Court Out - By Elle Wynne Page 0,46

we’ll hear the rest. It must have been terrible for the poor woman, I mean imagine going to fish out some rubbish from your employers’ luxury garden accessory and ending up fishing out your employer.

I switch off my laptop and trip over the power cord as I step out from behind my bench. I’m not that hungry so I think I’ll spend the hour-long break looking over some of the photographs taken at the scene.

The others file out and I open up the folder that contains them. I locate the picture of the broken bottle of champagne. The glossy green bottle has been smashed into a million pieces on the black and white chequerboard kitchen floor but parts of the pale yellow label are still visible. It’s an expensive brand that I recognise from the odd party I’ve attended. Sebastian is a real lover of champagne and spends ages poring over which bottles to buy to add to his collection in the garage. I’d like to say I agree with him, but to be honest, as long as it’s cold, wet and alcoholic, I’ll usually drink anything. I turn over a few pages, marveling at the size of the house, the elaborate decor, the size of the huge plasma televisions in every room, including the downstairs loo. The next few photographs show the basement floor, styled to include a gym, games room and wine cellar. I study the bottles with interest, drooling at the various bottles of wine that are stacked up against the wall. Having read what I have about Marina, I really wouldn’t be surprised to find a bottle of Lambrini in there somewhere.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn round. Serena is holding out a Styrofoam cup of hot chocolate.

“Peace offering?” she says as I take the cup from her hands “I’m sorry for being a grade A bitch. That was a really nice thing of you to do for me earlier.”

I take a sip and consider her words. She continues.

“I know it was my fault, I just can’t believe I was that stupid. I just couldn’t accept I’d fucked up that badly. Please forgive me.”

I’m not a creature who enjoys confrontation outside of court and I cave in easily, my earlier anger forgotten.

“On one hand, I can’t deal with being at war with both you and Lucinda at the same time anyway.” I say, enjoying the creamy drink “But, if this was a serious apology then you’d have come up with more than just a hot beverage.”

She grins at me and produces a Twix from her handbag and hands it to me. I unwrap it and hand her a finger.

“You know me too me too well, but for the record, the next time you call me a bitch I’m going to phone up every single one of your wedding suppliers and cancel every order you’ve placed.”

She pales slightly.

“You wouldn’t!” she gasps.

“Hopefully, you’ll never need to find out.” I say, taking a mouthful of my chocolate. She mirrors me and we spend a happy minute chewing together. Our companionable silence is rudely broken by the arrival of Lucinda who looks at us with an expression of contempt.

“Healthy lunch I see ladies?” she says “No wonder you’ve both put on so much weight since Bar school if this is how you choose to dine”

“Oh piss off and get a job,” snarls Serena and I choke on my last mouthful of biscuit as I laugh at the look on Lucinda’s face. I’m still coughing and spluttering when Corr returns. He shoots me a disapproving look before taking his seat and turning his back to me, his posture perfect as always.

Miss Drew resumes her place in the witness box and with the help of Corr, picks up the story. The whole court listens, entranced by her dulcet Northern tones. We all know what is coming but yet with every step closer we get to her terrible discovery I’m sure everyone in the courtroom is still hoping for a happy ending. Sadly, none comes. Her voice is quiet yet steady.

“I was scrubbing at the Le Creuset when something caught my eye. I looked out of the window in front of me and saw something in the pool.”

“Did you know at the time what it was?” asks Corr, gently.

“No,” she replies, tears streaming down her face. “I just saw that it was black. I thought it was rubbish, you know a bin bag. It, she, was just floating on the