Doubt (Caroline Auden #1) - C. E. Tobisman Page 0,91

then. That had always been the most likely reason for Annie’s behavior. And having a kid in tow must have affected Annie’s calculus, too. Without Nolan, would Annie have stayed in Los Angeles and risked her life to publish the article she had written with Dr. Heller? Or would she have run anyway? What kind of person was Annie Wong?

As Caroline sat musing about the target of her stalking, Annie emerged from the shoe store holding a red plastic bag in her right hand. The scientist clicked the lock of her trunk, which sprang open far enough for her to deposit her purchase. But rather than climbing into the car, she grabbed a canvas bag from the trunk, then turned toward the grocery store at the edge of the mall.

Annie swung her canvas bag into a shopping cart, then steered it toward the grocery store’s entrance.

When the doors of the store slid shut, Caroline exited her car and followed.

Caroline stood by the magazine rack, waiting for Annie to wend her way deeper into the grocery store. In the middle of a weekday, there were few other shoppers. As a result, Caroline could reckon Annie’s location from the sound of the shopping cart’s wheels.

When the sound had receded, Caroline put the magazine down and went to find a place to ambush Annie. Resolving that the freezer aisle was too cold and the bread zone at the front of the store was too public, Caroline settled on the vegetable section. She positioned herself beside the broccoli to wait. Cruciferous vegetables had always been her favorites. She hoped they’d be a good omen for her now. She sent a silent prayer to the other vegetable gods, just to cover her bases.

Soon, she heard the clatter of Annie’s shopping cart approaching.

Her heart rate accelerated, and her stomach fluttered like a family of frogs had taken up residence in it.

This was it. The moment when she needed to set in motion the events necessary to win the case. She could not fail.

When Annie rounded the corner, Caroline stepped in front of her.

Annie froze. Her eyes widened.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” Caroline said, holding up her hands in the age-old sign for harmlessness. “I just want to talk.”

Annie didn’t move. She watched Caroline with unblinking eyes, poised on the balls of her feet, as if ready to bolt.

“I know you’re scared,” Caroline said, pitching her voice slow and soothing and sympathetic. “I know what happened. Please just listen to me. Just for a minute.”

When Annie didn’t run, Caroline continued, “You already know about the SuperSoy case. You know about the people who got hurt. You know about the many people who are going to get hurt in the future if we don’t win this case. You know how important this is.”

Caroline took Annie’s silence as agreement.

“The problem is,” Caroline said, “the judge doesn’t believe that SuperSoy can cause kidney damage.”

“But it can,” Annie said. Her voice was soft but sure.

“I know. That’s what your article said.”

“You found it?” Annie’s eyes widened again.

“Yes. We found it, and the judge read it. But it wasn’t published. It wasn’t peer reviewed. He isn’t going to believe what it says until he talks to one of the scientists that wrote it.” Caroline paused. “That’s you, Annie. He wants to talk to you.”

“But if you found the article, then there’s no reason to . . .” Annie looked around the grocery store, her gaze suddenly frantic. “I need to go.” She took a step forward, her shopping cart forgotten.

“Wait.” Caroline stepped into Annie’s path.

At Caroline’s quick movement, Annie’s eyes flashed with panic.

“Please, just another second. Please,” Caroline said, desperation creeping into her voice. “Without you, people will die. People will be injured. It won’t stop. Ever. You’ve got to help. You’re the only one who can do this.”

“I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go. Now,” Annie said, stepping the other direction to get around Caroline.

The panic in Annie’s eyes told Caroline that if she lost Annie now, she’d never see her again. She needed to find a way to get her to listen.

“He’s Franklin’s, isn’t he?” Caroline said, remembering Nolan’s coloring and height. So different from Annie. So much like Franklin.

Annie froze again, the stillness of a prey animal descending on her again.

She met Caroline’s eyes, as if trying to divine the lawyer’s intentions.

“Yes.” Annie finally nodded, looking down.

“And the house in Santa Monica. Franklin bought that for you, didn’t he?”

Annie nodded again.

“But something happened, didn’t it? Even before Franklin