Page 47 of After Anna

“But you didn’t mention it in your direct testimony, did you?”

“No.” Thomas hadn’t thought it was necessary. They hadn’t gone into detail about Noah’s actions on the porch. It wouldn’t have helped him.

“Why didn’t you mention that before?”

“I… must have forgotten.”

“You’re soforgetfultoday, aren’t you?”

“Objection, Your Honor.” Thomas rose. “Is this a question or harassment?”

Linda snorted. “It’s cross-examination, Your Honor. It’s within the bounds of permissible.”

Judge Gardner nodded. “Overruled.”

“Dr. Alderman, didn’t you observe anything on her neck?”

“Not at first. I saw her eyes first, but then I turned on the flashlight on my phone and then I saw some pinkish swelling around her neck and that confirmed it was strangulation.”

“So, you find your beloved stepdaughter strangled on the porch, and what you do is take out your flashlight and visually examine her?”

“Yes.” Noah knew it sounded bad. It had sounded better on direct. Thomas had ordered it for him, chronologically. He was getting confused, and Maggie must have been heartbroken, hearing this testimony.

“But didn’t you cry out in horror?”

“No.”

“Didn’t you shout for help?”

“No, I’m a doctor. I am help.” Noah felt good saying it, and he saw a flicker of an approving smile from Thomas.

“Dr. Alderman, do you recall what you said to 911 or do I need to replay the 911 tape to refresh your recollection?”

“No, I… recall.” Noah felt himself falter, though he remembered exactly what he had said. He didn’t want to say it in front of Maggie. He reached for his plastic cup of water. His hand shook, and he knew the jurors noticed.

Linda signaled to her paralegal. “I’ll replay the 911 tape and ask you some questions about it.”

“No… I can recall it.” Noah wanted to spare Maggie. She never listened to 911 tapes when they came on the news. She thought it was sad and invasive. Now this 911 tape was about her daughter’s murder. She would never have heard it before. Noah repeated, “I can recall it, you don’t have to—”

Linda waved Noah into silence, as the 911 audiotape began to play.

Chapter Twenty-two

Maggie, Before

It was midnight by the time Maggie closed the kitchen, pressing the dishwasher’s Start button, like the period at the end of a busy day. They had stowed Anna’s towels and toiletries in her room upstairs, and the bedroom furniture was getting delivered tomorrow. They had used the new sheets to make a temporary bed out of the couch in the family room, and she was in there now, watchingSaturday Night Live.Noah was upstairs, tucking Caleb in. It was way past his bedtime, but he’d been excited to help with Anna, and neither Maggie nor Noah wanted to discourage him.

Maggie left the kitchen and entered the family room, where Anna was on her laptop, propped up on the couch. “How are you doing, honey?”

“Great, thanks.” Anna smiled. “I love my new sheets.”

“They’re pretty, even on the couch.” Maggie sat down on the chair catty-corner to Anna.

“You don’t think the canopy is too little-girl, do you?” Anna bit her fingernails.

“Not at all. It’s feminine.”

“Do you think I’ll start school Monday?”