Costa Crew: One More Shot

Chapter 21 - One Last Chance to be Agent Hidgens

Neither Becky nor Hannah said a word. They were sat outside the courtroom, trying to hear whatever they could of the trial. Harry Corbett was on Becky's other side, reading a newspaper, while Frank Coulson and Michael Arnott stood across the hall, heavily guarded.

"Miss Hidgens," called the clerk. Becky gulped.

The clerk opened the door for her as she stepped into the courtroom and tentatively walked through the rows of spectators, past the defence table, past the jury and onto the witness stand. Richard Lestrade gave her a reassuring smile.

"I'm conscious of time today, Rebecca," he began. "So I'll start off by establishing some basic facts and we'll look into your testimony tomorrow. Sound good?"

Becky nodded. Richard pulled up another slide on the projector. Pictures of the Costa Crew were up there, as well as Amelia, Anthony, Drake, Fleming, John and Lisa.

"From left to right, please identify each of these people and describe your relationship with them," said Lestrade. In other words, the floor's yours.

"Anthony Andrews," Becky began. "I didn't know him before this case began but he's Amelia Murphy's fiancée. He came to kidnap me and brought me to Amelia Murphy. Overall I'd describe him as someone cruel but who would do anything for the woman he loves."

"Raymond Drake is a Detective Inspector in the Metropolitan Police. He was communicating with the detectives involved in the MI5 operation and ran the side of the operation in police headquarters. I didn't meet him until the day I was captured when he was assigned to my protection. At several points I referred to him as my boyfriend so Amelia Murphy didn't know I had police protection. I would describe his personality as rather self-absorbed, but keeps on the right side of the law and is a good detective."

Becky paused to let the jury take this in. "I've only spoken to Deputy Chief Constable Kate Fleming twice. First when I went to meet the detectives I would be working with and second at the presentation of the Medals of Valour. She seems like a very professional individual, and a good leader."

"John Goodman was my boss until recently. He's an excellent judge of character and his heart's in the right place, but sometimes he can be insensitive, such as when he saw a threat to my life as a chance to bring down the Godfather. He's also very paranoid, which is made clear by the strict MI5 rules. However, everything he does is for the country, and he's on the right side of the law."

Ted's picture came next. "I've known Edward Green since high school, and he's a close friend of mine. He's a loyal friend, and the bullet that he took for me is proof of his bravery and selflessness. People have ulterior motives for everything. But Edward Green didn't. He simply saw that his friend was in danger, and took that bullet himself."

"Paul Houston has been my best friend for thirty years. There is nobody in the world I trust more than him. He's a good man and an exceptional detective, and we would never have caught the Godfather without him."

Becky hesitated as Lisa Kleinman's picture came next and she realised just how much she hated her. The defence table was staring at her intently, as if she was about to declare the verdict of the trial. "I met Lisa Kleinman in high school," she began, avoiding the stares of Amelia and Lisa. "We got on really well and she was one of my closest friends. But then she fell in with Amelia Murphy and I saw her for who she really is - a horrible person who cares about nobody but herself."

Lisa's lips tightened and her eyes narrowed as murmurs spread through the courtroom. "Order!" shouted McAfferty. "Miss Hidgens, do you have anything more to say about Miss Kleinman other than an old high school friendship that went sour?"

Becky glanced at Richard, who inclined his head very slightly. "I have reason to believe that Miss Kleinman knows more than she is saying about Amelia Murphy's operations."

"OBJECTION!" Lisa screamed, jumping to her feet. McAfferty nodded for her to continue. "Rebecca Hidgens, if you have a problem with me representing Amelia, why didn't you say so when you had Lisa pulled off the case?"

"I don't have a problem with it, I just feel that the court has a right to know just how close you two are," Becky replied calmly. "I had Lisa Beck removed from this case because I believed it wasn't right for a friend of Amelia Murphy to be acting against her in this case. Especially since the two of you were working from inside the courts to keep Amelia out of prison."

The dainty, dignified Lisa Kleinman from before was gone. Now the only thing stopping her from launching herself at Becky were the four police officers standing at the defence table and the two over at the prosecution table, Paul Houston and Kate Fleming.

Once McAfferty had restored order, Lisa cleared her throat and straightened up. "Your Honour, I would ask that this trial be put on hold giving my clients time to re-evaluate their statements."

McAfferty nodded slowly. "Mr Lestrade, do you have any objections to this?"

"None at all," said Richard, shrugging.

"Very well," boomed McAfferty. "This court is in recess until Thursday December 4th, 2034 at 0900."

As soon as he was on his feet Lisa bolted out of the courtroom, muttering furiously under her breath. Becky stepped calmly down off the witness stand and went to meet Paul. "I didn't realise you hated Lisa Kleinman that much," he remarked.

Becky shrugged. "Something about her started getting on my nerves. It all went downhill from there."

Paul smiled very slightly and walked out of the courtroom with Becky to go and meet Hannah. Only Hannah wasn't there, just a slip of paper with a phone number.

Becky glanced at Paul, who nodded, and she picked up the slip. Taking out her phone, she dialled the number.

"Hello?" Lisa Kleinman's voice answered cheerfully.

Becky started walking briskly, keen to leave the courthouse. "You!" she snarled quietly. "Where's Hannah?"

Lisa sounded completely different from the courtroom. Now that she had control of the situation, her voice was upbeat and she sounded delighted with herself. "Hannah's with me. She's safe, don't worry. But if you want her to stay that way, listen to me."

"I want Paul Houston to go to Kate Fleming and say that he framed Amelia and Anthony."

Becky gasped. "But he didn't!"

Lisa laughed. "That's hardly the point. Of course, we could just continue with the trial, but there might be an accident involving Hannah Perkins, who I believe is your star witness, and a kitchen knife. The choice is yours, of course."

"Then what? I assume you won't just come knocking on my door and give Hannah back."

A sigh. "I'm not wasting my time sitting in some remote location keeping an eye on Hannah. I'm going to tie her up somewhere and come back into the city. If Paul turns himself in, I'll send you the address and you can get her back.  If he doesn't but you agree to help throw the trial, I'll leave her for you to find. If you continue to act against Amelia and Anthony I'm afraid I'll have to kill Hannah."

Becky gulped. "I see. Well, I'll be sure to pass on the message. Anything else?"

"That's everything," said Lisa. "See you soon."

She hung up. By this time they were right outside Paul's car. Becky quickly summarised the events of the call and Lisa's demands. "I have to do it," Paul said immediately.

Becky was silent as she formulated a plan in her head. It was slapdash and risky, but it was the best she could fathom.

"We need somebody inside the courtroom," she said. "Get either John or Fleming on the phone and get them to check the security cameras to see which way Lisa went. I need you with me - only a police officer could get away with the speed we're about to drive at."

Paul shook his head. "No. You're not coming with me, you don't have firearms training."

Becky turned to him. "John Goodman was right about one thing. In MI5 we have each other's backs. Sometimes that's two undercover agents on a mission. Sometimes that's swapping change for the coffee machine. Sometimes that's a cyber security agent with no idea how to use a gun chasing the lawyer who kidnapped an undercover agent because it's the decent thing to do."