Chapter 21
Twenty-One
The following Monday, Newt sat shaking as his lawyer argued on his behalf in Maidstone Crown Court.
The submission of a statement by Harry Gardner had come as a surprise, and Newt wondered if River had anything to do with that.
Phelan’s statement was also considered but Newt understood that nothing would be settled about that today.
There was a statement from River as well.
Newt was disappointed River didn’t remember what had happened, but he’d been unconscious.
But at least he’d been able to say what had occurred up to the point that he’d been shot.
And he’d sung Newt’s praises, said how great he was: trustworthy, reliable, kind…
He’d even said that Newt had rescued him from drowning when he’d slipped into the river, and rescued him again from the man with the knife at the premiere.
Except now Newt worried that River’s words might make him look too desperate.
As obsessed about saving River, as Barney had been obsessed about Harry.
The Crown Prosecution Service lawyer picked up on that.
He was a tall, thin guy with a goatee who looked younger than Newt.
He made out that Newt was a danger to the public and asked that he be returned to prison while a thorough investigation was carried out.
The thought of it made Newt shake. But he had a tiger on his side called Dominique.
The judge listened to all the arguments, then left the bench to consider what to do and Newt had to go back into a locked room in the basement.
At least they gave him something to eat and drink.
His few possessions—the sea glass hearts, his phone, wallet and the cheque given to him by Tim Bailey had come with him to court in case he was released.
It made his heart hurt to think that going back to prison was a possibility.
He hated having to come to court in prison grey but he had no access to his clothes.
There was nothing he could do now but wait for the judge to make up his mind.
When they went back into court, Newt was so nervous, he regretted eating the sandwich. His stomach churned and he sat on his hands so he couldn’t see them shaking. Newt stared at the judge. Please, please, please…
“I remind you that this is not a trial, not a time to decide on innocence or guilt. My primary concern is whether you are a danger to the public. What happened in Mr Lawson’s house will need to be fully investigated by the police.
It’s possible the Crown Prosecution Service may decide to charge you with an offence and a trial will take place to determine the lawfulness of your actions.
Self-defence is a recognisable defence to murder, but it must be proven in court. ”
Except Newt had leapt at Barney not because the gun was pointed at him, but at River. Did that count?
“However, I’m not inclined to order you back to prison.
I don’t accept you’re a danger to the public.
Until the matter of your appeal is settled, and until the CPS decide whether you should stand trial, you should be free to continue your life.
In the meantime, you must continue to abide by the licence conditions of your release. The police will retain your passport.”
It took a moment for Newt to get his head around what had been said. It was only when Dominique urged him to his feet as the judge left the courtroom that he took in what had happened.
“I can go?” he whispered.
“Yes. You’re free to leave. I’ll work on the appeal against conviction and make the application to court.
One thing that struck me, they seized your brother’s clothes from the floor of your bedroom, but did anyone check they’d actually fit you?
Was there a difference in size between you and your brother? ”
“Yes. He was 6-3 and I’m 5-10. He was big and muscular. I’ve always been skinny.”
“They might claim you wore his clothes, but they would have dwarfed and impeded your ability to do the job and nothing was said about that in the man’s statement.
Of course, he’s no longer around to question but it’s something he would have noticed.
As for this shooting, I doubt the CPS will want to pursue it.
The assailant brought the gun to the house with intent.
He fired it first and hit River. You were fighting for your life.
But I’ll start to prepare a defence, just in case. ”
One of the guards handed over a plastic bag with Newt’s phone, wallet, cheque and the sea glass.
“Do you have somewhere to stay?” Dominique asked.
“I can find somewhere.”
“Let me know when you have an address. You need to speak to your probation officer too. Let’s exchange numbers. I’ll be in touch if there’s news. Try not to worry too much.”
Newt held out his hand for her to shake. “Thank you.”
“Tread carefully.”
“I’ll do my best.”
She walked away and Newt slipped the glass hearts into his pocket. His phone had hardly any power. His charger was back at River’s place. That was the first thing he needed to buy before the shops shut.
As he stepped outside, he shuddered. Maybe a coat should be his first purchase.
It’s freezing. He stuck his hands in his pockets and walked along the side of the river towards the town.
He’d intended to follow the signpost to the town centre, but he’d spotted there was a Premier Inn just a little further along on this side.
Newt paid for a room, didn’t bother going up to look at it, just pocketed the key and headed for TK Maxx, which according to the receptionist, was a hundred or so metres away.
He bought all the clothes he needed there apart from shoes.
They didn’t have his size in a dark pair.
He didn’t want to turn up for Phelan’s funeral in white trainers.
Newt managed to get a phone charger there too.
Once he’d paid, he asked the shop assistant to cut the tags off everything and he went back to the changing room.
He felt so much better in his own clothes, especially the navy peacoat, hat and gloves.
He put the hearts into his pocket along with the wallet and dumped the prison gear in the bin outside the shop.
He really didn’t need to keep it this time.
Newt walked back the way he’d come, crossed the bridge and headed up the hill into the town.
He almost walked past a branch of his bank, but then thought he might as well pay in Phelan’s cheque and went inside.
He was glad he had because he’d assumed he’d be able to pay it in via the app, but the cashier told him it was too large.
Then he carried on shopping. Along with dark shoes, he needed a razor, toothbrush, toothpaste and a hairbrush.
And something to eat. Once he’d done shopping, he looked for a café and chose a seat near a wall socket so he could plug in his phone.
After he’d put an order in for a Cornish pasty, baked potato and peas, he called River to give him the good news, only to remember as the phone went to voicemail, that Barney had stamped on it.
Though wouldn’t Max have got him a new one?
He left River a message saying I’m okay. Are you? Call me.
Then he phoned Max. Max’s went straight to messaging too. He’d try again when he was in the hotel.
While he was waiting for his food, he went onto the banking app, wondering if the cheque had cleared yet—it hadn’t—but when he looked at his balance, his jaw dropped. Max had paid him fifty thousand pounds. What the hell?
Newt knew a payoff when he saw one, except the other person usually had to agree to it.
Max wanted him gone from River’s life. Newt felt confident River wouldn’t want that but…
Why wasn’t he answering his phone? He’d been well enough to make that statement to the police but had something happened since?
He looked up transferring money back because he didn’t want the money from Max but he couldn’t do it online.
He called customer services, made up a story about a mistaken transfer and asked the bank to return it.
Newt had got the message, now Max would get his—in a couple of days at the most—according to the bank.
Newt was annoyed he’d not be able to make the point immediately.
But what annoyed him more was that Max was deliberately keeping him away from River.
If Max wasn’t going to answer his phone, he’d leave him a message but he wanted to think about what to say.
It was Phelan’s funeral the next day and he bought a train ticket from Maidstone to the nearest station to Stenton crematorium. He’d have to change trains in London. Then his food arrived and he concentrated on that. He was feeling a little overcome. Just deal with one thing at a time.
On the way back to the hotel, he passed the Odeon cinema and Medway Boys was one of the films showing.
The next screening was in fifteen minutes.
He couldn’t resist. Newt treated himself to a bag of Maltesers and sat towards the front of the auditorium, which was almost full.
Once he had his phone on vibrate, because he didn’t want to miss a call from River, he settled down to watch the film.
By the time the credits rolled at the end, Newt was stunned.
The story was heartbreaking, yet at the same time inspiring and uplifting.
It was about two Kent boys in their late teens.
One boy seemed to have everything: a father with a good job, a caring mother, a cute sister, a big house…
The other had a brutal father, an alcoholic mother, and a young sister to protect.
That was River’s role. Two boys, who shouldn’t have been friends, but were.
Two boys and one horrible crime with devastating consequences.