Peter Lovesey - The Last Detective

Prosecuting counsel coughed and wrapped his gown protectively around him. 'We are aware of it, m'lord. A man has been charged with supplying the deceased with cocaine. The matter has no connection with the case for the Crown.'

'That may be so. I am surprised we have not heard of it already.'

'I intend to call a police witness at a later stage, m'lord. Undoubtedly the matter will be touched upon. I do not wish to over-state its importance.'

The judge turned to Mrs Bargainer. 'I take it that you attach some significance to it. Did you wish to pursue this matter with this witness?'

She said, 'I think the point is made, my lord. I shall, of course, wish to cross-examine the police witness in due course.'

The rest was routine questioning, attempting to mend some of the fences broken by the prosecution. Jackman did what he could.

When the court adjourned for the day, Diamond didn't stop to speak to anyone. There seemed no point any more. Anyway, his head ached. He went home to take some painkillers.

HE WAS IN THE SAME seat in the public gallery next morning. By the time Dana was brought in, every place was taken. She looked small, too small to be the focus of this elaborate ritual.

The court rose for the judge.

Prosecuting counsel remained standing when everyone else sat down. 'My lord, with your permission, before we commence the proceedings, I beg to advise the court of some new evidence which has come to light.'

'Sir Job, you know the position regarding new evidence,' said the judge. 'The prosecution is not at liberty to spring surprises on the court.'

'Then I must request an adjournment. I assure you that the matter is crucial to the proper administration of justice.'

The judge fingered his wig, thought for a long interval, and then announced testily. 'The court is adjourned for thirty minutes. Both counsel will attend in my retiring room.'

Diamond filed out with the others, sensing that there would be a longer delay than the estimated half-hour. Something sensational must have occurred.

The recall came after almost two hours.

'After hearing submissions from both counsel, I have decided to allow the prosecution to present its new evidence,' said the judge. 'We shall then adjourn until tomorrow to allow the defence to consider the implications.'

With the tact of a lawyer who knew he had stepped close to the limit, Sir Job pitched his voice on a low, unassertive note. 'Call Chief Inspector Wigfull.'

In the public gallery, Diamond's toes curled.

Wigfull stepped up and took the oath in a voice redolent with self-congratulation. To Diamond's prejudiced eye, the moustache seemed to have been brushed upwards, into an exultant curve.

'Chief Inspector, would you tell the court what you informed me this morning,' said Sir Job in little more than a whisper.

Wigfull had no reason to be humble. A stiffening of the shoulders, a tilt of the head, and he plunged into his story. 'Early this morning, I conducted a further search of the defendant's house in Bath. It has not been occupied since she was taken into custody. In the course of the search, one of my officers, Detective Inspector Halliwell, removed the drawers from the dressing table in the bedroom, the defendant's bedroom, and discovered something fixed with Sellotape to the underside of the section that housed the drawers. It was in a position where it would not have been visible by simply removing the drawers. Inspector Halliwell felt underneath and detected a transparent folder. He immediately drew it to my attention.' folder. He immediately 'Describe it, please.'

'The folder contained two antique letters with the signature "Jane". They were dated in the year 1800. From descriptions given to us previously by Professor Jackman, I believe them to be the letters written by Jane Austen that had allegedly been stolen from his house.' Sir Job addressed the judge. 'M'lord, the Crown submits these letters as Exhibit Six.' He handed a folder to one of the court officials, who passed it up.

After a cursory examination, the judge asked whether the defence wished to put any questions to Wigfull at this stage, and Mrs Bargainer said she reserved her cross-examination. The judge gave his customary warning to the jury not to discuss the case, and called the adjournment.

Diamond had watched Dana Didrikson while this scene was enacted. Her composure had shattered. A look of extreme shock had registered on her features. Her counsel approached her and an earnest exchange took place.

The corridor outside was abuzz with Wigfull's announcement. Every phone was occupied by the press. In the crush, Diamond managed to catch Jackman's eye. He was in animated conversation with a grey-suited, silver-haired man who had to be Siddons, the solicitor, but their words were lost in the turmoil. They both gestured to Diamond to join them. He had some difficulty. Someone – a reporter – recognized him and asked for a comment. He refused point-blank and forced a passage through the jostling, shouting crowd.

'What do you make of it?' Jackman demanded, and then answered his own question with, 'It's devastating. Couldn't be worse. I thought my showing yesterday was damaging enough, but this on top… a disaster.'

'It looks bad,' Diamond agreed.

'They wouldn't have fitted her up, would they?'

Siddons, shocked, said, 'Come now!'

Diamond said, 'No chance. John Wigfull isn't the sort. He plays the rules. And I can vouch for Keith Halliwell. No, they found the letters for sure.'

'Why didn't they find them before? They searched the place weeks ago.'

'Two possibilities,' said Diamond. 'Either someone overlooked them, or they weren't there at the time.'

"Weren't there?'

'Feel like a drive to Bath?'

On the dual carriageway near Keynsham, Jackman unburdened himself of some guilt. 'You know, I felt a bloody hypocrite when I was giving evidence yesterday. I had to make it appear as if all my dealings with Dana were altruistic… that I acted out of sympathy for young Mat. I like the boy, it's true, and I enjoyed taking him swimming, but I looked forward to every meeting with Dana. You know. I've tried to explain.'

'Say so, then,' said Diamond, ever a man for frank speaking. 'You love her.'

'All right,' Jackman muttered. 'I do. I was hoping against all the odds that the jury wouldn't convict. Then I was going to ask her to come to America with me. And the boy. A clean break for all of us.' He sighed. 'No chance of that now.'

'You believe she did it?'

'I can't believe that, feeling as I do about her, but I can't see that she'll get off now.'

Diamond didn't comment.

They drove up to Lyncombe and the terraced block where Dana had lived. A uniformed constable was stationed by the front door. They could see him from the end of the street.

'Drive on. There's a way into the back garden from the street behind,' Diamond said, recalling the day Dana had escaped to her car when he and Wigfull had called at the house.

He picked his trilby off the back seat and covered his bandaged head. Without obvious subterfuge, but in silence, they entered the back garden and approached the back of the house. Diamond bent to examine the door-frame, and in particular the lock. It was an old-fashioned mortice that had probably been in use for forty years. By aligning his eye with the edge of the door, he spotted the shapes of finger-bolts at top and bottom. No one had forced an entry that way.

He examined the kitchen windows and found no signs, but when he came to the sash window to the sitting room and traced his finger along the lower edge, he located a distinct indentation in the painted surface of the ledge.

He invited Jackman to feel it.

'The window's fastened securely inside,'Jackman said. 'I wouldn't say it's been forced.'