Page 19 of Lessons in Life

‘Not necessarily.’ Fabian’s voice was gentle. ‘The thing is, Sorrel, from what Robyn’s told me about Joel, he was already on a court order because he’d been caught pushing drugs previously.’

‘Only because that lot he’s with made him,’ Sorrel snapped. ‘His dad’s in prison and they’ve told Joel if he doesn’t do as they say, his dad will be hurt in there and then they’ll come after his mum and his little sister. She’s only thirteen.’

‘Was he found with drugs on him again?’ Fabian asked pointedly. ‘When he’s already on what appears an intense court order for the same offence? Presumably, when the police found him after the knife attack, he had drugs on him? A burner phone? A lot of money on him?’

Sorrel shrugged, but didn’t take her eyes from Fabian.

‘You’re to have nothing more to do with this boy, Sorrel,’ Jayden interrupted crossly. ‘Just get yourself off to London to the Susan Yates audition and don’t get involved. Move on. I don’t want you having any contact with him from now on. D’you hear?’

‘So where do you get your stuff from?’ Sorrel rounded on Jayden, her eyes blazing. ‘For every young drug pusher, there’s someone like you buying the stuff. Supply and demand, Jayden? And don’t come the heavy father with me at this late stage. It’s amazing we three have turned out so well, considering who our father is.’

‘Sorrel!’ Mum warned but, whereas in the past she would have defended Jayden to the hilt, she merely raised an eye in his direction and said nothing more.

‘A bit of weed every now and again.’ Jayden had the grace to look embarrassed. ‘Medicinal.Neverany hard stuff,’ he protested.

Ignoring him, Sorrel turned back to Fabian. ‘So, what does remand mean for a sixteen-year-old?’

‘Not necessarily prison.’ Fabian smiled. ‘At worst he could be remanded to a youth detention centre – round here, usually somewhere like Wetherby. But it’s quite possible he’ll be remanded to the local authority.’

‘What does that mean?’ Jayden and I spoke as one.

‘Well, the principle is that everyone is entitled to bail, but sometimes it’s just too risky to allow bail. You know, a youth like Joel could continue to offend. But the main reason I would imagine he’s been refused bail is for his own protection. If he’s being manipulated and coerced by this gang that he’s found himself in?—’

‘I’m sorry,’ Jayden interrupted, ‘no one just finds themselves in a drug gang. He must have sought out these people.’

‘Oh, you knownothing.’ Sorrel almost spat the words. ‘They foundhim, Jayden. Through his dad.’

‘So,’ Fabian continued, ‘a child, like Joel?—’

‘He’s not a child,’ Sorrel protested hotly.

‘He’s classed as a child until he’s eighteen,’ Fabian went on calmly. ‘And the courts might be persuaded by his advocate that he can be remanded into the care of the local authority, usually with strict conditions such as a curfew monitored by an electronic tag.’

‘So—’ Sorrel grabbed at Fabian’s hand ‘—will you do it? Will you be Joel’s solicitor when he has to go to court?’

‘Sorrel, no.’ I shook my head. ‘No, absolutely not. Fabian’s a barrister.’

‘Well, I can still be employed as someone’s defence advocate,’ Fabian said. ‘I would imagine Joel’s case will eventually be listed in Crown court rather than the local magistrates’ court in Midhope. Leeds or Bradford Crown Court?’

‘Surely, as a barrister, you have to be appointed to represent someone by a defendant’s solicitor?’ Mum spoke quietly but everyone turned towards her. ‘I mean, someone on the street can’t just get in touch with you directly, can they, Fabian? Most people don’t have a barrister unless they’ve done something really serious like murder, and their case is ending up in the Crown court.’

‘Mum, what doyouknow about it?’ Sorrel tutted impatiently in her direction.

‘I read a lot,’ Mum said, matter-of-factly. ‘When you’re bed-bound, as I often have been, reading is a way of taking yourself to another time and place. I like reading about police procedures.’

Lola eyed up the last of the hors d’oeuvres hopefully while Mum asked, ‘Does Joel have a solicitor, Sorrel?’

Sorrel nodded. ‘But Joel’s not convinced they’ve had a great deal of experience with cases like his. I suppose you get what you’re given when you’re on legal aid.’

‘I bet you can charge an absolute fortune, Fabian, can’t you?’ Lola nodded through a mouthful of savoury shortbread. ‘Mum says you’re really rich. You know, with your fabulous apartment near where the king lives? Mum says the Soho Slasher would have paid you an absolute fortune to get him off… Mum says?—’

‘Lola!’ Jess’s voice cracked like a pistol shot, making us all jump. She’d made her way into the sitting room and was standing just inside the doorway, taking in the whole conversation. ‘Excuse me, Lola! I thought you were grown up enough for me to discuss some things with?—’

‘Gossip with,I’dsay,’ I snapped, embarrassed on Fabian’s behalf.

‘Food’s ready.’ Jess, obviously equally embarrassed at being called out for dishing the dirt about Fabian, glared at Lola. ‘Come on, come and eat. I’ve made soup to start.’

‘Hope it’s Heinz tomato?’ Lola said, unperturbed by her mother’s censure.

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