The question seemed to surprise everyone as much as Rebecca. She said, ‘I’ve achieved the highest commission over three successive years, yes.’
‘As Mrs Lomax did, before her marriage?’
‘I fail to see the relevance of that question,’ protested Hall, quickly standing.
‘A question of resentment, jealousy, at being replaced in every way?’ suggested the older barrister.
‘I see no problem with it…’ began the judge and then ‘Oh, Mr Hall, really!’
Ann thrust a handkerchief into Jennifer’s hand. As she mopped her face she saw Rebecca look at her, lip curled in disgust. Now her make-up would be smeared, Jennifer thought.
‘ Like a clown’s,’ agreed Jane.
Jennifer felt her body being thrown to the left and tensed as hard as she could against it. Abruptly the sensation reversed and she went violently to the right, propelled by her own strength. Ann grabbed her. When Jennifer righted herself Rebecca was faintly smirking.
‘So you replaced Mrs Lomax in more ways than one?’ scored Keflin-Brown.
‘I became the top trader,’ said Rebecca, stiffly.
‘ On top of the boss.’
‘You were, in fact, working on the trading floor on the day of Gerald Lomax’s death?’
‘Yes.’ Some of the confidence went out of the woman.
‘Describe it to us,’ demanded Keflin-Brown.
‘It was two-forty. We’re very conscious of precise time: that’s how trades are recorded. There are clocks on the wall, directly beneath Gerry’s office, showing the time variations in every major financial centre of the World…’ began Rebecca, her presentation perfect.
‘ I bet she’s rehearsed, in front of a mirror. Look at her, performing for the newspapers! ’
It was exactly what the woman was doing, Jennifer saw. Rebecca was turned slightly away from the judge, more interested in addressing the scribbling gallery.
‘… I wasn’t aware of Mrs Lomax coming out of the elevator on the mezzanine floor above, but I was conscious of other traders looking up so I did and I saw her…’
‘… Through the all-glass design of the office?’
‘Yes.’
‘You were able to see everything, in perfect and clear detail?’
‘Yes. As she walked, Mrs Lomax was tapping her fingers against the corridor wall. That’s what attracted the people who saw her first.’
‘Which hand was she tapping with?’
‘Her right. It had to be, because of the approach from the elevator.’
‘Where was her left?’
‘It appeared to be inside a large shoulder bag.’
‘Did she look down at you?’
‘Not then. She was staring straight ahead.’
‘ My little robot.’
‘Go on.’
‘I saw her walk into Gerald’s office. He got up, to meet her…’ Rebecca stopped, putting her hand to her face, shoulders heaving. There were no tears.
‘ Worth a fucking Oscar.’
‘Are you all right?’ enquired the barrister.
Rebecca nodded, without replying. After several moments she went on, quiet-voiced, ‘It was awful. Terrible. She suddenly had a knife in her hand-’
This knife?’ interrupted Keflin-Brown, gesturing the court usher, who rose and offered the plastic-enveloped exhibit to the woman. There was still blood on the blade.
Rebecca physically recoiled. ‘That looks like it.’
‘What then?’
‘I didn’t see where it came from. It was just there, in her hand
…’ Rebecca’s lip quivered. ‘She began slashing and cutting him with it. Stabbing. Wouldn’t stop…’ She broke off again, both hands up against her mouth, the left hand on the outside with the ring visible. ‘… She just wouldn’t stop! He tried to fight her but she’d stabbed him a lot. There was…’ Another gulped break. ‘… blood everywhere. Spurting. Hitting the window…’
‘ Say wonderful! ’ shouted Jane.
Jennifer was totally engrossed in the horror, hand-hold even relaxed. ‘Wonderf…’ came out before she could prevent it, sufficient for everyone to decipher the bitten off word.
Perry swivelled, making waving-down gestures.
Jarvis said, ‘Mr Hall! One more outburst and I will send your client down into the cells! And that’s my last warning.’
‘ Ah. Don’t want that. You’ve got to stay up here, where everyone can see you. Santa’s little helper’s just saved you, Jennifer. What about that? ’
Perry was at the dock rail. ‘I know it’s difficult but please try to control yourself.’ The stage whisper easily reached the tightly packed journalists.
Jennifer nodded. ‘She doesn’t want me out of court.’
‘The accused said something, Mr Hall?’ demanded Jarvis.
Perry bustled back, cupping his hand to Jeremy Hall’s ear. The young barrister turned back to the judge and said, ‘My client promises not to interrupt again, my Lord.’
‘She doesn’t have a choice,’ said the small man, nodding to Keflin-Brown.
‘Go on, if you can,’ urged the barrister.
‘… It was terrible. Obscene. Just stabbing and blood. Blood everywhere. Then Gerald stopped fighting. Stopped moving…’
‘What was the next thing to happen?’
‘She came and stood at the window, laughing. Just stared down at us and laughed and laughed…’
‘ Christ, I enjoyed that. Looking down at the stupid fuckers.’
‘How, exactly, did she stand, Ms Nicholls?’
‘With her hands outstretched, against the window. Supporting herself… People began running then. Roger… Roger Jones, the floor manager, began going upstairs. Someone had already rung the police.’
‘What did you do?’
‘Stayed where I was.’
‘Why?’
‘I didn’t think there was anything I could do. Others were following Roger.’
‘Was that the only reason you didn’t go upstairs, Ms Nicholls?’
‘I was frightened.’
‘I’m sure everyone was frightened. Was there any particular reason for your being more frightened than anyone else?’
‘ Doesn’t your heart go out to her! ’
‘Perhaps,’ said Rebecca, hushed-voiced again.
‘ Last time I saw a performance like this it really did win an Oscar. ’
‘You were Gerald Lomax’s lover, weren’t you?’ said Keflin-Brown, the tone almost as if he were confronting a hostile witness.
‘Yes.’
‘For how long?’
‘Four years.’
‘Not four and a half years?’
‘Perhaps.’
‘How long had you been aware that Mrs Lomax had learned of your relationship with her husband?’
‘Objection, my Lord!’ protested Hall. ‘This court has had no evidence of Mrs Lomax knowing of an affair between her husband and Ms Nicholls.’
‘Let’s get things in their proper sequence, shall we, Mr Keflin-Brown?’ sighed Jarvis.
‘I beg the court’s indulgence,’ said the barrister. ‘A regrettable oversight. Allow me to rephrase the question.’
‘ Too late for it not to have been heard and taken on board by every member of the jury.’
‘Did you have any reason to believe Mrs Lomax knew of your affair with her husband?’
‘Not positively.’
‘Not positively?’ echoed the lawyer. ‘What then? How then?’
‘We’d talked about it, Gerald and I.’
‘Talked about what?’
‘His telling her he wanted a divorce.’
No! thought Jennifer, anguished. Please no. Wasn’t true. Couldn’t be true. He wouldn’t have abandoned her. Abandoned Emily. Already decided that. Decided it was impossible. Just sex. Nothing else. Sex.
‘ Just like it was with me: going to dump you just like the two of you dumped me. What a shit! Think you’d have lived, Jennifer? Just think: I could have saved your life by killing him. He had to die though. Everything’s working out exactly as I planned.’
In the well of the court Hall was studying Rebecca Nicholls’ sworn statement to Superintendent Bentley.
‘Did he?’ asked Keflin-Brown.
‘I don’t know.’
‘You’re wearing a very beautiful ring. Diamonds, are they not, around a central stone?’