THE LOST SON OF SAM LETTERS

Son of Sam

Bill moved a bit in his seat and, after taking a moment, said, "Did you know Gary and Son of Sam were friends?"

I had heard this throughout my research. Investigator Horton had mentioned it to me, saying Evans had bragged about knowing Son of Sam, but Horton could never prove it—and Evans was in no position to talk about his life anymore. Horton believed Evans was lying about Son of Sam, just another one of his fantasies of having been close to someone he viewed as a celebrity.

"I've heard that," I said to Bill. "But I don't think it's true."

Bill, his wife, and those standing by watching us, laughed. It turned into a joke, actually, which I believed at that moment was directed at me. I felt confused. Like I didn't know what I was talking about and they knew more. It seemed as if they were having fun with me.

"Oh, it's true all right," Bill said after a moment.

"How so?" I quipped. "How do you mean?"

"Let me show you."

He reached into the second box and pulled out a photograph of Gary Evans standing beside Son of Sam. They were in front of a paneled wall.

Gary Evans with Berkowitz

"No kidding," I said, startled by the photograph. Here was proof, indeed, that Evans had at least met Son of Sam. But it didn't prove they were friends. Maybe Son of Sam, like a retired baseball player forced to show up at trading card shows and hock himself, charged for photographs with him. It was a stretch, but knowing Gary Evans I had to consider it.

Again, the laughter came. I felt like the joke was on me—as if they were pointing and laughing (which they weren't) in my face. Sucker. You fell for it all, didn't you! You drove all the way up here for nothing.

"Wait a minute," I said, "what else do you have?"

Bill bent down and took out another photo album. He slid it slowly across the table. "Open that up and take a look. I think you'll like what's inside."

I must admit, I was hesitant. I believed in them as people, sure, but at this point I was questioning everything I knew about Gary Evans. Was there a second life he had that no one except my new friends knew about?