‘Dr Alderman, let’s briefly review your testimony, shall we?’
Noah nodded, not knowing whether he should answer. It sounded as if Linda was about to end her cross, and it couldn’t come soon enough. He straightened in his chair.
‘Dr Alderman, Anna Desroches moved into your home on April 22, isn’t that correct?’
‘Yes.’
‘And she was murdered only eighteen days later, on May 10, is that correct?’
‘Yes.’
‘You thought she was beautiful, didn’t you?’
‘Yes.’
‘And you complimented her on her looks during your driving lesson, did you not?’
‘Yes.’
‘And after you learned that she stood to inherit $50 million, you offered to give her driving lessons, is that correct?’
‘Yes.’
‘And when Anna asked you if your son Caleb could go, you lied to her about the real reason he couldn’t go, telling her that it was because she had to concentrate, isn’t that correct?’
‘Yes.’
‘Anna would later claim that you touched her inappropriately on the thigh during that driving lesson, isn’t that correct?’
‘Yes.’ Noah realized that Linda was taking him methodically through the most damning facts of his case. She was simply dismantling him, the way a butcher breaks apart a chicken carcass, piece by piece, wedging back the legs and wings until the joints break, then tearing the limbs off.
‘About a week after that driving lesson, on May 6, you and your wife held a barbecue at your home, and after the barbecue, Anna claimed that you kissed her and tried to touch her breast, isn’t that correct?’
‘Yes.’
‘And on Monday after the barbecue, on May 8, Anna filed a Petition for a Protection From Abuse Order, signed by both Anna and your wife, isn’t that correct?’
‘Yes.’
‘But before Judge Hamilton could reach her decision, you reached a settlement whereby Anna agreed to withdraw the Petition and you agreed to leave the home, isn’t that correct?’
‘Yes.’
‘You moved out of your home, and only two days after that, on Wednesday, May 10, a text was sent from your phone to Anna’s phone, asking her to come to your house, isn’t that correct?’
‘Yes.’
‘Anna was strangled to death that very night on your front porch at about that time, isn’t that correct?’
‘Yes.’
‘You called 911 from the scene, did you not?’
‘Yes.’
‘And you spoke to the dispatcher for a little over a minute?’
‘Yes.’
‘And one minute after you hung up with 911, you called your lawyer, with whom you spoke for twelve minutes, isn’t that correct?’
‘Yes.’
‘Dr Alderman, you’re aware that your DNA, hair, and threads from your clothes were found on Anna’s body, isn’t that correct?’
‘Yes.’
‘You are also aware that Anna’s DNA, hair, threads from her clothes were found on your clothes, isn’t that correct?’
‘Yes.’
‘Your wife didn’t visit you in prison while you were incarcerated, isn’t that correct?’
‘Yes.’ Noah assumed Linda had checked the prison’s visitor logs.
‘Your wife didn’t testify in your defense at the PFA hearing, did she?’
‘No.’
‘And she didn’t testify in your defense at this trial, isn’t that correct?’
‘Yes.’
‘Dr Alderman, given all of these facts, which are undisputed, how do you expect anybody on this jury to believe that you are anything but guilty of Anna’s murder?’
‘I –’ Noah started to say, then realized he had no way to finish the sentence.
‘Your Honor, I have no further questions,’ Linda said flatly, then strode back toward counsel table.
Noah felt a wave of nausea wash over him. He had expected to feel relief, but he knew how badly it had gone.
‘Thank you.’ Judge Gardner looked at Thomas. ‘Mr Owusu, do you have redirect examination for the witness?’
‘No, Your Honor. Thank you.’ Thomas half-rose, shaking his head, and Linda looked over at Thomas, pausing just before she sat down, but her expression remained professional.
Noah assumed that Thomas was declining redirect because if he accepted, then it would give Linda the opportunity for recross. Thomas was putting Noah out of his misery, like shooting a wounded animal.
None of them knew Noah was dead inside.
Chapter Fifty
Maggie, Before
Maggie closed Anna’s bedroom door, simmering. She went down to the basement to find Noah at his computer with his headphones on, reading an array of test results. He’d reassembled his desk, bookshelves, and filing cabinet in the same arrangement as his former office upstairs. Maggie felt a twinge, appreciating his initial sacrifice, but things had gone so wrong since then. She touched his shoulder to get his attention, and he slid off his headphones.
‘What’s up?’ Noah asked, over his black reading glasses.
‘Anna is getting a professional driving teacher. She doesn’t want you to take her anymore.’
‘Really?’ Noah blinked. ‘Did she say why?’
‘That she felt nervous around you.’
‘I thought it went well.’
‘It obviously didn’t.’
‘Maggie, what do you want me to do?’ Noah slid off his reading glasses and tossed them on the desk.
‘I want you to help me get to the bottom of this.’
‘She changed her mind. Teenagers do that.’
‘Noah, why are you acting this way?’ Maggie felt like they didn’t even know each other anymore.
‘I’m acting how I always act.’
‘No, you’re not. You’re kinder than this. You’re a great father.’
‘I took off tonight for her. I’ll be up for three more hours to make it up.’ Noah gestured at the glowing screen. ‘I have to get ready for the conference. Remember? In Miami.’
‘But still, if you’re going to take the time to take her, it doesn’t take longer to be nice.’ Maggie had forgotten there was a medical conference of the NAAAI, or the National Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. The office always sent Noah, who loved to geek out at the latest in allergy advances.
‘You’re killing me, babe. What do you want me to do?’
‘How about care?’ Maggie shot back, giving way to anger. ‘Noah, what’s going on? Tell me how you feel. The kids can’t hear. We can yell as much as we want.’
‘Okay.’ Noah pursed his lips. ‘This house has been in an uproar since she got here, and all you do is make sure that she’s happy. Has she even called to find Jamie yet?’
‘She hasn’t had a chance.’
‘Right.’ Noah rolled his eyes. ‘She follows her own rules. You fill her every need. You’re jumping through hoops for her.’
‘Of course I am. I’m trying to show her I’m happy she’s here. What about you?’
‘So what I’m doing isn’t good enough?’
‘No, it’s not.’
‘Well, that’s nice.’ Noah returned his attention to the computer and slid his reading glasses back on, his mouth a bitter twist. ‘I’m not going to fight with you anymore. I have work to do. I have to moderate a panel. I’m leaving Sunday morning until Thursday night. I decided to stay for the closing sessions. I can pick up three CME credits, and Anthony Fauci is speaking, the NIAID Director. He identified AIDS, you know.’
‘I know,’ Maggie said, though she hadn’t been exactly sure. ‘You’re going to stay ’til closing?’
‘Yes, I wanted to anyway, and given what’s going on here, it makes sense.’
‘So you’re running away.’ Maggie folded her arms.
‘No, I’m doing my job.’
‘Did you remember we have the barbecue on Saturday? I emailed the invitations, and you’re leaving me to prepare by myself.’ Maggie knew it wasn’t what was really bothering her. It was just what she could get him on.
‘I’ll be home in plenty of time to help.’
‘I can’t leave things until last minute. Food shopping, going to the beer distributor, getting the extra chairs and folding tables from the garage, cleaning up in the backyard, that has to be done in advance.’
‘I’ll be here for the heavy lifting. Leave it for me.’ Noah squinted at the screen, evidently dismissing her.
‘Fine,’ Maggie turned angrily away. Something was going on with him, but she didn’t know what. She climbed the stairs, starting to wonder about the conference. And why he was staying longer.
And then she realized. He would see her.
Jordan.