Page 122 of After Anna

She wondered how many of those families had such horror under their own roofs. She read about them in the newspaper and online. She never thought she would be one. In truth, she used to judge some of those mothers. How could you not know your teenage son stockpiled guns? How could you not know your daughter was pregnant? How could younotknow? Only the terrible mothers didn’t know what was happening in their own homes.

Then Maggie realized that she had already been adjudicated a terrible mother.

Unfit, was what the court had said. And here she was now, unfit all over again, seventeen years later,unfit, unfit, unfit.

She looked up at the black sky without knowing why. An appeal to God? For guidance? For help? A silent prayer? For forgiveness? But all she saw was darkness. She rose on shaky knees and walked toward the house.

Because she was a mother, and she had a job to do.

Chapter Fifty-seven

Noah, After

TRIAL, DAY 2

Noah straightened in his seat as the Commonwealth’s next witness was sworn in, Detective Andrew Hickok. Thomas nicknamed him Detective Peacock, and it was clear why. His dark suit was well-tailored, and his dotted tie shone like real silk. He had dark hair layered in an expensive cut around a square-jawed face with brown eyes, a straight nose, and a salt-and-pepper mustache that was carefully trimmed. Overall, Detective Andrew Hickok had the demeanor of a complete law-enforcement professional, at home on the witness stand.

Linda smiled at the detective, her regard plain. “Please state your name for the record, sir.”

“Detective Andrew J. Hickok.”

“Detective Hickok, would you briefly tell the jury your credentials?”

“Yes. I started as a patrolman with the Philadelphia Police Department, then joined the Homicide Unit of the Philadelphia Police Department. I moved to Montgomery County and joined the Detective Bureau as a detective.”

“And how long have you been with the Montgomery County Detective Bureau?”

“Sixteen years.”

“How many homicide investigations have you participated in?”

“Over a hundred.”

“And did you have anything to do with the investigation of Anna Desroches’s murder?”

“Yes. I was lead investigator.”

“Did you go to the crime scene on the night of the murder?”

“Yes, after I had obtained the warrants I thought I would need.”

“And what was taking place at the crime scene?”

“Patrol officers were establishing a perimeter, and Dr. Kapoor and her team were with the body on the porch. She told me her initial finding on cause and manner. Criminalists from the Forensic Services Unit were taking photographs and collecting evidence from the scene, including the cars, house, driveway, and porch. In addition, a patrol officer had confiscated the defendant’s cell phone and gave it to me.”

“Detective Hickok, did the cell phone provide any evidence related to this investigation?”

“Yes, after I obtained the proper warrant.”

“What was that evidence?”

“We found a text that the defendant had sent to the victim earlier that night.”

“I’m going to show you a document and ask you to please identify it for the jury.” Linda retrieved a paper from counsel table, then placed it in front of Thomas, Judge Gardner, and then the detective, who read it and looked up.

“This is the text that we found on the defendant’s phone. The text was sent at 6:55P.M.on May 10, the night of the murder.”

“Your Honor, I’d like to mark this as Commonwealth Exhibit 43.” Linda glanced back at Thomas, who nodded.

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