Bad Influence- Chapter 8
The Trial- part 1 'Trial by Lawyer'
Rozi
*** Well well, here goes nothing! Another update and things are getting interesting! Well I hope so at any rate… Here is the pinnacle, the big BIG bit you've all been waiting for- so who DID kill D'mitre? Harper Lee would have a heart attack if she read this.… Please read and review peeps! I do so love an ego massage. ***
Elsa, Rex and Sam sat outside the Unseen University main hall, where the trail was to take place. It was being hastily adapted into a court house, benches were slung out, a stand for the jury and various tables and even a balcony (for the spectators) had been rigged out and hammered into place. The wizards allowed it of course, the Dean had tuned his crystal ball for himself and the other faculty to watch the trial's progression. Elsa would have given anything to watch the trial, but her father had expressly forbidden it, but even so! Surely she should be allowed to watch the trial of her own mother.
"Maybe we can sneak in with the people up in the galleries?" Said Sam helpfully.
"Yeah, no one would spot us and we'd be able to get a good view," agreed Elsa, watching the crowds entering the hall, "Rex? What's up?"
Rex looked worried, he didn't like breaking his father's rules and disobeying orders. "Oh look," said Elsa, "if they catch us, blame me okay?"
"It's not that, I'm sure dad wouldn't set rules if they weren't for our benefit and we ought to-"
"Do you want to see if our mother is sentenced for banishment or not?"
"Well yes but-"
"Then come on!"
Elsa recognised the people who were to occupy the top gallery, some of them nodded to her politely as she walked past others glared in disgust, but she had learned to either ignore them or set Rex's unstoppable politeness on them.
"Good day Mr Withecombe!" Rex waved at a vampire cloaked in a thick black hood that covered his face from the sun, he turned and smiled "Good day young Rex, Elsa and…er… your friend?"
Sam, nervous slightly of vampires, tried not to stare at the bottle he carried in his hand. It contained a thick red liquid and had a straw poking out of the top "Name's Samuel Gwilliam Oliver Vimes-Ramkin," he replied apprehensively "but most people call me Sam."
"Ah, Vimes' boy yes?"
"Yes."
"Told you 'bout vampires did he?" There was a real lack of an Uberwald accent; he sounded Morporkian "would you like a sip of this?"
Sam shook his head rapidly as the bottle was handed to him, Mr Withecombe offered it to Rex "Want some lad? Good for you."
Rex took the bottle and to Sam's horror took a sip "Rex! What the hell are you doing it's-"
Rex made a face and handed it back "Tastes a little off," he said "where did you get it?"
"That cheat All Jolson gives me the leftovers from his restaurant, charges me a fortune and it tastes fowl, but I gots to get me nutrition some how eh?"
He nodded to the other two and entered the hall with a crowd of similarly dressed vampires. Rex and Elsa followed them, Sam running behind them.
"You drank it Rex! You drank that stuff! You drank-
"Tomato juice."
Sam stared "What?"
"It was tomato juice, he gets them from All Jolson and he's a black ribboner."
Sam shook his head "But… if it was tomato juice…"
"He hasn't drunk blood, human or animal for at least ten years. He said so."
"You believe him?" Sam said, still with a mixture of disgust and disbelief on his face.
"Yes, would you lie about things like that if you were a vampire in Ankh Morpork? Especially at a time like this?"
Sam watched the back of Rex's head as he disappeared into the crowd for a moment and quickly ran after them.
Vimes sat in the front seat, watching the jury assemble and the judge ascend to his seat. There were two tables each side, one for the defendant and one for the prosecution. Vimes had been in a few trials, they were often over quickly, but he felt something was very different about this one. He looked up at the galleries and a lot of faces (some masked or covered) stared back. He looked around at the benches and saw a lot of important looking officials including guild leaders such as Dr Downey and Mrs Palm. Watchmen also were posted around the benches, Trolls, Dwarfs, Reg Shoe (who had taken a particular interest in this trial) and various other guards.
"Quite a turn out?"
Vimes turned, sitting next to him, not unexpectantly, was Lord Vetinari himself.
"Good day your Lordship, spectator or participant?" Vimes said.
"Spectator you could say, who is representing Sgt Angua?" Vetinari asked mildly.
"Carrot."
"Really? Interesting, do you think he has a case?"
"I don't know, but I think he's got something planned."
"Capital, I shall be looking forward to it."
Vimes remembered, as if he needed reminding, why he sometimes utterly despised Vetinari, but at least he could see what was going on as well he did. You had to hand it to him, he not only had his finger on the pulse; he had his whole hand clamped around the heart.
"Will Lady Sybil be joining us?" Vetinari asked.
"Yeah, in a couple of minutes she went looking for Sam."
"I see. And how's the little rascal getting on?"
"Well I believe."
"Good good."
Vimes was utterly relieved when Sybil carefully made her way to a seat next to him "Sam have you seen Sam?" She asked, nodding to the Patrician.
"No, haven't you found him?" Vimes asked.
"No, I hope he hasn't sneaked in otherwise he'll be in deep trouble," Sybil sat down "of all the people to be put on trial, Angua wouldn't have done this! She has children for Gods' sake…"
"I know, hope Carrot knows what he's doing."
"Poor man, he must have had such a tough time these past few days."
Vimes hadn't seen Carrot today, he had been in and out of the unseen university library all week, but he seemed to be confident, if not fairly sure, he had something. Just keep telling yourself that, Vimes thought, perhaps it may even come true.
Rex, Elsa and Sam made themselves comfortable on the gallery next to Violet Bottler the tooth fairy and a venerable looking vampire.
"Dad's in the front row, next to the Patrician!" hissed Sam pointing, "Mum's there to!"
"Hope they can't see us," Elsa hissed back, "otherwise we're done for."
Rex looked down at the audience "There are a lot of people here," he said amazed.
"Yeah, probably turned out to see the show," hissed Elsa angrily, "pigs."
"I'm sure it's not like that," said Rex.
"Look in the third row on the right, that woman's scoffing humbugs!" Elsa spat "They're treating it like an evening at the opera!"
"I know her, that's Lady Selachii," whispered Sam helpfully "she's a complete snob; my dad called her an 'old battle axe'."
"He's right, but that's not what I'd call her."
"Shush!" Rex hissed "they're starting!"
Sure enough the old man they'd picked to judge the trial stood up, so did everyone else and a man to the right of the judge said "All rise for the honourable Judge De Witte."
Judge Claude Witte was a judge employed from Quirm, it was decided by the Patrician, so that no one could complain of bias. He was a round, venerable old man with face like an over melted candle.
"Be seated," he rumbled, the crowd was seated, "will the prosecution please enter."
The doors at the entrance opened and in walked Zara dressed in a flattering purple suit and wearing heavy silver necklaces and earrings. Vimes felt anger boil at his insides, that garish silver jewellery was almost like wearing a sign saying 'we all know she's guilty! Will the mob form an orderly queue behind me please!' She was followed by Mrs D'mitre and Little Mike.
"What the hells is he doing here?" Sam hissed.
"Mr D'mitre was his dad," said Elsa solemnly.
"Oh," Sam settled back down.
Zara sat in her chair to the right and Mrs D'mitre settled next to her, Vimes stared and whispered to Sybil "That woman's brought her kid here!"
"Probably for sympathy."
"Well, it's working, I feel sorry for him already."
Elsa stared at Zara in the bitterest hatred she could muster, as did Sam, even Rex (though this may have been Elsa's wishful thinking) didn't give her a friendly look. He gave her a strange, calculating look that she had never seen on his face before.
The judge nodded to them and called out "And now the defendant may take her place."
The door at the back, next to where the judge sat, opened and out stepped Angua, escorted by the looming, rocky presence of Sgt Detritus. If it was possible, she looked even worse for wear than she had done. Sgt Detritus and the handcuffs clamped around her wrists were hardly necessary; she could barely stand let alone attack anyone.
She sat in the chair and looked up, her eyes were sullen and dull, whispers started all over the courts house.
Elsa wanted to cry, she had trying to be brave these last couple of days, but the sight of her mother, looking so terrible and so weak was more than she could stand. Sam's hand reached out and gripped her's tightly, she smiled at him "Thanks," she whispered. Rex put a hand on her shoulder and said quietly "It's going to be alright."
Then, Carrot followed behind Sgt. Detritus, his face unreadable but he had a strange… glow wasn't the right word… karma? There was something, the something Vimes had hoped for, about him. Elsa felt a stir of hope that ran in a current to Rex and Sam. Carrot walked to the table, a leather satchel over one shoulder and a small leather sack in the other hand. He put the satchel down on the table and the bag carefully down on the floor beside the table. There was a clink of metal.
"May I asked what the sack is about Mr Carrot?" asked Zara from the other table, her smile revealing perfect white teeth.
"Evidence," said Carrot simply.
A brief expression of curiosity and slight panic passed over Zara's face before the judge banged his hammer down ready for the trial to begin.
"I call this trial to order, the defendant stands accused of murder, to prove this she is to be proved a werewolf and therefore a dangerous creature. She is, if found guilty, then to be banished on pain of death. Does anyone have any questions before we begin?"
Zara stood up "Your honour, I am a fully paid member of the Guild of Lawyers, I have studied in my home country of Muntab and gained several degrees and I am a legal representative. However, the person chosen to represent the defendant does not have the legality to stand as the defendant's council, I call for his impeachment."
The judge looked at Carrot for a moment; a whisper stirred in the courtroom, Vimes' heart sank several phantoms. Elsa held her breath.
"Mr… Captain I should say, you are a watchman are you not? Not a lawyer," the judge said, peering over his spectacles at him, "I would have to agree with Miss Zara over there-"
"No your honour," said Carrot, "I believe my status as Sgt Angua's defence council is perfectly legal."
The judge stared "Where is your authority Captain?"
Carrot pulled a very familiar book to Vimes out of his satchel and opened it at a page book marked carefully.
"My authority lies with the Laws and Audiences of Ankh Morpork, under section 7b of the laws concerning fair trial," Carrot read "And I quote 'When the defendant is unable to find legal council in time for a trial, a close friend or spouse, if they be knowledgeable in the Laws of the city or within the legal service of the city (i.e. accountant, state leader or Watchman) may stand as legal representative for the defence. They are not, however, allowed to question their client in court or call them as a legal witness.'"
Carrot pushed the book onto the stand so that the judge could read it.
"But those laws have not been used in the city for hundreds of years, they can not have any legal standing," said Zara calmly, but Elsa's position from the top gallery could sense something about her was going into a slight dread.
"These laws have never been repealed," said Carrot coolly, "you should know that being of such legal experience."
He did not say this maliciously, but as a simple statement of fact. It would have sounded so cruel if anyone else had said it, but Carrot was not like that. The judge picked up on this, Vimes could see, as he read the book carefully. Elsa bit her lip hard and whispered "Please… please…"
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the judge nodded "Yes, you have legal standing Captain, I do apologise and Zara your request is denied."
Sam let out a little "Yes!" and Rex squeezed Elsa's hand in relief. Vimes nodded to Sybil who smiled back.
"It's a pity that man never became a lawyer eh Vimes?" whispered Vetinari.
Vimes thought about it, he would have been a damned good lawyer, but Gods help the legal system if he did. He'd give the profession a good reputation, he'd let everyone hire him! He wouldn't be very popular with the more professional members of the Guild of Lawyers.
Carrot picked up the book and sat back down in his seat; Angua turned to him and gave a weak little grin.
The judge banged his hammer for a little more quiet in the court and continued "Well then, we will begin with the Prosecution, do you have anything to say to open your case?"
Zara stood up, briefly fixing the defence with a smile, and walked to the front of the court. She moved so gracefully and so assured in her poise it was almost hypnotising to watch, yet somehow you felt afraid of what she was thinking.
"Ladies, Gentlemen and… others," she flashed a mirthful grin at the audience in the galleries "I would like to bring a dangerous woman, the defendant, to justice. She killed an innocent man in cold blood, tearing him up like a piece of meat and would gladly do it again. Only today, she threatened my client and nearly killed her! It is in the interest of the city and its residence that we pay attention to these individuals that threaten the ordinary people of Ankh Morpork. They may be perfectly harmless now, but what about when they lose control? Vampires, werewolves, ghouls? The Black Ribbon movements will not contain them forever; it is only a matter of time. We cannot allow them to share the city with us, not because of discrimination, but it is a matter of safety for our families and friends. Is that not what Watchmen are for? Yet one of these same individuals is a member of those who are supposed to protect us! Imagine that! Through this trial, we will reveal the defendant as guilty and secure the city for our future generations!"
The speech caused a wave of applause in the court, Vimes snarled, Lady Sybil's boos were drowned out in the clapping and Vimes heard various whispers of "For a foreigner she really knows what she's talking about…", "all the way from Muntab and she knows our laws! Amazing," and "she doesn't look as though she's from Muntab, I thought they were all black there?" Vimes tried to restrain himself from turning round and thumping them.
Elsa growled under her breath. How dare she say those things! Not all werewolves were like that, how dare she-
She stopped when she felt as if she was being watched; she looked down and saw Zara, her green eyes fixed on hers tightly. The smile was still there, but it looked abandoned and fake when looking into those eyes. Elsa's heart beat faster, she's seen me! But instead of saying something, Zara averted her gaze from her and turned back to the court as the applause began to die down. She walked back to the chair but did not sit down. Carrot got up, apparently undaunted by the applause, as the judge said "Do you have anything to say in this matter Captain?"
Carrot nodded "Yes your honour, I do," he said walking round to where Zara had been and stood still. He didn't move for quiet some time, he didn't say a word; there wasn't even a twitch of his face. The silence flowed uncomfortably around the courtroom, everyone desperately wanted to move out of their seats as he fixed them with his best interrogation face.
And finally, he spoke.
"I appreciate Ms Modagambi's enthusiasm; it seems she knows a lot about my client and about the laws of Ankh Morpork. However, I doubt she knows little about justice, because true justice, as I have seen through at least ten years of service as a Watchman, is often makes the wrong people very uncomfortable. The beast is not always as obvious as it seems and ridding the city of those who keep a repressed anger within themselves will probably take a long time. In fact, it would mean everyone from myself to the senior officials of the city guilds would have to leave and never come back. Everyone has an inner beast; it just manifests itself in different ways. My client is no more guilty than anyone else in this courtroom of that, however, some one in this courtroom is guilty. They know they are guilty, they know all to well, but they think that by using an innocent person to cover up for the very same crimes that they have committed that they will ultimately escape the truth and the real horror of what they did. I am here to prove that my client is innocent and that the real guilty party are not only responsible, but that they will not get away with it. Lies and deceit will only get you so far and then the truth will bounce back before you have a chance to blink."
Carrot paused and coughed "Furthermore, they have no right to accuse all those whose manifestations are more… literal than others. You assume because of some hidden beast that they all lie and cheat and commit murders, but you can be as human as can be and still resort to the behaviour of a beast, become a monster with the deepest most terrible bloodlust that anyone can even think of. In fact, that's much worse. I want this trial to be fair, and I urge the jury to think about what they're doing. They will let the real killer walk the streets, threatening the families of those who are truly without guilt. My client's daughter, my own son, my friends' children, all the future generations of the city will grow up and never learn to tame their inner monsters because those with real power were too blind to see the real monsters hidden in a crowd of those equally blinded by grief. "
Carrot nodded to the crowd and to the judge "That's all your honour, thank you."
Vimes stared, and stared as the courtroom fell into a hushed, uncomfortable silence. That's not like him, Vimes thought, that's not like him! What the hells is going on? He's not taking my advice is he? Oh Gods what have I done?
Elsa couldn't believe her father's speech, she had never heard him speak like that before and it unnerved her. She tried to read her mother's expression, but it was hidden under the tangle of her matted blonde hair.
Vimes tried to look at Angua as well, but he could not see her face either. She had always known that deep down Carrot knew how to be nasty and how to really make people uncomfortable. He knew how. He has inner beasts like a werewolf, but he knows how to use them to his bidding, he's tamed them and he's shown them that letting them out on a quick maiming spree is better than a long run and getting shot with a silver crossbow or getting a stake through the heart.
Vimes' turned to the Patrician; Vetinari had a smile so knowing, so… not smug, it was the kind of smile that knew it had met its match, it's equal and he was keen to see how this would turn out.
A small slice of cake on a regular basis is better than a big piece with a dagger in it.
Ye Gods, you have to so complicated to be so simple.
Even the judge was impressed; he coughed and broke the silence "Thank you Captain."
Elsa risked a glance at Zara, the smile had gone and her eyes glowered with a burning anger.
'She's hiding something,' Elsa thought, 'but if she was a werewolf I'd smell it, also that jewellery… that's definitely silver.'
So what was she hiding…?
Now the questioning of the accused, Angua was helped to the stand by Detritus; she sat down as carefully as she could and she lifted her head to the audience.
Detritus rumbled the Ankh Morpork version of the courtroom oath "You know dat it is a crime to tell lies in court."
"Yes."
"You promise not to lie?"
"Yes."
"Good."
The troll too a position next to her and a lance-constable removed the hand-cuffs from around her wrists.
Since the defence could not question her, she would only have to face the questionings of the prosecution. Zara stood next to the box and stared at her, meeting her eyes and not removing them "Sgt Angua, you were found next to the body, your clothes were torn and you received several burns, is this not true?"
"Yes it's true."
"The burns were from the deceased's knife were they not?"
"Yes."
"Which is made of silver?"
"Yes."
"Silver burns werewolves does it not?"
"Yes."
"Can you explain this? If you are not a werewolf then why did the silver knife burn you?"
Angua paused for a short time and said carefully, "D'mitre had a habit of heating his knives before using them, he liked to leave his marks on those who double crossed him when dealing in the dodgy weapons trade he had down the docks. He was a crook, but fancied himself as a flashy type like Crysophrase."
"And this is why it burned you?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure you are telling the whole truth Miss Angua?"
"I assure you I am telling you the truth."
"How can we be sure? There is no evidence that he is dealing anything, just a Watchman's suspicions. How about you give us your account of what happened?"
Angua began to cough and sipped a glass of water; she put it down and gathered her breath. She croakily begun her account "I was on my way to see D'mitre I admit, I was near the bridge where he was found and I was attacked. First something hit attacked me and I lay near unconscious and then something exploded, I smelt burning and I blacked out."
"So you don't remember this so-called attacker's face? How convenient."
Zara walked back to her desk and pulled out a small vile, she walked to Angua and waved it under her nose "This is the vile used on that night to create the silver bomb, it didn't save D'mitre, but it stopped you before you could kill anyone else. D'mitre knew about you didn't he? He had a collection of various anti-undead implements such as silver weapons, stakes and holy water; they did not save him from you though did they? But they certainly did damage did they not? Can you explain away how you managed to get burned by floating silver gas if you are not a werewolf?"
Angua's gaze narrowed "Anyone would get burned lungs by hot, metal gases," she spat, "if I am werewolf then why aren't I dead? Surely floating silver gases should have killed me?"
Zara's flow of questions broke for a moment, but she quickly recovered "You have an Igor do you not? They are genius healers, you look pretty worse for wear I'd have to say, he can't have been able to heal everything."
"If I was a werewolf and that bomb was silver I would have burned up completely, even Igor would have been powerless to do anything except scatter my ashes."
"Perhaps you were just lucky," said Zara coolly.
"Perhaps," Angua said meaningfully, "perhaps."
Zara changed her questioning "Tell me, why did you go to see the deceased on the night he was attacked?"
"He was threatening to blackmail me."
"What with?"
"He said that in exchange for being allowed to carry on dealing in illegal weapons and such he would not get his son Michael to get my daughter to change in front of other people."
"So you have a daughter who's a werewolf?"
"I didn't say that."
"But the deceased's son testified that he saw your daughter, Elsa I believe, 'go funny, she grew fangs and nearly killed me, screaming that she'd tear out my liver'. Can you explain this?"
"Forgive my judgement, but that boy is a little liar."
"Oh?"
"My son ain't a liar!" Shouted Ms D'mitre "He's a good boy he is!"
Angua turned to her and croaked "I have had to take him to the yard on various charges of shop-lifting, damage to property and beating up smaller children."
"That's a lie!"
"Check our records; he's a liar Ms D'mitre and a bad one at that. Captain Carrot caught him painting a message on a public statue in Peach Pie Street, he was literally caught red handed, he had red paint down his shirt and on his hands and he still protested his innocence. Another time he was holding a small child by the front of his shirt and beating him senseless, Constable Shoe arrested him, he still protested his innocence despite the fact he had the child's blood on his hands and Shoe had caught him in the act. "
"That's just circumstantial evidence," said Zara.
"Like being found unconscious next to a dead body doesn't mean that you committed the murder?"
Ms D'mitre's mouth opened and closed a few times and she sat down. Zara glared slightly and continued "But you admit that your child has a temper? She's prone to acts of violence at school, including fights according to some of her teachers."
"Aren't most children? Doesn't prove Elsa's a werewolf," said Angua "I'll admit she has to learn to control her temper better, but she is no more of a werewolf than I am."
"We have yet to prove that Sergeant," said Zara, returning the vial to her pocket "you had a motive for killing him then?"
"Yes, I did."
"I see."
"But then again, I'd imagine I'm not the only one with a motive, all the members of Crysophrase's gang were out for his head, as were some members of the Thieves Guild. Why don't you question them?"
"They could not have ripped a man to shreds."
"A troll could and you'd be amazed how… imaginative, some killers can be."
"But he could have exposed you and your daughter, would that not have been good grounds for killing him?"
"I did not want to kill him; I admit he made me angry for spreading rumours about me and Elsa being cold-blooded killers. Wouldn't you be angry if someone was spreading the same rumours about you?"
"Angry enough to kill him?"
"I have better self control than that, I was going to arrest him and bring him back to the Watch house."
"All by yourself? Why did you not bring reinforcements?"
Angua leaned back "I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself."
"Or you did not want anyone else getting involved."
"Either way, I went alone because I thought I could handle him by myself, it's not as if he's a prized fighter. He couldn't physically hurt me if he tried, but he wasn't the one who knocked me out."
"The silver bomb."
"My attacker."
Zara laughed "Its quiet convenient that you can't remember this attacker like I said."
"It's hard to remember things when you're lying on a bridge, lungs burnt out and unconscious," Angua hissed.
"But you didn't see this attacker?"
"No, it was dark."
"Oh yes?"
"If I was a werewolf I would have been able to smell who it was," Angua prompted.
"With all that silver hanging around, I doubt anyone be able to, it burnt out your lungs did it not?"
"Yes, but it would have burnt anyone's lungs, can you imagine how hot silver gas has to be before it turns into a gas? It has to be even hotter to be able to react violently enough to explode."
"But why use a silver bomb? Surely a more explosive bomb would have worked? Why use silver if you knew you weren't dealing with a werewolf?"
"To frame me."
Zara stopped and stared at her thoughtfully "Frame you? Why would anyone want to do that?"
"It's obvious using me as a way of covering up their dealings with D'mitre. The attacker used a silver bomb to make out that I was a werewolf."
"Why you in particular? Why not anyone else?"
Angua shrugged "I'm from Uberwald I admit, but so is my fellow officers Sergeant Detritus and Corporal Littlebottom and they are not werewolves, or vampires."
"But you were originally hired as a representative for the undead community?"
"Werewolves are not the undead."
"Really," asked Zara, "you know this how?"
"I lodge at Mrs Cake's in Elm Street; many werewolves there would consider being called 'undead' a bit of an insult."
"So why were you hired?"
Angua smiled "I am a good Watchman; at least I hope I am, otherwise my Commander has made some very grave promotion mistakes."
There was a ripple of laughter from the audience, Zara's face went rather sour for a moment and she resumed her questioning "What is your relationship with Captain Carrot?"
"I'm sorry?"
Elsa swallowed, she couldn't lie, but if she told people about her marriage…
"He has been a friend of mine for many years," Angua replied simply "I hardly see why this is relevant."
"Yes," the judge said, "please explain your line of questioning."
"You have a daughter Sgt Angua, as you've mentioned before, but do you not also have a son?" Zara continued.
Angua said nothing.
"And is that son not Elsa's twin brother?"
Still Angua said nothing, her expression remained calm and she said "Why is it relevant?"
"Who is Elsa's father Sergeant?"
Angua met her gaze and said "I refuse to answer this question until-"
"It is a simple question Sergeant."
There was a low whispering amongst the court which the judge hammered away and Elsa begged to the God of lost causes "Please… don't answer… please…."
"What is that on your finger Sergeant?" Zara pointed to Angua's right hand.
Angua held up her hand and showed, on her finger, a small, plain looking gold ring. Vimes' eyes widened 'Ye Gods, what the hell-'
"It's a wedding ring," said Angua.
"So you are married?"
Angua's eyes flickered towards Carrot for a moment, and she said "Yes."
"Who to?"
Angua lowered her hand and said, calmly "None of your business."
"All you have to do is answer the question; it's not going to affect the outcome of this trial in any way is it?"
Zara had got her cornered; Angua could see it in her eyes, Vimes dared not look at Carrot's face.
"I'm…" Angua began, but she faltered, trying to look for a way out of answering this question. The Judge leaned forward "You did not answer me Zara, why are you asking her these irrelevant questions?"
Zara smiled at the judge "Why is she so secretive about her children? Or her husband for that matter? Perhaps the reason is," she turned to the jury, "that she cannot reveal her husband's identity because it would connect him with her and her accused werewolf nature. She thinks that her children would then be drawn into this."
"Should we not leave them out of these proceedings? They are not accused of anything," the judge said sternly.
"But they are surely carrying werewolf genetics? They are just as dangerous as their mother," Zara turned to Angua "it is important we know. If she simply reveals the identity of the father now, we can forget about it here and now."
You bitch, thought Vimes, present company accepted, how could you?! Ye Gods this was clever, terrible but clever. Zara had pulled her trump card.
Angua paused briefly and sighed "Carrot."
"I'm sorry?" Said Zara cruelly, "we need the jury to be able to hear."
"Carrot, I married him about five years ago."
The whispers reached fever pitch, it took quite a few bangs of the hammer to finally gain silence.
"And are we to assume that he is the father of your two children?"
"Yes."
Angua was trying desperately not to show the panic that rose within her, but Gods it was hard. She couldn't even look at Carrot.
"Why were you so reluctant to answer the question sergeant?" Zara said looking round at Carrot, whose face remained wooden.
"We choose not to make a public spectacle of it because it could have interfered with our jobs."
"Surely that's a little extreme for just being a Watchman?" Said Zara "It can't be that demanding surely?"
Angua looked at her "It is Zara, I have been in the Watch for over ten years and it is that demanding."
"But surely you can work around these?"
"Yes of course we do, but I don't think it's that important," Angua said with utter conviction.
"What about the children?"
"What about them?"
"Surely they cause a few problems?"
Elsa couldn't help but feel the question was directed at her. She leaned in carefully and stared at her mother.
"Children always do, but like I said, we work around them."
"How does your husband feel about this?"
"Why don't you ask him, he is sitting right there."
"He's not the one in the witness box Sergeant," Zara leaned towards her nastily, her pearly white teeth glinting and the silver jewellery glittering like knives. Angua didn't move away from it, she turned and looked at her "He doesn't mind," she says, "we worked this out long ago."
Zara nodded "Of course you did sergeant."
Zara walked away and leaned against the table "Surely no loving mother would choose to place her career over her children?" She addressed the jury "Is it not sensible that to really care for the children she should have to look after them? If she loved her children so much then surely her job should not take precedence? I believe that she is covering something; she hasn't told us the whole truth. I will not force it out of her, I don't believe I'll need to, I'll let the jury do their duty."
Zara turned to Angua, who was giving her a look of pure hatred that hid behind a pair of clam eyes.
Vimes was horrified, Zara knew her stuff and she was the nastiest lawyer that he had ever come across. She was making Angua out to be a liar, or at least someone with something to hide. That was not going to sit with the jury. It was better than asking her directly 'Are you a werewolf?' It made the whole process of being a witness more drawn out and much more painful. Gods, I hope Carrot knows what he's going to do.
Elsa could sense her mother's panic and she could feel her own fear rising like bubbles within her. Her mother was good when cornered, but even she had limits. Especially with it concerned her children. How would Zara know how caring or not caring Angua was as a mother? She had no right to judge that! She didn't know! Elsa loved her mother deeply, she didn't mind her mother not being around that much, she understood her job and she preferred it this way anyway! After all, Angua hadn't spoilt her and Rex like Mrs D'mitre spoilt Little Mike. She would have given anything to stand up and shout something at Zara, but she had to keep down and keep quiet. Zara knew this to; Angua wasn't the only one that was a victim of Zara's slow torture, she was almost daring Elsa to stand up and let her mother see that she had been there the whole time; disobeying her mother's wishes and proving Zara right. Zara was toying with them. Like mice.
The judge nodded "Do you have anything further to say Miss Modagambi?"
Zara shook her illustrious head and said "No your honour, I have no witnesses either."
The judge's eyes widened "I see, well, I admire your confidence Miss Modagambi and you may sit down."
Zara walked around to her seat and sat down, yet another rise of whispers echoed in the hall and a few claps. Vimes saw Sybil look positively shocked and appalled; she shook her head and mumbled "What would she know about being a mother?"
Vimes wondered what was to happen next. The judge hit his hammer a few times for order and nodded to Carrot "Your turn Captain, baring in mind that you cannot question your wi- client as a witness."
As Carrot stood up, the whispers, the diluted applause and even the judge fell silent. His tall frame seemed to shadow the audience for a thoughtful moment and he walked around. Elsa bit her lip, she saw Rex trying to read his father's expression, but he was having the same trouble as she was. Sam was chanting something under his breath.
"Thank you your honour," said Carrot calmly and he knelt down by the table and pulled the bag that had made the metallic noises and put it on the table. He opened the satchel and thumbed through the documents he had, making thoughtful clicking noises with his tongue. No one even dared breathe, the suspense hung in the air like a bad smell and Carrot did not even seem to notice. He seemed to select the right papers and put them on the desk, he coughed a few times and begun "Some revelations were made I did not think were necessary to this case, but they are out of the way now, and I hope they will not dampen the jury's view on my case."
He said this perfectly reasonably, but if anyone else had said it, it would have sounded like a threat.
"I begin with my first, and only, witness; Miss Zara Modagambi."
The whispers reached fever pitch, it took the judge a very long time to get everyone to shut up. Vimes' jaw dropped to his chest and he thought 'Carrot, what the bloody hell are you playing at?!'
Elsa thought the same thing as Vimes, why question her? She would simply repeat the same things she had already said! What did Carrot think he was doing?!
Rex hissed "I think I know what he's doing."
Elsa and Sam turned to him; Elsa hissed "What is he doing? This is crazy!"
"I know it sounds crazy, but I think he's got an idea. I trust him."
"I hope he knows what he's doing," whispered Sam, "Elsa's right, she's not going to say anything new."
"Not unless Dad can ask the right questions," said Rex.
To Be Continued….
Ooooohhhh…. A twist! I'm so proud. Go me. Please review peeps! *begs*
