The police had insisted Tony Carter say nothing about his statement to them. For a few days he managed to comply. But when word got back to the Carters that someone reported seeing police cars at Marge Chapman’s home, he couldn’t help himself. His mother and father were no better at staying silent.
Tony’s story—“I helped solve Kerry’s murder; Alan Crowley is innocent; Jamie Chapman was the last one to be with Kerry when she was alive”—spread through the town like wildfire.
Instead of being elated, Alan’s reaction surprised his parents. “The police have this all screwed up,” he said matter-of-factly. “I saw Kerry and Jamie together lots of times. There’s no way he killed her any more than I did.”
“I can’t believe you’re not excited and thrilled,” June snapped. “I think we should call Princeton right now.”
“Mom, don’t get too excited about the stuff on Jamie. I’m telling you they’re wrong. When they figure that out, guess who they’re going to come back to?” he said, while pointing at his chest.
Annoyed at her son’s reaction to the stunning news, June stormed out of the room and went upstairs. Her tone of voice exultant, she called Lester Parker and told him about Tony Carter.
Parker said, “June, I was just going to call you. I have just heard the rumor that a neighbor might have been in the pool with Kerry after the party. But let’s not go too fast on this one. My understanding is that the young man who claims he was in the pool with her has a substantial intellectual disability. The police might conclude that his story is a fantasy or a fabrication or just not something they can rely on.”
When June hung up the phone, she felt deflated, but at the same time more optimistic. Despite Lester Parker’s caution, Alan had to realize that the police were looking at another suspect. She was hoping this would lift his mood enough to keep at bay any more thoughts of harming himself.