‘I think I may have a word with him. His name meant nothing to McGarry. It could be he simply made a genuine mistake. Could be he’s a publicity seeker. Maybe he was harbouring some old grievance. Who knows?’

‘What do we do about the trial?’

‘I don’t see what we can do at the moment. If he’s acquitted, we have a problem. If he’s convicted, then we have a major problem. Either way, we can’t solve it just now. I have to deal with the other matters first.’

‘You’ll have your warrants within the hour. Best of luck!’ Just as McAllister was leaving the fiscal’s office, Bill Scott answered the telephone.

‘Thank you. I’ll let him know.’

He replaced the receiver.

‘Message for you – from the court.’

The three lawyers walked along the corridor towards the front door.

‘What do you reckon, James?’

‘God knows. By the look of them, it’s been fairly lively in that jury room. They’re arguing about something but whether it is a verdict or just a piece of evidence, who can tell? Christ, they could still be arguing about who’s going to be the foreman!’

The court had re-convened at 4.45.

His Lordship was growling at the jury: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, there is no pressure of time being placed upon you. You will be given as long as is necessary to enable you to reach your verdict. However, it is nearly five o’clock and I have no doubt that your deliberations will be tiring. I do not wish to know what stage you have reached, but if you feel there is no prospect of being able to return a verdict within, say, an hour, then I shall direct you to stop for the day and arrangements will be made to provide you with overnight accommodation in an hotel. Can you indicate if you expect to be able to return your verdict within a reasonable time this evening?’

The collective shaking of heads conveyed the answer – in the clearest possible terms.

‘Very well, ladies and gentlemen. In a moment or two the court will adjourn. When you return to your room, please do not discuss the matter further. The Clerk of Court will come to you and explain what is to happen. Please let me stress that when you are in your hotel you must not talk about the case with anyone, and you should not permit anyone to talk about it with you. At ten o’clock tomorrow you may continue with your task. Tomorrow morning, please.’

His Lordship left the bench. Day eleven had come to an end.

James Muirhead looked across the table. Mike Matthews raised his eyebrows. Muirhead shrugged a ‘who knows’ gesture and led the defence team out of the court room.

‘Stupid question I know, but what do you reckon, Jim?’

‘Yeah, it’s a stupid question.’