Outside, Gerard Hooper’s lawyer, Mark Simpson, stood on the street and faced the journalists. ‘We are disappointed with this outcome.’

Zara tried to use her elbows to push through the crowd, her phone recording what he said.

‘Of course we’ll appeal. Gerard Hooper is innocent of the manslaughter of Colin Grawd—they were friends and colleagues. In a democracy, everyone has a right to voice their opinion, so the trespassing charge is ridiculous. We intend to fight this.’

The protesters were swirling in behind him, chanting, ‘Free Hooper! Free Hooper!’

‘He’s not innocent.’

Snapping her head around, Zara looked for the speaker who had managed to be louder than the activists.

Sophie Grawd stood alone on the footpath, her pale blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, her arms crossed. Her face was red—whether from rage or another emotion, Zara couldn’t be sure.

The journalists turned and hustled towards her. All except Zara. She stayed back and watched, her phone still recording. She would try to talk to her without anyone else around.

‘Why do you say that?’

‘Do you miss your father?’

‘What would you like to say to Gerard Hooper?’

Zara stood a little way away and watched as microphones and phones were pushed in Sophie’s face. She saw fear in the young woman’s expression but, to her credit, she stood her ground.

‘My father was killed by Gerard Hooper,’ she stated clearly. ‘I guess it was accidental. I’m sure that Gerard Hooper didn’t intend for it to happen. However, the fact remains that I come home every day to a house that my dad isn’t in anymore. My mum gets into an empty bed every night. I don’t care how or why or what happened that night. All I know is that Gerard was in the driver’s seat when that bucket dropped on my dad and now my dad’s not here. He’s in the ground. Gerard Hooper has to take some responsibility for that. I can’t express my family’s thoughts any more clearly.’

More questions were flung at her, but she turned and almost jogged back into the courthouse.

The group of reporters turned their attention back to Mark Simpson, who stood with a stony expression on his face.

‘What is your response to Ms Grawd’s statement?’

‘Do you think she’s right?’

‘What is Voices for Animals’ stance on the verdict?’

The questions came thick, fast and loud. Zara backed out of the forceful crowd. She was sure there wasn’t going to be anything other than standard answers from Mark Simpson. He was a fox caught in the spotlight, trying like hell to escape unscathed. To Zara, Sophie seemed like a much more interesting person to interview right now.

Walking quickly back into the courthouse, she scanned the lobby but couldn’t see her. She flashed her press pass at security and loaded her handbag into the security scanner, before walking through the X-ray machine, then headed back to the courtroom. With any luck, Christy would be speaking with her supporters in the corridor and Sophie would be with her.