“I don’t know if they did. They told Jamie they were going to, but I don’t know if they did.”
“Who’s PG and Connie?”
“Girls at school.”
“Don’t you think we should ask them, or at least tell Jamie’s parents to ask them?”
“They already did, and they said they didn’t know.”
“Well, was that the truth?” Maggie dialed back her tone. “I just think of Jamie’s mother and how she must feel, not knowing how her daughter is.”
“You don’t know Jamie’s mother.” Anna scoffed. “Jamie’s a total Parker, just like I was. Her parents only come to Parents’ Weekend for show.”
“Honey, I still don’t feel comfortable withholding that information. Why don’t we call PG or Connie and ask if one of them bought the bus ticket? If so, then she’ll know where Jamie went. If not, that’s the end of it.”
“I don’t want to.” Anna pursed her lips. “I don’t want to start calling those girls. Please don’t make me. PG and Connie weren’t friendly to me anyway. They’re mean girls, straight up.” Anna’s eyes started to well up. “Mom, I really wish you hadn’t gone in my room. This is my business.”
Noah interjected, “Anna, what you’re saying would make sense if this was the only note, but it wasn’t. There were others.”
Maggie stiffened. Noah had just busted her.
Anna’s head swiveled to Maggie. “What’s he talking about? How does he know that?”
Maggie felt stricken. “I did find some other notes—”
“What, did you search my room?” Anna jumped to her feet, wounded. “Why would you do that?”
“No, I didn’t search your room. I looked in your textbooks, concerned about Jamie.”
Noah interjected, “Anna, we weren’t born yesterday. You must know where Jamie is. I don’t believe that she kept it from you to give you deniability. So why don’t you just tell us, and we can call her parents.”
“You’re accusing me of lying?” Anna grabbed her backpack and purse, then edged toward the staircase.
Maggie stood up. “Noah, Anna, wait—”
“Anna, hold on.” Noah rose. “You wouldn’t be the first person who lied to protect a friend—”
“I’m not lying, Noah! You didn’t want me here in the first place!” Anna reached the staircase and started upstairs.
“No, I just want you to tell the truth and I—”
“You’re the liar, Noah!” Anna called back, hurrying upstairs. “You’re the one who said you wanted me here and you don’t!”
Maggie went to the bottom of the stairs. “Anna, wait!”
“I’mnotthe liar, Noah!Youare!” Anna yelled from the top of the stairs, before her bedroom door slammed close.
Chapter Forty-three
Noah, After
TRIAL, DAY 5
Noah sat on the witness stand next to the enlarged picture of Anna on an easel. Nobody would believe that such a fresh face concealed a ruthless, deceitful heart, especially Maggie. They had been in the family room after Anna had run upstairs, when they’d confronted her about her missing friend, Jamie.
You called her a liar, Noah! How could you do that?
Honey, I said she was lying, I did not call her a liar. There’s a difference.
