Meg took a few further paces into the sea until the water was above the bottom of her shirt. No one was around. In addition to the breaking waves behind them, the jet-ski was buzzing back in the opposite direction. No one, she was sure, could eavesdrop on them here. She told her friend the full story.

‘Oh God, this is awful,’ Alison said when she had finished. ‘If you could find out who this bastard is, Archie would go and find him and break every bone in his body.’

‘I wish. But that’s not going to stop it, Ali, that’s not going to protect Laura. He’s probably just some hired gun. From all I’ve heard in court, this is a major and totally ruthless mob. Like – a kind of English Mafia.’

‘Megs, they might think they’re above the law but, ultimately, no one is.’

‘Maybe, but I can’t risk Laura’s life. If anything happened to her, I – I just—’ Her voice cracked.

‘Can I give you a hug?’

Meg nodded. Alison put an arm around her. ‘We’re not going to let anything happen to her, OK?’ She kissed her on the cheek.

Meg smiled then shook her head. ‘I don’t think there is anything you can do, Ali, I have to sort this out myself. I have to get the jury to deliver that “not guilty” verdict. Somehow.’

‘What, and let this guy go free?’

‘I don’t have a choice, Alison, I have to.’

‘Against all the damning evidence you’ve just told me? On the face of it, anyway, it sounds like these people are going to have to find something on the judge if you’re to have a hope in hell.’

Meg nodded, despondently. ‘That’s how it’s looking – after today, anyway.’

The pair stood in silence, watching the jet-skier whine back again, then turn in a wide arc, heeling over.

‘I know someone,’ Alison said, quietly. ‘Someone I’ve become friendly with through my Open University course. She’s married to a very high-up cop.’

Meg shook her head, alarmed. ‘You mustn’t tell anyone, please, for Laura’s sake and your own safety.’

‘Screw that, I’m not having these bastards get away with treating you like this.’

Meg touched her arm. ‘Ali, please. I’ve told you this in confidence, you mustn’t tell anyone. You mustn’t. Please. Promise me?’

Alison was quiet for a short while then she said, ‘Have you thought about it rationally, Meg – thought it through? OK, so they are blackmailing you to coerce the jury with threats to Laura. But let’s say it does end up with a “guilty” verdict – then it’s game over for them. What would be the point in them then going and killing Laura? It’s not going to change the verdict. Maybe it’s all just bluster?’