![Cover of [Stone Barrington 03] • Dead in the Water](https://static.beescdn.com/summaryer.com/2025/07/20250723073745562.jpg)
[Stone Barrington 03] • Dead in the Water
Chapter 18
by Stuart, Woods,Stone watches nervously as Allison Manning, a widow accused of murdering her husband, undergoes a televised interview with reporter Chris Wheaton. Despite his fears, Allison handles the initial sailing-related questions with ease, explaining how she managed to sail their yacht alone after her husband’s death. Jim Forrester, a journalist from *The New Yorker*, observes quietly. Wheaton shifts to probing Allison’s marriage, searching for motives, but Allison remains composed, answering candidly. Stone is impressed by her resilience, though he remains wary of the interview’s potential pitfalls.
The interview takes a sharper turn when Wheaton asks about Allison’s financial situation, including her husband’s life insurance and their mortgaged assets. Allison admits ignorance of their finances, emphasizing her domestic role. She expresses uncertainty about keeping their large house or yacht, citing emotional pain. Her tearful response strikes Stone as genuine, reinforcing his belief in her innocence. The interview continues smoothly, with Allison maintaining her poise through multiple tape changes, leaving Wheaton and the crew visibly impressed.
After the interview, Allison casually engages with Wheaton and Forrester, agreeing to a follow-up discussion with the latter. As they depart, Wheaton privately praises Allison’s performance but shocks Stone by confessing she believes Allison is guilty. Wheaton, drawing on her experience interviewing accused criminals, insists Allison’s flawless demeanor masks guilt. Stone defends Allison, challenging Wheaton to find inconsistencies, but she dismisses his arguments, attributing her certainty to intuition. Despite her personal doubts, Wheaton assures Stone the broadcast will portray Allison sympathetically, aligning with his goals.
Wheaton’s final warning leaves Stone stunned: she cautions him against emotional or physical involvement with Allison, labeling her “dangerous.” Stone is left speechless, grappling with Wheaton’s stark contrast between Allison’s public image and her private suspicions. The chapter ends with Stone’s internal conflict—his professional duty to defend Allison clashes with Wheaton’s unsettling verdict, casting doubt on his client’s innocence and his own judgment.
FAQs
1. How does Allison Manning demonstrate her sailing knowledge during the interview, and why is this significant?
Answer:
Allison explains that while she initially relied on her husband Paul for sailing, she taught herself celestial navigation to determine latitude and managed the sails primarily using the main sail after his death. This demonstrates her ability to adapt and acquire crucial skills under pressure. The significance lies in establishing her credibility as someone capable of single-handedly sailing a large yacht across the Atlantic, countering potential skepticism about her story. Her detailed technical response also helps humanize her to the audience, making her appear resourceful rather than suspicious.2. What does Chris Wheaton’s questioning strategy reveal about her suspicions of Allison?
Answer:
Wheaton initially asks “softball” sailing questions to build rapport but later shifts to probing Allison’s marriage dynamics and financial motives (e.g., life insurance, property ownership). This strategy reveals her underlying suspicion that Allison may have murdered her husband. By circling back to the same topics, Wheaton tests the consistency of Allison’s answers—a common tactic to uncover deception. Her private comment to Stone (“she’s not [innocent]”) confirms she views Allison’s polished performance as a red flag, despite finding no factual holes in her story.3. Analyze the significance of Jim Forrester’s presence during the interview.
Answer:
Forrester, a journalist from The New Yorker, takes detailed notes, suggesting he is investigating Allison’s story independently. His prior acquaintance with Allison and Paul in Las Palmas adds credibility to his interest. His request for a follow-up interview hints at deeper scrutiny, possibly foreshadowing future revelations. His silent observation contrasts with Wheaton’s performative questioning, implying a more methodical approach to uncovering the truth, which may become relevant later in the narrative.4. How does Allison’s emotional response to questions about her future plans serve her public image?
Answer:
When asked about keeping the house or yacht, Allison brushes away tears while stating the memories are too painful without Paul. This vulnerability humanizes her, making her appear grief-stricken rather than calculating. Her hesitation about financial matters (e.g., “I just haven’t thought that far ahead”) reinforces an image of a widow overwhelmed by loss, not a schemer. Stone notes this is “perfect” for garnering public sympathy, which could influence both the TV audience and potential jurors.5. Why does Chris Wheaton warn Stone not to become romantically involved with Allison, and what does this reveal about narrative tension?
Answer:
Wheaton’s warning (“Allison Manning is a dangerous woman”) stems from her professional intuition that Allison is guilty, despite the lack of evidence. This creates dramatic irony—Stone believes in her innocence, while Wheaton’s perspective hints at unseen danger. The advice heightens tension by suggesting Allison’s charm may be manipulative, foreshadowing potential betrayal or conflict. It also challenges Stone’s judgment, setting up future dilemmas if his personal feelings cloud his legal defense.
Quotes
1. “Allison, how much life insurance did your husband have?…I do know from what Paul said in passing that although he owned an expensive house and boat, they both have large mortgages on them, so I don’t know yet what will be left when everything is settled.”
This quote reveals Allison’s financial ignorance about her husband’s affairs, which becomes a key point in the murder investigation. It shows her vulnerability while also raising questions about potential motives.
2. “She’s really something…You won’t have any trouble getting her off…Not for a minute…I look in those beautiful blue eyes and I know.”
Chris Wheaton’s private assessment of Allison’s guilt contrasts sharply with her professional stance. This duality highlights the tension between public perception and private judgment in high-profile cases.
3. “Unless I can dig up something new between now and Sunday.”
This ominous statement from the reporter creates suspense about potential revelations that could undermine Allison’s defense. It foreshadows possible future developments in the case.
4. “don’t fall in love with her; don’t even fuck her, if you haven’t already. Allison Manning is a dangerous woman.”
The chapter’s most striking warning encapsulates the central tension - Allison’s apparent innocence versus the growing suspicion about her true nature. It serves as a dramatic climax to the interview scene.