Which of you, she wondered?

‘Anyone have any views on what we heard yesterday?’ Mike Roberts asked.

‘Yes,’ Meg said. ‘It seems we might have a huge disagreement as to whether Starr actually met Gready that day.’

‘I agree with our foreperson,’ Hugo Pink concurred.

Toby DeWinter chipped in. ‘Perhaps we should all be a lot more concerned about Gwen’s accident. She was the one who wanted us to cut short the trial and come to a “guilty” verdict – and now she’s off the jury. Doesn’t that worry any of you? It worries me!’

‘What are you saying?’ Mike Roberts looked at him. ‘That her accident wasn’t an accident? Are you worried that if we came to a “guilty” verdict you – and others on this jury – might also meet with an accident?’

‘Just saying . . .’

‘Just saying what?’ Roberts pressed.

Again, the words of her caller came back to Meg.

We have made your life easier, but so much is still down to you.

How have you made my life easier?

Wait until the morning, Meg. You’ll know then.

By eliminating Gwen from the jury?

Maisy Waller suddenly spoke, absently playing with her cross. ‘Don’t you think we should take a more forgiving attitude?’

All the other jurors looked at her.

‘Forgiving what, exactly, Maisy?’ Roberts asked.

‘We seem to be jumping to a lot of conclusions, before we’ve heard all the evidence from both sides,’ Waller said. ‘Should we not be considering the Christian attitude of forgiveness here at all?’

‘What period of Christianity are you referring to?’ asked Edmond O’Reilly Hyland, looking at her darkly. ‘The period in history where they went on trial by ordeal? Plunging the accused’s hand into a vat of boiling water and, if it came out fine, they were innocent?’

‘Please,’ Meg said. ‘I think we’re all getting far too emotional. Maisy is right, we are still in the very early stages of this trial and it is far too soon to jump to any conclusions. We need to hear all the evidence from both sides before we can have an informed discussion.’

‘I agree,’ Harold Trout said.

‘So do I,’ said Pink. ‘I don’t think our judgement should be affected in any way just because a silly, arrogant woman fell off her bicycle.’

‘Excuse me!’ Meg interrupted them, loudly and firmly. ‘A man is on trial for immensely serious offences, which could not only deprive him of his freedom for many years, if we come to a “guilty” verdict, but also destroy his standing in his community and end his career.’