Mr. Carman smiled at the women on the jury, one of whom was nodding.
“Was there any time during the flight when you were not sitting next to Mr. Bishara?”
“After the captain announced that we were about half an hour from Heathrow, I went to the washroom to freshen up.”
“And Mr. Bishara was in his seat at the time?”
“Yes, he’d just been served with breakfast.”
“So while you were gone he would have been able to check and see if anyone had opened the hold above him and interfered with his bag.”
“I would presume so, but only he can answer that.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Bergström. Please remain in the witness box, as I’m sure my learned friend will want to question you.”
When he rose, Mr. Gray certainly didn’t look as if he wanted to question anyone. “My lord, I wonder if I might request a short break, as I need some time to consult with my client.”
“Of course, Mr. Gray,” said Mr. Justice Urquhart. He then leaned forward, placed his elbows on the bench and turned to the jury. “I think this would be a convenient time for us to break for the day. Would you please all be back in your places by ten o’clock tomorrow morning when Mr. Gray can cross-examine this witness, if he so wishes.”
* * *
“Let me first ask you, Hakim,” said Gray once they were settled in the privacy of one of the court’s consultation rooms, “is that the woman you sat next to on the flight from Lagos?”
“It certainly is. She’s not someone you’d easily forget.”
“Then how did Carman get to her before we did?”
“He didn’t,” said Arnold Hardcastle. “Carman was only too happy to tell me that she’d read about the case in the press and immediately contacted her company lawyer.”
“Read about the case?” said Gray in disbelief. “In the Copenhagen Gazette, no doubt.”
“No, the Financial Times.”
“We?
?d have been a lot better off if she hadn’t,” muttered Gray.
“Why?” asked Hakim.
“Without her evidence I might have been able to sow some doubt in the jury’s minds about the role she played in this whole affair, but now…”
“So you’re not going to cross-examine her?” asked Arnold.
“Certainly not. That would only remind the jury what a convincing witness she is. No, everything now rests on how Hakim comes over.”
“He’ll come over as what he is,” said Sebastian. “A decent, honest man. The jury won’t be able to miss that.”
“I wish it were that simple,” said Mr. Gray. “No one can ever be sure how a witness, especially one who’s under so much pressure, will perform once they step into the box.”
“Perform?” repeated Ross.
“I’m afraid so,” said Mr. Gray. “Tomorrow will be pure theatre.”
34
AS 10 A.M. STRUCK, Mr. Justice Urquhart entered the court. Everyone rose, bowed and, after the judge had returned their salutation, waited for him to be seated in his high-backed red leather chair at the center of the dais.
“Good morning,” he said, smiling down at the jury. He then turned his attention to defense counsel. “Mr. Gray, do you wish to cross-examine Mrs. Bergström?”