Peterson hinted Amber killed Laci

"I had nothing to do with this ... and I just, you know, I hope that you ... are not ... involved to any degree," Peterson said to Frey in a secretly recorded phone call just weeks after his wife disappeared.

Frey, who kept the upperhand in the emotional conversations, replied with anger at the implication. Peterson quickly backtracked and tried smoothing over the situation.

"You know, what I mean by that is, obviously you're not involved ... but I mean I don't want ... you to have any repercussions from people," he said.

During opening statements, Peterson defense attorney Mark Geragos hinted Frey might be involved in the disappearance and murder of Laci Peterson, 27, and her unborn son. Prosecutors argue Frey's only involvement is providing the motive for Scott Peterson to kill his family on Dec. 24, 2002 and sink his wife's body in the San Francisco Bay. If Peterson is convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, he faces the death penalty.

Yesterday was Frey's fourth day as the prosecution's star witness and the second in which she spent most of her time revisiting the phone calls that allegedly provide the crux of the motive. Wearing a dark gray suit, Frey sat with her attorney Gloria Allred while the tapes were played and only took the stand twice to state she made the tapes.

The 29-year-old former masseuse is drawing crowds to the trial unlike any other witness so far. Her first day, last Tuesday, was spent recalling the charm Peterson used from the couple's Nov. 20, 2003 blind date and the immediate comfort she felt with him. The days after were filled with some of the more than 300 phone calls Frey recorded for Modesto police after learning he had a missing pregnant wife and was not on a European business trips as he claimed.

Thursday's tapes provided a pivotal conversation between Frey and Peterson as he confessed the truth of his marriage and she pummeled him for answers about why he lied. She repeatedly asked him about Laci Peterson's disappearance and his unborn son but Peterson only would say that he could not talk about it.

On the tapes played yesterday, Peterson was again evasive although he never told Frey not to cooperate with the police.

"I have nothing to hide," he said in a Jan. 8 call.

Geragos is expected to use that point to his advantage because Peterson did not know the call was being taped for the police. Frey did admit to him she contacted police after learning the truth.

At one point, Frey asked Peterson to address the media as proof of his innocence and his commitment to starting over with her. He replied that he must ask police first.

Frey demanded answers from Peterson not only about his wife but also his reasons for portraying himself as a single man from Sacramento in search of a serious relationship. She asked him if lying is fun for him or if she had "sucker" written on her face.

Between sidestepping Frey's questions and apologizing for his numerous lies, Peterson continued telling his former girlfriend that he wanted another chance at a future.

"I have the hope that we can have some kind of relationship," Peterson said.

Peterson told the single mother he didn't know why he lied and continually told her how beautiful and amazing she is.

Despite Peterson's constant assurances that Laci's family knew of the affair and he had no ties to the disappearance, Frey often sounded incredulous on the tapes. She brought up a CNN interview with Peterson's sister and other interviews with Laci's sister, Amy, in which they both denied third party involvement.

Similarly to how he spoke of his unborn son as "her baby," Peterson also distanced himself from any connection to the home he shared with Laci in a Jan. 12 call.

Peterson: I was at that house in Modesto.

Frey: You were where?

Peterson: The house in Modesto.

Frey: What house in Modesto?

Peterson: The house.

Frey: What?

Peterson: The house where Laci disappeared.

Frey: Isn't that your house?

Peterson eventually ends the questioning by once again saying "I can't say anything."

More phone calls are scheduled for today with Frey expected to take the stand again tomorrow.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 104. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.