A Private and Convenient Place
Page 16
‘I think that must be right, Mr Cronshaw.’
‘I withdraw the question.’
Cronshaw looked at the jury and sat down. Everdene rose, adjusted his papers on his lectern and fixed his gaze on the witness.
‘You knew Julia Hamilton several years before, did you not?’
‘Yes. I did. We were both much younger then.’
‘You were in your mid-thirties?’
‘I suppose I was.’
‘And she was just twenty-one.’
Everdene glanced at the jury.
‘Was she?’
‘That’s what the record shows, Mr Savage. You took her to Brighton, I believe?’
‘Yes. For the week-end.’
‘You drove her there in a flash motor car?’
‘A BMW Series Five, yes. I wouldn’t call it flash. I’ve always had BMWs. I have Series Seven now.’
Everdene ignored the reference to Savage’s latest car.
‘Having booked a double room with a double bed at the Grand Hotel?’
‘Yes.’
‘Sounds like a very expensive week-end?’
‘I thought she was worth it.’
‘You weren’t by any chance taking advantage of a young girl whose head you had turned?’
Savage did not reply for a few seconds. He did his best to look offended before remarking,
‘She seemed very keen on the idea.’
‘Did she? Afterwards, she refused to have anything to do with you for several years.’
‘Regretfully, yes.’
‘Tell the jury why that was, Mr Savage?’
Savage cleared his throat.
‘Well, things didn’t quite go as I hoped. I suppose I over indulged. In those days I had a weakness for champagne.’
‘In those days? You overindulged before you caught the train from Waterloo last year, didn’t you?’
‘That was different. I was celebrating.’
‘But in Brussels you behaved like a perfect gentleman?’
‘I think so, yes.’
Savage looked puzzled. That was not an accusation that had ever been levelled against him before.
‘Oh, I don’t dispute it Mr Savage. Your conduct was beyond reproach. But you say you had no idea that Julia Hamilton was pregnant?’
‘It never crossed my mind, no.’
‘She told you, didn’t she?’
‘Not that I recall. Certainly not while we were in Brussels. She told me after we returned, after she’d been interviewed by the police.’
‘You don’t remember her informing you at dinner on your second night at the Hotel?
Everdene sounded suitably incredulous. Savage shook his head.
‘No.’
‘The night you consumed a whole bottle of Perrier Jouet eighty-one. Celebrating both your elevation to silk and your good fortune in respect of your great aunt’s estate?’
‘Yes, I remember the champagne. It cost a pretty penny.’
‘She told you she should not be drinking alcohol. She had only a tiny amount – you drank the rest.’
‘I recall she was pretty abstemious, yes.’
‘And she told you why, didn’t she? She told you she was pregnant by Michael Doyle, her ex-boyfriend?’
Savage began to look uncomfortable. The effort of remembering the evening was straining his recollection.
‘I remember her saying that she was no longer involved with Doyle. I recall that because I thought it meant she was interested in me. But saying she was pregnant? No. I don’t remember that at all.’
‘Is it, perhaps, because you have forgotten what she told you? The champagne you consumed may have affected your memory? You do not react particularly well to champagne, no matter what the quality, do you?’
‘It’s possible, I suppose, but I do not remember her telling me she was pregnant. I’m sure that’s not something I would have forgotten.’
‘That’s why you and she slept in separate beds, isn’t it?’
‘We certainly didn’t sleep in the same bed. There were separate beds in the suite.’
‘Queen sized beds?’
‘King size actually. At least that’s what I paid for.’
‘All the better, Mr Savage. Either one would have accommodated two comfortably?’
‘I suppose they would.’
‘Yet you never shared a bed?’
‘I suppose we didn’t.’
‘There’s no suppose about it, Mr Savage. You suspected she was pregnant by Doyle and she confirmed it. That’s why you never slept with her.’
‘Is it? I thought I just wasn’t pushing it, behaving like a gentleman as you said. I really was getting very fond of her.’
He looked slyly at the dock. Julia bowed her head as their eyes met.
‘You were hoping she would have a termination, weren’t you?’
Savage reacted angrily.
‘No! That never came up in conversation. Not even when we got back from Brussels.’ He paused. ‘I would never ask any woman to do such a thing. I don’t agree with it. I really don’t.’
Everdene paused.
‘I want to turn now to the question of the suitcases raised by my learned friend. You only really noticed she had three items of luggage after you arrived at the hotel?’
‘No. I noticed she had three bags when I picked her up at her apartment. One of the cases seemed heavy when I put it in my car. The porter at the hotel was struggling to carry it too. But I didn’t think anything of it at the time.’
‘Did you test the weight yourself?’
‘I didn’t test it, but I noticed it was pretty heavy. As I’ve said, I wondered what she could have had in it.’
‘Miss Hamilton had quite a collection of outfits with her, did she not? She never wore the same dress twice, did she?’
Savage nodded.
‘I must confess she always looked pretty stunning. And she always changed into something different for dinner.’
‘So, that would fully explain the number of suitcases she had with her?’
‘I suppose it might, yes.’
‘And you also left it to the taxi driver and the porter at the hotel to deal with the luggage when you left for the airport at the end of your vacation?’
‘Yes. It was costing me enough to stay there. I didn’t see why I should have the bother. That’s what they’re paid to do.’
‘But you were anticipating having to pay an excess baggage charge?’
‘Yes.’
‘It follows that you must have thought both suitcases would be going with you to the airport?’
‘Yes.’
‘You had not noticed either of her suitcases disappearing while you were at the hotel?’
‘No.’
Everdene gave the jury a meaningful look as if that was something they should try and remember.
‘Why did you choose to fly back? Why not take the train?’
‘I had to get back to London and the train was fully booked until later in the week. It was Easter you know.’
‘Judge Campion was due to give his judgment on the Wednesday, the seventh of April?’
‘Yes.’
‘You wanted to be there for that?’
‘If possible, yes.’
‘Although you were not directly involved in the litigation.’
‘No, but it was an interesting point. There were many people intrigued by the issues who were not appearing in the case. I was only one of many.’
‘And Julia Hamilton? Did she share your fascination with the case?’
‘I wouldn’t say so, no. She told me it was all over between her and Doyle. She only came with me because I simply had to be there. I didn’t want to miss anything, so I drove straight to the cou
rt from Heathrow. There wasn’t time to drop her off at her apartment. Given what happened, I was glad I was there. You don’t see something like that every day of the week.’
‘Your original intention had been to drop her off at her apartment and then go to the court?’
‘Yes.’
‘So, it was important for you to get back to the UK that day?’
‘Yes. I also had to prepare for the silk ceremony. I had a fitting at Ede and Ravenscroft later in the week.’
‘So you decided to fly?’
‘Yes.’
‘Although you do not enjoy flying?’
‘No, I do not.’
‘Would it be an exaggeration to say you are scared of flying?’
Savage bowed his head. ‘No.’
‘And how did you cope on this occasion. The flight was in the late afternoon, I believe.’
‘Yes. I must confess I did have rather a lot to drink at the airport. There was a delay.’
‘You don’t seem to have much luck when travelling?’
‘No. I do seem to suffer a lot of delays.’
‘So you occupied your time in the bar?
‘Yes.’
‘Champagne, again?’
Savage looked down before he answered.
‘Yes.’
‘So much, in fact, you were quite incapable of driving when you arrived at Heathrow?’
‘Yes. I would never drive if I’d been drinking.’
He eyed the judge, discreetly.
‘Julia Hamilton had suggested you go easy on the alcohol, hadn’t she?
‘Yes, she did.’
‘You had left your car at Heathrow so you could drive to Leicester?’
‘Yes. I wanted my car available for when we got back.’
‘But your condition when you arrived at Heathrow was such that you were forced to stay the night at the Heathrow Hilton?’
‘Yes. It was pretty late anyway.’
‘And you drove up to Leicester on the Wednesday morning?’
‘Yes.’
‘You and Julia Hamilton slept in the same double bed at the Hilton?’
‘Yes.’
‘But no sexual activity took place?’
‘Well I was in no condition…’
‘No sexual activity took place?’
Savage shook his head. ‘No.’
‘Because you knew she was pregnant?’
‘No - I don’t remember.’
‘Who decided to go to Brussels over the Easter break?’
‘I did, of course. It was the only time I could go, especially as I was anticipating getting silk last year. But I had to go in order to meet with my great-aunt’s lawyer.’
Everdene glanced at the jury. ‘I want the jury to be very clear about this, Mr Savage. You agree that you fixed the time for this trip, not Julia Hamilton?’
‘Yes. It was all fixed up before I asked her to come with me. I had made appointments to see people in Brussels. Her coming with me was really an afterthought on my part.’
‘Equally, the day you returned was also decided by you – in advance of your invitation to her?’
‘Yes. I was lucky to get an additional seat on the plane. That’s why we flew business class. I’d have gone tourist otherwise.’
‘But only one suitcase returned with her?’
‘And the handbag.’
‘She was very annoyed with you about that?’
‘She certainly was. She said it was my fault.’
‘She had some valuable items in that suitcase?
‘So she said. I never saw what was in it, though.’
‘You are aware it was eventually recovered?’
‘I never saw it again.’
Everdene addressed the judge. ‘There will be an admission by the Crown as to what was in it when it was returned to the hotel in Brussels by a taxi driver about ten days later.’
Cronshaw stood up. ‘Yes, my Lord. We are prepared to admit what was in it when it reappeared. We shall be arguing that something else was in it before Mr Savage and Miss Hamilton left for Brussels.’
The judge nodded.
‘Do you have any further questions for Mr Savage, Mr Everdene?’
The judge looked at the clock.
‘Yes, my Lord, but I shall not be long about it.’
He turned towards the witness box.
‘When you had dinner with Julia Hamilton in London on the sixteenth of March last year, she told you she had travelled to London by train from Leicester during the late afternoon?’
‘That’s what she said, yes.’
‘And she was wearing a very elegant pale blue dress?’
‘That’s what I remember.’
‘I don’t suppose she was wearing motor cycle boots with such an outfit?’
Savage smiled. Three of the jurors tittered.
‘She most certainly was not. Now, I come to think about it, she was wearing dark blue leather shoes with a raised heel. One of the other diners commented on her shoes and asked where she had bought them.’
‘And her coat, what sort of material was that made from? Not leather I take it?’
‘No. It was very soft, probably wool or similar.’
‘And she had no suitcase or bag with her?’
‘No, just the small bag I mentioned earlier.’
‘Not a bag you could have got a set of motorcycle leathers into?’
Savage smiled as did some of the jurors.
‘Of course not.’
‘Tell me, Mr Savage, why did you choose to see her on the Tuesday of that week?’
‘I recall asking her to come up to London at the dinner in Leicester the previous Friday. I told her I couldn’t do either the Wednesday or the Friday and I think she said, “How about Tuesday” and I agreed.’
‘She didn’t press you to make it Tuesday in any way?’
‘Not at all. It was as much my decision as it was hers. But I’m pretty sure she suggested it.’
Everdene paused and adjusted his gown.
‘On the twelfth of March last, you drove Julia Hamilton to Thrussington. She had an appointment with her hairdresser?’
‘Her stylist, yes.’
‘And when you saw her that evening, it was quite obvious that her hair had been professionally styled?’
‘Yes. She looked a million dollars. I was very proud to be seen with her.’
‘When you dropped her off in Thrussington, what did she do?’
‘Well, she got out of the car. I stayed in the driving seat. She stood on the pavement and pointed in the direction I should go. She told me to go past the pub – the Blue Lion I think it’s called – then turn right. I was to drive through the next village then turn right and the A46 was a few hundred metres on the left. She also gave me directions to her mother’s cottage. I was to pick her up there later.’
‘And she remained on the pavement giving you these instructions?’
‘Yes.’
‘Could you see her in your rear view mirror as you drove off?’
‘Only for a few seconds. There’s a bend in the road.’
‘I want you to think carefully about this, Mr Savage. What is your last recollection of her as you drove away?’
‘She was standing on the pavement watching me drive off. Then she was out of my view.’
‘And what time was that?’
‘Around two o’clock. I recall I heard the news headlines on the radio as I was passing through the next village.’
‘Through Ratcliffe on the Wreake?’
‘Is that what it’s called?’
‘Yes. That’s what it’s called.’
Everdene paused.
‘Finally this, Mr Savage. How did you end your relatio
nship with Julia Hamilton?’
Savage took a deep breath and spoke hesitatingly.
‘After she was interviewed by the police… I had to reconsider my options. I had just taken silk and I was then certainly aware that she was pregnant with Michael Doyle’s child. Doyle was suspected of being involved in the kidnapping of Judge Campion’s wife and son. Our relationship was the subject of a great deal of…eh… comment in the robing room. I really didn’t think it was going to go anywhere after that.’
‘You had your career to think of?’
Savage dropped his head for a moment.
‘Yes.’
‘Plenty more fish in the sea?’
Savage glared at counsel.
‘If there are, they haven’t come my way, yet.’
‘But you agree that it was you who chose to end the relationship?’
‘Yes, although I must say that she seemed to understand my position. She was very good about it.’
He glanced at Julia who looked away.
‘Did you eventually learn the value of your great aunt’s estate?’
‘What’s that to do with anything?’ replied Savage. ‘It hasn’t all been settled yet. They don’t rush these things in Belgium you know.’
‘So you never discussed it with Miss Hamilton?’
‘What was there to discuss? She did mention the painting when the lawyer pointed out that it might be by Pieter de Hooch or one of his followers, but the experts only reported on it several months later. I have never discussed it with her since they gave their views.’
‘And is it genuine?’
‘The experts think so. It’s being auctioned at Christie’s in May. There’s no other way of establishing its value.’
‘No further questions.’
‘Do you have any re-examination, Mr Cronshaw?’ asked the judge.
‘Just one question, my Lord. This painting, is there going to be a reserve on it when it’s auctioned?’
‘Yes, what of it? That’s usual in such cases.’
‘Care to tell us how much?’
‘Do I have to, my Lord?’
Savage appealed to the judge. Cronshaw continued before the judge could answer. ‘Well, it’s common knowledge in the robing rooms on the circuit, isn’t it? You haven’t exactly kept it a secret have you, Mr Savage?’
Savage sighed.
‘Two million pounds, but I hope to get more.’
‘Thank you.’
Cronshaw sat down. The judge looked towards the jury.