Page 91 of Maybe Tomorrow

Pauline was sitting alone in the canteen of Sheffield Crown Court when Jennifer came over and asked if she could join her.

‘How are you holding up?’ Jennifer asked.

‘I’ve no idea,’ she answered truthfully. ‘Half the time I’m sitting there listening to what’s going on and I can’t believe it’s my boy they’re talking about.’

‘You know the truth about Anthony. That’s all that matters.’

‘But the jury don’t, do they? They’re seeing him as some kind of sexual pervert, and he’s not. He’s sweet and kind and caring.’

‘And when it’s our turn, that’s what we’ll put across to the jury.’

‘I wish I could sit with him, hold his hand, tell him everything is going to be all right.’

‘He knows you’re there. He’s taking comfort from that.’

Pauline sipped her tea. It was far too strong for her, but it was something to occupy her time while waiting for court to come back in session.

‘Pauline, I’m afraid we’ve had a bit of a setback,’ Jennifer began.

Pauline looked up from her teacup and saw the look of fear on the solicitor’s face.

‘What’s happened?’

‘There’s a police officer who was prepared to give evidence and say under oath that the statements the sex workers gave were fabricated. Only one, Tania Dove, came into the station. The other statements were all made up by DI Bishop and his team. Unfortunately, DI Bishop has got to the police officer and, for her own safety, she’s pulled out.’

‘So, you’re not calling WPC Sloan as a witness, then?’

‘No.’

‘But she was key, wasn’t she?’

‘She was.’

‘We don’t have an argument then, do we?’

‘Ronald is reluctant to put Anthony in the witness box?—’

‘No,’ Pauline interrupted firmly. ‘He won’t cope.’

Jennifer looked uncomfortable. ‘I thought that, too. Our only other hope is you.’

‘Me?’

‘You’re the person closest to him. You live with him. You can say what kind of a man he is, and the jury will believe you.’

‘But won’t they think I’ll say anything because I’m his mother and I have an interest in him going free?’

‘Under normal circumstances, yes, but you’re an upstanding member of the community. You work more than your scheduled hours at the nursing home and you’re a member of the local neighbourhood watch scheme.’

‘I used to be.’

‘Even so. Your past shows you’re in favour of law and order. Ronald can question you in a way that the jury will know that, if you believed Anthony was guilty, you wouldn’t be standing up for him.’

Pauline looked down into her teacup. ‘I wouldn’t.’

Jennifer hitched her chair closer to Pauline and lowered her voice. ‘Pauline, is there anything about Anthony’s life, his past, that we don’t already know about?’

Pauline closed her eyes. She thought of Susan Livesy. She thought of the blood stains on Anthony’s trousers on the night of the storm.