‘We’re hoping you might be able to help,’ Cat added. ‘His current brief is a duty solicitor who is not working in Luke’s best interest. We need someone who will.’
‘Well, I promise I’ll do all I can,’ Liam assured her, ‘but before we begin …’ He leaned over his desk and pressed a button on the intercom. ‘Let’s have some coffee, shall we?’
At the end of their discussion, which took just under an hour, Cat felt a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She had gone through all the details of that evening plus what she knew about the matching DNA and gave him still shots from the CCTVfootage. After an opportunity for Liam to look through the latter, she waited for him to give her his thoughts on Luke’s chances.
Liam studied the A4 pad he had been writing notes on and shook his head.
‘I have to say the DNA is very damming. And as for the CCTV, well, I really need to see the whole footage to make a proper judgement. The fact that whoever went down after Luke fled the scene around ten or so minutes later …’ he drew a sharp breath ‘… well, it could simply have been someone wanting to relieve themselves. And yes, I know what you’re going to say, there were toilets not far away, but you know these things do happen. And as for the piece of wood they were carrying when they returned to the car park? Well, they might have heard a noise while they were down there that scared them, so simply picked it up to defend themselves in case of attack. There are so many possibilities surrounding this footage. Nothing is clear-cut but no doubt the police will look at everything in detail before making their assessment.’
‘So, what do you think his chances are?’ Emelia leaned forward eagerly. ‘Can you make a difference, Liam? Get him out of there?’
‘With this?’ He opened his hands to indicate the pad in front of him. ‘I simply don’t know. As I said to you, the CCTV is helpful with timing but the departure of Luke and the arrival of the mystery figure are almost ten minutes apart. Not enough time difference to prove he’s not the murderer. The piece of wood the other person is carrying? Not conclusive and don’t forget, Luke’s DNA is under her nails. She scratched him, proving there had been an argument – you’re even telling me he admitted it. I’m sorry,’ he looked at their disappointed faces, ‘but I have to be brutally honest with you. Given what you’ve told me, the deck is heavily stacked against him.’
Cat blew out a breath and leaned forward, resting her forehead on her palms. Eventually she looked up. ‘But at least with you he stands a better chance than with this other waste of space he has now.’
‘True. And I promise you I’ll give it my best shot. I’ll call Truro and let them know I’m Luke’s new brief and I’ll be there in the morning to speak to my client. As for what happens next, it’s all in the lap of the gods.’
Liam pushed back his chair and stood. The interview was over.
‘Thank you.’ Cat got to her feet and reached to shake his hand. ‘At least we’ve done everything we can.’ She turned to look at Emelia, who remained seated, clutching her handbag, a strange expression on her face. ‘Aunt Em? Are you okay?’
‘What dear?’ Emelia looked at her. ‘Oh, yes … no. As a matter of fact, I’m not. I didn’t want to do this. I thought when we came here Liam could fix things without me. But I see now there is no choice. I have to do it because if I don’t an innocent man could go to prison.’
‘Do what, Em?’ Liam asked, moving around his desk to stand in front of her. ‘What has upset you so much?’
‘I have a confession to make,’ she said, looking first at Liam and then at Cat. ‘I was there on the beach that evening.’
‘What?’ Cat whispered. ‘Oh, Aunt Em …’
‘I know, I should have come forward,’ Em said, glancing at her great-niece guiltily. ‘At the time I thought they were simply a couple from the barbeque having a row, but after listening to everything you’ve just told Liam, it did make me wonder whether it might be—’
‘Tell me exactly what you saw,’ Liam interrupted, his large hand reaching out to Emelia to steady her shaking.
‘Everything. Two figures who must have been Marika and Luke … the argument.’
‘You do realise that makes you a vital witness,’ Liam said.
‘I know.’ She hung her head. ‘He didn’t kill her, you know. He wasn’t even on the beach. They were arguing on the steps and then he left. He isn’t guilty.’
‘Whoa, whoa, slow down.’ She felt Liam’s hand gently grip her shoulder.
‘I’m sorry.’ Em looked up at Cat, tears pricking the back of her eyes. ‘I didn’t think I’d be believed anyway. I’m an elderly woman who’s a bit too inquisitive for her own good. Most locals think I’m just a nuisance. They’d likely accuse me of making it up just to get some attention.’
‘I don’t think so. Remember you would be giving your testimony under oath.’ She stared up at her godson through a blur of tears, hearing his serious tone. ‘As I mentioned earlier,’ he continued, ‘the evidence I’ve been given today will most likely still mean a jury will find Luke Carrack guilty. I don’t want to scare you, Em,’ Liam said gently, ‘but depending on what you saw, you may be the only thing standing between him and a lengthy prison sentence. So let’s start at the beginning, shall we?’
Liam returned to his desk, pulled out his pen and flipped open his pad. Cat slid quietly into the chair next to her great-aunt, covering her hand with an encouraging squeeze as Emelia gathered her thoughts together. For years she’d lived only for herself. She’d been a pain to her family, difficult and demanding. In coming here today she’d only wanted to help. Now she realised she had also become pivotal to Luke’s case.
‘I was on the beach …’ she began, and slowly retold the story, starting with the discovery that Hamish had escaped yet again.
By the time she had finished detailing all she had seen and overheard, Liam was nodding as he went through the bullet points of her statement.
‘Is it helpful?’ she enquired.
‘Yes, coupled with the other evidence you have given me, it will be very useful,’ Liam said.
‘I think it might be a woman,’ Em volunteered.
‘Why do you say that?’
