As Time Goes By by Mary Higgins Clark Read Free Book Online Page A

removal.”
    â€œJudge, I have no further questions,” Elliot Holmes said.
    Judge Roth looked at the defense table. “Cross examination, Mr. Maynard?”
    After a final quick glance at his legal pad, Maynard rose and approached the witness box.
    â€œOfficer, you testified that you were at the home a couple of months prior to Dr. Grant’s death. Is that correct?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œAnd would it be fair to say that Mrs. Grant was very concerned for her husband that evening?”
    â€œShe appeared to be.”
    â€œAnd did it appear that Dr. Grant was well cared for?”
    â€œYes, it did.”
    â€œAnd did Mrs. Grant express to you when you were leaving how sad she was for him that he was suffering like this?”
    â€œYes, she did.”
    â€œDid she ever say that first time that she was angry to be in this situation?”
    â€œNo, she did not.”
    â€œDid she appear to you to be tired in the sense of being worn down?”
    â€œYes, I would say so.”
    â€œBut she never expressed anger or resentment, did she?”
    â€œNo, she did not.”
    â€œAnd she helped you and the caregiver lift him off the floor and get him back to bed, didn’t she?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd she was comforting him as you helped get him back into bed, wasn’t she?”
    â€œYes. She was.”
    â€œNow let’s go to that morning when you were again called to the home. You were met at the door by his caregiver, is that correct?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAt any time while you were there did the caregiver express to you any suspicion regarding Mrs. Grant or any doubt about his death being from other than natural causes?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œDid you observe the interaction between the caregiver and Mrs. Grant?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œDid you observe any apparent tension between them?”
    â€œNo, I did not.”
    â€œWould it be fair to say that they were comforting each other?”
    â€œYes. They were.”
    â€œDid you observe any tension between Mrs. Grant and the housekeeper?”
    â€œNo. I did not.”
    â€œWould it be fair to say that they were comforting each other?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œYou have described Mrs. Grant’s demeanor as calm. Is that correct?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWould you also describe her as appearing to be quite sad?”
    â€œShe appeared to be.”
    â€œIsn’t it a fact that she appeared to be really worn out?”
    â€œYes, she did.”
    â€œWas there anything whatsoever that suggested to you that she may have been in any type of struggle or encounter?”
    â€œNo, I saw nothing suggesting that.”
    â€œWas there anything whatsoever from the appearance of Dr. Grant’s body to suggest that he had been injured or in any type of struggle?”
    â€œNothing whatsoever.”
    â€œOne final question. Officer, if you had observed anything out of order, what would you have done?”
    â€œIf I had suspected foul play, I would have called the on-duty detective at the police station and he would have contacted the on-call detective from the prosecutor’s office homicide unit.”
    â€œBut none of that happened because you had absolutely no reason to suspect any wrongdoing. Isn’t that correct, Officer?”
    â€œThat is correct, sir.”
    â€œYour Honor, I have no further questions.”

11

    T he next witness for the state was Paul Hecker, the funeral home director. He testified that he had been called to the Grant residence by Mrs. Betsy Grant, who had informed him that her husband, who had been very ill with Alzheimer’s disease, had passed away in his sleep. He said that he had immediately contacted his technical assistant, who picked up the hearse and joined him at the Grant home a short time later.
    Hecker testified that Betsy Grant met him at the door and escorted him into Dr. Grant’s bedroom. A young