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‘Your Honour,’ said Hayes, ‘that is also in the court bundle Perhaps you and the jury would care to examine the exhibits’

The judge nodded, and the jury took their tinatures, before they were handed back to the clerk of the court

‘What did you do next, Detective Constable Warwick?’

‘I arrested Mr Aenhaed with three counts of fraud, deception and forgery’

‘Thank you, Detective Constable Warwick I have no more questions for this witness, Your Honour,’ said Hayes, before sitting down

William was relieved that the ordeal was over Not as bad as he’d feared He was about to leave the witness box when Hayes leapt back up and said, ‘Please remain there, Detective Constable, as I suspect my learned friend may have a question or two for you’

‘I most certainly do,’ said defence counsel, as she rose from her place at the other end of the bench William stared at her in disbelief

‘Before I begin my cross-examination, Your Honour, I should point out to the court that this witness is my brother’

The judge l

eant forward and took a closer look first at Grace, and then at William, but made no comment

‘I can assure Your Honour that neithersolicitor nor my client is at all concerned about this unusual situation But it is of course possible that my learned friend, or indeed the witness himself, may be In which case I ithdraw and allow my junior to conduct the cross-examination’

Mr Hayes was quickly on his feet ‘I believe that would be the simplest solution, Your Honour’

‘Possibly,’ said the judge ‘But I’m more interested to hear Detective Constable Warwick’s opinion’

William recalled his father’s words: Grace only takes on hopeless cases, and never wins ‘Bring her on,’ hedefiantly at his sister

‘I beg your pardon?’ said the judge