Page 52 of After Anna

Noah could see the gallery looking at each other. Maggie would know he was lying. “Well, uh, no, not fine with it.”

“So you had some negative feelings toward Anna, didn’t you?”

Noah hesitated. “Some. Yes.”

“You were angry at her, weren’t you?”

“Some.” Noah knew it was the wrong thing to say as soon as Linda’s eyes lit up.

“You had more thansome anger, didn’t you?”

“No.”

“Dr. Alderman, weren’t youfuriouswith Anna for filing that Petition and lying about you?”

“No.”

“And weren’t youfuriouswith Anna for rejecting your sexual advances?”

“No.”

Linda stepped closer to the stand. “Didn’t you lure Anna to your home by text?”

“No.”

“Didn’t you make yet another sexual advance on her on the porch of your house?”

“No.”

“And when she spurned your advance yet again, didn’t all that anger come to the fore and you strangled her with your bare hands?”

“That’s not true!” Noah raised his voice, but even he could hear the anger in his voice.

“Let’s move on from your 911 audiotape.” Linda walked back to counsel table, and Noah saw the faces staring back at him, their expressions angry, disapproving, judgmental. Maggie was among them but he couldn’t see her.

Suddenly Noah thought he saw someone in the back of the gallery pushing back her hair, a gesture that seemed so much like Maggie’s, moving a curl from her eyes. It took him back to that first night, the night that should’ve told him everything. They had been to the furniture store, then Bed Bath & Beyond, and Maggie had come upstairs after saying good night to Anna.

You okay?he had asked, because of her worried expression.

Fine.

Great. Noah had kissed her good night, but she had returned his kiss in a perfunctory way, which wasn’t like her. She called herself the Makeout Queen.

Did you guys have fun at the store?

You mean Bloodbath & Beyond?

What’s that mean?Maggie had frowned.

It’s a joke.Noah had been slipping off his shirt, which normally would’ve drawn a compliment from Maggie about his arms or chest.

Would you take Anna out driving?

She knows how to drive.

I’m talking about just to practice. To make sure she feels comfy behind the wheel. And safe.

What about this car business? She wants to buy a Range Rover? What she needs to do is get a valid Pennsylvania license. She shouldn’t drive without one. I don’t think a Maine license is valid here at her age.

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