Cork had just the hint of a predatory smile on his face. ‘This is what you told the police. In light of this, can you assure this court categorically that your boss did not meet Michael Starr on the morning of Wednesday November 21st last year? Can you be absolutely certain that Mr Gready and Mr Starr did not meet?’

She wavered. ‘Well, not completely certain I suppose, no. But there is no client file on a Michael Starr.’

‘And would there be files on clients, generally?’

‘Without exception.’

Cork nodded. ‘So, can we safely say from that, Mr Starr is not a client of TG Law?’

‘Yes, you can.’

‘So, if indeed a meeting took place on that day between the defendant and Mr Starr, it would have been of a personal or private matter?’

‘Quite possibly.’

‘Something they might not have wanted recorded, which was why no file was opened?’

Primrose Brown jumped up, indignantly. ‘Your Honour, that is mere speculation on my learned friend’s part.’

Nodding, the judge turned towards the jury. ‘You will please ignore that last remark by the prosecution.’

Shit, Meg thought. Cork was cunning. Just by making that suggestion, however wrong he was to have made it, the damage was done. It would stick in the rest of the jurors’ minds. He had successfully driven a locomotive through Sophie Butt’s credibility.

‘Thank you, Mrs Butt, no more questions.’ He took his seat.

Primrose Brown rose. Her junior barrister, Crispin Sykes, passed her a sheet of paper, which she in turn handed to Sophie Butt.

‘Mrs Butt,’ she said, ‘I would like you to tell this court what this page is.’

The woman studied it for some seconds, then said, ‘It is a copy of Mr Gready’s diary page, from November 21st last year.’

‘Would it be Mr Gready’s office diary?’

‘Yes.’

‘Containing his appointments?’

‘That is the function of office diaries.’

Her response provoked several smiles. But not from Cork.

‘You are certain?’

‘Yes, I am.’

‘Thank you.’ She addressed the witness again. ‘Mrs Butt, could you please read out to the court the entries for the morning of Wednesday November 21st?’

The woman studied the sheet, then began. ‘At 8.30 a.m. I was going through three case files relating to forthcoming court appearances with Mr Gready. At 9 a.m. he had a client meeting with a lady charged with DUI.’ She paused and smiled at Ms Brown. ‘Driving under the influence of alcohol,’ she said, by way of clarification.

‘Thank you, Mrs Butt, I am familiar with the term.’

Butt continued. ‘At 10 a.m. he met with a gentleman charged with possession of stolen goods. At 10.45 a.m. he went out to a dental appointment. He returned to the office at 11.30 a.m., where he had a sandwich delivered, to enable him to work through the lunch hour, preparing for a court hearing in the afternoon.’