Chapter
9
Karen arrived back at Larkhall to find that Barbara Hunt had put
in a request to see her. She decided to pay Barbara a visit in her cell knowing
she would be eager to find out about Nikki’s release. Realising by the general
air of celebration and good humour that the news had already circulated round
the wing, she shook her head in bewilderment. You couldn’t keep anything
secret, even in this place.
She tapped on Barbara’s cell door before entering. “Jesus Christ!”
she exclaimed when she saw Barbara’s still form lying on the floor. She bent
down and felt her wrist. There was a faint pulse. She flew to the door as
Sylvia Hollamby was passing. “Sylvia, go and ring for an ambulance!” She
ordered. Hollamby looked past her into the cell. “Go, Sylvia!”
As Hollamby hurried off Karen went back to Barbara. By the looks
of it she had been severely beaten around the face and head. She dragged a
cover off one of the bunks and draped it over her to keep her warm as Barbara
groaned softly. “Barbara, can you hear me? Who did this to you?”
“Dockley. It was Dockley. I think she killed Officer McAllister!”
Claire’s BMW drew to a halt outside the house owned jointly by
Nikki and Trish. For the time being it had been decided that Nikki should
continue to live there. They had had a celebratory drink and then Trish had
gone on to the club to get ready for opening time.
“Do you want to come in?” Nikki looked at Claire hopefully. “I
don’t fancy being on my own just yet.”
“Alright,” Claire smiled at her. “I’ve given myself the rest of
the day off anyway.”
Nikki let them in with a key Trish had given her. “I’ll give you a
guided tour. It’s been almost three years since I was here myself so let’s see
what Trish has been up to. I’ll just go and dump my things upstairs.” She
indicated the plastic bag. “Come on up if you want.” At the top of the stairs,
Nikki indicated one of the doors. “That used to be our room.”
“Do you regret it, Nikki? You and Trish splitting up, I mean.”
“I did when it happened. It hit me hard but Helen…” She stopped
realising what she had said. “No, I don’t regret it. Trish and I are friends
now that’s all.” She moved towards one of the other doors and pushed it open.
“Trish said this was my room.” She looked around approvingly. The bedroom had
been freshly painted and there were new curtains and bedding. “Trish always did
have good taste but only in interior decorating, I had better taste in women.”
“Her taste can’t be all that bad. She had you.” Claire flushed as
Nikki turned and looked at her. “I just meant…”
“I always seem to be embarrassing you, don’t I?” Nikki laughed.
“Sometimes I feel like a gibbering idiot when I’m around you,” Claire
said defensively.
“I’m glad you’re not a gibbering idiot,” Nikki teased. “Or I might
have finished up with another twenty years. Seriously, I don’t know what I
would have done without you these past few weeks.”
“My pleasure.” Claire looked at her lovingly.
“Claire,” Nikki said softly.
Claire moved towards her and sought her mouth. Her lips moved
gently over Nikki’s until she felt her start to respond, then she slid her arms
around her slender waist.
This should be Helen, a small voice said in Nikki’s head but as
she felt Claire unfasten her blouse and her hands caressing her bare skin, her
body overruled what her heart wanted. She slid her hands underneath Claire’s
top and unhooked her bra then released her lips just long enough to strip off
the garments.
Claire moaned softly as Nikki’s tongue invaded her mouth and her
hands caressed her breasts. She tugged at Nikki’s jacket and it fell to the
floor, quickly followed by her blouse and bra.
Nikki lowered her gently onto the bed and ran her tongue around
her nipples before kissing her way downwards. She reached for the zip on
Claire’s trousers and started to ease it down as a mobile phone rang. “Shit!
Shit!” Nikki said harshly.
“Nikki, I’ll have to answer it. It could be important.” Claire’s
breathing was ragged. As she started to get up Nikki pushed her down again.
“Leave it. They’ll go away. This is more important.” She kissed her urgently
and slid her hand between Claire’s legs. The mobile stopped ringing. Nikki
looked at her and grinned. “Told you so.”
“Smart arse!” Claire pushed her onto her back and straddled her
hips. She bent and nuzzled Nikki’s throat then lowered her head and took a
swollen nipple between her lips and ran her tongue across its tip.
Nikki groaned as the mobile rang again. “Can’t you switch the
bloody thing off?” she demanded impatiently.
Claire climbed from the bed and fished in her handbag. She looked
at the display. “Sorry, Nikki. It’s work. I told them to ring me only if it was
a matter of life and death. I’d better answer it.” She lifted the mobile to her
ear. “This had better be important,” she said crisply. Nikki hauled herself
from the bed, slid her arms around her and rained kissed on her face and neck.
As she bent to kiss her breast, Claire gently tugged at her hair. Nikki looked
at her, a mischievous grin on her face but Claire shook her head gravely.
“What’s wrong?” Nikki mouthed.
“Alright, thanks for letting me know.” Claire switched off the
mobile and looked at Nikki. “That was my secretary. Karen Betts asked her to
get a message to me for you. Barbara Hunt was attacked sometime this morning.
She’s in intensive care.” She touched Nikki’s arm gently. “I’m sorry, Nikki. It
doesn’t look good.”
“What?” Nikki’s face dropped and her eyes filled with tears. “Do they
know who did it?”
“I don’t know any details. Karen says you can go and see her, if
you want to.”
Nikki was already pulling on her clothes. Claire turned her back
and dressed hurriedly. “I’m really sorry, Claire.” Nikki took her arm and
turned her round. “I’ll make it up to you.”
“Make sure you do,” Claire said gently as she drew Nikki’s head
down and kissed her lingeringly. “Come on. I’ll take you to the hospital.”
Claire went up with her to intensive care. Nikki groaned as she
saw the officer on duty outside one of the rooms. Hollamby!
Sylvia Hollamby stood up as she saw them approaching. “Long time,
no see, Sylvia,” Nikki tried to sound flippant. Was it really only a few hours
since she had left Larkhall?
For once Hollamby did not retaliate. “Look, Nikki, I know you and
I have never seen eye to eye but I know how fond you are of Barbara and I’d
just like to say how sorry I am.”
Nikki blinked in surprise. “Sorry? She’s not…?”
“No, of course not,” Hollamby assured her. “She’s holding her own.
Miss Betts is in with her. She said you were to go right in if you came.”
“Thanks, Sylvia.”
“By the way, Nikki,” she called as they went to open the door.
“I’m glad your appeal was successful. At least I won’t have to put up with any
more of your cheek.” Nikki opened her mouth to give her a sarcastic reply but
Hollamby smiled disarmingly. Nikki looked at her in surprise and shook her
head. Bodybag had a heart after all.
“Do you want me to come in with you?” Claire asked her softly.
“Will you? I would appreciate it.” Claire nodded and smiled
reassuringly.
Karen Betts was sitting beside Barbara’s bed. She stood up and
came to them as they entered. “Glad you could make it, Nikki. Hello, Claire.”
“Was there ever any doubt? Thanks for letting me know.”
Karen touched her arm gently. “That’s alright. I know how close
the two of you are.”
“How is she?” Nikki asked quietly. “And don’t fob me off.”
“The next twenty-four hours are crucial. After that, if there’s no
brain damage, she should make a full recovery.”
“And if there is brain damage?”
“They won’t know anything until she wakes up, Nikki.”
“Can I stay with her or is it against some sort of prison rule?”
She demanded trying to keep the bitterness out of her voice.
“I think we can bend the rules a little, don’t you? Stay with her
as long as you like.”
Nikki walked slowly to the bedside holding onto Claire’s hand for
support. In the midst of tubes and machines lay Barbara, her head swathed in
bandages, her face bruised and swollen. A sob caught in Nikki’s throat. “Who
did this to her?” She asked harshly.
“She said it was Dockley,” Karen informed her.
“I should have done for that bitch when I had the chance!” Nikki
hissed through clenched teeth. “Where is she now?”
“She’s on the block and she’ll stay there until we can ship her
out.”
“You do know she’s a bloody psycho, don’t you?” Nikki retorted.
“We do now. Barbara thinks she killed Dominic McAllister. That
could be why Dockley attacked her.”
Nikki’s head shot up in surprise. “That’s what Dockley meant this
morning. She said she’d fixed Helen Stewart, almost fixed me and she was going
to fix Barbara next. Shit! Why didn’t I see it at the time? This would never
have happened.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Nikki,” Karen said gently. “Look, I’ve got
to get back to Larkhall. There will be an officer outside if you want
anything.”
“Thanks, Miss Betts,” Nikki smiled at her gratefully.
“Make it ‘Karen’, I’m not your jailer anymore.”
“Hold on, Karen, I’ll walk with you, unless you want me to stay,
Nikki,” Claire looked at her questioningly.
“No, it’s ok, Claire. Thanks for everything.” She bent and kissed
Claire’s cheek then said softly against her ear. “Don’t forget we have a date.”
Claire looked up at her and smiled. “Whenever you’re ready, Nikki.
I’ll come back later.”
When the two women had left the room, Nikki sat down beside
Barbara’s bed. She picked up Barbara’s hand and held it gently. “Don’t leave
me, Barbara,” she said softly. “Don’t you leave me, you selfish bitch!”
Claire sat in her car in the hospital car park. She took out her
mobile phone and dialled Helen’s number. “Helen, it’s Claire.”
“What can I do for you?” Helen said stiffly. “If you’ve called to
tell me about Nikki’s appeal, don’t bother. I’ve seen it on the news.”
“It’s not that, Helen. Barbara Hunt was attacked this morning.
She’s in a bad way and may not pull through. Nikki is going to need you more
than ever now. Won’t you see her, please?”
“I can’t, Claire! I can’t!” Helen exclaimed.
“For once in your life, think about Nikki,” Claire retorted.
“I am thinking about Nikki. I can’t let her see me like this and
watch the love in her eyes turn to hate.”
“No, Helen, you’re thinking about yourself. If you change your
mind you’ll find her at St Luke’s.” Claire sighed as she cut off the call.
After her conversation with Claire, Helen sat staring blankly at
the television screen. She had videoed the short news item about Nikki’s
release and had watched it and then re-wound the tape over and over again each
time pressing the pause button at the part where Nikki’s face was full-screen.
This was the moment they had worked so hard for…Nikki’s freedom. They hadn’t
made any plans for when Nikki was released, just longing for the day when they
could really be together without having to sneak off somewhere for a few stolen
moments.
In the weeks since she had last spoken to Nikki she had been back
up to Scotland, mainly to break the news to her father about her pregnancy.
Funnily enough, her father hadn’t ranted and raved like her mother predicted he
would but there had been disappointment in his eyes when he looked at her. She
couldn’t bear to see that same disappointment in Nikki’s eyes.
With an exasperated sigh she headed for the front door, snatching
up her bag and jacket as she went.
Nikki jerked upright as she felt someone shaking her. “What?” she
opened her eyes sleepily and fearfully glanced at Barbara. Her chest was still
moving.
“Nikki!” She turned and looked at the speaker.
“Sorry, Miss. I must have dozed off.”
“You don’t have to call me ‘Miss’ now, Nikki. You very rarely did
before,” Sylvia said tartly. “There’s someone waiting outside to see you.”
Nikki rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and stood up. Christ! She
was stiff. The chair was as hard as her bed at Larkhall but what could you
expect when you’ve been sitting in the same position for – she glanced at her
wristwatch – four hours!
She followed Sylvia from the room. “Helen!” she said joyfully when
she saw who was standing there but the smile froze on her lips as she took in
the whole countenance.
“I’m sorry, Nikki. I shouldn’t have come.” Helen turned away
tearfully but Nikki caught hold of her.
“Please don’t go, Helen. Come on, let’s go down here.” She guided
her down the corridor until they were out of Sylvia’s hearing. They came to a
halt and Nikki stood with her back against the wall, her hands balled into
fists in her trouser pockets. “How did you know I was here?”
“Claire called me,” she told her quietly. “She thought you might
need some support. How is Barbara?”
Nikki cleared her throat nervously. “They don’t know yet. God! I
could do with a smoke!”
“Do you want to go outside for one?”
“I quit. This morning, would you believe? Bloody ironic, isn’t
it?” She forced a laugh.
“I was glad to hear the news, Nikki. I’m really pleased for you,”
Helen told her sincerely.
“Yeah, great isn’t it? I’m free to do as I please and now there’s
nothing I want to do,” she said pointedly.
“Don’t, Nikki. I feel bad enough as it is.”
“So, how are you then, Helen? Blooming by the looks of it.” Then
she said quickly. “I’m sorry, that was a cheap crack. You look well.”
Helen looked up at her expecting to see…What? Love? Hate?
Distaste? Nothing prepared her for what she did see…indifference. “I’m sorry,
Nikki.”
Nikki shrugged. “For what? Getting on with your life? Don’t be
Helen. I couldn’t expect you to wait for me forever. He’s a very lucky man.”
Helen turned away, trying to stop the tears from falling. Nikki
took her arm gently. “Come on. Come and see Barbara.” They walked slowly back
to Barbara’s room. “ Do you want anything, Sylvia?” Nikki asked kindly. “You
look all in.”
“I’m alright, Nikki. Thanks for asking but another half hour and
I’ll be off,” Hollamby replied pleasantly then buried her head in her Woman’s
Own.
Helen looked at Nikki in surprise when the door closed behind
them. “Did I just hear you and Sylvia Hollamby having a civilised conversation?”
“Best mates, me and Sylvia,” Nikki said with a grin.
“You’ve changed,” Helen said softly.
“Not really, Helen. You only knew me as a paranoid, neurotic,
mistrustful con. This is the real me, Nikki Wade, free woman.”
“It suits you.”
“Well, I couldn’t have done it without your help and I’ll always
be grateful to you and Claire.”
Helen visibly stiffened as she heard Claire’s name and Nikki
looked at her suspiciously. “Have you and Claire had a row or something?”
“Or something.” Helen smiled wryly. “But don’t let it concern you,
Nikki. It’s not important. Do you mind if I sit down? My back is killing me.”
“No, course not. You take the comfortable chair. Though I do use
the term loosely.” She waited until Helen was seated then pulled up a chair and
sat at the other side of the bed.
They sat for hours, interrupted only by the night nurses checking
on their patient, silently listening to Barbara’s breathing. As the first light
of dawn lit up the sky, Nikki stretched wearily and looked across at Helen.
Their eyes met and Helen smiled. For one unguarded, heart-stopping moment she
saw in Nikki’s eyes the love she never thought she would see again and then it
was gone, again replaced by indifference. She closed her eyes, momentarily
shutting out Nikki’s face.
“Are you alright?” Nikki asked with concern. Helen nodded. Nikki
looked at her wristwatch and smiled. “Well, whether you like it or not, Helen.
You and I have just spent my first night of freedom together!”
“I’m sorry I had to play gooseberry!”