Page 96 of Maybe Tomorrow

‘No. I can’t.’

‘Why not?’

‘They’re not here.’

‘Oh. Having a day off from proceedings? I can understand that. Were they here yesterday?’

‘No.’

‘Oh. Have they been here at all?’

‘No.’

‘Why not?’

‘I… I don’t know.’

‘Since his arrest, Anthony has been sacked by the library, hasn’t he?’

Pauline looked to her son whose mouth fell open in shock. She mouthed ‘I’m sorry.’ Stefan turned to look at Anthony.

‘You hadn’t told him, had you, Pauline?’

‘No.’

‘Why not?’

‘I didn’t think he’d want to hear any more bad news while all this was going on.’

‘A mother protecting her good boy once more,’ he said, addressing the jury. ‘You’d do anything for your son, wouldn’t you, Pauline?’

‘Of course, I would.’

‘So, if he came home one night soaked to the skin from the rain and told you he’d raped and murdered a vulnerable woman, you’d lie for him, wouldn’t you?’

‘No. I wouldn’t!’ she exclaimed.

Ronald stood up. ‘Your Honour, Mr Villiers is edging dangerously close to bullying my client’s mother.’

‘You’re right. Mr Villiers, I must ask you to keep your tone in check and stop attacking Mrs Winstanley.’

Stefan held up his hands in submission. ‘You’re right. I’m sorry.’ He turned to Pauline. ‘I apologise, Pauline. I hope I didn’t upset you.’

She pursed her lips as Stefan made a play of going back to his bench and flicking through some paperwork. Pauline looked to Ronald for advice. He mimed for her to relax and take a few deep breaths, which she did.

‘Pauline,’ Stefan began. ‘Please tell the court about Susan Livesy.’

Pauline’s heart sank. She wanted to be sick. She didn’t answer.

‘You know who I’m talking about, don’t you?’

She nodded. ‘Yes.’

‘Please tell the jury who she is, Pauline.’

Pauline cleared her throat. ‘Susan was a girl who was at the college at the same time as Anthony.’

‘They were friends, weren’t they?’