Last details

Once upon a time a second-rate shyster sold his soul to the Devil in return for the gift of eloquence.

The terms of the deal were complex, but Neville, for such was his name, was at least a good enough lawyer to make sure that he had a watertight deal. 

He would have unchallenged mastery of argument and persuasion until the day that a guilty client got his just deserts in the 'legitimate courts of the land', or until he died a natural death of old age. 

'But with this gift I cannot lose', he told himself. 'All my clients will walk free'. And he laughed silently at how easily he had out-maneuvered the wily one. 

So it was some 5 years later, he found himself summing up for the defense in a notorious murder trial. 

The 12 good men and women were completely mesmerised as the imposing black-gowned and elegantly wigged barrister demolished point by point the prosecution case. 

This claim was circumstantial. That point was tainted by a broken chain of evidence. Yes, his client was a well-known businessman. Yes, he had a disagreement with the victim, a police officer, who was investigating a series of gang murders. But the prosecution case was built on sand. 

'You may have heard the term, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the devil is in the detail. 

'That means that you must search implacably for the smallest discrepancy in the prosecution case. If there is the smallest doubt, you must find my client innocent'. 

And so it was, hours later, the barrister shrugged off the bitter comments of an investigating officer whose testimony he had demolished in cross examination. 'The day will come when you will be the one who has to answer. As God's my witness, I hope you burn in Hell!'

The policeman's superior officer apologised profusely. 'I don't know what's got into Detective Sergeant Smith. He's taking this case far too personally. 

'Of course, he was the best man at the victim's wedding. I hope you will overlook this disgraceful outburst. I will have a word with him when he calms down.'

Neville nodded sagely, inwardly laughing. 'Not at all, I quite understand'. 

He then accepted the grateful thanks of his client, a notorious criminal boss, who had once again found a loophole in a tarnished legal system. 

As he left the court he heard angry words as the disgruntled Detective Sergeant and the newly-freed crime boss met at the top of the marble staircase. 

Later, back in his Chambers, he was enjoying a celebration drink when a knock came on the elegantly carved oak door of his study. 

At the other side stood his old acquaintance, the Devil. Technically, he remembered with a chill, someone to whom he owed far too much for his peace of mind. But not yet of course. 

'Congratulations, my dear boy,' said the Devil urbanely. 'It must be nice to go out on a high'. 

'Go out?', stammered Neville, who realised he was experiencing an unexpected loss of eloquence. 'But, but, I won the case. That means you can't collect'. 

The Devil smiled. 'Yes, yes of course you won. 

'Unfortunately your, um, colourful client, exchanged some angry words with the equally colourful Detective Sergeant Smith. 

'Apparently your client's Doctor has been warning him of the dangers of stress and over-exertion, but he wouldn't listen, the naughty boy.'

Neville felt a sudden choking sensation. 'What do you mean?'  

The Devil smiled again. 'It seems he had a mild stroke at the top of the courtroom steps. He fell and banged his head and suffered severe brain damage.'

Neville swallowed painfully. 'But, he's still alive?'

'Yes, very much so, and likely to remain so for many years. 

'Unfortunately, he has been badly injured and has lost the use of his legs. As a result of his stroke, he has lost the ability to both understand and use language'. 

The Devil paused for effect. 'As such, he has been effectively imprisoned for life in a useless body, unable to move or speak. In my book that means that he got his just deserts while within the precincts of the legitimate courts of the land. He was very, very guilty, you know'. 

Neville remained frozen for a second before blustering, 'That wasn't the spirit of our agreement!'

'My dear boy', said the lawyer's unwanted visitor, 'don't you know, the Devil is in the detail...'