--When Suzanne left her apartment at about 10 past nine, did she intend to drop off the keys and return immediately? I think she did.
I used to be 80/20 against this, now I'm 50/50.
Con: If Suzanne left her apartment precisely the time she logged off her computer at 9:10pm, met Peter Stein at, say, 9:17, returned the keys by 9:20, and took the same route home, we're talking a total walking time of 20 minutes. If she took the "scenic" route back we're talking 30 minutes, tops.
It seems more logical (to me) that if Suzanne planned to be home in a half hour she'd have replied "Come by after 10pm; if I'm going to sleep I'll put it in the lobby." The counter argument is that she just didn't want to have to worry about a personal visit. If so, then wouldn't it be more polite to offer an excuse like "I'll be out for the night so if you want to pick up the book tonight I'll put it in the lobby for you."?
Also, if she really were tired and on her way home, why go home via Phelps Gate onto College and then up Elm? That's a significant detour and not well traveled. The only possible reason I can think to do this would be if Suzanne wanted to stop at the Durfee Sweet Shop which would be 100 yards north on Elm and would be easier to reach than cutting diagonally to the northeast across old campus and then going south. However, had she made it there it's likely she'd have been spotted. Had she made it to any store and bought something, there's a strong chance she'd also have been spotted and/or her purchase recorded via credit card or check.
Consider that two people within the space of a tenth of a mile spotted Suzanne. Hard to believe no one would have spotted her walking up Elm, a street which would have been crowded with students.
Pro: Suzanne never once said she was going to meet anyone. In one instance she said she was going to stay home and work (note: she never said on what; it was her friends who told Suzanna Andrews from Vanity Fair that they assumed she meant her thesis). In another instance, she said she was tired and just wanted to sleep. She had just come from a pizza party she had organized for mentally retarded folks. Running parties is draining. Why should we not accept Suzanne's word at face value? I'm already on record as saying I don't buy the "secret meeting" scenario.
It could be that Suzanne changed her mind at the last minute. Maybe what she had in her hand was a flyer for a party. Maybe she was on her way there to check it out.
--Did she change her mind? We have only one witness who claims to have seen her anywhere outside the college campus. I find that witness' testimony suspect.
The witness' story makes too much sense to be fabricated. There was a hockey game that night at that time and it wasn't a very close game after the first few minutes of the third period so leaving wouldn't be that unusual. Also, her time estimate of 9:25-9:30 and her placement of Suzanne are where it would be logical for her to be. I'm assuming, of course, she wasn't asked leading questions.
--If she did change her mind, why?
I doubt she doubled back.
--If she didn't change her mind, the whole scenario changes: she dropped off the keys and headed back across campus. Then what?
The scenario doesn't change much except then the likelihood of her being on her way back to her apartment goes way way up.
- Jeff |
