Part One Hundred And Five
On the Thursday morning, Karen was beginning to think that she couldn't keep this up much longer. As was her duty, she'd informed Grayling of Fenner's apparent disappearance, telling him that they'd tried to contact Fenner, and that she'd even been round to Fenner's house. This obviously wasn't true, but Karen had an act to keep up. But as Grayling had said, Fenner wasn't after all breaking the law in quitting his job without a by your leave, he was simply breaking his contract and denying himself a reference. So, Karen was forced to temporarily promote Sylvia to acting Principle Officer, while she searched around for a suitable replacement. She even found herself briefly thinking of Mark and wondering if he would ever come back to work at Larkhall. But she abandoned this thought as soon as it had appeared. Any working relationship she and Mark had once had was history, never to return. His presence would only complicate matters, when they were already more than complicated enough. She didn't know where she and Yvonne could go from here. She felt like they were in limbo, their relationship temporarily on hold until something happened one way or the other. Jesus, she thought, even from the grave he's putting a spanner in the works. She was surprised, therefore, when at around eleven o'clock, her phone rang. It was Ken, to tell her that there was a man at the gate to see her.
"He says he's a high court Judge," Added Ken, "Looks too relaxed to be a judge, but there you are." Smiling ruefully, Karen said she'd be down in a minute.
As she traversed the long, winding corridors from her office down to the gate lodge, she realised that her act would have to be sharper than ever to fool this man. He was the most skilled she'd ever met at seeing behind people's defences, at gently prising out the truth. Thinking that she would deserve a long holiday abroad if she pulled this one off, she let herself through the last set of gates. She forced a broad smile on to her face.
"Hello," She said, "this is a nice surprise."
"Your officer here," John said, gesturing to Ken, "Doesn't believe I'm a high court Judge." He said this with a smile because he knew that Karen was about to put Ken right.
"Ken," Karen said, turning to him, "This is Mr. Justice Deed." Ken looked a trifle embarrassed.
"It's just you don't look like a high court judge," He said, "You look too normal." John laughed.
"Have you ever met a high court Judge," He asked.
"No Sir," Ken replied, "It's the inmates who have experience of Judges, not us officers." As Karen led John through the various sets of gates, she said,
"You've mystified him." John smiled.
"It's nice to know I look vaguely human when I'm not behind the bench." Then, taking in the utterly miserable prison decor, he said, "How on Earth do you manage to work in such drab surroundings?"
"Home Office budgets don't run to such niceties as interior design," She replied dryly.
"At least my chambers at the Old Bailey look vaguely majestic." As Karen let them in to her office, she asked her secretary to bring them some coffee.
"So," She said, sitting behind her desk and gesturing to John to take the chair opposite, "To what do I owe the pleasure."
"Well, actually, I was at a loose end," He admitted with a sheepish grin, "A trial I was overseeing collapsed because the defendant pleaded guilty and I thought it was my duty to find out if my ex-wife behaved herself during her punishment last Thursday."
"A follow up report on a whim?" Karen finished for him, her eyes twinkling.
"Yes, you could say that," He replied.
"Yes," Said Karen sardonically, "I've heard you're one for doing things on the spur of the moment."
"Dare I ask who from?" He asked, though knowing it must either be from Jo or George, or both.
"I never reveal my sources."
"You've been spending too much time with George." Karen smiled.
"Well, she certainly doesn't stand around waiting for things to happen. I saw her on Monday and I think area management are going to find themselves in hot water pretty soon."
"Good. How's it going, working with Fenner and plotting behind his back." The smile was wiped off Karen's face at the mention of Fenner's name.
"It's only what he's been doing to me since day one," She replied, trying to cover up her discomfort. "But yes, it isn't easy keeping up the act of professional tolerance when what I'd really like to do is wring his neck." She couldn't believe she'd said that. She was sat here, making light conversation with a high court Judge about wringing Fenner's neck, when he was lying somewhere, in the middle of Epping forest, his vocal cords silenced for ever.
"Is something wrong?" John asked gently, observing the rapid change of facial expression, from horror, to disgust, to fear.
"I think it's just all beginning to get to me," Said Karen, feeling that irresistible urge to confess all to this man whose trust she'd betrayed.
"I'm amazed you can keep on working with him, after everything that's happened."
"Well, with Grayling and area management refusing to give me one ounce of back up, I didn't really have any choice. If I'd left this job, Fenner would have been behind this desk in the blink of an eye, and there's no way I'd give him the satisfaction. Besides, I've had a bit of a break from him this week. He didn't turn up for work on Monday, and he hasn't been seen since." John stared at her. "We've phoned, someone's called round at his house, but no show, and as Grayling pointed out to me yesterday, Fenner isn't exactly breaking the law by quitting his job without a moment's notice." John looked thoughtful.
"Is there any possibility that he could be aware of the case you're forming against him?"
"I don't think so. But then he has seen both Jo and George inside these gates." Then, the penny dropped. "You think he's done a moonlight flit."
"Well, he does have everything to lose if he's ever found guilty. Ex-prison officers don't exactly get an easy time of it inside."
"He wouldn't," Said Karen, "Fenner's as evil as they come, but he's not stupid."
"Perhaps this time, he realises his number's up."
"But we've tried everything to find him," Went on Karen, "I even got in touch with his ex-wife yesterday."
"Fine," Said John, "I'll issue a bench warrant for his arrest. There is every possibility that he is attempting to evade the clawing hands of the justice system. If, when he's picked up, he's got a valid reason for absconding, then we'll let him go. If he hasn't, then I'll remand him in custody." Briefly thinking that she would be the one remanded in custody if and when Fenner was ever found, Karen simply said,
"Okay." Then, reaching for her ever-present cigarettes, she said, "How much have you seen of the case?"
"I haven't seen anything of it since George took over, but I saw most of what Jo had gathered together. Why?"
"Do you really think I'm doing the right thing?" Karen asked seriously.
"Yes, of course."
"I know that everything Fenner has ever done as regards virtually any woman is wrong and that he deserves to be punished for it, I absolutely endorse that. Shell Dockley, Rachel Hicks, Helen Stewart, they all deserve for Fenner to pay for what he's done to them. Maybe I'm just not sure that I do." Realising that she'd definitely said too much, she waited for his response.
"Having read the transcript of your conversation with Jo, I know that you are without doubt doing the right thing. What Fenner did to you was thoroughly, reprehensibly wrong. I know why you are questioning the validity of your particular incident, and part of you probably always will. But the facts speak for themselves. You said no, and at least morally speaking, that's all there is to it." Karen stared at him. How could this man, this wonderful, trusting, supportive man, have so much faith in her. Brief tears had risen to her eyes at his unequivocal belief in her and she rapidly attempted to blink them away.
"I'm sorry," She said, feeling a complete fool. "It's just sometimes nice to know that someone believes in me." He put out a hand, and took one of hers that was lying on top of the desk, running his thumb over the knuckles.
"You will get through this," He said gently. "George, Jo and I, will be there to help you every step of the way." Karen turned her hand over, so that she was momentarily holding his.
"Thank you," She said, hoping he would still mean it, when that inevitable day of the finding of Fenner's body eventually arrived, because arrive it would, like the Spanish train in the Chris De Burgh song, which had always carried the souls of the dead.
"Would you like to see my wing?" Karen asked, desperate to find an alternative topic of conversation. John smiled.
"Yes, I would. I can satisfy a point of curiosity I've had since the days when I was a practicing barrister." Karen reached for the phone, and rang down to the officer's room.
"G wing," Answered Sylvia abruptly, not amused to be disturbed in the middle of her tea break.
"Sylvia, where is Alison McKenzy?"
"She's still down the block. I was just on my way to bring her back. Her week's up today."
"Well, do me a favour, leave her there for a bit longer." Putting the phone down a moment later, she said, "I can do without another incident like last week." At John's raised eyebrow, she said, "didn't George tell you?"
"Didn't George tell me what?"
"That Alison McKenzy wasn't very pleased to see her and came within inches of attacking her."
"You took George in to the vicinity of Alison McKenzy? A witness whom she attempted to brow beat in court?" He said, nailing Karen with the sort of stare that made her think of Yvonne.
"No," She said patiently. "Not intentionally. I gave Fenner a direct order to keep McKenzy well out of harm's way, which he chose to disobey. George wasn't harmed in any way, I promise you. I would never have knowingly put her in any danger whatsoever."
"Good," Replied John, though he didn't look entirely convince, and Karen was forcefully introduced to the intense protectiveness he clearly still felt for his ex-wife.
As they drew closer to the wing, they could hear the random conglomerate of sounds that denoted a section of one of her Majesty's female prisons. The rattle of keys, the slamming of metal doors, the combined voices of a lot of women crammed in to a small space. When Karen let them through the last gate on to the wing, John was greeted to the sight of the association area. Looking up at the roof, he knew that George would have felt incredibly claustrophobic in here, as if everyone were looking down on her, as if everything she did was on display for all to see. As some of the women caught sight of John, a cheer rose up.
"I should have you on a tight leash in here," Said Karen, grinning broadly. At John's raised eyebrow, she said, "Fifty sex starved women, you never know your luck." He laughed, and said,
"My reputation clearly precedes me."
"Only slightly," Replied Karen. she found herself thinking that John possibly needed more looking after in this place than George had. Seeing that their wing Governor wasn't about to introduce the very good-looking stranger, the women returned to whatever they were doing, but one of them detached herself from the group around the Pool table and walked towards them. It was Denny. Walking straight up to John, she said,
"Sir, weren't you the Judge who sent Snowball down?" Not entirely sure of the reaction he would get, he said,
"Yes, I was." Denny held out a hand.
"Only, I recognised you from the picture they put in the paper after the trial. You're the only judge that's ever been worth shaking by the hand. You got justice for my Shaz, innit." For once, he was totally speechless. Holding out his own hand, he shook Denny's firmly.
"Was Sharon Wiley your?..." He didn't seem to know what word to attach to their possible relationship.
"Yeah," Replied Denny, "She was my bird, the most precious thing I ever had." Seeing that Di was beckoning to her, Karen said,
"Can I leave you with Denny for a moment? I won't be long." Following her gaze, John said,
"Of course." Keeping one eye firmly on John, who looked to be quite happy talking to Denny, Karen walked over to Di.
"Have you heard any more about Jim?" Di asked.
"No, not yet," Replied Karen, "It seems he's done a bunk." As Karen walked away, Di gestured to John and said,
"It seems our Miss Betts is going up in the world." Sylvia looked scornful.
"You might be right, Di," She said, "First Ritchie Atkins, and now a high court Judge. She'll have to start making her mind up which side of the fence she's on."
"What did Shaz look like?" Asked John, feeling more humble than he'd ever done in his life at the appreciation from this girl in front of him.
"Didn't you never see a picture of her?" Asked Denny.
"No. It's funny, but I conducted the trial of her killer, and yet never knew anything about her."
"One of the Costa Cons drew a picture of her for me. I'll go and get it." Denny was back in an instant, holding out the vibrant drawing, the purples and greens clearly portraying the dead girl's personality. John took it, and looked at the bright, mischievous face topped by short spiky hair. He thought that the age of Impressionism had moved in an interesting direction with this drawing.
"The mad colours are because she was mad," Put in Denny. "She always made me laugh, and you don't get a lot of laughs in here." When Karen returned, Denny left them and John said,
"That's the first time I've ever been congratulated by someone who actually mattered, for sending someone down." A sad smile crossed Karen's face as she watched Denny walk back to the dorm.
"Shaz Wiley was probably the happiest inmate I've ever seen. Even though she was serving three life sentences at the age of nineteen, most of the time she didn't let it get to her. I remember once when all my officers went on strike, and the inmates pretty much had to look after themselves, someone produced a guitar and she started singing Scarborough Fayre. She had the most innocently sweet voice I've ever heard. Denny was virtually catatonic for about a month after the fire." John looked around him, at the various little groups of women, most of them looking far too at home than was surely natural. Observing his survey of the way the women clearly had particular people with whom they spent their time, Karen said, "the majority of them try to make the best of it. They know they're here for a certain amount of time, but they just get on with it."
"Who are the Costa Cons?" He asked, "Denny said that it was one of them who drew the picture for her." Karen grinned and gestured to where Bev and Phil were sitting, smoking as usual.
"It was one of those two who offered George a gin and tonic," She said with a broad smile. "Not in my hearing of course, or I would have had to spin their cell."
"Yes, that's about the only thing George would tell me about her time here, that she'd been offered a gin and tonic, and that she'd met a prostitute whose son goes to public school."
"You should have seen the look on her face," Said Karen, leading John over to where the Julies were wiping down the servery.
"Wow, is he for us, Miss?" Asked Julie Saunders looking up with great interest. Karen laughed.
"No, I'm afraid not, Julie. This is Mr. Justice deed." And turning to John, she said, "This is Julie Saunders, whose son resides at Marlborough College, and this is Julie Johnston," She said, as Julie J joined them.
"Oh, I had a judge once," Said Julie J. "Tall, brown hair, wore horrible gray suits and had enormous eyebrows. All us girls used to call him Legover." John's face split in to the wickedest grin Karen had ever seen on a member of the legal profession. His posture stiffened, and he screwed his face up in to a mockery of the stiff upper lip countenance that Legover Everard always presented.
"You don't mean Legover Everard?" He said, his voice taking on an extremely accurate imitation of Mr. Justice Everard's voice.
"Yeah," Said the Julies in unison, "That's him. Why, do you know him?"
"Oh, yes," Said John, the glint of triumph evident in his face. "Everyone I know talks about him as Legover, it's a standing joke."
"Well, he'd remember us as the two Trudies," Said Julie S. "He was quite a regular at one time, wasn't he, Ju."
"Oh, yeah," Replied Julie J, "Every Thursday, eight o'clock on the dot. He used to say his wife wasn't attractive enough to get him going, but then they all say that."
"Oh, believe me," Said John, "He was telling you the truth when he said that."
"Okay, Julies," Put in Karen, thinking this really had gone far enough. But as she and John walked towards the gate leading out of the wing, he kept breaking in to spontaneous little outbursts of laughter. When they emerged from G wing, Karen said,
"I'll assume that you'll use everything you've learnt today to your maximum enjoyment?"
"You're absolutely right," Said John, "This has the potential to be the best laugh I've had in a long time, and it will without doubt give me access to the cases I take a liking to."
"Trust the Julies to have known a judge," Said Karen. Then John became serious again.
"They really are like a family in here, aren't they."
"Yes," Replied Karen, "As Tina Purvis pointed out in front of George, for some of them, in here's all the family they've got."
"And Denny, what's she in for?"
"For setting fire to her last childrens' home, because they were going to move her away from the first and only place she'd ever felt secure."
"Having seen something of what I condemn the guilty to," Said John, "Will almost certainly make a difference to my future sentencing."
"I thought it might. George said that it made her feel that what she did on a day to day basis was pretty worthless. I think you'll find her doing far more criminal work than she has done up to now." Whilst they were walking down a stretch of long, narrow corridor that was devoid of any other human beings, John stopped.
"If I'm on the bench when Fenner's case eventually comes to court, and I will make sure I am, he'll be going down for the longest stretch I can give him. From what I've read on this case, his freedom is what he values the most, the freedom to take advantage of anyone he takes a fancy to. So, in his case, prison ought to be the perfect punishment."
"What makes you so certain it'll get to court?" Asked Karen, being hit anew by the realisation that none of this would ever happen now.
"Because if it doesn't, the Attorney General will be explaining the reason why." There was so much vehemence in John's tone, that Karen inwardly flinched at the thought of his anger one day being turned on her. As she watched him drive away, she found herself mentally locking away the few brief occasions she'd spent in his company, as if to preserve them from the harsh reality that must, one day fall on her.
On the Thursday morning, Karen was beginning to think that she couldn't keep this up much longer. As was her duty, she'd informed Grayling of Fenner's apparent disappearance, telling him that they'd tried to contact Fenner, and that she'd even been round to Fenner's house. This obviously wasn't true, but Karen had an act to keep up. But as Grayling had said, Fenner wasn't after all breaking the law in quitting his job without a by your leave, he was simply breaking his contract and denying himself a reference. So, Karen was forced to temporarily promote Sylvia to acting Principle Officer, while she searched around for a suitable replacement. She even found herself briefly thinking of Mark and wondering if he would ever come back to work at Larkhall. But she abandoned this thought as soon as it had appeared. Any working relationship she and Mark had once had was history, never to return. His presence would only complicate matters, when they were already more than complicated enough. She didn't know where she and Yvonne could go from here. She felt like they were in limbo, their relationship temporarily on hold until something happened one way or the other. Jesus, she thought, even from the grave he's putting a spanner in the works. She was surprised, therefore, when at around eleven o'clock, her phone rang. It was Ken, to tell her that there was a man at the gate to see her.
"He says he's a high court Judge," Added Ken, "Looks too relaxed to be a judge, but there you are." Smiling ruefully, Karen said she'd be down in a minute.
As she traversed the long, winding corridors from her office down to the gate lodge, she realised that her act would have to be sharper than ever to fool this man. He was the most skilled she'd ever met at seeing behind people's defences, at gently prising out the truth. Thinking that she would deserve a long holiday abroad if she pulled this one off, she let herself through the last set of gates. She forced a broad smile on to her face.
"Hello," She said, "this is a nice surprise."
"Your officer here," John said, gesturing to Ken, "Doesn't believe I'm a high court Judge." He said this with a smile because he knew that Karen was about to put Ken right.
"Ken," Karen said, turning to him, "This is Mr. Justice Deed." Ken looked a trifle embarrassed.
"It's just you don't look like a high court judge," He said, "You look too normal." John laughed.
"Have you ever met a high court Judge," He asked.
"No Sir," Ken replied, "It's the inmates who have experience of Judges, not us officers." As Karen led John through the various sets of gates, she said,
"You've mystified him." John smiled.
"It's nice to know I look vaguely human when I'm not behind the bench." Then, taking in the utterly miserable prison decor, he said, "How on Earth do you manage to work in such drab surroundings?"
"Home Office budgets don't run to such niceties as interior design," She replied dryly.
"At least my chambers at the Old Bailey look vaguely majestic." As Karen let them in to her office, she asked her secretary to bring them some coffee.
"So," She said, sitting behind her desk and gesturing to John to take the chair opposite, "To what do I owe the pleasure."
"Well, actually, I was at a loose end," He admitted with a sheepish grin, "A trial I was overseeing collapsed because the defendant pleaded guilty and I thought it was my duty to find out if my ex-wife behaved herself during her punishment last Thursday."
"A follow up report on a whim?" Karen finished for him, her eyes twinkling.
"Yes, you could say that," He replied.
"Yes," Said Karen sardonically, "I've heard you're one for doing things on the spur of the moment."
"Dare I ask who from?" He asked, though knowing it must either be from Jo or George, or both.
"I never reveal my sources."
"You've been spending too much time with George." Karen smiled.
"Well, she certainly doesn't stand around waiting for things to happen. I saw her on Monday and I think area management are going to find themselves in hot water pretty soon."
"Good. How's it going, working with Fenner and plotting behind his back." The smile was wiped off Karen's face at the mention of Fenner's name.
"It's only what he's been doing to me since day one," She replied, trying to cover up her discomfort. "But yes, it isn't easy keeping up the act of professional tolerance when what I'd really like to do is wring his neck." She couldn't believe she'd said that. She was sat here, making light conversation with a high court Judge about wringing Fenner's neck, when he was lying somewhere, in the middle of Epping forest, his vocal cords silenced for ever.
"Is something wrong?" John asked gently, observing the rapid change of facial expression, from horror, to disgust, to fear.
"I think it's just all beginning to get to me," Said Karen, feeling that irresistible urge to confess all to this man whose trust she'd betrayed.
"I'm amazed you can keep on working with him, after everything that's happened."
"Well, with Grayling and area management refusing to give me one ounce of back up, I didn't really have any choice. If I'd left this job, Fenner would have been behind this desk in the blink of an eye, and there's no way I'd give him the satisfaction. Besides, I've had a bit of a break from him this week. He didn't turn up for work on Monday, and he hasn't been seen since." John stared at her. "We've phoned, someone's called round at his house, but no show, and as Grayling pointed out to me yesterday, Fenner isn't exactly breaking the law by quitting his job without a moment's notice." John looked thoughtful.
"Is there any possibility that he could be aware of the case you're forming against him?"
"I don't think so. But then he has seen both Jo and George inside these gates." Then, the penny dropped. "You think he's done a moonlight flit."
"Well, he does have everything to lose if he's ever found guilty. Ex-prison officers don't exactly get an easy time of it inside."
"He wouldn't," Said Karen, "Fenner's as evil as they come, but he's not stupid."
"Perhaps this time, he realises his number's up."
"But we've tried everything to find him," Went on Karen, "I even got in touch with his ex-wife yesterday."
"Fine," Said John, "I'll issue a bench warrant for his arrest. There is every possibility that he is attempting to evade the clawing hands of the justice system. If, when he's picked up, he's got a valid reason for absconding, then we'll let him go. If he hasn't, then I'll remand him in custody." Briefly thinking that she would be the one remanded in custody if and when Fenner was ever found, Karen simply said,
"Okay." Then, reaching for her ever-present cigarettes, she said, "How much have you seen of the case?"
"I haven't seen anything of it since George took over, but I saw most of what Jo had gathered together. Why?"
"Do you really think I'm doing the right thing?" Karen asked seriously.
"Yes, of course."
"I know that everything Fenner has ever done as regards virtually any woman is wrong and that he deserves to be punished for it, I absolutely endorse that. Shell Dockley, Rachel Hicks, Helen Stewart, they all deserve for Fenner to pay for what he's done to them. Maybe I'm just not sure that I do." Realising that she'd definitely said too much, she waited for his response.
"Having read the transcript of your conversation with Jo, I know that you are without doubt doing the right thing. What Fenner did to you was thoroughly, reprehensibly wrong. I know why you are questioning the validity of your particular incident, and part of you probably always will. But the facts speak for themselves. You said no, and at least morally speaking, that's all there is to it." Karen stared at him. How could this man, this wonderful, trusting, supportive man, have so much faith in her. Brief tears had risen to her eyes at his unequivocal belief in her and she rapidly attempted to blink them away.
"I'm sorry," She said, feeling a complete fool. "It's just sometimes nice to know that someone believes in me." He put out a hand, and took one of hers that was lying on top of the desk, running his thumb over the knuckles.
"You will get through this," He said gently. "George, Jo and I, will be there to help you every step of the way." Karen turned her hand over, so that she was momentarily holding his.
"Thank you," She said, hoping he would still mean it, when that inevitable day of the finding of Fenner's body eventually arrived, because arrive it would, like the Spanish train in the Chris De Burgh song, which had always carried the souls of the dead.
"Would you like to see my wing?" Karen asked, desperate to find an alternative topic of conversation. John smiled.
"Yes, I would. I can satisfy a point of curiosity I've had since the days when I was a practicing barrister." Karen reached for the phone, and rang down to the officer's room.
"G wing," Answered Sylvia abruptly, not amused to be disturbed in the middle of her tea break.
"Sylvia, where is Alison McKenzy?"
"She's still down the block. I was just on my way to bring her back. Her week's up today."
"Well, do me a favour, leave her there for a bit longer." Putting the phone down a moment later, she said, "I can do without another incident like last week." At John's raised eyebrow, she said, "didn't George tell you?"
"Didn't George tell me what?"
"That Alison McKenzy wasn't very pleased to see her and came within inches of attacking her."
"You took George in to the vicinity of Alison McKenzy? A witness whom she attempted to brow beat in court?" He said, nailing Karen with the sort of stare that made her think of Yvonne.
"No," She said patiently. "Not intentionally. I gave Fenner a direct order to keep McKenzy well out of harm's way, which he chose to disobey. George wasn't harmed in any way, I promise you. I would never have knowingly put her in any danger whatsoever."
"Good," Replied John, though he didn't look entirely convince, and Karen was forcefully introduced to the intense protectiveness he clearly still felt for his ex-wife.
As they drew closer to the wing, they could hear the random conglomerate of sounds that denoted a section of one of her Majesty's female prisons. The rattle of keys, the slamming of metal doors, the combined voices of a lot of women crammed in to a small space. When Karen let them through the last gate on to the wing, John was greeted to the sight of the association area. Looking up at the roof, he knew that George would have felt incredibly claustrophobic in here, as if everyone were looking down on her, as if everything she did was on display for all to see. As some of the women caught sight of John, a cheer rose up.
"I should have you on a tight leash in here," Said Karen, grinning broadly. At John's raised eyebrow, she said, "Fifty sex starved women, you never know your luck." He laughed, and said,
"My reputation clearly precedes me."
"Only slightly," Replied Karen. she found herself thinking that John possibly needed more looking after in this place than George had. Seeing that their wing Governor wasn't about to introduce the very good-looking stranger, the women returned to whatever they were doing, but one of them detached herself from the group around the Pool table and walked towards them. It was Denny. Walking straight up to John, she said,
"Sir, weren't you the Judge who sent Snowball down?" Not entirely sure of the reaction he would get, he said,
"Yes, I was." Denny held out a hand.
"Only, I recognised you from the picture they put in the paper after the trial. You're the only judge that's ever been worth shaking by the hand. You got justice for my Shaz, innit." For once, he was totally speechless. Holding out his own hand, he shook Denny's firmly.
"Was Sharon Wiley your?..." He didn't seem to know what word to attach to their possible relationship.
"Yeah," Replied Denny, "She was my bird, the most precious thing I ever had." Seeing that Di was beckoning to her, Karen said,
"Can I leave you with Denny for a moment? I won't be long." Following her gaze, John said,
"Of course." Keeping one eye firmly on John, who looked to be quite happy talking to Denny, Karen walked over to Di.
"Have you heard any more about Jim?" Di asked.
"No, not yet," Replied Karen, "It seems he's done a bunk." As Karen walked away, Di gestured to John and said,
"It seems our Miss Betts is going up in the world." Sylvia looked scornful.
"You might be right, Di," She said, "First Ritchie Atkins, and now a high court Judge. She'll have to start making her mind up which side of the fence she's on."
"What did Shaz look like?" Asked John, feeling more humble than he'd ever done in his life at the appreciation from this girl in front of him.
"Didn't you never see a picture of her?" Asked Denny.
"No. It's funny, but I conducted the trial of her killer, and yet never knew anything about her."
"One of the Costa Cons drew a picture of her for me. I'll go and get it." Denny was back in an instant, holding out the vibrant drawing, the purples and greens clearly portraying the dead girl's personality. John took it, and looked at the bright, mischievous face topped by short spiky hair. He thought that the age of Impressionism had moved in an interesting direction with this drawing.
"The mad colours are because she was mad," Put in Denny. "She always made me laugh, and you don't get a lot of laughs in here." When Karen returned, Denny left them and John said,
"That's the first time I've ever been congratulated by someone who actually mattered, for sending someone down." A sad smile crossed Karen's face as she watched Denny walk back to the dorm.
"Shaz Wiley was probably the happiest inmate I've ever seen. Even though she was serving three life sentences at the age of nineteen, most of the time she didn't let it get to her. I remember once when all my officers went on strike, and the inmates pretty much had to look after themselves, someone produced a guitar and she started singing Scarborough Fayre. She had the most innocently sweet voice I've ever heard. Denny was virtually catatonic for about a month after the fire." John looked around him, at the various little groups of women, most of them looking far too at home than was surely natural. Observing his survey of the way the women clearly had particular people with whom they spent their time, Karen said, "the majority of them try to make the best of it. They know they're here for a certain amount of time, but they just get on with it."
"Who are the Costa Cons?" He asked, "Denny said that it was one of them who drew the picture for her." Karen grinned and gestured to where Bev and Phil were sitting, smoking as usual.
"It was one of those two who offered George a gin and tonic," She said with a broad smile. "Not in my hearing of course, or I would have had to spin their cell."
"Yes, that's about the only thing George would tell me about her time here, that she'd been offered a gin and tonic, and that she'd met a prostitute whose son goes to public school."
"You should have seen the look on her face," Said Karen, leading John over to where the Julies were wiping down the servery.
"Wow, is he for us, Miss?" Asked Julie Saunders looking up with great interest. Karen laughed.
"No, I'm afraid not, Julie. This is Mr. Justice deed." And turning to John, she said, "This is Julie Saunders, whose son resides at Marlborough College, and this is Julie Johnston," She said, as Julie J joined them.
"Oh, I had a judge once," Said Julie J. "Tall, brown hair, wore horrible gray suits and had enormous eyebrows. All us girls used to call him Legover." John's face split in to the wickedest grin Karen had ever seen on a member of the legal profession. His posture stiffened, and he screwed his face up in to a mockery of the stiff upper lip countenance that Legover Everard always presented.
"You don't mean Legover Everard?" He said, his voice taking on an extremely accurate imitation of Mr. Justice Everard's voice.
"Yeah," Said the Julies in unison, "That's him. Why, do you know him?"
"Oh, yes," Said John, the glint of triumph evident in his face. "Everyone I know talks about him as Legover, it's a standing joke."
"Well, he'd remember us as the two Trudies," Said Julie S. "He was quite a regular at one time, wasn't he, Ju."
"Oh, yeah," Replied Julie J, "Every Thursday, eight o'clock on the dot. He used to say his wife wasn't attractive enough to get him going, but then they all say that."
"Oh, believe me," Said John, "He was telling you the truth when he said that."
"Okay, Julies," Put in Karen, thinking this really had gone far enough. But as she and John walked towards the gate leading out of the wing, he kept breaking in to spontaneous little outbursts of laughter. When they emerged from G wing, Karen said,
"I'll assume that you'll use everything you've learnt today to your maximum enjoyment?"
"You're absolutely right," Said John, "This has the potential to be the best laugh I've had in a long time, and it will without doubt give me access to the cases I take a liking to."
"Trust the Julies to have known a judge," Said Karen. Then John became serious again.
"They really are like a family in here, aren't they."
"Yes," Replied Karen, "As Tina Purvis pointed out in front of George, for some of them, in here's all the family they've got."
"And Denny, what's she in for?"
"For setting fire to her last childrens' home, because they were going to move her away from the first and only place she'd ever felt secure."
"Having seen something of what I condemn the guilty to," Said John, "Will almost certainly make a difference to my future sentencing."
"I thought it might. George said that it made her feel that what she did on a day to day basis was pretty worthless. I think you'll find her doing far more criminal work than she has done up to now." Whilst they were walking down a stretch of long, narrow corridor that was devoid of any other human beings, John stopped.
"If I'm on the bench when Fenner's case eventually comes to court, and I will make sure I am, he'll be going down for the longest stretch I can give him. From what I've read on this case, his freedom is what he values the most, the freedom to take advantage of anyone he takes a fancy to. So, in his case, prison ought to be the perfect punishment."
"What makes you so certain it'll get to court?" Asked Karen, being hit anew by the realisation that none of this would ever happen now.
"Because if it doesn't, the Attorney General will be explaining the reason why." There was so much vehemence in John's tone, that Karen inwardly flinched at the thought of his anger one day being turned on her. As she watched him drive away, she found herself mentally locking away the few brief occasions she'd spent in his company, as if to preserve them from the harsh reality that must, one day fall on her.