The Accused (Modern Plays) by Jeffrey Archer Read Free Book Online Page B

I resigned and took a short holiday abroad. While I was away, a vacancy arose at Wellingborough Cottage Hospital for the position of senior staff nurse. I was delighted when they offered me the post and hoped this would be my chance to start a new life.
    Kersley But that didn’t prove possible, did it, Ms Mitchell, because Mr Sherwood got in touch with you again. When was that?
    Mitchell It must have been about a month after I’d started my new job. He began phoning me at the hospital.
    Sherwood (
rises
) I never phoned you. I didn’t even know you’d got another job.
    Judge Mr Sherwood, this is the last time I shall warn you. If you interrupt again, I will have you taken below as long as Ms Mitchell remains in the witness box. Do I make myself clear?
    Sherwood Yes My Lord, but…
    Barrington My Lord, may I be allowed to have a word with the defendant?
    Judge For what purpose, Sir James?
    Barrington To leave Mr Sherwood in no doubt of the harm it will do his cause if he is unable to hear all the evidence offered by this particular witness.
    Judge Do you have any objection, Mr Kersley?
    Kersley If it means I can continue uninterrupted, My Lord, I would welcome it. However, it may be that these unseemly outbursts, repeated by Mr Sherwood at regular intervals despite Your Lordship’s continual warnings, will only serve to shed light on the character of the accused and thus assist the jury when the time comes to consider their verdict.
    Barrington My Lord, my learned friend can never resist making a speech and this one did indeed shed some light, if not on Mr Sherwood’s character, then on the Crown’s lack of any real evidence, which they try to cover up by resorting to personal abuse. However, I will have a word with my client My Lord, and warn him of the gravity of your words. ( Barrington
goes over to the dock
.) Very good, but that was one more interruption than we agreed on, so don’t do it again. ( Sherwood
nods and sits back down
, Barrington
returns to his place
.) I’m obliged, My Lord. I think Mr Sherwood now fully understands what is expected of him.
    Judge Thank you, Sir James. Carry on, Mr Kersley.
    Kersley You were telling us, Ms Mitchell, that Mr Sherwood telephoned you at the hospital - for what purpose?
    Mitchell To warn me that the police had begun an investigation into his wife’s death and might want to question me about our relationship.
    Kersley Really? Did he say anything else?
    Mitchell Yes, he begged me not to mention the fact that I’d been with him on the night his wife died, as he had already come up with a more convincing alibi.
    Kersley Why would he need another alibi, if he had been with you?
    Mitchell Because he didn’t want the police to know that we’d been having an affair.
    Kersley And how did you respond to this request?
    Mitchell I told him to go to hell and rang off.
    Kersley Did he call again that day?
    Mitchell Yes, about an hour later, but I refused to speak to him.
    Kersley How did you avoid it?
    Mitchell I made some excuse to Sister about not feeling well, and went home early. But that night I was so distressed I just couldn’t get to sleep, so in the morning I told my parents everything.
    Kersley And it was your father, Councillor Mitchell, who left you in no doubt as to where your responsibility lay?
    Mitchell Yes. He advised me to tell the police everything I knew, otherwise I could be an accessory to the crime and just as guilty as he was.
    Kersley And when the police got in touch with you, you immediately volunteered a statement?
    Mitchell Yes, I did.
    Kersley And has Mr Sherwood tried to contact you again since you made that statement?
    Mitchell He never stops phoning, sometimes twice a day, but I haven’t spoken to him since that morning he rang the hospital. ( Sherwood
rises but then sits back down
.)
    Kersley And despite all that you’ve been put through these last six months, you still have no regrets about taking your father’s advice?
    Mitchell None