Our Kind of Cruelty(81)

‘A nervous breakdown?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Did you take anti-depressants for a year after leaving university?’

V looked round the court and a sound like a laugh escaped from her. ‘Are you serious? Half the country is on anti-depressants. It doesn’t mean anything.’

Xander opened his eyes as wide as they would go and looked at the jury. ‘So by your estimation six of these good people are currently taking anti-depressants. Perhaps you wouldn’t mind raising your hand if you are.’ They all stayed still; a couple even looked quite upset.

He shook his head at V. ‘Mrs Metcalf, I have to say, the part of this whole story that I’m finding hardest to get my head round is how you were found by the police in the arms of Mr Hayes, whilst your husband lay dying on the floor.’

V gasped. ‘Oh God, I’ve explained that.’

‘You’ve said you don’t know how it happened,’ Xander said. ‘But that seems unlikely when you remember everything else so well.’

‘But I don’t remember clearly,’ V said, her voice pleading.

‘Perhaps it happened because you and Mr Hayes are in love, as he says? Perhaps you were comforting each other because you were both shocked and upset that your game-playing had ended in this tragic way?’

‘No,’ V said, but her voice sounded as thin as water.

And that is one of the major flaws in V’s plan: nothing she said on the stand today really added up. What I am starting to understand is that quite apart from the fact that we can’t be separated, we also must remain true to who we are. We must make sense and nothing makes sense if one of us denies our love.

‘Why did you call Mr Hayes to warn him your husband was on his way round to Mr Hayes’s house on the night of the murder?’ Xander said and it all felt relentless.

‘I wasn’t warning Mike. I was trying to protect Angus.’

‘But if that was true why on earth didn’t you call the police?’

‘I don’t know. I didn’t think of it.’

‘You didn’t think of it.’ Xander sounded exasperated. ‘Mrs Metcalf, we all heard your message. You sounded deeply distressed. Do you really expect us to believe that you didn’t consider calling the police?’

‘Yes, because it’s the truth.’

‘Or perhaps you were scared to because you realised that your game had gone a bit too far? Perhaps you were worried someone was going to get hurt and you knew you would be implicated?’

V stifled a cry. ‘No, not at all. I was only worried about Angus at that moment.’

‘Would you say you’re good at ending relationships, Mrs Metcalf?’ Xander asked, turning back to V.

The question was obviously not what V had been expecting. ‘I don’t know. Who is?’

‘You like to use others, don’t you? Like with Mr Sage and Mr Hayes.’

‘God, I was a teenager with Gordon and I’ve explained the situation with Mike.’

‘Would you say you’re good at your job?’

V looked surprised again. ‘Yes.’

‘I believe you’re one of the youngest people ever to be taken on by the Calthorpe Centre, in a scientific role. Remind us what you’re working on again.’

‘I’m part of a team which is working on the idea of artificial intelligence.’

‘So, replacing humans with robots?’

‘That’s a very simplistic way of putting it and no, of course we’re not trying to do that. If anything we’re trying to help humans with the programmes we hope to create.’

Xander raised his eyebrows and turned to the jury. ‘You must have been very single-minded to have climbed to the top. Very focused. Worked very hard.’

‘Yes, I have.’

Petra stood again. ‘My lord, are we now trying Mrs Metcalf for being a woman with a good job?’

The judge looked over at Petra again, his lips pursed. ‘I am sure that is not what my honourable colleague is implying, is it, Mr Jackson?’

Xander laughed lightly. ‘Of course not, my lord. I am just trying to establish if Mrs Metcalf is the sort of person to become easily confused, or to not see logical ways out of situations.’

‘I’m good at my job, yes,’ V answered, her voice thin.

Xander tapped the rolled-up paper he was holding against his leg. ‘I don’t suppose that either you or Mr Hayes wanted Mr Metcalf dead.’ He looked at the jury. ‘I think we all can see that neither he nor you are hardened murderers. But I think it is fair to say you are a woman who enjoys game-playing and sex.’ He let the word hang in the air. ‘You are clearly clever and adept at problem-solving. And I think you are good at getting other people to do your dirty work for you. So, when you found yourself attracted once again to Mr Hayes, you started looking for his help to get out of your marriage.’

‘No. That is completely not true.’ I could tell V would be crying again in a minute.

‘Come on,’ Xander said. ‘It would have been very embarrassing to end that marriage only a couple of months after such a lavish wedding.’

‘But I didn’t want to end the marriage.’

‘And there is an obvious connection between you and Mr Hayes. Christ, we can all feel it right here, right now. It’s like electricity passing between you.’ Xander moved his hand as he spoke and I felt the jury looking between us, so they must have seen the shimmering, neon string attached to both our hearts. ‘And it’s hardly surprising. You’re both very good-looking, intelligent people who have this secret sex game you’ve played together for years, who’ve flirted with the idea of orgies and homosexuality. It’s hardly a leap of the imagination to see what’s happened here.’