The Appeal
Page 34
Item published in the Lockwood Gazette online 22 January 2020:
NURSE MURDER: MAN ARRESTED
A man aged 37 has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the 2018 death of nurse Samantha Greenwood.
Ms Greenwood, who fell to her death from Lower Lockwood Heights on 5 July 2018, was a nurse at St Ann’s Hospital but had been due to travel abroad as a volunteer medic when she died. In a trial last year, her colleague Isabel Beck pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life but following her release yesterday by the court of appeal, police arrested the man in Upper Lockwood.
FROM: Isabel Beck
SUBJECT: Hiya!
DATE: 23 January 2020 at 12:27
TO: Femi Hassan
Hiya Femi,
Sorry to bother you. I hope you don’t mind me emailing. We didn’t get a chance to speak after the hearing, but Mr Tanner pointed you out in the gallery, along with his other trainee (Charlotte?). I can’t remember what he called you, but it was an ‘articled’ something. Anyway, it sounded very grand. I just want to say thank you for all the hard work you’ve done on my case. You are so clever to have worked out where everything went wrong, just from a few letters and emails. I can’t imagine being that intelligent. Still, it must have been boring to read so many words – thank you again!
I hope James doesn’t go to prison. He had no idea I was going to take the blame. We said everyone would assume she’d jumped. But the more I looked ahead, the more I knew it was something we couldn’t leave to chance. The police are so clever now. I thought the whole thing would blow over quickly if I said I’d done it by accident. Sam and I were similar sizes, we had a disagreement – it could happen to anyone. When they started saying it was murder, not an accident, it became even more important to protect James.
He really and truly didn’t mean to do it. With the twins still so young, Helen in hospital and Martin in so much trouble, James is needed at home like never before. The whole family, The Fairway Players – they all rely on him now. I didn’t lie, as such. It could so easily have been me on the balcony with Sam that night. She was a very trying and provocative person and, if you ask me, that safety rail was far too low for such a height. I understand that soon afterwards they replaced the rails with Perspex sheeting on all the new flats.
I feel a bit embarrassed I’ve put so many people to so much trouble. I don’t know how to repay you all, especially as I haven’t got a job yet and still need to find permanent accommodation. Mr Tanner mentioned that developers have permission to build flats where The Grange was. Can you imagine the views! Apparently, even the Haywards’ house has been repossessed and will likely be made into apartments. I’d love to live in one of them, but my social worker thinks it’s best I move to a completely different area.
If I can’t find a Band 4 post in a hospital, then a care home will be fine. I’m not fussy at the moment, but ideally I’d like to move where there’s an active drama group. It’s such a good way to meet new people and find friends. As hobbies go, the hours are long, and when you’re putting on a show it can be stressful, but on the whole you meet interesting characters you wouldn’t normally cross paths with. I could say the same about Colney Marsh Women’s Prison, but as far as that episode is concerned, I’ve already put the past behind me and am concerned only with the future.
Between you and me, Femi, I’m seriously considering a complete change of career. These past few months have opened my eyes to the legal system. It seems so lofty and posh, but I met several quite normal people who made me think, ‘Could I do that?’ I don’t mean I want to be a judge or anyone in a gown, but an assistant or a PA. I’m very organised and like helping people, so I’m sure I’d be an asset. It struck me many times during my spot of trouble that a courtroom is very like a theatre. It has a stage, an audience and actors – it’s just the barristers know their lines, while the witnesses improvise. As soon as I’m settled somewhere I’ll enrol on a course to get a legal secretary’s certificate. Wow! Something amazing has just occurred to me. I’ve thought of a way I can repay you for your help with my case!
Mr Tanner said you are a ‘bright, intelligent independent thinker’ with a great career ahead of you. Well, I would love to gain some work experience as a legal secretary in the very near future. I could type letters for you, file things, take messages . . . I’d pay you back for all you’ve done for me, while I gain valuable experience for my future career. There’s no need to confirm just yet, but let’s keep in touch by email and, once I’ve started my course, I’ll let you know. I’m really looking forward to meeting you finally. There’s nothing as exciting as a fresh new start when the page is blank and the future is all for the making!
Lots of love
Issy xxx
Acknowledgements
For over a year my agents Lucy Fawcett and Gaia Banks at Sheil Land Associates were the only people who knew I was writing a book. I could not have done so without their wisdom, honesty and unflagging support and simply can’t thank them enough.
It was a delight to work with my editor Miranda Jewess and her team at Viper, who brought The Appeal to life on the page. They include Graeme Hall, Mandy Greenfield, Art Director Steve Panton, Mark Swan at Kid Ethic and Lucie Ewin at Crow Books.
Thanks also to Cameron Roach, Head of Drama at Sky TV. Without his suggestion that I write a novel, you would not be reading one now; and to Fraser & Minnie Ayres at Triforce Creative Network, who convinced him to be my mentor in 2017.
Anyone who was ever a member of the Raglan Players in Northolt, between 1972 and 2013, played a huge role in my life, career and, ultimately, this book, whether you realised it or not. I hope The Appeal is as fitting a tribute to the joy of community drama as I intend it to be.
Without my dear friend and first writing partner Sharon Exelby I would not have written the play that set me on the path that led to this project. Meanwhile, I am in awe of her daughter Rochelle Griffin, along with Stuart, Ava, Faith and especially Betsy, whose fundraising campaign lit the spark of inspiration for this story.
Speaking of inspiration for The Appeal, I must mention the many thousands of medical volunteers around the world who give their time, expertise and sometimes their lives to help people in crisis. To those who shared their experiences, I am eternally grateful.
I won’t assume I’ll ever have another acknowledgements page to fill, so I’ll seize this opportunity to thank the writers and creative professionals I’ve worked or studied with over the years. They include Sue Clayton, Heather Wallis, Amanda Smith, Ross Olivey, Adam Rolston, Carl Tibbetts, Kate Brockett, Rosie Snell, Bernice Wolfenden, Mariama Ives-Moiba, Tsonko Bumbalov and Paula B. Stanic.
A big thank you to my friends, who are not only generous and understanding, but downright stoic in their support. These people have journeyed afar in freezing cold and sweltering heat, squinted at experimental fringe drama from rickety bench seats above pubs or in warehouses, and at the end told me what a great time they had. They include my oldest friends Alison Horn and Samantha Thomson, fellow witches Carol Livingstone and Wendy Mulhall, my almost-sister Ann Saffery and long-time Raglans Keith Baker, Felicity Cox and Terry and Rose Russell, who have all been great friends onstage and off.
Finally, I am forever indebted to my soulmate Gary Stringer, who loves, supports and encourages me, without ever suggesting I get a proper job.