‘You always were a jammy bastard, Devlin.’ Cole’s accent was broad Liverpudlian. Unusual for a London-based barrister and all the more effective for its rarity. He pushed the door ajar for Michael and Draper to pass. ‘Go on then.’

‘Cheers.’ Michael stepped through the wooden door, into a small, crowded waiting area outside of the main cell gate. He turned back to ensure Draper was still behind him, and then remembered his manners. ‘By the way, Matt. Have you met my junior?’

‘I’ve not had the pleasure.’ Cole stepped back to let Draper pass, putting his hand out in greeting as she did so. ‘But I’ve heard all about you. Nice to meet you, Miss Draper.’

‘Jenny, please,’ Draper replied as she took Cole’s hand and shook it. She deployed the same coy smile she had used when first meeting Michael. ‘It’s a privilege to be working with you, Mr Cole.’

Honed to perfection, Michael thought.

‘It’s Matt,’ Cole replied. He smiled and looked back towards Michael. He did not release Draper’s hand. ‘And as for working with me? Is that what’s happening, Mike?’

‘You’ll have to wait and see on that one.’

Michael’s smile was genuine. As was Cole’s. The two barristers knew that their cases might conflict, but they nonetheless liked and respected one another. Professional adversaries could remain civil. In fact they could sometimes be good friends. It was something that many defendants would never understand.

‘I’m sure I will,’ Cole replied. His smile did not waver. A genuine smile, suggesting he was pleased to have Michael on the case. It made Michael wonder why.

Is he happy because he’ll now get a decent fight? Michael thought. Or because he isn’t up against a proper QC?

There was no way for Michael to know the answer. Like he had said to Cole, he would just have to wait and see.

Pushing the thought from his mind, Michael glanced around the waiting area. The queue of lawyers snaked through it. From the wooden door all the way to the secure entrance to the cells. An entrance that sat open, with Andrew Ross standing beside it.

‘Hurry up, you two,’ Ross called out.

Michael realised that the opening was waiting for him and Draper. Both sped up and manoeuvred around the queue, bringing them through the heavy oak door just in time. A moment later it was closed and locked behind them.

Beyond the main entrance was a narrow white corridor. Five legal teams – each one some three lawyers strong – were crammed in. Waiting for the second security gate to be opened. This required a second set of keys held by a second security officer. It was a simple, perhaps obvious precaution; no single set of keys could open every door between the custody suite and the outside world.

They waited for three minutes. At least according to Michael’s watch. To his body it felt much longer, the effect of being pressed up against a wall on one side and a person on the other. The sound of metal on metal announced the welcome arrival of the second key-holder moments before the metal bars of the second entrance swung aside.