M. Gessen

He did seem to have a reaction whenever Alan talked about his kids.

A reaction that didn't seem to be tied to the needs of the investigation.

I mean, even I was kind of stunned, but mostly I was mad.

My father texted 10 minutes before the court ended for the day, asking for a recap.

I summed up the undercover agent's testimony.

My father texted back, thank you.

I felt like I could hear that thank you.

It was the kind of thank you you say when you lose hope.

I couldn't give my father anything to make him feel better.

No excuse or explanation or even the slightest bit of understanding for Alan's actions.

Because how can you understand someone who says, our cause is just, about killing his children's mother?

I mean, what was there to understand?

A few more people took the stand.

The police detective from Concord who investigated Alan's kidnapping case, Priscilla.

The jury heard more crazy and horrible things about Alan.

Not that they needed to hear any more after the day of listening to the undercover recordings.

It seemed crazy to think that anyone could try to defend themselves in the face of, well, in the face of themselves incriminating themselves on tape over and over and over again.

But Alan, being Alan, was going to try.

That's after the break.

Many criminal defendants don't testify at their own trials.