Part Forty One
On the Tuesday morning, Yvonne was pleased to see Barbara making her way in to the public gallery to join them.
"Babs," She said as Barbara sat down between her and Cassie. "Good to see you."
"I'm sorry I couldn't make it yesterday," Said Barbara, "But when you only work part time anyway, they're not as sympathetic about anyone taking time off."
"Don't worry," Said Yvonne, "You didn't miss anything worth seeing. Trust me."
"Wasn't Ritchie on yesterday?" Asked Barbara.
"Precisely," Was Yvonne's curt reply. Karen appeared then and sat down on Yvonne's other side, noticing that Lauren was sitting as far away from her mother as possible.
"Barbara," She said with a smile, "How're you doing?"
"Hello, Miss Betts," Said Barbara, not quite sure how to address her former wing governor.
"Karen will do," Said Karen. "I like to forget about Larkhlal as much as possible when I'm not there."
"How did it go yesterday?" Asked Barbara. Yvonne and Karen exchanged a glance, neither of them wanting to further disturb the still bleeding wounds of Ritchie's evidence.
"Not brilliantly," Was Karen's evasive reply.
When Snowball was led in to the witness box, she was wearing a short, navy blue skirt, and the tightest white top imaginable.
"Jesus," Said Yvonne, "She looks the spitting image of Dockley." Karen could certainly see the resemblance.
"I swear by all mighty god, to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth." The slow American drawl made every eye from the jury fix on her.
"That'll be the day," Muttered Barbara. John's eyes flickered over Snowball from head to foot. For someone who'd been behind bars for over twelve months, this one looked immaculate. George moved forward to address her, looking to Jo as if she'd really rather be anywhere but here.
"Ms Pilkinton," George began. "Please would you tell the court about your first day in Her Majesty's Prison Larkhall?" Snowball's eyes swept the public gallery, paying particular attention to the faces of Karen and Yvonne.
"I was given a cell on G 3, on enhanced," She began, having returned to her natural northern tones. "I was payed a visit by Principle Officer Jim Fenner." Here she switched back to the Florida drall. "He commented on my name, said it was unusual. I told him that Snowball Merriman was my professional name. He also commented on the amount of books I had with me. He suggested that I might be interested in knowing that Larkhall ran the interlibrary loan scheme."
"So, it was definitely Principle Officer Fenner who told you about the interlibrary loan scheme?" Queried George.
"Most certainly," Snowball said, the insincerity dripping from every word for those who knew her. "We talked about my possible extradition back to the states. Mr. Fenner stood close to me and put his hands on me. He said that I'd do well to achieve a good report."
"In what way did Principle Officer Fenner, put his hands on you?" George lingered over her words. Slipping in to full acting mode, Snowball ran a hand over her left breast, allowing her thumb to graze her nipple. Yvonne and Karen muttered "Bleedin Hell" and "Jesus Christ" simultaneously. John heard them.
"Yes, I quite agree," He said. "You will confine yourself to verbal descriptions, Ms Pilkinton, and I don't want to see a repetition of such behaviour in this court. Do I make myself clear?"
"Oh, crystal clear, your honour," Said Snowball, locking her burning gaze with John's. George tried to take back the reins, but feeling more and more like this blonde tart was in control.
"So, Mr. Fenner made it clear to you that if you exchanged sexual favours with him, he would give you a good progress report."
"Oh, sure," Said Snowball. "He made that perfectly clear."
"Now," Went on George. "Could you tell the court about what Principle Officer Fenner said to you concerning yvonne Atkins?" Snowball now slid back in to the northern accent that portrayed her false innocence.
"He said he had her on a tight leash, and that if I had any trouble from her, he'd have her on the end of his spike!" She put so much venom in to these last words that Karen winced. "He wanted me to spy for him, find out what Atkins was up too."
"And did you spy on Yvonne Atkins as Mr. Fenner had asked?" continued George.
"Like anyone could get near her," Replied Snowball, slipping easily back in to Florida speak. "She's like me, she keeps her thoughts all locked away where no prying eye can find them." Yvonne was so incensed at being compared to such a piece of trash, that she made a move as if to rise to her feet.
"Don't," Said Karen, grabbing hold of Yvonne's arm. "You're playing right in to her hands if you kick off." Yvonne entangled her fingers with Karen's, greatful for her calm, reassuring presence.
"And why did Yvonne Atkins reveal your true identity to the other inmates?" Asked George.
"She didn't trust me," Said Snowball, The Wigan intonation returning. "She thought I was on Fenner's side."
"And were you?" Asked George.
"No way, Ma'am," Replied Snowball, all the authenticity evaporating with her return to her slow, seductive drall. "I let him think so, because it meant he was nicer to me, like giving me the job in the library, for example. My feeding him little snippets about what Yvonne Atkins was supposedly up to was my way of keeping him sweet. It always pays to have an officer on your side. But he's the worst creep I ever met."
"And with your career that's really saying something," Murmured Yvonne.
"Ms Pilkinton, what is your relationship with your co-defendent, Ritchie Atkins?" A slow, secretive smile came over Snowball's face.
"Me and Ritchie were made for each other," She Said, the northern accent making her sound like the innocent sweetheart she wanted to be. "We met in the States. He was charm personified, couldn't get enough of me."
"And did you keep in contact with him whilst you were in prison?"
"On and off. Chose to start seeing some screw though, didn't he." There was a mixture of hurt and pure venom in Snowball's tone.
"By some screw," Said George, "I assume you mean Karen Betts."
"Oh, yeah. Stole Ritchie right from under my nose, didn't she. Couldn't wait to get her hands on him. Evil slag!"
"Ms Pilkinton, you will moderate your language when in my court room. I will not warn you again. You can little afford to be charged with contempt of court on top of everything else." George glared at John, at the same time knowing he was right.
"Now," Said George, trying to retrieve some of the situation. "Will you tell the court exactly why you tried to escape?"
"No way was I staying around to be shipped back to a cell on death row. I was only in on a drugs charge. They'd have had me extradited at the first opportunity."
"And when you were apprehended by Karen Betts, what did she say to you?"
"I was disguised as one of the nuns visiting for the open day. She said, "Oh it's prayer time for you all right, Sister Snowball, and then she snapped on the handcuffs."
"Did you believe this to be a threat against your personal safety. After all, Karen Betts was aware by this time that her lover, Ritchie Atkins, was helping you." It was Karen's turn to be slightly restrained by Yvonne as she took a breath to denounce such a ridiculous claim.
"Well, I didn't exactly think I'd be her favourite person after that," Said Snowball smugly.
"Ms Pilkinton," Went on George, "Why did you choose to return to the wing after your spell in segregation. Was this not putting your personal safety in jeopardy?"
"No," Said Snowball with all the assurance of the Hollywood actress. "I had no reason to fear my fellow inmates," She said, the Florida intonation returning with full force. "Because I hadn't perpetrated the crime that had killed their friend. Why would I want to kill someone I'd never even known. Shaz Wiley had been, ghosted I believe is the term, out of Larkhall before I arrived." Remembering only too well the almost catatonic state Denny had been in for weeks after Shaz's death, Yvonne felt a surge of rage for this self-satisfied tart's lack of emotion.
"Now, let us discuss the event which took place six weeks after the fire. Why did you take Karen Betts hostage?"
"She was the reason my escape attempt failed. She'd been screwing my man. What more reason do you want other than I was jealous and wanted to pay her back."
"Are you submitting a defense of diminished responsibility for the charge of greavous bodily harm, Ms Channing?" Asked Deed incredulously.
"Not as such, My Lord," Said George evasively, but knowing she was really treading the thin line between what he would stand and what he wouldn't.
"How did you come to shoot your co-defendent?" Asked George.
"The stupid git just had to try and save Karen Betts' miserable life," Said Snowball, the stacato Wigan speech making her sound all the more venomous. "Ritchie was trying to get the gun off me. He told me I was going too far. I was only giving her what she deserved. Always the way with a bloke though, isn't it. No matter who they sleep with, no matter how pointless it is, they still have a soft spot for them. He thought he'd try and play the hero. I didn't mean to shoot him, it was an accident. If he hadn't tried to stop me blowing that bitch's brains out, he'd still be able to walk." The court was silent for a minute or two, trying to take in what she'd said. Snowball was doing her utmost to place the blame of Ritchie's disability on Karen. Karen spared a thought to wonder at Snowball's timing. Karen and Yvonne's relationship was still in its very early stages, and Karen couldn't think of a better way to knock it on the head than Yvonne ending up blaming her for what had happened to Ritchie. George's
"No further questions, My Lord," was what eventually broke the silence. John seemed to come out of his own moment of contemplation.
"Court is adjourned until two this afternoon," He simply said.
When they'd walked downstairs, Karen turned to Yvonne.
"Do you blame me?" She asked. Yvonne stared at her.
"What kind of a dozy question is that. No, of course I don't blame you. Merriman was out to shoot somebody that day, and it just so happened that at the last minute Ritchie found his conscience. That's nobody's fault, least of all yours." Yvonne put her arms round Karen, not really caring if anyone saw them. "Listen," She said, her lips close to Karen's ear. "Ritchie made his own bed, and now he's got to lie in it. The way me and his dad brought him up might have had something to do with that, but you certainly didn't."
"Thank you," Said Karen softly. When they broke apart, Yvonne could see a soft smile dawning on Barbara's face. As they moved towards the court canteen, though no-one really felt like eating, Barbara sidled up to walk next to Yvonne.
"Are you two?" She asked, not quite sure how to describe what was clearly going on between Yvonne and Karen. Yvonne smiled and Karen said, "Something like that."
"But you don't need to broadcast it to all and sundry," Said Yvonne, knowing Barbara well enough to trust her.
"Well," Said Barbara, her smile turning in to a grin, "At least this time I don't have to play postman."
"Yeah," Agreed Yvonne with a laugh. "I'd forgotten about that." Karen looked mystified. "Remind me to enlighten you some time," Said Yvonne, not wanting Karen to find out about Helen and Nikki right this minute. As Karen moved away to find a table, Barbara said,
"I'm pleased for you." Yvonne smiled.
"Thanks, Babs. I don't know where it's going, and it feels like everyone involved in this trial is trying to tare it up before it's hardly got started, but I think it's good for both of us. Jesus, can you imagine Nikki's face if she knew I'd gone off the straight and narrow?" Barbara laughed.
"She'd think it was her lucky day," Said Barbara, hoping that Karen's and Yvonne's relationship wouldn't stray in to the territory of being as fraught as Nikki's had with Helen. She didn't think she could go through the same level of stress and anxiety with yet another couple.
On the Tuesday morning, Yvonne was pleased to see Barbara making her way in to the public gallery to join them.
"Babs," She said as Barbara sat down between her and Cassie. "Good to see you."
"I'm sorry I couldn't make it yesterday," Said Barbara, "But when you only work part time anyway, they're not as sympathetic about anyone taking time off."
"Don't worry," Said Yvonne, "You didn't miss anything worth seeing. Trust me."
"Wasn't Ritchie on yesterday?" Asked Barbara.
"Precisely," Was Yvonne's curt reply. Karen appeared then and sat down on Yvonne's other side, noticing that Lauren was sitting as far away from her mother as possible.
"Barbara," She said with a smile, "How're you doing?"
"Hello, Miss Betts," Said Barbara, not quite sure how to address her former wing governor.
"Karen will do," Said Karen. "I like to forget about Larkhlal as much as possible when I'm not there."
"How did it go yesterday?" Asked Barbara. Yvonne and Karen exchanged a glance, neither of them wanting to further disturb the still bleeding wounds of Ritchie's evidence.
"Not brilliantly," Was Karen's evasive reply.
When Snowball was led in to the witness box, she was wearing a short, navy blue skirt, and the tightest white top imaginable.
"Jesus," Said Yvonne, "She looks the spitting image of Dockley." Karen could certainly see the resemblance.
"I swear by all mighty god, to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth." The slow American drawl made every eye from the jury fix on her.
"That'll be the day," Muttered Barbara. John's eyes flickered over Snowball from head to foot. For someone who'd been behind bars for over twelve months, this one looked immaculate. George moved forward to address her, looking to Jo as if she'd really rather be anywhere but here.
"Ms Pilkinton," George began. "Please would you tell the court about your first day in Her Majesty's Prison Larkhall?" Snowball's eyes swept the public gallery, paying particular attention to the faces of Karen and Yvonne.
"I was given a cell on G 3, on enhanced," She began, having returned to her natural northern tones. "I was payed a visit by Principle Officer Jim Fenner." Here she switched back to the Florida drall. "He commented on my name, said it was unusual. I told him that Snowball Merriman was my professional name. He also commented on the amount of books I had with me. He suggested that I might be interested in knowing that Larkhall ran the interlibrary loan scheme."
"So, it was definitely Principle Officer Fenner who told you about the interlibrary loan scheme?" Queried George.
"Most certainly," Snowball said, the insincerity dripping from every word for those who knew her. "We talked about my possible extradition back to the states. Mr. Fenner stood close to me and put his hands on me. He said that I'd do well to achieve a good report."
"In what way did Principle Officer Fenner, put his hands on you?" George lingered over her words. Slipping in to full acting mode, Snowball ran a hand over her left breast, allowing her thumb to graze her nipple. Yvonne and Karen muttered "Bleedin Hell" and "Jesus Christ" simultaneously. John heard them.
"Yes, I quite agree," He said. "You will confine yourself to verbal descriptions, Ms Pilkinton, and I don't want to see a repetition of such behaviour in this court. Do I make myself clear?"
"Oh, crystal clear, your honour," Said Snowball, locking her burning gaze with John's. George tried to take back the reins, but feeling more and more like this blonde tart was in control.
"So, Mr. Fenner made it clear to you that if you exchanged sexual favours with him, he would give you a good progress report."
"Oh, sure," Said Snowball. "He made that perfectly clear."
"Now," Went on George. "Could you tell the court about what Principle Officer Fenner said to you concerning yvonne Atkins?" Snowball now slid back in to the northern accent that portrayed her false innocence.
"He said he had her on a tight leash, and that if I had any trouble from her, he'd have her on the end of his spike!" She put so much venom in to these last words that Karen winced. "He wanted me to spy for him, find out what Atkins was up too."
"And did you spy on Yvonne Atkins as Mr. Fenner had asked?" continued George.
"Like anyone could get near her," Replied Snowball, slipping easily back in to Florida speak. "She's like me, she keeps her thoughts all locked away where no prying eye can find them." Yvonne was so incensed at being compared to such a piece of trash, that she made a move as if to rise to her feet.
"Don't," Said Karen, grabbing hold of Yvonne's arm. "You're playing right in to her hands if you kick off." Yvonne entangled her fingers with Karen's, greatful for her calm, reassuring presence.
"And why did Yvonne Atkins reveal your true identity to the other inmates?" Asked George.
"She didn't trust me," Said Snowball, The Wigan intonation returning. "She thought I was on Fenner's side."
"And were you?" Asked George.
"No way, Ma'am," Replied Snowball, all the authenticity evaporating with her return to her slow, seductive drall. "I let him think so, because it meant he was nicer to me, like giving me the job in the library, for example. My feeding him little snippets about what Yvonne Atkins was supposedly up to was my way of keeping him sweet. It always pays to have an officer on your side. But he's the worst creep I ever met."
"And with your career that's really saying something," Murmured Yvonne.
"Ms Pilkinton, what is your relationship with your co-defendent, Ritchie Atkins?" A slow, secretive smile came over Snowball's face.
"Me and Ritchie were made for each other," She Said, the northern accent making her sound like the innocent sweetheart she wanted to be. "We met in the States. He was charm personified, couldn't get enough of me."
"And did you keep in contact with him whilst you were in prison?"
"On and off. Chose to start seeing some screw though, didn't he." There was a mixture of hurt and pure venom in Snowball's tone.
"By some screw," Said George, "I assume you mean Karen Betts."
"Oh, yeah. Stole Ritchie right from under my nose, didn't she. Couldn't wait to get her hands on him. Evil slag!"
"Ms Pilkinton, you will moderate your language when in my court room. I will not warn you again. You can little afford to be charged with contempt of court on top of everything else." George glared at John, at the same time knowing he was right.
"Now," Said George, trying to retrieve some of the situation. "Will you tell the court exactly why you tried to escape?"
"No way was I staying around to be shipped back to a cell on death row. I was only in on a drugs charge. They'd have had me extradited at the first opportunity."
"And when you were apprehended by Karen Betts, what did she say to you?"
"I was disguised as one of the nuns visiting for the open day. She said, "Oh it's prayer time for you all right, Sister Snowball, and then she snapped on the handcuffs."
"Did you believe this to be a threat against your personal safety. After all, Karen Betts was aware by this time that her lover, Ritchie Atkins, was helping you." It was Karen's turn to be slightly restrained by Yvonne as she took a breath to denounce such a ridiculous claim.
"Well, I didn't exactly think I'd be her favourite person after that," Said Snowball smugly.
"Ms Pilkinton," Went on George, "Why did you choose to return to the wing after your spell in segregation. Was this not putting your personal safety in jeopardy?"
"No," Said Snowball with all the assurance of the Hollywood actress. "I had no reason to fear my fellow inmates," She said, the Florida intonation returning with full force. "Because I hadn't perpetrated the crime that had killed their friend. Why would I want to kill someone I'd never even known. Shaz Wiley had been, ghosted I believe is the term, out of Larkhall before I arrived." Remembering only too well the almost catatonic state Denny had been in for weeks after Shaz's death, Yvonne felt a surge of rage for this self-satisfied tart's lack of emotion.
"Now, let us discuss the event which took place six weeks after the fire. Why did you take Karen Betts hostage?"
"She was the reason my escape attempt failed. She'd been screwing my man. What more reason do you want other than I was jealous and wanted to pay her back."
"Are you submitting a defense of diminished responsibility for the charge of greavous bodily harm, Ms Channing?" Asked Deed incredulously.
"Not as such, My Lord," Said George evasively, but knowing she was really treading the thin line between what he would stand and what he wouldn't.
"How did you come to shoot your co-defendent?" Asked George.
"The stupid git just had to try and save Karen Betts' miserable life," Said Snowball, the stacato Wigan speech making her sound all the more venomous. "Ritchie was trying to get the gun off me. He told me I was going too far. I was only giving her what she deserved. Always the way with a bloke though, isn't it. No matter who they sleep with, no matter how pointless it is, they still have a soft spot for them. He thought he'd try and play the hero. I didn't mean to shoot him, it was an accident. If he hadn't tried to stop me blowing that bitch's brains out, he'd still be able to walk." The court was silent for a minute or two, trying to take in what she'd said. Snowball was doing her utmost to place the blame of Ritchie's disability on Karen. Karen spared a thought to wonder at Snowball's timing. Karen and Yvonne's relationship was still in its very early stages, and Karen couldn't think of a better way to knock it on the head than Yvonne ending up blaming her for what had happened to Ritchie. George's
"No further questions, My Lord," was what eventually broke the silence. John seemed to come out of his own moment of contemplation.
"Court is adjourned until two this afternoon," He simply said.
When they'd walked downstairs, Karen turned to Yvonne.
"Do you blame me?" She asked. Yvonne stared at her.
"What kind of a dozy question is that. No, of course I don't blame you. Merriman was out to shoot somebody that day, and it just so happened that at the last minute Ritchie found his conscience. That's nobody's fault, least of all yours." Yvonne put her arms round Karen, not really caring if anyone saw them. "Listen," She said, her lips close to Karen's ear. "Ritchie made his own bed, and now he's got to lie in it. The way me and his dad brought him up might have had something to do with that, but you certainly didn't."
"Thank you," Said Karen softly. When they broke apart, Yvonne could see a soft smile dawning on Barbara's face. As they moved towards the court canteen, though no-one really felt like eating, Barbara sidled up to walk next to Yvonne.
"Are you two?" She asked, not quite sure how to describe what was clearly going on between Yvonne and Karen. Yvonne smiled and Karen said, "Something like that."
"But you don't need to broadcast it to all and sundry," Said Yvonne, knowing Barbara well enough to trust her.
"Well," Said Barbara, her smile turning in to a grin, "At least this time I don't have to play postman."
"Yeah," Agreed Yvonne with a laugh. "I'd forgotten about that." Karen looked mystified. "Remind me to enlighten you some time," Said Yvonne, not wanting Karen to find out about Helen and Nikki right this minute. As Karen moved away to find a table, Barbara said,
"I'm pleased for you." Yvonne smiled.
"Thanks, Babs. I don't know where it's going, and it feels like everyone involved in this trial is trying to tare it up before it's hardly got started, but I think it's good for both of us. Jesus, can you imagine Nikki's face if she knew I'd gone off the straight and narrow?" Barbara laughed.
"She'd think it was her lucky day," Said Barbara, hoping that Karen's and Yvonne's relationship wouldn't stray in to the territory of being as fraught as Nikki's had with Helen. She didn't think she could go through the same level of stress and anxiety with yet another couple.