The Walking Dead

'I don't think so. Hotels are about as insecure as things get — people wandering in and out, unvetted staff, back-of-the-building fire escapes and trade entrances…I'll look elsewhere. Then there's the business of keeping the jurors calm: "Who's going to be looking after my wife, my mother, all the rest?" They could panic and want out.'

'That is my responsibility and I will field it. I'm very grateful for your positive response, Chief Inspector, and I guarantee that your cooperation will be reflected in the personal letter I will write to your commissioner. Confidently, I leave these matters in your capable hands…and let us not forget the public-spirited action of this most courageous man, Julian Wright. Thank you.'

Signifying the termination of the meeting, Mr Justice Herbert returned to the hillocks of paper notes on his desk, but he saw from his eye's corner that the chief inspector had slipped on plastic gloves before he picked up the package that was ripped open at one end to show the wads of banknotes. He was alone in his room. Did he care about the costs? He did not. Did he care about the disruption of the jurors' domestic lives? He did not. Did he care about a mistrial and the prospect, then, of losing the opportunity to make a crafted speech on the threat of organized crime to society at large? Most certainly. Modern intruder alarms were wired throughout his home: he himself lived under a permanent threat of attack from the associates of those he had sent down for long terms of imprisonment. Because of the obligations of justice, he wore a hair-shirt, as had the ascetics and penitents of history, and others could ape him.

He buzzed his clerk. He told her that he needed the presence in his room of the QCs heading the prosecution and defence. He saw them, heard their comments. When they had finished, he thanked them effusively and announced that he would resume in ten minutes.

He wrote a note of what he would say, pondered on each sentence and checked a reference to a case a year before that had gone to appeal. He rewrote a line, then slipped into his robes. In front of the mirror he adjusted his wig and tightened his sash. He put the envelope and the letter into the floor safe, swung the combination dials, locked his room's door behind him, walked the corridor and heard the shout ahead of him: 'All rise.'

Mr Justice Herbert, with the full majesty of his office, swept into court eighteen, took his seat and read out what he had written.

Every eye was on him. Not a cough, a shuffle or fidget disturbed him.

He concluded:

'Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have listened to me with due attention, but I will take the liberty of going again over the chief points I have made. These are matters of great importance and there should be no misunderstandings…It has been brought to my notice that a conspiracy exists to bribe one or some of you to bring in a verdict of not guilty for the accused, and that a reward of money has been offered. This is police intelligence. Because of that intelligence, it will be necessary for you to face restrictions on your movements and freedoms, which I greatly regret.

'We have been together a long time now and I urge you with due emphasis not to consider providing a spurious excuse and abandoning the trial in its final hours. You have shown such dedication that I am confident I can depend on you and, in anticipation of your cooperation, I am sincerely grateful to you all…

'Now, I am repeating myself because this is at the heart of the matter, you should draw no conclusions regarding this case from what I have just told you. There is no evidence that either Mr Oswald Curtis or Mr Oliver Curtis is in any way implicated in any plot to suborn you. As far as I am concerned; they are completely innocent of any such involvement. I cannot emphasize that more strongly. Ahead of us now are the closing speeches of the prosecution and the defence. Then I will offer you my guidance, and you will retire — either at the end of this week or the start of next — to deliberate on your verdict but you will not infer, from certain precautions put in place round you, that any of these allegations of bribery or intimidation reflect on the accused. They do not, and are not a part of this case, which you will decide only on the sworn evidence that has been put before you. You have to dismiss these allegations — which is all they are — from your minds. Right, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we will now adjourn but I have to ask you for your patience. Please, you will wait in the jury room until certain arrangements are in place, and we will resume our hearing in the morning — but do not forget what I have said. You will judge this case only on the testimony you have heard in the courtroom — nothing, absolutely nothing else…'

* * *

'The bastard, the fucking little bastard, I'll—'

'Please, Mr Curtis, refrain from that sort of language and from shouting.'

'He's took my money. I'll fucking have him.'