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‘Because my solicitor, like you, didn’t believe I was innocent’

‘But you can’t deny, Mr Rainsford, that you lost your tehter had been sexually harassed by Mr Kirkland, and you becary when you discovered that he had been e money from the company to pay for his different woes in your statement and not two, and that the murder was committed by a mystery man who appeared out of nowhere and then conveniently disappeared into thin air, never to be seen again?’

‘Because it’s the truth, Sir Julian,’ said Rainsford He put his elbows on the table and placed his head in his hands ‘But of course I can understand why you don’t believe me’

A long silence follohile the other three waited for Sir Julian to pick up his Gladstone bag and disappear, also never to be seen again

‘But I do believe you, Arthur,’ he said quietly ‘I am now in no doubt that you did not murder your partner’

Arthur looked up in disbelief to see the distinguished QC s at him

‘What finally convinced you, Father?’ asked Williaimlet eye

‘Three things, completely unconnected, which, had the jury been ht well have caused them to reach a different verdict’ Sir Julian couldn’t resist pacing up and down before he delivered his closing statement ‘In all my years at the Bar, I have never known a uilty to hter and a reduced sentence’

‘And the second reason?’ asked Grace

‘The length of tiible for parole’

‘Twelve years,’ said William

‘Precisely Because Mr Justice Melrose is known in the trade as “Life Means Life” Melrose I checked his record last night, and he’s presided over twenty-fourhis tiuilty Arthur is the only one he gave a minimum term of twelve years Why would “Life Means Life” Melrose break the habit of a lifetiuilty?’

‘And the third thing?’ asked Grace

‘We have William to thank for that’

Once again, Sir Julian couldn’t resist a brief perahts He pulled at the lapels of a gown he wasn’t wearing before he spoke