Archer, Jeffrey - Hidden in Plain Sight

‘How did he get on?’

‘Couldn’t have done better. In fact, I’d be surprised if Booth Watson bothers to cross-examine him in the morning. It will only give him yet another chance to repeat the question, if Faulkner didn’t put those drugs in the statue, who did?’

‘Did the Crown raise the subject of the twenty-pound note?’

‘No. I have a feeling they’re saving that bombshell for when Sir Julian cross-examines Faulkner.’

‘That’s assuming he gets the chance,’ said William. ‘If Faulkner doesn’t go into the witness box, my father won’t be allowed to present it as new evidence.’

‘Strange,’ said the Hawk. ‘It’s so unlike Sir Julian to take such a risk.’

‘But it’s not unlike his daughter,’ said William.

‘Then let’s hope they don’t both live to regret it.’

William unlocked the door, hoping that a quiet evening at home with his wife would help put the image of Adrian Heath’s dead body out of his mind. But when he stepped into the hall, he was greeted by a tearful, pregnant Beth, who threw her arms around him and clung on tightly.

‘Now I know what Josephine Hawksby meant when she told me the thing she most dreaded was the day when her husband didn’t come home.’

‘It wasn’t that bad,’ said William, trying to reassure her.

‘But to see your friend butchered in that way, and you helpless to do anything about it.’

‘How did you find out?’ asked William.

‘The story’s been leading the news programmes all evening, and Jackie rang to tell me you were the first officer on the scene.’

‘I was, but I’ll be fine,’ he said, hoping he sounded convincing.

‘You don’t look fine,’ said Beth, as she started to remove his blood-stained shirt, only to be reminded of another scar from an earlier encounter in his career. But she feared this one would be mental, not physical. ‘I wish you’d called me.’

‘Not that easy when you’re in the middle of a murder investigation. Lamont wasn’t available, so I was left in charge.’

‘I know. Jackie filled me in on the gory details.’ Only the details she wanted you to hear, thought William. ‘How did Adrian’s girlfriend react?’ she asked.

William didn’t reply.

‘Is this one of those occasions when I shouldn’t ask any more questions?’ said Beth.

‘Yes,’ said William quietly. ‘Not least because I’m not sure I made the right decision.’

19

‘DO YOU WISH to cross-examine this witness, Mr Booth Watson?’

‘Yes, m’lud, but I won’t be taking up too much of the court’s time.’

He remained standing while Superintendent Lamont made his way back to the witness box.

‘Superintendent, I’m sure I don’t have to remind you that you’re still under oath.’ Lamont didn’t respond, but stood glowering at his adversary like a boxer waiting for the bell so the first round could begin.

‘For the record, superintendent, can I assume that’s a yes?’

Lamont reluctantly nodded. First round to Booth Watson.

‘During your evidence yesterday afternoon, in answer to my learned friend, you repeated ad nauseam that if my client did not conceal the drugs found in the statue at his house, then who did?’

‘And I will be happy to repeat it again, Mr Booth Watson, if you feel it might speed up proceedings.’

No doubt who’d won the second round, thought William.

‘I don’t think that will be necessary, superintendent. However, what I would like to know is how many police officers invaded Mr Faulkner’s home in the middle of the night?’

‘I couldn’t be sure of the exact number.’

‘Despite the fact that you were in charge of the operation?’

‘Fifteen, possibly twenty.’

‘In fact, the number was twenty-three, if you include all the officers from the drugs squad, the laboratory analysts, the drivers and even a photographer, not to mention a couple of sniffer dogs. One might have been forgiven, superintendent, for thinking my client had stolen the Crown Jewels.’

Lamont didn’t respond, but the jury weren’t in any doubt who had won the third round.

‘Is it possible that one of those officers could have concealed the drugs in the statue without your knowledge?’

‘Impossible,’ said Lamont, fighting back.

‘By that, do you mean you can personally vouch for every last one of them, even the ones you didn’t realize were there?’

‘Of course I can’t,’ snapped Lamont. ‘However, I can assure the court they were all, without exception, first-class professionals, carrying out the job they were trained to do.’

‘Would you describe Detective Superintendent Jeremy Meadows as a first-class professional, who carried out the job he was trained to do?’

Lamont hesitated, clearly caught off guard, as another of Booth Watson’s punches landed, this one below the belt.

‘Take your time, superintendent, and please don’t be offended if I remind you that you are still under oath.’

Sir Julian rose to his feet. ‘M’lud,’ he said acidly, ‘I’m struggling to grasp the relevance of these questions, and where they are leading.’

‘Be assured, m’lud,’ said Booth Watson, clearly unmoved, ‘that will soon become crystal clear.’

‘I hope so, Mr Booth Watson,’ interjected the referee, ‘as I have some sympathy with Sir Julian’s view. Would you kindly come to the point.’

‘I shall do everything in my power to oblige, Your Lordship.’ Booth Watson turned his focus back on Lamont, who still hadn’t replied. ‘Do you need to be reminded of the question, superintendent?’

‘No, I do not.’

‘Then I await your answer with interest.’

‘Yes, I would describe Detective Superintendent Meadows as a consummate professional, and I was proud to be a member of his team.’

‘A consummate professional? May I ask what rank you held when you were so proud to be a member of his team?’

‘I was a detective sergeant in the murder squad, carrying out an investigation into the death of a notorious East End crime boss.’

‘Did that case come to court?’

Lamont nodded.

‘Once again, superintendent, the court will need to know for the record if that was a yes.’

‘Yes,’ replied Lamont curtly.

‘And what verdict did the jury come to on that occasion?’

‘Not guilty,’ said Lamont.

‘And can you recall, superintendent, the vital piece of evidence that caused the jury to reach that verdict?’

Booth Watson continued to stare at the witness.

‘If you can’t, I’d be happy to jog your memory.’ He waited for some time before saying, ‘Defence counsel, in that case, was able to prove that a gun had been planted on the suspect. Perhaps you could tell the court who planted that weapon on an innocent victim, superintendent?’

‘Detective Superintendent Jeremy Meadows,’ said Lamont in a voice that did not reach the back of the court.

‘And what became of Detective Superintendent Meadows following that incident?’

‘He resigned from the force and was later sent to prison.’

‘Where is all this leading, Mr Booth Watson?’ asked the judge, as Sir Julian rose to his feet.

‘I suspect we’re about to find out, m’lud,’ said Booth Watson, ignoring Sir Julian.

‘And as you have told us, superintendent, you were one of the officers serving on that case.’

‘I had that honour.’

‘Honour? But this was a case in which a senior police officer planted a gun on an innocent man in order to dishonestly secure a conviction.’

‘And less than a month after that man was found not guilty, he murdered another innocent victim.’

‘So you approved of your boss’s action?’ said Booth Watson.