Dead in the Water

trial.” He turned to the reporter. “Write down that the defense will be represented by Sir Leslie Hewitt and Mr. Stone Barrington.”
    Sir Leslie leaned over and whispered out of the corner of his mouth, “Put on the wig.”
    “What?” Stone whispered back.
    “Put on the bloody wig!”
    Stone put the wig on and stood there, feeling extremely foolish.
    The judge smiled broadly. “Very becoming, Mr. Barrington. I’m sure you will do the St. Marks bar proud. You may be seated.”
    Stone sat down, but Sir Leslie remained standing. “Your Lordship,” he said, “the defense requests bail for the defendant to extend through the trial.”
    “Well,” the judge replied, “in a capital case, the bailwould have to be substantial. Is the defendant possessed of a substantial sum of cash?”
    “Your Lordship, the defendant owns a large yacht moored in English Harbour, which I am assured is valued at in excess of one and one-half million dollars in U.S. currency. I request that the yacht secure her bail, and that she be allowed to live aboard the vessel until these proceedings are concluded.”
    The judge turned to the prosecution. “Sir Winston?”
    “I have no objection, Your Lordship, as long as the defendant has a clear understanding of the terms of her bail.”
    “Quite right, Sir Winston,” the judge replied. He turned to Allison, sitting in the dock. “Mrs. Manning, in St. Marks, bail is more than security, it is a sacred obligation. In order for me to grant bail, you must agree not to leave this island, and you should know that if you should do so, you would not only forfeit bail—in this case, your yacht—but under St. Marks law your departure would be tantamount to a plea of guilty to the charge, and you would stand convicted of murder.”
    Holy shit, Stone thought.
    “Do you understand the terms of your bail?”
    Allison stood. “I do, Your Lordship.”
    “Very well, bail is granted, and the yacht will be secured to the dock.” He looked down at his calendar. “Trial is set for Monday next, at 10:00 A.M. ”
    Stone’s jaw dropped. “Your Lordship,” he managed to say, “that gives us only six days to prepare for trial.”
    “Quite right, Mr. Barrington,” the judge replied. “Any problem with that?”
    Sir Leslie spoke up. “The defense is satisfied with the trial date, Your Lordship,” he said.
    “But we have to get a barrister in here from London to conduct the defense,” Stone said. “If it pleases the court.”
    “Mr. Barrington,” the judge said, as if speaking to a backward child, “it is already in the record that the defense will be conducted by Sir Leslie, with your assistance. The record cannot be changed.” He stood.
    “All rise,” the bailiff called out.
    The judge turned and left the courtroom.
    Stone turned to Sir Leslie. “Leslie, what the hell is he talking about?”
    “What?” Sir Leslie replied, packing his wig into his case and removing Stone’s.
    “I thought you understood that we have a barrister coming from London.”
    “What?” Sir Leslie asked.
    “Leslie, you cannot conduct this trial; you said so yourself.”
    Sir Leslie turned on him. “To whom do you think you are speaking, sir? I have conducted the defense at five hundred and eighty-three trials in this court! This one will be five hundred and eighty-four! I will discuss my fee with you later.” He wheeled and walked out of the courtroom, carrying his robe and his wig.
    Stone turned and looked for the first time at Thomas Hardy in the front row.
    Thomas sat with his head in his hands, making a moaning sound.
    Allison came down from the dock. “All ready to go?” she asked cheerfully.

Chapter
10
    T homas drove while Stone sat beside him and Allison took the backseat. For all of Stone’s life, extreme worry had caused him to become sleepy, and right now he was having a very hard time staying awake.
    “God, but I’m glad to be out of that place,” Allison said.
    “Were you treated all right?” Thomas asked.
    “Well, yes, and contrary to what I’ve heard about jail, the food was pretty good. I had a cell to myself, and except for the open toilet, it wasn’t bad.”
    “I’m glad to hear it,” Thomas replied.
    “I had some absolutely fascinating conversations with the woman in the next cell, too; she was in for shoplifting, and it wasn’t her first time, so she knew the drill. Stone, I can’t thank you enough for getting me out of there.”
    Stone stirred from his lassitude.