Court Out

Chapter Twenty Eight





Alexander looks exquisite, as usual. He’s had his hair cut since I last saw him and the short neat crop really flatters his angular face. To my distaste, he looks delighted to see me and welcomes me into his room like a long lost friend.

It was really, really weird coming back into Chambers this morning. The press are still (For reasons that I can’t fathom) desperate to speak to me, but I can’t think of many things worse that engaging in a post-drama interview.

I didn’t venture into the clerks room but I did receive some welcoming smiles from members of Chambers and admin staff as I went past the glass-fronted room on my way in. As I ascended the punishing stairs, it was almost like nothing had changed.

I’m wearing a familiar black suit, white top and a new pair of divine black Kurt Geiger heels. I had my hair trimmed yesterday and I look pretty much exactly as I did before this whole fiasco.

“Lauren! Great to see you. You’re looking well!” exclaims Alexander. To be fair, so is he. His suit is a deep shade of navy blue with a hot pink lining. Unusually, when I came into his domain he was already on his feet, waiting for me.

“Hi Alexander,” I reply.

There is what can only be described as an awkward silence. For a terrible minute I have the impression that he is going to give me a hug. I’m either wrong, or he decides against it.

“So, how are things?” he starts. Before I can answer, he continues. “I’ve been speaking to Roger and he’s sorted you out a six-week fraud trial. After that, I’ll be leading you on a gang related murder case that’ll last at least a couple of months.”

He looks at me expectantly. I nod slowly. “That would certainly keep me out of trouble.”

His face shows the merest flicker of discomfort. He shakes it and laughs cheerily, “Onwards and upwards Lauren!”

I walk over to the window and take a few deep breaths, my gaze fixed on the pedestrians scuttling down below.

“Just out of curiosity, when the six-week fraud came in to Chambers, which barrister did the solicitors want to do it?”

There’s a pause. “Well, I’m not sure,” replies Alexander eventually.

“Can you check for me?” I query.

He laughs again. It sounds forced. “Lauren, Lauren, you should just be happy that we have all of this work for you!”

I don’t laugh back, but turn to face him. “I’m just curious you see. Has Roger performed a clerking miracle or did the solicitors send the work to me in the first place?”

It’s a simple question. Either the work is mine because the solicitors wanted me to do it, or as some massive apology, the work has been taken from someone else to placate me.

“Well, I suppose the brief does have your name on it,” he concedes.

I knew it. He’s been talking total bullshit. No strings have been pulled, no special treatment has been given to me by way of an apology. Come to think about it, no apologies have been forthcoming whatsoever.

“Good to know,” I smile. “It’ll be coming with me then.”

He falters. “What?”

His cheerful expression is slowly sliding from his face. In contrast, I’m certainly regaining my good mood.

“Sorry, wasn’t I clear? I said, I’m taking the brief with me.”

He looks at me like I’m trying to explain advanced nuclear physics to him. I decide to put him out of his misery.

“Alexander I’m leaving. You and most of Chambers have treated me like something you’d scrape off your shoe. You all thought I was guilty and not one of you thought to take me aside and discuss it with me.” My voice begins to wobble, but I’m damn sure that I’m going to finish what I came here to say. “I always thought that Chambers was a family of sorts, friends that I could count on no matter what happened. I can forgive the police for how they behaved, but I can’t forgive you.”

Satisfyingly, Alexander looks completely flummoxed.

“You’re leaving the Bar?” he exclaims.

I laugh. “No. Far from it. I’ve joined another set of Chambers and I’m taking my work with me.”

“Where?” he enquires.

“I’m joining Corr’s set. He has been a tower of strength to me and for that I’ll be eternally grateful. He didn’t judge me, never questioned my actions or my innocence. You, on the other hand couldn’t wait to get rid of me, to ‘protect your reputation.’ Well, I hope when people hear about this they know exactly why I left.”

I turn and walk back towards the door. When Corr called the other night to offer me a place he made it clear that if I joined his Chambers, it’d be on the same terms as everyone else; I wasn’t to expect any special treatment or work based on sympathy at my predicament. I literally jumped with joy when he offered me a home. I don’t want this nightmare to follow me for the rest of my career, I want to be the barrister I was, fearless, feisty and full of beans. If I stay here then I’ll carry the resentment I have for most of them around with me like a weight around my neck.

“Wait!” exclaims my former Head of Chambers. I pause and slowly turn round to face him, my skirt swishing satisfactorily against my legs.

“Yes?” I enquire politely.

“I hope you’re not going to speak to the press about this.”

He really is unbelievable. Right, that’s it.

“Why, are you worried that I’m going to tell them how I was unceremoniously ejected from Chambers? How I was treated like a leper by my colleagues? How you made me feel like a criminal? How a bunch of barristers can’t even grasp the concept of ‘innocent until proven guilty?’ Oh Alexander, I owe you nothing.”

As I’m half way out of the door I have another thought.

“Someone will come to collect my things. By the way, I’m taking Cassie with me too.”

“What, our pupil?” he exclaims in confusion.

“You didn’t give her a tenancy. Corr will. You really need to learn how to treat people. Goodbye Alexander.”