Beyond Innocence (32 page)

Tuesday, the second of April, had proved to be a particularly exhausting day for all concerned. During the early part of the morning, Irene and Michael had kept in constant touch with Harry because this was the day the results were expected, and each time the telephone rang they were all so highly charged that they were jumping out of their skins. With agonising slowness, the clock face showed that the appointed hour for lunch had passed them by, but food was the last thing on their minds at the moment. At half past two, Irene was to be found seated in the office of Michael Mulrooney. Neither person spoke; instead they sat there, willing the phone to ring. Praying that the caller would convey the results they were so absolutely desperate to hear. All the staff had been specifically told they were not to be disturbed, and if any persons other than Sir Martin Lttlejohn rang they were to be informed that Michael was away from the office, visiting clients

With a sound which would have awakened the dead Michael’s private telephone shrieked into life. His hand shot out instantly to remove the receiver from its place of rest. With what appeared to be a single movement, the phone was in his hand, and cradled against his neck as he whispered nervously, “Mulrooney here.” From his facial expression, together with the look in his eyes, Irene knew instinctively this was the call they had waited so long for. Even so, she was still praying that it would contain, and convey, the news they desperately longed to hear. She listened with eager anticipation to Michael saying, “Wonderful, that’s great that’s absolutely wonderful news, and there’s absolutely no doubt about it. Please send me a fax as soon as you can, then we’d better see about a press release. Just let me have five minutes with Irene, she’s with me in the office; then I’ll phone you back Ok?”

Flushed with excitement, he replaced the receiver shouting, “Irene, it’s official the tests confirm it. Sir Martin said that, from the tests he conducted, he can prove that the samples taken from the clothing of the dead women, match the samples obtained from the body of Anthony Harris. His opinion, along with that of the police forensic scientists is, even allowing for some contamination due to exposure, and they all stress there was some contamination, it is almost impossible to distinguish between the samples of Harry Thompson and Anthony Harris. This means that Harry’s conviction would be ruled unsafe, and the verdict would be overturned in any court in the land. Irene, I’m telling you, it’s finally all over.”

Michael was out of his chair, dancing round the office, then he opened the door, and told all the staff present, “Spread the word Harry Thompson is innocent.”

Irene brought him down to earth temporarily, reminding him he still had to phone Sir Martin back in order to discuss the press release through Merseyside police. “Meanwhile,” she said excitedly, “I’d better telephone Sebastian with the good news, then I suppose we had better fix up some interviews with the media and Harry, because, this truly is a historic day, and it belongs as much to Harry as it does to us and everyone else.” Irene waited with some anxiety whilst Michael spoke to Sir Martin, then she spoke to Sebastian.

Immediately the news was received at the offices, Sebastian despatched a car to collect Harry from his safe house in order that a press conference could be arranged after the news had been divulged to the press. For this purpose, Irene was hastily recalled to the office along with Michael Mulrooney. Fortunately, they all arrived before the press, and a statement was speedily prepared. It was a simple press release as follows, read by Irene Yarwood.

‘As a result of DNA tests carried out on samples voluntarily donated by the Harris family, including Timothy Harris, we have to tell you that the results prove conclusively, Timothy Harris is the father of Harry Thomson. After comparing these samples, with samples taken from the body of the late Anthony Harris, we can also confirm that Harry Thomson, and the deceased, are twin brothers. Further tests have been carried out on the clothing samples taken from the two women involved in the Thompson murder trial, and the police forensic scientists have today confirmed to us that, as a result of those tests, they can no longer say that Harry Thompson is the only person who could have committed those crimes. We anticipate a much more detailed statement will be made later through the offices of the Merseyside Police Authority following their discussions with the forensic scientists, and pending receipt of that report and discussions between ourselves. We have nothing further to add, apart from the fact that this good news proves, beyond any shadow of doubt, that Harry Thompson is innocent of all charges. Obviously we shall be applying to the Home Secretary to grant a full Queen’s Pardon to Mr. Thompson who has undergone a most terrible ordeal. And as soon as all the formalities are completed Mr. Thomson will be seeking adequate compensation to take into account his arrest, and subsequent incarceration. Meanwhile, Mr. Thompson wishes me to make it known to everyone he is extremely thankful that his ordeal is now over and he asks each, and every one of you, to respect his privacy.’

Ignoring the clamour for answers to the many questions hurled at them from the waiting press, the party made their way back inside the offices. Once inside however, Irene sensed at once that the mood had changed. Everybody was happy, and congratulating them all over again. Somehow, Irene sensed rather than felt that the air was tinged with anticipation. She told herself this was something she was imagining but the feeling persisted, refusing to go away.

Then, all of a sudden, she was aware that the noise was quickly subsiding; she found herself looking at Sebastian Kreiff, and, the other senior partners in the practice.

Without any hesitation, Sebastian stepped forward to speak to Irene and the assembled, who now included Harry and Michael. He was saying, “Irene, on behalf of myself and everybody here, I would like you to accept this little gift as a token of our esteem. Also, our regard for you following your successful defence of Harry Thompson. It goes without saying that not one person in the entire legal profession thought you had a ghost of a chance, but you proved them all wrong. It gives me great pleasure to ask you to accept this small token of our regard. Here’s to the future, and to many more successful briefs. With that he handed her a small oblong velvet case. As the onlookers began to clap, Irene opened the case with a great deal of nervous anticipation. Inside the box lay a brass plate inscribed,

‘KRIEFF, KRIEFF, ISAACS, and YARWOOD’

It was at that precise moment that it finally dawned on Irene that she had truly proved to everyone in the profession that she had fully earned her position and the right to the letters ‘QC’ beside her name. This was together with a full partnership within the chambers.

It was also at this moment in time that she suddenly caught a glimpse of Harry and, observing the way he was standing with his arms wrapped tight around his body, the words of Professor Love flooded back into her brain. Instantly reignited were all her doubts concerning him in the murder trial as it was instantly replaced by a much stronger feeling that she had just turned a multiple killer loose upon society. There and then she vowed to herself that, if their respective paths ever crossed again, she would make certain that he ended up where he belonged…

BEHIND BARS.