“Which is why today matters,” Adrian said. “Harrow's defence will be coordinated with Pemberton. Every argument designed to protect both of them. If we can fracture that coordination—make Harrow desperate enough to implicate Pemberton to save himself—we might get what we need.”
“A long shot,” I said.
“The only shot we have.” Adrian stood. “So we take it. We present the evidence. We make Harrow's guilt undeniable. And we watch for cracks in the united front.”
“And if there aren't any cracks?” Dom asked.
“Then we create them.” I grabbed my crutches. Stood with effort that made my ribs scream. “Let's go destroy someone's career.”
The hearing roomwas smaller than I'd expected. More intimate. Designed for deliberation rather than spectacle. But the atmosphere was charged anyway. Lawyers on both sides. Committee members at the elevated bench. Gallery filled with observers who'd somehow secured access.
And Harrow. Sitting with his defence counsel. Looking calm. Confident. Like this was minor inconvenience rather than professional execution.
Our eyes met across the room. The kind of eye contact that wasn't fear or bravado. Just acknowledgment. Understanding. Promise.
I remember everything. Every case you corrupted. Every person you destroyed. Every lie you told. And I'm going to make sure everyone else remembers too.
Harrow's expression didn't change. Just the faintest flicker of something that might have been respect. Or calculation.
Then Pemberton entered. The room stood. He moved to the chair with practiced authority. Robed. Distinguished. The very picture of judicial integrity.
I forced myself to stay neutral. To not let the rage show. To treat him like impartial arbiter instead of the man who'd ordered two murders and was now sitting in judgment over his own crimes.
“Be seated,” Pemberton said. Voice warm. Grandfatherly. “We're here today to address serious allegations against CrownProsecutor Elliot Harrow. Allegations of corruption, evidence manipulation, and abuse of prosecutorial authority.”
He said it like it pained him. Like this was tragedy he'd do anything to prevent. Perfect performance.
Margaret stood. Moved to present our evidence. She was clinical. Methodical. Building the case piece by piece. Financial records showing payments. Communications documenting witness intimidation. Webb's testimony about evidence suppression. The sealed files from the Black Archive proving systematic corruption.
Every piece landed clean. Undeniable. Backed by documentation that couldn't be dismissed as fabrication.
Harrow's counsel objected repeatedly. Procedural grounds. Relevance questions. Chain of custody challenges. All of them overruled by Pemberton with the kind of fairness that looked impartial but was really just theatre.
Then it was my turn.
I moved to the witness stand on crutches that made every step visible. Deliberate. Reminder that Harrow's corruption had cost blood.
The oath was simple. Standard. I took it with a hand that didn't shake despite pain radiating from my ribs.
Margaret led me through testimony. Background. Credentials. Why I'd investigated Harrow. What I'd found. How the evidence chain had been built.
I kept my voice steady. Professional. Let the facts speak instead of emotion.
Then Harrow's counsel stood for cross-examination.
“Mr Mercer,” he began. Smile that didn't reach his eyes. “You were dismissed from the Metropolitan Police three years ago. Correct?”
“I resigned. Under pressure. After my investigation into prosecutorial corruption was shut down.”
“Shut down or deemed meritless by your superiors?”
“Shut down because the people I was investigating had enough influence to make the inquiry disappear.” I kept my voice level. “Including Mr Harrow.”
“That's quite an accusation. Do you have proof?”
“Yes. Communications showing Harrow contacted my supervisors. Threatened legal action. Applied pressure until the investigation was terminated and I was forced out.”
“Or perhaps the investigation was terminated because it lacked merit. Because you were pursuing conspiracy theory instead of legitimate corruption.”
