Burning Bright

Chapter 15

‘Regarding your bail conditions,’ he began. ‘I thought I made it quite clear that there was to be no untoward behaviour by either of you. So how do you explain these?’ and he showed us both a number of photographs which were clearly us on the beach of the tiny cove we had last visited two weekends ago. And quite clearly together.

‘It’s not Kate’s fault,’ Eoin began.

‘I’m not saying it’s anyone’s fault,’ the magistrate interrupted. ‘But I gave strict instructions and not only do you flout them, but you do it publicly.’ I couldn’t even bring myself to look at him. ‘I am not one to be crossed lightly. You were both aware of the conditions of your bail . . . and the result if you didn’t adhere to them, which was, if I remember correctly, for both of you to spend some time in Vimla’s prisons.’

‘No!’ Eoin almost shouted, and for a moment I thought he was going to vault the dock, but was quickly restrained. ‘Not Kate. That’s not fair!’

‘I’ll be the judge of what’s fair or not, Mr Macken. I am trying to separate this misdemeanour from the crime of which you are accused, but you are severely trying my patience.’ He nodded over to the court staff.

‘No,’ Eoin repeated, pulling against the two officers holding him. ‘This isn’t fair. Kate’s done nothing wrong.’

‘Mr Macken, I assure you that I can make your life, and Miss Curran’s, very difficult if you do not comply.’

‘Eoin, he’s right. We knew the rules and we broke them. I’ll be OK. I promise.’

‘Take him away,’ and Eoin was escorted reluctantly from the dock until he was out of sight and the magistrate turned to me. ‘And you’d better go as well.’

‘Your Honour?’

‘Miss Curran, I have no intention of incarcerating you at needless expense just to prove that I can.’

‘But . . .?’

‘You were honest and admitted it. And I understand you have been punished enough. Now go before I change my mind.’

‘Thank you, Your Honour.’ 

I took a taxi back to the compound and returned to my flat where I sat on the edge of the sofa shaking. It had been quite a day. There was a knock at my door and I didn’t want to answer it but dragged myself over. It was Pierre and Veronique.

‘Is Eoin here?’ she asked, but then Pierre saw my face.

‘Kate? What’s happened?’

‘I’ve been suspended and Eoin’s been put back in prison overnight.’

Veronique gasped, but it was Pierre who spoke.

‘What? Oh Lord. Hey, sit down and I’ll get you a drink.’ He poured me a brandy and handed it to me, and one for his sister. ‘You’ve been suspended? Why?’

‘My boss found out about me standing bail for Eoin and him coming to live here.’ I thought that was enough information and I couldn’t exactly say anything in front of Veronique who seemed to have taken on the role of grieving widow. Except she wasn’t married to Eoin and he wasn’t dead. ‘And because the trial isn’t finished, they’ve taken Eoin back to prison.’

‘Shit. I was hoping they’d release him as he’d complied with his bail conditions,’ Pierre muttered. I didn’t have the heart to confess that he hadn’t and that had been my fault.

This comment was quickly followed by Veronique’s, ‘Oh my poor Gwaine.’

‘And if the verdict goes against him, he may not be coming back here for a very long time.’

I was already in court when Eoin was brought in. He sought me out in the public gallery and smiled with relief, and then some puzzlement when he saw me in different clothes. I smiled back, reassured that he looked reasonably OK. Once again, Veronique waved dramatically over the front of the balcony.

We stood as the magistrate arrived and settled himself on his chair. ‘Prosecution, you may make your closing remarks.’

Mr Jurinder took to the floor and made the basic statement that Eoin had, in fact shot Mr Ahmed. About that there was no doubt. So there was no doubt that the prisoner was guilty, but it was, of course, down to the magistrate as to whether he considered the lesser, or, more appropriately, the greater crime.

And then it was Manish’s turn. He acknowledged that Mr Ahmed had indeed been shot but then continued.

‘However, given the fact that Mr Macken had been told that there were no other official visitors that day, and that the sanctuary confirmed that no other applications to visit had been granted or even been received, then it was reasonable for Mr Macken to assume that the tigers were in danger from poachers, particularly given the recent disappearance of a tiger cub. In fact, Mr Ahmed himself has offered no reasonable explanation for his presence in the sanctuary or how he gained admittance. At the heart of this incident is Mr Macken’s well known and well recorded passion for tigers, and the incident only occurred in his attempts to protect them from a perceived threat.’

‘The court will now disperse while I make my decision,’ the magistrate stated, and we all stood.

I joined Manish outside the court room and then we waited. And waited. And the longer we waited, the more worried I became, even with Manish trying to reassure me. At last, we were called back in, Eoin was returned to the dock, and the magistrate returned to his seat.

‘I have given all the evidence some considerable thought and discussed this . . . interesting, and possibly unique case, with senior colleagues. I have listened to the evidence from both sides and for both crimes and have now reached my decision.’