‘I wouldn’t want to leave you two on your own, just in case Spears is right. If any of the Monks gang come here they would be out to cause trouble.’

‘It’s been over a week since Spears was attacked. Perhaps they’ll leave us alone while Harry is away.’

‘Maybe,’ Kate said doubtfully. ‘Anyway, I’ll go to the court when we finish here today. At least I can have a word with Perry. He should be able to tell me how he thinks the case is going.’

‘I don’t want Harry to go to prison,’ Annie said, sniffing. ‘He’s been so good to me.’

‘If anyone can get him off it’s Perry.’ Kate spoke with more confidence than she was feeling. Perry had not been enthusiastic about the case, and he had never attempted to conceal his dislike for Harry, but he was a professional and he would not allow such considerations to affect his work.

Kate could barely wait until the last drop of soup had been served and she went outside to hail a cab, leaving Jenny and Annie to finish clearing up.

The cab ride to the Central Criminal Court seemed to take twice as long as it should, but eventually Kate arrived, paid the cabby, and she entered the building with a sudden feeling of foreboding. Her fears were confirmed when she mounted the stairs and came face to face with Perry.

‘Has the trial begun?’ Kate asked anxiously.

‘It’s over.’ Perry’s handsome features were marred by a scowl. ‘Trader changed his plea to guilty, and he didn’t advise me of his decision. I was made to look a fool in front of one of the most senior judges in the country.’

Kate clutched his arm. ‘Why would he do that? I don’t understand.’

‘You don’t understand?’ Perry’s voice shook with suppressed anger. ‘Neither do I. Anyway, Trader’s got what he deserves. I wasn’t too happy about taking on the case, and I’ve been proved right. The man is a charlatan and he deserves the twelve-year sentence he was given.’

‘Twelve years?’

‘That’s right.’ Perry’s expression softened a little. ‘I’m sorry, Kate. I know you consider him to be a much better person than he really is.’

She shook her head. ‘I don’t think that’s so, but I do feel for his poor mother and for Annie, who depends on his help to get by.’

‘The fellow obviously thinks a lot of you.’ Perry produced a folded sheet of paper from beneath his robe. ‘He asked me to give you this.’

‘What is it?’