Epilogue
Harry had no idea how long the Jury had been out. Time seemed to have dragged more than usual when waiting for a verdict. Dempsey had been released from hospital just a few days earlier when the doctors had finally deemed it safe for him to have his chest drain taken out. She just wanted to know the man who had attacked him, who it seemed was claiming responsibility for drugging her was going to prison for a long time. She sighed as Chas sat next to her.
"He's guilty."
"I know." She smiled slightly. "I know."
"Then?"
"It wasn't just him though, was it. I mean." She paused. "He was involved, no doubt about it but as you and the Boss said he isn't exactly a master criminal. He's just a lackey. Why is he protecting his boss?"
"Look." Chas sipped the tea he had bought from the Courthouse canteen as he sat opposite her. "You know as well as I do those people wont give up the ringleaders. We wish they would but."
"I know." She sighed. "Someone broke in. Drugged me and then abducted James."
"I hope you are putting that place up for sale."
"Oh yes." She smiled. "Its on the market. I don't feel safe there. Not now."
"You and Dempsey can stay with us." Chas offered. Harry smiled slightly.
She shook her head. "Thank you but we would be imposing with you and Jackie and the baby. You don't need us there." She knew he had no ideas about the nightmares both she and Dempsey had at times. "I'm back with Freddie for a while and commuting. James is staying too. But."
"Living with Dad isn't what you saw yourself doing as a grown woman."
"No, not exactly." She looked up as Spikings and Dempsey joined them. The dark haired American smiled as he took the seat next to Harry.
"So, the boss here says there is a good chance that the goon on the stand in there was paid to off me."
"Yes." Harry said. "He is on trial for that."
"Yeah and I think with Coltrane being dead it ain't gonna be him who footed the bill." Dempsey picked up his mug, staring at the dark liquid. "More like his old woman."
"His wife." Chas clarified. "She's in the States."
"Yes." Spikings stated. "She is and that is where she is staying. Doesn't mean she cannot be out for revenge for what she perceives Harry and Dempsey have done to her husband." Harry looked at her drink while she thought of his words. "Only it is still a theory. We have no evidence that Cynthia Coltrane is behind all this. And until we do."
"We just have to take whatever the Jury says." Harry looked up as the Court Officer called them back in.
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