After Anna

by Lisa Scottoline

  Linda’s eyes narrowed. ‘Are you about to tell us that you didn’t lock your car that night?’

  ‘No, I locked my car.’ Noah didn’t need to look at the jury to know that they were turning to each other in confusion, because the gallery was doing the same thing. No one in the courtroom had heard this yet because none of the previous witnesses had heard Noah’s story. Thomas hadn’t asked him about it on direct because he thought it was ridiculous. Maggie wasn’t in the courtroom, for which he was grateful.

  ‘Dr Alderman, was your phone stolen from your car that night?’

  ‘No. It was still in the console when I got back to the car. I pulled it out after I left the gym.’

  ‘Did you check to see if you had received any calls or texts?’

  ‘There was no banner, so I assumed I hadn’t.’

  ‘Did you check to see if your phone had sent any texts?’

  ‘No.’

  Linda threw up her arms. ‘How did someone send a text from your phone at the time it was locked in your car?’

  Thomas rose again. ‘Objection, Your Honor. The prosecutor is badgering the witness. Dr Alderman has been completely forthright –’

  Linda faced the judge. ‘Forthright? Your Honor, the witness’s testimony is nonsensical, at best. I’m merely trying to understand it. I’m entitled to press him to explain. Did the text write and send itself?’

  ‘Ms Swain-Pettit, please.’ Judge Gardner looked down at Noah, leaning forward. ‘Dr Alderman, do you know how the text got on your phone?’

  ‘No, I do not,’ Noah answered the judge. He realized that the final time he’d hear directly from Judge Gardner was when he was sentenced to life or death, if he was convicted.

  Linda cleared her throat. ‘Your Honor, may I proceed? I’m not sure how you ruled on the objection.’

  ‘Overruled.’

  ‘Thank you, Your Honor.’ Linda turned to Noah, squaring her shoulders. ‘Dr Alderman, do you have any notion at all how this text got on your phone?’

  ‘I can speculate, but I don’t know for a fact.’

  ‘Objection!’ Thomas shot to his feet. ‘Your Honor! What’s the point of having the witness speculate? This is improper!’

  Linda turned to Judge Gardner. ‘Your Honor, this text is a critical piece of Commonwealth evidence. The jury has a right to know how he believes the text got onto his phone from inside a locked car.’

  ‘Counsel, I’ll allow it.’ Judge Gardner leaned back in his chair. ‘Dr Alderman, you may answer.’

  Noah didn’t hesitate. ‘I believe that Anna wrote the text and sent it to herself.’

  ‘What?’ Linda’s eyes rounded like marbles, and Noah heard the jurors shifting in their seats and the spectators murmuring.

  ‘Order, order!’ Judge Gardner called out, reaching for the gavel.

  Linda took a deep breath. ‘Dr Alderman, did you just say –’

  Judge Gardner interrupted, ‘Counsel, we heard. Ask your next question.’

  ‘Dr Alderman, how in the world did Anna get inside your car to send herself the text?’

  ‘I have a second set of car keys that I keep at home, in the basket in the family room.’ Noah could hear the jury shifting, but kept going. ‘She could have found out I went to the gym. She could have seen my passcode. I keep it on a pad. The text was sent after I left the car but before I got into the gym, where I swipe in. I believe she took the second set of car keys, unlocked the car, and sent the text to herself from my phone.’

  ‘If this insane story is true, why did you not see Anna do any of this?’

  Noah swallowed hard. Thomas had begged him not to tell the story. ‘When I got out of the car that night, there was a young woman walking across the lot from the grocery store in the same strip mall. She dropped her bag of groceries in the parking lot, and I stopped to help her pick them up, bending over. The lemons rolled everywhere. I was facing away from my car. I couldn’t see what was going on behind me. I believe that’s when Anna unlocked the car, sent the text from my phone, and left undetected.’

  Linda shook her head, incredulous. ‘Why in the world would Anna send that text to herself from your phone?’

  ‘Uh, well, I don’t know why for sure. I only know that she did. I believe that she did, maybe to make me look bad or frame me.’

  Linda’s eyes flared, her disbelief theatrical. ‘So is it your testimony that Anna knew she was about to be murdered and did nothing about it except to frame you for it?’

  ‘Yes, well, I don’t know about all of that, but I think she sent it to make me look bad.’ Noah was getting into the weeds.

  ‘Did she also murder herself and frame you for it?’

  ‘No.’ Noah heard rustling from the gallery.

  ‘But what would be the point of her framing you for her own murder?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ Noah blinked, fumbling.

  ‘Dr Alderman, which is more likely, that Anna sent the text framing you for her own murder, or that you sent her the text and are lying about it through your teeth?’

  ‘Objection, argumentative!’ Thomas jumped up again.

  ‘I withdraw it, Your Honor,’ Linda sniffed, having accomplished her purpose.

  Chapter Twenty

  Maggie, Before

  They pulled up in front of the furniture store, and Maggie reflected that they were like any other family of four, filling up the car. She’d made spaghetti for dinner, and mealtime had been easy and fun, with Caleb talking more than usual. He’d spent the meal telling Anna about his train trestle, a conversation full of old target words he could pronounce with ease. Maggie and Noah had let him have the spotlight, since it didn’t happen often.

  Noah looped an arm around Maggie’s shoulder as they strolled to the store entrance behind Caleb and Anna. Night had fallen, and the air felt cool and crisp. The strip mall was closing up, and only a handful of cars were left in this end of the lot. The bright lights of the furniture store spilled onto the asphalt like glowing parallelograms.

  Maggie smiled as she watched Caleb and Anna hustling ahead, their silhouettes backlit. ‘Look at them. My mother would have said, “Mutt and Jeff.” ’

  Noah chuckled. ‘Everybody’s mother would have said “Mutt and Jeff.” ’

  Maggie felt another burst of happiness. ‘Is this really happening? Are those our two kids, ignoring us like a real family?’

  ‘And is she a good sport or what?’ Noah smiled. ‘I’ve never seen him yap like that. No more Coke at dinner.’

  ‘I’m going to show Anna!’ Caleb shouted, hustling toward the store entrance.

  ‘Wait up!’ Anna hurried after him. ‘I want a bed with a canopy!’

  ‘Great idea!’ Maggie called after Anna, thinking of the Congreve Inn. It was hard to believe that was only last night, but she sensed that Top Gun was forgotten.

  ‘A canopy bed?’ Noah moaned, under his breath. ‘I don’t have to build it, do I?’

  ‘No. Those days are over.’

  ‘Promise me. No more Allen wrenches.’ Noah held open the door for Maggie, and they entered the store, which was empty. ‘Meanwhile, this is our new life. In a furniture store on a Saturday night.’

  ‘I didn’t want to let it go until tomorrow.’ Maggie watched Caleb lead Anna from family room to family room within the vast space, trying out sofas. A sign hanging from the ceiling above read, NOW DELIVERING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK!

  ‘I agree, but we haven’t had a minute alone.’

  ‘I know, and there’s so much I have to tell you.’

  Noah shot her a sly look. ‘That’s not what I was thinking, but okay. It’s Saturday night, if you get my drift.’

  ‘Ha!’ Maggie laughed, her eye on the kids.

  ‘I’m getting a rain check, aren’t I?’

  ‘You got that right. Gimme a year. She’ll be in college then.’

  Noah smiled. ‘How are we gonna do this, with two kids in the house?’

  ‘Quietly.’ Maggie slid her phone from her jeans po
cket and scrolled to her list. ‘Now here’s what we need to get, after the bed. A makeup mirror that lights up, makeup bag, hair dryer, rolling bath cart –’

  ‘This does not sound like sexy time.’

  ‘No, it’s Bed Bath & Beyond time. There’s one in this mall and it’s only open until 9:30.’ Maggie checked her watch. ‘8:35. That means we have to move fast, and you know the paperwork here takes forever.’

  ‘If you want, you can run over to Bed Bath & Beyond and I’ll stay here with Anna and Caleb.’

  ‘No, let’s play it by ear. Maybe we can get both done together.’ Maggie watched Anna in the background, taking a selfie with Caleb on an oversized recliner.

  ‘Whatever works. I don’t mind spending time with her alone. I can get to know her one-on-one, like you did with Caleb.’

  ‘Great, and guess what, I haven’t even had a chance to tell you the big news. It’s about her inheritance.’ Maggie kept her eye on Anna, still out of earshot. ‘Try not to react because I don’t want her to know what we’re talking about.’

  ‘Okay.’ Noah nodded, his face remarkably impassive.

  ‘Wow. You have a good poker face.’

  ‘What’s her inheritance?’

  ‘It’s a fortune.’ Maggie leaned close to Noah’s ear. ‘Florian left Anna $50 million, which she’s going to get when she turns eighteen.’

  ‘Whoa.’ Noah nodded, eyebrows lifting. ‘Not that I’m surprised.’

  Maggie felt taken aback. ‘How can you not be surprised? I said, $50 million.’

  ‘Florian sold his startup for $30 million, years ago. He should have an estate that size. I was already thinking that she should see Mike.’

  ‘The guy who did our will?’ Maggie watched Anna and Caleb, who were taking the escalator upstairs. ‘But she already has a lawyer. James Huntley.’

  ‘She should have a local estates lawyer, and in my opinion, eighteen is too young for her to come into that kind of money. How good a lawyer can he be if he set it up that way?’

  ‘He didn’t. He said the same thing. He’s changing it already and she agreed.’

  ‘Still, we need to get her a lawyer here. Mike can change it. Pennsylvania law and Maine law may not be the same.’

  ‘But she likes James.’ Maggie felt a tug. ‘I already told him we wouldn’t switch.’

  ‘So, tell him you changed your mind. We should switch her.’

  ‘But she should have a say.’

  ‘Fine, but how much weight can you give her opinion? She’s a teenager.’

  ‘I’ll have to ask her. It’s her money.’

  ‘I know that, I’m just trying to help.’ Noah shrugged. ‘We’re responsible for her now. She’s our kid.’

  ‘Our kid. It does have a nice ring.’ Maggie put her arm around him as they walked to the escalator. ‘You’re amazing.’

  ‘Do tell. I’ll pretend it’s foreplay.’ Noah squeezed her closer, his arm around her shoulder.

  ‘Mag, Dad!’ Caleb scooted over. ‘Come take a selfie! Anna wants us!’

  ‘Okay.’ Noah let himself be tugged away, and Maggie followed him to one of the fake family rooms, where the furniture was pseudo-English Manor House, with a British tea table in front of a damask quilted couch.

  ‘Dad, sit down!’ Caleb called out, pointing.

  ‘Caleb, settle.’ Noah sat down with a chuckle. ‘Who wound you up?’

  Anna looked at Maggie. ‘Come, sit with me!’

  ‘Too cute!’ Maggie sat down. ‘Our first family photo, huh? The Ippoliti-Desroches-Aldermans!’

  ‘Totally, this is perfect!’ Anna grinned, holding the phone out in her right hand. ‘Here we go.’

  ‘Say cheese!’ Caleb bounced next to Noah, jostling everyone.

  ‘Everybody, here we go, smile!’ Anna sang out, and Maggie smiled for the picture. She wasn’t sure she would ever stop smiling, given how happy she felt.

  Caleb jumped up. ‘Anna, we gotta go upstairs. Come on!’

  ‘Here I come!’ Anna slipped her phone in her purse. ‘He’s fast!’

  Noah rolled his eyes, standing up. ‘Caleb, please!’

  ‘He’s fine.’ Maggie waved him off, smiling, and Anna hustled to catch up with Caleb, who was already heading for the escalator. Noah fell into step with Maggie, and she encircled his waist with her arm. ‘How great are you?’

  ‘Great.’ Noah grinned crookedly. ‘But tell me why.’

  ‘I sprang her on you, and here you are, all in.’

  ‘She’s your daughter.’ Noah smiled over at her.

  ‘And your stepdaughter. How does it feel?’

  ‘Great. It’ll be fun to get to know her.’ Noah let Maggie go first on the escalator as Caleb motioned to them from the second floor.

  ‘Dad! Mag! Hurry!’

  Maggie and Noah reached the second floor to see Anna resting on a beautiful canopy bed with a bedspread of white polished cotton with pink piping. The bed sat in the middle of a fake bedroom that contained a matching bureau, mirror, and armoire of enameled white.

  ‘Wow, that’s lovely!’ Maggie called to her.

  ‘Isn’t it!’ Anna smiled, with a Windsor wave. ‘I feel like a princess.’

  Noah picked up the oversized tag hanging on the bedpost. ‘I think it will fit. The room is large.’

  Caleb opened and closed the dresser drawers. ‘These work good!’

  ‘Well,’ Noah corrected. ‘They work well.’

  ‘Whatever, Dad.’ Caleb rolled his eyes, glancing at Anna, who smiled back.

  Maggie felt happy to see them connecting. ‘So you think this is the one, Anna? You don’t want to look at any others?’

  ‘I think this is perfect.’ Anna sat up on the bed. ‘Should we get the dresser, too?’

  ‘Yes. You need a dresser and a mirror. Maybe even the armoire because the closet in that room is small.’

  ‘That’s what I was thinking.’ Anna nodded. ‘Plus they have a ten percent discount if you buy the set.’

  ‘Right, and they spread out the payments.’

  ‘I’ll put it on my charge. James will authorize it.’

  Maggie smiled. ‘Anna, you don’t have to pay for this. We’re paying for it.’

  ‘You are?’ Anna blinked.

  ‘Of course,’ Noah interjected. ‘You don’t have to pay for your own furniture.’

  ‘But I can afford it.’

  Caleb looked over, his eyes wide. ‘Anna, you can buy this? How much money do you have?’

  ‘Caleb,’ Noah interjected, ‘don’t ask personal questions.’

  Anna waved it off. ‘That’s okay. Caleb can ask me anything. He’s my bro.’

  Caleb’s eyes went wide. ‘Anna, can you buy a car?’

  Anna grinned. ‘Actually, I’m going to. A Range Rover, in black.’

  Maggie looked over, surprised. ‘Really, Anna?’

  ‘I need a car, don’t I?’ Anna shrugged happily. ‘I have to get to school somehow, and I’m not going to take the bus. I’m sure nobody takes the bus.’

  ‘Nobody takes the bus,’ Caleb repeated, though he took a bus.

  Maggie wasn’t sure about this car business. ‘You’re not an experienced driver, are you?’

  ‘No, but I have a legit Maine license and I’ll practice once I get the car.’ Anna shrugged again, happily.

  ‘I’m not sure you should be buying your own car. We have to talk about that.’ Maggie knew Noah would hate the idea, but she didn’t want to fuss about it now.

  ‘I agree.’ Noah nodded. ‘We can help you out with that, and I bet we can find a good used car that’ll get you to school.’

  ‘But I want the Range Rover. I already picked it out online.’

  Maggie caught Noah’s frown, but this wasn’t the time or the place. ‘Noah, we can sort this out later, can’t we?’

  ‘Sure.’ Noah gestured at the bed. ‘We need furniture.’

  Maggie smiled. ‘Right. We’re on a schedule here.’ She turned to Anna. ‘Anna, we still need to get the stu
ff on the list. The Bed Bath & Beyond is on the other side of the parking lot. Are you up for that or too tired?’

  ‘I’m up!’ Anna jumped to her feet.

  ‘Me, too!’ Caleb chimed in.

  Maggie touched Noah’s arm. ‘Noah, why don’t you take Anna and Caleb to Bed Bath & Beyond? Anna has the list, and I’ll do the paperwork here, then come join you guys.’

  ‘Sure. Let’s go, guys!’ Noah pretended to start jogging. ‘Beat you there!’

  ‘No, you won’t, Dad!’ Caleb sprinted after his father, but Anna lingered, looking at Maggie.

  ‘You don’t mind if we go?’

  ‘Not at all,’ Maggie answered. ‘I’m going to try to get the furniture delivered tomorrow.’

  ‘Thanks, Mom!’ Anna said, then skipped off, her ponytail swinging.

  Mom.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Noah, After

  TRIAL, DAY 5

  Noah was bracing for the next set of questions when he noticed the door opening at the back of the courtroom, and Maggie entered, wearing sunglasses. She slipped inside and sat in the back row, where he lost sight of her behind the other spectators in the gallery. Her hair had been pulled back in a ponytail, and she had on a jeans jacket that he recognized as Anna’s.

  Noah felt a wrench in his chest, but tried not to react openly. He didn’t want to draw attention to her. She’d probably pulled her hair back as an attempt at a disguise, since her dark curls were so characteristic in the newspaper pictures. And she must have been wearing Anna’s jacket as a memorial, but only he would know that.

  The jeans jacket made Noah remember that first night when Anna had moved in. They had gone shopping to buy her a bed, and then he’d taken her and Caleb to Bed Bath & Beyond. Anna had worn the jacket over a blue-checked sundress, and Caleb had hustled to the candy counter at the checkout.

  Noah had had the Things To Do list on his phone and had gone into the store with Anna, wending his way through the cramped aisles of every conceivable home good. Anna, what do you want to do first? he had asked her. Towels or sheets?

  Sheets.

  Where’s the sheets?

  There, in the back. Anna had skipped ahead of him, her ponytail swinging. Noah had thought it was cute and carefree until he’d realized, later, that nothing Anna did was carefree. On the contrary, everything she did was calculated to produce an effect. She may have been seventeen, but she was the most manipulative woman he had ever met.