Page 122 of Murder in the Family

What did you say to him?

NANCY KOZLOWSKI

Like I said before, I told him maybe North Birmingham wasn’t the best place for him. That he couldn’t change what he was and shouldn’t try, even though some folks round here might-a disagreed with me. That he didn’t have to be ashamed of who he was because God made him that way and loved him regardless. He just needed to surround himself with other folks who would think the way I did.

He dropped out the end of that year and left town soon after. If his mother had known it was my doin’ she’d never have forgiven me. But I don’t regret it, Bill, I don’t regret it at all.

BILL SERAFINI

When I spoke to Frank Tappin, he said he was surprised Eric ended up in Beirut. What did you think when you heard about that?

NANCY KOZLOWSKI

I didn’t believe it at first, I don’t mind tellin’ you. I’d had a card or two from him in New York and he seemed real happy. Real at ease with himself. I just don’t see what could-a made him decide to leave. Especially for someplace like that.

BILL SERAFINI

Do you still have any of the cards he sent?

NANCY KOZLOWSKI

No, they’re long gone. I do have those photos we talked about, though.

CUT TO: MONTAGE of pictures of Eric Fulton at school: in various class line-ups, receiving a prize, attemptingto play baseball. He’s clearly small for his age, with soft blond hair and a shy, timid smile.

NANCY KOZLOWSKI

That prize was for best handwritin’ in the class. Kinda fits, somehow. He was such a nice, polite little kid.

CUT TO: Studio, Bill is on his feet at the board. The photos we just saw are now pinned up alongside the rest.

BILL SERAFINI

(looking round at the team)

This feels like one of those ‘are you thinking what I’m thinking’ moments.

LAILA FURNESS

Well, whatI’mthinking is that this Eric Fulton doesn’t sound anything like the Eric Fulton who impersonated Luke.

BILL SERAFINI

That’s what I’m thinking too.

HUGO FRASER

(dryly)

The homosexuality is a bit of a giveaway.

LAILA FURNESS

It’s not just that, though, is it? There are some similarities, yes: hair colour, eyes, that sort of thing. But this Eric is small for his age, whereas ‘Luke’ was tall. ‘Luke’ was athletic, this Eric wasn’t; ‘Luke’ was outgoing, Eric was shy.

Taking it all together I think we have to conclude that—

JJ NORTON