The Barrister’s Downfall: A Tale of Deceit and Retribution

Ian McAuley's “Crosswords” introduces Simon Knevett, an arrogant and morally bankrupt criminal barrister in London, who prides himself on his ability to win cases for dangerous villains through his “gift of the gab” and a belief that cleverness justifies cheating. The story begins with Simon celebrating an “unlikely victory” at the Old Bailey, anticipating lucrative new cases from the city's criminal elite.

A recurring, fantastical element involves Susie, a homeless former psychiatric patient who gives Simon cryptic crossword clues. After his initial triumph, Susie presents a clue: “Give the devil his due, he's entitled to it,” which Simon cleverly solves as “Demonstration” (demon's-t-ration). Susie's response, “A clever little devil, you'll get what's due,” hints at his impending comeuppance.

Simon's corrupt practices are exemplified when he meets Mrs. Jackson in a City church to pay her for a false alibi. Unbeknownst to him, the church is hosting a “blessing of the throat service” on Saint Blaizey's day, commemorating a saint who miraculously saved a boy choking on a fishbone, rendering him unable to lie. Simon dismisses the tradition as mere sentimentality, failing to connect it with a strange fishbone in the church's stained-glass window.

Weeks later, Mrs. Jackson testifies at the Old Bailey, providing the fabricated alibi for Simon's client, the villain Dave Green. During her testimony, she suffers a violent coughing fit, regurgitating a small fishbone. This supernatural event compels her to speak the “Gospel truth,” inadvertently revealing that Dave left her house hours earlier than stated, discrediting the alibi and ensuring Dave's conviction.

Leaving the court, a weary Simon encounters Susie again. She offers a final clue: “Sticks in gullet of singing devil.” As Simon attempts to solve it, he begins to choke. Susie triumphantly completes the answer, “The Gospel truth,” and then physically dislodges a small fishbone from Simon's throat, mirroring the earlier miracle and delivering his ultimate, fantastical comeuppance for his deceitful ways.

(Source: https://londonist.com/london/books-and-poetry/london-short-stories-crosswords-by-ian-mcauley)