be interested in her again, right?
The only problem was that the program’s producers hadn’t contacted her yet. And if she took the initiative to reach out to them, they’d ask her how she knew about the production. It was a catch-22, and so she had to wait. It will happen, she told herself. Just have faith.
She flipped to another page in the Post, even though she hadn’t paid attention to anything so far. She nearly dropped her cup when she saw a photograph of Virginia Wakeling entering the Met with Ivan Gray at her side. She immediately recognized the gown, with a black velvet bodice and flowing blue skirt. Penny had helped her decide the final finishing touches with the designer. It was absolutely perfect.
Virginia would die a few hours after this photograph was taken.
Penny set down her mocha and focused on the text accompanying the picture. It was a snippet from Page Six:
Another ‘Punch’ for Wakeling Murder?
A hit reality TV show may soon rock the highest levels of the art, real estate, and fitness worlds.
Page Six has learned exclusively that Under Suspicion, which reinvestigates cold cases with the participation of actual suspects, might be featuring the murder of Virginia “Ginny” Wakeling in its next special. True crime aficionados will recall that Virginia Wakeling was the wealthy widow of real estate magnate Robert Wakeling. She was killed after a fall from the roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art during its annual Costume Institute Gala. The prime suspect was her boyfriend and personal trainer, Ivan Gray, more than twenty years her junior.
Now, three years later, apparently it’s Ivan Gray himself who is leading the charge to clear his name. A reporter for the Post overheard Ivan bragging to a client at his sought-after boxing gym, PUNCH, that Under Suspicion is “on the case.” Meanwhile, the show’s producers would neither confirm nor deny Ivan’s version. Laurie Moran, Executive Producer, said, “We’re always pursuing fresh angles on cases that have run cold, and look forward to announcing our next special once we have an airdate.”
So is Ivan Gray in the know or making up tall tales for his clientele? We at Page Six hope there’s truth to his report. Under Suspicion has been on a winning streak. Will they find justice again? Stay tuned. . . .
Penny homed in on the name of Laurie Moran. That was the name her ex-boyfriend had used when he called to see whether a producer from the show had called her yet about Virginia’s murder.
She took out her phone and searched Google for Laurie Moran. A minute later, she was jotting down the phone number for Fisher Blake Studios. She had now found an excuse to call.