Tug Of Law (Bernadette Mackenna Cases Book 4)

by D. R. Bailey

  Bernadette took a breath, flicked a glance at Imogen who gave her a smile of encouragement.

  “We have a witness, who is one of the women actually trafficked. A harrowing tale but she risks her own life to stand testimony that she had not seen, heard of, or heard Mr Jenkins. We have DS Thompson, who gave testimony that a raid on the premises of Balik Transport did not reveal anything about Mr Jenkins being involved in the trafficking. A video albeit unseen by the court corroborates his version of events that he checked his truck and drove it to away from the depot.”

  She was winding up for the finish.

  “In summary, we submit this case hinges around reasonable doubt. Is there reasonable doubt that Mr Jenkins was involved in the trafficking? We submit based upon the evidence presented to this court that there is. The case to extradite him is not beyond reasonable doubt, instead, there is sufficient doubt to mean that he should not be sent to the United Kingdom. Mr Jenkins, a citizen of Ireland, is entitled surely to the same yardstick as anyone brought to court accused of the crime. We ask the court to deny the extradition on that basis, there is insufficient evidence and reasonable doubt of his involvement in the crime. Thank you.”

  She stopped and waited for the judge to speak.

  Justice Brannigan did so at length. “Thank you, Mrs Mackenna. Thank you both for your professional conduct in this case. Indeed, the evidence and your submissions provide much food for thought. This is a weighty case, for certain. The extradition of a citizen of this country can never be taken lightly. Therefore, I reserve judgement for a period of two days, after which I should be in a position to give you my decision. Bail conditions stand as previously set. You will be notified of the date and time for the judgement to be delivered, and I will see you all then.”

  The Tipster came in and adjourned the court. Justice Brannigan left the room. There was a big scramble by the press to get out of the door. Callum came up to them wreathed in smiles.

  “Is that it?”

  “Yes, but it’s not over yet, of course,” said Bernadette.

  “No, but your speech was incredible, amazing.”

  “Thank you, I did my best.”

  “It was brilliant, quite brilliant,” said Rhys who had also arrived.

  “Thanks, honestly, I can’t tell you if it’s been enough, but I hope so.”

  “You’ve done everything I hoped and more,” said Rhys sincerely, “And I want you to know, whatever happens, I’m truly grateful to you.”

  “You are welcome, I’m glad to have represented you, Callum, I hope for all our sakes we can get a result.”

  “Are we going to say anything to the press?” Imogen cut in.

  “Yes, yes, we are, follow my lead as always.”

  “We will.”

  Olivia who had been standing at the side while this conversation was going on, came closer.

  “Well done, great speech,” she said to Bernadette.

  “Thanks, lovely, and thanks for your timely intervention.”

  “No problem, I’ll let you know if anything interesting arises, but anyway I’ve got to dash. Most enlightening, I’ll try and make it for the judgement.” She hurried away out of the court.

  The court was now empty, and the other barristers appeared to have gone.

  “Shall we go?” said Imogen.

  “Yes.”

  They walked out of the courtroom in a body and were about to head for the exit when Shane Wilson appeared. They stopped as he was standing in the way, looking a little agitated.

  “Imogen,” he said, ignoring the others as if they weren’t there, “Could I have a word… please?”

  Imogen looked at him doubtfully.

  “Look, I’ve been wanting to say something to you, and well, if you wouldn’t mind?”

  She looked at Bernadette who shrugged, and then back at Shane.

  “Fine,” Imogen said to him and then to Bernadette, “I won’t be long.”

  Bernadette watched her walk away around the corner, and then on impulse, she said to Callum and Rhys, “Wait here a moment, would you?”

  She followed the other two and on rounding a corner could see Imogen standing with her back to the wall and Shane almost standing over her.

  “Come on, Imogen, you’ve been avoiding me all this time. Can’t we just be friends?” he was saying.

  “I don’t want to be your friend,” said Imogen.

  “We had a good thing going, but you had to go and fucking spoil it. Going with your fancy woman? You’re not a lesbian really, Imogen, don’t be so fucking daft.”

  “Shane, can you stop, please? You and me, are well and truly over.”

  “It’s not fucking over, you bitch, admit it, admit that you fancy me, you want me don’t you, admit it…”

  Bernadette was about to move in on them, when D’Arcy and Eve came running up to her.

  “Bernadette, where’s my Imogen, where is she?” she said concerned.

  Bernadette pointed to where Shane had an arm on either side of Imogen trapping her against the wall.

  “Oh my God!” shrieked D’Arcy, “Imogen, I’m coming!”

  Before Bernadette could do anything sensible, D’Arcy bounded over to Shane and Imogen.

  “Get off my fiancée, you bastard!” she shrieked, grabbing one of his arms, and stepping inside his leg, she threw him beautifully and he landed flat on his back. “How dare you! How dare you, touch her! I’ll…”

  “It’s OK, D’Arcy,” said Imogen putting her arm around her fiancée, “It’s OK.”

  Bernadette and Eve had now arrived and stood looking down at Shane.

  “What the fuck are you playing at?” Bernadette demanded as he tried to sit up.

  “I… err… I…” He seemed lost for words and got unsteadily to his feet.

  “You what? You’ve breached ethics, what you’ve done is tantamount to sexual harassment and in front of witnesses. What the fuck is wrong with you?”

  “I don’t know, I don’t know what came over me. I’m truly sorry, Imogen, really. Sorry,” he said looking shamefaced.

  “My junior is within her rights to lay a complaint against you with the bar association at the very least.”

  “I know, and I’ve no right to ask you, but I’d really hope you won’t do that. I’m an idiot, I just don’t know what I was doing.”

  “You listen to me,” said Imogen recovering herself, “Stay the fuck away from me in future, other than if we have to meet in court. If you ever, ever do anything like that again, I will take you to the fucking cleaners.”

  “No, I won’t, I… I promise you that…” said Shane turning to go.

  “Stay away from my fiancée!” D’Arcy said fiercely.

  “You’re a very lucky man, you won’t be so lucky next time,” said Bernadette.

  Mason appeared and grabbed onto Shane’s arm. “Shane, what the fuck are you doing? Have you lost your fucking marbles?” He turned to the others. “Look, I’m very sorry, very sorry. It was completely unprofessional of him. I was about to intervene when your fiancée did such an excellent job, and serves him right, bloody idiot. You will have a written apology from him tomorrow. Thank you for your understanding.”

  He grabbed Shane’s arm and pulled him away quickly. “What the hell, mate, you were bang out of order. That’s your career nearly gone down the toilet, you complete fucking fool!”

  After they had gone, Bernadette said to Imogen, “Are you OK, darling?”

  “Yes, just a bit shaken up.”

  “I should think so.”

  “I’m glad I came along when I did,” said D’Arcy still angry.

  “That was a pretty impressive move,” Eve observed.

  “I learned it from you, darling,” D’Arcy said smiling.

  “Well done.”

  “We can discuss this tomorrow, Imogen, if you want to take it further, I’ll support you,” said Bernadette.

  “I think this cal
ls for dinner at my favourite restaurant,” said D’Arcy.

  “We have to speak to the press on the way out,” said Bernadette.

  “OK, but after that, join us?”

  “Yes, we will,” Eve said.

  “Let’s go, Callum and Rhys will be wondering what’s going on.”

  They returned to the courtroom where Rhys and Callum were patiently outside of waiting with their suitcase completely oblivious to the drama which had recently unfolded. They headed once more for the entrance to the main building.

  The press was lying in wait, just as Bernadette expected. She stopped in front of the crush. Further down the steps were yet more people with “Free Callum” banners chanting and shouting. Bernadette stopped and held up her hand.

  “The hearing is over, as you know I’m sure. We are hoping that the strong case we have made will prevail. We came for justice and now we are hoping to get it, for Callum’s sake.”

  “Do you think you’ll win?” shouted a reporter.

  “I can’t say, obviously, we are very hopeful. We put forward a good case, I think we’ve got a good chance.”

  “Would you put a bet on it?” said a wag from the Irish Sun.

  “Would you?” she shot back.

  There was general laughter.

  “Is that your wife?” shouted someone else.

  “Yes, this is she, Eve Mackenna.” Bernadette smiled and put her arm affectionately around Eve’s waist.

  “Give us a kiss then!”

  “Kiss her!”

  “Not today,” said Bernadette, “But if we win, I’ll give you a kiss to remember.”

  “Callum, what have you got to say, do you think you’re going to win?”

  “Come on,” said Bernadette, “That’s all folks, the show’s over.”

  They started to walk away with people shouting questions at D’Arcy and Imogen, as well as Callum and Rhys.

  Once they got to Bernadette’s car, they called a taxi for Rhys and Callum. Having seen them off, Bernadette and Eve drove to Chapter One in Parnell Square, and parked. Then they met up with D’Arcy and Imogen in her usual private dining cubby hole.

  ✽✽✽

  “Are you feeling a little better, darling?” said D’Arcy after they had ordered their meal.

  “Yes, quite a bit,” Imogen replied, sipping a glass of wine, “It was quite a shock.”

  “I’m sure,” said D’Arcy planting a kiss on Imogen’s lips.

  “You arrived just at the right time,” Bernadette said smiling, she sipped her sparkling water, as she was driving and didn’t want to drink.

  “You were amazing,” said Eve tucking herself in close to Bernadette.

  “Thank you, you have to come and teach us some more moves though,” said D’Arcy.

  “Yes, of course, I will.”

  “You should have seen his face though,” Bernadette laughed, “When you took him down, that was funny.”

  “He didn’t know what had hit him,” said Eve.

  “No, that he didn’t,” said Imogen.

  “I just can’t understand why he was doing that to you though, Imogen,” said D’Arcy who had now had time to think about it.

  Bernadette and Eve exchanged glances. Imogen had obviously not told her about Shane.

  Imogen took a long drink of wine, and said, “Darling, I have to tell you something about Shane, and I hope you’re not going to be very angry with me.”

  “Angry, why should I be angry?” said D’Arcy puzzled.

  “Because I haven’t told you everything about my past, not everything.”

  “I see.”

  Bernadette coughed discreetly. “Eve and I can, erm… take a walk… erm…”

  “No,” said Imogen, “Stay, we’re all friends here, so you should stay.”

  “Yes, stay,” said D’Arcy, “Please, it’s OK.”

  “I erm… I was Shane’s lover briefly,” Imogen said to D’Arcy.

  “Oh! Well… I see but…”

  “That’s not all, and I need to tell you the whole.”

  Imogen told D’Arcy the truth about Shane. The introduction to Fifty Shades style of relationship, and how she had had a few very torrid dates with him where he had introduced her to domination and submission, sex and spanking. The whole of it including his offer to her to become his full time submissive and junior counsel. How she had slapped his face in the restaurant. Then finally with tears running down her face, how she had experienced sexual attraction for him not long ago.

  “I’m sorry, so sorry,” Imogen said choking on her words, “I should have told you, told it all.”

  D’Arcy was silent, for a long while but she held Imogen’s hands tightly, looking at her with pursed lips.

  “Say something, D’Arcy, please…” said Imogen on the verge of sobbing her heart out.

  “You should have told me, all of this,” said D’Arcy, “I told you everything about me.”

  “I know, I’m sorry, darling.”

  “I’m disappointed in you, Imogen, very disappointed that you didn’t tell me.”

  “Oh... shit… does that mean you’re going to dump me now?” said Imogen bursting into floods of tears.

  Bernadette and Eve could hardly bear this, and Bernadette was longing to take Imogen into her arms, when D’Arcy took Imogen into an embrace.

  “Of course, I’m not going to dump you, sweetheart, of course not, don’t be silly,” said D’Arcy stroking her hair.

  “I’m a bitch, I’m a fucking bitch,” said Imogen sobbing into her shoulder.

  Bernadette nudged Eve, and they discreetly left the booth. The waiter was just appearing with the starters and Bernadette told him to take them away just for a few minutes. They went out of the front door and up the stairs onto the pavement.

  “Oh God, poor Imogen,” said Eve, “I really felt for her then.”

  “Yes, but they’ll get over it, just like we have,” Bernadette replied.

  “We did, didn’t we.” Eve paused. “Kiss me. I’ve missed you.”

  Bernadette did so, oblivious of passers-by, and then they walked for a bit hand in hand, while Bernadette told her about the day’s events, and about Callum’s assertion, Shane was gay. They had a chuckle about that and mused as to his obsession with Imogen. When they felt it was politic, they returned to the restaurant and back to D’Arcy and Imogen. Bernadette was pleased to see the two of them were smiling and seemed in better spirits.

  “D’Arcy has forgiven me,” said Imogen.

  “Of course, I forgive you, how could I not forgive you? I love you, you’re everything to me, even if you upset me by not telling me about Shane. I’m your fiancée don’t forget!”

  “But no more secrets. Like you and Eve, we’re going to be the same with each other. We are going to be completely open and honest from now on,” said Imogen.

  “Yes, yes we are,” said D’Arcy, “But what did we also agree, Imogen?”

  It seemed she wanted them to be in on everything from here on. Bernadette wasn’t so sure she wanted to know about the additional revelation and could certainly take a guess at it. She wasn’t wrong.

  “When we get home, I’m going to get a spanking, from D’Arcy, for keeping secrets,” said Imogen quietly.

  “Really?” Bernadette raised an eyebrow.

  “What’s sauce for the goose, and don’t tell me you don’t deserve it, darling,” said D’Arcy slyly.

  “Something to look forward to then,” said Eve with a giggle.

  “I’m not so sure about that,” Imogen said with feeling.

  “Oh, come on, darling, how many times have you…” D’Arcy laughed lightly.

  “I know, and you’re right, I deserve it.”

  “Yes, yes you do, and you are going to find out how much when we get home,” D’Arcy said with some relish warming to her new reversal of roles.

  “Yes, well, I’m glad you’ve sorted it all out satisfactorily,” sa
id Bernadette happy to move on, “I’ll tell the waiter to bring the starters now, I put him off, poor man.”

  “Oh, yes, I’m starving, I wondered where it was,” said D’Arcy instantly diverted.

  Soon enough, harmony was restored, and the four of them ate and talked until it was quite late, and it was time to go home. They bid an affectionate goodbye to D’Arcy and Imogen. Then drove home themselves.

  “Well, that was a turnup for the books,” said Eve, once they were in the car.

  “Wasn’t it?”

  “You know I’m going to want a story later.”

  “I know.” Bernadette smiled, and slipped her hand into her wife’s.

  “I love you,” said Eve.

  “I love you too.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  The morning after court Bernadette and Imogen had their usual coffee in her office, and Imogen sat down gingerly on the sofa.

  “Oh, darling,” Bernadette said with concern.

  “I’m a bit sore,” said Imogen wiggling her behind in an effort to get comfortable.

  “I take it D’Arcy meted out your consequences last night,” said Bernadette sympathetically.

  “And then some, fuck, it was worse than Shane once she got that paddle in her hand.”

  “Sounds like she was making up for all the times you’ve done it to her.” Bernadette sipped her coffee.

  “She’s not getting too many chances at it, I can tell you, my arse was bright red at the end, redder than my hair. I was close to screaming point a couple of times,” said Imogen ruefully.

  “Well, you started it, darling, so…”

  “I know, and I should have told D’Arcy about Shane, I’m happy I got it off my chest.”