BOOK 4: PREPARATION / CH. 9:COURT APPEARANCE
3.00PM TUESDAY 28TH NOVEMBER
“I hope you all realise how unusual this is.” the judge said to the small crowd in the airport interview room. As well as the judge and court secretary, there were two other agents besides Bella, plus the two lawyers and Eliza. There wasn't a great deal of space left around the table.
“I understand that it is unusual, your honour.” Eliza said. “I also understand, or at least sincerely hope, that subverting court security officials is not usual.”
“Your honour, in the circumstances, where the witness was fired at this morning by someone who had sworn to uphold the sanctity of the law, I think we can cope with the unusual.” the prosecution lawyer said.
The defence lawyer felt he needed to say “We have no knowledge of why the two individuals decided to act as they did, but in the circumstances we can understand the desire of the witness to stay in her country of birth. I do wonder, however, why the daughter of a dangerous psychopath is given such preferential treatment.”
“Objection, your honour. The parenthood of the witness is not relevant to the validity of her testimony.”
“Sustained.” ruled the judge. “Not that we have begun yet. Young woman, the card that the court secretary will give you has several different wordings. I ask that you select the text most binding upon you and which you can utter without harm to your religious convictions, and so swear of your own free will.”
Eliza looked at the different wordings. There were quite a lot, reflecting the world's religions or lack of them. It wasn't actually hard to choose. “Understanding the penalties for perjury and oath-breaking, I swear by Almighty God that my evidence will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”
“Please state your full name, your place of birth and citizenship.” Eliza did so.
“You see in front of you photographs of certain individuals.” Declared the judge. “I would like you to indicate any which you recognise.”
“I recognise all of them, your honour, however I have no knowledge that this man here had any connection to my kidnapping.”
“I would like you then to say what you know about each of these people figured in turn, where you know it from, and more specifically what you have witnessed them doing directly. I ask that you be very exact in separating what you witnessed personally and what you heard others saying.”
“I will start from the left. The first man was treated with obedience and respect or quite possibly fear, by all the people involved in my kidnapping and keeping me hostage. I understand that his name is Ibrahim, but I only know that from after I had escaped. He told me that he was chief of police. He told me that I had been taken captive to ensure that my father would obey certain instructions — he didn't say what. At the beginning of my captivity he told me that if my father failed to obey instructions, or I tried to escape, then he would rape me himself and have me killed. Part of the way through my captivity he told me that I could save my life by agreeing to be his subservient wife, but that if I disobeyed him in anything then he would still kill me. The one on the right was referred to as Hamid. He appeared to be the first man's second in command. All other people treated him with fear. I drew the conclusion myself that this is the man who would kill me if such an order was given, but I do not know. I saw him physically attacking others if they did not immediately stop what they were doing when he spoke to them. I did not understand what he said, but I witnessed the speed of punishment and the violence of it. Usually it was with his fists, but on one occasion I saw him use a knife to injure a woman.”
“How injure?” the prosecution lawyer asked.
“She said something to him, and he threw her to the ground. He then held her in a headlock and used his knife to cut three lines on her cheek, about four or five centimetres long. He then pushed her face to the ground, I would assume to rub dirt into the wounds.”
“But you did not understand the words she said?”
“No. He said very little during this. She was screaming. The others present watched, but did not intervene or help until after he'd left, which he did after he'd rubbed her face into the dirt.”
“And you did nothing, yourself?” The defence lawyer asked.
“I was tied and gagged inside the building. This occurred in the yard outside,” Eliza said.
“And did you see this woman afterwards, or might it have been a performance?” asked the prosecution lawyer.
“I saw her once, a week later. Her face was badly bruised, she held her right arm with her left, I would guess it was broken, and she seemed to be walking with great pain. Her face looked like it had become infected.”
“She was walking alone?” asked the defence lawyer.
“No. Hamid walked behind her, with a wooden club. He hit her once, on the right arm. She screamed. He made her enter a part of the building I did not see used during the rest of my time there. I heard sobbing and screaming for the first twenty minutes after she entered. He left about ten minutes after she had gone quiet. I did not see her again.”
“When was this?”
“He cut her face on my second day of captivity.”
“You were close to the window, to see this?” the prosecution lawyer asked.
“I was tied to iron pipes close to a glass door. I could see most of the courtyard, and they could see me from most of the courtyard.”
“You seem very aware of how long things took. Did you have your wrist unit?”
the defence lawyer asked.
Eliza couldn't help herself from giving him a look of scorn. “They took my wrist unit immediately I'd arrived. I never saw it again. There was a wall clock in the room I was held in.”
“Could you move on to the next picture?” asked the judge.
“The other pictures, with the exception of the person second to the right, are of other people who were at the location I was held captive. They appeared to be minor functionaries. I did not experience any particular cruelty from them, but they were at the place where I was held prisoner and did nothing to help me either. The person second on the right is known in this country as His royal Highness, Crown Prince Albert, he is next in line to the throne.”
“You are sure?”
“It may be an actor, the picture is not very recent, but I believe it to be prince Albert.”
“You know the prince well? How?” the defence lawyer asked.
“I would like to know whose decision it was to include his picture, and to what purpose I am being questioned about him,” she asked.
“Miss Underwood, you are under oath, your testimony is being judged here, not court procedures.” the defence lawyer said. “I demand that you answer the question.”
“Objection, your honour, the witness is not required to answer questions immaterial to the case in question. I also question the inclusion of the prince among the pictures of the accused.” the lawyer for the prosecution said.
[Bella, what do I say here, if they push me?]
[You've given your oath, on the other hand you two are still technically a state secret. Call for advice. If he insists, try to get him to accept the consequences on you too, and agree to state his sources. Those two would make everyone's life easier, except his of course.]
“I too question the late inclusion of this picture by the lawyer for the defence. I remind the witness, however that she has vowed to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” The judge said.
“Your honour, I am therefore put in a difficult position that fulfilling my vow would mean, I believe, breaking the law of this country. Will the court allow me to receive advice on this matter before I answer?”
“With respect, your honour,” Bella said, before the judge could answer, “placing duress upon a citizen to reveal a state secret is an offence in this country.”
“Thank you for that warning, I was aware of that, but perhaps the lawyer for the defence was not aware that what he was asking was a state secret.”
“I see two options, your honour.” the lawyer for the prosecution said, relishing the opportunity, “Either my colleague for the defence is seeking to confirm a rumour he has heard or he has knowingly become aware of a state secret and is seeking to force the witness to confirm it by including the prince's picture here. I expect that he will have to explain his actions before the day is finished, either in this court or elsewhere.”
“My clients have accused of heinous crimes, your honour. If something conveniently labled as a state secret is material to the defence, must it not be made known to the court?”
“Your honour.” Eliza tried again, “I continue to express my amazement how this state secret might be in any way material to the defence, and I wonder if it might be recorded that I know the prince, but answering the question in further detail would, at the present time, mean that a state secret would need to be revealed, and leave it at that?”
“Your honour, this is not the whole truth.” The defence lawyer insisted.
“I believe we have a stand-off. The defence lawyer may under the rules of this court demand an answer, but doing so makes him guilty under the laws of this country, and subject to arrest.” The judge summarised.
“But this room is temporarily under U.N. jurisdiction, and therefore I am immune from any such prosecution.” maintained the defence lawyer.
“I do not believe that such a treaty has been signed.” The judge said. Eliza decided that she liked him. “We were invited here in order to interview the witness, after a reprehensible failing in security. Such niceties as treaties of jurisdiction were not entered into. You will notice that there are no U.N agents present. I therefore insist that you withdraw your question and accept the declaration of the witness.”
“I must protest this restriction in my cross-examination of the witness most strongly,” the defence lawyer stated, “and I fear that it will lead to a mistrial.”
“Perhaps my colleague will tell the court in what way this evidence will so dramatically affect his case that he wishes to declare a mistrial before it has even begun.” suggested the prosecution lawyer.
The judge was not impressed with the idea of presiding over a mistrial either. “The court will hear why this evidence is so important.”
“Very well.” the defence lawyer began. “It relates to the credibility of the witness. Certain information has come to my attention that suggests the witness, having stayed as a guest at the home of my client, and failed in her desire to entrap him into marrying her, has now turned her attentions on the person pictured here.”
Eliza took a deep breath and looked at the lawyer quizzically, “Your honour, am I permitted to give a round of applause to the lawyer for the defence being able to say such a heap of rubbish with a straight face, and without blushing in the slightest? At what point does he believe I conceived of the plan to lure his loathsome client into a marriage that my religion forbids? While I was tied to the pipe in his house, when I was bundled into the back of a van at gunpoint, or when I was lured into getting onto the plane with first class tickets and a fake message from my father?”
“But you do not deny that you have formed a romantic attachment to the prince?” pushed the defence lawyer.
“I do not comment, unless the lawyer for the defence insists that I answer according to my vow, and accepts full legal responsibility for both his and my breaking of the law of this land, and furthermore agrees to examination to determine the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth concerning the information that he is basing this line of enquiry on.”
In the silence that followed she thought to Albert [Albert, I suggest you tell Maria and Tasha that the defence lawyer here has heard about us being in love, and is suggesting that having failed to lure Evil Ibrahim into a marriage I'm now after you. He's asking I tell him the whole truth, and I've been saying it's a state secret, at Bella's prompting.]
[Ouch. But I thought avoiding this is why we weren't announcing anything yet.]
[Part of it. The other reason is so I can be beside you when we do.]
“I accept the legal consequences, and insist on an answer.” The defense lawyer foolishly said.
“I warn you, one final time that you will regret this decision very quickly.” Eliza said.
“I insist on an answer.”
Bella nudged the agent beside her, who stepped forward.
“Then sir, I am placing you under arrest for attempting to cause a breach of official secrets legislation. You have the right to legal representation. In accordance to the agreement you have entered into, you do not have the right to remain silent. You must fully detail your sources and motivation to a closed session of a court of law which will be convened within the next forty-eight hours, until then you will be held incommunicado. I require your wrist unit from you at this moment, and any other communication devices. These will be returned to you when you are released from detention. In the interests of the present legal proceedings, I will postpone your detention until they come to an end.”
He held out his hand for the lawyer's wrist unit, and when it wasn't presented to him he removed it forcefully, and he and another agent patted down the lawyer.
“This is outrageous!”
The judge looked at him pityingly “I think you did not do your research sufficiently well before insisting on that answer. I thank the agent for his indulgence in this matter, and express hope that a deferment of his final committal proceedings might be arranged so that the defendants in this case receive a fair trial. The lawyer for the defence has insisted on his answer, and accepted the punishment for his crime and for any crime that the witness might commit. For the record I ask that these crimes be specified before the court.”
Bella stepped forward. “The crimes for which he will be tried include: knowingly receiving and passing on official secrets without authorisation, placing a citizen under duress to reveal a state secret, revelation of a state secret, disrespect to a royal personage, and placing a royal personage under duress. Subject to what he reveals or withholds he may also find himself tried for oath-breaking or even breaking of an oath to a royal personage, defamation of a royal personage. Pending further investigations into this morning's events, he will possibly also be tried for conspiracy to abduct a royal personage, and also information theft, spying on U.N. communications and corrupting of U.N. officials, but I suspect these last offences will be left for the U.N. court to try.”
“Thank you, agent.” The judge said. “With respect, could the witness please uphold her part of this binding contract which the lawyer for the defence foolishly entered into.”
“Of course, your honour.” Eliza said. “I am engaged to be married to Crown Prince Albert.”
Bella added “For the court record, this state secret has been so designated so that the witness could give evidence to this court without press attention or additional risk of abduction or assassination. Within approximately twenty four hours of her finishing her testimony, I am informed that the state secret will be declassified and the engagement will be made public. An additional motive for the classification of the state secret is so that the release of the information can be complete, accurate and without undesirable or misleading interpretations that might arise from a partial disclosure.”
“Thank you.” the judge said. “I add for the record that, according to the laws of this country, the duration of the state secret has no relevance to the penalties that the law provides, nor does the law recognise any territorial limit to where an offence may be committed. Thus, I suggest that those present wait until the secret has been declassified before they mention what happened here to anyone, wherever or whoever they are.”
The lawyer for the defence glared, and didn't say anything.
The lawyer for the prosecution, however had been paying attention to other things. Addressing Eliza he asked “You mentioned a letter purporting to come from your father?”
“Yes. I have never been close to my father; for much of my life he has been in prison, but he has written to me. I was surprised to receive the message, but it bore many marks of being from him. For instance, it addressed me using his usual name for me, and used many of his normal phrases from other letters. It offered me the chance to spend time with him, if I could possibly make myself free for a few days, in order that we could get to know each other better, and it came with first class tickets. It said that he had some free time at the end of a business trip, and was there already. The tickets were in my full name. It seemed a wonderful chance, both for an exotic holiday and to get to know my father. I didn't suspect anything.”
“When did you suspect something might be wrong?”
“I was met at the airport by a man I didn't recognise, but I'd been warned that might happen. He helped me with my luggage and then when we got to a van he opened the door and there were suddenly three people around me with weapons. They grabbed me and physically threw me into the van, where I was gagged and tied up.”
“What sort of weapons?”
“I am not sure exactly, but firearms. One may have been a type of shotgun, but it was short. I think there was a pistol as well. The person who tied me up had a knife.”
“Is he in one of these pictures?”
“No. The man who met me is this one in the middle. He was unarmed. As we arrived at the van he said 'We are here, sorry.'. At the time I thought it was because we had walked a long way to the van.”
“Do you still have the message and the reservation number?”
“I'd have deleted them from the service, I don't like to leave things lying around. The reservation number was on my old wrist-unit which they took from me. The letter might be too, I can't remember if it was separate.”
“Is this your wrist-unit?” he passed it to her, still in the transparent evidence bag.
“Yes. That's it. I recognise the strap. Should I seek to access it?”
“Yes, please.”
“Wait, please!” Bella said. “Has the device been checked for booby-traps, poisons, and the like? Recently?”
“It should have been.” the prosecutor said.
“In the circumstances, I'd like to be sure.” Bella said. “Your honour, may I ask for a testing kit to be brought?”
“Yes, please do.” the judge said.
Bella called for the kit, and the prosecution lawyer continued “And in the van you were taken directly to where you were held prisoner?”
“I don't know about the route, but yes, that is where we stopped.”
“And can you tell us about your escape please?” he asked.
“Yes. One day the staff were having an argument. I did not know what about at the time, but later I learned that it followed Ibrahim's arrest. One of the staff came to give me a drink and then retie my hands — they had a pattern of doing this every three hours — and I guess that he was distracted by remembering that he had to put the car keys away or else by the argument, but he failed to tie them tight enough. I felt them to be lose and managed to free myself. I found the keys to the car and made my escape.”
“How did you know about him having to put the keys away?” the lawyer for defense asked, “Did he tell you?”
“He didn't speak to me, none of them did. I don't know if he even knew English. When he was bending down to tie my hands and feet together, they fell from his shirt pocket. He muttered what I presume was a curse and looked around in a way that I interpreted as guiltily. He re-tied my ropes quickly, then went to the hall returning after only a few seconds. I presumed that he went to return the keys. He then returned to the argument, at which point I managed to slip my hands free, undid the ropes around my feet and found the keys in the hall.”
“You recognised the keys as car keys?” the prosecution lawyer asked.
“Yes. I saw that they had a logo on them which matched the logo on the car, and they also had a bright orange key-fob which I'd seen in people's hands as they were locking the car.”
“And you expect us to believe that the car had no voice print recognition software or any other security devices other than the keys?” the defence lawyer asked, scornfully.
“The keys were in a small cupboard which also had some plastic cards inside. I thought one or more of these might be some kind of proximity card, and grabbed them also.”
“Thank you. Are these those cards?” the prosecution lawyer asked, showing her three cards in a sealed bag.
“Yes, I think so, but I think there was a green one as well.”
“This one?” he said, offering another bag.
“It looks right.”
“Let the record show that on the passenger seat of the car that the witness was driving there was: a green fueling station loyalty card in the name of the accused man, Ibrahim; another loyalty card for a local supermarket; as well as the vehicle's proximity card and the access card for the house weapons store. Let it also state that the vehicle contained a tracking device which apparently no one in the house knew how to access.”
He paused to let the significance of that sink in to Eliza.
“You had no idea of the cause of the argument?”
“A couple of days earlier they had been getting everything ready, as they did when the man I now know as Ibrahim was due to turn up, but he didn't, nor did Hamid who was sometimes there without his boss. I presumed it was something to do with that.”
“You said that Hamid had taken a wounded woman into part of the complex that no one normally went near. Was Ibrahim present at that time?”
“Yes.”
“And he witnessed that happening?”
“Yes. As Hamid was going with her to the room, he shouted something to him. I presume that it was something vulgar, because in reaction Hamid used his stick to raise her skirt.”
“How did she react?”
“She tried to twist away, and he used the stick to hit her arm, the one I presume was broken. She screamed.”
“Would you look at these photographs and please identify the place to which she was taken?”
“Here.” she said pointing to the relevant doorway.
“And you were held where?”
“I would guess it was here.” she said indicating another room.
Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
“And you were in the same room the whole time?”
“Yes, except when I went through the hall when I was taken there and left.”
“Let the record show that the witness identified the victim as being taken to a room with a door to the outside of the compound. Let photographs 85 to 140 which show the room and its contents be admitted as relevant evidence and laboratory report 1245, which shows that the dirt floor of the room was found to have the blood of several different people in it, as well as teeth from different people. Let the record also show that tracks lead from that room to the nearby river.
"Let the record also show that the room which she tentatively identified she was held is shown in photographs 165 to 185. Let the analysis of the blood and tissue samples recorded from the pipework of that room and the ropes and chains found there and showing a match to the witness also be entered into the court record. Let the record also show that there is no matching DNA or fingerprint evidence for the presence of the witness in any other room except for the key box in the hallway. Your honour, my examination of the witness is over for the moment.”
The lawyer for the defence glared at Eliza once more and asked “How do you account for the fact that your finger-prints were only on the one key-box that contained the keys to the vehicle?”
“I tried that box first, and recognised the keys.” Eliza said.
“Did you not try that key box because you had free use of the car and had been told which box the keys were in?”
“No, that is not the case at all. I fail to understand why you think I would have willingly been tied to a pipe when I had free access to a vehicle.”
“I suggest that you were tied to that pipe because that is where you asked to be tied for the sexual games you played with the accused.”
“And is that a product of your own diseased imagination, or that of the accused?”
The judge smiled and gently said “It is not normally the role of the witness to question the lawyers.”
“I withdraw my question, your honour.” Eliza said with a smile.
“Is it not the case that you used sexual favours to try to entice my client into a marriage relationship?” persisted the lawyer.
“No, it is not the case. As I have stated before, such a relationship would be against my religion, not to mention my good taste.”
“That is an easy claim to make.”
“I do not think it is at all easy to alter the Word of God.”
“I meant your reference to your taste.”
“If you had a daughter, would you encourage her to marry your client, sir?”
“It is not my place in this court to answer questions.”
“But you wouldn't, assuming you are not totally blind to his nature.”
“I have no daughter, so this speculation is idle. Apart from your claim to have better taste and a religion, neither of which are easily examined in this court of law, do you have any evidence at all to prove that an alternative explanation is invalid? That you had a nice time as a house guest of my client, enjoyed his company when he was present, and then when your plans fell apart with his arrest you stole the vehicle and came up with this fantasy story of kidnapping, threats and violence.”
“Your ludicrous claim then is that I was engaged in a consensual sexual relationship with your client?”
“I challenge you that that is the real truth, yes.”
“May God have mercy on your sinful soul. That, at least is easily disproved. I believe that the evidence lies in the care of the prosecution.”
She turned her gaze to the prosecution lawyer, who was flipping through pieces of paper. Eventually he found what he was looking for.
“Your honour, I am somewhat surprised at the line of questioning that the defence team are pursuing, and present a medical report regarding the condition of the witness on her rescue. I hesitate to include it in the evidence due to its personal nature. Let the court record show that the witness is innocent of the ridiculous claims by the lawyer for the defence.”
The judge scanned the document.
“Let it be so shown. The counsel for the defence will cease this insulting line of questioning, it is disproved, and the young lady's claim of a strong religious faith finds support in this document.”
“Your honour I must protest that I be allowed to continue to challenge the evidence presented by this woman.”
“You may challenge my evidence if you wish sir, assuming you have sufficient grounds beyond these disgusting fantasies.” Eliza said. “However, the document his honour the judge has just read contains the phrase virgo intacta. Keep the filthy and disgusting results of your or your client's depraved imaginations yourself.”
“It is clear to me that I was misinformed in this matter.” The lawyer claimed. “I turn my attention to certain other matters. When you saw the woman being cut, was Ibrahim present?”
“Not in the courtyard, no.”
“And other times that you saw Hamid reacting with extreme violence?”
“Most of the time he was not. But yes, on several occasions.”
“But you do not know what Hamid was reacting to, it could have been something extremely insulting, could it not? The sort of thing anyone might flare up at?”
“On one occasion, in the evening, a serving boy, I guess he was in his mid-teens, took drinks and snacks to Ibrahim, Hamid and some others. He tripped, or possibly was tripped, as he got to the men. The drinks came off the tray he was holding and spilt. Two glasses broke. Ibrahim said something to Hamid and he punched the boy in the head twice. As he was knocked to the ground, another glass broke and when this was pointed out to Hamid, by one of the men, he punched him again, after this he seemed barely conscious. Then, Ibrahim deliberately broke another glass under his foot. Hamid lifted his head by the hair and punched him yet again. I therefore concluded that Ibrahim's instructions were one punch per broken glass. Ibrahim and the others seemed to think this was very amusing.”
“What happened after that?” asked the prosecutor.
“They left him where he had fallen and went to another part of the courtyard. On the way, Ibrahim called something to one of the men and he swept up the glass. Eventually the boy regained consciousness and staggered back towards where he had come from.”
“Did you see that particular boy suffering any more abuse from anyone at another time?”
“No. I did see him a few days later. He had lost a tooth, and had one eye which was closed by the swelling.”
“Were missing teeth common amongst the staff?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Do you not wonder why the staff stayed, if it was really so dangerous to work there?” asked the lawyer for the defence.
“Objection your honour, this calls for speculation.”
“Sustained.”
“I have no further questions, your honour.” The defence lawyer said.
“Did you see any apparent senior staff, other than Hamid?”
“Yes. There was one man who often seemed to give orders to the others.”
“But he isn't pictured here.”
“No.”
“Is he included in this picture?” He handed her another photo.
“Yes. The man in the blue T-shirt.”
“Thank you. Let the record report that the man who previously gave orders in the house was one of those killed in a gun-battle with the local army. The prosecution has no further questions, unless the wrist-unit can give us data.”
“Neither has the defence.”
Bella answered that “Your honour, the wrist unit has been checked. A poison has been applied to the strap which I understand would have started to take effect after approximately one hour of wear.”
“Thank you, agent. Is it possible to know how long the poison has been on it?”
“I do not know, your honour.”
“And can the wrist-unit be handled safely, if the strap is removed?”
“I expect it can with rubber gloves, your honour, but I would prefer to have an expert give advise.”
“Then, the court will take a ten minute break to allow someone to seek that advice.”
“Very well, sir.” Bella asked one of the agents beside her to do that, and went to stand by Eliza as the lawyer for the defence approached her. He did not get too close to where she was still seated, but stated: “I would like to state, Maam, that the line of inquiry I was acting on came from the testimony of my client, and did not stem from any personal animosity, but that it was my duty to pursue it to the very end. I apologise for any personal offence I may have caused.” Having said this he immediately returned to his seat, without waiting for a reply.
Eliza gazed at his retreating back for a while in incredulity, and then sat back and closed her eyes. [Bella, if that proves to be true, is it fair to throw the book at him just for doing his duty?]
[He didn't pull his punches, and he did insist. That's not nice.]
[Are there due-cause type allowances in the law?]
[I don't think so. But you can probably get a royal pardon for him if you feel he's just a cold-hearted pig doing his duty as he sees fit, rather than an actual criminal. I would like to say that I'm really impressed that you're not in tears about those accusations.]
[They just made me annoyed, really. But where did that information leak out from? That's the real problem, I think.]
[I agree. You could find out, though, couldn't you?]
[Don't tempt me! I'm not thought police, I don't want to go down that route.]
“Bella, I've got the expert opinion.” The agent said.
“Yes?”
“Anyone who's been touching the bag even should wash their hands well, plenty of soap and scrubbing. Since I opened the bag to test the thing, then I go and get dosed on antidote as soon as possible.”
“So, how do we cleanse it? They'd like that data.”
“They've got some counter-agent and will send it here. We dunk it in the agent with a pair of tongs, which they'll also send, slosh it around for ten minutes and assuming the wrist unit still works we can cut off the straps and get the data off. The straps should be burned, for safety sake.”
“Did you hear that, your honour?” Bella asked.
“I heard that there's ten minutes of treatment, with a delay before-hand.”
“Yes, your honour, the counter-agent should be here in about an hour, they said, and anyone who touched that bag should scrub their hands well with lots of soap.”
“That includes me, the prosecution, and the court secretary then.” Eliza said.
“And me,” Bella said. “I handed it to you.”
The judge called the room to attention and spelled out the precautions. “I think that, just to be safe, since that bag has touched other items of evidence on its way here, anyone who has touched any evidence bag should wash their hands well. The counter agent will arrive in about an hour, we'll need to treat the unit for ten minutes, and then the witness can try to access the booking number, perhaps the letter too.”
The agent who'd opened the bag went to the sink first, and then he left to go to the hospital. Another agent arrived soon after, to take his place. The lawyers looked at their notes to see if there might be anything else they wanted to check, and Eliza, once she'd washed her hands, put her head on her arms as though she was resting and called Albert.
[Hi, Albert. Any news?]
[Tasha has a possible lead. The computer at the palace was accessed in the middle of Friday's TREC meeting for a list of who had visited the day before. Roughly speaking, it was around the time that the defence minister was being replaced.]
[So, it could have been her?]
[It would make sense. She's got opportunity and a reason for wanting to stir up trouble against people on the committee. It would fit with the previous leak about the committee too.]
[It would. If she's found guilty....]
[Then she's in big trouble, Yes. I expect that she's covered her tracks fairly well, considering the consequences.]
[But it could have been someone else with another motive?]
[Yes. Anyone at TREC would be authorised to look at that sort of data. It's not public, but their clearance would be sufficient to look at it, and what with you arriving as a group and leaving as a group, it's pretty obvious who came as part of the committee.]
[And add to that your admitting being in love with someone under witness protection...]
[Yes. Except she'd left by the time that was said explicitly.]
[Oh.]
[So, either someone's talked to her, or there's been a leak about you giving evidence to the court.]
[Or it's not her and someone would be very happy for her to take the blame.]
[Eliza, I know you don't like to use your gift to solve crimes...]
[No. I don't. We don't.]
[I accept that. Can you make sure there's no one trying to harm you, or our break the news about our relationship?]
[That's a bit too general, Albert. And I'm not sure I'd like to.]
[Then can you at least talk to Karen about it, see what she thinks? I don't want anyone to be sent to a think-tank. So far the damage has been minimal, but if the announcement gets wrecked and the press run with some other version of our relationship...]
[Then the person won't get much leniency, will they?]
[No.]
[O.K. On that basis, I'll talk it over with Karen, and we'll see what we can come up with.]
[Do I gather you've finished your witness bit?]
[No... there's a slight delay.]
[What's happened now?]
[Well, the defence lawyer insisted on knowing we were engaged. But I don't think anyone here is going to be silly enough to leak that, having heard the list of possible charges that Bella came up with.]
[So, they need a new lawyer?]
[No, the arresting officer said that he'd delay the actual detention until this process was over. I've had a 'it was my duty' apology from the guy, by the way.]
[The officer?] Albert said, confused.
[No, the lawyer. Roughly speaking he said his client had told him that he and I had been indulging in regular sadomasochistic sex while I was there, thus explaining away my rope burns. I guess that's why it seemed reasonable to him to suspect I'd been acting the temptress with you too. My medical report showing that was a load of lies would have squashed that idea from the outset, but the prosecutor hadn't entered it as evidence, apparently, thinking that it was a bit too personal.]
[Oh. So it's evidence now?]
[No. He just showed it to the judge who told the defence lawyer to stop insulting me and claiming I was making up my religious convictions.]
[And did he?]
[Once I spelt out to him that the report said virgo intacta, yes.]
[I'm glad it did.]
[Me too. It was Maria's thought to get it spelt out, actually. I guess she knows how personal these cases can get.]
[I guess so. Urmm, could you thank her, rather than me?]
[Embarrassed to bring up the subject?]
[Yes. I'm very glad you are though.]
[Hmmm. Only for another six weeks or so.]
[Please don't make me think about that, Eliza. It's hard enough battling temptation as it is.]
[I won't. But we do need to discuss contraception sometime. Soon.]
[You understand why I didn't want to on Saturday?]
[I think so. Less temptation if we discus it mind to mind?]
[{love}Yes]
[{love} But I was telling you about the delay.]
[Yes.]
[Well, they want me to get the message off my wrist-unit, but apparently it's been covered with a contact-poison. They're bringing a counter-agent, it should be here in the next hour.]
[Someone's trying to poison you now?]
[It might have been while I was still a prisoner. For all I know, they'd left it somewhere where I should have seen it when I was looking for the car-keys, just as an extra bit of anti-escape insurance.]
[Oh.]
[But it should have been tested while it was in UN custody. The fact that no-one did or the poison was added later isn't good news for their security.]
[No. So that's the delay? Wait for the counter-agent, and then you get your wrist unit back?]
[I'm not sure I want it back, but I'll get the message off it if I can. Then that's it.]
[So it will all be over today after all?]
[Yes, it looks like it. But do wait until it is really all over, please.]
[Of course. I'm so looking forwards to telling the world about you tomorrow, Eliza.]
[That's only because you're in love, Albert. It's a form of temporary euphoric state, I understand, a bit like a drug.]
[Not too temporary, I hope.]
[Me too. It's a nice feeling.]
[Will you talk to Karen?]
[Yes. I suppose I'd better. I like talking to you better, my prince.]
[I like talking to you, too, my future princess. But I think you should. Before it turns out to be too late.]
[Oh, all right. I love you, Albert.]
[I love you too. Tell me what she says.]
[Of course! Talk to you soon.] and letting go of Albert's mind, she called Karen, and briefly explained Albert's concern.
[So, you're concerned, but don't really want to do it, just in case it ends up as a thought-police thing?]
[Yes. I guess that's part of it. It doesn't seem right, me being so close to being royalty and finding out who's not my friend.]
[I understand, I think. You need to be even more careful than the rest of us.]
[Exactly, and I'm not sure that us being concerned something might go wrong with our happy announcement is sufficient justification.]
[Eliza, you're doing it again! Don't be silly. Just because it's your happy announcement, that doesn't mean it doesn't matter! I'll look.]
[Thank you, Karen. You think it's right to then?]
[Yes. Not for your happiness, but for the country. The country needs to hear you talking about your father before they know who he is.]
[I needed to hear that. Thank you. If you're convinced, I'll do the checking.]
[No. I will. I want to make sure it's done properly.]
[What do you mean by that?]
[I'm going to find out details that you don't need to know.]
[Karen! We're not thought police!]
[I know. But I don't want to heat my brain looking for categories again, until I know where to look.]
[I guess that makes some sort of sense. Thank you Karen.]
[I'll give you the results later.]
Karen decided that the person who had sent the note to the press was called Aleph, and the person who'd been the origin of the message to the lawyer that maybe Eliza Underwood was involved with the prince was called Beta. She checked Aleph's feet, and then Beta's. They were different people. Aleph was in a flat, there; Beta was walking, just outside a church, there, in a totally different part of the country.
Karen then looked for people in the world who knew or suspected about Eliza and the Prince, and had given or would give her name to the press before the announcement. There, she concentrated on the location of the spark. Same city as Beta, Same street as Beta. It was Beta, or someone walking in the same place as Beta. She checked. There wasn't anyone else there, just the minister for justice. She focussed on his thoughts. He was trying to decide:
'Should he leave? The reporter was late. Walking up and down in front of a church was fairly obvious. But Underwood's daughter for queen? It had to be her. It was too offensive.' Karen contacted the prince herself. It was the fastest.
[Your highness, it's Karen. Sorry for taking the liberty of calling you like this, but can you contact the minister for Justice, right now?]
[I can try. Why?]
[He's outside a church, waiting for a reporter, very offended at your choice of bride, sir. I suggest you ask him not to commit such a crime.]
[I will.]
Karen decided that the journalist he was waiting for was called Bert and checked where he was. He was about a minute's walk away.
Albert put through a call to the minister. “Minister, I have an urgent issue I'd like to ask you about. Are you near the palace?”
“Your highness! I'm sorry, no I'm not even in the right city. I could come first thing tomorrow morning.”
“I'm afraid it's far more urgent than that. It's just come to my attention that a serious breach of security could happen in the next few minutes. My thought is that such a breach would be very bad for myself and more importantly for the country as we approach this time of crisis. Of course it would also be bad for the senior official who committed the breach, I'm sure that you appreciate the consequences. Obviously, the leak must not happen, but I do not think that someone should be arrested for something that they haven't done, but only contemplated, do you, minister?”
“My resignation will be with his Majesty first thing in the morning, sir.”
“I hope that will not be necessary, minister, I wonder if we might meet first thing tomorrow morning to discuss matters?”
“Yes, sir, of course, sir. Might I ask how you became aware of this potential leak, sir?”
“I am not sure that is appropriate, minister.”
“I just wonder about the ethics of the journalist I was due to meet.”
“The information did not come from that source at all, minister.”
----------------------------------------
[Hi, Eliza, sorry to bypass you, there wasn't any time to waste so I spoke straight to Albert.]
[The leak was about to happen?]
[Exactly. Hopefully Albert's got through to the minister for Justice before anything happened. How's your hearing?]
[Delayed while they get a rather nasty poison off my wrist unit.]
[Ouch. Where did that come from?]
[My assumption is that they either dosed it while I was held prisoner, or the nice guys who tried to abduct me or whatever they were planning this morning got at it while it was stored at the court.]
[What's this? Another kidnap attempt?]
[A couple of agents who got recommended to the court by you know who decided that they'd escort me somewhere, rather than the assigned pair. Somehow they managed to convince the assigned pair that it was an official change of plans.]
[Ouch.]
[They didn't know about special arrangements for me, otherwise I would have been easy prey again, depending what they wanted to do to me, of course.]
[Oh wow. You are living a high risk life, aren't you?]
[I guess so. I sort of expected some move or other from Ibrahim. I think the real high risk living was being a servant at his house. I mean, at least I've got Bella and company looking out for me, they just had to take it, suffer, die or let whatever greater evil it was that kept them there happen.]
[I've heard some of that, yes. Nasty place. A very evil man. I'll be glad when you're back on our soil.]
[Oh, sorry, I didn't say. I am already. We've got a temporarily convened court here at the military airport.]
[That makes sense. Hold on. How did Ibrahim find out about you coming?]
[Bella said it was allowed for the lawyer to talk to his client about interviewing me, or maybe those agents found out.]
[So, the justice minister passed on that you were probably the prince's fiancée, the lawyer probably passed on that you were coming, and the agents with divided loyalties possibly poisoned your watch and certainly tried to abduct you.]
[Yes, that's about it. And then the lawyer got himself in big trouble for demanding that I say the whole truth and admit that I'm engaged to Albert. He's technically under arrest for breaking official secrets laws, but they're letting him finish interviewing me before they actually throw him in a dungeon for insulting a royal personage.]
[You don't live a boring life, do you?]
[No. I don't see it getting particularly boring in the near future, either.]
[We'll be praying for you.]
[Thanks! How are your plans going?]
[Getting complicated.]
[I thought it was all arranged.]
[Yes. It was, then I saw what Dad had arranged and decided that I didn't really agree with the odd plan or three of his. I mean... an open-topped horse-drawn carriage?]
[Oh, that's really romantic.]
[Yes. If it's not raining. I'll leave that level of showing off for you and Albert. I know the dress could be cleaned in time for your wedding if it did get dirty, but I'm not going to risk showing up at the church splattered with mud from head to toe.]
[I see your point.]
[So did Daddy, after I'd explained it to him.]
[Oh, I'd better pay attention round here, something's happening.]
Eliza lifted her head to see a large flask of pink-looking liquid being poured into a bucket. It all seemed rather too much for her wrist unit.
“My wrist unit's not that big, Bella!” she protested.
“I know. But the counter-agent comes in flasks that big, so they decided to give it room to be moved about in.”
“You know why I bought that wrist unit?” Eliza said, seeing the strap being cut off.
“No.”
“I really liked the patterning on the strap. I saw it at an art-shop when I was sixteen.”
“That's a shame. I wonder if someone's got another one like it.”
“They won't have. It had a little card in the box which said it was done by mixing the different coloured resins by hand. Every one unique, guaranteed.”
“Not everyone's choice of colours.”
“No. I liked it though.”
“Sorry. The strap's pretty deadly now. The poison gets into the plastic. You'd get sick at the very least, even after it's been in the counter agent.”
“Nasty poison that.”
“Yes. I looked it up just now. Developed in the age of chaos. It was meant to be a very long lasting insecticide, to kill insects on netting and jungle-wear, so the soaking into plastics is part of the design, but they found out it kills people just as effectively.”
“So it's from an industrial process? Who would make it still?”
“It's still a very effective insecticide. They use it in some countries in farm out-buildings and the like, all nicely protected in a metal case, of course. One little box above your pigs with the poison and an attractant, then suddenly there aren't so many flies around, for the next five years or so.”
“I see. But don't open the package.”
“No.”
[By the way Bella. We shouldn't need to worry about more leaks. Karen looked.]
[Under arrest?]
[No, but he knows he's known about.]
[{surprise} He? Not the ex-defence minister?]
[He.]
[And he's in the cabinet?]
[I don't think you need to know that, Bella. But I'll just have a quick chat with Albert.]
[I can't stop you.] Bella thought with a smile.
Eliza checked Albert's thoughts. He was still talking to the minister for justice. So, she decided to do some checking herself. What was the minister thinking?
She heard, 'So, he has his sources, and I've been warned. So if there's leak then it's fairly obvious that it was me. On the other hand, I can claim it wasn't me, because only a fool would do it after that warning. But, does it harm the country? Ha, there's that journalist at last. What shall I tell him? That I'm not a complete fool, I guess.' She broke off. Why was she spying on him? Selfish reasons. Rather than talking to Albert immediately, she prayed first.
----------------------------------------
“You're late.” the minister for Justice said.
“I'm sorry. There was something you wanted to tell me?”
“There was. Just after our meeting should have begun I got a phone-call though. So, I'd be a complete fool to tell you what I was going to.”
“You said you were outraged about something.”
“Yes. I was, I am.”
“But you can't tell me about what.”
“No. His highness was quite clear.”
“It is no secret that there's going to be a palace announcement this week, there's a connection?”
“There is.”
“Can you tell me if your outrage is about the timing of the announcement, its leaking, or its content?”
“Content. Specific details about its content. I don't think I can say more.”
“I'm sorry I wasn't on time, then.”
“I think, since we'd be under arrest soon for breaking official secrets laws if you had been, that I don't agree with you. My outrage is not an official secret, however.”
“Thank you, sir.”
----------------------------------------
“Miss Underwood, assuming you feel comfortable that the poison has been removed, could you please attempt to access the data on your wrist-unit?”
“Yes, sir.”
Placing the unit precariously on her wrist so that it could notice her pulse, she woke the unit up, and identified herself to it by I.D. and fingerprint. It came up with a message that told her that there was currently another unit accessing her network account, so what did she want to do? She clicked on the option to leave her new wrist unit in charge, then recovered the message that claimed to have come from her father.
“I have the message, sir,” she told the judge, “what should I do now?”
“Please send it to my unit.”
“The message came encrypted, your honour, I don't know if I can send you anything useful. It looks like it actually came from the airline booking system, I hadn't noticed that before.”
“Ah.” the prosecutor said. “I had wondered why you didn't get warnings about it not coming from the right I.D. Your wrist unit verified the message as coming from the airline system, but the booking system didn't care about who the originator was, as long as they'd paid?”
“Yes, sir. I guess so.”
“That would seem like an omission on the part of the airline booking system, not to flag that it does not guarantee the authenticity of the message.” Commented the prosecution lawyer.
“I tend to agree. Please could you duplicate the message to me so we can check the message details, and also copy the content as a separate message?”
“Of course, your honour.”
After Eliza had done that, the judge sent the message to the prosecution and defence lawyers.
“The use of 'Liz' as a shortening of your name is normal?” asked the prosecution lawyer.
“No. It is only my Dad who calls me that.”
“And you accepted it as evidence that the messages originated with him?”
“Yes.”
“And were there other indications to you that your father was involved in this letter?” Asked the defence lawyer. Eliza decided to tread carefully. “Other indications that whoever wrote this letter was duplicating my father's style were the phrase 'political prisoner', the opening phrase and the closure. It is possible that my father was directly involved, but it seems unlikely that he was willing if my kidnapping was intended to put pressure on him.”
“Objection your honour, this last is speculation.” the lawyer for the defence said.
“As was the point she answered.” countered the prosecution lawyer.
“Both are permitted to stand.”
“How would you describe your relationship with your father?” asked the lawyer for the defence.
“Now, or at the time I was kidnapped?”
“Both.”
“Before I was kidnapped, I had ambivalent feelings towards him. He was my father, I wanted to know what he was like. I had read bad things about him, but had no knowledge as to their truthfulness. I knew he had been convicted of abuse of office and corruption, but that no other charges had been levelled against him. He said it was all lies, or at the very most a few things had been exaggerated for political reasons. Now, I've heard from his own lips what these political reasons are: he thinks almost all other people are of no importance at all. He described Ibrahim as a kindred spirit and based on the evidence I've heard from his trial I would tend to agree. They are both men to whom only their own plans matter.”
“But you seem to matter to your father.”
“I know. That worries me. I don't want to figure in his plans.”
“And you think that you would only matter to him if you do?”
“He has told me that I do — after he had successfully gained power and ruled as a malevolent world dictator, he intended that I should inherit his throne.”
“Those plans do not seem to me to be likely to succeed.” the lawyer for the defence stated.
“I did not say they were. But it makes me feel unclean to be included in his deranged imaginings.”
“Your honour, no further questions.” the defence lawyer said.
“No further questions, your honour.” agreed the prosecution lawyer.
“Then I thank the witness for her statement and declare this hearing closed.”
“In which case,” declared the agent who'd earlier arrested the defence lawyer, “I will take you into custody now, sir.”
“I hope you are pleased, Miss Underwood.” he told her.
“I am not at all pleased, sir. If you remember, I warned you not to insist on an answer, and told you you would regret it. I hope that no grounds will be found for any of the potential charges listed earlier.”
“I assure you, there will be no grounds for any such charges.”
“But you did discuss interviewing me with your client?”
“I did. But I did not reveal the day or the time.”
“And did you discuss with him the information you received concerning the prince and myself?”
“No.”
“So, your suggestion that I sought to entrap the prince into a relationship came from you alone?”
“Can I ask why you are asking these questions?”
“It is very simple. I do not want anything to put at risk the trial for which I have given evidence. It is my firm opinion that your client should be punished for his crimes. Perhaps a little leniency could be applied if all you have done is your duty. But you have attempted to besmirch my character and if the information you were given were to be published, particularly with the slant you put on these accusations, then that will cause trouble for the government at a time of national crisis. I would rather be forewarned of that.”
“You refer to the panic your government is in over the vanishingly small possibility of an impact?”
“I refer to the three independent prophesies that the city of Restoration will be razed to the ground, yes.”
“They will be proved false, have no fear, they are just scare-mongering, there is no such thing as true prophesy.” he answered dismissively.
“I know people for who very specific prophesies have come true, so count your claim as valueless.” Eliza said. “But you have not answered my question. Who did you discuss your idea with that I was seeking to entrap the prince?”
“I will not answer.”
“Then, this conversation is at an end.” Eliza said.
The agent, who'd been waiting patiently for this examination to end, slapped handcuffs on the lawyer and took him away.