Page 73 of Traitors Gate
‘There’s only one way we’re going to find out,’ said Sir Julian as the judge returned and resumed her place on her bench. ‘But it’s still one hell of a risk,’ said senior counsel. ‘And perhaps I’ve already used up my share of those.’
‘Phone Cartier and find out if they can supply us with any worthwhile ammunition,’ whispered Grace, ignoring her father’s advice. Clare quietly left the court as Grace handed her father the final draft of her prepared statement.
He read it quickly and said, ‘It’s a surrender document. Do you really expect me to—’
‘Yes,’ was all Grace had to say.
‘Are you ready to continue, Sir Julian?’ prompted the judge.
‘I am, m’Lady,’ said Sir Julian sounding reluctant as he once again glanced down at his daughter’s statement, which he began reading word for word.
‘M’Lady, I wish to offer an abject and unreserved apology both to you and my learned friend Mr Booth Watson. I hope you will consider my unacceptable behaviour nothing morethan a temporary lapse of judgement, which I can assure you will not happen again.’
Booth Watson rose slowly from his place and said, ‘I accept my learned friend’s apology in the spirit with which it was offered, m’Lady, and consider the matter closed.’ A Buddha-like expression appeared on his face as he sat back down.
The jury smiled their approval.
Sir Julian remained standing. ‘M’Lady, given the circumstances, I wondered if you would consider allowing my junior to complete the cross-examination of this witness, which I can assure you is drawing to a close.’
If anyone was more surprised than the judge, it was Grace.
‘I have no objection,’ said the judge. ‘However, Mr Booth Watson may …’
‘I certainly have no objection, m’Lady,’ said Booth Watson, rising from his place. ‘In fact, I welcome it.’
Sir Julian sat down and whispered to his daughter, ‘Lull her into a false sense of security. It’s our only chance. She won’t realize you know the details of this case every bit as well as I do, or that you’re now in possession of a vital piece of evidence she can’t have been prepped for.’
Grace rose slowly from her place, emboldened by her father’s confidence in her, and although she had only prepared a couple more questions for this witness, she felt she had the measure of Mrs Kay Dawson.
The judge turned her attention to the witness and said, ‘I’m sure you realize, Mrs Dawson, that you are still under oath, but you will no longer be questioned on behalf of the defence by Sir Julian, but by his junior, Ms Grace Warwick.’
The witness couldn’t resist a smile as she turned to face Grace, looking more than ready for Sir Julian’s replacement.
Grace adjusted her wig, tugged the lapels of her long blackgown and returned the witness’s smile. Like father, like daughter, thought Sir Julian.
‘I’d like to return to the tape recording of the conversation between you and my client.’ The witness nodded. ‘Is it just possible the tape you were so keen for the jury to hear had been doctored,’ suggested Grace, ‘in order to show my client in a bad light?’
‘I’m sure the jury can decide which one of us is more experienced at doctoring tapes, Ms Warwick,’ came back Kay Dawson’s immediate response. ‘An M and S senior sales assistant or an Inspector in the Metropolitan Police force who has been reprimanded on two separate occasions in the past for unprofessional conduct. One of which ended up with him being suspended for six months.’
Uproar once again broke out in the court and Grace waited patiently for calm to return before she asked her next question. ‘From whom did you find out that particular piece of information?’ she asked, turning to face Booth Watson, who remained head bowed in the corner ignoring her.
‘Ross, of course.’
‘Of course,’ said Grace. ‘And did Ross also tell you he’d won nine police commendations, not to mention twice being awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for bravery, during his long and distinguished career?’
Mrs Dawson stared at her counsel, but he didn’t stir. ‘No. I don’t remember him mentioning that,’ she finally managed.
‘How unlike a man who you claim had seduced you to only tell you about his failures.’ A ripple of laughter followed and even the judge allowed herself a smile. ‘Let us return to the tape, Mrs Dawson, because I’m puzzled why you made it in the first place. Did you tell the Inspector you were recording the conversation?’
‘Yes, of course I did, and I wouldn’t have started the tape if he hadn’t agreed.’
Grace was delighted to see the witness had switched from cautious back to confident as she needed Mrs Dawson to win one or two more points before she delivered a question Booth Watson couldn’t have prepared her for.
‘Remind me, was it you who rang my client?’ said Grace, pretending to refer to her notes.
‘Yes, it was, Ms Warwick. But I was returning his call.’
‘And that’s when you told him you’d be recording the conversation?’