Page 90 of Maybe Tomorrow

‘So, you stood on the pavement on Canal Street, a street I have visited recently and noticed there is very little shelter, for several hours in the pouring rain and strong winds, getting soaked to the skin?’

‘It may be hard for you to believe, but I don’t get sick pay. I don’t get holiday pay. I have to go out in all weathers to put food on the table,’ Tania said, getting agitated.

‘On the night in question, you said the distance between you and Mr Winstanley was similar to the distance between you and me now?’

‘That’s correct.’

‘As I mentioned, I recently visited Canal Street. Whereabouts was Mr Winstanley, exactly?’

‘There’s a car park that isn’t used anymore. It was for workers in a factory opposite, but it closed down about five years or so ago. He was in the corner of the car park, just by a little recess in the wall.’

‘I think I know the part you’re referring to. And where were you?’

‘On the opposite side of the entrance to the car park.’

‘In a car?’

‘Yes.’

‘In the back of a car?’

‘Yes.’

‘This sex act you were performing on your client, was it oral sex?’

‘Your Honour, do we really need to know the exact details?’ Stefan Villiers objected.

‘Mr Montgomery?’ Judge Temple asked.

‘I’m not asking for gratuitous purposes; I’m hoping to establish whereabouts and lines of sight.’

‘I’ll allow the question, but please keep details to a minimum. Miss Dove.’

‘Yes. It was oral sex.’

‘Your head was in the lap of your client?’

‘Yes.’

‘So, on the night of one of the worst recorded storms in recent memory you were in a car on your knees in a poorly lit, isolated car park being buffeted by hurricane-force winds and driving rain, and you were able to look around you to see who was watching when surely your vision would have been blocked by either the man you were performing the sex act upon or the intensity of the rain hitting the vehicle.’

‘I—’

‘You didn’t see Mr Winstanley at all that night, did you?’ Ronald interrupted.

‘Yes. I…’

‘The reason you didn’t see Mr Winstanley on the night of Monday October tenth is because you didn’t leave your flat that night, did you?’

‘I… did,’ Tania said, unconvincingly.

‘No further questions, Your Honour.’

ChapterThirty-Seven

Thursday 17th May 1984

Day four of the trial