The Reichenbach Fall
A Verdict of Silence
Sat on the bench next to her friend, Rose Spencer was twitchier than she had been in months and it had nothing to do with the craving of a cigarette.
As John tried to think what they could do while the Jury was out, he noticed his friend next to him; legs crossed as the one foot on the floor tapped quickly making the leg above it bounce, arms folded in front of her as two fingers tapped her arm in time with the foot on the floor and she had the most concerned look frowned onto her face that the doctor had seen in some time, lower lip pulled between her teeth as she chewed it slightly. "Rose, are you okay?"
"Hu?" Came the un-lady like response he got as she looked to him, train of thought obviously interrupted.
Sighing, John looked her in the eye. "You are the picture of anxiety – there's obviously something wrong. What's on your mind?"
Turning to him quickly, she spoke quietly as she looked around them in paranoia. "Something's not right. Don't you think this all too easy?"
"What do you mean?" He frowned.
"I mean, he's mounted no defence, he was caught red handed and if he's found guilty his going away for a long time." She told him, seeing the concern start to work it's way onto his face too. "I mean, it's all way too easy. Even the Judge himself said you must find him guilty. There's nothing else he could be, but..."
"They have to." John told her, though her doubt was starting to creep into his mind, "There's no other way, like you say; caught red handed, no defence at all... he'd got to be guilty."
At that moment, one of the officials of the court went past, informing them that the jury was back.
John frowned deeper though, looking at his watch. "It's been six minutes!"
"Surprised it took them that long to be honest." The official said as he made his way back.
As the two friends stood, John saw that she seemed to become more and more concerned with every step back to the large room, but was at a loss as to how to help settle her nerves.
As the court settled once more the Judge spoke up, looking towards the jury who had gathered once more. "Madam Foreman, have you reached a verdict on which you all agree?"
Standing from the bench to address the Judge, the woman took a deep settling breath. "Indeed, Judge."
"Good." The Judge told them. "Then in the case of the Crown vs James Moriarty, how do you find the defendant?"
Checking her small piece of paper, the woman looked up. "We find him not guilty, your honour."
Not guilty, John thought, looking around to see if he'd misheard, but only finding everyone else doing the same. Everyone except Rose that was.
"I knew it..." She muttered to herself.
As John looked around though, his eyes fell of the defendant himself as he turned to meet the doctor's eye. "How can that be possible...?" John asked, but on getting no reply from the woman next to him, he turned to her, finding she was no longer there.
Rose had in fact been more than prepared to make a very quick exit on hearing the verdict, knowing exactly what the insane man would do as soon as he was free once more.
And she wanted to get there first.