Jeffrey Archer - Sons of Fortune

‘But why did you agree to go along with this outrageous suggestion?’ asked the judge.

‘I didn’t,’ said Rebecca. ‘I told him if there was any shooting to be done, he could do it himself, because I wasn’t going to get involved.’

‘And what did he say to that?’ asked the judge.

‘That he couldn’t shoot himself because the police would be able to work that out, but if I did it, they would never know.’

‘But that still doesn’t explain why you agreed to go through with it?’

‘I didn’t,’ repeated Rebecca quietly. ‘I told him I would have nothing to do with it, Nat had never done me any harm. But then Ralph grabbed the gun and said, “If you’re not willing to go through with it, then there’s only one alternative, I’ll have to shoot you.” I was terrified, but all he said was, “I’ll tell everyone that it was Nat Cartwright who killed my wife when she tried to come to my rescue, then they’ll be even more sympathetic when I play the part of the grieving widower.” He laughed, and added, “Don’t think I wouldn’t do it.” He then took a handkerchief out of his pocket and said, “Wrap this around your hand, so your fingerprints won’t be on the gun.” ’ Rebecca was silent for some time before she whispered, ‘I remember picking up the gun and pointing it at Ralph’s shoulder, but I closed my eyes just as I pulled the trigger. When I opened them, Ralph was slumped in the corner. I didn’t need to check to know that he was dead. I panicked, dropped the gun, ran upstairs and called the chief at home just as Ralph had told me to. Then I started to undress. I’d just put on my robe when I heard the siren. I looked through the curtains and saw a police car turning into the driveway. I ran back downstairs as the car was pulling up outside the house, which didn’t leave me enough time to close the front door. I slumped down in the hallway just before Detective Petrowski came rushing in.’ She bowed her head and this time the weeping was genuine and unrehearsed. Whispering turned to chattering as everyone in the courtroom began to discuss Rebecca’s testimony.

Fletcher turned to face the state’s attorney, who was in a huddle, consulting his team. He made no attempt to hurry them, and returned to take his seat next to Nat. It was some time before Ebden eventually rose from his place. ‘Your honour.’

‘Yes, Mr Ebden?’ said the judge.

‘The state withdraws all charges against the defendant.’ He paused for some time. ‘On a personal note,’ he added as he turned to face Nat and Fletcher, ‘having watched you as a team, I can’t wait to see what will happen when you’re up against each other.’

Spontaneous applause broke out from the public benches, and the noise was such that they did not hear the judge release the prisoner, dismiss the jury, and declare the case closed.

Nat leant across and almost had to shout, ‘Thank you,’ before adding, ‘two inadequate words as I’ll spend the rest of my fife in your debt without ever being able to properly repay you. But nevertheless, thank you.’

Fletcher smiled. ‘Clients,’ he said, ‘fall into two categories; those you hope never to see again, and just occasionally those who you know will be friends for the rest...’

Su Ling suddenly appeared by her husband’s side and threw her arms around him.

‘Thank God,’ she said.

‘Governor will do,’ said Fletcher, as Nat and Su Ling laughed for the first time in weeks. Before Nat could respond, Lucy came bursting through the barrier and greeted her father with the words, ‘Well done, Dad, I’m very proud of you.’

‘Praise indeed,’ said Fletcher. ‘Nat, this is my daughter Lucy, who fortunately isn’t yet old enough to vote for you, but if she were...’ Fletcher looked around, ‘so where’s the woman who caused all this trouble in the first place?’

‘Mom’s at home,’ replied Lucy. ‘After all, you did tell her it would be at least another week before Mr Cartwright would be on the stand.’

‘True,’ said Fletcher.

‘And please pass on my thanks to your wife,’ said Su Ling. ‘We will always remember that it was Annie who persuaded you to represent my husband. Perhaps we can all get together in the near future, and...’

‘Not until after the election,’ said Fletcher firmly, ‘as I’m still hoping that at least one member of my family will be voting for me.’ He paused, and turning to Nat said, ‘Do you know the real reason I worked so hard on this case?’

‘You couldn’t face the thought of having to spend the next few weeks with Barbara Hunter,’ said Nat.

‘Something like that,’ he said, with a smile.

Fletcher was about to go across and shake hands with the state’s team, but stopped in his tracks when he saw Rebecca Elliot still sitting in the witness stand waiting for the court to clear. Her head was bowed, and she looked forlorn and lonely.

‘I know it’s hard to believe,’ said Fletcher, ‘but I actually feel sorry for her.’

‘You should,’ said Nat, ‘because one thing’s for certain, Ralph Elliot would have murdered his wife if he had thought it would win him the election.’

Fletcher sat in his Senate office reading the morning papers the day after the trial.

‘What an ungrateful lot,’ he said, passing the Hartford Courant across to his daughter.

‘You should have left him to fry,’ said Lucy as she glanced at the latest opinion poll figures.

‘Expressed with your usual elegance and charm,’ said Fletcher. ‘It does make me wonder if all the money I’ve spent sending you to Hotchkiss has been worthwhile, not to mention what Vassar is going to cost me.’

‘I may not be going to Vassar, Dad,’ said Lucy in a quieter voice.

‘Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?’ asked Fletcher, picking up on his daughter’s change of tone.

‘Yes, Dad, because even though Vassar has offered me a place, I may not be able to take it up.’

Fletcher couldn’t always be certain when Lucy was kidding and when she was serious, but as she had asked to see him in his office and not to mention the meeting to Annie, he had to assume she was in earnest. ‘What’s the problem?’ he asked quietly, looking across the desk at her.

Lucy didn’t meet his stare. She bowed her head and said, ‘I’m pregnant.’

Fletcher didn’t reply immediately as he tried to take in his daughter’s confession. ‘Is George the father?’ he eventually asked,

‘Yes,’ she replied.

‘And are you going to marry him?’

Lucy thought about the question for some time before replying. ‘No,’ she said. ‘I adore George, but I don’t love him.’

‘But you were willing to let him make love to you.’

‘That’s not fair,’ said Lucy. ‘It was the Saturday night after the election for president, and I’m afraid we both had a little too much to drink. To be honest, I was sick of being described by everyone in my class as the virgin president. And if I had to lose my virginity, I couldn’t think of anyone nicer than George, especially after he admitted that he was also a virgin. In the end I’m not sure who seduced who.’

‘How does George feel about all this? After all, it’s his child as well as yours and he struck me as rather a serious young man, especially when it came to his feelings for you.’

‘He doesn’t know yet.’

‘You haven’t told him?’ said Fletcher in disbelief.

‘No.’

‘How about your mother?’

‘No,’ she repeated. ‘The only person I’ve shared this with is you.’ This time she did look her father in the eye, before adding, ‘Let’s face it, Dad, Mom was probably still a virgin on the day you married her.’