Page 125 of The Dead Ex

We compromise with a coffee shop round the corner, agreeing that I’ll go straight there afterwards.

As I ease myself into the front row of the public gallery – I’m gettingbig now – part of me wishes I hadn’t come back to the court today. This place sends shivers through me. How many daughters have sat here and watched a parent being sent down? Or even their own kids. In fact, that could have beenmein the dock.

My mind goes back to the time when I’d got caught shoplifting with the kids from the Walters’ house. Then I have a sudden flash of white hands and heavyfootsteps coming into my room. Desperately, I stuff my knuckles into my mouth to stop myself from vomiting.

Then the court begins to ripple. Here she comes! Vicki Goudman! Led in by a burly prison officer. You’d never think from her bowed head and lank hair that this was the bully who had made Mum’s life hell. At last, with any luck, she’s going to get what she deserves.

The guv has given herevidence and is now being cross-examined by the prosecuting barrister. ‘Mrs Goudman,’ she says. ‘Could you describe your relationship with Tanya Goudman?’

‘She married my ex-husband.’

‘We are aware of that. Did you like her?’

‘Would any woman like someone who broke up her marriage?’

There’s a ripple of laughter through the court.

‘So you hated her, then?’

‘I didn’t say that.’

‘Whatwouldyou like to say about the deceased?’

‘She wanted David. I realized that from early on. But I was foolish enough to trust him.’

Her barrister doesn’t look happy. I wonder if Vicki Goudman is enjoying this. It’s her moment for revenge. The women jurors’ faces indicate she’s not the only one who’s been cheated on. Still, she deserved it. Didn’t she?

‘From your statement, you admit to going intothe deceased’s house on the day she was murdered.’

‘Yes.’

‘Louder, please.’

‘Yes.’

‘Why?’

‘I wanted to see if Tanya knew where David was.’

‘Did she?’

‘She said not.’

‘Did you attack her then?’

‘No! She attacked me.’

‘Did you defend yourself?’

‘Yes. But I didn’t kill her.’

‘How do you know?’

‘Because she was alive – and shouting at me – when I left her.’

‘I see. You’ve had previousexperiences of being attacked, haven’t you?’ The barrister makes a play of examining her notes. ‘I believe you were assaulted in prison by an inmate when you were a governor.’

Why are they bringing that up?