‘Why?’ It was all Michael could think to ask.

‘The case was getting weaker against him every time you bloody stood up. By the end of Colliver’s evidence we were going to need a miracle to get you convicted.’

‘But still, Pete. I didn’t have enough for a half-time submission. You could have used Darren O’Driscoll against us when he gave evidence.’

‘I haven’t finished, Michael. You see, O’Driscoll is changing his plea. He’s going to plead guilty, and he’s doing it on the basis that it was Colliver – not Simon Kash – who committed the murders with him.’

‘And you’re going to accept that?’ Michael was confused.

‘I don’t see why not. O’Driscoll will only plead if we let Kash go completely and if we re-open our enquiry into Colliver. And after your cross-examination of the man, well, Colliver seems as likely a suspect as anyone else. So why the hell not?’

Michael tried to think of something to say. It was difficult. Perplexing.

He should have been happy. They had won. Simon Kash would walk free. But something about it did not make sense.

Epstein seemed much less concerned.

‘Levitt knows all about it, anyway,’ he explained. ‘So he wants us in court at 9.45. To get it all sorted before the jury arrives. I’ll see you down there.’

He left without another word.

Michael turned to Draper. Still shocked by the turn of events. Draper looked just as surprised.

‘Well,’ she said. ‘That’s . . . that’s . . . you know. Actually, I don’t know what that is.’

‘Me neither,’ Michael replied. ‘And I need to get my head around it. Would you go down and give Simon the news? And tell him I’ll be down to see him afterwards?’

‘And what are you going to do?’

‘Me? I’m going to find Matt Cole.’

SEVENTY-NINE

‘Mr Devlin. Jenny. I honestly can’t thank you enough. I . . . I . . . I just can’t believe this has happened. I can’t believe I’m going home.’

Simon Kash sat in his usual seat. Across the table from Michael and Draper. His back to the interview room door.

Draper smiled. She seemed genuinely happy that justice had been done.

She reached out and gripped Kash’s hand.

‘It’s the right decision, Simon. The right decision. You should never have been in here in the first place.’

Kash returned the smile before turning to Michael.

‘Mr Devlin, you were amazing. This would never have happened without you. It really wouldn’t. I’m not sure how I can ever repay you.’

Michael returned Kash’s gaze. He stared deep into his eyes, as if seeing them for the first time.

‘You could fill in some blanks for me, Simon.’

Michael’s voice did not share Draper’s good humour. Kash looked surprised.

‘Erm, OK. I don’t really understand, Mr Devlin. But I’ll try. What is it you want to know?’

Michael sat back into his chair.

‘What I want to know, Simon, is what the hell happened here? Because this doesn’t make sense to me. No sense at all.’