“A ring?”Pierre asked. “What sort of ring?”
“It appears to be an engagement ring, sir.”
CHAPTER 8
“YOU NEVER SAW IT, THOUGH, CORRECT?”
“The ring? No,” Grace said. “Julian’s belongings were returned to his parents, who have not talked with me since then.”
“Inspector Pierre’s theory was that the ring found on Julian’s body was meant for Allison Harbor, and that this discovery sent you into a jealous rage.”
“I’ve heard his arguments. He presented them to me during the many hours when he interrogated me, much of which was done without a lawyer present, despite me asking for one. I never knew about the ring, or Julian’s intention to propose to me. I had to put it together while everything was happening. Pierre taunted me with the ring, and all his theories about it. It’s nonsensical that Julian would bring a ring to St. Lucia for anyone but me.”
“How do you know Julian’s intention was to propose on Gros Piton? He never told you this.”
“He told my friend, Ellie. He wanted her help to make sure everything went smoothly.”
Sidney consulted her notes again. “You mentioned your friend Ellie Reiser.”
Grace smiled. “Yes. Dear friend.”
“In the past ten years here at the Bordelais Correctional Facility, besides your family, two friends have made regular visits. Ellie Reiser and Daniel Greaves.”
Grace nodded. “Prison is lonely, and being so far from home makes it difficult to visit. I understand this. But I’m grateful for Ellie and Daniel, who have come faithfully over the years. Their visits have helped me get through this.”
“You and Ellie Reiser have been friends since childhood. Ellie, too, has sent me letters over the years asking me to look into your case.”
“She’s a good friend.”
“Tell me about Daniel Greaves.”
“Daniel is a special person. He and I have a strong friendship. One that has changed a lot since we first met, but it’s a friendship that means a great deal to me.”
“Daniel was a big part of your trial.”
Grace nodded her head. “Yes.”
“The prosecution suggested you two were in a relationship.”
“They suggested a lot of things. It doesn’t mean any of it is true. Daniel and I had a relationship in the past. It ended. That’s the whole story in a few words. Anything else is false.”
“The prosecution suggested that your relationship with Daniel was active, and that Julian discovered this.”
“Yes. It’s all lies.”
Sidney glanced down at her notes. “You were in St. Lucia to celebrate the wedding of Daniel and Charlotte.”
“Correct.”
“You said your relationship with Daniel has changed over the years. How so? You two used to date. How did you remain friends?”
Grace smiled slightly. “Daniel and I dated briefly incollege. It was a fling. We had both just gone through breakups and we were there for each other. That’s the end of the story.”
“He had broken up with Charlotte?”
“Briefly, yes,” Grace said. “We were together for about a month before we realized we were too good of friends to get involved romantically. And that was the end of it.”
“Daniel has visited you eighteen times in ten years. Twice a year, essentially.”
