I See You (14 page)

‘The next time we go back in there will be for the verdict,’ Hannah observed.

‘The last time we ever see the inside of a courtroom, I hope,’ he said fervently.

‘Amen,’ she said.

‘Let’s pick up Sydney and go home.’

T
he three of them spent a quiet night at home, going outside only long enough to have dinner on the deck. It was a lovely evening, the late sunset spilling orange and lavender across the sky. Sydney spotted a bunny in the far end of the yard and banged her spoon on her Peter Rabbit decorated plate, as if in appreciation. They were too tired for conversation. Adam seemed quiet and distracted during dinner and Hannah could understand it. Their ordeal was almost over, and it had depleted each of them. Tonight she seemed to have more energy than he did, so she volunteered to clear the table and get Sydney ready for bed while he retreated into his home office. He gratefully took her up on her offer.

She watched an old movie on TV for an hour after Sydney was in bed, and then she went down to his office and stuck her head in. ‘I think I’m going to go to bed early. I am beat,’ she said.

‘I’ll be right behind you,’ he said.

She kissed him on the top of his head and made her way down to their room. As she set out her clothes for the next day, showered and washed her hair, she was overcome with weariness. She brushed her teeth automatically, yawning like a sleepy child. Then she went down the hall to Sydney’s room, and looked in on her granddaughter. She knelt down beside the low trundle bed, and brushed Sydney’s hair gently off her flushed, softly rounded face. ‘It’s almost over, baby doll,’ she whispered. ‘Mommy will be coming home soon.’ Sydney stirred but did not awaken. Hannah watched her granddaughter tenderly as she shifted in her bed, still clutching her teddy bear under her arm. The question about Troy swam back into her mind. Did he hurt you? she wondered. Did that monster touch you? Hannah felt almost physically sick at the thought, and a part of her could not deny that she was glad Troy Petty was dead. She wondered, briefly, if Troy had indeed been guilty of interfering with that terminally ill child at the summer camp. Perhaps there was nothing that Troy wouldn’t do to gratify himself.

He’s dead now, Hannah reminded herself. He’s dead and he could never hurt Sydney, or any other child, again. She leaned over and kissed the toddler’s warm cheek. They would have to get to the bottom of it one of these days but the immediate danger was over. Once Lisa was home again they would call Jackie’s referral and take Sydney for a professional evaluation. And they would provide whatever treatment was necessary – if it was necessary. Oh, my sweetie, I hope it’s not, Hannah thought. I just hope and pray he didn’t get to you.

By the time Hannah got back to their room, Adam was sitting up in bed, reading. She climbed in beside him and snuggled against him. She tried to stay awake but it was no use. ‘Love you,’ she murmured, and almost as soon as she rolled away from him, she was fast asleep.

She wasn’t sure what woke her. Probably a bad dream. She had had lots of those lately. But whatever it was, she came awake with a start. She lay on her side, her heart pounding, and hoped she had not cried out in her sleep. She didn’t want to awaken Adam. He desperately needed some rest.

She closed her eyes again, hoping that the panicky feeling would subside, and she could drift back to sleep, but in a few moments she realized that it was out of the question. Eyes closed or not, she was wide awake.

Hannah rolled over carefully, checking for Adam’s quiet, steady breathing. But she heard nothing and, as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw that his covers were thrown back, his side of the bed empty. She glanced over at their bathroom door. There was no bar of light beneath it. In fact, the door was ajar, the bathroom dark.

He probably can’t sleep either, she thought. How could either one of them be expected to rest, knowing that Lisa’s fate was now in the hands of the jury? Hannah lay there, thinking about her daughter. Hannah had actually been happy when Lisa became involved with Troy. Obviously, Lisa was no virgin, but her relationships had been short-lived and seemingly loveless. Troy actually seemed to care for her. Hannah worried that she would never be able to trust anyone after Troy’s betrayal.

Hannah put a hand on Adam’s still warm pillow. She had always tried to impress on Lisa that the one you married needed to be special. A clear choice. No second thoughts. That didn’t mean he had to be the perfect man. Just the perfect man for you. Someone you could trust with your life. Someone who would always put his family first. Someone whose love was the rock in your life. Obviously not someone like Troy Petty.

Hannah frowned, wondering where Adam was. Had he gone down to the kitchen to eat something? He always hated himself when he did that. Adam was a disciplined person, faithful in his exercise, cautious with his drinking. It always kind of amused her when he got up in the middle of the night and ate snacks. Proof that he was human, just like everybody else.

Maybe I’ll join him, she thought. We may as well spend this sleepless night together. Hannah sat up, pulled on her wrapper and slid her feet into her slippers. Then she went out into the dark house in search of him.

As soon as she walked out into the hallway, she saw that he was not in the kitchen. It was pitch black at that end of the house. And he wasn’t in his office either. The light was on, however, in Lisa’s room, a glowing bar visible beneath the closed door.

Hannah frowned, and walked over to it. Why would he be in there? She reached for the doorknob and turned it slowly. The door opened in. At the desk by the window he sat, working on Lisa’s laptop.

‘Adam?’ she said.

He jumped and turned around, a guilty look on his face.

‘What are you doing in here?’ she asked.

Adam turned back to the laptop and stared at it, pushing a couple of keys. The screen changed with each tap of his fingers. ‘Looking for something,’ he said.

‘On Lisa’s computer? I don’t even know Lisa’s password,’ Hannah said.

‘It’s Sydney’s birthday,’ he said.

Hannah smiled, pleased at this notion. ‘Well, of course it is,’ she said. ‘After all, I use hers.’

Adam’s eyes did not leave the screen. ‘She knows that, doesn’t she?’

Hannah frowned at him. ‘Yes, of course.’ She came in and sat down on the end of Lisa’s bed, from where she could look over his shoulder at the screen.

‘What are you looking for?’ she asked.

‘I’m tracking her history,’ he said.

‘You mean her search history?’

‘It’s a bit more complicated than that,’ he said. He did not bother to explain. He knew that Hannah’s familiarity with the workings of computers was rudimentary.

‘What are you looking for?’

Adam pressed some more buttons, the cool light of the screen reflecting, sickly silver, on his face. ‘Something that isn’t here,’ he said.

‘Is that a riddle?’ she asked with a trace of impatience. ‘I’m awfully tired for riddles.’

‘No,’ he said.

‘Then what is it?’ Hannah demanded, feeling suddenly annoyed at him. She would never get back to sleep now.

‘Something that should be here, but it’s not,’ he said, still tapping at the keyboard.

Hannah frowned at him. ‘Stop talking nonsense. What do you mean?’

Adam swiveled the seat of the desk chair around and looked at Hannah directly. ‘I went back to last winter. I looked up your mother’s birthday. That was the date when Lisa spoke to Wynonna about Troy, and then I went forward from there. It was three weeks after that that she first went out with Troy Petty.’

‘We talked about this,’ said Hannah defensively. ‘You and I agreed that she probably felt sorry for him. The underdog, unfairly accused. That’s just like Lisa.’

Adam shook his head. ‘She didn’t search it.’

Hannah frowned. ‘Didn’t search what?’

‘Her accusations. Lisa started to date him but she didn’t research Wynonna’s accusations.’

Hannah shook her head and peered at him as if he was losing his mind. ‘Oh, Adam, what are you doing? That doesn’t mean anything.’

‘Really?’ he asked. ‘This Wynonna person tells her that a guy she works with is an accused pedophile. And the next thing you know, she starts dating him. And she didn’t even do a search on the incident at the camp? Lisa’s the mother of a small child. She’s told that this guy is a pedophile and she goes out with him anyway, without even doing the most basic search? Who would do that? You wouldn’t do that. You’d do a search on him first thing.’

Hannah felt suddenly indignant. ‘Maybe she asked him about those charges, and he explained it to her. Did you ever think of that? Or maybe she looked it up at work.’

Adam looked at her stubbornly. ‘She hasn’t got time to make that kind of search at the hospital. And I don’t believe for one moment that she asked him. Look, I don’t care if she risks her own safety, but to risk Sydney’s?’

Hannah slid off the end of the bed and stood over him, her hands on her hips. She felt tears pricking her eyes but she did not wipe them away. ‘Why are you doing this? She’s your daughter. You’re supposed to defend her, not trump up reasons to vilify her. You’re worse than the prosecutor. We’re about to get her home. We’re about to get our lives back, and all you can think to do is invade her privacy and try to make her out to be …’

‘Reckless,’ he said, pushing the desk chair back and standing up. He pointed his index finger at Hannah. ‘Don’t deny it. She’s reckless and you know it.’

Hannah shook her head angrily. ‘I’m not listening to this. There’s something wrong with you. That’s all there is to it. You insist on thinking the worst of her.’

‘She deliberately risked her daughter’s safety. And we still don’t know if the worst happened to Sydney, thanks to all that alone time with Troy Petty. That little surprise lies ahead when we get her to a competent shrink. Lisa put Sydney in harm’s way and went on about her business. That’s the plain truth of the matter. How can you say that’s OK?’

‘I’m not saying that’s OK,’ Hannah protested. ‘But you’re just borrowing trouble. She could have searched that anywhere. There’s a computer on her phone, for heaven’s sakes. Of course she looked into it. She looked into it and found out that he was never charged.’

‘But of all the men in the world, this was the man she chose to date. To leave her child with,’ he said flatly.

‘Oh, excuse me,’ said Hannah sarcastically. ‘Now it’s about the fact that he was suspected of a crime. A crime for which he was never charged. I thought this was about the fact that Lisa didn’t research him.’

‘It’s about her deliberate carelessness,’ he countered.

‘You’re just fishing for some reason to blame her. How do you know she didn’t look it up on another computer? Or call someone? You’re just being … completely unfair,’ Hannah cried.

‘I don’t think so,’ he said.

‘Maybe she’s defiant because you don’t trust her,’ Hannah insisted. ‘Maybe you’re angry because we had to pay for a lawyer.’

‘You’re damn right I’m angry,’ he said. ‘She’s partly to blame for this. You insist on pretending that none of this is her fault.’

Hannah drew herself up, insulted. ‘I’m her mother. I’m aware of her shortcomings. Maybe more than you are. I’m the one who has gone to school when she got in trouble, or to see the guidance counselors while you were at work. I have talked to her till I’m blue in the face. I am not blind to the fact that she can be reckless and careless and she can act without thinking. But don’t tell me that she doesn’t love Sydney. That she wouldn’t protect her from harm, because that is just not true.’

‘I wish I could be sure of that,’ said Adam, shaking his head.

‘You’re talking about our child.’

‘She’s not a child any longer,’ he said stubbornly.

Hannah knew Lisa’s faults as well as Adam did. Better, maybe. Over the years she and Lisa had had more than their share of arguments. But Adam just seemed to be piling on blame. Now, when they were almost out of the woods. It wasn’t fair. ‘If you feel that way, maybe you shouldn’t be here when Lisa comes home,’ she hissed.

Adam jerked back as if she had slapped him, and glared at her. Hannah could see that he was making an effort not to reply. For her part, she felt horrible having said that to him, but she was in no mood to apologize.

‘I’m not going anywhere,’ he said. ‘Someone has to look out for Sydney.’

‘Like I don’t?’ Hannah demanded.

‘If the shoe fits …’ he said.

You bastard. How dare you, she thought, but she didn’t say it. She couldn’t. They’d had their fights over the years but she had never called him names.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said immediately. ‘That wasn’t fair. I know you’d do anything to protect Sydney. Or Lisa. Come on. Look, we shouldn’t be arguing about this. We need to stick together. Let’s go back to bed.’

Hannah shook her head, avoiding his gaze. ‘You go ahead.’

Adam put the desk chair back under the desk, and tried to cajole her. ‘Come on, babe. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I’m … We’re just worn out.’

Hannah shook her head again. ‘Go on.’

He hesitated, peering at her worriedly, and then left the room. Hannah let him go. She sank back down onto the side of her daughter’s bed, limp with despair. After a few minutes, she pulled the covers back and slid under the sheets. She hugged one of Lisa’s pillows to her chest, thinking that she would never sleep now. She was shaking from the unfamiliar sensation of having bitter words with Adam. Why is he doing this? she thought. Here we are. Almost OK, and now he does this. Why? She fell asleep with the question descending, like a cloud of paralyzing fog, around her brain.

T
he two of them seemed bruised, and were quiet at breakfast, politely passing the butter and jam. ‘Did you get some sleep?’ he asked her finally.

‘I slept,’ she said. ‘Not well. But I slept.’

‘I missed you,’ he said.

‘I didn’t mean to sleep in Lisa’s room. I just passed out,’ she said.

‘I’m sorry about that whole business last night,’ said Adam. ‘I was feeling … I don’t know. At my wits’ end.’

Hannah leaned over and wiped some cereal off of Sydney’s chin. The toddler was subdued as well. ‘Never mind,’ she said. ‘I understand.’

‘What are you going to do today?’ he asked.

‘Besides wait for the phone to ring?’

‘Of course,’ he said.

Hannah shook her head. ‘Well, I’m behind at work but I’m too stressed out to concentrate on anything. I think I’ll just keep Sydney here and spend some time with her.’

‘I have to keep my mind busy somehow. I think I’ll go into the office,’ Adam said. ‘I have so much piled up.’

‘What if the verdict comes in?’ Hannah asked, looking up at him, startled.

‘The minute they call,’ he said. ‘Get me on speed dial. I’m there.’

‘Marjorie might call you first,’ said Hannah.

‘Either way,’ he said.

Hannah sighed.

‘If you want me to stay here with you …’ he said quickly.

‘No,’ said Hannah. ‘We’ll be fine.’ She leaned toward Sydney and shook her head, smiling. ‘We’ll be fine, won’t we?’

Sydney began to giggle and tried to feed cereal to her grandmother. Hannah gently declined.

‘We’ll have a walk in the park,’ she said to Sydney.

‘Hopefully,’ said Adam, ‘we won’t have long to wait.’

Hannah looked up at him and their worried eyes met. ‘I don’t know what to hope for.’

‘Marjorie said that they won’t take long if they’re going to acquit,’ Adam said.

‘Then I’ll hope for quick,’ Hannah said.

‘Me too,’ he said, gathering up his laptop case and kissing Sydney on the top of her head. ‘Love you.’ He smiled warily at Hannah.

She smiled back. ‘Love you too.’

She was almost afraid to leave the house but Sydney was eager to go out into the sunny day, and Hannah knew it was the best thing. A picnic, she thought. A day of grace. She made them sandwiches and drinks, and packed the thermal lunch bag in the back of Sydney’s stroller. She checked twice to make sure her cellphone was charged before she slipped it into her pocket and followed Sydney out into the driveway. Sydney was big enough to walk, and once they got to the park Hannah planned to get her out of the stroller, but right now she felt the need to hurry, so as to avoid having to answer a million questions from people on their street. She settled the toddler comfortably in the stroller and began to push her down the driveway and along the neat sidewalks to the park at the end of the block. In the park there were wide, winding pathways, which flanked a meandering stream. The clear stream burbled over rocks under a leafy canopy of low-hanging branches. Once they reached the pathways, Hannah lifted Sydney out of her stroller, and let her explore the periphery of the paths, collecting little stones to toss into the water.

So intent were they on their mission that they didn’t notice the rolling wheelchair until it had almost reached them. Hannah glanced up and then her face broke into a smile. ‘Chet! Rayanne!’ She straightened up and hugged both her neighbors, leaning down to embrace Chet in the wheelchair. Chet’s skin was still a pale, grayish color, and there were deep circles under his eyes, but he smiled broadly and his eyes lit up. ‘You are a sight for sore eyes,’ Hannah said sincerely to Chet.

‘I’m a mess,’ he said. ‘But I’m getting there. Good to see you two.’

In truth, Rayanne didn’t look much healthier than her husband, but she, too, seemed delighted to see Hannah and Sydney.

They both admired Sydney’s collection of pebbles, and Chet expressed encouragement at Sydney’s pitching arm as the toddler tossed them into the stream.

‘It’s so good to see you out and about,’ said Hannah sincerely. ‘I wish I could have been a better friend to you through all this.’

Rayanne squeezed Hannah’s hand. ‘Don’t be silly. You’ve had your own problems. Where do things stand? I admit I haven’t been paying attention to the news.’

‘The case has gone to the jury,’ said Hannah. ‘This morning.’

Rayanne looked sympathetically at Hannah. ‘I’ll pray for you.’

‘You better,’ said Hannah.

‘Did Jamie go back?’ Hannah asked.

‘Not yet. It’s been great having him here. He’s been such a help to me.’

‘I’ll bet.’

‘His girlfriend has to go back tomorrow. Jamie’s here for a few more days.’

‘I’m sure you’re glad of that. Keep him here as long as you can,’ said Hannah.

Rayanne nodded. ‘Listen, if you get the call from the courthouse, you just drop that little one off with us.’

‘Oh, Ray, I couldn’t,’ said Hannah. ‘You’ve got enough to worry about.’

‘I insist,’ said Rayanne. ‘She feels at home at our house. I don’t want that child suffering any more upheaval than she’s already had. I mean it, Hannah. You just leave her with me.’

Hannah sighed. ‘I am so grateful to you. That would really be a load off my mind. Of course, this jury could take a week to decide.’

‘Whenever it comes,’ said Rayanne. ‘Day or night. You hear me?’

‘Thank you,’ said Hannah.

Chet looked up from the game he was playing with Sydney. ‘That’s what friends are for,’ he said.

Chet and Rayanne continued on their perambulation through the park while Hannah and Sydney loitered by the stream. Sydney wanted to take her flip-flops off and step into the water, so Hannah took off her own sandals and joined her at the edge of the shallow, rocky brook. The water which ran over her feet was icy cold, and felt wonderful. The autumn leaves were golden and they fell in spirals from the rustling branches and landed on the surface of the sun-dappled water. The shining gray stones formed a timeless pattern in the bed of the stream as the water tumbled over and past them. Hannah felt somehow relieved of her constant burdens, just standing there, letting Sydney splash around as they enjoyed the early autumn day. She remembered bringing Lisa here when she was a toddler. Nothing had ever been peaceful with her. Still, Hannah was grateful then for this oasis from the heat and the noise of life, and she was grateful now.

Finally, Sydney tired of her explorations and said she was hungry. They sat at a little picnic table under a tree, and had their lunch. Then Sydney chased a few birds, trying unsuccessfully to wrap them in her pudgy arms. Finally weary, she raised her arms to Hannah, indicating that she wanted to be picked up. Hannah bent down and lifted the slight child up. The feel of Sydney’s damp hair, her warm, rosy skin and her beating heart was balm to Hannah’s soul. She was almost happy for the first time in ages. The jury had the case, and they were going to acquit Lisa. There was no way they couldn’t, she told herself. She remembered last night, and Adam’s search on Lisa’s computer. It was like a cloud over the sun but Hannah was determined to put it out of her mind. This whole nightmare was soon going to be over, and Lisa would be reunited with her parents and her child. Hannah felt it so strongly, she was almost able to convince herself that it was going to happen.

She settled Sydney back into her stroller, put on her own sandals, and, after looking at her phone to be sure that she had not somehow missed a call, walked back toward the house. Sydney fell asleep in the stroller, and Hannah did not want to wake her. She parked the stroller under a shady tree, and pulled up a chair beside it. Before she knew it, Hannah too was asleep.

She was awakened by her phone. Her heart leapt, and she blinked at the display, trying to see who was calling.

Marjorie Fox. Still groggy, she fumbled to answer.

‘The jury is coming back in. They have a verdict,’ said Marjorie.

‘Oh my God,’ said Hannah.

‘Get down to the courthouse.’

‘I will,’ said Hannah. ‘Right away.’

She speed-dialed Adam, who answered on the first ring. ‘They have a verdict,’ she said.

‘I’m on my way. What about Sydney?’

‘Rayanne already told me to leave her with them.’

‘OK,’ he said. ‘I’ll see you in ten minutes.’

Hannah took the sleepy, protesting toddler into the house, and gathered up some food, drinks and toys to take to Rayanne’s. Then she quickly changed her own clothes. She could hear Adam’s car in the driveway as she fixed her hair.

She walked out of their bedroom and met him coming in the door. They looked at one another, fear and hope and anxiety mingled in their eyes. They embraced briefly.

‘I’m going to wash my face,’ he said.

‘I’ll take Sydney next door and meet you at the car,’ she said.

Sydney wanted to walk over but Hannah scooped her up, protesting that there was no time. ‘We’re going to see if we can bring Mommy home,’ Hannah explained as she shifted the bag of supplies, whispered in Sydney’s ear and knocked at Rayanne’s back door.

The door was opened by Jamie, who seemed startled by the sight of them. ‘Hi, Mrs Wickes,’ he said.

‘Jamie, we just got a call from the lawyer. There’s a verdict. We’re on our way to the courthouse. Is your mom here? Or your dad?’

‘Dad’s sleeping. Mom went to the store.’

‘Oh,’ said Hannah. ‘Well, your mom said that she would watch Sydney when we had to go to the courthouse.’

‘That’s no problem. Greta and I can keep an eye on her. Come on in, Sydney.’ He reached for the bag. ‘My mom will be back in a few minutes.’

‘I don’t know how to thank you,’ said Hannah. ‘I’m sure you and Greta have better things to do.’

‘Not a bit,’ said Jamie magnanimously. Just then Greta came into the kitchen.

Jamie turned to her. ‘I told Mrs Wickes we’d watch Sydney till Mom got back.’

Greta immediately brightened. ‘Oh, ’course.’ She put out a hand to Sydney, who looked up at her, fascinated. ‘Come with me, you little minx,’ she said.

Hannah smiled, feeling lucky for their support, and tears of exhaustion pricked her eyelids. ‘Thanks so much.’

‘Good luck,’ said Greta.

‘Right,’ said Jamie. ‘Good luck.’

Hannah thanked them both again and stepped out onto the back porch step.

Jamie hesitated, and then followed her outside closing the door behind him.

‘Mrs Wickes,’ he said. ‘Do you have a minute …’

Hannah turned to look at him and saw consternation in his eyes. Just barely, she thought. It must be about his parents. She reminded herself to be patient. ‘What, Jamie?’ she asked.

‘I’ve been following the trial,’ he said. ‘I read all of the testimony. There was something I wanted to talk to you about …’

Hannah frowned. ‘About the trial? Can it wait? This isn’t really a good time.’

Jamie nodded. ‘Sure. Of course this isn’t the time. It’s just that …’

The door of the Wickes house opened and Adam emerged, waving to the two of them as he brandished the car keys. ‘Hannah, let’s go,’ he called out.

Jamie pressed his lips together. ‘Never mind,’ he said.

‘We really do have to go,’ said Hannah.

‘You go ahead,’ said Jamie. He nodded his head sharply, as if he had made a decision. ‘And don’t worry about Sydney. We’ll take good care of her.’

‘Are you sure?’ Hannah asked uncertainly.

‘Absolutely. You take your time. And give Lisa my best.’

Hannah gave a sigh of relief and rushed to the car where her husband waited.

The courtroom was crowded with spectators, TV cameramen, reporters and officers of the court. Hannah and Adam were worried about where to sit but Marjorie gestured to them to come up to the front. When they got there, Marjorie dismissed two of her support staff who were saving seats behind the defense table and immediately ceded them to Hannah and Adam.

‘She thinks of everything,’ said Adam admiringly.

Lisa turned around and looked at them wide-eyed. ‘This is it,’ she said.

‘Don’t be afraid, darling,’ said Hannah, trying to grab her hand.

‘I’m not afraid,’ said Lisa.

Hannah looked at her daughter, and knew that it was true. Somehow, she wasn’t afraid. She was as calm and detached as if this were all happening to someone else.

The bailiff ordered them all to rise, and everyone in the courtroom stood up dutifully as the judge took his seat on the bench. ‘Bring in the jury,’ said Judge Endicott.

Hannah clutched Adam’s hand as the jury filed in and took their seats across the courtroom from Lisa. Hannah studied their faces, trying to read their expressions. You hold my daughter’s fate in your hands, she thought. Please, please, don’t take her away from us. Or from her child. Please.

The judge turned and faced the jury. He asked the foreman to stand, and then asked if they had reached their verdict. The foreman announced that they had.

Hannah felt as if her heart were being squeezed in her chest. She glanced at Adam and saw his strong features, rigid with anxiety. With excruciating slowness, the judge explained the charges again, and finally turned to the foreman.

‘On the first count, murder in the first degree, how do you find?’ asked the judge.

The foreman hesitated and glanced over at Lisa.

‘Not guilty,’ said the foreman.

A loud gasp and cries erupted in the courtroom, and the judge slammed down his gavel. The crowd lapsed into quiet. Lisa turned and looked at her parents, her eyebrows raised, her face wreathed in a smile. Hannah felt as if she could rise from her seat on wings of happiness. She looked into Adam’s eyes through grateful tears. He was squeezing her in his arms.

‘She’s free,’ Hannah whispered. ‘Oh my God. It’s over.’

‘Order in the court,’ the judge intoned, banging the gavel. The spectators quieted down to a hopeful murmur.

‘On the second count, larceny in the second degree,’ said the judge.

The jury foreman did not hesitate. ‘Guilty,’ he said.

The spectators were quiet. Hannah looked in bewilderment at Adam. ‘What does this mean?’

‘I’m not sure,’ said Adam, his gaze trained on Lisa. ‘I don’t understand. I guess they think she stole the check from Troy.’