She stood.
The judge asked her to come forward.
She came forward.
She was sworn in.
She sat in the witness chair.
Thomas’s lawyer was looking at Thomas.
Thomas was looking at the blonde woman.
The blonde woman was looking at her purse.
Mrs. Wilkes, the judge said.
Yes, Your Honor.
You were a teller at First Federal on Route 9?
For twenty-two years, yes. I retired in June.
And in April of this year, you believe you assisted a woman at your window who was conducting transactions on the account of Angela Brooks?
I assisted her four times, yes.
And you have seen a photograph of Angela Brooks?
Yes.
And the woman who came to your window?
Wasn’t this woman. No, ma’am.
She said it simply.
Directly.
In the way of someone who has thought about what they are going to say and has decided that the simplest version is the true one.
