Newt gaped at him.
“Phelan said you might have reservations about where the money has come from. He acquired an Aston Martin. A barn find, he called it. He repaired it and made a lot of money when he sold it.”
“He said something about that when we took him out.”
“I’ll leave my card with your belongings. We’ll get this sorted out. His funeral is next Tuesday. Stenton Crematorium. Eleven o’clock.”
“Phelan wanted me to go.”
“I’ll speak to the governor on your behalf. I can see no reason why he’d say no.”
“Thank you.”
“Your brother instructed me to keep going until the bitter end with the appeal. But I’m not a criminal lawyer. You need someone who is, someone who won’t give up. Because neither should you.”
It was all Newt could do not to burst into tears.
He’d not long been returned to his cell when he was taken back to meet Dominique Samson. Shehadto know if River was all right.
Newt shook her hand and sat down. “River?” It was the only word he could get out of his mouth.
“Is coming out of hospital today.”
Newt put his head in his heads.Thank God. Fuck, fuck, fuck…He released a ragged breath.
“I couldn’t get any information on his condition, but him being released speaks for itself.”
Newt dropped his hands and looked across at her. “Thank you.”
“I’ve just spoken to Tim Bailey. He’s emailed all the relevant information so I have a fuller picture of your situation; I’m still going through it. But I do need to inform you that as a duty solicitor, dealing only with the shooting, I’d usually have seen you at the police station. I’m attending here because it was not made clear to you that you needed legal representation. I’m only funded for this visit. If you wish to continue to use me in court, then I’d require funding either through Legal Aid or payment by yourself.”
Newt’s head was buzzing.
“I can take over your entire case if you wish. Not just the shooting but the wrongful imprisonment. Your brother’s confession is now in the hands of the police. I wish I could tellyou that it should have a direct impact on your current position, but…”
“Not immediately.”
She sighed. “Legal wheels trundle very slowly. But you’ll be in Crown Court sometime within the next few days and we can make our case then. Hopefully, you’ll be released immediately. Even if it’s on bail pending a court case, it’s better than being in here. Right?”
“Do you think they’ll let me go to my brother’s funeral? Mr Bailey said he’d talk to the governor.”
“I’ll speak to him too. You have to apply for leave to attend and you’d have to go with two officers. It’s up to the governor really. Now I need to hear everything from your point of view. Begin the night it all started.”
~~~
River was relieved to be leaving hospital but Max refused to take him back to his home.
“I’m not going to leave you there on your own. You can stay with me. The police are going to come and see you this afternoon.”
“But Newt—”
“He’s in prison in Maidstone. I tried to get him out but there’s nothing we can do.”
River argued all the way back to Max’s but when he almost fell getting out of the car, Max pulled an ‘I told you so’face and helped him into the house.
Once he was sitting in Max’s lounge, he held out his hand. “Give me your phone.”
“I’ll get you a new one tomorrow.”
