Past Imperfect

Rosselot, extinguishing the light. Feeling the small skull crush as the rock connected… spurts of blood warm on his chest. And then he was in the car with Betina, turning the wheel sharply… her piercing scream just before they hit the truck…

Duclos bit at his lip sharply and rushed from the room. He headed for the bedroom and slammed the door shut behind him.

After a moment, Betina came in. She sat beside him on the bed, one arm across his shoulder in comfort.

Duclos looked down at the floor, found it hard to meet her eyes. 'If things go badly, it just hit me: this could be the last of Joel's birthdays I'll be here for, for a while,' he lied. Tears would have been fitting, but none came: dry well of emotions.

'I know. I know.' Betina soothed.

But he wondered at heart what she did know or suspect. Perhaps they were both lying.

Corbeix phoned Dominic's office within minutes of the ruling coming through from Barielle's office. 'We've got it. But by the skin of our teeth. Barielle has made a strong reprimand which will be entered into notes for full trial — may still be used by Thibault to rap us over the head then. But for the moment, we're still alive. Just. Though I'm sure if anything else comes up that even remotely smacks of the same, Barielle will throw the case out.'

'Well, hopeful news at least. Thanks.' Putting down the phone, Dominic wondered: Marinella Calvan? Thibault would no doubt give her a battering over PLR, but at least there should be no claims of bias. Calvan probably had little or no knowledge of French politics, nor cared.

Duclos picked up the phone after the first ring. He'd put down the phone from Thibault only minutes before: news of Barielle's ruling, strategy for Marinella Calvan at the next hearing. He thought Thibault might have forgotten something, was phoning back. But it was Georges Marchand from Switzerland.

After the preliminaries of ‘can we talk freely’ and ‘how are you coping’ — Marchand got to the purpose of his call.

'I had a call a few days back from my people. They're not happy about all the talk in the papers bringing up the bio-technology ruling. They're extremely uncomfortable about the linking of your case to that — and with obvious reason.'

'It's just a ruse by my lawyer. They shouldn't worry.'

'What's his aim?'

'The bio-technology ruling provides good background for his claim of political bias against me. Strong incentive for political enemies to start coming out of the woodwork. We almost got the case thrown out at the last hearing — but almost certainly it will be by the next. Then the whole thing will blow over quickly. Some new scandal will hit the headlines.'

Brief silence from the other end. 'A few days ago they were merely worried. But when news from today's Le Figaro reaches them, they're going to panic. Remember Lenatisse?'

'Yes.' Lenatisse was a French Socialist MP strongly outspoken about the bio-tech ruling, making caustic remarks about Duclos' handling favouring the Greens.

'… One journalist seems to be linking your lawyer's comments with those of Lenatisse. Have you seen it yet?'

'No, no. I haven't.' He didn't get the papers early, hardly ventured out with the gendarme and the press at the door. He waited till later in the day for Betina to bring the papers in with the shopping.

'I'll read it for you: '… Bold claims indeed from Counsellor Thibault of a political witchhunt against his client stemming from the bio-technology dispute. But this raises other more intriguing issues: in particular Minister Lenatisse's earlier comment, however flippantly made, that Alain Duclos might be in the pocket of the Greens. Because certainly, if Alain Duclos is finally found guilty of murder — then it doesn't take too extreme a stretch of the imagination to believe that he might also be a corrupt politician. Perhaps Minister Lenatisse's comments might have some substance after all.'

'I see.' Duclos went cold. Yet another dimension to his problems. 'I can see why they're worried. At least it still only points to the Greens — your people would be the last to come under suspicion.' Then realized it had sounded offhand. 'But point taken. I'll mention to Thibault to layoff. No more mention of the bio-technology dispute. And, as I say — the whole thing should be quashed soon anyway.'

'Let's hope so.' Marchand wouldn't be surprised if the journalist too was playing an angle for some industry lobby group. At present, if Duclos was convicted of murder, the bio-technology ruling still stood. Only if a connection was successfully made to possible corruption could the debate be re-tabled. 'There was another reason for me making contact at this stage.' Marchand sighed. From his client's last call it was obviously a prime concern, but the words just didn't sit right; felt out of place with the relationship he'd so far established with Duclos. 'I know that your lawyer is confident of clearing you. But if anything should go wrong — if you should feel the need for additional help. Just call. It's just so that you know that if the worst comes to the worst, you have friends out there. People who will help you.'

'Yes, yes. Certainly. I'll remember that.'

Marchand rang off. Duclos had sounded suitably non-plussed by the gesture; probably its significance wouldn't hit him for a while. Or perhaps he was so confident his lawyer would clear him, he hadn't even considered other possibilities.

Not an entirely altruistic gesture by his client, Marchand realized. The last thing they wanted was a convicted Duclos, eager to make deals and turn state's evidence, sink some industry big fish by telling all about his years as a corrupt politician.

FORTY-ONE

Stilted three way conversation: questions from Barielle through the translator to Marinella Calvan. And in turn back again with Calvan's answers.

It reminded Marinella of the sessions with Philippe and Eyran.

'What is your preferred method for conducting sessions?' asked Barielle.

'Hypnosis.'

'I understand that your predecessor, Dr Donaldson, preferred conducting sessions while people were awake. What was the reason for this?'

'He felt that sometimes hypnosis could be suggestive. Could spark off unwarranted imaginations if used the wrong way.'

'I see. So hypnosis could be used to suggest imaginative scenarios that weren't real?'

'Yes. But as I say — only if misused.'

Corbeix looked up. The first hesitation from Calvan. The first half hour had already covered much of her background at the University of Virginia and her working relationship with Donaldson. Corbeix had spent almost an hour going over points in file notes in private chambers with Barielle the day before. He imagined that Thibault had spent a similar time. As the most unusual element in the case, it was important that Barielle gained a full grasp of the subject. But equally its unorthodox nature would target it as the main area for Thibault to try and discredit. Corbeix tried to pick up on his own questions and those influenced by Thibault. Sometimes the dividing line was vague, or they might be additional questions posed by Barielle. Except now: throwing doubt on hypnosis. Thibault's hand was on the rudder.

'… In working with children, as Donaldson did almost exclusively, I felt that many would have vivid imaginations in any case. Particularly because he so often worked with children in India and Asia, where reincarnation is an accepted part of their culture.'

'And you generally have avoided working with children from those regions?'

'Yes. My main work has been with children in America and Europe.'

'Any particular reason for this?'