A Time of Peace Read online

  She prayed that would happen, yet she doubted it. Annie had extraordinary courage – but did she?

  It was a wasted and anxious day for Kate. She wasn’t called. James had been in court for quite a while, and her parents and Reid had been following the case carefully. Annie had sat with Kate all day, trying to take her mind off things by telling her about being in the WAAF during the war, and the antics she and Dora had got up to.

  She was struck by the courage of everyone during the conflict. They had been perilous times, but they had laughed then, and still could. Her father had been a naval captain, Uncle Will in the Fleet Air Arm, Uncle Charlie in the Air Force as a mechanic, and Reid had been a Battle of Britain pilot. Her mother had risked her life in London during the Blitz, and Annie had gone behind enemy lines. All had been in grave danger, but they’d never hesitated to do what had to be done.

  She lifted her head defiantly. She mustn’t let them down!

  It was ten o’clock the next morning when Kate was called to give evidence. Rose watched her daughter walk into the courtroom. She was wearing the same clothes as yesterday and looked composed and elegant as she went into the box, but she understood the turmoil that must be raging inside Kate. It was going to be terrible to stand in a public courtroom and tell everyone what that animal had done to her. Rose knew she would never have been able to do such a thing after the attack on her when she’d been a girl. She’d hidden the truth from almost everyone, and it had taken years before she’d been able to put the trauma behind her. She glanced at her husband sitting tensely beside her with his gaze fixed on his daughter.

  As Kate answered the questions put to her by the prosecution lawyer in a clear steady voice, fury raged through her that their daughter had to face this ordeal. Her dark eyes glared at Derek Howard as he sat in the dock, and, as if sensing the scrutiny, he looked straight at her. Rose held his gaze, her black eyes leaving him in no doubt that he was going to suffer for his actions. He was the first one to break the contact, and he looked at the floor, appearing uneasy for the first time.

  When questions came to an end, Kate took in a deep silent breath. That had been fairly easy; she’d known in advance what the prosecution lawyer wanted her to say, and he’d guided her carefully through it. But now for the cross-examination!

  ‘Miss Freeman.’ The defence barrister, Mr Holdsworth, came towards her with a smile on his face that didn’t reach his eyes. ‘Are you a virgin?’

  ‘Objection!’ The prosecution barrister, Charles Prendergast, was on his feet. ‘Miss Freeman’s private life is not relevant to this trial.’

  ‘I disagree, my lord. I aim to show the court that, far from being the innocent victim, Miss Freeman was the instigator of this plot in order to get money from her family.’

  Kate’s head began to swim, and she gripped the witness box to steady herself. What was going on? The judge said something, but she didn’t grasp it; the words sounded like a meaningless jumble.

  ‘When did you meet Mr Howard?’ Mr Holdsworth continued.

  Kate fought for concentration. She looked towards the barrister. Should she answer? He nodded quickly at her. ‘When he came to the shop just before Christmas.’

  ‘Come now, Miss Freeman, remember you are under oath. You first met Mr Howard at a party given by Grant Phillips almost a year ago, didn’t you?’

  ‘No!’

  He ignored her reply. ‘You became lovers and decided that you needed money – lots of money – to give you a lavish lifestyle.’

  ‘No!’

  ‘And it was you who came up with the idea of a kidnapping – ’

  ‘No!’

  ‘You deny it vehemently, Miss Freeman, but my client assures me it was your idea, and he only went ahead with it because he was besotted with you.’

  ‘Then he’s a liar!’ Kate was so distressed by now that the courtroom had blurred around her. All she could focus on was the arrogant, unfeeling man who was accusing her of this crime. Wasn’t this supposed to be Howard’s trial? She was now the one in the dock, and her character was being torn to shreds.

  ‘You knew your nasty little scheme had been uncovered when the police found your hiding place, so you concocted this ridiculous story against my client.’

  ‘No, no!’ Dear God, she was the one on trial now. This couldn’t be happening; she must be having a nightmare. She was dry-eyed with shock and looked over to where she knew her parents were sitting. When their faces came into focus, she gazed at them as her mind cried: don’t believe this, please. I would never betray you! I love you.

  ‘You bewitched Mr Howard with your beauty, and forced him to go along with your scheme.’

  ‘No.’ The single word came out on a faint cry of despair. Derek Howard hadn’t raped her – but this court just had!

  ‘No further questions.’

  Kate watched the man sit down with a smirk of satisfaction on his face, and wondered how he felt. Was he proud of what he had just done, or did he honestly believe she’d try to cheat her family? Either way she couldn’t understand it.

  ‘We will break for lunch and return here at two o’clock.’ The judge stood up and left the court.

  Kate remained where she was as the court cleared, unable to move.

  ‘Come on, sweetheart, let’s get you into the fresh air.’

  Even the gentle voice of her father didn’t completely penetrate the horror racing through her, but she allowed him to lead her out. They had just reached the door to the street when there was a flash. She looked towards it just as another one went off.

  ‘Kate, I’m so sorry.’ Terry from the newspaper was apologetic. ‘The Chief has ordered Mike and me to cover the case …’

  She hardly heard the words as her stomach heaved, and she ran back through the door towards the nearest ladies’ cloakroom. She only just made it in time, and was violently sick. Annie was beside her, holding her shoulders and talking quietly to her until the sickness eased.

  ‘All over now.’ Annie wiped her face with a dampened handkerchief. ‘Stand up, Kate.’

  She’d been on her knees and hauled herself upright with difficulty. Her mother was standing by the sinks with a glass of water in her hand. Kate reached for it, but was shaking so badly that the liquid spilled over the floor. Annie held the glass then so that she could take a drink.

  ‘Better?’ her mother asked.

  She nodded, and with the help of her mother and Annie she was able to walk out of the cloakroom and join her family.

  Mr Prendergast hurried towards them. ‘I wouldn’t go outside if I were you. The press are six deep out there. I’ve found you a private room and I’ll see that refreshments are brought to you.’

  ‘I would like to go home.’

  The lawyer turned to her parents. ‘I’m going to recall Kate. I want the jury to see how upset she is by the defence claims.’

  ‘Upset?’ Rose exploded. ‘When this trial’s over, I’m going to tear that arrogant little squirt apart with my bare hands. And I’ll expect you to be quicker on your feet to stop any repeat of this morning’s disgraceful episode, young man, or I’ll bloody well take over the case myself!’

  Anyone on the receiving end of Rose Freeman’s wrath knew they were up against a force to be reckoned with. He took an involuntary step back. ‘I assure you it won’t happen again. Now, if you’d like to come with me, I’ll show you the room we’ve prepared for you.’

  Kate followed with her father on one side of her and Reid on the other, only half aware of what was going on. There were plates of sandwiches, cakes and biscuits; tea and coffee were there for them. She sipped tea when a cup was put in her hands. There was only a slight tremor now.

  I didn’t do what they said,’ she whispered.

  ‘Of course you didn’t!’ Everyone spoke at once.

  ‘Kate.’ Her mother sat beside her. ‘I watched the jury’s faces the whole time. They didn’t believe it, no one did. They haven’t got a sound defence. That was a last attempt to get How
ard off. He’s used the only weapon he had, but it won’t help him – quite the reverse in fact.’

  Reid squatted in front of her and took hold of her hands, a wry smile on his face. ‘He’s shot himself in the arse, darling.’

  She squeezed his hands. How she loved this wonderful man. A fleeting smile touched her mouth. ‘That was careless of him.’

  A ripple of laughter echoed around the room and the tension eased.

  At two o’clock sharp the trial resumed, and, although Kate was still in a state of shock, she knew this was something she had to see through to the end. An hour later her mother came out of the courtroom. ‘I think they’re going to call you again, but the questioning won’t be hostile this time. They recalled the medical examiner and made him go over his findings in great detail. The photographs of your injuries leave no doubt that Howard was brutal with you, and was trying to kill you.’

  Kate’s name was called and her mother hurried back into the courtroom. Once in the witness box again she was relieved to see Mr Prendergast stand up.

  ‘I would like to ask a few questions only.’ He gave her an encouraging smile. ‘When was the first time you met Mr Howard?’

  ‘When he came to the shop to tell me that my brother wanted to see me urgently.’ Kate spoke clearly, trying to make sure her voice didn’t tremble.

  ‘You had never seen him before that day, even though he worked for your father and brother?’

  ‘Never.’

  ‘I want you to think back to the room you were being held in.’

  She tried to visualize the room, trying to remember every small detail because she sensed it was important. It had been cold, dirty and dark …

  ‘I know this is distressing for you. Describe it to me. Take your time.’

  ‘All it contained was an old bed with a torn mattress on it. No light and no heat. There was one small window and it had been nailed shut.’

  ‘Was there anything to indicate that the room was ready for you?’

  Kate was stumped. She knew her lawyer was trying to show that this had been a premeditated crime, but … Suddenly two points came to mind. They hadn’t seemed significant at the time. She looked up eagerly. ‘The building was derelict and yet the lock on the door was new; the key turned easily and silently. And there was a bucket in the corner to use as a toilet; that was also brand-new.’

  Mr Prendergast turned to the jury. ‘A new lock on a door in a derelict house; a lock already fitted before Mr Howard took his victim there.’ He paused to let this fact sink in, then turned back to Kate with a smile on his face. ‘Thank you, Miss Freeman, I have no further questions.’

  ‘Do you wish to cross-examine again?’ the judge asked the defence lawyer.

  He half rose to his feet, not looking quite so smug now. ‘No, my lord.’

  She was dismissed, but how she managed to walk out of that courtroom without falling down she would never know. The sheer relief pulsing through her kept her step firm and her head up. She’d done her part. Now it was up to the barristers and the jury.

  19

  The trial had lasted for three days, and the evidence against Derek Howard was overwhelming. The jury retired to consider their verdict. Kate and her family waited.

  ‘How long will they take?’ she asked her mother.

  ‘No one can say, but there can be little doubt in their minds of Howard’s guilt.’ Her mother smiled at her. ‘All we can do is wait.’

  It took the jury only four hours, and the family filed back into court to hear the verdict. When Derek Howard was convicted of kidnapping and attempted murder, Kate nearly passed out with relief. He would be sentenced in a week’s time.

  The journey back home was a blur to her. After the strain of the last few days she felt detached from reality, making it difficult to concentrate on anything at all. She was sensible enough to recognize what was happening to her: her mind was shutting down. But she mustn’t allow that to happen. There was no escape from what had occurred in that courtroom and it would be better to face it now. She was vaguely aware that Terry and Mike had been outside the court, and she was sure she’d glimpsed Robert sitting in the court when she’d first walked in, which meant it would be in the papers. She was well known to most of them from her freelance work, and they wouldn’t be able to resist such a sensational trial. She felt her insides start to churn again. When she’d heard the verdict of guilty, she’d thought it was all over, but that was foolish and she should have known better. This would be headline news in the morning, and it was going to be uncomfortable being the subject of news stories. Derek Howard had been proved guilty, but how many of the accusations against her would stick?

  ‘Nearly home.’ Her mother spoke quietly as the car headed through Barnes. ‘We’ll have a nice strong cup of tea as soon as we get back.’

  They were sitting in the back of the car, with her father driving. Reid, Annie and James were in the car just behind them. Kate dredged up a smile for her mother. ‘You sounded just like Grandma Marj then.’

  Rose sighed. ‘I’m glad Mum and Wally weren’t around to see all of this – it would have torn them apart.’

  ‘It hasn’t done us much good either.’ Kate’s laugh was forced and humourless.

  ‘I agree.’ She cast an assessing look at her daughter. ‘I expect it feels as if the bottom has dropped out of your world, yet I can tell you that you’ll get through this.’

  She didn’t know the whole story of her mother’s life, but she realized that it had been harsh. Kate prayed that somewhere inside her she had a measure of her mother’s strength, because she was going to need it. However, she was under no illusions about her own character, and was aware that she was going to have to dig deep for every ounce of courage. Her life, unlike that of her mother’s family, had been happy and secure, and the kidnapping and trial had shaken her badly.

  The cars pulled into the driveway, and as soon as they were indoors the kettle was put on the stove even before Rose had taken off her coat.

  ‘Thank God that’s over!’ James sat at the large kitchen table and ran a hand over his eyes. ‘I’m desperately sorry you’ve had to go through this, Kate.’

  She was upset to see her brother so distraught. ‘It wasn’t your fault, James, and, as you said, it’s over now.’

  ‘If I ever see that defence barrister again, I’ll knock him flat on his smug face!’ Bill declared. ‘I know he had a job to do, but he didn’t have to be so brutal about it.’

  Rose gave a grim smile. ‘You can leave him to me. After the sentencing I’ll deal with him!’

  ‘Poor sod!’ It was unusual for Annie to swear and everyone gave her a startled glance. ‘He doesn’t stand a chance with Rose after his hide.’

  A ripple of laughter went around the people at the table and Kate joined in.

  Her father reached across and squeezed her hand. ‘That’s better, sweetheart. This has been a terrible ordeal for you and you showed great courage in the witness box. Your denials were short and convincing. No one believed you had been involved in the plot, as the unanimous guilty verdict showed.’

  Kate realized that she had been silly to even entertain the idea that the defence would be believed, but in the shock and confusion she hadn’t been thinking straight.

  There was a sharp knock on the kitchen door and Pete came in all smiles. ‘Sorry I couldn’t be there when the jury came in, but I had a wedding to do. Your dad left a message with Susan about the guilty verdict. I hope they put Howard away for a very long time.’

  ‘I’m pretty sure they will,’ Rose told him. ‘The judge didn’t like the defence tactics, and I’ve been told he’s a tough old devil.’

  ‘And Howard’s still got to face the embezzlement charges next month.’ James gave a satisfied grunt. ‘He hasn’t got any defence against that, so that should add a few more years. I think it will be a long time before he sees the outside world again.’

  There was a knock on the front door this time and Reid went to answe
r it. He came back with Andrew Stevenson, Robert Sinclair and a man they didn’t know.

  James shook hands with the reporter who’d interviewed him a while back, and, as there wasn’t room for everyone in the kitchen, Rose ushered them into the sitting room.

  When they’d settled themselves, the stranger looked at Rose and Bill. ‘My name’s Joel Perkins, and I must say that neither of you has changed much in almost forty years. I’d have known you anywhere, Mrs Freeman.’

  Rose studied him carefully. ‘You would only have been a lad then. When did we meet?’

  ‘I was six years old at the time. Our street was being demolished and my dad was refusing to move.’

  ‘Of course!’ Rose turned to her husband. ‘Do you remember, Bill? The bailiffs were there and I persuaded them to hold off until I’d spoken to Mr and Mrs Perkins.’

  Joel laughed. ‘You took my dad in your car to see the new houses, Mr Freeman. He never stopped talking about you. You made a big impression on him.’

  ‘You sure it wasn’t the car that impressed him?’ Bill joked.

  ‘That too!’

  ‘How are your parents?’ Rose wanted to know.

  ‘They’re still alive and I’m able to keep them in comfort now.’

  ‘You’ve done well for yourself,’ Rose said, clearly admiring the smartly dressed man.

  ‘I have, and it’s all thanks to you. Once we were out of the slums I went to a good school, and then on to university.’

  ‘And now you’re the owner of the World Explorer.’ Bill studied him carefully. ‘It was you who ordered Mr Stevenson to employ our daughter.’

  ‘I’ve always felt I owed you a great debt, so that’s why I told Andrew to give her the job at the paper.’

  Kate joined in the conversation for the first time. ‘I wish you hadn’t done that. It was a great disappointment to learn that I hadn’t won the position on my own merits as a photographer.’

  ‘Oh, but you had. I checked you out very carefully and knew you were an excellent photographer.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘I am a businessman and wouldn’t have employed you if you’d been hopeless, in spite of my debt to your parents.’