Court Out - By Elle Wynne Page 0,30
the clerks room open and notice immediately that the atmosphere is one of trepidation.
The phones are ringing loudly and the admin staff are constantly putting people on hold whilst trying to get the attention of various clerks. I make eye contact with Stella, another of our clerks who is arguing down her headset with an unknown party. She nods her head towards Roger’s room and mouths ‘good luck.’
Well that’s it then. I’ve clearly done something truly awful. The Lenihan case? Surely not, that’s all been resolved now. Serena? No, she’d have said something. My pulse is racing as I slide open the partition to the inner sanctum and I can feel a cold sweat developing on the back of my neck. I know this is ridiculous as I’ve done nothing wrong, but that doesn’t banish the ever heightening sense of dread.
My eyes adjust to the slightly darker room and I see Roger standing in the corner of the room, eyes darting over a piece of paper held between his yellowing fingers. I nervously clear my throat and he looks up.
“Ah, good. Take a seat Miss.”
I do as I’m told and perch on a hard wooden chair placed near to his desk. Roger assumes the seat on the opposite side of the desk and removes a packet of cigarettes from the top drawer. I watch as he puts one in his mouth and expertly lights it with a match from a book concealed under his keyboard. The room fills with smoke and I try not to cough. He fixes his beady eyes on me and speaks.
“Appears we have a problem Miss.”
I decide that silence is perhaps the best option and say nothing. I sit on my hands in an attempt to stop them from shaking and watch, fascinated as he takes another drag on his cigarette. The ash falls delicately onto a pile of newspaper clippings below.
“It’s Miss Harte, had a nasty accident,” he drawls.
This snaps me out of my trance and I stare it him in horror.
“What’s happened? Is she ok?” Hands forgotten, I run them through my hair. Roger flicks the cigarette in the general direction of where his ashtray is.
“Car accident Miss. Nasty business. She was driving home last night when she got involved in a fight with a HGV on the dual carriageway. Needless to say the HGV won.”
“How is she though? Is she hurt?”
He continues with his customary bluntness.
“She’ll live. Broken leg, arm, ribs. You name it, it’s in plaster. Out of action for a while though Miss. That’s why I need to speak to you.”
I’m so relieved that Samantha’s ok that his words hardly register.
“What? Do you need me to take something to her or cover a few of her cases?”
“Something like that Miss. Does the name Ryan Hobbs mean anything to you?”
No way. It’s a minute before I dare to ask the obvious question that is on the tip of my tongue.
“Are you saying that I’m being drafted in as junior?” I pause and wait for him to start laughing hysterically, telling me that he just wants me to do some research for her about the previous cases. It doesn’t come.
“Got it in one Miss. Trial starts a week Monday. I’ve cleared your diary save for one trial they won’t move, some benefit fraud. I’ve spoken to Corr and whilst he’s not happy about this, there’s nothing any of us can do.”
“Won’t the court delay the Hobbs trial until she gets better?” I venture.
He laughs in disbelief.
“Given that it’s a murder and this is the third trial at that, I’d have more luck in convincing the Pope that Buddhism is the way forward.”
I nod silently. I can’t believe this. I know I shouldn’t ask but...
“Why me? Surely there are more senior people available?”
He frowns whilst getting to his feet and walking over to the office floor.
“Ask me no questions Miss, just thank your lucky stars.”
I realise I’m being dismissed so bid him a quick goodbye and hurry back up to my room, barely noticing the eyes that follow me through the clerks room.
I sit in silence for the best part of twenty minutes before reality kicks in. Fear and excitement run through my veins as I consider the upcoming trial. I’ve never been trusted to do anything as serious as this before and I can only imagine the amount of work I’m going to have to do to prepare; If anything happens to Corr during the course of the trial then the rules state