‘He’s in Court Two,’ said Tess.
‘This way.’ Daniel took hold of her hand and led her up the stairs.
His hand enclosed her cold fingers. She loved the touch of his skin, warm and soft. She wanted to lift his hand to her mouth and gently run her lips along the back of it, inhaling his scent and feeling his soft hairs on her lips.
‘Court Two,’ he said, pointing. ‘Nearly there.’
They pushed open a double door and came face to face with Blake, his mother and his solicitor. She realised that she and Daniel were still holding hands and let go as if she’d been burnt.
‘Hello. How’s everything going?’ asked Tess.
‘What’s he doing here?’ asked Blake.
‘My car’s broken. Another car ran into it. Daniel gave me a lift.’
Joy’s lips wrinkled as she pursed them. ‘Convenient.’
‘He can go now. I’ll drive you home,’ said Blake.
His solicitor interjected. ‘Mr Snipes, I’m hoping things go well today but I don’t think you’ll be driving for a few months.’
‘A few months? I thought your job was to make sure I only get points and a fine.’
‘It’s not as simple as that. I’ll do my best, but the decision lies with the magistrates. We have an ace up our sleeves with the letter you’ve written explaining your circumstances, but we don’t need to go over that because it speaks for itself. Let’s think positively. Right now we need to go over a few more details.’
‘Wait for me afterwards,’ said Blake to Tess. ‘We’ll go back to Mum’s.’
Blake and his mother followed his legal representative into a waiting room.
Daniel pulled an apologetic face. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘There’s nothing for you to be sorry about,’ said Tess.
They pushed open the swing doors to Court Two. At the front was a small table for the court clerk who was already sitting down with a black robe draped round her shoulders. Facing the bench were two bar tables, one for the defence and one for the prosecution. She’d watched A Few Good Men and thought she recognised the layout. It looked just like the film set to her. She could almost imagine Tom Cruise walking in and taking over proceedings. Adjacent to these tables was the dock where the defendant had to stand. In this case, Blake.
Tess and Daniel sat at the back in an area sectioned off for families and the public. They sat in silence looking around the room for five minutes until a hush fell and Blake took his place. Next, three formidable looking magistrates sat down at the bench, before settling themselves and their paperwork. When they appeared to be ready, the court clerk stood up.
‘Would the defendant, Blake Snipes, step forwards, please.’
Tess watched him stand up and walk a few steps towards the dock. The clerk addressed the magistrates.
‘Your worships, Blake Snipes stands before you charged with driving without due care and attention, failure to provide a breath test at the scene, driving erratically liable to be a danger to the public, assaulting a police officer at the station and driving with excess alcohol in his blood.’
Tess was shocked to hear the list. She turned to Daniel with her mouth open in disbelief. ‘I didn’t know all that,’ she whispered.
The magistrates nodded and scribbled down some notes. Blake shifted uncomfortably fiddling with his tie.
‘Case for the prosecution.’
The clerk sat down and a woman in a navy blue suit and her hair in a tight chignon, stood up. For five minutes Tess listened while the prosecution went through the list of charges in minute detail, dissecting Blake’s misdemeanours inch by inch. Blake hadn’t told her that he’d pushed a police officer or fallen asleep behind the wheel. Why would he have kept that from her? Why hadn’t he told her that he’d failed to give a breath test?
The prosecution lawyer continued, glancing regularly at her notes. She informed the magistrates that Blake finally agreed to a breath test at the police station, where his reading was 97mcg, the legal limit being 35mcg. She said that due to the delay in providing the sample, it had to be ascertained that at the time the defendant was stopped, he would have had an even greater reading.
Eventually, the woman sat down and Blake’s defence lawyer got to his feet. He was a short, grey-haired man who shuffled his notes into order. Tess didn’t think he looked as professional as his colleague who had just spoken, but she knew that he held important information that would hopefully soften the magistrates’ dour expressions.
‘I would like to inform your worships of the defendant’s previous good name. He has never been in trouble with the police before and there are significant mitigating circumstances. What your worships can see before you is a copy of the letter that the defendant has written. It informs you of his ill health. In fact, the defendant is suffering from lung cancer.’
The public gallery buzzed into life. Tess looked over at Blake. For some reason, instead of looking relieved that everyone now knew how he was suffering, he’d sunk his head into his hands. The lawyer continued. ‘Despite suffering from lung cancer and coping with treatment at hospital appointments, the defendant continues to work full-time in order to pay his mortgage. Driving is an essential element to his work. I would like to ask your worships to take this into consideration when passing sentence.’
Tess looked back at Blake. He looked pale and sweat sparkled on his forehead.
‘He looks awful. Do you think he’s okay?’ Tess whispered.
‘It must be stressful for him. It shouldn’t be too much longer.’
The prosecuting lawyer stood up again. Tess thought that she might look a little defeated, but she looked pleased to be speaking again. Almost smug, Tess thought. Smirking across towards the defence team, she addressed the room.
‘This is all a little confusing,’ she said, sarcastically. ‘According to the defendant’s medical records, which have been made available to the courts, the last time the defendant saw his doctor, was on June thirtieth. He attended a consultation with Dr David Dillon. Mr Snipes was diagnosed with the common complaint of asthma. The only medication prescribed was a Salbutamol inhaler, which he uses to combat his breathing difficulties during an attack. He has never been diagnosed with cancer and has never attended hospital for any appointments.’
The public gallery was now muttering loudly and was asked to be quiet.
Tess frowned and leaned forward, as if by doing so she would understand better and her confusion would lift. What did the prosecutor mean, ‘He has never been diagnosed with cancer and has never attended hospital?’ Doubt slipped through Tess’s mind. The 30th of June. Wasn’t that the last day of the month when she’d cooked linguine as a final meal before finishing with him? Had he guessed that she was going to end their relationship? Had he blatantly lied to her? She looked at Blake. His head was bowed. He wasn’t denying it. He wasn’t angry at this outrageous injustice. He wasn’t demanding an apology.
One of the magistrates interrupted the prosecution lawyer. ‘Are you saying that Mr Snipes has lied to the court about his health in order to receive a reduced punishment?’
‘It certainly appears that way, your worship.’
‘May I see the defendant’s medical record?’
‘Lies,’ shouted Joy. ‘My boy is sick.’
‘Silence,’ the magistrate warned.
The lawyer walked across the floor, her heels click-clacking on the wood. She handed the magistrate some paperwork and took a step back while he read for a few moments. He passed it to his colleagues before handing it back.
Tess felt Daniel take her hand. She looked at him. His face was unreadable.
She felt nauseous. Her vision blurred and her ears buzzed. ‘I need a glass of water.’ She stood up and excused herself to the person on her left.
Daniel followed with a guiding hand on her back. People turned their legs sideways to let them pass and they made their way to the back of the room. Seeing them leave the gallery, the public leaned forwards whispering
and pointing.
Tess poured a glass of water from a jug in the waiting room. Her hands were shaking. She took a few sips and looked at Daniel. ‘Do you believe them?’
‘They have to check and double check their facts before presenting information in court. If they say he’s only got asthma, then…’
‘I can’t believe it. No wonder he never spoke about his treatment. He made a deliberate choice to lie about his health. All that time pretending that he was going for hospital visits. No wonder he never wanted me to go with him. My God, he showed me an X-ray and shaved his head because he said his hair was falling out. I trusted him. How could I have been so gullible? I’m such a fool.’
Daniel gently pulled her towards him and held her in his arms. ‘You’re not a fool.’ He gently squeezed her tighter. ‘Listen to me. Don’t ever say that. You were simply loyal and trusting. The blame lays one hundred per cent with Blake.’
Tess pulled away. ‘I wrote the letter that’s made things worse.’
‘You wrote what you thought was the truth. You did it to help. It’s not your fault that you didn’t have the correct facts.’
‘I should be glad it’s only asthma. I am glad, but… I can’t believe that he could actually do such a wicked thing.’
The usher interrupted them by poking his head around the door. ‘The chief magistrate is summing up if you want to hear it.’
They just made it back into their seats as the chief magistrate started to speak.
‘Mr Blake Snipes, listening to the evidence presented before us, you were clearly intoxicated on the night in question. You were a danger to other road users and the general public. Your failure to comply with a breath test at the scene does not help your case, nor does your evident lack of remorse. You continue to blame other car drivers and your ill health. Coming to this evidence, the letter you wrote and signed categorically states that you were diagnosed with lung cancer on the day that your GP informs us that you were diagnosed with asthma. You purposefully and wilfully tried to deceive the court and, as I now understand from the usher, you also deceived people close to you. It may be your first offence, but your conduct has been contemptible. You are a weak, dishonest, manipulative and controlling individual. Considering the seriousness of trying to dupe the court with false statements, you are to return to court for sentencing in two days. Don’t be surprised Mr Snipes, if a custodial sentence is passed. This court is not the place for mendacities.’
Blake looked confused. Tess saw him turn to his solicitor and mouth, ‘What?’
She watched the magistrates leave through a door at the back of the room. After they’d closed the door behind them, people scuttled around in different directions. Blake’s solicitor weaved his way through the bodies towards him. Tess thought that Blake looked different. She didn’t recognise this pale, bald, overweight man. This wasn’t the cheeky, lovable man she’d met two years ago. He wouldn’t have lied to her back then. This man had grown so far away from her own beliefs and morals, that she didn’t know him any more. More importantly, she didn’t want to know him any more. As dreadful as all this was, she realised that she was free to move on without guilt.
‘Would you like me to take you home?’ asked Daniel.
‘He lied.’
‘I know. I’m sorry.’
‘All this time…’
‘He must have panicked.’
‘Don’t make excuses for him. He doesn’t deserve it. So many people really do suffer from the disease every day with incredible dignity.’
‘I know. What’re you going to do?’
Tess buried her face in her hands and raked them up through her fringe.
‘I should be pleased, shouldn’t I? He doesn’t have any hold on me now. I’ll have to explain to him that there’s no way forward from this.’
‘Do you want to go with him so you can talk?’
‘No. Can we leave now? I need time to think.’
Tess stood up to leave but was startled when she heard her name called across the courtroom.
‘TEZZA!’
Blake sprinted across the floor and grabbed her arm.
‘It’s all a mistake. You’ll see. Let’s start again. Without any lies. I’ll look after you. Let’s get married.’
Tess squirmed. ‘Let go. You’re hurting me.’
Blake let go and stroked her arm. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to. It’s just that you have to listen to me. You have to understand that I did it for you.’
Tess raised her voice. ‘You told me that you were seriously ill because you thought it was better for me?’
‘Yes. I heard you tell Holly that you were going to leave me. I wanted to look after you and—’
‘You eavesdropped and decided to lie to me? You actually planned it and didn’t make it up on the spot in desperation?’
Joy appeared behind Blake. ‘You don’t deserve him.’
‘Keep out of this, Mum. Tezza, listen to me. I tried to make you see we could work it out. I’ve got a good job, a nice car, a decent salary and my own house.’
Tess gave a hollow laugh. ‘Don’t you know me at all, Blake? Do you think that possessions are more important to me than the person I’m in a relationship with?’
Joy interrupted. ‘He’s better off without you.’
Blake looked over his shoulder. ‘Mum, back off.’ He turned back to Tess. ‘We’ve been through so much together. It’s been great in the past and it can be great again. Can’t you see I lied because I love you?’
‘Stop it!’ Tess shook her head and stepped backwards until her back was touching Daniel’s chest. ‘I’m not listening. You’re just twisting everything. I don’t need looking after. Go away Blake. We’re finished.’
‘But listen…’
Daniel put a protective arm around Tess. ‘She’s asked you to go away.’
‘You bastard!’ White spittle frothed in the corners of Blake’s lips. It sprayed from his mouth. ‘Get your hands off her.’
Blake lurched towards Daniel with raised fists. Tess shielded her face. Two police officers stepped forwards, one grabbing Blake’s clenched hand.
‘Calm down or you’ll be cuffed.’
Blake twisted away from the policeman. The second officer expertly handcuffed Blake’s wrists behind his back.
Joy appeared in front of Tess, a bony finger pointing inches from her face. ‘You’ve done this. I’ve always said that you were wrong for him and now—’
‘I think you need to calm down too, madam,’ said another police officer. ‘Leave now or you’ll join your son in a cell to cool off for an hour.’
Blake was being escorted towards the court’s exit, followed closely by his mother.
Blake repeatedly called Tess’s name. His voice grew quieter the further away he was led. When she could no longer hear him, she turned and fell into Daniel’s arms.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Tess stomped around Rose Cottage. She couldn’t contain her anger. She’d thanked Daniel for the lift and explained that she needed time alone to take in what had happened. She muttered out loud as she strode from one room to the next, throwing Blake’s possessions into a black bin liner.
Having thrown the bin liner down the stairs, unconcerned that his toiletries may break, Tess dragged the bag into the lounge. She threw in a plastic Star Fleet phaser that she found on her bookshelf, several of his CDs, a framed picture of him taken last Christmas and a jumper that he’d left hanging on the arm of the settee. Scanning the room for any further items, she noticed his car pulling up outside her house.
‘No way,’ she shouted, screwing up his jumper and throwing it into the bag. She ran into the hall and fumbled with her keys. She inserted the key in the lock when he pushed the door open. ‘Go away.’ She tried to close the door.
‘I need to talk to you,’ said Blake, pushing the door wider.
‘I’m not listening any more. If you don’t leave I’m calling the police.’ The force he was pushing with, eased. With a fi
nal heave, Tess closed the door and locked it.
She strode down the hall and into the kitchen. Opening a cupboard, Tess threw Blake’s Arsenal mug into the bag where it made a hollow snap as it broke. It was an amazingly satisfying sound. She pulled open the fridge, grabbed his beer cans and smelly blue cheese. Thank God she wouldn’t have to put up with Blue Stilton wafting around her tidy fridge any longer.
Tess turned as Blake let himself in through the back door. She stood still, hyperventilating at the effort of wiping him from her life. He looked sheepishly at her.
‘What are you doing, Tezza?’
‘What do you think I’m doing? Making you some lunch? I’m getting rid of anything that reminds me of you. And if you ever call me Tezza again, I’ll be the one that needs arresting.’
‘I’m sorry I made a scene earlier.’
‘Is that all you’re sorry for?’
‘It’s just that he had his arm around you. How would you feel if you saw a girl with her arm around me?’
‘Sorry for her.’
‘You know you don’t mean that, Tez… Tess.’
‘You’ve no idea how much I do mean it, Blake.’ Tess looked inside a parcel of silver foil that was sitting on a shelf in the fridge. It was two slices of Blake’s pizza. She rewrapped it and threw it into the bin liner. Slamming the fridge door, she turned and yanked open the cupboard that contained her wine glasses. Within seconds, a pint beer glass had been thrown into the bag and smashed.
‘What are you doing?’
‘I’m clearing you out of my house. Out of my life.’
‘Are those my things?’ Blake stepped forwards and pulled open the bin liner. ‘You’ve broken my stuff, my Star Fleet phaser.’
You've Got My Number: Warm your heart this winter with this uplifting and deliciously romantic story! Page 22