Dead In The Water

CHAPTER 9

Allison was taken away by the matron, and Stone, Sir Leslie, and Thomas left the jail, walked upstairs, and found the courtroom. Thomas took a front row seat, and Sir Leslie led Stone to the defense table. Sir Winston and another man, probably his supporting attorney, were already seated at the prosecution table. Various people milled around the room until the bailiff stood and shouted for all to stand. A moment later a red-gowned, bewigged black man entered from a side door and took the bench. He was middle-aged, tall and thin, with short, graying hair under his gray wig.

"Be seated," the judge said. "Bring up the prisoner."

Stone turned and watched as Allison came up from a hidden stairway and entered the dock. She had pulled back her hair, and in her fresh dress looked quite normal.

"Madam, would you like a chair?" the judge asked.

"Thank you, yes, Your Lordship," she replied, giving him a grateful smile.

That's it, Stone thought, pour on the charm for the judge; wouldn't be the first time that had worked.

"Sir Winston," the judge said, "do you have a request for this court?"

Sir Winston stood and handed a folder to the bailiff. "Thank you, Your Lordship, yes. The government petitions this court for the trial on a charge of murder of one Allison Ames Manning, now present in the dock. We certify that we have sufficient evidence to bring this case to trial and to convict the defendant."

The judge accepted the folder, flipped through it for a moment, and addressed the middle distance. "All is in order; who will appear for the prosecution?"

"I will, Your Lordship," Sir Winston replied, "assisted by Henry Porter."

The judge turned to the court reporter. "Write down that Sir Winston Sutherland and Mr. Henry Porter will appear for the prosecution." He looked over at the defense table. "And who will act for the defense?"

"I will, Your Lordship," Sir Leslie said, standing, "and I request to be assisted by Mr.Stone Barrington." He turned to Stone and whispered, "Stand up."

Stone stood, feeling foolish in the tight robe, the wig in his hand.

"I do not recognize Mr.Barrington," the judge said.

"Your Lordship, Mr.Barrington is an American barrister, a prominent member of the New York bar. I request that he be admitted to the St.Marks bar for the duration of this action, so that I might have his advice."

"Will he question witnesses?" the judge asked.

Stone spoke up before Sir Leslie could. "Yes, Your Lordship."

"Mr.Barrington, have you had the experience of defending in a murder trial?"

"I have, Your Lordship, on four occasions."

"And how did you do?" the judge asked impishly.

"They were all innocent, Your Lordship," Stone replied with mock seriousness, "but only three were acquitted."

The judge smiled. "Three out of four acquitted, eh? But then, you have such a lenient judicial system, don't you?"

"On the contrary, Your Lordship, in a lenient system all four would have been acquitted."

The judge laughed. "Very well, Mr. Barrington, you are admitted to the St.Marks bar for the duration of this trial." He turned to the reporter. "Write down that the defense will be represented by Sir Leslie Hewitt and Mr.Stone Barrington."

Sir Leslie leaned over and whispered out of the corner of his mouth,"Put on the wig."

"What?" Stone whispered back.

"Put on the bloody wig!"

Stone put the wig on and stood there, feeling extremely foolish.

The judge smiled broadly. "Very becoming, Mr.Barrington. I'm sure you will do the St.Marks bar proud. You may be seated."

Stone sat down, but Sir Leslie remained standing. "Your Lordship," he said,"the defense requests bail for the defendant to extend through the trial."

"Well," the judge replied, "in a capital case, the bail would have to be substantial. Is the defendant possessed of a substantial sum of cash?"

"Your Lordship, the defendant owns a large yacht moored in English Harbour, which I am assured is valued at in excess of one and one-half million dollars in U.S. currency. I request that the yacht secure her bail, and that she be allowed to live aboard the vessel until these proceedings are concluded."

The judge turned to the prosecution. "Sir Winston?"

"I have no objection, Your Lordship, as long as the defendant has a clear understanding of the terms of her bail."

"Quite right, Sir Winston," the judge replied. He turned to Allison, sitting in the dock. "Mrs.Manning, in St.Marks, bail is more than security, it is a sacred obligation. In order for me to grant bail, you must agree not to leave this island, and you should know that if you should do so, you would not only forfeit bail-in this case, your yacht-but under St.Marks law your departure would be tantamount to a plea of guilty to the charge, and you would stand convicted of murder."

Holy shit, Stone thought.

"Do you understand the terms of your bail?"

Allison stood. "I do, Your Lordship."

"Very well, bail is granted, and the yacht will be secured to the dock." He looked down at his calendar. "Trial is set for Monday next, at 10:00 A.M."

Stone's jaw dropped. "Your Lordship," he managed to say, "that gives us only six days to prepare for trial."

"Quite right, Mr.Barrington," the judge replied. "Any problem with that?"

Sir Leslie spoke up. "The defense is satisfied with the trial date, Your Lordship," he said.

"But we have to get a barrister in here from London to conduct the defense," Stone said. "If it pleases the Court."

"Mr.Barrington," the judge said, as if speaking to a backward child, "it is already in the record that the defense will be conducted by Sir Leslie, with your assistance. The record cannot be changed." He stood.

"All rise," the bailiff called out. The judge turned and left the courtroom. Stone turned to Sir Leslie. "Leslie, what the hell is he talking about?"

"What?" Sir Leslie replied, packing his wig into his case and removing Stone's.

"I thought you understood that we have a barrister coming from London."

"What?" Sir Leslie asked.

"Leslie, you cannot conduct this trial; you said so yourself."

Sir Leslie turned on him. "To whom do you think you are speaking, sir? I have conducted the defense at five hundred and eighty-three trials in this court! This one will be five hundred and eighty-four! I will discuss my fee with you later." He wheeled and walked out of the courtroom, carrying his robe and his wig.

Stone turned and looked for the first time at Thomas Hardy in the front row. Thomas sat with his head in his hands, making a moaning sound.

Allison came down from the dock. "All ready to go?" she asked cheerfully.