Eventually, she found him. In late 1995, her boss, Gov. Tom Carper, fixed her up with Michael Scanlan, an executive with MBNA who, perhaps coincidentally, looks very much like Hosey. They began dating, and soon, each was meeting the other's families and wedding bells were ringing in her ears.
She and Capano had a number of fights around that time -- he threatened to take back all his gifts, he called her repeatedly as she got ready for a date with Scanlan, she told friends he was stalking her.
Tommy, you scared me this weekend. It really freaks me out when you call every half hour. When you keep calling that way, it makes me turn the other way, and quite frankly turn away. -- e-mail from Fahey to Capano, Feb. 12, 1996
I have finally brought closure to Tom Capano. What a controlling, manipulative, insecure, jealous maniac. Now that I look back on that aspect of my life -- I realize just how vulnerable I had become. It hurts me when I think about that year. For one whole year I allowed someone to take control of every decision in my life ...
My weight is currently 125 pounds. Pretty skinny, but I want more. -- from Fahey's diary, April 7, 1996
There are no more diary entries, nor was there closure. The e-mails continued, and whatever prompted that last entry, Fahey and Capano remained in virtual and actual contact. The missives, sent over their office computers, were largely friendly and chatty, of the are-you-free-for-lunch, did-you-see-"NYPD Blue"-last-night sort.
But they did discuss their relationship. She said she could offer him only friendship. Capano wrote that he loved her enough to accept her conditions.
Tommy, I wanted to drop you a wee note to let you know how much I appreciate all you've done and continue to do for me. You're a very genuine person. We've been through a lot the past couple of years. ... You'll always own a special piece of my heart. Love You -- Annie (Me) -- e-mail from Fahey to Capano, May 1996
Much of the e-mail traffic during the last month of Fahey's life has a sad, resigned tone: She sounds weary of her on-going struggles with anorexia and bulimia. She is seeing a psychologist -- Capano helps pay for it -- and the intensity of the sessions exhausts her. "Lo Siento Mucho," she wrote him on June 26, 1996, going on to apologize for being such a "doggy downer."
Capano didn't get back to her until she had left for the day, but he left a message for her to read the next morning:
I promise to make you laugh tonight at Panorama, to order calamari and to surprise you with something that will make you smile.
Their waitress at Ristorante Panorama in Philadelphia on that night remembered them: the thin, drawn woman with a disheveled mop of curly hair and a flower-print dress, the man with out-of-date glasses. They stood out in the stylish restaurant where most patrons were, as she said, more jet-setty. Plus, they barely talked and seemed very unhappy in a restaurant that is often the site of expense-account meals, romantic dates or celebratory dinners.
Capano would later testify that Fahey was pouting because the waitress brought the wrong kind of calamari.
The story diverges here: Prosecutors say Fahey was trying to break off their relationship, which enraged Capano. He took her back to his house, killed her and dumped her body in the ocean the next day. Capano, though, initially said he took Fahey home after a nice dinner and had no idea what happened next. Police didn't buy it.
I don't know what to say, um, ah, I really, ah, I really do want to talk to you, I, I, I. If you would consider that, please call me. ... I have some things I want to tell you. Um, I care for Anne Marie a great deal, Robert. ... Um. And I know I'm babbling because I'm out of my freaking mind with uh, everything... I have told the police I will talk to them as many times as they want. But I am not gonna talk about ancient history. Anne Marie has a right to privacy and I have a right to privacy and I am not going to tell them details of things we did a year ago or eight months ago or all this incredible personal stuff they want to know from me, OK? ... I mean, do you and Kathleen [Anne Marie's sister] want to read stuff in the newspaper? ... I wanted to come see you all at that apartment but I know that Kathleen would just frankly gouge my eyes out. Ah ... I'll stop. Please call me, Robert. -- message Capano left on the answering machine of Robert Fahey, Anne Marie's brother, July 9, 1996
The disappearance of Anne Marie Fahey remains as much a mystery to me as it does to her family and friends. I can only say I share the gut-wrenching emotions of Anne Marie's family and pray for her safe return. -- from a public statement Capano issued on July 9, 1996
As police continued to lean on him, Capano turned to Debby MacIntyre, who he had been involved with for the past 15 years. Her husband was a law partner of his; she was a friend of his wife.
