“Very well, bail is granted, and the yacht will be secured to the dock.” He looked down at his calendar. “Trial is set for Monday next, at 10:00 A.M.”

Stone’s jaw dropped. “Your Lordship,” he managed to say, “that gives us only six days to prepare for trial.”

“Quite right, Mr. Barrington,” the judge replied. “Any problem with that?”

Sir Leslie spoke up. “The defense is satisfied with the trial date, Your Lordship,” he said.

“But we have to get a barrister in here from London to conduct the defense,” Stone said. “If it pleases the court.”

“Mr. Barrington,” the judge said, as if speaking to a backward child, “it is already in the record that the defense will be conducted by Sir Leslie, with your assistance. The record cannot be changed.” He stood.

“All rise,” the bailiff called out.

The judge turned and left the courtroom.

Stone turned to Sir Leslie. “Leslie, what the hell is he talking about?”

“What?” Sir Leslie replied, packing his wig into his case and removing Stone’s.

“I thought you understood that we have a barrister coming from London.”

“What?” Sir Leslie asked.

“Leslie, you cannot conduct this trial; you said so yourself.”

Sir Leslie turned on him. “To whom do you think you are speaking, sir? I have conducted the defense at five hundred and eighty-three trials in this court! This one will be five hundred and eighty-four! I will discuss my fee with you later.” He wheeled and walked out of the courtroom, carrying his robe and his wig.

Stone turned and looked for the first time at Thomas Hardy in the front row.

Thomas sat with his head in his hands, making a moaning sound.

Allison came down from the dock. “All ready to go?” she asked cheerfully.

Chapter
10

Thomas drove while Stone sat beside him and Allison took the backseat. For all of Stone’s life, extreme worry had caused him to become sleepy, and right now he was having a very hard time staying awake.

“God, but I’m glad to be out of that place,” Allison said.

“Were you treated all right?” Thomas asked.

“Well, yes, and contrary to what I’ve heard about jail, the food was pretty good. I had a cell to myself, and except for the open toilet, it wasn’t bad.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Thomas replied.

“I had some absolutely fascinating conversations with the woman in the next cell, too; she was in for shoplifting, and it wasn’t her first time, so she knew the drill. Stone, I can’t thank you enough for getting me out of there.”

Stone stirred from his lassitude. “Don’t mention it,” he said.