Part Seventeen
When Karen came out of court for the second time that day, she felt like she just wanted to crawl away somewhere and hide. She couldn't believe the defense had brought up the rape allegation. So, Fenner had kept his word. All she wanted to do was to go home and talk to no-one. When she saw Yvonne waiting for her, Karen could see the dangerous glint of barely hidden rage in Yvonne's eyes.
"I can't believe he did that," Said Yvonne coming over to her. "He must have squealed to that wanker of a defense barrister."
"Oh, I've no doubt," Said Karen. "All I want to do, is to go home, drink too much, smoke too much and do nothing."
"Sounds like a good plan," Said Yvonne approvingly. They were then approached by Deed's secretary, Mrs. Cooper.
"Karen Betts?" She said, looking between the two women. "The Judge would like to see you in chambers."
Why?" Asked Karen.
"I don't know," Replied Coope. "He just asked me to find you and bring you to see him."
"do you want me to wait?" Asked Yvonne.
"No, it's okay. I don't think I'm going to be very good company this evening."
Karen followed Coope to Deed's chambers. She wondered if his request to see her had anything to do with what Cantwell had questioned her about in court. She knew baristers had a penchant for stooping sometimes as low as the criminals they represented, but she'd never before had cause to fear it. When Coope showed her in, Karen was pleasantly surprised to find Deed reading the paper and drinking tea. When he saw her he stood up and held out his hand.
"ms Betts, good of you to spare me some time." Briefly shaking his proffered hand, Karen replied,
"Please, Sir John, Karen will do. I seem to have spent the entire day being called Ms Betts."
"Then you must call me John. Would you like tea or Scotch?"
"After this afternoon," Said Karen ruefully. "A Scotch would be wonderful." Turning to Coope, he said,
"And could you try and find an ashtray." When John placed a large glass of a fine single molt in front of her, Karen said,
"I'm asuming this is about what happened in court this afternoon."
"Yes. I am clearly in the dark about too much that the defense certainly isn't, which is a situation I'd like to rectify."
"Though I shouldn't say it," Replied Karen. "Keeping people in the dark is how Atkins and Merriman do things."
"So I'm beginning to find out." Coope reappeared with the ashtray and Karen greatfully lit a cigarette.
"So, what is it you want to know?" She asked after taking a deep drag.
"I'd like to know why the allegation you made towards James Fenner wasn't taken further either by the police or by area management. After seeing you give evidence today, I have no doubt that you would only make such an allegation if such a thing had actually taken place." Slightly astounded by his clear belief in her, Karen vowed to give him all the information she could.
"I initially reported it to the police, a day or so after it happened. The policewoman I spoke to at the time said she thought there was only a fifty percent chance that the CPS would take it up. Obviously, I had to inform my boss, Neil Grayling."
"He's one of the witnesses for the prosecution, isn't he?"
"Yes. He's also one of the most spineless men I think I've ever met."
"You'll find that's a word often used to describe those who are high up in the prison service and the Lord Chancellor's department alike."
"I suspect your job is even more about politics than mine is," Said Karen, really beginning to like this man. John laughed.
"Politics and justice aren't the same thing any more. Would I be right in suggesting that it was this spineless individual who persuaded you to drop the charges against James Fenner?"
"How did you guess?" Asked Karen, surprised.
"He sounds just like someone I know from the LCD, that's all."
"He told me that he'd talked to a friend of his in the CPS, who had said off the record, that they weren't going to take up the case." John looked like he'd finally found the knot that had prevented the thread of justice from running smoothly.
"Did Neil Grayling give this friend a name?"
"Yes, I believe he called him Michael Hendry." Deed moved to the door to the outer office and said,
"Coope, could you try and find out if there's someone at the CPS called Michael Hendry?"
"The CPS is a big place, Judge," She replied.
"I don't care how long it takes you," He said, acting like a hound who refused to give up the scent. "I need to know if this person really exists, and if he does, I want to talk to him." When he returned and sat opposite Karen, she asked,
"Are you really serious about trying to find him?"
"At the very least," John replied, "He's got some explaining to do for discussing such a sensitive case with anyone other than those involved, and at the outside, he might be able to shed some light on this."
"The police did say that there was only a fifty percent chance of the CPS taking up the case, mainly because of the lack of physical evidence."
"What evidence did you actually have?"
"Other than my account of the incident, there was an allegation of sexual assault made towards Fenner by another female governor from Larkhall, plus an entire file on his misconduct with various female inmates."
"I've known the CPS take up cases for far less, which gives me reason to believe this was hushed up."
"I'd say that's a certainty, not a possibility," Said Karen, as one with more information to impart.
"I sense there's more?" Deed asked, wondering just where this was going.
"I didn't know this at the time, but I have a feeling that it was to Neil Grayling's advantage if he could persuade me to drop the charges against James Fenner. I believe he used it as something to hold over Fenner."
"This gets even worse than the goings on at the LCD, and that's saying something." Coope knocked and poked her head round the door.
"There's no-one at the CPS called Michael Hendry, Judge."
"Well, he might have left."
"I did a search on their personnel records for the last five years. Nobody with that name whatsoever."
"Thanks, Coope, and I won't ask how you managed to get access to the personnel records of the CPS."
"Best not too, Judge." When Coope had gone, Karen said,
"Wish I had a secretary like her." Deed smiled.
"yes, there isn't much Coope can't do. So, let me get this absolutely clear. You report a rape to the police, they try to put together a case and send it to the CPS. You quite rightly inform your boss, as he might have a conflict of interest. He then tells you that he has spoken to a friend in the CPS, one Michael Hendry who we now know doesn't exist, who supposedly tells him that the police and the CPS are not going to go ahead with the charge. So as not to look completely foolish, you sensibly drop the charge first, and James Fenner is off the hook, which you're telling me was the clear intention of your boss, who ought to know better."
"Something like that," Agreed Karen.
"What I want to know is," Continued John, "Who was it that Neil Grayling did speak too. It must have been someone high up or he wouldn't have been so assured of the fact that the case wouldn't be taken any further."
"Neil's always had friends in high places," Remarked Karen dryly. Coope again put her head round the door.
"Sir Ian Rochester and Lawrence James to see you, Judge."
"Tough," Was his curt response. "I'm busy."
"I have the feeling Sir Ian will insist, Judge."
"Why, what have I done this time?"
"I couldn't begin to suggest, Judge. But the rumour is, Brian Cantwell has resigned as defense barrister."
"Well, thank god for small murcies," Said John.
"That all depends who they get in his place," Added Karen.
"There couldn't possibly be anyone worse than that excuse for a human being. Thank you for being so honest with me, Karen. Do I have your permission to look in to this matter?" Karen was greatful to him for asking, as she knew he could have done so without her say so.
"Of course, Judge." As she moved towards the door, he briefly touched her shoulder.
"Such an injustice should not go unpunished," He said gently. "I will do all I can to see that at the very least, this type of cover up never happens again." The sincerity in his voice brought brief tears to her eyes. As she walked through the outer office, she saw the figures of Sir Ian Rochester and the snake-like Lawrence James. Not envying the Judge his upcoming interview one bit, she walked through the foyer and out in to the bright sun of a late August afternoon. There was air conditioning inside the old court building, and the heat hit Karen at the same time as the realisation that Neil had lied to her all those months ago. He'd given her the name and number of his supposed friend in the CPS, knowing that she had no reason not to trust his word. Feeling the anger rise in her like bile, she tugged out her mobile. When Yvonne answered, Karen said,
"Do you know a really good cure for blistering rage?"
"Yes," Said Yvonne without a second thought, "Ten swift laps of this pool, best antidote I've ever known. Why?"
"I'll tell you why later. Can I come and borrow your pool?"
"Sure. Shall I put a Scotch on ice?"
"Yes please, an extremely large one. If the defense barrister doesn't take the opportunity to make mincemeat of Grayling tomorrow, I certainly will be."
When Karen came out of court for the second time that day, she felt like she just wanted to crawl away somewhere and hide. She couldn't believe the defense had brought up the rape allegation. So, Fenner had kept his word. All she wanted to do was to go home and talk to no-one. When she saw Yvonne waiting for her, Karen could see the dangerous glint of barely hidden rage in Yvonne's eyes.
"I can't believe he did that," Said Yvonne coming over to her. "He must have squealed to that wanker of a defense barrister."
"Oh, I've no doubt," Said Karen. "All I want to do, is to go home, drink too much, smoke too much and do nothing."
"Sounds like a good plan," Said Yvonne approvingly. They were then approached by Deed's secretary, Mrs. Cooper.
"Karen Betts?" She said, looking between the two women. "The Judge would like to see you in chambers."
Why?" Asked Karen.
"I don't know," Replied Coope. "He just asked me to find you and bring you to see him."
"do you want me to wait?" Asked Yvonne.
"No, it's okay. I don't think I'm going to be very good company this evening."
Karen followed Coope to Deed's chambers. She wondered if his request to see her had anything to do with what Cantwell had questioned her about in court. She knew baristers had a penchant for stooping sometimes as low as the criminals they represented, but she'd never before had cause to fear it. When Coope showed her in, Karen was pleasantly surprised to find Deed reading the paper and drinking tea. When he saw her he stood up and held out his hand.
"ms Betts, good of you to spare me some time." Briefly shaking his proffered hand, Karen replied,
"Please, Sir John, Karen will do. I seem to have spent the entire day being called Ms Betts."
"Then you must call me John. Would you like tea or Scotch?"
"After this afternoon," Said Karen ruefully. "A Scotch would be wonderful." Turning to Coope, he said,
"And could you try and find an ashtray." When John placed a large glass of a fine single molt in front of her, Karen said,
"I'm asuming this is about what happened in court this afternoon."
"Yes. I am clearly in the dark about too much that the defense certainly isn't, which is a situation I'd like to rectify."
"Though I shouldn't say it," Replied Karen. "Keeping people in the dark is how Atkins and Merriman do things."
"So I'm beginning to find out." Coope reappeared with the ashtray and Karen greatfully lit a cigarette.
"So, what is it you want to know?" She asked after taking a deep drag.
"I'd like to know why the allegation you made towards James Fenner wasn't taken further either by the police or by area management. After seeing you give evidence today, I have no doubt that you would only make such an allegation if such a thing had actually taken place." Slightly astounded by his clear belief in her, Karen vowed to give him all the information she could.
"I initially reported it to the police, a day or so after it happened. The policewoman I spoke to at the time said she thought there was only a fifty percent chance that the CPS would take it up. Obviously, I had to inform my boss, Neil Grayling."
"He's one of the witnesses for the prosecution, isn't he?"
"Yes. He's also one of the most spineless men I think I've ever met."
"You'll find that's a word often used to describe those who are high up in the prison service and the Lord Chancellor's department alike."
"I suspect your job is even more about politics than mine is," Said Karen, really beginning to like this man. John laughed.
"Politics and justice aren't the same thing any more. Would I be right in suggesting that it was this spineless individual who persuaded you to drop the charges against James Fenner?"
"How did you guess?" Asked Karen, surprised.
"He sounds just like someone I know from the LCD, that's all."
"He told me that he'd talked to a friend of his in the CPS, who had said off the record, that they weren't going to take up the case." John looked like he'd finally found the knot that had prevented the thread of justice from running smoothly.
"Did Neil Grayling give this friend a name?"
"Yes, I believe he called him Michael Hendry." Deed moved to the door to the outer office and said,
"Coope, could you try and find out if there's someone at the CPS called Michael Hendry?"
"The CPS is a big place, Judge," She replied.
"I don't care how long it takes you," He said, acting like a hound who refused to give up the scent. "I need to know if this person really exists, and if he does, I want to talk to him." When he returned and sat opposite Karen, she asked,
"Are you really serious about trying to find him?"
"At the very least," John replied, "He's got some explaining to do for discussing such a sensitive case with anyone other than those involved, and at the outside, he might be able to shed some light on this."
"The police did say that there was only a fifty percent chance of the CPS taking up the case, mainly because of the lack of physical evidence."
"What evidence did you actually have?"
"Other than my account of the incident, there was an allegation of sexual assault made towards Fenner by another female governor from Larkhall, plus an entire file on his misconduct with various female inmates."
"I've known the CPS take up cases for far less, which gives me reason to believe this was hushed up."
"I'd say that's a certainty, not a possibility," Said Karen, as one with more information to impart.
"I sense there's more?" Deed asked, wondering just where this was going.
"I didn't know this at the time, but I have a feeling that it was to Neil Grayling's advantage if he could persuade me to drop the charges against James Fenner. I believe he used it as something to hold over Fenner."
"This gets even worse than the goings on at the LCD, and that's saying something." Coope knocked and poked her head round the door.
"There's no-one at the CPS called Michael Hendry, Judge."
"Well, he might have left."
"I did a search on their personnel records for the last five years. Nobody with that name whatsoever."
"Thanks, Coope, and I won't ask how you managed to get access to the personnel records of the CPS."
"Best not too, Judge." When Coope had gone, Karen said,
"Wish I had a secretary like her." Deed smiled.
"yes, there isn't much Coope can't do. So, let me get this absolutely clear. You report a rape to the police, they try to put together a case and send it to the CPS. You quite rightly inform your boss, as he might have a conflict of interest. He then tells you that he has spoken to a friend in the CPS, one Michael Hendry who we now know doesn't exist, who supposedly tells him that the police and the CPS are not going to go ahead with the charge. So as not to look completely foolish, you sensibly drop the charge first, and James Fenner is off the hook, which you're telling me was the clear intention of your boss, who ought to know better."
"Something like that," Agreed Karen.
"What I want to know is," Continued John, "Who was it that Neil Grayling did speak too. It must have been someone high up or he wouldn't have been so assured of the fact that the case wouldn't be taken any further."
"Neil's always had friends in high places," Remarked Karen dryly. Coope again put her head round the door.
"Sir Ian Rochester and Lawrence James to see you, Judge."
"Tough," Was his curt response. "I'm busy."
"I have the feeling Sir Ian will insist, Judge."
"Why, what have I done this time?"
"I couldn't begin to suggest, Judge. But the rumour is, Brian Cantwell has resigned as defense barrister."
"Well, thank god for small murcies," Said John.
"That all depends who they get in his place," Added Karen.
"There couldn't possibly be anyone worse than that excuse for a human being. Thank you for being so honest with me, Karen. Do I have your permission to look in to this matter?" Karen was greatful to him for asking, as she knew he could have done so without her say so.
"Of course, Judge." As she moved towards the door, he briefly touched her shoulder.
"Such an injustice should not go unpunished," He said gently. "I will do all I can to see that at the very least, this type of cover up never happens again." The sincerity in his voice brought brief tears to her eyes. As she walked through the outer office, she saw the figures of Sir Ian Rochester and the snake-like Lawrence James. Not envying the Judge his upcoming interview one bit, she walked through the foyer and out in to the bright sun of a late August afternoon. There was air conditioning inside the old court building, and the heat hit Karen at the same time as the realisation that Neil had lied to her all those months ago. He'd given her the name and number of his supposed friend in the CPS, knowing that she had no reason not to trust his word. Feeling the anger rise in her like bile, she tugged out her mobile. When Yvonne answered, Karen said,
"Do you know a really good cure for blistering rage?"
"Yes," Said Yvonne without a second thought, "Ten swift laps of this pool, best antidote I've ever known. Why?"
"I'll tell you why later. Can I come and borrow your pool?"
"Sure. Shall I put a Scotch on ice?"
"Yes please, an extremely large one. If the defense barrister doesn't take the opportunity to make mincemeat of Grayling tomorrow, I certainly will be."