Duplicity by Charles Anikpe Page A

acting on behalf of a woman who had been drugged by a stranger in a bar. It was all captured over CCTV. It was an open and shut case. I enjoyed starting my day with an easy one; the buzz from the win really set me up for the rest of the day.
     
    We pulled up at the court promptly and I paid Sam his fare along with my usual, very generous tip. When I got inside I was advised we were ready to begin. This was unusual. Normally there were meetings to be had and things to discuss. I guessed the reason for this was the transparency in the case.  Everybody took their places and I made my way to my position, giving my client a little wink for reassurance. She smiled like a teenage girl. I knew she had the hots for me, but I would never jeopardise a case by having a liaison with a client. However, after today, she wouldn’t be my client anymore. I smiled inside at my knowing that I could have her at the snap of a finger if I so chose. It made me feel powerful.
     
    “Your honour.” I said dominantly, “I believe in this case the evidence speaks for itself. We have conclusive proof that on the evening of May 12 th , the defendant was in the bar, and was seen dropping a pill into the drink of Miss Thomas. On this occasion I feel no further examination is needed on my part.”
     
    The judge nodded at me, allowing me to sit down. Up until this point in I had not looked up to the perpetrator in the stand in front of me. So while the defence began to try and find a way to get their client out of this mess, I took a moment to take in his face.
     
    He was a tall, lean man in his late twenties or early thirties and he had his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, but the remainder of his skin was covered in tattoos. A scar that stretched from his forehead to his chin made him quite a menacing looking character. But those eyes…
     
    He reminded me of someone. I struggled to try and recollect the familiarity of that face, and then I realized. Suddenly my mind was dragged back to a place I never wanted to see again. I found myself in the graveyard, near the boarding school where I had grown up. He was there. Johnny Maxwell. There I was laying on my back, looking up at the stars in the dark night sky, with him standing over me. I remember feeling pressure on my chest and coughing and struggling to breath. I remember the sounds of kids, some shouting and some laughing. I remember how I couldn’t feel my feet, or move my legs…
     
    “Mr Donovan?” the judge’s echoing voice awoke me from something between a dream and a nightmare.
     
    “Er… Yes.” I said, trying to gather my thoughts and compose myself quickly.
     
    “Welcome back to the room.” He said sarcastically. Judge Prince took no crap in his court room. People called him the ‘Prince of Darkness’ and with good reason. He completely lived up to his nickname. He did not frighten me, but many a good lawyer had been intimidated by him.
     
    “Sorry your honour.” I sincerely meant it, standing up.
     
    “Do you have anything further to add, Mr Donovan?” He asked as if repeating himself.
     
    “No your honour.” I have said all I need to say. I replied clearly as I graciously sat back down.
     
    “Ok, with that then let’s get this wrapped up.” He said. The jury were sent out to deliberate. I spent this time trying to comfort a very nervous client, however, in truth I could only concentrate on the event’s I had witnessed in my own mind.
     
    It was like some distant nightmare I had packaged up and shipped off somewhere to never be found again. How was it that until now, had I completely forgotten about this event? I did not have long to ponder my past experience, when the jury announced that they had reached a verdict. It was fast, and I prayed that he would receive the harshest possible sentence, and I did not even believe in God. I wanted him punished for what he had done to her and for what he had done to me.
     
    The jury had not taken long to