Chapter
8
“How are you feeling, Nikki?” Claire asked at their next meeting.
“I haven’t felt anything since I talked to Helen. My brain feels
numb.” She forced a smile. “Can we talk about something else?”
“Alright. First the good news, I’ve got the date for your appeal.”
She took a letter out of her brief-case and handed it to Nikki.
Nikki’s face lit up as she read. “But that’s only…”
“Seven weeks, four days and two hours away but who’s counting?”
Claire interjected. “That was the good news, now here is the brilliant news.
After Mrs Lawson learnt her husband had raped the prostitute, she agreed to
give evidence. Apparently he had been mentally and physically abusing her and
their son for years.”
“Claire, that’s bloody fantastic!” Nikki exclaimed delightedly.
She reached out and hugged Claire to her.
Claire turned away. She couldn’t let Nikki see how much she was
affected by her nearness. Not yet anyway. It was too soon after Helen.
“Sorry,” Nikki said apologetically. “I didn’t mean to embarrass
you.”
Claire turned and smiled up at her. She touched her cheek gently.
“You didn’t embarrass me, Nikki. I’m so pleased for you. I’m going to take you
for a slap-up meal on your first night home.”
Nikki closed her eyes, remembering when she had said to Helen,
‘I’m going to show you a good time when I get out’. The look on Helen’s face
when she had said ‘I hope so’ was one she would take with her to the grave.
“Are you alright, Nikki?” Claire asked with concern.
“Yeah,” she said resignedly as she opened her eyes. “I was just
remembering plans I’d made for when I got out but I guess a free meal from you
more than makes up for it.”
Claire looked at her in mock horror. “Nikki, I said slap-up, I didn’t
say free.”
Nikki laughed. “Alright then, we’ll go Dutch.”
Seven weeks, four days flew by. She had continued having meetings
with Claire and she found herself looking forward to her time spent with the
pretty young lawyer. She hadn’t heard anything from Helen since that last day
and neither she nor Claire ever mentioned her. Trish had also continued to
visit her. She had found herself a new girlfriend and seemed to be happy.
Barbara looked at her tearfully as she dressed in the charcoal
grey trouser suit and cream blouse Trish had brought in for her. She wasn’t
surprised it still fitted her after all this time. She was still the same
weight, maybe a few pounds thinner and working out in the gym had toned up her
muscles. “There is a time, Mrs Hunt, when you would have gone screaming to a
screw at the sight of my bits and pieces,” she said teasingly.
“That was before I got to know you, Nikki.” She smiled through a
veil of tears. “Are you sure you want to do this? Get out of here I mean.”
Nikki raised her eyebrows. “Is the Pope a Catholic?” She finished
fastening her blouse and took one last look around the cell. "I hope this
is the last time I stand in here.” She heard Barbara sniffle and turned to her
sadly. “Come here.”
Barbara moved towards her and Nikki gave her a bear-hug. “Barbara,
you’ve been more of a mother to me than my own mother was.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. Backhanded though it was.”
“Sorry, Babs,” Nikki laughed. “Big sister, then.”
“I love you, Nikki,” Barbara said, suddenly serious. “I’ve never
met anyone quite like you and I thank the Lord for bringing you into my life,
even for just a short while.”
“I love you as well but you don’t get rid of me that easily. I’ll
write and I want you to come and see me when you get out.” She hugged her
again. “There will always be a place in my life for you.”
“What about me, Nikki? Will there always be a place in your life
for me as well?” Nikki didn’t have to turn round to recognise the simpering,
child-like voice.
“Of course there is, Shell. You know I worship the ground that’s
coming to you and the sooner the better.” Nikki winked at Barbara.
“I fixed Helen Stewart, and I almost fixed you and when you’ve
gone I’ll fix ‘er.” She nodded towards Barbara.
“You lay one finger on her, Dockley, and I swear to God…” Nikki
started towards her but Barbara grabbed hold of her arm.
“Leave it, Nikki!” She said warningly. “Not today. She’s not worth
it.”
“See you in ‘ell, Wade!” Dockley gave an evil laugh and sauntered
off.
“I wonder what she meant by that,” Barbara mused. “She fixed Miss
Stewart and she almost fixed you.”
“Search me,” Nikki shrugged. “You know what a bloody psycho
Dockley is. She’d say anything to get a rise out of me. Just be careful of her,
Barbara. She’s capable of anything.”
“You’re right, she is. I think I’ll have a quiet word with Miss
Betts later.” She reached up and kissed Nikki’s cheek. “Now, off you go and don’t come back, or
else.”
Nikki picked up her jacket from the back of a chair and slipped it
on then picked up her bag of belongings. Most of her books she had donated to
the prison library and just kept back a couple where Helen had written a
personal message on the flyleaf. Apart from her memories they were all she had
to remind her of Helen and she couldn’t quite let go…not yet anyway.
She still thought about Helen. The nights were the worst when she
tried not to imagine her lying beside some man. Tried not to imagine him touching
her. If she closed her eyes she could still feel the softness of Helen’s skin
beneath her fingers.
“Ready, Nikki?” Karen Betts spoke from the doorway.
Nikki nodded and gave Barbara a final hug before setting off on
what she hoped would be her last journey from G-Wing.
“Relax, Nikki,” Karen admonished her gently as they drove to the
Appeal Court. Since she had put the handcuffs on Nikki and they’d climbed into
the back of the car, Nikki had been fidgeting. A couple of times she had lifted
her hand to her mouth, forgetting she was handcuffed and dragged Karen’s arm
along with her. “Sorry,” she muttered.
“I guarantee, I will be going back to Larkhall alone this
afternoon,” Karen said confidently.
Nikki said nothing but exhaled noisily as they pulled up outside
the Court. She kept her head down as they got out of the car and Karen
propelled her past the waiting media.
Claire and Trish were waiting inside for them. “How are you
feeling, Nikki?” Claire touched her arm gently.
“Scared shitless!” Nikki exclaimed bluntly.
“It’ll be alright, Nik,” Trish assured her.
“And if it isn’t?”
“We’re about to find out,” Claire informed them as she received a
signal from one of the ushers. “See you in Court, Nikki!”
As the hearing progressed Nikki started to relax. The appeal
judges seemed to be nodding favourably as they heard the new evidence presented
but when they retired to make their decision, Nikki was a nervous wreck again.
“I need the loo, Miss Betts, and a smoke.”
They went into the Ladies, still handcuffed together. “Are you
coming in to give me a hand?” Nikki said suggestively. “Or are you going to
take the bracelets off?”
Karen laughed. “I think I can trust you. You’re too close to
freedom to do anything stupid.” She reached into her pocket for the key and
unlocked the handcuffs.
Nikki used the toilet and then washed her hands. She tapped her
jacket pockets. “No smokes.”
“Sorry. Here have one of mine.” Karen took a packet of cigarettes
and a lighter out of her handbag, held the packet out to Nikki and took one
herself.
“Thanks,” Nikki said gratefully as Karen lit the cigarette for
her. She inhaled deeply then held the cigarette up in front of her face. “If I
get out today, this is my last cigarette.”
“Apart from giving up smoking, what else are you going to do? Long
term.”
“Take a holiday, find a job, get legless, get laid.”
Karen looked at her sharply and saw the mischievous gleam in
Nikki’s brown eyes. “But not necessarily in that order, eh, Nikki?” She smiled.
The door opened and Claire poked her head in. “What the hell are
you doing hiding in here? They’re coming back in!”
The judge cleared his throat and shuffled his papers before
looking directly at Nikki and speaking in a loud clear voice. “A crime such as
murder cannot go unpunished. However, in the light of the new evidence
presented here today, we feel that Nicola Wade did not commit cold-blooded
murder. Detective Sergeant Lawson was killed in the act of committing a crime.
Miss Wade killed him trying to prevent that crime. Her action was not
premeditated. The verdict of murder is therefore overruled. You’re free to go,
Miss Wade.”
A smiling Karen turned to Nikki. “You did it, Nikki.”
Nikki looked at her, a stunned expression on her face. “I can’t
believe it.”
“You’d better because after today there won’t be a bed at Larkhall
for you anymore.” In spite of all the trouble she’d had with Nikki Wade since
taking over as Wing-Governor, she liked her. She was stubborn and pig-headed
but she made a good friend, always trying to protect the under-dog. She had
taken not only Barbara Hunt under her wing but also some of the younger women.
They would miss her protectiveness and at least it was never dull with Nikki
around.
“Miss Betts, will you do me a favour, please? Don’t leave Barbara
in a cell on her own and make sure she gets someone decent to share with.”
“Leave Barbara to me,” Karen told her kindly. “Concentrate on
looking after yourself for a change and keep your nose clean. Now, push off
before I change my mind and take you back with me. Your friends are waiting for
you.”
Nikki went over to where Claire and Trish were waiting and hugged
them both in turn. “Come on, let’s go and celebrate.” She turned to Karen.
“Would you care to join us for a drink, Miss Betts?”
“No, thanks, Nikki. I’ll get back and give them all the good news.
Good luck!” As Karen went out of the front door the media rushed up to her.
“Sorry, boys,” she said sweetly. “They’ve just gone out the back door.”
Back inside, Nikki looked at Claire hopefully. “Claire, you’re
coming with us, aren’t you?”
“How can I refuse my favourite client?” Claire replied with a
grin. “We’ll get the depressing formalities cleared up and I’ll get changed and
be right with you.”
When the trio went out of the courthouse, Nikki stood at the top
of the steps and looked around disappointedly. She was sure Helen would have
been here to share in her triumph.
Claire took Nikki’s hand and gently pressed it to her lips. “I’m
so happy for you, Nikki,” she said softly.
Nikki smiled down at her. “Thanks for all you’ve done, Claire.”
She bent and pressed her lips lightly to Claire’s mouth. Claire moved into her
and slid her arms around Nikki’s waist returning the kiss.
“Hey, you two! Break it up before we all get arrested,” Trish
reprimanded them.
Nikki and Claire laughed as they drew apart. As they started to
walk down the steps Claire slipped her hand into Nikki’s and squeezed her
fingers. Nikki looked down at her and smiled then slid her arm around Trish’s
shoulder. “Come on, slow-coach,” she said affectionately. “Don’t drag your
feet, you’re buying the first drink.”
“There she is!”
Realising Karen had hoodwinked them the media returned to the
front of the building just as Nikki reached the bottom of the steps. She found
a barrage of cameras pushed in her face and everyone was speaking at once. She
couldn’t make sense of any of the questions.
“Your public awaits, Ms Wade,” Claire muttered close to her ear.
“Shit!” Nikki breathed. “I’d just like to thank everyone who had
faith in me and who fought so hard for my appeal. You all know who you are.
That’s it.” She pushed her way past them hanging onto Claire’s hand, Trish’s
elbow and her bag of belongings and hurried down the street.
As they turned the corner and went out of sight a taxi pulled away
from the kerb. Helen sank wearily down into the seat. She had watched Karen
Betts leave without Nikki so she knew the verdict had been favourable. She
couldn’t bear not to be here and see Nikki walk away a free woman but now after
seeing her kiss Claire she wished she hadn’t come. “Will you take me back home,
please?”