Court Out - By Elle Wynne Page 0,115
with me then.”
He falters. “What?”
His cheerful expression is slowly sliding from his face. In contrast, I’m certainly regaining my good mood.
“Sorry, wasn’t I clear? I said, I’m taking the brief with me.”
He looks at me like I’m trying to explain advanced nuclear physics to him. I decide to put him out of his misery.
“Alexander I’m leaving. You and most of Chambers have treated me like something you’d scrape off your shoe. You all thought I was guilty and not one of you thought to take me aside and discuss it with me.” My voice begins to wobble, but I’m damn sure that I’m going to finish what I came here to say. “I always thought that Chambers was a family of sorts, friends that I could count on no matter what happened. I can forgive the police for how they behaved, but I can’t forgive you.”
Satisfyingly, Alexander looks completely flummoxed.
“You’re leaving the Bar?” he exclaims.
I laugh. “No. Far from it. I’ve joined another set of Chambers and I’m taking my work with me.”
“Where?” he enquires.
“I’m joining Corr’s set. He has been a tower of strength to me and for that I’ll be eternally grateful. He didn’t judge me, never questioned my actions or my innocence. You, on the other hand couldn’t wait to get rid of me, to ‘protect your reputation.’ Well, I hope when people hear about this they know exactly why I left.”
I turn and walk back towards the door. When Corr called the other night to offer me a place he made it clear that if I joined his Chambers, it’d be on the same terms as everyone else; I wasn’t to expect any special treatment or work based on sympathy at my predicament. I literally jumped with joy when he offered me a home. I don’t want this nightmare to follow me for the rest of my career, I want to be the barrister I was, fearless, feisty and full of beans. If I stay here then I’ll carry the resentment I have for most of them around with me like a weight around my neck.
“Wait!” exclaims my former Head of Chambers. I pause and slowly turn round to face him, my skirt swishing satisfactorily against my legs.
“Yes?” I enquire politely.
“I hope you’re not going to speak to the press about this.”
He really is unbelievable. Right, that’s it.
“Why, are you worried that I’m going to tell them how I was unceremoniously ejected from Chambers? How I was treated like a leper by my colleagues? How you made me feel like a criminal? How a bunch of barristers can’t even grasp the concept of ‘innocent until proven guilty?’ Oh Alexander, I owe you nothing.”
As I’m half way out of the door I have another thought.
“Someone will come to collect my things. By the way, I’m taking Cassie with me too.”
“What, our pupil?” he exclaims in confusion.
“You didn’t give her a tenancy. Corr will. You really need to learn how to treat people. Goodbye Alexander.”
Chapter Twenty Nine
Six months later...
“Court Rise”
As I uncross my ankles, raise myself to my feet and take a low bow, I silently thank God that this Judge’s ferocious nicotine habit has kept his summing up mercifully short. I glance over my shoulder to check that Mr. Walsh is still awake in the dock. He is... just. After his last glorious acquittal of stealing knickers, he’s back.
This time, he’s supposed to have been on a shoplifting spree in Ann Summers. When the list of items they found on him was read out, even the Judge turned an alarming shade of red. I smile as it dawns on me that the descriptions of the various marital-aides were not mentioned in his review of the evidence.
True to form, Mr. Walsh is out of the dock like a greyhound from a trap. I sigh and am about to tail him onto the concourse of Farrington Crown Court when a familiar figure comes into the well of the court. She’s fully robed, carrying a pile of papers and is barking orders at a male barrister who is trying to keep up with her.
“If you think I’m agreeing that, then you’re wrong. You want it in, you call the evidence.”
The expression on her face makes it clear that she’s not going to take any nonsense from him. I bite my lip and try not to smile.
“Hi Cassie!” I call.
She spots me and smiles. “Hey Lauren. Have your jury gone out yet? I’m in the next trial.”
“Yep, they’ve literally just retired.