‘No it ain’t bloody right, cos if I thought the police wanted Darren O’Driscoll and Patrick O’Driscoll, why’d I only mention Darren? Eh? Why’d I give them Darren ’n Simon Kash, instead of Darren ’n Pat? Don’t make no sense what you’re saying, does it? None at all.’

‘Mr Colliver, I’m suggesting to you—’

‘Wot? Not gonna answer my question then? What’s the matter, mate? Got ya stumped, ’ave I?’

‘Mr Colliver, I’m not here to answer your questions.’ Cole resorted to the stock lawyers’ response. ‘But you are here to answer mine, so why don’t we try and stick to that?’

‘Suit yourself,’ Colliver replied. ‘But I know what I’d think if I was on the jury.’

Michael watched as Colliver folded his arms and sat back into the witness-box chair.

Colliver’s winning this, he thought.

The answer and Cole’s non-response did exactly what Colliver had said. It undermined Darren O’Driscoll’s case in the eyes of the jury. Not least because Colliver’s point was a good one. Damaging to both O’Driscoll and to Simon Kash.

Yet Cole had dealt with it poorly before just moving on.

What the hell are you playing at, Matt?

Another ten minutes passed before Cole’s cross-examination finally ended. It had not gotten worse. Or any better. Cole had made no progress at all; nothing to make the jury believe that Colliver had been involved in the murder of the Galloway brothers.

Now it was Michael’s turn.

He rose to his feet, looking directly at the witness box, at Colliver. A man buoyed in confidence by Cole’s failure. A man whose arrogance had grown with every success and who was making no effort to hide it.

Michael turned away from the witness pointedly. Almost theatrically. A practised method designed to make the jury do the same.

The turn was towards the dock. To Michael’s left. The jury’s right. Towards Simon Kash. What they all saw, Michael knew, was the face of a child. Of a boy completely lacking in arrogance. In cockiness.

Of a boy in fear.

Michael knew that the jury would compare the two men and that, when they did, Colliver would be found wanting. But the sight affected Michael, too. It reminded him of why he was here. Of why he was taking this risk. Not for Liam any more, but because Derek had believed in Kash. And so did Michael.

He would not let either one down.

As Michael turned back to the witness box he glanced down at Jenny Draper. Her eyes were cast down towards the old counsel’s bench at which they sat. She looked like she was steeling herself for the disaster she expected to follow.

Michael did not care. Because now it was just him and Terry Colliver.

‘Mr Colliver, I have some questions to ask you on behalf of Simon Kash.’ Michael’s voice was strong. No hint of his emotional turmoil. ‘Are you happy if we start them now, or could you use a break?’

‘Do I look like I need a break?’