by Vicary, Tim
‘Until I turned up to distract him.’ Sarah shuddered, remembering. ‘In his alibi, Gary said Sean went off with a prostitute, didn’t he?’
‘Yes, I know. I should have taken that more seriously. But at the time ...’ Terry shook his head. ‘Perhaps Sean did go with one, and things went wrong as they always did, which would have enraged him even more. So he decided to revenge himself on Sharon.’
‘Poor woman.’ Sarah sighed, remembering the sense of triumph she had felt after cross-examining Sharon in the witness box. And yet she had been right, after all - Sharon hadn’t been able to identify her rapist, had she? Not that it seemed like much of a triumph, now. ‘So what about Jasmine? How did this Sean get involved with her?’
‘Well, according to Gary, he’d been to Simon’s house a few times - they both had, hiding stolen goods. So he must have met her there. Something about her must have attracted him.’
‘Everything, probably, poor girl,’ Sarah murmured sadly. ‘After all, she looked like a film star, and she loved leading men on. But why didn’t Simon notice? Or Gary, or anyone?’
‘If you’d met him you’d see why,’ said Terry, thinking of cold, distant eyes that had faced him across the interview table earlier this morning. ‘He gives nothing away, this lad. That’s why he’s survived so long. I doubt if he talks about women with anyone at all.’
‘Just stalks them on his own, you mean?’ Sarah shuddered, remembering the first photo of Jasmine Terry had shown her - the one taken days, weeks perhaps before her death, a young healthy girl running alone on the river path, unaware of the hidden maniac watching with his stolen camera. ‘That would explain what she said to Mandy Kite.’
‘Who?’
‘A witness I wasn’t allowed to use - one of the eco-warriors. Jasmine had told her she often felt she was being followed. The prosecution thought it was Simon and I suggested it was David Brodie, God forgive me! Bob was right, it wasn’t him ... but what could I do?’
She stared away from him across the river, embarrassed by sudden tears. He hovered, wanting to put a comforting arm round her shoulders but uncertain how it would be received.
As always with Sarah, the tears were short-lived. She turned, brushing them away with her hand. ‘And so he stalked her for a while, and then he followed her that night when she and Simon had their quarrel ...’
‘Probably.’
‘... and then he jumped out at her somewhere and thought that since she was two-timing both her boyfriends she wouldn’t mind doing it with him as well. That’s the way these perverts think, isn’t it? Then when she refused, he pulled out his knife and - Jesus, Terry!’
She stopped, took hold of his arm. ‘Let’s not go any further, if you don’t mind. You realise where we are, don’t you?’
He looked, and saw what she meant. They were less than half a mile from where Jasmine’s body had been found. They turned back towards the city.
‘Of course this is all speculation. The only confession he’s made so far is to Sharon.’
‘Which you’ll have the devil of a job getting admitted in court. I couldn’t.’
‘There’s lawyers for you.’ Terry said, regretting it instantly. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean ...’
‘Yes you did.’ She walked on, looking down moodily. ‘Everyone hates us, except when we’re needed.’
He changed the subject. ‘How’s Simon taking it? Surely he must be grateful.’
‘Oh yes.’ She offered a wry smile. ‘But to you, as much as to me. I’m surprised he hasn’t been round to thank you. You’re his hero, right now.’
‘I’ll look forward to it. And Bob? He must be pleased?’
‘Yes, of course.’ Sarah sighed. ‘His problem is that not only did he shop Simon in the first place, he also believed in his guilt. Which makes things rather difficult in his relationship with Simon, you see. And in his relationship with me.’
Terry searched for an answer. ‘You’ll get over it. In time.’
‘Will we, Terry?’ She looked up at him. ‘I wonder.’
They walked on for a while in silence. As they reached the car park, she turned and took both of his hands in hers. Over her shoulder he could see the Norman castle on its mound, and in front of it the elegant eighteenth century law courts where so much was decided. For better or worse. She pressed his hand gently, and smiled.
‘Anyway, we got something right in the end, between us, didn’t we?’
She reached up, kissed him gently on the cheek, and was gone.
If you have enjoyed this book you might like to read the next two legal thrillers in the series ‘The Trials of Sarah Newby’
A Fatal Verdict
UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/ASIN/B005C0YH48
US http://www.amazon.com/dp/ASIN/B005C0YH48
Bold Counsel
UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/ASIN/B005D4QLYM
US http://www.amazon.com/dp/ASIN/B005D4QLYM
Tim Vicary has also written three historical thrillers which are available as ebooks
The Blood upon the Rose
Love, rebellion and terror in Ireland 1920
UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/ASIN/B005ET2050
US http://www.amazon.com/dp/ASIN/B005ET2050
Cat and Mouse
Romance, rebellion and suffragettes in London and Ireland, 1914
UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/ASIN/B005GA9B86
US http://www.amazon.com/dp/ASIN/B005GA9B86
The Monmouth Summer
Rebellion, love and tragedy in England, 1685
UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/ASIN/B0068G990C
US http://www.amazon.com/dp/ASIN/B0068G990C
Website: http://www.timvicary.com
Blog: http://timvicary.wordpress.com
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
>
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four