poison that drips from the pens of those so-called journalists?’
‘Are you mocking me, Tom?’
‘No,’ Tom said, ‘I’m just noting you have a way with words.’ He quoted the other man once more: ‘Are you mocking me not Are you taking the piss?’ and he looked at Richard Bell intently. ‘I wondered if you were a writer in your spare time, that’s all.’
Bell shook his head. ‘Not a writer, no, but I can appreciate a good turn of phrase and spare time, as you call it, is all I have these days. I chose my words carefully because there was a great deal resting on them. I read a lot. That’s the one thing they are pretty good about. They don’t mind us having books and I devour them. There really is nothing else to do in here. We are locked up for twenty-three hours a day, so books are all I’ve got. I read yours in a day. I thought it was exceptional.’ Tom ignored the compliment. ‘I reckon I could tell a pretty good story, given the chance.’
Tom leaned forward. ‘Then why don’t you tell me yours.’
Richard Bell began his story with the words, ‘I’m trapped. I don’t just mean in here. I am trapped in another way. Do you know what is meant by an innocent man’s dilemma, Tom?’
‘I think so, yes.’ But Bell regarded him as if he was a student who had not yet provided a satisfactory answer, so Tom continued, ‘You’ve been sentenced to life in prison for murder but life does not necessarily mean life. You could qualify for parole once you’ve served around a third of your sentence. Most murderers don’t serve their full term. The average is around fifteen years but if a man is of previously good character, if a parole board can be persuaded that he snapped for some reason or was provoked and is highly unlikely to kill again, he could be out in less than ten.’
‘That happens to around one in ten convicted murderers,’ confirmed Bell. ‘They are released back into the community to resume their lives,’ he said, ‘just like nothing ever happened but … and it is a very big but …’ He paused and allowed Tom to complete the point.
‘The murderer has to admit guilt.’
‘Precisely.’ Bell nodded his approval at the journalist’s knowledge of the legal system. ‘To qualify for parole, a prisoner must first confess his crimes. He must show sufficient remorse for the pain and suffering he has caused. He must have paid his debt to society and be fully rehabilitated.’ He spread his palms in front of Tom. ‘But what if he didn’t do it? If he is innocent. What then?’
‘He may not wish to admit to a crime he didn’t commit, so he will never qualify for parole and must serve his full sentence.’
‘Life,’ agreed Bell, ‘which in my case is twenty-four years, according to the judge. I’ve done two, so only another twenty-two to go,’ he said brightly. ‘I’ll be fifty-six when I get out of here, assuming I don’t conveniently die before then, which is a distinct possibility.’
‘But you won’t admit guilt?’
Bell shook his head.
‘So you’re stuck in here.’
‘Trapped in an innocent man’s dilemma,’ and he snorted, ‘I’d be treated far better as a self-confessed killer than a man who continues to protest his innocence. Even my lawyers have advised me to say that I did it.’
‘Ever cross your mind to take their advice?’
‘Why would I? I didn’t kill Rebecca.’
‘So you say, but your lawyers must have had their reasons for urging you to admit guilt.’
‘And those reasons have nothing to do with justice.’ When he realised Tom did not understand he grew impatient. ‘They don’t care whether I’m guilty or not. They just think we have run out of options. The authorities will not allow me to appeal against the guilty verdict or the length of my sentence. There is a lack of evidence to contradict the verdict and the normal sentence for murder is life, with the exact tariff at the judge’s discretion, which is then reviewed after a time by the parole board.’
‘But you can’t qualify for parole,’ Tom reminded him, ‘unless you admit guilt.’
‘Exactly,’ said Bell, ‘and that’s why I had a falling-out with my lawyers. I asked them what my options were and they said, “You don’t have any, why not just admit you’re guilty and see if you can get parole.” ’ Then Bell pretended to talk casually: ‘ “It’s not like you