After Anna

by Lisa Scottoline

  ‘Dr Alderman, are you suggesting that your wife didn’t agree with the allegations that Anna made in the Petition?’

  ‘Yes, they were Anna’s allegations, and my wife only signed to enable Anna to file, like a cosigner.’

  Linda’s eyes flew open. ‘Is a young girl trying to protect herself from sexual abuse like somebody getting a car loan?’

  ‘No, I was trying to explain. It’s an analogy.’

  Linda nodded to her paralegal. ‘I’m going to call to the screen the very last page of the Petition. Please read it yourself and we’ll discuss it.’

  Noah turned:

  VERIFICATION: I verify that I am the Petitioner designated in the present action and that the facts and statements contained in the above Petition are true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I understand that any false statements are made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S.A. section 4904, relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.

  Margaret Ippoliti

  Anna Desroches

  ‘Dr Alderman, isn’t it true that two signatures appear there, Anna’s and your wife’s?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Your wife was smart enough to understand that she was subjecting herself to penalties of perjury if she signed a Petition she believed to be false, wasn’t she?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘So isn’t it true that your wife’s signature on the Petition shows that she believed the allegations to be “true and correct”?’

  ‘No, because you have to consider that the PFA Order was not issued. After the hearing, my lawyer and I went to the attorneys’ conference room to await Judge Hamilton’s decision, but there was a knock on the door. We assumed it was the bailiff telling us that the judge had decided, but it was my wife. She initiated a settlement, which I think shows that she was ambivalent about whether Anna’s allegations were true.’

  Linda scoffed, her impatience plain. ‘Dr Alderman, isn’t it true that you settled Anna’s Petition because you knew that Judge Hamilton was going to issue a PFA Order against you?’

  ‘No.’

  Linda shot him a skeptical look. ‘Why would you settle if you thought you were going to win?’

  ‘I settled because it made sense for all of us.’

  ‘Dr Alderman, wouldn’t it have been a disaster for your medical practice as a pediatric allergist if a PFA Order had been issued against you for sexual abuse of Anna, a minor?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘So it was consistent with your self-interest to settle, was it not?’

  ‘Yes,’ Noah had to admit.

  ‘And isn’t it true that under the settlement, Anna agreed to withdraw her Petition, and you agreed to leave the home voluntarily?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And you rented a carriage house in Haverford the very next day, which ultimately became the crime scene, isn’t that correct?’

  ‘Yes.’ Noah cringed.

  ‘Dr Alderman, isn’t it true that Anna did not seek nor did she receive any money damages in return for withdrawal of her Petition against you?’

  ‘Yes.’ Noah didn’t elaborate, though Linda knew full well that damages weren’t available in PFA actions.

  ‘So isn’t it true that the only thing that Anna stood to gain by her PFA Petition is that you would leave the house?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Why would Anna want you out of the house if you hadn’t sexually abused her?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Noah said, hearing the jury shifting.

  Chapter Forty-eight

  Maggie, Before

  Maggie passed that night feeling apart from Noah, who worked in the basement while she was on her laptop in the bedroom. Both kids were on their laptops in their bedrooms. By bedtime, she realized that none of them had looked at anything but a computer for the entire night, but they all needed a cooling-off period, especially her.

  The next morning, Noah left for work, Caleb took the bus to school, and Anna was picked up by Samantha. Maggie went to Mike Wilson’s funeral, where she sat with Noah, though they arrived separately since he’d come from the office with the others. She and Noah greeted a grief-stricken Dina and Steve Wilson in the receiving line, and Maggie continued to feel withdrawn during the heartbreaking service, though she didn’t reach for Noah’s hand and he didn’t reach for hers. When the service was over, she kissed him dryly on the cheek, but he barely met her eye.

  In the afternoon she busied herself painting color samples on white canvases to make it easier for Anna to choose a bedroom color, then she prepared dinner, spaghetti with pesto sauce and a fresh Caprese salad, thick slices of beefsteak tomato and soft buffalo mozzarella covered with chopped fresh basil, drizzled with overpriced balsamic and olive oil. Anna texted be home at 6 and stoked to drive , which made Maggie feel better.

  They all sat down to dinner at the usual time, but other than that, nothing else about the mealtime was typical. Noah seemed unusually silent, perhaps the aftermath of Mike’s funeral, and Caleb was also quiet. Maggie carried the conversational ball, asking both kids about their school day, but only Anna responded with enthusiasm, then she and Noah left together for the driving lesson.

  ‘How did it go, guys?’ Maggie said, coming from the kitchen when she heard the front door opening. She’d just finished baking chocolate chip cookies and arrayed them on a serving plate next to four small plates and napkins, expecting they’d all eat cookies and yammer away, like an impromptu family party.

  ‘Okay,’ Anna answered, entering the house with a frown.

  Noah came up behind, puzzled. ‘What do you mean, Anna? You did very well.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Anna hoisted her purse to her shoulder and headed for the stairwell, but Maggie intercepted her.

  ‘Want a snack, honey? I made cookies.’

  ‘Sorry, I better get to work. I’m so behind, I’ll be up all night.’

  ‘But I want to hear about your lesson. How did it go? How was the car?’

  ‘Fine, I really should get to work.’ Anna pursed her lips, going upstairs. ‘See you later.’

  ‘Where’s Caleb?’ Noah asked, sliding his tie off.

  ‘Upstairs, doing homework.’ Maggie took a step closer, keeping her voice low, even after Anna had gone. ‘What happened? She seems bummed.’

  ‘She seems fine to me.’ Noah left for the kitchen, and Maggie followed him, bewildered.

  ‘How did she do?’

  ‘Great, but she really shouldn’t drive on the street until she gets a Pennsylvania license.’ Noah crossed to the kitchen island, took a few cookies and a napkin, and turned to head down to the basement.

  ‘Where did you take her?’

  ‘The strip mall behind the Chinese restaurant.’ Noah slid his phone from his back pocket and thumbed the screen.

  ‘Was she nervous?’

  ‘No.’ Noah kept scrolling, and Maggie knew he was checking his email, which was always test results, nothing urgent.

  ‘Were you nice about the car?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘You didn’t give her a hard time?’

  ‘No.’ Noah read his phone screen, and Maggie felt her temper flare.

  ‘Excuse me, but can you look at me for two minutes? I’m trying to figure out what happened.’

  Noah looked up, his mouth tight. ‘Nothing happened. What could have happened?’

  ‘You didn’t bring up Jamie again, did you?’

  ‘No.’ Noah met her eye directly. ‘Babe, can we have one night when we don’t fight? Is that too much to ask?’

  ‘Fine,’ Maggie answered, stung. ‘It’s just that the driving lesson was the fun thing that was supposed to get you two back on track.’

  ‘I’m trying my best, honey.’

  ‘I don’t think you are.’ Maggie felt her resentment boil over. ‘She came home unhappy.’

  ‘She’s not unhappy.’

  ‘She’s not bubbling over with excitement, now is she?’ Maggie couldn’t believe he was arguing this point, when it w
as obvious.

  ‘You’re making something out of nothing.’ Noah turned away, opening the basement door.

  ‘Really?’ Maggie watched him disappear into the basement, then she put some cookies on the plate, poured a glass of milk, and went upstairs to Anna’s room, where she knocked on the door. ‘Anna, can I come in? I’ve got carbs.’

  ‘Sure,’ Anna answered.

  ‘Hi,’ Maggie said, opening the door to see Anna sitting cross-legged on her bed, having changed into a gray T-shirt and Congreve gym shorts. Her laptop and textbooks were spread around her, and her new bedside lamp filled the room with a soft glow.

  ‘Aw, cookies. Thanks.’ Anna set the laptop aside, and Maggie handed her the plate and milk.

  ‘Hey, what do you think of your paint selection?’ Maggie gestured to the canvases she’d lined up on the wall, showing a paint sample with the name of the color on each one, so they didn’t forget.

  ‘I know, that was so nice of you.’ Anna got up and went over to the canvases. ‘I like Nottingham Green. What do you think?’

  ‘Me, too, but live with it for a day or two. The colors change depending on the light, and give the blues a chance.’

  ‘You think blue would be better?’ Anna turned to her, more relaxed than she had been when she came in, which did Maggie’s heart good.

  ‘It might be, but it’s your choice.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Anna took a bite of cookie. ‘Mmm, this is awesome.’

  ‘By the way, were you able to make any progress with Jamie? Like, find her new number or text her?’

  ‘No, not yet.’ Anna shook her head. ‘But I will, I promise. I was so busy today trying to get everything done and then the driving lesson.’

  ‘Sure, I understand.’ Maggie had to trust that Anna would keep her word. ‘So how did it go? Was it okay?’

  ‘It was fine.’ Anna flopped on the bed. ‘But I don’t need Noah to take me anymore. I’ll use a driving school for one or two more lessons. I just signed up online.’

  ‘You don’t want Noah to take you?’ Maggie sank into the bed, disappointed. ‘What happened?’

  ‘Nothing.’ Anna hesitated. ‘Why, did Noah say something happened?’

  ‘No, but why do you want a professional? Was he too critical? He’s usually patient, even if he’s, well, picky.’

  ‘No, he’s fine.’

  ‘Did he give you a hard time about the car?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Did he bring up the Jamie thing?’

  ‘No. It’s nothing he did.’ Anna pursed her lips. ‘It’s just that I felt kind of uncomfortable.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘I don’t know, but I just felt, uncomfortable. Maybe because of all the drama.’ Anna looked away. ‘I think it’s better this way, really, Mom.’

  ‘You sure?’ Maggie asked, worried that the rift between Anna and Noah was getting worse.

  Anna turned away, eyeing the canvases. ‘That was so thoughtful of you to do that.’

  ‘It was fun,’ Maggie said, troubled.

  Chapter Forty-nine

  Noah, After

  TRIAL, DAY 5

  ‘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 for
mer 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?’