Child X and Child Y jumped down out of their built-up chairs and disappeared inside the adult-sized dock. His Lordship cleared his throat. He held the white piece of paper flat on the wooden bench in front of him, not trusting himself to hold it aloft, as his hands were trembling like someone in the latter stages of Parkinson’s disease.

‘We, the jury, find the accused not guilty of charge one in relation to the abduction of Matthew Michael Cook.’

Donna Cook screamed, ‘Noooooo!’ A relative tried to escort her from the court, but she fought like a wild animal for her right to stay, her right to hear justice for her child. After several long seconds, the noise subsided, and Lord Justice Edward Hunter looked up from the piece of paper and continued with the verdict.

‘In relation to charge two, we the jury find Child X and Child Y guilty of murder in the first degree.’

Renee Smith covered her face with her hands. Her nails were bitten down to the quick, and some were covered by plasters, just like Donna’s. Tears rolled down her face and her shoulders slumped. Her mother couldn’t get into the dock to comfort her, and the two police officers charged with guarding Child X and Child Y stood impassively. Kevin Milne didn’t weep, but he did start to chew and pick at the hole in his sleeve.

Donna Cook lay prostrate across the benches. Her chest was heaving with dry sobs that racked her body. The jury had done their best, but even they could not bear to witness this mother’s pain.

‘Order, order!’ the judge’s clerk called.

Lord Hunter was forced to bang his gavel on the bench. The police moved into the public benches, forcing people to sit down and, slowly, the noise subsided. The judge took a deep breath.

‘Taking account of the fact that the jury has found you both guilty of the second charge, namely the murder of Matthew Michael Cook, I hereby sentence you to twenty-five years’ imprisonment.’

It was now Kate Milne’s time to cry. Her child, her little Kevin, would be thirty-five before he was allowed to walk the streets again. What would he be like when he came out? He’d be institutionalized. He’d never hold down a job, never have a chance at marriage. Reaching out, she tried to grab his hand in a long-overdue stab at parental concern, but Kevin moved out of her reach. Kevin was probably going to be the lucky one. Kate and the rest of the kids were going to have to deal with this on their own. There would be no forgiveness for Kate Milne or her family.

There was no going back for any of them.

PART THREE
Edinburgh November 2008

Chapter Thirty-Six