Making Jane Proud

Chapter 36 - Check and Mate

Over the years Ellie had encountered - many, many times - people who presumed to know all about her condition through association – they had a dog who had type 1 diabetes, or an aunt or grandfather with type 2. It was frustrating and only served each time to illustrate how little the general public knew about type 1, but she patiently explained it to them each time in hopes that they in turn would pass the information on to others, and awareness would increase.

Here was a lawyer who was only doing his job, she knew, by trying to cast doubt on her testimony, and it was obvious he had done some research, but she guessed he was probably like so many before him, and thought he knew and understood more than he actually did.

"No, it's not possible."

"It is not possible that you had low blood glucose in spite of not having eaten for four hours?" He was really labouring the point, Ellie thought.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I had tested my blood glucose level just before I left the classroom."

"You performed the finger prick test?"

"Yes."

"And what was the reading of that test?"

"6.4."

"The blood test monitor records this information?"

"Yes."

"How long is data retained by the monitor?"

"It hold 450 results, so that averages out to roughly ninety days."

She saw him give a little smirk; he thought he'd won.

"It has been more than ninety days since the events in question, so unfortunately your claim cannot be proven. Nothing further Your Honour."

Ellie looked into the face of the Crown Prosecutor, imploring him with her eyes to ask her more questions about the blood test and was relieved when he stood.

"Do you record your blood glucose levels anywhere else Miss Cunningham?" Thank goodness, she thought, this man is on the ball.

"Yes."

"And where is that?"

"The blood glucose monitor automatically sends data to an app on my mobile phone which keeps records for an indefinite period of time. I can also access that data from a computer, as can my endocrinologist."

"Any computer can gain access to this information?"

"With my username and password, yes."

She saw Maggie give a huge grin and thumbs up; the defence lawyer, however, didn't look anywhere near as cheerful. The judge called for an adjournment to give him time to examine the additional evidence and Ellie was taken into his chambers where he watched as she logged on to the site, entered the required password and brought up the menu showing how to access the reports. A printed copy was made of the report showing the date in question, which verified her claim that her blood glucose was in the normal range only three minutes before the attack. They went back to the courtroom, where the report was entered into evidence and then she was excused from the witness box to join Maggie in the public seats.

"That was so cool!" Maggie whispered, grinning widely.

"It felt really good," Ellie grinned back.

"He can't get off now surely, after all they found the bat with your blood on it at his house."

"He was claiming he couldn't remember anything and that someone must have planted it there, but now that I've testified it was him..." Ellie shrugged, "I don't know."

For the first time Ellie cast a glance towards Jerome's father, shivering as the image of the cricket bat swinging towards her came clearly to mind. He didn't look at her, instead staring straight ahead the whole time, and she wondered what was going through his mind; did he feel any remorse, she wondered, for the beatings he had given his young son? She couldn't even begin to fathom how a parent could do that to his or her own flesh and blood; even the idea of it made her feel physically ill.

The lunch break came and she and Maggie went to the café next to the courthouse to eat, Ellie heading off to wash her hands first. Coming back to the table she found Maggie on the phone to Tom, also on a break, and her friend passed the phone to her.

"Hi handsome."

"Darling, Maggie tells me you gave the nasty old defence lawyer a metaphorical kick up the butt," Tom enthused, chuckling.

She laughed, "I did and it felt mighty fine, buster."

"Hmm, I'd better watch out tonight then, in case you're still this feisty."

"You better believe it," she giggled, "You never know what might happen."

More soberly, he asked, "Do you have to testify any more today?"

"I don't think so, but I'll check with someone if we decide to leave early. How's it going on set?"

"Terrific; I'll tell you all about it tonight."

"Okay."

"I love you."

"I love you Tom. Hurry home."

Handing the phone back, Maggie said, "Did I ever tell you, you two are sickeningly sweet?"

Ellie poked her in the ribs. "You can talk; if I have to listen to you and Evan cooing over each other for hours again like last night..."

"Okay, okay, point taken."

After they'd eaten they returned to the public gallery. When the clock showed twenty minutes after the hour at which the session should have started and the judge, Crown prosecutor, defence lawyer and defendant were all noticeably absent from the courtroom, they became restless and anxious.

"I hope nothing's wrong," Ellie fidgeted in her seat, beginning to worry there had been a problem with her testimony.

Five minutes later all four men appeared and everything happened in a rush – the defence attorney entered a change of plea, the Crown Prosecutor accepted it, the judge ruled it and set a date for a sentencing hearing then slammed his gavel and the court was told to rise.

"What is it? What's happened?" Ellie wasn't sure she understood it correctly.

"Holy shit, Els, he changed his plea to guilty." Maggie looked at her. "It's all over, mate. Done."