Faith - Lesley Pearse [208]
The judge said he would like to speak to Meggie and the court usher directed her to come forward to the bench.
‘Do you understand what bail conditions mean?’ he asked her. ‘That Mrs Brannigan must reside with you, and present herself once a week at your local police station? Bail will be set at the sum of five thousand pounds. If Mrs Brannigan does not adhere to these conditions or fails to appear at her next court hearing, you will be expected to forfeit that sum.’
‘I understand, Your Honour,’ Meggie replied.
‘Then you may take your sister home with you now,’ he said.
‘Is that it then?’ Laura said nervously once they’d come out of the courtroom into the vestibule. She’d been hovering on the verge of a panic attack throughout the proceedings; there were so many whispered consultations between the lawyers and she felt sure the judge was going to refuse her bail.
Goldsmith smiled at both the sisters. ‘Yes. That’s it, you can go. But as soon as you get to Catford make sure you present yourself at the police station and find out which day of the week they expect to see you. Don’t attempt to go out of the country either. I shall keep in touch and let you know any developments. Meanwhile, enjoy your freedom, you deserve it.’
‘Thank you,’ Laura said. It seemed so odd that Patrick was suddenly so much warmer to her. She actually believed he cared now. She looked nervously through the door on to the street. ‘Will there be press out there?’
‘I’m afraid so,’ he said, grimacing. ‘It isn’t any good trying to avoid them, they’ll only follow you. If you like I could make a statement for you. You just smile for the photographs.’
There were five or six photographers and as many journalists, one of whom Laura recognized as having visited her in prison just after the trial. There was also a cameraman, presumably from the local television station. As she and Meggie got to the High Court door with Goldsmith, they pressed forward, cameras flashing and shouting out questions.
Meggie caught hold of Laura’s arm tightly as she faltered. But Goldsmith took a step forward. ‘Mrs Brannigan would like me to make a statement to you for her, then I ask that you respect the ordeal she has been through and allow her some privacy and peace.
‘Mrs Brannigan has been granted bail pending her appeal. I have every confidence that her appeal will be successful now that the police are reinvestigating the murder of Jacqueline Davies. Mrs Brannigan has always maintained that she was innocent of the crime. It is our belief that this will soon be proved.’
‘Are you staying in Edinburgh, Laura?’ a female voice called out.
A man with red hair pushed his way to the front of the journalists. ‘Will you be visiting Stuart Macgregor? Is it true he was stabbed because he was doing some private investigation on your behalf?’ he asked.
‘That’s enough now,’ Goldsmith said firmly, and taking Laura’s arm, he drew her and Meggie through the crowd and away down the High Street.
‘You’ll be fine now,’ he said as they reached North Bridge. He looked behind him just to check none of the press had followed them. ‘But I’ll come further with you if you like.’
‘No, you go,’ Laura said. ‘We don’t need an escort, and I’m sure you’ve got plenty of other clients that need you.’
‘What’s it to be first?’ Meggie asked as they walked down towards the bridge. ‘A big fried breakfast, a burger, or maybe some alcohol?’
Laura laughed. ‘None of those. What I’d really like is a cappuccino, just to sit and drink it and watch people for a while, and of course to catch up with what you’ve been doing.’
‘Laura, wait up!’
At the shout from behind they turned their heads to see a tall, slender woman with long blonde hair