The future is ours. Let’s save it together. The words appeared on the screen of Tom’s tablet the moment he switched it on. Beneath them, in smaller print, was the standard instruction to stay inside, and—naturally—the hashtag, #TeamUK. It was the same message every morning and every night. He swiped it away, opened his contacts, … Continue reading Chapter One →

When the lockdown began and the courts closed, arrangements were made for bail and sentencing hearings to be held via video. Trials, though, were immediately stopped. It wasn’t until Contaxx was launched, three months later, that it was deemed safe for courts to reopen and for trials to resume. And so with the backlog of … Continue reading Chapter Two →

There were two of them. They were standing on the pavement by the court’s gated entrance, wearing camouflage fatigues, blue rubber gloves, and white facemasks. They had guns slung over their shoulders and one of them—the tallest—seemed to be speaking into his radio. As Tom approached, the shorter one stepped forward and held out a … Continue reading Chapter Three →

A small door behind the judge’s Bench creaked open and Denham’s head poked out. ‘All rise!’ he called, before striding in and ascending the steps to his seat. He had a slim, handsome face, with a pair of horn-rimmed glasses perched upon a Roman nose. He sat down, switched on his laptop, and adjusted his … Continue reading Chapter Four →

Sergeant Copley stood in the witness box with his back straight and his hands clasping the ledge. He was bald and in full uniform, with his medical mask pulled down so that it cupped his ginger beard. ‘Good morning, Sergeant Copley,’ Tom began. ‘I’ll be asking you some questions on behalf of the Crown, after … Continue reading Chapter Five →

Anna was on her feet the moment Tom sat down. She always seems taller in court, he thought. With her shoulders back and her head up, she looks commanding, graceful—regal, that’s the word. ‘Your Honour,’ Anna began, ‘I wondered whether we might have a short break, so that I can contact Wormwood Scrubs and ensure … Continue reading Chapter Six →

He doesn’t seem to have logged on,’ Denham complained, glancing from his laptop to the court’s screens and back. ‘Perhaps I could email him, Your Honour,’ Tom said. ‘I’ve got his details. He may have—,’ he stopped himself. He couldn’t say ‘forgotten’. ‘Let’s just give him another minute,’ Denham replied. ‘Maybe we’re early.’ He swiveled … Continue reading Chapter Seven →

With all of the cafés in the area closed, Tom spent the lunch break sitting in an empty playground behind the Crown Court. He figured that, as long as he kept the main building in view, he’d be able to justify his presence to anyone he met. He had hoped to use the time to … Continue reading Chapter Eight →

It was four p.m. by the time Blake had finished his evidence, so Denham adjourned until the following morning. That gave Tom the entire evening to write his closing speech. As he left the courtroom, he was still livid that he’d gifted Blake a point in their duel, but he figured that a well-crafted speech … Continue reading Chapter Nine →

The morning sun streaked into the room once again, the dust glinting in its wake. Tom was sitting alone in court, waiting for the trial to resume, when Anna rushed in. ‘Thank God,’ she said as she collapsed into her seat. ‘I thought we might’ve started.’ She leaned back, closed her eyes, and steadied her … Continue reading Chapter Ten →