Part Seven
On the Monday morning, John arrived at court early. He still hadn't quite managed to prize the Atkins case away from Monty Everard, but Coope being the wonder that she was, had made an unauthorised photocopy of the papers which he'd been ploughing his way through all weekend. But John did have one last card up his sleeve. He hadn't wanted to use it, but nothing else had so far worked. But he wouldn't play his last hand until just before the trial was due to start, to give Monty as little time as possible to wriggle out of handing over the case. But this wasn't his immediate concern. Having been brought up to speed over the weekend as to the exact details of Lauren Atkins crime, he knew that he would more than likely have a hurt and betrayed Karen at his door before too long. He knew that Jo's ongoing concern over the last year had been that Karen wasn't fully aware of how Fenner had died, and after having acquainted himself with the facts of the case, John knew perfectly well why nobody had wanted to tell her. Jo had said that she would put George in the picture and ask her to be in the public gallery, but John felt slightly guilty for not being able to be there himself. Ever since he'd slept with Karen that night nearly fifteen months ago, they had formed an unusual though extremely strong friendship. Other than Jo, John had never had a close female friend before, the women in his life being reserved for purely sexual purposes. But Karen was different. Once they'd got the inevitable sexual attraction to each other well and truly out of the way, they had got to know each other as friends rather than lovers. They had not repeated their one sexual experience, and John was forced to admit that their friendship was far less complicated because of that. No other woman he knew, apart from Jo or George, had ever been at times more brutally honest with him, had ever listened when he needed to rant about the judiciary or his still strong urge to chase random strangers. There wasn't anything he couldn't say to Karen, nor anything she couldn't say to him, and neither would have given up the other's company for the world.
But what would she say to him when she discovered that he had been all too aware of the horrific way in which her one time lover had met his death. John could still vividly remember that day when she'd come to see him in chambers, when he asked her to explain why she hadn't reported her knowledge of Fenner's death. On that one occasion, it hadn't been the fact that Fenner had raped her that had hurt her, but the fact that she had once loved him. She had never again spoken of those feelings, but John knew they would only have been in hiding somewhere, waiting for some complete imbecile of a prosecuting barrister to force them out in to the open for cross-examination. All her feelings had been so confused with regards to Fenner, that John knew the discovery that Fenner had been buried alive would come as an enormous emotional shock to her. So, if even his last persuasive tactic didn't work on Monty Everard, he would be in the public gallery instead of or as well as George.
When Karen pulled in to the carpark in the green MG sports car, she could see that she was lucky to find a space. Half the world's press had clearly been marking out their territory since dawn, and Karen was forced to wonder from where they'd managed to dig up a jury who hadn't previously heard of this case. Yvonne's Ferrari soon slid in next to her, followed by Cassie and Roisin's car, an Audi she recognised as Nikki's, and numerous cars that she didn't. "I thought I might see you here," Karen said as Nikki walked towards her. "I think it's called poetic justice," Said Nikki in reply. "The very last person Fenner would have wanted at the trial of his killer is me, so maybe that's why I'm here, just to piss him off." Karen couldn't help seeing a sense of black humour in this, because she knew that Nikki was also there to support Yvonne. "I don't know how I'm going to stand this," Said Yvonne, coming over. "I'll probably not be wanted until next week, but because I'm a witness, they won't let me anywhere near the public gallery, and like I can support my daughter if I can't even see what they'll be putting her through." Remembering Yvonne's performance from the public gallery during Ritchie's trial, Karen privately thought this was a good idea. "You'll have me to keep you company," Put in Cassie as they all walked towards the court building. "I know," Said Yvonne. "And I'm grateful, I'd just like to actually be there." When they walked inside the Old Bailey, Cassie and Yvonne detached themselves from the group and walked towards the witness room where they'd been asked to wait until they were called, and Nikki, Karen and Roisin walked upstairs to the public gallery.
As they took their seats in the front row, Karen was reminded of when they'd all last been in court. After receiving her appeal some years before, Nikki's conviction for murder had been reduced to manslaughter, enabling her to leave prison and to make something of her life. But that hadn't been the end of it. Nikki's solicitor, who had since qualified as a barrister, had persuaded her to reappeal for her conviction to be completely removed. After much fighting with the criminal cases review commission and the home office, Nikki's conviction for manslaughter had been finally overturned, leaving her a completely free woman with not a sniff of a criminal record. "Yvonne better get used to seeing her name in print," Nikki observed as they watched the reporters battling for space at the press bench. "I think she already was," Said Karen dryly. "Every time there's been anything in the papers about Lauren's case, they always use it as an excuse to bring out Yvonne's trial, Charlie's trial and Charlie's death. She had to take out an injunction last year to keep them from surrounding her house." "I hope Cassie behaves herself when she gets in the witness box next week," Said Roisin hopefully. "I wouldn't bank on it," Said Karen. "You remember what she was like at Snowball and Ritchie's trial, and that was only from the gallery." Almost from force of habit, Nikki was scanning the faces which were assembling around them, a habit she'd clearly not relinquished since her Larkhall days. "If you turn round," She said in an undertone to Karen. "Standing by the door, you'll see a ravishingly sensational blonde who can't seem to take her eyes off you." Whipping her head in the direction of the door that led in to the gallery, Karen was more than a little surprised to see George standing as Nikki had said, her eyes fixed on Karen. Their eyes met, and locked. Karen felt a tingling along all her nerve endings, a chord that seemed to resonate throughout her entire being. The last time Karen had seen George was on the day she had accused Karen of Fenner's murder. The last time she'd had any form of communication with George was via the couple of e-mails that had been sent between them a few days after that well remembered exchange of words. Whilst Karen had usually asked after George when she'd seen Jo over the last year, she had gained far more of an insight in to what George had been up to through John. Karen had not been unduly surprised when John had explained his relationship with the two women to her. She personally thought that no man had ever had it better, and if he ever showed any signs of going back to his old ways, Karen was quick to remind him of just what he did have. Karen had long since come to the realisation that had that last battle of wills with George not been about something so serious, she almost certainly would have enjoyed it, finding an equal with whom she could exercise her verbal dexterity. John often talked to her about Jo and George, and Karen knew that it had taken a monumental change for John and George to put aside there differences long enough to realise that they still loved each other. But John had never told her what this was and Karen had never asked. Karen was forced to admit a certain curiosity where George was concerned. She had absolutely no doubt that someone as verbally ferocious as George would almost certainly transfer their fiery energy to their sex life, and knowing what she knew about John made this all the more probable. Karen wasn't sure if her memory had simply dulled the mental picture she'd had of George, but George certainly looked better today than when Karen had seen her last. George had been no less smartly dressed or well made up on that occasion, but today she seemed to have more life about her, the clear blue eyes seeming to hold a new energy, maybe even a hint of excitement. But when George became aware that Karen was looking at her, she blinked, as if to hide away that sense of nervous anticipation. Karen lifted a hand and waved. "I didn't think this was one of your usual haunts?" Karen said in greeting. "No, it's not," George said as she sat down on Karen's right. "I thought I'd come and see Jo in action," She explained, privately thinking that this must be the lamest excuse she'd ever heard and conveniently glossing over the fact that she'd seen Jo in action many times. "So, you don't still think me guilty then?" Said Karen keeping her face devoid of expression. George opened her mouth to reply, but for once not being able to think of anything to say she shut it again. "I'm only joking," Said Karen, relenting and giving George a broad smile. "Oh," George said with a slight stammer, relief washing over her. "I cringe every time I think of that day." Karen strove to reassure her. "You shouldn't," She said kindly. "I'd probably have done exactly the same had I been in your shoes." Then, turning to Nikki and Roisin who were sitting on her left, she said, "This is Nikki Wade and Roisin Connor, and this is George Channing." "How did you know I was here?" George asked, after receiving a polite smile of greeting from Nikki and Roisin. Karen grinned and gestured to Nikki. "I was informed that a ravishingly sensational blonde couldn't take her eyes off me." "Oh, I see," Said George, half laughing half blushing, and it was duly noted how flustered this made her. "How are you?" Karen asked, trying to change the subject. "Oh, I'm all right. Just about managing to keep myself out of trouble, escaping from a conviction for contempt of court by the skin of my teeth, still seeing John, but then I think you know that." "I think we've both been keeping tabs on each other through John," Said Karen with a soft smile. "Yes," Admitted George. "He told me you've got a promotion board coming up soon." "I've been a wing governor for long enough," Replied Karen. "I want to spread my wings." "I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able too." "Nothing's certain when it comes to area management," Said Karen cynically. "They're as bad as the judiciary." A distraction was then provided by the arrival of Barbara who moved along to sit between Nikki and Roisin. Her eyes ran quickly over George's face. "Nice to see you're on the right side this time," Barbara said, looking straight at George. "It is possible to live and learn," Said George, immediately putting an end to any impending argument. "Do you two know each other?" Asked Nikki. "In a manner of speaking," Replied Barbara. "Barbara had the dubious pleasure of being cross-examined by me during the Merriman/Atkins trial," Explained George. This was followed by a widening of Nikki's eyes, no doubt as a result of the many things Yvonne had said about Ritchie's barrister when they'd talked about his trial. "Oh, absolutely bloody marvelous," Karen said quietly, looking over at a woman sitting in one of the front row seats on the other side of the gallery, far enough away from them not to hear their conversation, but near enough to possibly recognise her. "Who is she?" George asked, glancing at the woman Karen was staring at. "She," Karen said slowly and deliberately. "Is Marilyn Fenner, Fenner's ex-wife. The last time I saw her was after Dockley stabbed him. It stands to reason that she's come to watch the last act so to speak." They were prevented from discussing Marilyn's appearance further by the clerk of the court calling "All rise," and by the appearance of John through the door behind the judge's bench. "His last ditch attempt must have worked," George murmured to Karen. Karen simply raised a questioning eyebrow at her. "He said that if he hadn't managed to get the case away from Monty Everard by this morning, he'd use blackmail to get the case. Whatever he had on Monty Everard must have been successful." "At least we now know that Lauren will get a fair hearing," Said Karen in relieved response. She wouldn't have trusted another Judge to be fair to an Atkins, but she knew that John would. No matter the background or the circumstances of the crime, she could always trust John to conduct a fair and open-minded trial.
On the Monday morning, John arrived at court early. He still hadn't quite managed to prize the Atkins case away from Monty Everard, but Coope being the wonder that she was, had made an unauthorised photocopy of the papers which he'd been ploughing his way through all weekend. But John did have one last card up his sleeve. He hadn't wanted to use it, but nothing else had so far worked. But he wouldn't play his last hand until just before the trial was due to start, to give Monty as little time as possible to wriggle out of handing over the case. But this wasn't his immediate concern. Having been brought up to speed over the weekend as to the exact details of Lauren Atkins crime, he knew that he would more than likely have a hurt and betrayed Karen at his door before too long. He knew that Jo's ongoing concern over the last year had been that Karen wasn't fully aware of how Fenner had died, and after having acquainted himself with the facts of the case, John knew perfectly well why nobody had wanted to tell her. Jo had said that she would put George in the picture and ask her to be in the public gallery, but John felt slightly guilty for not being able to be there himself. Ever since he'd slept with Karen that night nearly fifteen months ago, they had formed an unusual though extremely strong friendship. Other than Jo, John had never had a close female friend before, the women in his life being reserved for purely sexual purposes. But Karen was different. Once they'd got the inevitable sexual attraction to each other well and truly out of the way, they had got to know each other as friends rather than lovers. They had not repeated their one sexual experience, and John was forced to admit that their friendship was far less complicated because of that. No other woman he knew, apart from Jo or George, had ever been at times more brutally honest with him, had ever listened when he needed to rant about the judiciary or his still strong urge to chase random strangers. There wasn't anything he couldn't say to Karen, nor anything she couldn't say to him, and neither would have given up the other's company for the world.
But what would she say to him when she discovered that he had been all too aware of the horrific way in which her one time lover had met his death. John could still vividly remember that day when she'd come to see him in chambers, when he asked her to explain why she hadn't reported her knowledge of Fenner's death. On that one occasion, it hadn't been the fact that Fenner had raped her that had hurt her, but the fact that she had once loved him. She had never again spoken of those feelings, but John knew they would only have been in hiding somewhere, waiting for some complete imbecile of a prosecuting barrister to force them out in to the open for cross-examination. All her feelings had been so confused with regards to Fenner, that John knew the discovery that Fenner had been buried alive would come as an enormous emotional shock to her. So, if even his last persuasive tactic didn't work on Monty Everard, he would be in the public gallery instead of or as well as George.
When Karen pulled in to the carpark in the green MG sports car, she could see that she was lucky to find a space. Half the world's press had clearly been marking out their territory since dawn, and Karen was forced to wonder from where they'd managed to dig up a jury who hadn't previously heard of this case. Yvonne's Ferrari soon slid in next to her, followed by Cassie and Roisin's car, an Audi she recognised as Nikki's, and numerous cars that she didn't. "I thought I might see you here," Karen said as Nikki walked towards her. "I think it's called poetic justice," Said Nikki in reply. "The very last person Fenner would have wanted at the trial of his killer is me, so maybe that's why I'm here, just to piss him off." Karen couldn't help seeing a sense of black humour in this, because she knew that Nikki was also there to support Yvonne. "I don't know how I'm going to stand this," Said Yvonne, coming over. "I'll probably not be wanted until next week, but because I'm a witness, they won't let me anywhere near the public gallery, and like I can support my daughter if I can't even see what they'll be putting her through." Remembering Yvonne's performance from the public gallery during Ritchie's trial, Karen privately thought this was a good idea. "You'll have me to keep you company," Put in Cassie as they all walked towards the court building. "I know," Said Yvonne. "And I'm grateful, I'd just like to actually be there." When they walked inside the Old Bailey, Cassie and Yvonne detached themselves from the group and walked towards the witness room where they'd been asked to wait until they were called, and Nikki, Karen and Roisin walked upstairs to the public gallery.
As they took their seats in the front row, Karen was reminded of when they'd all last been in court. After receiving her appeal some years before, Nikki's conviction for murder had been reduced to manslaughter, enabling her to leave prison and to make something of her life. But that hadn't been the end of it. Nikki's solicitor, who had since qualified as a barrister, had persuaded her to reappeal for her conviction to be completely removed. After much fighting with the criminal cases review commission and the home office, Nikki's conviction for manslaughter had been finally overturned, leaving her a completely free woman with not a sniff of a criminal record. "Yvonne better get used to seeing her name in print," Nikki observed as they watched the reporters battling for space at the press bench. "I think she already was," Said Karen dryly. "Every time there's been anything in the papers about Lauren's case, they always use it as an excuse to bring out Yvonne's trial, Charlie's trial and Charlie's death. She had to take out an injunction last year to keep them from surrounding her house." "I hope Cassie behaves herself when she gets in the witness box next week," Said Roisin hopefully. "I wouldn't bank on it," Said Karen. "You remember what she was like at Snowball and Ritchie's trial, and that was only from the gallery." Almost from force of habit, Nikki was scanning the faces which were assembling around them, a habit she'd clearly not relinquished since her Larkhall days. "If you turn round," She said in an undertone to Karen. "Standing by the door, you'll see a ravishingly sensational blonde who can't seem to take her eyes off you." Whipping her head in the direction of the door that led in to the gallery, Karen was more than a little surprised to see George standing as Nikki had said, her eyes fixed on Karen. Their eyes met, and locked. Karen felt a tingling along all her nerve endings, a chord that seemed to resonate throughout her entire being. The last time Karen had seen George was on the day she had accused Karen of Fenner's murder. The last time she'd had any form of communication with George was via the couple of e-mails that had been sent between them a few days after that well remembered exchange of words. Whilst Karen had usually asked after George when she'd seen Jo over the last year, she had gained far more of an insight in to what George had been up to through John. Karen had not been unduly surprised when John had explained his relationship with the two women to her. She personally thought that no man had ever had it better, and if he ever showed any signs of going back to his old ways, Karen was quick to remind him of just what he did have. Karen had long since come to the realisation that had that last battle of wills with George not been about something so serious, she almost certainly would have enjoyed it, finding an equal with whom she could exercise her verbal dexterity. John often talked to her about Jo and George, and Karen knew that it had taken a monumental change for John and George to put aside there differences long enough to realise that they still loved each other. But John had never told her what this was and Karen had never asked. Karen was forced to admit a certain curiosity where George was concerned. She had absolutely no doubt that someone as verbally ferocious as George would almost certainly transfer their fiery energy to their sex life, and knowing what she knew about John made this all the more probable. Karen wasn't sure if her memory had simply dulled the mental picture she'd had of George, but George certainly looked better today than when Karen had seen her last. George had been no less smartly dressed or well made up on that occasion, but today she seemed to have more life about her, the clear blue eyes seeming to hold a new energy, maybe even a hint of excitement. But when George became aware that Karen was looking at her, she blinked, as if to hide away that sense of nervous anticipation. Karen lifted a hand and waved. "I didn't think this was one of your usual haunts?" Karen said in greeting. "No, it's not," George said as she sat down on Karen's right. "I thought I'd come and see Jo in action," She explained, privately thinking that this must be the lamest excuse she'd ever heard and conveniently glossing over the fact that she'd seen Jo in action many times. "So, you don't still think me guilty then?" Said Karen keeping her face devoid of expression. George opened her mouth to reply, but for once not being able to think of anything to say she shut it again. "I'm only joking," Said Karen, relenting and giving George a broad smile. "Oh," George said with a slight stammer, relief washing over her. "I cringe every time I think of that day." Karen strove to reassure her. "You shouldn't," She said kindly. "I'd probably have done exactly the same had I been in your shoes." Then, turning to Nikki and Roisin who were sitting on her left, she said, "This is Nikki Wade and Roisin Connor, and this is George Channing." "How did you know I was here?" George asked, after receiving a polite smile of greeting from Nikki and Roisin. Karen grinned and gestured to Nikki. "I was informed that a ravishingly sensational blonde couldn't take her eyes off me." "Oh, I see," Said George, half laughing half blushing, and it was duly noted how flustered this made her. "How are you?" Karen asked, trying to change the subject. "Oh, I'm all right. Just about managing to keep myself out of trouble, escaping from a conviction for contempt of court by the skin of my teeth, still seeing John, but then I think you know that." "I think we've both been keeping tabs on each other through John," Said Karen with a soft smile. "Yes," Admitted George. "He told me you've got a promotion board coming up soon." "I've been a wing governor for long enough," Replied Karen. "I want to spread my wings." "I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able too." "Nothing's certain when it comes to area management," Said Karen cynically. "They're as bad as the judiciary." A distraction was then provided by the arrival of Barbara who moved along to sit between Nikki and Roisin. Her eyes ran quickly over George's face. "Nice to see you're on the right side this time," Barbara said, looking straight at George. "It is possible to live and learn," Said George, immediately putting an end to any impending argument. "Do you two know each other?" Asked Nikki. "In a manner of speaking," Replied Barbara. "Barbara had the dubious pleasure of being cross-examined by me during the Merriman/Atkins trial," Explained George. This was followed by a widening of Nikki's eyes, no doubt as a result of the many things Yvonne had said about Ritchie's barrister when they'd talked about his trial. "Oh, absolutely bloody marvelous," Karen said quietly, looking over at a woman sitting in one of the front row seats on the other side of the gallery, far enough away from them not to hear their conversation, but near enough to possibly recognise her. "Who is she?" George asked, glancing at the woman Karen was staring at. "She," Karen said slowly and deliberately. "Is Marilyn Fenner, Fenner's ex-wife. The last time I saw her was after Dockley stabbed him. It stands to reason that she's come to watch the last act so to speak." They were prevented from discussing Marilyn's appearance further by the clerk of the court calling "All rise," and by the appearance of John through the door behind the judge's bench. "His last ditch attempt must have worked," George murmured to Karen. Karen simply raised a questioning eyebrow at her. "He said that if he hadn't managed to get the case away from Monty Everard by this morning, he'd use blackmail to get the case. Whatever he had on Monty Everard must have been successful." "At least we now know that Lauren will get a fair hearing," Said Karen in relieved response. She wouldn't have trusted another Judge to be fair to an Atkins, but she knew that John would. No matter the background or the circumstances of the crime, she could always trust John to conduct a fair and open-minded trial.