Chapter 64
Chapter Sixty-Four
Today, it was host to almost one hundred and fifty people who were part of the Wrongly Accused anniversary event.
A grand hall had been set out with tables and chairs to host a three-course meal for those the charity had freed from prison following a wrongful conviction, their families, and the solicitors, barristers, police and members of the media who had helped along the journey.
Before the meal began at one o’clock, there were to be several speeches made, the main one at the end by Jennifer Ripley, who started it all. This event had been nine months in the making and, so far, everything was going swimmingly.
All of the people Jennifer and her team had helped were important to her, but there was one man who had inspired this whole journey, and she hoped Anthony Winstanley, who was now living an almost monastic life with his mother and stepfather in an isolated cottage on the moors, would attend.
He hadn’t RSVPed until yesterday afternoon.
When she saw him enter the hotel, looking very dapper in a suit and tie, she couldn’t help but smile.
She hadn’t seen him for a while but kept in touch with Pauline and Leo to check how he was doing.
He had good days and bad. He had stopped seeing a therapist and found trekking the moors with Leo better for him than sitting talking to a stranger.
The transformation in his appearance was difficult to digest. He was only forty but looked much older.
His thick mound of hair was now grey. He was registered blind and walked with a very graceful golden Labrador called Woody by his side.
As much as Jennifer was thrilled to see him, she was saddened by what the justice system had done to him.
She’d secured him a seven-figure compensation pay-out, which meant he could live comfortably, but all it meant was he didn’t need to worry about bills and food.
The mental torment continued and would do so for the rest of his life.
For the final speech of the proceedings, Jennifer took her place on the stage behind the microphone.
She looked out at all the faces she knew so well.
None of them would be there without her.
She found that so incredibly humbling. She looked down at the first table.
There was Anthony with his dog, and Pauline and Leo, who looked so good together.
Chris Tyler, and an empty seat next to him.
She knew Freya would arrive eventually. Cedric Inglethorpe, now retired and looking good for a man in his nineties, with his elegant yet frail wife, Janice.
Jasper Bryce had been dead for some years, now, but his widow, Celia, and eldest daughter, Francesca, also a solicitor, represented him.
Finally, Jennifer’s husband, Home Secretary Malcolm Ripley.
A General Election was two years away. John Major’s popularity, such as it was, was on the wane, and senior figures within the Conservative Party were tipping Malcolm to take his place as leader, and, hopefully, Prime Minister.
When Jennifer looked down at her husband, she could not be prouder of what he’d achieved, of what they’d both achieved together.
She cleared her throat. ‘Good afternoon, everyone. Before I begin, I’d like to reassure you all that, although I look like I’m about to explode, I am in fact two months away from my due date,’ she said, cradling her bump.
‘This is what carrying twins at seven months looks like, and before anyone asks, I shall not be calling them Inglethorpe and Bryce.’ There was a ripple of laughter from around the room and also a round of applause.
‘I cannot tell you how much it warms my heart to see so many of you here today. Looking at you all, I see so much grit and determination, strength and hope, but I also see happiness on every single face. What happened to each and every one of you in this room should never have happened. I’d like to think it will never happen again to anyone else, but I know that’s wishful thinking on my part.
However, every one of you is proof that nobody should ever give up hope when they find themselves in an impossible situation.
Even during the darkest days, there is always a glimmer of hope.
Wrongly Accused provides that light. And we will never stop. ’
More applause. Jennifer looked back down at her table. Pauline was wiping away a tear. Leo was whispering something to a smiling Anthony. Malcolm was surveying the room. Chris was looking up at her, waiting for her to continue.
‘Obviously, I could stand here all afternoon and thank each and every one of you individually, but I can smell the food from here and I’m so hungry.
’ She held her stomach again and there was another ripple of laughter.
‘However, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for putting your faith and belief in me and my incredible team at Wrongly Accused.’
The applause seemed to last a long time.
‘There are some people who would never speak to me again if I didn’t thank them.
Mr Inglethorpe. I’m sorry, but no matter how many times you tell me to, I can’t call you Cedric.
You’ll always be Mr Inglethorpe to me. I remember when you and Mr Bryce first interviewed me.
You asked me where I’d like to be in five years’ time.
I said, “I want to be sat where you’re sat.
” You asked me if I wanted your job. I said, “No, your seat looks more comfortable than mine.” I was so nervous and didn’t mean to sound flippant.
I don’t know where that remark came from, but it broke the ice and all three of us got on famously well from that day onwards.
I’m sad Mr Bryce cannot be with us today.
I think about him regularly, but he and Mr Inglethorpe were right behind me when I said I wanted to set up Wrongly Accused.
They are as much a part of this as I am.
I’m proud to welcome Celia Bryce, Mr Bryce’s wife, and his daughter Francesca, here today, and I’m even happier to announce that Francesca will be joining Wrongly Accused in the new year. ’
Another round of applause. Jennifer beckoned for Francesca to stand up. She reluctantly did, offering an embarrassed bow to the room.
‘There’s a saying,’ Jennifer continued. ‘Behind every successful woman, there’s a man.
’ She paused as the laughter echoed around the room.
She looked down at Malcolm and grinned. ‘I’m joking, of course.
My husband has been a stalwart of my life for over twenty years.
He has supported me on every step of my professional journey.
When Malcolm became Home Secretary, a position he has held to the highest standard, people said our marriage wouldn’t work because we were both such ambitious, determined, and strong-minded people.
’ She paused. ‘They were wrong. We proved them wrong. Why can’t two professionals at the top of their fields have it all?
We made it work because we wanted to. And as two become four’—she cradled her stomach again—‘we are stronger than ever. So, two fingers to the doubters.
‘I’m going to close this speech now as my feet are swollen and killing me.
However, I have one more group of people I’d like to thank, and they are the people who started all this.
The moment I met Anthony Winstanley, I knew in my heart that he was innocent.
I never wavered. Neither did his mother, Pauline, or his stepfather, Leo.
In the ten years Anthony spent in prison, there were some incredibly dark times, but one thing never altered, and that was my determination that Anthony was innocent and that one day he would be released from prison. ’
There was movement at the top of the room. Jennifer looked up and saw Freya Sloan enter the room. She smiled.
‘Anthony started all this. Without him, I honestly dread to think what would have happened to all of you here in this room. I know he will hate me for this, but I want you all to give a huge round of applause to Anthony Winstanley.’
The applause was loud and raucous, some even cheered. Jennifer looked down and saw Anthony with a beaming smile on his face and tears in his eyes. Pauline was crying. Leo stood up and was clapping the hardest.
‘Now,’ Jennifer said, choking back the tears. ‘That’s enough talk. There’s food to be eaten and champagne to be drunk. So, enjoy yourselves.’
A final round of applause and Malcolm jumped out of his seat to help Jennifer down from the stage.
‘I’m sweating right through this dress,’ she said to him.
‘You did so well,’ he said, kissing her on the cheek. ‘Better than any speech I’ve given in the House of Commons. I’m so proud of you.’
‘Thank you.’ She twinged and held her stomach.
‘Kick?’
‘I think they’re playing leapfrog in there.’
‘Come on, let’s sit you down. You can have something to eat and take your shoes off.’
‘Good. I’m bloody starving.’
She was about to sit down when she saw Freya approach the table.
‘Freya! I’m so pleased you could come,’ she said. ‘You’ve just missed my speech. Would you like me to give it again?’ She smiled.
Chris stood up to welcome his wife, but she ignored him.
‘Jennifer, I’m sorry, but I really need to talk to you.’
‘Now?’
‘Yes.’
‘We’re about to eat.’
‘I’m really sorry, Jennifer. This can’t wait.’
Jennifer took in Freya’s pained expression. ‘It’s serious, isn’t it?’
‘Yes.’
‘What’s going on?’ Chris asked.
Freya looked at the whole table, then back at Jennifer. ‘Is there somewhere quiet we can all go?’
‘All of us?’
She nodded.