Costa Crew: One More Shot

Chapter 20 - Paul Houston's Statement on the Case

As predicted, nothing in Harry Corbett's testimony linked the theft of his files to Amelia or Anthony. So after this rather disappointing interview, on day two of the Trial of the Year all eyes were on Paul Houston as he took to the witness stand.

"I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth," recited Paul,  his hand over his heart.

"Please state your name and occupation for the record," said McAfferty.

"My name is Paul Houston. I'm a Detective Chief Inspector in the Metropolitan Police."

Richard seemed a lot taller now as he stood next to the witness stand. "DCI Houston, please tell the court what your role in Operation Godfather was."

Paul took slow, deep breaths, as he tried to ignore the crowds all watching him intently. "My detective squad arrested Frank Coulson and Michael Arnott, making me one of the leading officers on the investigation. I was also the lead detective on the mission to work with MI5 where we sent an undercover agent to infiltrate Amelia Murphy's organisation."

"Did you know it was the defendant behind all these crimes?" asked Richard.

"Until late in the operation, no. When we heard that Rebecca Hidgens was the target for the next assassination we did begin to suspect Amelia Murphy."

"So when exactly did you find out that Miss Murphy was who you had been referring to as 'The Godfather'?"

"MI5 had been monitoring activity on Anthony's phone following his phone call with Joanne Goldstein. He later made a phone call to discuss Rebecca's murder and we instantly recognised Amelia Murphy's voice."

Richard nodded and played the recording of the phone call in question, where Amelia and Hannah had spoken. "There are three people in this phone call," he said. "One of them is the undercover agent posing as Courtney Beckett. The other two are clearly the voices of Amelia Murphy and Anthony Andrews."

"And can you tell me how you made the link between Michael Arnott and Amelia Murphy?" Richard asked, pacing the floor.

"Our undercover agent, posing as Courtney Beckett, delivered messages for Amelia Murphy. One of these was a crime to be committed against Harry Corbett. We monitored Mr Corbett until Arnott was caught trying to steal his files," replied Paul.

Richard ceased his pacing. "At which point you arrested Mr Arnott and he told your DI that Rebecca Hidgens was the next target. Is this correct?"

When Paul nodded, Richard started pacing again. "All right, DCI Houston. Please give your record of the events that transpired on the 29th of October 2034."

"We'd just packed up case materials in the safe house we were working at. A helicopter took Rebecca Hidgens and myself to her house where I placed her under the protection of Detective Inspector Raymond Drake. I then returned to the station where Inspector Monroe - Sergeant at the time - led a briefing for the raid on Mr Andrews' house, where we knew Rebecca Hidgens would be taken. I then texted Rebecca to be sure she was okay, which she was. From there the squad was on high alert until John Goodman contacted us on the radio to tell us that Courtney Beckett and Anthony Andrews had arrived at Mr Andrews' house with Rebecca."

"Then the raid began. Amelia Murphy, Anthony Andrews, Agent Perkins and Rebecca Hidgens were the only people in the building. Sergeant Monroe entered the hall through the door with Detective Constable - now Detective Sergeant - Green and I entered at the opposite end."

Everybody in the court was silent. Nobody even dared breathe. All that mattered was Paul Houston giving his testimony and Richard Lestrade questioning him. "And what did you find in the hall?" asked Richard, a look of pure concentration in his eyes.