idea when the trial might be?’
‘None at all,’ replied Roberts. ‘Could be weeks, could be several months.’
Gordon came downstairs feeling thoroughly dejected. It was almost a relief when the main door clicked open and exposed him to the noise of the High Street as a welcome distraction. He decided to leave the car where it was in the shoppers’ car park and walk round to Lucy’s sister’s house. There was some watery sunshine to enjoy and it would give him time to think what to say.
When he didn’t get an answer after the second knock Gordon felt a strange mixture of disappointment and relief, relief because he hadn’t thought of anything encouraging to say to Lucy and disappointment because her not being there just delayed the evil moment. It was not delayed long however when, as he turned to leave, he caught sight of Lucy and Gina as they came round the corner into the street: he walked slowly towards them.
‘Hello, Tom, this is a surprise,’ said Lucy. Gordon thought she seemed brighter, more self-assured, not quite back to being her old self but gradually coming to terms with the situation.
‘I came over to see John’s lawyer,’ said Gordon. ‘I thought I’d drop by and see how you were.’
‘That was kind. Why were you speaking to Roberts?’
‘I suppose I hoped I might be able to help in some way, offer my services in John’s defence. I suppose I thought I might be useful as a character witness, being John’s doctor and friend. I didn’t realise that he was still pleading guilty. That was a bit of a shock.’
‘They want him to plead guilty,’ snapped Lucy angrily
‘You know this?’
‘I spoke to Roberts earlier today. He maintains that he told John exactly what I said but I’m not so sure,’ said Lucy. ‘He couldn’t have got the message over properly otherwise why would John still be sticking to this stupid confession?’
Gina interrupted saying, ‘Look why don’t you two have a walk together: it would be a shame to waste the sunshine. I’ll have some tea ready for you when you get back.’
Gordon and Lucy started walking towards the garden in front of the cathedral.
Gordon thought that she still looked frail but not as devastated as she had the last time he’d seen her. A little composure had come back but her eyes were still sunken and full of anguish. ‘How are you?’ he asked gently.
Lucy gave a slight shake of the head. ‘I think I’m as low as I can get,’ she said. ‘The only way left for me to go is up. I’ve lost my baby, my husband’s in prison awaiting trial for her murder and most people seem to think I was involved too. I keep thinking the whole thing’s a bad dream and I’m going to wake up soon but it’s not and I won’t. I’ve got to start fighting back but I just don’t know where to begin.’ She swallowed and looked down at her feet.
‘Have they said when you can see John yet?’ asked Gordon.
Lucy gave a bitter laugh without looking up. ‘John is refusing to see anyone,’ she said. ‘Including me.’
‘But why?’ Gordon stammered.
‘He must still believe that I did it, whatever I say.’
‘Do you think he’d see me?’ said Gordon.
Lucy shrugged. ‘I don’t know,’ she said, finally raising her head to look at him, ‘Might be worth a try.’
They found a bench with dappled sunshine playing on it and sat down for a few minutes. Lucy closed her eyes and held her face up to the sun, courting its warmth. Gordon thought her skin had taken on a translucent appearance. After a few moments silence she said, ‘What would happen if I went to the police and told them I did it?’ She kept her eyes closed as she waited for an answer.
‘Did you?’
‘Of course not.’
‘Then why would you want to do that?’
‘Just tell me what you think would happen,’ insisted Lucy.
‘Presumably the police would have to investigate your claim but it probably wouldn’t take them long to show that you were lying. They’d ask you
‘None at all,’ replied Roberts. ‘Could be weeks, could be several months.’
Gordon came downstairs feeling thoroughly dejected. It was almost a relief when the main door clicked open and exposed him to the noise of the High Street as a welcome distraction. He decided to leave the car where it was in the shoppers’ car park and walk round to Lucy’s sister’s house. There was some watery sunshine to enjoy and it would give him time to think what to say.
When he didn’t get an answer after the second knock Gordon felt a strange mixture of disappointment and relief, relief because he hadn’t thought of anything encouraging to say to Lucy and disappointment because her not being there just delayed the evil moment. It was not delayed long however when, as he turned to leave, he caught sight of Lucy and Gina as they came round the corner into the street: he walked slowly towards them.
‘Hello, Tom, this is a surprise,’ said Lucy. Gordon thought she seemed brighter, more self-assured, not quite back to being her old self but gradually coming to terms with the situation.
‘I came over to see John’s lawyer,’ said Gordon. ‘I thought I’d drop by and see how you were.’
‘That was kind. Why were you speaking to Roberts?’
‘I suppose I hoped I might be able to help in some way, offer my services in John’s defence. I suppose I thought I might be useful as a character witness, being John’s doctor and friend. I didn’t realise that he was still pleading guilty. That was a bit of a shock.’
‘They want him to plead guilty,’ snapped Lucy angrily
‘You know this?’
‘I spoke to Roberts earlier today. He maintains that he told John exactly what I said but I’m not so sure,’ said Lucy. ‘He couldn’t have got the message over properly otherwise why would John still be sticking to this stupid confession?’
Gina interrupted saying, ‘Look why don’t you two have a walk together: it would be a shame to waste the sunshine. I’ll have some tea ready for you when you get back.’
Gordon and Lucy started walking towards the garden in front of the cathedral.
Gordon thought that she still looked frail but not as devastated as she had the last time he’d seen her. A little composure had come back but her eyes were still sunken and full of anguish. ‘How are you?’ he asked gently.
Lucy gave a slight shake of the head. ‘I think I’m as low as I can get,’ she said. ‘The only way left for me to go is up. I’ve lost my baby, my husband’s in prison awaiting trial for her murder and most people seem to think I was involved too. I keep thinking the whole thing’s a bad dream and I’m going to wake up soon but it’s not and I won’t. I’ve got to start fighting back but I just don’t know where to begin.’ She swallowed and looked down at her feet.
‘Have they said when you can see John yet?’ asked Gordon.
Lucy gave a bitter laugh without looking up. ‘John is refusing to see anyone,’ she said. ‘Including me.’
‘But why?’ Gordon stammered.
‘He must still believe that I did it, whatever I say.’
‘Do you think he’d see me?’ said Gordon.
Lucy shrugged. ‘I don’t know,’ she said, finally raising her head to look at him, ‘Might be worth a try.’
They found a bench with dappled sunshine playing on it and sat down for a few minutes. Lucy closed her eyes and held her face up to the sun, courting its warmth. Gordon thought her skin had taken on a translucent appearance. After a few moments silence she said, ‘What would happen if I went to the police and told them I did it?’ She kept her eyes closed as she waited for an answer.
‘Did you?’
‘Of course not.’
‘Then why would you want to do that?’
‘Just tell me what you think would happen,’ insisted Lucy.
‘Presumably the police would have to investigate your claim but it probably wouldn’t take them long to show that you were lying. They’d ask you
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