…’ He paused. ‘Released after a comparatively limited term of imprisonment.’
The heat Jennifer felt was more from anger than from Jane’s presence. Her first impulse was to shout at the man but she stifled the urge. Instead, calmly, she said, ‘How much opportunity have you had to discuss this case with Mr Perry?’
‘Not a great deal,’ conceded Hall. It had, in fact, been less than two hours and that included their conversation on the way to the hospital in the car. It was proving more difficult than he’d expected to get rid of this voice-in-the-head nonsense but she’d obviously prepared it for a long time so he supposed he had to expect some resistance.
‘What has he told you about how I intend to plead.’
‘Not guilty.’
‘Not guilty to murder. And not guilty to any lesser charge,’ Jennifer insisted.
‘ It’s no good. He doesn’t believe you.’
‘Yes,’ accepted the barrister.
‘What has Mr Perry told you about psychiatrists?’
‘That you wish to undergo psychiatric examination and assessment.’
Jennifer let her anger go at last. ‘So what the hell’s all this about diminished responsibility and short sentences! I will plead not guilty to a charge of murder – and only to a charge of murder, nothing less – and be declared sane and be found not guilty.’
‘Mrs Lomax,’ said Perry, patiently. ‘That is not an option. No court – no judge – will accept it. Any of it.’
‘Make them!’
Hall had been sitting almost languidly, one leg triangled over the other: as always the chair appeared too small. Now he put both feet firmly on the ground and leant towards her to emphasize what he intended to say. ‘There are other circumstances in which a charge of murder could be proceeded with-’
Then why are we having this discussion!’ demanded Jennifer, uncaring how often she interrupted.
‘You expect to be declared sane?’ said Hall.
‘I am sane!’ She was irritated by Perry sitting there, taking notes with that ridiculous silver pencil.
‘If you were declared sane – and a court accepted that opinion from psychiatrists – there would be prosecution evidence from sixteen witnesses of your having stabbed your husband to death. The mandatory sentence for murder is life imprisonment. In the circumstances of this case I have to warn you a judge’s recommendation could be for that term to be a minimum of twenty years.’
‘ Got you, one way or another. ’
‘Why should I want to murder a husband I adored?’ pleaded Jennifer.
‘Here comes the man who believes he knows?’ said Perry, as Bentley came forcefully into the ward.
‘It’s time for us to have a proper conversation, Mrs Lomax,’ declared the murder squad detective, confidently.
The tiny room became as crowded as it had been for the magistrate’s hearing. Hospital tables were moved in again, one almost completely occupied by recording equipment. By apparent prearrangement Malcolm Rodgers became its operator, plugging leads into the mains supply and quietly mouthing into the microphone to test sound levels. Satisfied, he transferred the microphone to the table already positioned over Jennifer’s bed.
‘What’s going on?’ demanded Jennifer.
‘ I can hardly wait. ’
‘Shut up!’ said Jennifer, forgetting herself.
The heavily breathing Perry breathed out again, looking at Hall before saying, ‘We have agreed to a formal police interview, in our presence.’
‘Without discussion with me?’ Jennifer was aware of Rodgers hurriedly identifying the tape, her by name and the place and date at which it was being made.
‘Is there any reason for you to refuse?’ demanded Bentley, at once.
‘ You’re like some experiment, under their microscope. ’
The need to concentrate – an awareness of challenges she refused to anticipate despite the lingering nausea – made it easier to ignore the voice, like turning down a volume.
‘My last legal advice was against making any statement,’ she reminded, stiffly, looking at Perry as she spoke.
‘This isn’t a statement,’ insisted Bentley. ‘It is an interview, to further our enquiries.’
Jennifer looked to her two lawyers for help. When neither spoke she said, ‘But able, according to your official caution, to be presented in any prosecution against me.’
‘I will permit nothing that will endanger your defence,’ promised Hall.
‘ Ask him how many times he’s defended in a murder case! ’ demanded Jane.
Jennifer reminded herself she hadn’t needed any specific reason to insist upon a senior practising, top-of-his-profession barrister to replace Jeremy Hall but if she had this could have provided it. It wouldn’t stop with Hall and she didn’t give a damn about offence, either. She’d get rid of him and the stick-thin idiot with a head like an egg to whom the length of a pencil lead seemed so important.
‘ Who do you know who’s better? ’
‘It could still be produced in court?’ persisted Jennifer. They were treating her like an idiot – like a mad woman – and she wouldn’t allow that. Wasn’t mad, wasn’t mad, wasn’t mad.
‘Yes,’ agreed the detective.
‘I assure you-’ began Hall.
‘I’m not impressed by your assurances,’ snapped Jennifer. ‘Which we’ll discuss after this meeting. I want a nurse… a doctor… someone independent from all this.’
‘Mrs Lomax-’ tried Perry.
‘Get someone or get out!’
‘ They’ll think it’s the madness coming out.’
The assembled men regarded her solemnly, doing nothing.
‘You,’ isolated Jennifer, pointing to Perry with her unrestricted hand. ‘Go and get someone.’
Rodgers snapped off the recording as the solicitor left the room. Hall said, ‘This really is most unnecessary, whatever it is you want.’
Jennifer looked at him but refused to speak. There was some awkward foot scuffing from everyone except Bentley, who came close to overemphasizing the leg-stretched, arms-folded, seen-it-all-before condescension.
Within minutes, less maybe, Rodgers returned with Peter Lloyd. Jennifer guessed the physician would have been given an explanation from the detective inspector but before anything further could be said she gestured with the unencumbered arm and said, ‘Turn the tape back on: give a time and the circumstances.’
‘This really isn’t…’ persisted Hall. He wasn’t sure of himself, not in control any more, and appeared disorientated.
‘Do it!’
Rodgers did, formally re-establishing the interview. He did so looking uncertainly towards Bentley for guidance but before the senior detective could say anything Jennifer said to the doctor, ‘I want you to listen, to everything that’s said. I’ll call you to court to testify on my behalf, if this tape is tampered with: to swear to everything that’s going to be said.’
‘ He’ll think it’s paranoia: all part of your hearing-voices paranoia. ’
‘I really have more important-’ started the doctor.
‘No you don’t! It’s my life you’re trying to save, although not medically. Listen…!’ Jennifer turned directly to address the microphone in front of her. ‘The making of this tape is being independently witnessed by Dr Peter Lloyd, of St Thomas’s hospital…’
‘Very impressive, Jennifer,’ said Bentley. ‘You sure you can keep it up?’
‘Keep what up?’
‘Voices in the head, telling you what to do.’ It wouldn’t be difficult breaking this arrogant bitch down, any more than it had been to beat Lomax’s replacement fuck. Hall would probably cut him off, before he got a full confession but it wouldn’t matter. He’d have enough. Sometimes things were almost too easy.
‘I don’t choose to continue with this interview, despite the agreement of my lawyers. Who will not be my lawyers after today,’ announced Jennifer, talking directly into the microphone once more.