Free Court Out by Elle Wynne Page B

happen?’
    I drop my fork onto the wooden table. Sebastian looks at me questioningly.
    “Eh? Let what happen?” I ask.
    “I thought we were friends,” she continues.
    She’s totally lost me and I tell her the same.
    Her voice breaks.
    “Lenihan. You could have stopped it from getting that far. Do you know how embarrassing that was on Friday? Having to explain to a packed court that no, I didn’t force him to plead guilty!”
    I take a long swig of my wine and splutter as it goes down the wrong way. Still coughing, I try to explain.
    “What was I supposed to do? He was adamant. Plus the judge knew something was up from the report?” I’m still coughing and decide that perhaps another attempt at the wine is a good idea. I can hear Serena breathing down the phone, planning her next line of attack.
    “You could’ve told the judge that he wanted to maintain his plea and be sentenced despite what he’d told probation. We do it all the time!”
    “Yes, when they do actually want to be sentenced! Lenihan didn’t and I wasn’t going to lean on him” I reply indignantly “That’s what started this problem in the first place! ”Shit. I think I just stepped over a line. “Look Serena, I’m sorry. I know you wouldn’t have done anything underhand, but I was over a barrel. I’m not going to lie to the court. Can you imagine if that got out? I’d be toast. Plus, I didn’t think for a second that you’d be in trouble. How did it go anyway?”
    “He’s been allowed to vacate his plea,” she replies forlornly.
    “Well I’m sure that’s just to shut him up. Nothing to do with you. Please don’t think I did anything to make you look at fault or indicate that I believed him. Ask anyone there if you don’t believe me!”
    Sebastian stands up and points at the now empty bottle of Sancerre which I interpret as ‘Do you want another drink?’ I nod, hoping that is in fact what he means and not in fact ‘You’ve got through that quick, don’t you think you’ve had enough.’
    Serena sighs on the end of the line.
    “Ok, I’m sorry, it’s just been a rough week. I was out of court until Wednesday then was left to deal with this mess.”
    “You should have called me! You shouldn’t have let this fester!” I cry.
    She pauses. “I was in the clerks room on Monday afternoon and saw your diary on the computer over Roger’s shoulder. I didn’t want to bother you as you’ve been so busy.”
    “Don’t be daft. And, whilst on paper I’ve been busy, it’s been bitty things, hardly going to make me rich!” I exclaim. This is true; I’ve spent most of the week travelling around the Midlands doing odds and sods for other members of Chambers.
     “Serena, you’re my best mate. I’m your bridesmaid! I’m never too busy for you.”
    “Promise?” she asks.
    “Promise, you Muppet. Anyway, it’s you who’s going to be to be run off your feet this time in a fortnight! You’ll probably blank me in the cafe when you’re sitting with your high flying friends and ignore me when I wave at you in the bar, of course you won’t be allowed to socialise with me anymore,” I joke. “When you’re on Midlands Today as part of the ‘Murder Defence Team’ you won’t want to be seen with a lowly barrister like me, prosecuting the careless drivers of the region.”
    She giggles.
    “Ewan seems to think that too. I’ve tried to reassure him that I don’t actually have to do anything apart from writing down what’s happening but he’s not convinced. Mind you, I hope I am included in some of the extra-curricular parts.”
    “Like what?”
    “Well the case dinner for a start,” she muses.
    “Always a recipe for disaster!” I laugh, “Getting drunk on a school night is never the best idea, but doing it with the Judge and your opposition present? Is it still Corr and Harte prosecuting?”
    George Corr QC is something of an idol of mine. A man of few words, he makes the ones he does deploy count. Feared by