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‘You’ve been in tight spots before’

‘Never this tight’

‘That’s why you have to be on the top of your game’

‘And if I’m not?’

Booth Watson drained his coffee before replying, ‘You won’t be having bacon and eggs at the Savoy again for some considerable time’

THE CROWN V RAINSFORD

‘My Lords, in the tradition of the English criminal bar, a leader may call upon his junior to conduct one of the exa a trial With Your Lordships’ permission, I will invite my junior to examine the next witness’

‘Perranted, Sir Julian,’ responded Lord Justice Arnott after a brief consultation with his colleagues He then gave Grace the warhout the trial

Grace rose unsteadily to her feet, aware that not only was everyone staring at her, but Arthur Rainsford’s fate now rested in her hands All those years of study and training, not to mention the hours spent at the feet of her father as he interpreted the law and explained court procedure to her Noas passing on the baton, expecting her to run the final lap

Sir Julian sat back, hoping it wasn’t too obvious that he was just as nervous as his daughter It didn’t help Grace that her mother was seated between Beth and Joanna Rainsford at the back of the court, both leaning forward and looking like football fans eagerly awaiting the first goal

Grace placed her file on the little stand her father had given her on the day she joined hie and her mind went blank

‘Are you ready to call the next witness, Ms Warwick?’ asked Lord Justice Arnott, sounding like a benevolent uncle

‘We call Professor Leonard Abrahams,’ said Grace, surprised by how self-assured her voice sounded, because her legs weren’t experiencing the same confidence

If the courtrooht have been forgiven for wondering if the next witness had actually entered the room Abrahams blinked, looked around, and finally spotted the witness box in the far corner of the court When he reached it, he was surprised to find that there was no chair for hi throughout his cross-exaht

The clerk held up a card, showing no surprise that the witness earing a short white lab coat and an open-necked green shirt Abrahams placed one hand on the Bible – well, at least the Old Testahty God that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth,’ before adding, ‘so help me God’