Beyond Innocence by Barrie Turner

Bridget nodded in reply leaving the detective free to continue,
    “We’ve charged this man with killing your friend and we also know that he stole her watch after he had killed her. Obviously, we are unable to find out whether or not Angela had arranged to meet this man or whether she had been with somebody else first but we do know that we will have a better chance of proving him guilty if somebody would come forward to say that they saw Angela wearing this watch.” He carefully pulled it out of the handkerchief where it lay concealed in his pocket in order that she could look at it again. “Take a good look,” he urged quietly, whilst holding it just out of the view of the public beneath the table. “Now, you know as well as I do that the fellow who gave this to your mate Angela isn’t going to come along to us and say, hang on a minute, that watch you showed on the box the other week, I gave it to Angela Clarkson because, in all probability, the man is married with a couple of kids and he’s got to think of them, hasn’t he? Again, Bridget nodded in reply and took another long pull at her drink. As she put down her glass, he continued, “So we need someone like you to come along to the nick and make a simple statement that you saw her, Angela, wearing that same watch some time before this fellow Thompson strangled her with her own tights. Now, Bridget, listen to me I swear to you that’s all there is to it.”
    He could see her mulling it over in her mind, and, in order not to appear too anxious, he got up, saying as he did, “so have a good think about it whilst I go and get them in again. Same again for you?” Another nod of the head signalled affirmative and he began to fight his way to the bar thinking, ‘Christ, she doesn’t say a great deal. I wonder if she is this quiet with all of her punters?’ He’d caught the eye of the barman and the drinks were now on the bar counter. Picking up the glasses, he made his way back to the table, whispering softly to himself, ‘easy, easy innit?’ Once seated he began again, “Bridget, you do understand don’t you that if this fellow gets off or we let him go, he’ll probably kill again so, in a way, we aren’t just doing your friend Angie a favour but the public as well?” Instead of nodding Bridget spoke this time, “are you really sure that it is Angie’s watch and, how do I know that this is all you want? I mean I won’t have to give evidence will I?”
    This time Jim took a long drink before replying, “Bridget, we’re absolutely certain that the watch was given to Angela by her last client and that this person has been completely exonerated from our enquiries. As regards giving evidence, I can’t guarantee it but I’ll certainly do my very best he lied.” He saw the effect this was beginning to have on her and quickly added, “Hang on a minute we’ll only use it if we have to,” he lied again, “after all, we think it’s very likely that he’ll confess before the actual trial and then you’ll hardly be needed.” As an afterthought, he added, “don’t forget you’re not doing this for me but for Angela… plus, at the same time, you must also remember that you owe me one for last night.”
    Seeing the predicament she was in, Bridget finally agreed to make the statement Jim West so desperately needed before adding, “Bollocks Westy, if I do this, by my reckoning we’re even now and if this Thompson fellow confesses, then you keep me out of it. Agreed?”
    Once again Jim West tried hard not to smile as he lied glibly, “That’s a deal. All you need to do is call in the nick later tonight. Just ask for Detective Inspector Peter Taylor and let him handle things. At this stage you’d better not mention that you’ve spoken to me about this at all.”
    After another affirmative nod from Bridget, the Sergeant began to make his way out of the rapidly emptying bar whispering “easy easy innit.” In his mind, he had already formulated