Brian Freemantle - A Mind to Kill

‘Good morning,’ Jennifer said, brightly.

The vague numbness registered seconds before the voice in her head said, ‘ And good morning to you.’

Jeremy Hall was surprised. It was almost three weeks since his last meeting with Jennifer Lomax. She’d been zombie-like then and according to Perry had remained so, apart from the shouted outbursts, at every remand hearing in between. Today she appeared more in control of herself – her hair and make-up immaculate, sharp-eyed, aware of everything around her – than at any time since the murder. Completely normal, in fact.

‘It’s good to see you,’ she said, smiling.

‘ Tell him how much of you the dykes have seen!. And played with .’

‘You’re looking much better,’ said Hall, as much for Perry’s benefit as well as for Jennifer’s.

‘ Show him your sore cunt! ’

Jennifer resisted for the second time: she hadn’t fully decided what to do about the rape and sexual assault, satisfied enough for the moment that she could prevent it. ‘She’s being obscene.’

‘It doesn’t matter,’ said Hall.

‘It does!’ contradicted Jennifer, at once. ‘I’m fighting her: refusing to say what she’s telling me to. And for that I feel very much better.’

‘ You stupid bitch. You really are mad to think you can resist me! ’

Jennifer saw the strained look pass between the two men before Hall said, There’s quite a lot we have to talk about, now that we have a trial date.’

‘It’s not going to be delayed?’ demanded Jennifer, at once.

‘No,’ assured Perry. ‘But we have to make a positive decision upon a defence.’

‘ There isn’t one! ’

‘There is only one defence,’ insisted Jennifer. ‘Not guilty because I didn’t do it.’

Hall sighed. ‘Jennifer, I want you to listen very carefully. Sixteen people saw you do it. The evidence against you is overwhelming. Incontrovertible. And with Rebecca Nicholls the prosecution has a motive. You don’t have a not guilty plea: it’s pointless – ridiculous – persisting with it. All you have is a mitigating submission…’ He paused. ‘And I have been given guidance by the judge and the prosecution that they’ll consider a lesser charge and consider psychiatric evidence-’

‘No!’ said Jennifer, too loudly. She saw the matron’s head emerge questioningly from her office, at the far end of the long ward.

‘You don’t have an alternative, Jennifer,’ insisted Hall, almost as loudly. He was suddenly aware of calling her by her christian name.

‘What do the psychiatrists say?’

‘ Barking mad! The rest of your life among the loonies.’

‘There’s a conflict,’ conceded Hall.

‘No-one will definitely say I’m mad!’ seized Jennifer, triumphantly.

‘The American is prepared to testify to Multiple Personality Disorder,’ said Perry. ‘Everyone else talks of some indications of mental imbalance.’

‘But they won’t say I’m mad,’ persisted Jennifer.

‘ Of course they will. You’ve got a voice in your head.’

‘No,’ admitted Hall.

‘ Bastards! ’

It came with a roaring scream and Jennifer put her hands over her ears and kept her arms tightly against her sides, holding herself against giving in to the agony. Which she managed to do. Uneven voiced she said, ‘She’s very angry. Yelling.’

‘Jennifer, you’re not understanding the implications of what I’m saying,’ said Hall, gently. ‘Even though the experts disagree there’s enough for a defence of temporary mental instability. There’s supporting evidence to call with what happened with Emily-’

‘WHAT!’

This time the matron hurried the length of the open ward, bustling through the door at the same time as knocking. ‘What’s going on? She mustn’t be distressed.’

‘Nothing. Please leave us,’ said Perry.

‘Perhaps I should-’

‘Leave us!’ said Hall, not looking at the woman.

‘ Aren’t I doing well! Trapped whichever way you turn! ’

In her anger it was easier for Jennifer to ignore the intrusion. Tight-lipped, she said, ‘It was Jane who attacked Emily. Which you know. But I won’t have Emily brought into it. Into any of it. Which is the strongest reason I have for not agreeing to your defence, quite apart from it not being true in the first place.’

‘Jennifer, you’re not making it easy for me. For yourself.’

‘I’m not interested in making anything easy! If you won’t accept my instructions, then you’re fired.’

‘If that’s your wish then I will make the case file and notes available to you,’ said Perry, at once.

Hall wished the relief hadn’t been so obvious in the other man’s hurried voice. ‘You’ll have great difficulty getting anyone else to represent you at this late stage. You’ll probably end up defending yourself. It would inevitably mean a postponement of the trial.’

‘ How long do you think Fran and Emma and Harriet with that sharp little razor blade can be bought off! And sticky-fingered nursey? ’

‘You promised me a QC,’ reminded Jennifer, no longer strident. She didn’t want a postponement: to remain here for a moment longer than she had to. Jane was actually right. Bribery wouldn’t work for ever.

‘No QC in Mr Hall’s chambers is prepared to lead in this case,’ announced Perry, irritated that the young barrister hadn’t accepted the escape that had been offered them.

‘Help me,’ said Jennifer softly.

‘I want to,’ said Hall urgently, matching her plea. ‘But you’re making it impossible…’ He hesitated. She’d already suffered enormously – maybe in ways he didn’t know – and he was nervous how she’d react if he consciously tried to frighten her further. But he couldn’t think of another, kinder way. ‘If you don’t agree to plead guilty to a lesser charge and the case runs its full course you’ll inevitably be found guilty. As a sane person, the murder was the calculated, premeditated action of a wife being cheated by her husband. You’d probably be sentenced to at least twenty years…’ Hall paused again, remembering Julian Mason’s belief of sexual abuse. ‘… You’d probably serve a minimum of twelve. Do you think you could survive twelve years in a place like this, as opposed to a custodial sentence in a secure hospital unit, where you’d be eligible for release probably much sooner on the advice of doctors?’

Jennifer was gouged by fear and Jane said, ‘ That’s how you’re going to feel for the rest of your life ’

For the first time Jennifer responded. ‘I won’t!’ Then, quickly although spacing the words through tight-together lips, she said, ‘I – won’t – give – in!’

‘ I’m always going to be around when you do. And you will, over and over again.’

Hall slumped back in his chair, defeated. Perry actually shrugged.

‘I accept your instructions to plead not guilty to the charge of murder,’ said Hall, momentarily as pedantic as his instructing solicitor.

Perry said, ‘Don’t forget Jarvis’s religion.’

Hall nodded. ‘All the clinical and medical tests have been completed but I want to suggest something further. You’re possessed, correct?’

‘You know I am.’

‘We’d like you to undergo exorcism,’ announced Perry.

‘ Don’t bother. It won’t work! ’

‘You mean by a priest or vicar?’ queried Jennifer.

‘Yes.’

‘Who’s Jarvis? And what’s his religion got to do with it.’

Hall looked uncomfortable. ‘He’s the appointed trial judge. A very strong Anglican.’

‘Who’d be impressed by the involvement of a minister?’ recognized Jennifer.

‘Yes,’ admitted Hall.

‘I didn’t believe in any God before all this happened,’ said Jennifer. ‘I certainly don’t after what I’ve gone through.’