The Outsider

July 14-15

Terry’s lawyer, Howie Gold, hires retired State Police Officer Alec Pelley to check out Terry’s Cap City alibi. Samuels and Ralph are also looking into Terry’s alibi. All three of the other teachers at the conference confirm that Terry was never out of their sight. Ralph can’t come up with any scenario that can explain the conflicting evidence. When Ralph’s wife, Jeannie, hears about Terry’s apparently unshakable alibi, she remembers an Edgar Allan Poe story called “William Wilson.” In the story, Wilson is haunted by a double. Jeannie suggests that Terry might have conspired with someone who resembled him.

Ralph can’t see how a look-alike could have spent two days with Terry’s friends without them noticing. If this were a mystery novel, he thinks, the brilliant detective would pull out an explanation in the last chapter and clarify everything, but one thing can’t be denied: Nobody can be in two places at once.

July 14-15

In the Peterson household, the remembrance gathering for Frankie Peterson is over. Frankie’s father, Frank, and older brother, Ollie, are cleaning up. Ollie is coping with grief by taking over household responsibilities in his mother’s place. His mother Arlene goes into the kitchen, and begins to throw leftover food around, howling with hysterical laughter.