‘So Nicole had no theories?’ Cristy asked. ‘She claimed at the time that some random person or persons must have entered the house and taken the twins while she was down at the woods burying the cat.’
‘Correct. This is all common knowledge, so I’m not sure—’
‘What about the blood?’ Cristy interrupted. ‘Traces were mentioned in court—’
‘Correct, traces. The way you lot reported it, anyone would have thought the place was awash with it.’
Barely suppressing a surge of irritation, Cristy said, ‘There was animal blood, we know, which might have been what led to rumours of a cult?’
He shrugged. ‘There was mention of a cult, yes, but neither we nor the police ever found anything to corroborate the claim.’
‘So how did the animal blood get there?’
‘They had a cat.’
His tone was so scathing that it made her feel foolish simply for asking – and actually, she was, because she remembered now that this very point had been made at the trial. The cat was known to bring in small creatures and kill them.
What was wrong with her? How had she forgotten that?
Taking over again, Connor said, ‘As far as we know, Nicole never appealed her sentence …’
‘We had no grounds for appeal – no new evidence to present to the court and, frankly, no instructions from our client to try and find any.’
‘How much contact have you had with her since she went to prison?’ Cristy asked, starting to suspect that he’d cut and run as soon as the legal aid tap had been turned off.
‘Honey here covered the recent parole hearings,’ he replied, ‘so she has been in touch during recent times and still is, of course.’
In other words, he hadn’t been in contact at all himself. So no post-conviction work, no more advice on how they mightbe able to turn up new evidence. Even if Nicolehaddone it, she’d surely have played along with that, given her continued claims of innocence.
Unprompted, Hargreaves said, ‘You seem to have reached certain conclusions concerning this case that aren’t in keeping with the facts. She has confessed, Ms Ward, and now, finally, she’s convinced a parole board of her remorse, which has led to where she is today.’
‘Has she changed her name?’ Connor asked.
Hargreaves’s tone was snarky as he said, ‘If she has, you surely can’t think I’d tell you.’
‘You don’t have to say what it is, only that it’s happened.’
Getting to his feet, Hargreaves said, ‘I’m afraid I’m already late for my next meeting, so if you’ll excuse me, Honey will see you out.’
Minutes later, they were on the street, a stone’s throw from the Crown Court, where a trial of interest was clearly breaking for the day given the press presence.
Completely unexpectedly, Honey Blackwell said, ‘I’d like to join forces with you regarding Nicole’s case, although I’m afraid there’s a limit to what I – or you – can do, given her parole conditions.’
Surprised and encouraged by this, Cristy said carefully, ‘Does that mean you’re not entirely convinced by her confession?’
Honey’s warm, amber eyes met hers. ‘Let’s just say it concerns me, but you have to understand that she can’t personally engage in an attempt to prove her innocence or the licence will be instantly revoked.’
Picking up on the nuances, Cristy said, ‘So what are you suggesting?’
Honey said, ‘I’ve familiarized myself with just about every aspect of the case since taking it on, and I’ve found no record of you labelling Nicole “The Face of Evil”, the way so many did back in the day. Unfortunately, some are doing it again.Others are angling for “inside stories”, as they call them, or “exclusives”, so are choosing to forget how they treated her before. I believe, if anyone will give her a fair hearing, you will, so I’m prepared to act as a go-between with a view to clearing her name.’
Quietly stunned, Cristy turned to Connor.
‘So youdothink she’s innocent?’ he asked Honey.
Honey said, ‘Let’s just say, I share your doubts about her guilt, in spite of her confession.’
Watching her closely, Cristy asked, ‘During the parole hearing, did she offer any detail on how or why she did it?’
