“She’s here,” she said, stepped aside and gestured to Tabitha to enter.
Tabitha and the officer walked into a room that was so different from anything else Tabitha had seen in the court that it was difficult to believe it was in the same building. Tabitha just saw it in fragments: a richly decorated carpet, heavy furniture, oil paintings on the wall, dark wooden panels, a large window. Through it she could see the branches of a tree. Three faces looked round at her and she didn’t recognize them at first. It was only when one of them spoke that she realized it was Judge Munday, not wearing her wig. She had fading ginger hair, cut very short. For the first time, Tabitha thought of her as a real person, eating a boiled egg for breakfast, going on holiday, having friends, having fun, maybe having a family.
“I think we can lose the handcuffs,” the judge said.
The officer removed them.
“And perhaps you can wait outside,” Judge Munday continued.
The officer looked puzzled by the request. She looked at Tabitha.
“Behave yourself,” she said and left the room, closing the door behind her. Tabitha looked around and saw that the other two people were Simon Brockbank and Elinor Ackroyd, also without their wigs.
“Please sit,” said Judge Munday, gesturing at a large armchair.
Tabitha sat and almost sank into it. It felt like they were in a sort of gentleman’s club that she had only ever seen in films and that they ought to be smoking cigars and drinking brandy. But she didn’t feel relaxed, not at all. Something was up. She could see it in the three faces that were looking at her.
“The prosecution have a new witness,” the judge said.
“You mean someone who hasn’t been mentioned before?”
“That’s right.”
“I thought they weren’t allowed to do that.”
“It’s allowed in exceptional circumstances,” said Simon Brockbank. Elinor Ackroyd was sitting in another armchair, right on the edge, looking tense, but Brockbank was standing, hands in pockets. “Apparently this witness has only just come forward. It’s very regrettable.”
He didn’t sound as if he really felt it was regrettable.
“Who is it?” said Tabitha, her mouth suddenly dry.
“A woman called Ingrid Bennet. Someone you know apparently.”
Tabitha was about to say that she’d never heard of this woman and then she remembered.
“Ingrid,” she said. “She was my friend. She helped me, gave me advice. I don’t think I’d have got by without her. What’s she doing here?”
“I think she’s just talking about certain conversations you had.”
Tabitha turned to the judge. “I’m sorry, could I have some water?”
Judge Munday filled a glass from a jug on her desk and handed it to Tabitha, who gulped it down so quickly that she had to wipe her chin with the back of her hand.
“I thought you weren’t allowed to do that,” she said.
“It’s an exceptional case,” said Brockbank.
“So you can keep ambushing me with different kinds of evidence,” said Tabitha. “Is that how it goes?”
There was a pause. Judge Munday looked at Simon Brockbank.
“That seems a fair point to me,” she said. “What do you say to that?”
“I’m sorry. I know it’s unfortunate. But if new, relevant evidence is given to me, it is my duty to put it to the court.”
“Can I object to it?” said Tabitha.
Judge Munday took a deep breath. Tabitha could see that she was angry. There was a steeliness in her expression that was almost frightening.
“Mr. Brockbank is correct,” she began slowly. “As far as it goes. But this is the second time this has happened in this trial and I am not pleased about that. I want no suggestion that the prosecution is playing games in my court.”
“Of course not,” said Simon Brockbank soothingly.
Judge Munday didn’t seem to be soothed. “I’ll allow this witness. But I’m going to make sure that Ms. Hardy is not unfairly disadvantaged by this.” She turned to Tabitha. “If you want a day to prepare for this, I’ll give you one. This witness can always appear later.”
Judge Munday was still obviously furious. If something bad was coming, then it might be useful to have her slightly on Tabitha’s side.
“What would I prepare for?” she said.
Back in court, she sat down next to Michaela and told her what had happened.
“What the fuck,” said Michaela rather too loudly and Tabitha saw various officers of the court looking round. “Do you know what she’s going to say?”
“I’ve no idea,” said Tabitha. “I guess she’ll talk about meeting me in prison. I don’t know why that’s relevant.”
Michaela thought for a moment. “I know what she’s going to say,” she said.
She started frantically writing notes on her pad. Tabitha couldn’t make out what they were.
Suddenly it was like opening time. The public gallery and the press gallery filled up, the jury walked in, looking sullen. Tabitha gave them what she hoped was a friendly nod, but none of them responded. They all rose, the judge entered and they sat down. The new witness was announced and everyone looked round, including Tabitha. She was genuinely curious.
As Ingrid entered the court and was led by an usher to the witness box, Tabitha was impressed, despite herself. She was dressed in a dark suit with a white blouse and a coral brooch at her throat. Her hair was immaculately styled. She seemed as much at home in a courtroom as the lawyers. As she passed the desk where Tabitha and Michaela were seated, she turned and gave a smile and a little twitch of her shoulders as if there was a shared understanding of how comic this was, how slightly absurd. Tabitha started to smile back and then stopped herself, remembering that Ingrid was appearing for the prosecution, not
