The professional

In fact, it was the way he looked at me that told me all I needed to
know. His sandy-orange eyebrows, shaped like two reverse quote marks,
didn't quite meet in the middle. This gave him an intense look of
concentration which I believed was misleading. His eyes were a
nondescript pale - the colour of rain.
He didn't like me; he didn't not like me: he was assessing me - that's
all. There was an unnerving coldness there - as if he didn't really
care about anyone at all. I warmed to that.
His look was belied by his voice, which was intimate cultivated
charming smooth - practised. With his voice, he drew me out. Ropes of
words came out of my mouth, uncoiling as if they'd been waiting there
like snakes in an Indian charmer's basket.
"I bla bla bla," I said.
Gently, he inclined his head
"Bla bla bla bla bla?" Out came the heavy ropes of words, dangling
there like cow's intestines - "bla bla bla bla bla."
He was a criminal lawyer: I knew that. I imagined the straight line of
the wig across his narrow, bony forehead. His head was bare, of course,
covered in pale, tight curls the colour of wheat.
I knew he was prepared to lie for me. It didn't matter so long as I
didn't let on. We both new I was lying - every word from my lips was
laced with falsehood. I couldn't have told the truth. I didn't want to
go to jail. All he needed was for me to weave a faintly plausible
lie.
I was trying my best - I'd been here before, so I knew the ropes
&;amp; I spun my ropes of words for him.
My story for what it's worth, went like this:
'I've known her since she was a kid. Never, not ever, never touched
her. Crazy kid. She's always been a little liar. Wants to hurt me
because I turned her down. I don't like kids - not like that. What do
you think I am, some kind of pervert. Ridiculous." And on and on and
on?
Finally, he said, "I think we can help you, sir, but you'll have to
take the stand." We were both silent while he took some notes. "That'll
do for now, thank you."
We shook hands and I left and that was that really. We walked the
trial.
I've still got his phone number if you need it.