Capital Offence

Chapter 39

Tuesday 25th June

1 day left

Jamie didn’t sleep at all that night.

Neither did Dave. Dave dreamed he was swimming underwater, in a cave, holding his breath. Somewhere in the middle of the cave was an airy cavern, rays of fulgent green light dappling the walls as sunlight sparkled in from the blue sunlit world outside. But each time he tried to swim to the surface to take a breath he found himself pressed against the roof of the cave. He’d turn and swim forward, aware of his ebbing strength, then try once more to find an air gap between the water and the rock. And each time he changed direction and tried to swim forward again he knew he was closer to passing out, as lack of oxygen shut down his brain forever.

The morning light revealed Dave, glistening with sweat. He lay on a coil of sheet, twisted on the damp grey mattress like a photograph of a tornado. That morning he wrote a letter to the Governor pointing out that he was the Prime Minister’s brother, and that he was suffering from a miscarriage of justice as a result of mistaken identity.

The Governor destroyed the letter.

Jamie also had a plan.

Jamie’s plan was also greeted with disbelief. But Jamie had more clout.

It looked like Jamie would get his own way.

Dave had been the bait to catch Jamie. Now Jamie would hang himself on the hook to bring Tam into the open.

*      *      *

Extract from a press briefing, dated Tuesday 25th June:

This evening at 9 pm the Prime Minister will address the nation on all terrestrial television channels and on SBC radio. In the course of a five minute broadcast he will reaffirm his Government’s position on the matter of the Capital Punishment of Stuart Pearson, currently detained pending his execution at Barlinnie Prison at 6am tomorrow morning, Wednesday the 26th June.

Tomorrow morning, the Prime Minister will leave his home at Duddingston at 5.15 am, and will travel in an official motorcade along the perimeter road of Holyrood Park towards the Scottish Parliament. The motorcade will process up the Royal Mile to St Giles Cathedral, arriving at 5.45 am. There the Prime Minister will pray in an ecumenical service attended by representatives of the Christian churches within Scotland, and other religious leaders of different faiths.

*      *      *

“This is madness! It’s complete suicide. There is no way I will condone this!”

Fraser Howe was barely able to shape his words, so incensed was he.

“How the hell are we supposed to sterilise the route in that space of time? This is just asking for trouble! Why should I place other people’s lives at risk?”

“I don’t believe anybody’s life is at risk. I don’t believe mine is at any significant risk either. Donald, what do you think?”

Donald didn’t know what to say. He knew the moment the plan was suggested what Jamie was up to. Jamie knew the risks. He knew more about the personal threat to himself than he was letting on. Jamie knew he was putting his own life on the line.

Donald muttered something noncommittal. Then he backed that up by saying that he was happy to drive the PM’s car. Jamie nodded approvingly at him.