The Fourth Enemy (Daniel Pitt Mystery 6) by Anne Perry

Author:Anne Perry [Perry, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

The court adjourned for lunch. Daniel ate with Hunter at the nearest decent public house. Hunter mostly pushed his food around the plate. Daniel himself did not feel in the least bit hungry, but it was easier to eat than to try to think of something useful to say. Encouragement would seem both artificial and patronising, and he had no useful advice to give, no recommendations of how things should now be handled. Hunter was certainly aware of all the pitfalls. The last thing Daniel wanted was to make him more tense than he already was.

They returned to the courtroom and Hunter called for his next witness, Peter Rollins. He was Vayne’s personnel manager, but also the man who seemed to know where every donation came from and how it was used. There was more information to be drawn from him, and Daniel thought it was far easier to do it because it concerned people rather than specific facts about places, buildings, amounts of money. Rollins knew who contributed what, how loans were secured, how and what had been repaid, and what was still outstanding.

Rollins swore the oath to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. In response to Hunter’s questions, he made it clear that Vayne had made both good investments and bad, but he always appeared to have come out on top. That was, assuming the figures were correct, and everything he owned was worth what he had found someone to value it at. Rollins thought these valuations were questionable, but any second opinion would have had to come from someone who specialised in determining the value of property.

Rollins proved to be a more interesting man, even if it was largely because his testimony was about people. He had a mild, pleasant face, a quick smile and an easy manner. Daniel could tell at a glance that it was very difficult to make him lose his temper or his composure.

Hunter asked him some opening questions, perhaps unnecessarily.

Dalmeny rose twice to object, and both times Daniel was sure it was because he saw the interest on the jurors’ faces. During the second objection, he stopped arguing and said, ‘I’m sorry, My Lord. Perhaps I was hasty. I’m sure my learned friend for the prosecution will reach his point, if I allow him a while longer.’

Mr Justice Abbott-Smith looked at him. ‘If you interrupt him enough, Mr Dalmeny, he may forget all about it and we can proceed with the case.’ He turned to Hunter. ‘Do you recall what it was you were going to ask Mr Rollins?’

‘Yes, My Lord, I do. But in case the jury has lost the thread, I shall take Your Lordship’s advice and repeat it.’ He swung around to face the jury.

The judge drew in a sharp breath, but it was Hunter who spoke.

‘His Lordship has kindly allowed me to remind you what we were discussing,’ he said to Rollins. ‘I believe you were describing the staff you have vetted and employed to work for Mr Vayne in his various enterprises.

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