Nothing Ventured

‘What makes you think that, Sir Julian?’

‘I’m told that Mr Fortounis returned to his home in Nicosia a few days before the trial opened, and has not been seen or heard of since.’

‘Who is the source of your information?’

‘The proprietor of the Admiral Nelson public house in West Ham Grove, where he was a regular.’

‘And Mr Stern?’

‘It appears that he flew out of Birmingham airport late last night.’

‘Let me guess,’ said the judge, ‘also on a flight bound for Nicosia.’

‘And as he’d booked a one-way ticket, the bailiff may have some difficulty in enforcing your edict, and as I’m sure you are aware, m’lud, Britain has no extradition treaty with Cyprus.’

‘Then I shall issue a directive that Mr Stern’s assets will be seized, and that he will be arrested should he ever set foot in this country again. I suppose it’s too much to hope that like Bolingbroke, banishment will prove an even harsher punishment for him than incarceration.’

No one offered an opinion.

Mr Llewellyn rose from his place. ‘May I approach the bench, My Lords?’

Lord Justice Arnott nodded. Mr Llewellyn and Sir Julian walked to the front of the court to join their lordships. They spoke in hushed voices to the three judges for some time before Lord Justice Arnott raised a hand and began conferring with his colleagues.

‘What are they talking about?’ Beth whispered to Grace.

‘I have no idea. But I suspect we’re about to find out.’

THE CROWN V. FAULKNER

‘Will all parties involved in the Miles Faulkner case please go to court number fourteen,’ boomed out a voice over the tannoy, ‘as the jury is about to return.’

Several people who’d been standing around in the lobby stopped chattering, while others stubbed out cigarettes before making their way quickly back to the courtroom. William joined Commander Hawksby, DCI Lamont, lawyers, journalists and the simply curious, as the bailiff led his charges into court to resume their places in the jury box.

Once they had all settled, the clerk said, ‘Will the foreman please rise.’

The foreman rose from his place at the end of the front row.

‘Have you reached a verdict on all three counts?’ asked Lord Justice Nourse.

‘We have, Your Honour,’ replied the foreman.

The judge nodded to the clerk of the court.

‘Mr Foreman, do you find the defendant, Mr Miles Faulkner, guilty or not guilty of the theft of a Rembrandt painting entitled The Syndics of the Clothmakers’ Guild from the Fitzmolean Museum in London?’

‘Not guilty, Your Honour.’

Faulkner allowed himself a smile. Booth Watson showed no emotion. William frowned.

‘And on the second count, that the defendant was an accomplice in that theft. How do you find the defendant, guilty or not guilty?’

‘Not guilty.’

Lamont cursed under his breath.

‘And on the third count, namely that of receiving goods that he knew to be stolen, namely the said painting by Rembrandt, how do you find the defendant, guilty or not guilty?’

‘By a majority of ten to two, Your Honour, we find the defendant guilty.’