“Mr. Heath, can you confirm that in the past you were a drug addict?”
“In the past, yes I was, Sir Julian. But now, thanks to the support of a very special young woman who stood by me during my rehab, that’s all behind me, and we plan on getting married in the near future.”
“I’m sure we all wish you every happiness,” said Sir Julian, turning to smile at Booth Watson, who showed no signs of joy. “Well, perhaps not all of us,” he added, eliciting a smile from one or two members of the jury. Sir Julian accepted that he had to get his next question on the record, so that Booth Watson couldn’t spring it as a surprise during his cross-examination.
“And you were, Mr. Heath, for a short period of time a drug dealer?”
“For a very short period. And then only when I was desperate for cash to pay for my addiction.”
“And that is also now happily behind you.”
“Yes, sir, I can assure you that I haven’t had anything to do with drugs for over six months, and I’ll never return to that way of life again.”
“That does you great credit, Mr. Heath. And you now feel it is no more than your civic duty to give evidence concerning the last transaction you were involved in.” Heath nodded and bowed his head while Booth Watson made another note. “Did you, on the evening of May the seventeenth this year, drive down to Limpton Hall in Hampshire to keep an appointment with the accused, Mr. Miles Faulkner?”
“Yes, sir, I did.”
“Do you see him in the court today?”
“Yes, I do.” Heath pointed to the man sitting in the dock, and then quickly turned away.
“What time was your appointment with the defendant?”
“Seven o’clock.”
“And were you on time?”
“I may have been a few minutes late, but the butler took me straight through to Mr. Faulkner’s study where he was waiting to see me.”
“And he seemed keen to close the deal?”
“The door hadn’t even closed before he asked me if I’d been able to get my hands on the merchandise he’d requested. I told him that I had, and handed a packet to him for inspection.”
“Is that customary in such transactions?”
“Yes, sir. He wanted to be sure the gear was of the highest quality. So he insisted on trying a sample
.”
“And did he?”
“Yes, he tasted a small amount of the product and seemed well satisfied.”
“Did he indeed? What happened next?”
“He paid me the eight hundred pounds in cash we’d agreed on, thanked me, and said he hoped we’d do business again.”
“And after that?”
“He asked me to accompany the butler downstairs, where I handed the goods over to his chef.”
Sir Julian paused for a moment. “To his chef?” he repeated.
“Yes. Mr. Faulkner told me he’d been instructed to set out ten portions on a silver platter for himself and his guests.”
“Did the chef seem surprised?”
“No, sir, but then I assumed he’d dealt with Fortnum and Mason in the past.”