Chapter
7
Nikki read and re-read Helen’s brief note. Helen must be back, she
thought, and she must have been in contact with Claire. She stood up and went
and hammered on the door. “I want to see Miss Betts,” she called loudly.
A few minutes later she heard the door being unlocked and Karen
Betts walked in. “What can I do for you, Nikki?”
“I need to speak to my lawyer urgently, Miss Betts,” she looked at
Karen pleadingly.
“Have you decided to confess then?”
She looked at Karen distastefully. “I didn’t kill McAllister.”
“I know you didn’t, Nikki. You can go back to your cell. The
police are satisfied you had nothing to do with Dominic’s murder.” Nikki looked
at her questioningly so she continued. “The women who were in the garden corroborate
your whereabouts, also someone saw you go into the loo and then go straight
back out to the garden so you’re off the hook.”
Nikki breathed a sigh of relief. “You know, Miss Betts. A couple
of days ago I couldn’t care whether I got my appeal or not but now I can’t wait
to get out of this hell-hole.”
“Some days, Nikki, I know just what you mean,” Karen acknowledged
wryly.
Karen accompanied Nikki back to G-Wing where all the inmates and
staff were assembled. Nikki crossed quickly to stand with Barbara as Karen
called for order then spoke in a loud, clear voice. “The investigation into the
death of Officer McAllister is still continuing but Nikki Wade has been cleared
of any involvement and was in no way responsible. If there are any reprisals
against her, the guilty party will answer to me. Officer McAllister’s funeral
will take place on Tuesday week and at the same time a special service will be
held in the chapel. Thank you.”
Barbara turned and hugged Nikki. “Thank goodness you’re back. I
was beginning to get worried.”
“Me too,” Nikki agreed. “I’m going back to the cell. I want to get
my telephone card and phone Claire, she may have news of Helen.”
Helen rose groggily from the settee as the doorbell rang. She
opened the door to find Claire standing on the doorstep.
“Helen, you look like shit!” Claire said bluntly.
“I feel like shit.” Helen grimaced as she stood to one side to
allow Claire to enter. “I guarantee my baby will be an only child.” They went
into the living room. “Any news about Nikki?” she asked as she indicated for
Claire to sit down.
“I haven’t spoken to her but I rang Karen Betts,” Claire told her
as she perched on the end of the settee. “Nikki has been cleared of any
involvement in McAllister’s death.”
“Thank God for that,” Helen said with relief. “I was beginning to
think we’d both pressed self-destruct buttons the way things were going wrong.”
“Have you decided what you’re going to do about Nikki?”
“What can I do?” Helen asked dismally. “She’s not going to want me
now, is she?”
“Helen, I know she still loves you,” Claire said softly, just as
her mobile rang. “Excuse me.” She took the mobile out of her bag. “Hello.”
“Hi, Claire, it’s me.”
“Hi, Nikki.” She turned and looked at Helen.
“Have you seen Helen?” Nikki demanded. “Did she give you the
note?”
“Yes, I’ve seen her.” Her eyes met Helen’s questioningly and Helen
shook her head.
“I need to speak to her,” Nikki was saying. “Will you ask her to
come and see me?”
“I don’t have to, Nikki, she’s right here. Just a minute.” She
placed her hand over the mouthpiece and turned to Helen. “She wants to speak to
you.”
“Claire, how could you?” Helen said angrily.
“Talk to her, Helen. Tell her one way or the other how you feel
about her but stop pissing her about!” Claire exclaimed. “Because if you don’t
want Nikki Wade, I do!”
Helen looked at her in horror as she took the mobile from her
outstretched hand.
“Hello, Nikki,” she said softly.
“Helen, darlin’. I can’t believe it after all these weeks.” She
said tearfully. “You don’t know how much I’ve missed you. I love you so much. I
know we argued but I didn’t mean anything I said. Please come and see me.”
“Oh, Nikki,” a sob caught in Helen’s throat. “I can’t see you ever
again. I’m going back to Scotland to live. I’ve sold my flat and…”
“And?”
“Nikki, I’m so sorry. I’m seeing someone else and I’m going to
live with him.”
“No! Helen, you can’t,” Nikki said desperately. “You said you
loved me.”
“I did Nikki but not the way you want me to.”
“Tried it once, didn’t like it. Is that it, Helen?” Nikki demanded
bitterly.
“Forgive me, Nikki.”
“I’ll never forgive you because I’ll never stop loving you! “
Nikki exclaimed choking back her tears. “How can I forgive you for giving me
that cross to bear for the rest of my life?”
“I’m sorry…” Helen broke down and Claire took the mobile from her.
She held it to her ear but the line had gone dead.
Helen sank down on the settee tears streaming down her face.
Claire sat down beside her friend and put her arms around her. “I’m sorry,
Helen but for Nikki’s sake it had to be done. I just wish you hadn’t been so
hard on her.”
“I know.” Helen nodded. “But I had to make her see there was never
any hope for us. Nikki deserves happiness and without me she’ll find it. Take
care of her, Claire, she’s very special to me.”
“I know that.” Claire smiled at her gently. “She’s very special to
me too.”
Helen looked at her. She was going to lose Nikki…her Nikki…to her
best friend. “Thank you for being my friend but I don’t think we should see
each other again.”
“I understand and thank you.” Claire hugged her.
Helen tore herself away. “Please go, Claire.”
As she started to leave, Claire turned and looked at her friend.
Helen’s whole body was shaking. “Helen, I can’t leave you like this.”
“Claire, please go!” Helen yelled. “I can’t stand the sight of you
anymore!”
It was a dank sombre day when they came to lay their son to
rest…Dominic, the beloved only child, born late in life to Peter and Edith
McAllister. Helen’s heart was heavy as she watched the pall-bearers lift the
coffin – adorned only with a floral tribute from his doting parents – onto
their shoulders. Apart from their last meeting Dominic had been a good friend
to her and she couldn’t help but feel sad that he had been cut down at such a
young age. Karen Betts, Di Barker and John and Eddie, two of the gate guards,
appeared to be the only Larkhall representative’s and she gave silent thanks
that Jim Fenner wasn’t there.
The procession moved into the tiny church, to the strains of
Celine Dion singing My Heart Will Go On.
Helen held back and tried to slip into one of the pews at the back of
the church but Karen saw her and motioned for her to go and sit with them. Di
Barker looked at her sharply then greeted her with a casual nod of the head.
The church was cold and Helen wrapped her long black coat around
her. It was loose fitting and she hoped it helped conceal her thickening
waistline.
From where she was sitting she could see Dominic’s parents. His
mother’s body was hunched as she silently wept and his father stared gravely
ahead but he had a comforting arm around his wife’s shoulders.
They moved out into the graveyard for the interment and as the
coffin was lowered into the ground Edith McAllister screamed her son’s name in
grief. Helen’s heart went out to Dominic’s father as he tried to comfort his
distraught wife and he almost had to drag her away from the graveside.
As the mourners moved away, Helen turned to find herself
confronted by an ashen faced Di Barker. “I’m surprised you showed your face,
Miss Stewart.”
Helen looked at her in surprise. “What do you mean?”
“How do you feel knowing that you caused Dominic’s death?” Di said
harshly. “How do you feel knowing that you’re responsible for the death of the
only man I could ever love?”
A look of horror crossed Helen’s face at the words. “I didn’t…”
“He died because of you and one day you’ll pay for it!” she spat.
“Are you ready, Di?” Karen Betts asked as she came up to them.
“Nice to see you, Helen. How have you been keeping?” She asked pleasantly.
Helen swallowed hard. “I’m fine thanks, Karen.” She forced a
smile.
“I was just telling her, it’s lovely to see her,” Di gushed. “I’m
ready when you are, Miss Betts.” She turned to Helen. “Are you coming back to
the house, Miss Stewart?”
Helen looked at her almost believing she had imagined Di’s earlier
harsh words. “No,” she said softly. “I have an appointment.”
Karen laid a friendly hand on her arm. She didn’t know all the
facts about Helen’s hasty departure – did she fall or was she pushed? – but she
liked her and had enjoyed working with her. “Are you alright, Helen? You’re
very pale.”
“I’m fine thanks, Karen. I’ve got to go. ‘Bye.”
“’Bye, Miss Stewart.” Di Barker’s words echoed after her.
As she passed the car carrying Dominic’s parents, his father
climbed out and called to her. “Is it, Miss Stewart?”
She walked back to him. “Yes, it is.”
“My wife and I would like to thank you for coming. Dominic was
very fond of you,” he said pleasantly.
She looked at Edith McAllister through the car window and the two
women smiled at each other. “I was very fond of Dominic, Mr McAllister. He was
a fine young man and a good officer.” She turned as tears threatened to
overwhelm her. “I’m sorry.”
Peter McAllister touched her hand gently. “That’s alright, my
dear, I understand.”
Helen looked at him gravely. No, he didn’t understand. Indirectly
she had been responsible for his son’s death. How many more lives would she
shatter before she awoke from this nightmare?”