Midnight Runner - Jack Higgins [58]
"Or what, Professor?"
"Or he could have stepped off deliberately, drunk, and perhaps guilt-ridden by the death of the girl."
"But that, of course, is conjecture on your part, Professor, and this Court must only concern itself with facts. You may stand down."
"As you say, sir."
Langley did as he was told and the Coroner turned to address the jury. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is a tragic matter indeed, two young people on the threshold of life, members of an ancient and honorable university, their lives snuffed out. However, we must, as I've just reminded Professor Langley, stick to known facts, not supposition. So, let me remind you of what seem to be the salient facts."
He seemed to be collecting his thoughts, and there was silence as everyone waited.
"That both drank large amounts of the same vodka is beyond dispute. That Alan Grant, to be frank, dumped the dying girl at St. Mark's Hospital is beyond dispute. As to the Ecstasy, there are questions you must ask yourselves. Why didn't he take one? Why only the girl? You may conjecture that hiding an Ecstasy tablet in a chocolate was a device to dupe the girl, but I must warn you there is no proof of this. Perhaps the girl obtained the tablets and concealed them in the chocolates for safety reasons. It is perfectly reasonable to argue that his action in running away was panic, even if the girl had taken the tablet of her own free will."
He looked at the ceiling, fingertips pressed together. "As to the matter of Grant's death, it was death by drowning, we know that, but whether caused by himself because of fear or guilt, we shall never know, and this makes a verdict of death by misadventure inadmissible.
"A final point in this whole sorry matter. Mr. Dauncey, on behalf of the Rashid organization, seemed to feel some guilt in the matter, because the students were actually in London for the rally in Whitehall. My own opinion is rather different. Vodka can as easily be consumed in Oxford, and certainly this also applies to Ecstasy. I fail to see that the coach trip had any bearing on events. However, Mr. Dauncey's concern does him credit."
He shuffled his papers into an orderly pile and swiveled in his chair to face the jury fully.
"So, how may I advise you in such a case and with no witnesses? Did Alan Grant slip the girl the Ecstasy tablet by subterfuge or did she take it herself? We don't know and never shall. Did he fall off the wharf in a drunken state or, in despair, take his own life? Again, we don't know and never shall. In the circumstances, I can suggest an open verdict, which is both legal and proper. You may, of course, retire to consider your verdict."
But they didn't bother. Everyone leaned together, there was a ripple of conversation, and they sat up. The foreman stood. "The open verdict seems sensible to us."
"Thank you," said the Coroner. "Let it be so entered." He turned to the Court. "I now come to the question of the next of kin. If Fergus Grant is in Court, please stand." Grant did so, looking bemused. "I will now issue you with a burial order, as Alan Grant's brother. You may retrieve your brother's body at your convenience. You have my sympathy."
"Thank you, sir." Grant sat down.
"Senator Daniel Quinn." Quinn stood. "I will issue you with a burial order. You also have my sympathy."
"Thank you," Quinn said.
The Clerk cried, "The Court will rise for Her Majesty's Coroner."
And it was over, the jury moving and the Court clearing. As Rupert Dauncey passed, he nodded and said to Quinn, "You have my sympathy, too, Senator."
Hannah had gone to the Clerk of the Court's desk, where Grant was standing. The Clerk gave them each a burial order. Grant walked down the aisle with her and Quinn stopped them.
"Listen, I'm truly sorry. What the Coroner said was true. We'll never know the truth. We can't go back, so let's go