Sir Ian and Lawrence James shot to their feet and clattered out of the visitor's gallery. They moved in much more of a flurry of haste than mandarins were apt to display in public. They marched down the staircase, tight lipped. They had their own agenda to pursue.
"Jesus Helen, you were really pushing it." Yvonne exclaimed in astonishment at the sight of the former Miss Stewart defying authority so blatently. "You're lucky to still be here. George would have been banged up for less."
"I don't care, Yvonne. She had it coming to her for a long long time."
"What do you mean, Helen?" Karen asked quietly. She had heard scattered fragments of the story about Carol Byatt but never anything from Helen despite their renewed friendship.
"It all happened before your time, Karen. You heard the bare facts as to what happened. Well, I went to see Carol in hospital and then asked Sylvia for her side of the story. It doesn't take rocket science to work out that she lied through her teeth and, of course, Jim Fenner backed her up. Rightly or wrongly, I called for a full wing meeting to show that I cared and I tried to reassure everyone that Carol was fine and that there would be a thorough investigation. When it came to the crunch to tell the wing what I would do about it, both of those bastards just looked at me, daring me to let down the prison officers. Out of stupid, foolish loyalty to them, I denied what I knew in my heart but had no proof of. Nikki was there and she hit the roof and told me that we should all be sacked and that Carol nearly bled to death"
"Just what you told the court today, Helen." Came Yvonne's incredibly tender voice. She could tell how haunted Helen was by the memory of doing the wrong thing despite her best intentions.
"That memory has haunted me and, to tell you the truth, the reason why I was dead against Nikki taking on G Wing"
"But Nikki's learnt from what you have told her and what she's seen with her own eyes. She's not the woman you were." Karen said softly while Roisin and Cassie hovered protectively around her.
"That's what I worked out after a lot of soul searching. At first, logic went clean out the window compared to what I felt." Helen finished at last. The sense of sympathy was palpable and wrapped itself round her.
"At least there's one good thing about it, Helen. It ain't as if you're going to be hobnobbing with the judge so long as you keep your head down."
Helen smiled weakly. For once in her life, there was something that Yvonne didn't know. She would have to work that one out when he came to be the patient in need of her help and wisdom and she was the professional psychologist. Right now, she didn't feel all that certain of anything or wise.
Tight lipped, John and Monty stalked down the corridor to the chambers. There was a sensation like that of a vortex which would funnel in inflamed barristers, seething politicians and who knew what else into that narrow space.
"Your chambers, John." Came the curt words to which John nodded assent.
It took no time for the crowd to assemble and the tension built up like a lowering thunderstorm, huge clouds hovering overhead waiting for the first spark. Sir Ian lit it.
"This trial has descended into a total farce. It's time to end it"
"You mean, that the defence has no case to answer and set Barbara free. I could be persuaded to that point of view"
"That is not what I meant. The trial should be abandoned and be reconvened far away from here. That was my original wish"
"I do not see any intrinsic reasons why we should be so precipitate. I've continued with far rockier trials and come out at the end of it with a verdict"
"We all know about your unique and dare I say, maverick ways of conducting trials. Others amongst us are not so rash and foolhardy"
"The trial is about seeking justice, concepts in which I was trained in many years ago."
"So what's happened to your master plan to control the case? We told you that the wretched case should have been packed off to some distant court hundreds of miles away from us only you wouldn't listen"
"Nothing has gone wrong with the trial that can't be sorted out. Our strategy is sound. We have only struck trouble due to that idiot of a witness that Mr. Cantwell dragged in"
"Oh so it's my fault, John. What's happened to all those high minded words you said in court"
"You weren't to blame for deliberately bringing in your witness to cause mayhem. You considered her in good faith. It's just that"
"But what, John"
"You were a bit over eager to believe everything she said. Your judgment wasn't good. In your situation, I would have spotted trouble coming a mile away." John said dismissively.
George watched as a detached onlooker in fascination. She had crossed swords with John in the past when she was a different person, when she was, quite frankly, doing Neil's dirty work for him as the establishment's hired mercenary but she was another person then. What struck her that, behind John's occasionally mischievous remarks, was his fixed will towards human decency and justice. She had never wanted to be impressed by these values, unlike Jo who was much more emotional about these things than she let herself be. But why, oh why did that infuriatingly attractive exasperating man screw it all up by shagging some long legged female consultant who happened to be Connie Beauchamp, a woman who to her eye was more guarded than she had ever been? Despite her conflicted feelings, she couldn't help but warm to him and stand by him , especially right now when she could feel at last the force of the political pressure on him as a real emotion. Finally, she got to intervene rather than just observe.
"Don't we get a look in?" she cut in at the decisive moment when the hubbub of male voices paused for a second.
"What do you want, George?" Brian Cantwell snapped back with a nasty edge to his voice.
"Only that your case seems so hopelessly compromised by the antics of your witnesses that I would be surprised to see you carry on in case you get laughed out of court by the jury"
"We still have conclusive evidence, George in case you hadn't noticed. I demand that you back me up on this one, John"
"Which I tore apart both this morning and yesterday"
"Oh so you want my opinion and that we carry on with the case"
"Nobody said that I didn't want your help, John. It's just that I feel entitled to some of the fair mindedness that you keep preaching about"
"And, speaking for the Lord Chancellor's Department, we want no more threats of having us jailed for contempt"
"What's wrong with that? I've done it before to one of you"
"That's not the point"
"In any case, you thought I was talking specifically about you. Remember the proverb 'qui s'excuse, s'accuse"
"Oh what does that mean in plain English"
"I was making a general observation to the entire gallery and if no one but you, Ian, responded to it then it must apply to you"
"So this is your idea of justice, John"
"Put it another way, if the cap fits, wear it."
"I was really wondering what all you masterful men were planning on doing with the trial. I assume that this was what we're here for." George's voice chimed in again with a sarcastic edge to her tone.
"We are." Grunted Monty who was feeling a bit left out frustrated at not being able to
get a word in edgeways. It was worse than he was with Vera even when she was in full flow.
"I've got a bone to pick with you, John. Why the devil didn't you tell me about Barbara's previous conviction? I have a right to know such matters"
" I didn't think it was necessary. Besides, there was quite enough of a perceived problem with a trial featuring someone who all of us knew in a private capacity, not just one or two but the entire London circuit"
"This is shoddy behaviour. Damned shoddy and a breach of trust between us." Monty rumbled on.
"What's the problem, Monty? She wasn't the only ex prisoner in the orchestra"
"What do you mean, John?" Sir Ian asked in icy tones.
"Just what I said, Ian. You accepted everyone who came into the orchestra who you didn't know before and they behaved themselves impeccably, In fact I can't remember them passing around malicious notes as you and your worthy confederate did like spiteful schoolboys in class until George exposed you. The truth of the matter is that her presence is simply an embarrassment to you, an acquaintance that was temporarily in your circle but there's more to it than that. She was one of us, a fellow musician that was bound to in ways that no non-musician could possibly feel and you know it. This trial has presented Monty and I and others with the exact same problem. You just haven't the guts to face it but take the easy way out just as you always do in life."
John had bottled down his anger and frustration but after starting to retort in cold cutting perfectly accentuated tones he built it up to a climax of controlled anger. He couldn't help it but sometimes his impulses overcame his sense of what was judicious. Somehow, Ian's weak and spineless nature was never clearer to him as it was right then and, in typical fashion, he slipped away from any unpleasantness.
"That's as maybe, John but I am shocked at your behaviour." Monty cut in. He had taken in everything John had said but was still hurt by John's apparent lack of trust in him.
"Monty, I acted as I did only to help you. I chose to shoulder the discomfort of this extra knowledge on my own, rightly or wrongly. What we have to do now is to look to the future as to how to handle this trial. The two of us have to work out a clear course of action for the future"
Coope was used to walking the quiet cloistered corridors of the judiciary and found the atmosphere generally soothing. Even with working for a wayward though kindly master, the natural rhythms of the court helped to relax her. After all, she was on the periphery of the court dramas and a systematic organized mind was the ideal requirement and not the actorish flamboyance of the judges she worked for. What she found unusual was the confused sounds of many angry voices as she walked behind the judge's thrones. It seemed to emanate from one of the chambers and it sounded like Prime Minister's question time at its most argumentative. As she got closer, she could occasionally pick out John's voice, which reassured her in a strange fashion. At least there was some responsible person in charge if you stretched the definition to of the word to include his wayward conduct in terms of his private life. She was intending to drop a file in John's in tray but thought she might not be altogether welcome. She had a brainwave in remembering that the door didn't meet flush with the floor and that the file was thin. Crouching down, she slid the file, bit by bit under the door and, on the other side, the brown rectangular shape slid neatly into view and grew and grew to its full length. She shrugged her shoulders and reasoned that, of the gaggle of judges and barristers in the room, one of them ought to be able to take charge of it. Unfortunately, the incandescent mood found the soundless appearance of the file a meaningless irrelevance even if it had been spotted. As Coope returned to the court chamber to busy herself, Joe Channing bustled towards her, the jungle telegraph having picked up the sounds of warfare.
"We're no further forward in this meeting than we were when we started." Snapped Sir Ian. "The situation is intolerably farcical and a complete mess. I'm surprised the press don't get hold of this and feature this with the caption 'Carry On, Larkhall"
"Except that this is no comedy, Sir Ian and what no one seems to be talking about is that a woman stands accused of the murder of her husband and that needs resolving"
"Jo and I have been standing on the sidelines hearing some of you come out with as much hot air that would fill a huge balloon, John. We are determined that the best interests of justice and of our client are served by the trial continuing and the relevant evidence of that frightful woman be wiped from the record."
"Of course, we aren't criticising you, John. From beginning to end, you have been totally masterful and in superb form." Jo chimed in, her voice oozing syrup. George's smile of appreciation at the way Jo was laying on the charm was a bit forced given the circumstances but she trusted that no one would see through her act.
"An excellently simple solution to the dilemma. I think that we could proceed on this basis"
"But the political consequences of this trial are frightful. For a start, we run the risk of the papers finding out our connections with the accused. I demand that there is a retrial and by a court that is as far removed from us as it is possible to be." Exploded Sir Ian.
"So that's the game, Ian. It all comes down to saving your political skin, nothing to do with the rest of us and certainly nothing to do with the needs of justice to the accused. We cannot let this charge hang over Barbara's name for another six months or so. Yes Sir Ian, her name is Barbara Mills and just to remind you, the woman who played harpsichord with us and whose husband was so helpful and gracious to us even though he was already ill. I strongly suspect that your shadow and even you, Brian are being equally spineless." Shouted John, losing his patience again.
"I heartily agree with John," came the well known rumbling tones from behind the group holding a large envelope." As long as the jury is ordered to disregard any such information, a retrial is not necessary. As for the matter of publicity, must we be fearful and let our actions be governed and contaminated by the gutter press. They could equally crucify us if we abandon the trial"
"I respect your opinion, of course," Sir Ian smarmed, his face twisted by a tight smile. "But I must confess I'm worried about the possible consequences"
"The needs of justice to the accused is paramount. In order to resolve the matter, we need a proper opinion on Barbara's health and state of mind."
A heavy silence fell on the room as tension filled the air from the clash of wills into the middle of which Coope stepped, judging that they would have fought each other into the ground and now was the time to enter the room.
"I can see that you've got the envelope I slid under the door. I didn't want to disturb your discussions"
"Coope, you are a marvel. Find Karen Betts and get her here now. I don't care what it takes, just do it." John pronounced in ringing tones accompanied by Joe's and Monty's nod of approval. Coope shot off and in no time at all made her way to the visitor's gallery.
"Karen, we need your help. Can you find Nikki Wade at short notice and get her to come to the judge's chambers"
Collective instinct left Karen to be free to deal with this one and to not ask questions.
" I can try. I'll phone her on my mobile"
In the most deliberately calm fashion, Karen fished out her mobile from her handbag and pressed the contact number.
"I hope you've got your best suit on, because the judge wants you in chambers, right now."
"What's up, Karen?" Nikki asked. She was right in the middle of working her way through her files and was totally thrown by the sudden message.
"Never you mind. Just get yourself down here as soon as possible. Your presence is vital"
"OK, I'll be right there as soon as I can"
Nikki threw the files back into her in tray. She shrugged her shoulders and blindly accepted her destiny whatever it would be.
It was a novel sensation for Nikki to be led by Coope along the corridors behind the public staging of the theatre that was the Old Bailey. She found the other woman to be relaxing company and discreet and threaded her way to John's chambers. Immediately, she felt that the room was too small for the crowd of people and blinked her eyes.
"Ah, Nikki. It's good of you to come here at short notice. We are at a crossroads in the trial where, without going into any detail for obvious reasons, the possibility has arisen that the trial should be abandoned and reconvened for a later date. That will involve Barbara Mills being held in remand for some months until a fresh trial date can be set and such a trial would be held in a court in a suitable venue well to the north and neither myself, nor Monty my fellow judge or any council now present would be involved. To my mind, the deciding factor is the welfare of the prisoner and I am asking your opinion as to what impact this would have on Barbara"
Nikki took in at a glance to the emphases that John laid on particular words and realized that it had come to this, that she Nikki Wade, one time victim of the system was asked for vital input into the system's deliberations. The irony was not lost on her but she spoke out as boldly to this group of people as to any other.
"It's totally out of the question that Barbara should suffer the stresses of waiting for months on end. I know that she has needed a lot of support to get her to this stage, not only from other prisoners but also from prison officers. Anyone who knows her would say the same. I couldn't guarentee that she would stand up under the pressure. I don't know what's going on but surely where there's a will, there's a way, judge, for the trial to continue"
John smiled broadly and the light in his eye showed how Nikki's simple formulation cut through the fussy verbiage of so many of the others. Monty looked relieved while George and Jo smiled gratefully at her. Sir Ian and Lawrence James scowled darkly at her and Brian Cantwell studied her closely.
"Well said, Nikki. That is my sentiment entirely." Rumbled Jo approvingly, impressed by her spirit and clarity of speech.
"We're going ahead with the trial then. The arguments are irrefutably balanced that way, eh Monty." John pronounced firmly and decisively, looking pointedly at the dissenters while Nikki glanced round and could feel the tensions ripple round the room.
"Monty and I and doubtless others are exceedingly grateful for you coming at such short notice away from your duties. Needless to say, I am asking you to say no more of this matter until the conclusion of the trial except that tomorrow is business as usual. I anticipate that you will be questioned on the matter very soon.
"I'm glad if I've helped out, judge." Nikki answered.
Before she could turn for the door, Brian Cantwell stepped over and said in a nasty turn of phrase:
"Is your 'opinion' just because you just conveniently happen to be a defence witness?"
Without a blink of her eye, Nikki cut him down to size with a boldness that made Joe chuckle and inwardly applaud her.
"No, it's because I'm a friend."
With an elaborate gesture of looking at his watch, John said very casually.
"Don't know about the rest of you but I happen to have a home to go to. See you all in court, bright and early"
Nikki led the way out to pass the word to the others while the rest of the crowd started to shuffle out. It had been a long day.