Gary Condit and Chandra Levy

A LIFE SUSPENDED

A year after Chandra Levy vanished, her family and friends struggle to absorb the passage of time -- and hope

Kevin Fagan, Chronicle Staff Writer

In that other world before Sept. 11, the story that most captivated the nation had nothing to do with terrorism. It was the disappearance of Chandra Levy. And her secret affair with U.S. Rep. Gary Condit. And the seemingly ceaseless parade of purported ex-Condit lovers, talk show babble and far-out theories billowing around them.

On Tuesday, an entire year will have passed since the then-24-year-old Washington, D.C., intern from Modesto was last seen. Two things now stand out to those who either knew Levy or have hunted for her.

Most people, including cops on the case, assume that Levy is no longer alive, and they have so lost track of the time that they are shocked it's been this long. ...