‘But you never sent Anna the photos so she could post them, did you? I can show you your phone, if you need your recollection refreshed.’ Linda gestured at the evidence table, where exhibits were bagged and tagged.
‘No, I never did. I must have forgotten to.’ Noah got the implication. The fact that he hadn’t sent them made it look as if Anna hadn’t asked him to take them.
‘Dr Alderman, didn’t there come a time when you became aware that Anna was the sole heiress to a 50-million-dollar fortune?’
‘Yes.’
‘You were very friendly to Anna when she moved in, weren’t you?’
‘Yes.’ Noah could see that Linda was making a connection for the jury, but he had to fight back. ‘I was trying to be a good stepfather, that’s all.’
‘Isn’t it true that you offered to give Anna a driving lesson?’
‘Yes.’
‘Isn’t it also true that she already knew how to drive?’
‘Yes.’ Noah hated not defending himself. The truth was, Maggie had wanted him to take Anna out so they could get to know each other.
‘Dr Alderman, isn’t it true that you found out about Anna’s vast wealth before you offered to take her on a driving lesson?’
‘Yes.’ Noah heard the jury rustling.
‘During the driving lesson, it was just you and Anna, alone in the car, isn’t that correct?’
Noah couldn’t keep it in any longer. ‘Yes, but that doesn’t mean anything. It’s normal.’
Linda pursed her lips. ‘Dr Alderman, Anna was young, beautiful, and rich, wasn’t she?’
‘Yes.’
‘Isn’t it true that as soon as you met Anna, you decided to make sexual advances on her?’
‘No.’
‘But you were attracted to Anna, were you not?’
‘No.’ Noah had to lie.
‘You weren’t attracted to this lovely young woman, whom you took so many photos of, in a bathing suit?’
‘No.’
‘Dr Alderman, didn’t you attempt to seduce Anna?’
‘No, I was a married man, and we had a great marriage before –’ Noah stopped himself, mid-sentence. It wouldn’t sound right. It would sound terrible.
‘Before what?’
‘Before. Just before.’
Linda’s eyes bored holes into him. ‘Before what, Dr Alderman? Answer the question.’
‘Before all this happened.’ Noah’s throat went dry.
‘But Anna is what happened, isn’t that true?’
‘No.’
Linda pursed her lips. ‘Isn’t it true that Anna moved into your home on Saturday, April 22?’
‘Yes.’
‘And she was murdered on Wednesday, May 10, only a few weeks later?’
‘Yes.’
‘Dr Alderman, your marriage was good before Anna moved in, wasn’t it?’
‘Yes.’
‘Please direct your attention to Commonwealth Exhibit 35 on the screen.’ Linda was about to signal to her paralegal when Thomas stood up.
‘Objection, Your Honor. I have a running objection to the admission of the Commonwealth Exhibit 35 under Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence 404. Under Rule 404, evidence of prior crimes, wrongs, or other acts are inadmissible and unduly prejudice the jury.’
Linda whirled around to the judge. ‘Your Honor, Commonwealth Exhibit 35 is admissible under 404(b) as a permitted use, in that it tends to prove motive and intent. Defense counsel’s argument has been rejected by the Superior Court in Commonwealth v. Drumheller and more recently in Commonwealth v. Ivy. The PFA Petition is certainly relevant to the case at bar, and not only that, is also admissible under the res gestae exception because it forms the history of this matter.’
Judge Gardner pursed his lips. ‘I’ll overrule the objection. Commonwealth Exhibit 35 is admissible.’
‘Thank you, Your Honor.’ Thomas sat down heavily.
‘Yes, thank you, Your Honor.’ Linda signaled the paralegal, then turned to face Noah, and the screen changed to a document he knew very well, unfortunately.
PETITION FOR PROTECTION FROM ABUSE, read the top, and under that was a form with boxes for Plaintiff and Defendant, which had been filled out Anna Desroches and Noah Alderman, in Anna’s handwriting, and under that was a bolded CAUTION, with boxes for Weapon Involved, Weapon Present on the Property, or Weapon Requested Relinquished, the only boxes that remained mercifully unchecked.
‘Dr Alderman, this is a Petition for a Protection From Abuse filed against you in the Common Pleas Court of Montgomery County on May 8, is it not?’
‘Yes.’ Noah nodded.
‘In Pennsylvania, a Protection From Abuse order, commonly referred to as a PFA, is sought by victims of sexual abuse when they are trying to protect themselves from their victimizer, isn’t that correct?’
‘Yes.’
‘Dr Alderman, who filed the Petition against you?’
‘Anna.’
Linda paused, lifting an eyebrow. ‘Isn’t it true that this Petition was filed only seventeen days after Anna had moved in?’
‘Yes.’
‘And isn’t it also true that this Petition alleged that you attempted to sexually abuse Anna on two separate occasions, on April 27, in a car during her driving lesson, and on May 6, in a bathroom?’
‘Yes.’
‘Dr Alderman, aren’t these the specific allegations regarding the two occasions?’ Linda signaled to her paralegal, and the screen changed.
Set forth the facts of the most recent incident of abuse, including date, time, and place, and describe in detail what happened including any physical or sexual abuse, threats, injury, incidence of stalking, medical treatment sought, and/or calls to law enforcement.
My stepfather Noah Alderman tried to kiss and fondle me in a powder room at home on Saturday, May 6, at about 10:45 pm.
If the Defendant has committed prior acts of abuse against plaintiff and/or minor children, please describe these prior incidents, including any threats, injuries, or incidents of stalking, and indicate approximately when such acts of abuse occurred.
My stepfather Noah Alderman put his hand under my dress during a driving lesson on Thursday, April 27, at about 8:30 pm.
Noah read with a sinking heart. ‘Yes.’
‘Anna testified in support of her allegations at an emergency PFA hearing on May 8, did she not?’
‘Yes.’
‘And you testified as well and denied those allegations at the hearing, didn’t you?’
‘Yes.’
Linda’s dark eyes glittered. ‘Is it normal for a stepfather to be called to testify at a PFA hearing regarding sexual abuse against his stepdaughter?’
‘No.’
‘Is it normal for a stepfather to make sexual advances against his stepdaughter?’
‘No,’ Noah answered, hiding his dismay.
‘Dr Alderman, isn’t it true that you tried to seduce Anna but she spurned your advances?’
‘No.’
‘But after Anna filed for a PFA, your wife asked you to leave the home, did she not?’
‘Yes.’
‘So what you meant earlier in your answer was “before Anna,” wasn’t it?’
‘Yes.’ Noah felt his throat go dry. He was off to a bad start.
‘Dr Alderman, isn’t it true that Anna was murdered only two days after she filed the Petition for a PFA against you?’
‘Yes,’ Noah had to admit, and still on the screen was the PFA petition, next to the beautiful photo of Anna on the easel. He knew this was all calculated, an opening tableau against him.
‘Dr Alderman, let’s move to the night in question, May 10, shall we?’
Noah took a deep breath.
Chapter Sixteen
Maggie, Before
Maggie climbed the staircase at the Congreve Inn, and Anna rolled her overnight bag behind her. Maggie had been delighted that Anna had decided to spend the night with her rather than in the dorm, and they had already packed the car. They reached the door, and Maggie got out her key. ‘Anna, I’m starved, aren’t you? How about we get room service?’
‘Sweet.’ Anna lugged the roller bag onto the landing. ‘The room service here is supposed to be great. They make eggplant parm with local cheeses. All the Parker parents stay here.’
‘Well, you’re not a Parker anymore.’ Maggie entered the room and flicked the light switch, which illuminated old-fashioned crystal lamps on the night tables. The hotel room had two queen-size beds with dotted-Swiss canopies, and chintz chairs matched the faded flower wallpaper. The far wall had a long panel of windows flanked by chintz curtains, and the effect was charming.
Anna rolled her bag inside. ‘Canopy beds! I love those.’