Part Fifty One
As everyone filed out of court, Karen and George felt a similar desire to go home and simply hide from the rest of the world. For George this was impossible because she lived with Neil Houghton, and he would be wanting an update on how the trial was going, and a further assurance that Merriman and Atkins would be found not guilty. George dreaded going home. She didn't want the kind of interrogation she'd been receiving from Neil on a daily basis since she'd taken over from Brian Cantwell. She just didn't have the energy for it. She had half a mind to drive over to the university and persuade her daughter, Charlie, to come for a drink with her. It'd been a while since they'd done that, and George thought it was long overdue. This time when she fulfilled her habit of lighting a cigarette on the steps of the court, her body seemed to sag as she leaned against the wall. She was exhausted, mentally or physically she wasn't sure. She heartily regretted ever having agreed to take on this case. But then, when did she ever have a choice when it came to political dynamite like this one. It was a shock to her to realise that when Neil wanted something done, he niggled, harrassed and cajoled until he got exactly what he wanted. He didn't seem to care what she knew his efforts were gradually doing to her reputation as a barrister, he just said here's a case, I either want them off or convicted and she usually acquiesced. She usually managed to put up some sort of a fight, but he always broke through her defences in the end.
As Karen, Yvonne and the rest of them came out of the front doors, George was struck by the level of communal support and friendship that seemed to surround the six of them. Four of them had been inmates in Larkhall prison, one was a daughter of one of the four ex-cons, the sixth their former wing governor, and George had been aware of their presence in the public gallery throughout the trial. But something was a bit different today. Karen walked a little apart from them, looking almost lost. Karen's eyes met George's as she passed, in brief acknowledgement of their earlier conversation. Karen walked to her car, knowing she should talk to Yvonne, but not entirely sure what to say. She rummaged in her handbag looking for her car keys. Yvonne approached her quietly.
"Are you still hiding from me?" She asked gently. Karen looked up, finally meeting Yvonne's eyes for the first time since Ritchie had spoken out in court this morning.
"I don't know what to say," Replied Karen.
"You don't have to say anything."
"Yvonne, last night was the happiest I think I've felt in a long time."
"I know," Said Yvonne, trying to see where Karen's thoughts were headed. "It was for me too."
"I didn't expect to feel the way I do about you," Said Karen, finally letting out the thoughts that had followed her round all day. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I don't want to lose you just because I couldn't keep my legs closed once too often."
"Let's get one thing straight," Said Yvonne, her voice gentle but firm. "I hate hearing you talk about yourself like that, so please don't do it. I've known you slept with Ritchie for quite a long time now. I might not like it, but there's nothing you or I can do about that. It happened. What's more important, is that I know why it happened."
"Do you?" Asked Karen in a small voice, tears clouding her vision.
"It's obvious," Said Yvonne softly. "You did whatever you did with Ritchie to prove you still could, to prove that Fenner hadn't totally ruined something you used to enjoy. There isn't anything wrong in that."
George was watching Karen and Yvonne from where she still stood, smoking on the top step of the court. She observed that the other four women left discretely, giving the two women some much needed space. She was musing on the whole idea of an ex-con and her jailer and whether they would make a good couple or not, when John and Jo appeared, clearly arguing.
"Recalling Fenner and Karen to the stand was a complete and utter waste of time," John was insisting.
"John, you can't say that," Jo said, clearly getting in to her stride.
"Much as I hate to admit it, Fenner gave vital evidence that the jury needed to hear."
"Rubbish," Replied John. "As a prosecution witness he was a disaster from the word go."
"All's well in the nest, I see," Commented George, receiving a monumental glare from both of them.
"You have to agree with me, George," John persisted.
"Actually," Said George, flicking away her cigarette end. "I don't. James Fenner might be one of the most corrupt men I've had the displeasure of meeting, but the evidence he gave certainly didn't do the prosecution any harm. I wish I hadn't insisted on Karen Betts being recalled though." John looked at George closely.
"You look tired," He said. "Are you taking care of yourself?"
"Does he ever do the old mother hen routine on you?" George asked Jo who smiled.
"Oh, regularly," She said.
"Well, are you?" John persisted.
"As much as I ever did," George replied.
"That doesn't exactly fill me with boundless optimism," Commented John.
"I'm sorry," Said Karen.
"You've got nothing to be sorry for," Replied Yvonne, putting her arms round Karen. It'd been less than twenty four hours since they'd been so close, but it felt like a year.
"Don't push me away again," Said Yvonne, more relieved than she cared to admit that Karen was talking to her again.
"I thought I might entice our daughter out of the university library and see if she feels like a drink," Said George.
"She spends too much time in that place for the summer holidays," Replied John.
"I bet you were exactly the same," Said Jo.
"At least I didn't spend my time rescuing defenceless animals and landing them on my father at a moment's notice."
"Jo," Said George looking over at Karen and Yvonne, "I think you're about to win your bet."
As Yvonne kissed her, Karen knew this felt like coming home. Every hope she had for her own future rested in this woman who had been the catalyst which made her take that step of falling in love with a woman. They stood between the cars, arms tightly round the other, gently kissing away some of the hurt.
"Oh, to finally prove you wrong," Said Jo, the glee evident in her voice. John just stood and stared. When he'd spoken to Karen Betts over a week ago, he could have sworn she was as straight as the ruler that lived irrevocably on Coope's desk. Yet here she was, kissing and being kissed by another woman, by Yvonne Atkins.
"The world's going mad," He said.
"John darling, it's rude to stare," Said George, sounding like a stern parent when he still couldn't take his eyes off them. Jo laughed.
"Don't mind him, George," She said. "He's just encountered his first sexual anomaly."
"Women never cease to amaze me," said John, finally dragging his gaze away from Karen and Yvonne.
"Oh, that's good to know," Said Jo with a smile.
"Why would two clearly normal women suddenly decide that men aren't good enough any more?"
"Don't knock it till you've tried it, darling. Isn't that what you always told me?" If John had been in the habit of blushing, he would have been as red as a beetroot at this remark from a woman whom he'd taught many things. But John Deed didn't blush.
"So, what does he have to do now that he's lost?" Asked George, clearly hoping it was something truly awful.
"He is going to cook me a three course meal of my choice," Said Jo.
"Not a bad bargain," Said George, impressed.
"Couldn't I just take you out for a meal instead?" Asked John, looking slightly uncomfortable.
"No way," Protested Jo. "You agreed to the bet so now you have to stick to it."
"I doubt he's ever lost a bet in his life," Said George.
"I don't usually make the habit of betting on lost causes," Replied John.
"You were so certain," Said Jo, not able to resist the urge to gloat.
"Just tell me one thing," John said, ignoring her taunt. "Tell me that neither of you two are about to shatter my illusions and do the same thing." George grinned wickedly.
"That'd give you a shock, wouldn't it," She said, wondering just what his reaction would be if she did. John put an arm round both of them.
"Promise me," He cajoled. "Just to save my sanity."
"Oh, I don't know," Jo said, giving George a wink. "It might be fun."
"You really are an old dinosaur," Said George affectionately.
"You two will be the death of me," Replied John.
"I promise," Said Jo, looking him straight in the eye. George also gave him her word, though Jo was alert enough to note the fact that George didn't entirely meet his eyes.
"Thank God for that," He said, "The world really would be going mad if either of you strayed off course."
"Bloody cheek," Said George, moving out of his hold. "You're a fine one to talk about straying."
"Okay, okay," He said, holding his hands up. "I know I'm not perfect."
"Far from it," Quipped Jo, heartily glad that Karen Betts wasn't available. She was just John's type, blonde, blue-eyed, and with a very well constructed figure. As she thought of Karen, her eyes drifted over to see them both getting in to Karen's car and driving away.
"I think we were being watched," Said Yvonne as they drove out of the carpark.
"We were," Replied Karen, waiting for the lights to change. "I've a feeling they had a bet on us."
"You what?"
"I think Jo had a bet with the judge that we weren't as straight as we looked."
"Bet he got the shock of his life," Said Yvonne beginning to laugh. What they didn't know, was that Jo had wondered about the extent of their friendship even before they had themselves.
"The things the judiciary concern themselves with," Said Yvonne. "You'd think they'd have better things to do."
"It might all be over by this time tomorrow," Said Karen quietly.
"Yeah, I know. Let's hope justice prevails for once, and that Merriman gets what's coming to her."
As everyone filed out of court, Karen and George felt a similar desire to go home and simply hide from the rest of the world. For George this was impossible because she lived with Neil Houghton, and he would be wanting an update on how the trial was going, and a further assurance that Merriman and Atkins would be found not guilty. George dreaded going home. She didn't want the kind of interrogation she'd been receiving from Neil on a daily basis since she'd taken over from Brian Cantwell. She just didn't have the energy for it. She had half a mind to drive over to the university and persuade her daughter, Charlie, to come for a drink with her. It'd been a while since they'd done that, and George thought it was long overdue. This time when she fulfilled her habit of lighting a cigarette on the steps of the court, her body seemed to sag as she leaned against the wall. She was exhausted, mentally or physically she wasn't sure. She heartily regretted ever having agreed to take on this case. But then, when did she ever have a choice when it came to political dynamite like this one. It was a shock to her to realise that when Neil wanted something done, he niggled, harrassed and cajoled until he got exactly what he wanted. He didn't seem to care what she knew his efforts were gradually doing to her reputation as a barrister, he just said here's a case, I either want them off or convicted and she usually acquiesced. She usually managed to put up some sort of a fight, but he always broke through her defences in the end.
As Karen, Yvonne and the rest of them came out of the front doors, George was struck by the level of communal support and friendship that seemed to surround the six of them. Four of them had been inmates in Larkhall prison, one was a daughter of one of the four ex-cons, the sixth their former wing governor, and George had been aware of their presence in the public gallery throughout the trial. But something was a bit different today. Karen walked a little apart from them, looking almost lost. Karen's eyes met George's as she passed, in brief acknowledgement of their earlier conversation. Karen walked to her car, knowing she should talk to Yvonne, but not entirely sure what to say. She rummaged in her handbag looking for her car keys. Yvonne approached her quietly.
"Are you still hiding from me?" She asked gently. Karen looked up, finally meeting Yvonne's eyes for the first time since Ritchie had spoken out in court this morning.
"I don't know what to say," Replied Karen.
"You don't have to say anything."
"Yvonne, last night was the happiest I think I've felt in a long time."
"I know," Said Yvonne, trying to see where Karen's thoughts were headed. "It was for me too."
"I didn't expect to feel the way I do about you," Said Karen, finally letting out the thoughts that had followed her round all day. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I don't want to lose you just because I couldn't keep my legs closed once too often."
"Let's get one thing straight," Said Yvonne, her voice gentle but firm. "I hate hearing you talk about yourself like that, so please don't do it. I've known you slept with Ritchie for quite a long time now. I might not like it, but there's nothing you or I can do about that. It happened. What's more important, is that I know why it happened."
"Do you?" Asked Karen in a small voice, tears clouding her vision.
"It's obvious," Said Yvonne softly. "You did whatever you did with Ritchie to prove you still could, to prove that Fenner hadn't totally ruined something you used to enjoy. There isn't anything wrong in that."
George was watching Karen and Yvonne from where she still stood, smoking on the top step of the court. She observed that the other four women left discretely, giving the two women some much needed space. She was musing on the whole idea of an ex-con and her jailer and whether they would make a good couple or not, when John and Jo appeared, clearly arguing.
"Recalling Fenner and Karen to the stand was a complete and utter waste of time," John was insisting.
"John, you can't say that," Jo said, clearly getting in to her stride.
"Much as I hate to admit it, Fenner gave vital evidence that the jury needed to hear."
"Rubbish," Replied John. "As a prosecution witness he was a disaster from the word go."
"All's well in the nest, I see," Commented George, receiving a monumental glare from both of them.
"You have to agree with me, George," John persisted.
"Actually," Said George, flicking away her cigarette end. "I don't. James Fenner might be one of the most corrupt men I've had the displeasure of meeting, but the evidence he gave certainly didn't do the prosecution any harm. I wish I hadn't insisted on Karen Betts being recalled though." John looked at George closely.
"You look tired," He said. "Are you taking care of yourself?"
"Does he ever do the old mother hen routine on you?" George asked Jo who smiled.
"Oh, regularly," She said.
"Well, are you?" John persisted.
"As much as I ever did," George replied.
"That doesn't exactly fill me with boundless optimism," Commented John.
"I'm sorry," Said Karen.
"You've got nothing to be sorry for," Replied Yvonne, putting her arms round Karen. It'd been less than twenty four hours since they'd been so close, but it felt like a year.
"Don't push me away again," Said Yvonne, more relieved than she cared to admit that Karen was talking to her again.
"I thought I might entice our daughter out of the university library and see if she feels like a drink," Said George.
"She spends too much time in that place for the summer holidays," Replied John.
"I bet you were exactly the same," Said Jo.
"At least I didn't spend my time rescuing defenceless animals and landing them on my father at a moment's notice."
"Jo," Said George looking over at Karen and Yvonne, "I think you're about to win your bet."
As Yvonne kissed her, Karen knew this felt like coming home. Every hope she had for her own future rested in this woman who had been the catalyst which made her take that step of falling in love with a woman. They stood between the cars, arms tightly round the other, gently kissing away some of the hurt.
"Oh, to finally prove you wrong," Said Jo, the glee evident in her voice. John just stood and stared. When he'd spoken to Karen Betts over a week ago, he could have sworn she was as straight as the ruler that lived irrevocably on Coope's desk. Yet here she was, kissing and being kissed by another woman, by Yvonne Atkins.
"The world's going mad," He said.
"John darling, it's rude to stare," Said George, sounding like a stern parent when he still couldn't take his eyes off them. Jo laughed.
"Don't mind him, George," She said. "He's just encountered his first sexual anomaly."
"Women never cease to amaze me," said John, finally dragging his gaze away from Karen and Yvonne.
"Oh, that's good to know," Said Jo with a smile.
"Why would two clearly normal women suddenly decide that men aren't good enough any more?"
"Don't knock it till you've tried it, darling. Isn't that what you always told me?" If John had been in the habit of blushing, he would have been as red as a beetroot at this remark from a woman whom he'd taught many things. But John Deed didn't blush.
"So, what does he have to do now that he's lost?" Asked George, clearly hoping it was something truly awful.
"He is going to cook me a three course meal of my choice," Said Jo.
"Not a bad bargain," Said George, impressed.
"Couldn't I just take you out for a meal instead?" Asked John, looking slightly uncomfortable.
"No way," Protested Jo. "You agreed to the bet so now you have to stick to it."
"I doubt he's ever lost a bet in his life," Said George.
"I don't usually make the habit of betting on lost causes," Replied John.
"You were so certain," Said Jo, not able to resist the urge to gloat.
"Just tell me one thing," John said, ignoring her taunt. "Tell me that neither of you two are about to shatter my illusions and do the same thing." George grinned wickedly.
"That'd give you a shock, wouldn't it," She said, wondering just what his reaction would be if she did. John put an arm round both of them.
"Promise me," He cajoled. "Just to save my sanity."
"Oh, I don't know," Jo said, giving George a wink. "It might be fun."
"You really are an old dinosaur," Said George affectionately.
"You two will be the death of me," Replied John.
"I promise," Said Jo, looking him straight in the eye. George also gave him her word, though Jo was alert enough to note the fact that George didn't entirely meet his eyes.
"Thank God for that," He said, "The world really would be going mad if either of you strayed off course."
"Bloody cheek," Said George, moving out of his hold. "You're a fine one to talk about straying."
"Okay, okay," He said, holding his hands up. "I know I'm not perfect."
"Far from it," Quipped Jo, heartily glad that Karen Betts wasn't available. She was just John's type, blonde, blue-eyed, and with a very well constructed figure. As she thought of Karen, her eyes drifted over to see them both getting in to Karen's car and driving away.
"I think we were being watched," Said Yvonne as they drove out of the carpark.
"We were," Replied Karen, waiting for the lights to change. "I've a feeling they had a bet on us."
"You what?"
"I think Jo had a bet with the judge that we weren't as straight as we looked."
"Bet he got the shock of his life," Said Yvonne beginning to laugh. What they didn't know, was that Jo had wondered about the extent of their friendship even before they had themselves.
"The things the judiciary concern themselves with," Said Yvonne. "You'd think they'd have better things to do."
"It might all be over by this time tomorrow," Said Karen quietly.
"Yeah, I know. Let's hope justice prevails for once, and that Merriman gets what's coming to her."