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Joshua’s eyes hold his. “Yes,” he murmurs.
“Are you aware that I am the only person who can get you off this charge, and what I say goes?”
“I didn’t do it,” Joshua snaps.
“I don’t give a flying fuck if you did?” Vin sneers in reply. “I don’t lose cases and I don’t play nice. I will degrade everyone in your circle if it makes you an innocent man and if you have a problem with that I will go now.”
Joshua glares at Vincenzo and I feel my uncomfortable gauge hit ten. Oh shit, this guy is full on.
“Fine,” Joshua snaps, annoyed.
He starts to flick through his pad and notes he has made. “I read on a statement from Natasha’s mother that Natasha kept a diary.” His eyes rise up to Joshua. “But there has been no mention of them. Where are those diaries now?” he asks.
I frown. Oh shit, I forgot Tash kept a diary. My eyes flick to Joshua in question.
Joshua runs his tongue over his top teeth in contempt. “I don’t know anything about diaries,” he replies.
I frown. What?
Vin’s eyes hold Joshua’s. “You need to work on your lying skills—you’re atrocious. You lie very poorly,” he says dryly.
Joshua sits back in his seat annoyed. “Listen if you are going to be a cock…” he replies.
Vin cuts him off. “That’s exactly what I’m paid to do. I am paid to be an in-your-face cock and I do it very well for a very high price. Send someone to get the diaries,” he sneers.
“I don’t know where they are,” Joshua snaps. “I think they were taken by the perpetrator to cover the evidence. I’m not sure.”
Vin’s eyes meet his. “What did you tell the police about their whereabouts?” he asks.
“They didn’t ask me,” Joshua replies.
Vin shakes his head. “Fucking useless,” he mutters under his breath. His eyes meet Joshua’s across the table. “Ok, so here is the story. The prosecutor they are using used to work for me and he’s brilliant. He is going to rattle you like you have never known. Keep your mouth shut. Do not elaborate on anything. Do not give him ammunition to twist your words.”
Joshua nods and swallows.
His eyes hold Joshua’s across the table and I can hear his brain ticking. “I’m going to request a closed hearing. I understand how much you hate the press.”
Joshua’s gaze holds his. “Thank you,” he mutters.
“Can you give us a minute alone please?” Vin asks me and his assistants who are sitting behind him silently.
We nod, stand and leave the room as my heart starts to beat hard in my chest.
“All rise,” the administrator calls as the judge enters the room, and everyone stands silently. The gallery is full of reporters with notepads. Joshua, dressed in a navy suit, stands in front next to Vincenzo and two of his assistants. Then in the front row are Victoria, Bridget, Abbie, me, Cameron and his parents, and Ben and Nicholas. I feel like I am going to have a heart attack.
The judge walks in silently, sits down and flicks through the notes in front of him.
Vin is the first to speak. “Your honour, I request that this hearing be held in a private court room,” he calls.
The judge looks up from his papers, seemingly surprised. “Denied, this is a matter of public interest.”
Joshua’s head drops, oh god. Everything is going to be dragged through the press—this is Joshua’s worst nightmare.
The prosecution lawyer stands. He is about forty, nerdy looking and grey. He also appears very confident which only escalates my trepidation.
“We are here today to bring to justice the man who has taken his innocent fiancee’s life. To bring the truth out in the open. Natasha Marx did not die in vain and her case will prevail.
“I call to the stand Joshua Stanton,” he calls across the room.
