Page 85 of The Cottage on Plum Island
“Were charges filed against Shaun and his friends?” Harley glanced at Jennifer.
“No.” Jennifer shook her head. “Sam told me that Gloria dropped the charges a day later.”
“She was paid off!” Harriet sneered in disgust.
“That’s what Sam said, too,” Jennifer told Harriet. “Nine months later, she had a baby boy. Shaun Hanover’s wife, the doctor who delivered the baby in a private hospital, got Gloria’s medical records from the hospital she went to on the day she reported the abuse.”
“Uh-oh!” Harriet breathed.
“Uh-oh is the right word. Doctor Brenda Denning, Shaun’s wife, ordered three paternity tests.” Jennifer held up three fingers. “Doctor Denning also convinced Gloria to reopen the abuse charges.”
“Wow!” Harriet said. “She must’ve been furious at her husband.”
“Angela once told me that Doctor Denning and Shaun had been forced to marry by their parents,” Harley told them. “It was to amalgamate their two companies, although Doctor Denning’s family owned the majority of the joined company.”
“I couldn’t imagine having to marry someone, and they obviously had children,”Harriet stated.
“Yes, a daughter, Shannon, and Wallis,” Harley added. “Shaun and his wife live on opposite ends of their manor house. I guess now I know why they hate each other.”
Jennifer nodded and continued the story, “While waiting for the paternity test results, Gloria had an accident by the Wesley’s pool,” Jennifer continued the story. “She slipped and hit her head, killing her instantly.”
“That wasn’t at all suspicious!” Harriet said sarcastically.
“Doctor Denning was the one to rule it a suspicious death,” Jennifer stated. “The police arrested Shaun Hanover as some of the Wesley’s staff saw him climbing over the far wall that divides their two properties.”
“They arrested him on that?” Harley said in disbelief.
“No. The police arrested Shaun because his shirt and hands were covered in Gloria’s blood,” Jennifer informed them. “The ME found that Gloria had been drugged, and there was evidence that she’d struggled with someone before she was hit in the head.”
“Because of the abuse charges and paternity tests, it would also probably cost him a fortune as I’m guessing Doctor Denning’s family would’ve had an airtight prenup.” Harriet held up her phone. “This article you sent me says that Shaun Hanover was acquitted of all charges, and Gloria’s death was ruled an accident after a quick trial.Shaun was supported by his good friends Randal Wesley and Judge Pearce Gains who, although not the judge presiding over the case, kept a close watch over it. At the end of the trial, he proclaimed Shaun’s innocence throughout the trial.” She gave a low whistle. “His defense attorney, … OH!”
“Who was the defense attorney?” Harley looked into the mirror and saw Harriet look at Jennifer wide-eyed.
“He’s going to find out when he reads the article.” Jennifer shrugged, sighing. “It was Andrew Gains.”
“Your fa… Andrew was the attorney that defended Shaun Hanover?” Harley looked at Jennifer and frowned. “Wait! Did you say forty years ago?”
Jennifer nodded. “I know what you’re thinking. It was around the time he’d left us.”
“No!” Harley lied. “I…” He didn’t know what to say. “Everyone deserves a fair trial, right?”
“I guess.” Jennifer shrugged. “But I doubt this was anything but fair.”
“Did the paternity tests ever show results?” Harriet asked.
“Sam said that they all came back as not a match,” Jennifer turnedtoward Harriet.
“Who were the other two that took the paternity tests?” Harley wanted to know.
Jennifer snorted. “Randal Wesley and Judge Pearce Gains.”
The car went quiet for a few seconds as Harley absorbed the information.
“And all three tests came back negative?” Harriet said in disbelief. “That sounds like a cover-up to me.”
“I agree,” Harley said.
“Sam agrees, too,” Jennifer told them. “He said that during the trial, even Doctor Denning switched sides and said that it’s her opinion that Gloria had them all fooled. She was a gold digger out to get what she could from their family.”
