The Inheritance by Anna Legat

Author:Anna Legat [Legat, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

The street was packed with protesters. They had come to support Conrad Hardy who was to appear before the magistrate to declare his innocence. Placards demanding Hardy’s release, alleging a police stitch-up and more or less declaring the man’s sainthood were being shaken and flung in the faces of passers-by. They were accompanied by the chants of What do we want? – To free Hardy! and When do we want it? – Now! Eco-warriors had arrived in force waving their flags. Earthink’s daisy wheel and Extinction Rebellion’s circled hourglass banners were branded, side by side, in solidarity with the accused. If only Hardy could see them…

Ray parked his car by the cricket pavilion car park (being a paying member, he held a parking permit) and pushed his way through the crowd. He kept his head low. For many different reasons he did not appreciate public exposure. Unfortunately, this case was already attracting plenty of that.

He was recognised by the security guard, who helped him through the mob and held protesters back as they attempted to sneak inside the court building behind Ray. He went through the metal detector and was escorted to a private room where he would have a chance to confer with Hardy prior to his client’s appearance before the magistrate.

Physically, Hardy was half the man he had been when Ray had first set eyes on him just a few weeks ago. Then, he had been slim; now he was a walking skeleton. He had gone on hunger strike after being arrested and stuck to it resolutely. At least, he was taking water.

On an emotional level, the man was a wreck, and he had every right to be. The charges against him had been upgraded. Ray had expected it as soon as he discovered that the CPS Special Crime and Counterterrorism Division had taken over the case. It meant one thing: Conrad Hardy would be charged under terrorism legislation. The actions at Klopp Pharmaceuticals involved explosions and that was enough for the SCCTD to cite terrorism without having to show that those actions were designed to influence the government or intimidate the public. If Hardy was convicted under the Terrorism Act, he would not qualify to be automatically released at the halfway point of his sentence. He was looking at spending the rest of his life behind bars. And he knew that. Ray had explained it to him.

‘Mr Hardy,’ Ray greeted him.

‘Mr Thorpe,’ Hardy gazed at him with sunken eyes.

‘I’ve a message from Bianca and Ben. They’re very worried about you, especially about the hunger strike. They asked me to beg you to stop.’

‘I can’t eat,’ Hardy said. ‘Food doesn’t go through my throat. And besides, this is the only way I can make a statement of my innocence.’

‘You have already made it. There’s a crowd of supporters outside, shouting your innocence from the rooftops. Starving yourself won’t take this any further.’

‘What have I got left?’

‘Stay fit and focussed. We’ll have to start working on your defence. We need you fully engaged.

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