Perry’s call abruptly changed the intention. According to Geoffrey Johnson’s mobile phone alarm from the car bringing an excited Emily and the nanny to London, he’d been seen entering the tradesmen’s entrance to the mansion to collect them and emerged to confront at least three, maybe more, media cars. He was now heading a cavalcade towards London: one vehicle had already drawn level at a traffic light and attempted photographs, through the window.
Perry confirmed, indignant at the question, that he’d filed the Press Commission complaint at their own ambush and individually warned the editors of every journalist whose card had been thrust through their window not just of that protest but also of the intention to complain to a trial judge, once one was appointed.
‘Add this to the Commission complaint, by fax, today,’ instructed Hall, coolly. ‘Also fax all the editors you wrote to yesterday that we intend raising with a judge in chambers, today, the danger of their representatives perverting the course of justice…’
‘… How the hell…?’ Perry tried to argue.
‘… Annabelle Parkes will be called as a witness for the defence,’ said Hall, patiently. ‘She’s received letters, which we have and can produce before a judge, offering her money to talk to the press in advance of giving evidence in court. Financial inducement could influence the veracity of anything she might give. The fact that we know it wouldn’t doesn’t affect my submission, agreed?’
‘Agreed,’ conceded the solicitor, at once. ‘Don’t forget we haven’t been appointed a trial judge yet.’
‘I haven’t forgotten that,’ said Hall. ‘Make a point of it. Repeat the warning to the editors whose names and media organizations we have to the Press Association, ensuring its distribution to every media outlet. In the individual letters and the news agency release, also say we are applying for a chambers judge to extend the precincts of any court in which Mrs Lomax might eventually appear to the house in Hampshire, Emily’s kindergarten and St Thomas’s Hospital and every residence or place of work of witnesses – particularly medical and professional witnesses – likely to be called by the defence. Therefore any media intrusion would constitute contempt of court-’
Perry’s intake of breath was sufficiently loud to interrupt the instructions. ‘You’ll never get all that,’ the man insisted. ‘It’s unheard of.’
‘I don’t expect to get all of it,’ admitted Hall. ‘And I know it’s unheard of. Which is why it’ll frighten the bastards off. And I will get the house and Emily’s school and maybe St Thomas’s, which is all I really want.’ He hesitated. ‘Did Johnson tell you where he was, when he called?’
‘Guildford.’
‘Call him on another line – I’ll hold – and tell him I don’t want him to get to the hospital for at least another hour.’
Perry put down the phone unquestioningly. Hall heard a mumble of conversation but not what was said. The solicitor returned very quickly. ‘He doesn’t think he can do it under that time anyway. The traffic’s bad.’
‘Good,’ said Hall, briskly. ‘Separately fax the police station local to the hospital. Warn of a serious risk of a potential murder trial being endangered by an attempt to pervert the course of justice. Ask for a police presence to prevent that happening, to be in place at the hospital within the next hour. Make sure a copy of that request goes to every editor and to the judge in chambers.’ He paused again. ‘Anything I’ve overlooked?’
‘Hardly.’
‘Any thought?’
‘You’re going to alienate every newspaper you’ve ever heard of.’
‘What’s that got to do with it?’
‘A lot, if you’re thinking about your career.’
‘I’m not. I’m thinking of a client and her four-year-old daughter.’
There was a moment’s silence, ‘In whose name are these letters to be sent.’
Hall matched the length of the silence. ‘Mine.’ He allowed another gap. ‘You want me to tell Feltham or do you want to do it?’
‘Are you making a point with that question?’ asked Perry, frigid-voiced.
‘Just ensuring that everything is conducted in the proper manner,’ said Hall, easily.
‘Officially, it’s my function.’
‘Then let’s do everything officially, shall we?’
‘Are you going to the hospital?’
‘I am now.’
‘Do you want me to come?’
‘You’ll hardly have time, if you’re to do all this. I can manage.’
‘I’m sure you can,’ said Perry, attempting a small point of his own.
Jeremy Hall didn’t hurry, knowing there was no need. The traffic was already almost completely blocked over Westminster Bridge and along both directions of the Embankment by the time he got there. He paid the taxi off and walked the last three hundred yards to the hospital. There were at least six uniformed officers controlling the exit and entrance, commanded by a superintendent inside the perimeter. The traffic jam caused by their checking every entering vehicle and person was compounded by two police vans, in which other officers were visible, and three motor-cycles. A constable immediately announced his arrival over a radio when Hall identified himself and the superintendent hurried from a plainclothes group with whom he had been talking.
‘You Jeremy Hall?’
‘Yes.’
‘Are you sure this is necessary?’ He was a large man, imposing in his uniform. He was perspiring, despite the wind off the river.
‘I didn’t catch your name?’
The man faltered. ‘Hopkins. I asked you if this is necessary.’
Hall extended his hand. There was more uncertainty before the policeman took it. Hall said, ‘If I hadn’t thought it necessary, superintendent, I wouldn’t have asked for it to be done.’
Hopkins gestured back towards the group. ‘There are lawyers from four newspapers there. One from television. And executives. They say it’s ridiculous.’
Hall looked towards the group. He didn’t recognize any of them. Those he guessed to be lawyers were older than he was. ‘It’ll be discussed before a judge in chambers. I’m content for him to decide if it’s ridiculous or not, aren’t you?’
The policeman coloured slightly. ‘Have you a time of arrival?’
Hall looked at his watch. ‘Maybe in the next fifteen minutes. Apparently the traffic’s bad. It’s an old Bentley. Green.’
‘If you know the route we could intercept, with a police escort.’
The attitude appeared to have changed abruptly, thought Hall. ‘I don’t. Perhaps it wouldn’t be a good idea: I don’t want to frighten the child any more than she has been, already.’
As he continued on towards the hospital he saw Lloyd and Mason hovering just inside the glassed entrance. He went to go by the group outside but five detached themselves, blocking his path.
‘You Hall?’ demanded a bulge-bellied man.
‘Yes.’
‘What on earth’s this all about?’
‘Press intrusion sums it up, I think.’
‘Not a crime,’ insisted another of the group.
‘Perverting the course of justice is. So’s contempt of court.’
‘Let’s be reasonable,’ smiled the first man. ‘This is absurd. Way over the top.’
‘I agree that pursuing a four-year-old child and a potential witness to whom a bribe has already been offered is way over the top,’ said Hall. ‘I’m confident a judge will agree with me this afternoon.’
‘Overenthusiasm,’ dismissed a third lawyer. ‘A mistake. But it doesn’t need to be handled like this. We’ll cool our people down and that will be the end of it. Judges get irritated if their time is wasted: chamber hearings are for emergencies, don’t you know.’