across. These compartments could not easily be found should the car ever be searched.
The men placed certain items of what they termed ‘merchandise’ into each compartment, laid the lids back on and slotted the rear seats back into place.
Then they each put a holdall into the boots of the cars.
They were ready to travel.
Each pair tossed up to see who would drive for the first half of the journey. The lucky ones curled up in the back seats to get some shuteye. As ex-soldiers, they were aware of the value of sleep.
They set off in a convoy initially and headed north towards the M1. Soon they were travelling individually because they did not want to draw attention to themselves as a single entity.
This way, if one got into trouble for some reason, the others would get away.
Each man knew his destination.
They were to meet up in Blackburn, Lancashire at noon. There was no great hurry. They would be briefed today, recce the site, see what equipment was available and what they needed to acquire, make their plans and then bide their time.
They were good at waiting. But from all accounts they wouldn’t have to wait too long.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The jury reached its verdicts at lunchtime on Tuesday. The Crown Court was reconvened and the elected foreperson was asked to read the verdicts out, whether the accused was guilty of murder, manslaughter or not guilty as the case might be.
Henry was sitting in court alongside Donaldson and Karen. FB sat in the row of seats in front of them, surrounded by all the detectives directly involved in the case.
The court was full to the brim; Henry noticed that Lisa Want was among the journalists. She’d been noticeable by her absence recently. Henry held back the urge to leap across the court and break every bone in her beautiful body.
The foreperson was a lady in her mid-thirties. She spoke in a shaky, faltering voice.
The court clerk led her through the charges.
Hinksman was found guilty of the M6 murders.
A murmur of approval chunnered around the room.
Then he was found guilty of the murder of Ken McClure. Someone almost clapped. The Judge looked sternly at that person.
Henry had a quick glance at Donaldson. A tear was running down the American’s cheek. Henry saw that his and Karen’s hands were intertwined. He felt happy for them. He turned his attention back to the court proceedings.
Henry began to grow tense. He wasn’t sure how he’d react if Hinksman was found not guilty of the charges he had brought against him.
Manslaughter verdicts were brought for the killings of the police officers who had raided Pepe Paglia’s guest- house to arrest Hinksman.
A stony silence greeted these verdicts.
He was found not guilty of the murder of Pepe Paglia.
That drew a gasp of disbelief.
He was also found not guilty of the murder of the arms dealer in Rossendale.
A few shrugs went round the court. That had been half-expected, but was a disappointment nevertheless.
Then, much to Henry’s relief, he was found guilty of all the murders in the alley.
A roar of approval went up from the court. Donaldson, next to Henry, patted his knee.
It took the Judge a few minutes to bring order to the courtroom. She was clearly annoyed at the disruption.
The foreperson resumed and found Hinksman guilty of the manslaughter of the woman on the promenade who had unfortunately stepped into the line of fire between Henry and Hinksman.
Hinksman had also been charged with numerous firearms and explosives offences, most of which were proved.
He was going to go to prison for a very long time.
The foreperson sat down, relieved to have done her duty in the spotlight. She looked like she was having a hot flush.
Hinksman stared over at Henry and shook his head sadly.
Then the Judge said, in her most authoritative tone, ‘The accused will stand.’
Hinksman didn’t move. He looked at the vaulted ceiling and whistled. It was something the Judge had been counting on. ‘Officers,’ she said to his guards, ‘bring the prisoner to his feet.’
Henry whispered to Donaldson, ‘The administration of justice is a wonderful thing, don’t you agree?’
‘ Sure do,’ said Donaldson. They shook hands.
Karen, who had heard the remark, leaned across Donaldson and said, ‘There’s more justice to be administered yet.’
‘ What do you mean?’ asked Henry.
She tapped her nose. ‘Wait and see.’
They looked to the front of the court as the Judge began to comment on the case and then to pass sentence.
‘ It’s over,’ Henry said down the phone to Kate.
‘ I’m glad,’ she said.
‘ Life sentences. Judge recommended that he never be released.
And on top of it, two months for contempt of court for some of the gestures he made during the trial. It was highly amusing. And the Judge commended me for bravery — and others. She said some good things.’
‘ So what happens now?’
‘ Well, he gets taken to Strangeways and we’re all going for a knees-up.’
‘ I didn’t quite mean that.’
‘ Oh.’
There was a sudden silence as if the line had gone dead, as if someone had pulled the plug.
‘ You still there?’ Kate asked.
‘ Yeah,’ he gulped nervously. ‘How’re the girls?’
‘ Fine. They’ll see you at the weekend.’
‘ Excellent. Good. Look… er, did you mean what happens next to us?’
‘ That’s exactly what I meant.’
‘ I do love you, y’know.’
‘ Do you?’ she sighed.
‘ Yes. And I miss you like mad. And I need you.’
‘ I love you too, Henry.’
‘ Can I come home?’
‘ We need to talk about it. I’m still not sure. I need some reassurances, some promises. You hurt me very badly. All my faith was rocked when you betrayed me. Everything I valued counted for nothing. I want you to come home, but I am frightened by the prospect.’
‘ Me too,’ he admitted. ‘I’m sorry… Look, I’m having a day off tomorrow. Perhaps I could come round in the evening; we could talk then.’
‘ The girls would be in the way. I have a better idea.’
‘ Go on.’
‘ I’ll take a day off too. Then we’ll have all day to chat, see how we feel, what we can resolve.’
