‘Members of the jury,’ he concluded, looking directly at the five men and seven women, ‘once you have considered all the evidence you must be sure of guilt beyond reasonable doubt before you can convict. If you are not sure, you must acquit. So please take your time. If, during your deliberations, you should require assistance on any matter concerning the law, do not hesitate to return to this courtroom, and I will do my best to answer your questions. The bailiff will now accompany you to the jury room, where you can begin your deliberations. Please take your time considering all the evidence before you reach your verdict.’
‘Sir Julian.’
‘My Lords. I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to consult with my client, and would request that the court recall Mr. Stern, and also subpoena Mr. Vasilis Fortounis, as the defense would like an opportunity to question both of them under oath.’
‘I will grant your request, Sir Julian, and suggest that we adjourn until tomorrow morning, by which time I hope the bailiff will have been able to locate both of these gentlemen.’
‘Thank you, m’lud,’ said Sir Julian, trying to sound convinced.
All three judges rose from their places, bowed, and left the court.
‘I can’t wait for tomorrow,’ said Beth.
‘Don’t get your hopes up,’ said Grace, as she gathered her files. ‘Stern and Fortounis will be well aware of what happened in court this afternoon, and I don’t suppose either of them is currently heading in the direction of the Strand.’
‘You wish to seek my advice?’ said Mr. Justice Nourse after the jury had filed back in and resumed their places.
‘Yes, Your Honor,’ said the foreman of the jury, a distinguished-looking gentleman wearing a charcoal-gray double-breasted suit and a Cavalry tie. ‘We’ve been able to reach a verdict on the first and second counts, but are divided on the third, that of receiving stolen goods.’
‘Do you think it would be possible for you to deliver a majority verdict upon which at least ten of you are agreed?’
‘I think so, Your Honor, if we were allowed a little more time.’
‘In that case we will take an early recess, and reconvene at ten o’clock tomorrow morning, to allow members of the jury time to sleep on it.’
Everyone in the court rose and bowed. Mr. Justice Nourse returned the compliment before leaving his domain.
‘Don’t you sometimes wish you could skip twenty-four hours and find out what’s going to happen?’ said William.
‘You won’t when you’ve reached my age,’ replied Hawksby.
33
‘Sir Julian, you may call your next witness.’
‘I am unable to do so, m’lud. Although subpoenas were issued yesterday as you directed, the court’s bailiff has been unable to serve writs on either Mr. Stern or Mr. Fortounis.’
‘Then we will have to wait until they have been served,’ said the judge.
‘That might not be for some time, m’lud.’
‘What makes you think that, Sir Julian?’
‘I’m told that Mr. Fortounis returned to his home in Nicosia a few days before the trial opened, and has not been seen or heard of since.’
‘Who is the source of your information?’
‘The proprietor of the Admiral Nelson public house in West Ham Grove, where he was a regular.’
‘And Mr. Stern?’
‘It appears that he flew out of Birmingham airport late last night.’
‘Let me guess,’ said the judge, ‘also on a flight bound for Nicosia.’
‘And as he’d booked a one-way ticket, the bailiff may have some difficulty in enforcing your edict, for as I’m sure you are aware, m’lud, Britain has no extradition treaty with Cyprus.’
‘Then I shall issue a directive that Mr. Stern’s assets will be seized, and that he will be arrested should he ever set foot in this country again. I suppose it’s too much to hope that like Bolingbroke, banishment will prove an even harsher punishment for him than incarceration.’
No one offered an opinion.
Mr. Llewellyn rose from his place. ‘May I approach the bench, My Lords?’
Lord Justice Arnott nodded. Mr. Llewellyn and Sir Julian walked to the front of the court to join their lordships. They spoke in hushed voices to the three judges for some time before Lord Justice Arnott raised a hand and began conferring with his colleagues.
‘What are they talking about?’ Beth whispered to Grace.
‘I have no idea. But I suspect we’re about to find out.’
‘Will all parties involved in the Miles Faulkner case please go to court number fourteen,’ boomed out a voice over the tannoy, ‘as the jury is about to return.’
Several people who’d been standing around in the lobby stopped chattering, while others stubbed out cigarettes before making their way quickly back to the courtroom. William joined Commander Hawksby, DCI Lamont, lawyers, journalists, and the simply curious, as the bailiff led his charges into court to resume their places in the jury box.
Once they had all settled, the clerk said, ‘Will the foreman please rise.’
The foreman rose from his place at the end of the front row.
‘Have you reached a verdict on all three counts?’ asked Lord Justice Nourse.
‘We have, Your Honor,’ replied the foreman.
The judge nodded to the clerk of the court.
‘Mr. Foreman, do you find the defendant, Mr. Miles Faulkner, guilty or not guilty of the theft of a Rembrandt painting entitled The Syndics of the Clothmakers’ Guild from the Fitzmolean Museum in London?’
‘Not guilty, Your Honor.’
Faulkner allowed himself a smile. Booth Watson showed no emotion. William frowned.
‘And on the second count, that the defendant was an accomplice in that theft. How do you find the defendant, guilty or not guilty?’
‘Not guilty.’
Lamont cursed under his breath.
‘And on the third count, namely that of receiving goods that he knew to be stolen, namely the said painting by Rembrandt, how do you find the defendant, guilty or not guilty?’
‘By a majority of ten to two, Your Honor, we find the defendant guilty.’
Loud chattering erupted in the well of the court, and several journalists rushed out to grab the nearest available phone and report the verdict to their news desks. The judge waited until the court had settled before turning to the prisoner.
‘Will the defendant please rise,’ said the clerk.
A less confident figure rose slowly in the dock, stumbled forward, and gripped the railing to steady himself.
‘Miles Faulkner,’ said the judge gravely. ‘You have been found guilty of receiving stolen goods, namely a work of art of national importance. Because of the seriousness of your crime, I wish to spend a few days considering what punishment is appropriate. I shall therefore delay passing sentence until next Tuesday morning at ten o’clock.’