Martha lay in agony as she waited to be examined. She curled onto her side as the cramps in her stomach intensified. It was the worse pain she had felt in her life. She wished Clive was here now.
Through the pain she was aware of hushed voices around her and a cold feeling as a monitor was placed over her stomach. It seemed like hours before the doctor told her what she had already known when she was running down the steps in court, that the baby was gone.
Billy was waiting with champagne at the ready when they got back to Chambers. "Here's to the best two barristers in London," he said as he popped the cork. "And may the criminal underbelly of Nottingham give us much more work in the future."
"Beautiful speech, Billy," said Clive, glancing at Martha.
Martha smiled and excused herself. She went and sat at her desk and pretended to be working on the computer.
Sleeping with Clive had to be the stupidest thing she had ever done. She knew exactly what he was like, had seen him flirt and sleep his way through practically every woman who had passed through Chambers. Yet somehow being away from London and swept up in the excitement of the case, she'd let herself succumb. She could just hear the jokes in the clerks' room if the rest of Chambers found out.
"Did you have a nice time in Nottingham?" asked Kate, who had followed and was watching her beadily.
"Yes, well, it was a good result." said Martha tightly.
"And what about you and Clive? Don't tell me he didn't try his death row speech on you."
Martha just glared at Kate, who laughed and swept out of the room.
The doctors left Martha alone after she gave them permission to let Chambers know what had happened. Niamh came in and sat down beside her bed. "How's the baby?" she asked anxiously.
"There is no baby anymore," said Martha listlessly.
"Oh no, Martha... I'm so sorry."
Martha fingered the flowers at her bedside, the ones that had arrived from Chambers. "You should be preparing for your moot," she said suddenly.
"Don't worry about that. Do you want me to go to your place, get you some clothes?"
"Yes, please." Martha gave Niamh the keys to her flat. She thought of Rush breaking in, maybe going through her things. The thought disgusted her now. Why hadn't she gone to the police?
After Niamh had left a nurse came and helped Martha change into a hospital gown. Her clothes were soaked with blood. She tried not to look at them. She thought about Mark, sitting in a cell right now, and Emma, pregnant with his baby. She wondered if Clive had managed to get an adjournment. If she missed the rest of the trial Nick as her Junior would have to take over. He was nowhere near ready. The thoughts went round and round in her head as the physical pain gradually subsided.
The police visited Martha later in the evening and took a statement from her. She described how she had met Rush, that she had been receiving silent phone calls and believed that Rush had broken into her flat. The police were sympathetic about the miscarriage. They told her that Rush would be charged with Grievous Bodily Harm. It should be murder, thought Martha. "One more thing," she said as they were about to leave. "I know that Rush was responsible for the aggravated burglary he was acquitted for."
"If he was acquitted, there's not much we can do," said one of the officers, not unkindly.
"What if some new evidence came forward?"
"That might make a difference, but we'll be focusing on his attack on you. Don't worry, it's very unlikely he'll get bail."
Clive was waiting for Martha when she left Chambers. "Fancy a drink?"
"No, thanks. I've got a lot of work to do tonight."
"Tomorrow, then. I'll even buy you dinner."
"No, Clive."
"Look, can't we just..."
"Clive, I told you, what happened was a mistake."
"You seemed to enjoy it," he said, going on the defensive.
"It was a one-off. I'm not looking for a relationship, and neither are you. I'm sorry, Clive. Let's just forget it happened."
She could still feel his eyes on her as she turned and walked to her car.
Clive arrived back at Shoe Lane and went to get on with his work. As expected, the judge would only allow an adjournment until tomorrow. Billy had phoned the hospital and found out which ward Martha was in, but there was no other news. Clive sat at his desk and tried to prepare for the remainder of the trial. Emma being the real killer complicated things. If Mark decided to point the finger at his girlfriend he would have a whole new defence to run. He tried to concentrate on rereading the witness statements, but he couldn't focus.
After about half an hour he heard the phone ring in the next room, and Billy's voice answer. Getting up quickly, he went and stood in the doorway and listened as Billy spoke. He could tell from his expression that it wasn't good news.
"She's okay, but she's lost the baby."
Billy looked at Clive as he put the phone down.
Clive could feel everyone's eyes on him. He turned and paced back into his room before anyone could see how bright his eyes were.
So the baby was gone, the baby he had wanted Martha to get rid of to begin with. He remembered the panic he had felt when he had first realised he was the father. He could still see the hurt on Martha's face as she told him he'd lost his charm.
Grabbing his jacket off the back of his chair, he made for the door, ignoring Billy and the others as he passed.
He had to see Martha.
TBC...
