By
Jan
Chapter 3
Now
she had made her peace with Nikki Wade, Helen realised she could string out her
investigations for a few more days. The data she was collating was being passed
on to a real financial adviser so even if she didn’t find any evidence the
women would still be in a position to get their loan.
Nikki
seemed to be spending more time in the office, sitting on the settee and
working at a coffee table that had appeared overnight.
Once
or twice she had glanced across and found the woman looking at her. During one
of these times, Nikki cleared her throat then stood up and walked over to the
desk.
“How
are things looking?” she asked seriously.
“Fine.
I can’t see any reason why you shouldn’t get your loan,” Helen replied
truthfully.
Nikki’s
face relaxed into a smile. “Why don’t you come to the club one night and have a
drink with me?” she suggested.
Helen
looked at her in surprise. “That’s nice of you but I don’t think it’s my cup of
tea.”
Nikki
raised her eyebrows. “A few drinks, great music, brilliant company is not your
cup of tea?” she teased. “We do let straight people in, you know? Anyway, I
thought you might have to report back to the bank where their money’s going.”
“Alright.
You’re on,” Helen agreed. “Tonight?”
“Great!
See you later.”
“Nikki
Wade has invited me to the club tonight,” she informed Sean when she arrived home.
‘Home’ for the time being was a rented flat supplied by the force. “This could
be the break we’ve been waiting
for.”
“Do
you want me to come with you?”
She
shook her head. “I think she’s more likely to open up to me if I’m on my own.”
He
nodded in agreement. “You could be right. Have you found anything out?”
“Not
a thing.” She kicked off her shoes and sat down on the settee, drawing her
knees up beneath her. “I can’t understand why they would need a bank loan if
they’re dealing. Apart from the two deaths there doesn’t seem to be any
connection with drugs.”
“Do
you know how many man-hours have gone into this investigation?” he exclaimed.
“Everything points back to the club.”
“That
doesn’t mean Barnes and Wade are guilty,” she countered.
“Just
don’t let Stubberfield hear you say that. I’ll come and pick you up from the
club later. I think it’s time I met them for myself.” He sat down on the settee
beside her and ran his hand down her thigh. “Hel, when we’ve finished this
case, let’s start making wedding plans,” he said eagerly.
Helen
looked at him in surprise. They had been seeing each other on and off for about
a year but just lately he had been talking about making it more permanent,
without ever mentioning marriage. “What brought that on?”
“Living
here together these past few days has made me realise how good it could be
between us. What do you say?”
“Let’s
get the case out of the way first, Sean,” she edged. “We’ll talk about it
then.”
“At
least you didn’t say ‘no’,” he replied with a boyish grin.
‘I
didn’t say ‘yes’ either,’ she thought cynically.
She
had been in gay clubs before, both socially and in the line of duty, but as she
walked into Skylarks she felt unaccountably nervous.
“You
made it then?” Nikki spoke behind her.
She
whirled round. “Yeah. Thanks for inviting me.”
Nikki
smiled and nodded. “You look great. I like the colour of your blouse.”
Helen
felt a rush of pleasure at the woman’s words. A woman who herself was ‘drop
dead gorgeous’. It had taken her ages to decide what to wear and she had
finally settled on a plum-coloured silk blouse she had bought the previous week
and black trousers. “Oh, this old thing,” she replied dismissively.
“Come
on, I’ll get you a drink.”
As
they pushed their way through the crowd Helen was acutely aware of the arm
Nikki had casually placed around her shoulders.
“What
would you like?” Nikki asked as they reached the bar.
“A
pint of lager, please,” she replied then smiled with amusement at the surprised
look on Nikki’s face. “What?”
“You
don’t look the type to drink pints.”
“Bit
sexist that, isn’t it?”
Nikki
took her hand and looked down at it. “You have such a tiny hand, it’s hard to
imagine you could get it around a pint glass.”
Helen
snatched her hand away. “No Trish tonight?” she asked, the calmness in her
voice belying the pounding of her heart.
“She’s
gone to see her mother.” She leaned towards Helen conspiratorially. “The old
witch doesn’t approve of me. She thinks I led her daughter astray.”
“And
did you?”
“I
have never led anyone astray who wasn’t up for it.” Nikki chuckled then her
face became serious and she looked at Helen with such intensity that the Scot
had to turn away.
“Helen.”
She
turned back to find Nikki holding out her drink. After taking it with a
muttered ‘thanks’, she turned her attention to the dance floor, much safer than
meeting Nikki Wade’s forthright gaze!
“Would
you like to dance?” Nikki’s soft voice spoke against her ear.
“Dance?”
she echoed trying to hide her confusion, though why should dancing with this
woman be any different than when she danced with her women friends? But she
knew dancing with Nikki would be different. None of her friends made her feel
the way she was feeling tonight. She could still feel where Nikki’s arm had rested
across her shoulders. The searing heat almost taking her skin off. She shook
her head. “No! Thanks, anyway.”
As
the evening progressed, Helen knew she was drinking too much but Nikki hadn’t
left her side for a second and the woman’s presence was un-nerving her. They
were sitting on high stools beside the bar and she looked around her. The place
was heaving even though it was almost closing time. She leaned close to Nikki
so she could be heard above the noise. “Is it always this busy?”
“This
and some,” Nikki said against her ear. “Why do you think we want to expand?”
“Have
you had any plans drawn up yet?”
Nikki
nodded. “In the office. Come on I’ll show you.”
Before
she had time to protest Nikki dragged her off to the office where she took a
set of rolled up blueprints from a cupboard and spread them out on the coffee
table. She crouched down on her haunches and Helen looked over her shoulder.
“We’re going to build an extension here which will almost double the size of
the night club.” She pointed to a section of the plan.
“But
that’s the car park, isn’t it?”
“It
is now but there’s a disused warehouse at the back. We’ve put in an offer for
it and it’s been accepted. Once the ground is levelled, that’s where our new
car park will be.” She dropped the first blue print onto the floor and pointed
to a section on the one underneath. “We’re going to knock this wall through and
build a five-star restaurant upstairs. It’ll be totally sound-proofed so you
can’t hear the noise from the club.” She glanced at Helen and saw her broad
smile. “What are you grinning at?” she demanded.
“You,
you’re like a kid who’s been let loose in a toy shop.”
“I
do get a bit carried away, don’t I?” Nikki said sheepishly.
“It’s
OK. You must be thrilled. It’s an exciting project.”
Nikki
stood up, an avid expression on her face. “Don’t you see, if we get this
project off the ground Skylarks could be the biggest, bestest club in the
country.”
“Bestest!”
Helen echoed with a smile.
“Yeah,
the bestest,” Nikki agreed absently. “I think you’re the bestest too,” she said
softly as she bent her head and kissed Helen gently.
Startled,
Helen gasped and tried to draw away but Nikki’s hand on the nape of her neck
stilled her. She pushed at Nikki’s shoulder trying to break free. This
shouldn’t be happening!
Nikki
raised her head and looked at her then her hand fell away. “I’m sorry.”
As
Nikki started to move away, Helen felt bereft and grabbed hold of her arm.
Their lips met and she opened her mouth to the thrust of Nikki’s soft, warm
tongue. Dear God, what was happening to her? She had never become aroused so
quickly in her life, not even with Sean, and she was shaken by her feelings for
the woman whose lips were almost devouring her. She felt Nikki’s hands move
lightly over her blouse and cup her breasts and began to kiss her back
frantically.
They
drew apart. Helen’s face was flushed, her mouth soft and swollen and her body
trembling with desire.
“We
should stop,” Nikki whispered against her hair. “But I don’t think I can.”
“I
know,” Helen whispered back. “Neither can I.“
Nikki
nuzzled her neck. “I want to tear off all your clothes and kiss every part of
your body. I want to put my tongue inside you and taste your sweetness.”
Helen
arched towards her, her body aching for Nikki’s touch. “Then for Christ’s sake
stop talking about it and do it! Make love to me!” she demanded harshly.
Nikki
laughed nervously as, with shaking fingers, she started to unfasten the buttons
on Helen’s blouse. As the soft material slid from Helen’s shoulders and onto
the floor, Nikki’s hands stroked her bare back and she felt her tremble under
her touch. She drew her close and kissed her face and throat as she unhooked
her bra clasp. The garment was pushed aside as her mouth fastened over Helen’s
nipple. She heard Helen whimper softly and tore her mouth away and again
captured her lips. She took Helen’s hands and clamped them to her own breasts
and held them there until she felt them move beneath her own.
“This
is no good, “ Helen said softly against her mouth. “I want to feel you against
me.”
Nikki
released her just long enough to strip off her T-shirt and bra then pulled her
roughly back into a burning kiss. She moaned softly as Helen’s hands caressed her
breasts. Through the haze of passion that was clouding her brain, she became
vaguely aware of a bell ringing and raised her head.
“Nikki,”
Helen breathed her name and tried to pull her head back down.
“Shit!”
she said harshly. “There’s someone at the back door.” She crossed to an
intercom on the wall and stabbed her finger on the button. “What!”
Helen
heard a muffled voice then Nikki turned and looked at her.
“Someone
called ‘Sean’ for you.”
“Oh,
God!” Helen exclaimed. “I’d forgotten he said he’d come and pick me up.”
Nikki
frowned. “Who is he?”
“My
partner.”
“Let
him wait then.” She moved quickly and pulled Helen back into her arms but as
she tried to kiss her, Helen turned her face away.
“Nikki,
don’t, please. When I said partner, I didn’t mean business partner,” Helen said
softly. “We’re getting married.”
Nikki
released her as if she had suddenly become red hot and backed away from her,
hands raised. “Oh, shit! Oh, shit!” she exclaimed. “What have you done to me?”
she said accusingly. “I almost betrayed Trish because of you.”
“What
I’ve done to you?” Helen demanded. “What about what you’ve done to me?”
“You
were the one begging me to make love to you.”
“Because
it was what you wanted too.”
The
doorbell rang again and Nikki ran her fingers through her hair. “Get dressed,”
she ordered. “And I’ll go and let him in.” She snatched up her T-shirt and bra
and dressed quickly then hurried down the back stairs. She took a deep breath
before yanking the door open.
“Hi,
I’m Sean. I’ve come to pick Helen up.”
Nikki
eyed him distastefully. What the hell did Helen see in a floppy-haired prat
like him? She forced a smile that didn’t come close to reaching her eyes.
“She’s upstairs.” As she went back upstairs she was conscious of him behind
her. She opened the office door and allowed him to precede her into the room.
“Hiya,
babe,” she heard him say lovingly. She watched as he slid possessive arms
around Helen’s waist and gave her a lingering kiss. Helen’s eyes met hers
defiantly over his shoulder and she gave her a mocking smile before turning
away.
“Use
the back door on your way out,” she said sullenly. “Just slam it and I’ll lock
it later.” She went out of the room. She couldn’t bear to see Helen in Sean’s arms
a moment longer.
She
went into the now deserted nightclub and poured herself a large brandy. As she
stood swirling it around the glass, she heard Helen’s voice behind her.
“Nikki.”
She
swallowed a mouthful of the fiery liquid then turned to face her. “Where’s
lover boy?” she demanded sarcastically.
“He’s
using the loo. About what happened.”
“Don’t
worry, Helen, it won’t happen again.”
“Good.”
Helen gave a relieved sigh. “You know there can never be anything between us.
I’ve had too much to drink and it was just a moment of madness. I’m not like
you.”
“A
dyke, you mean?” Nikki asked bitterly. “Are you trying to tell me you’ve never
been aroused by a woman holding you, kissing you, touching your breasts?”
Helen
blushed as Nikki’s words hit home.
“Are
you really so different to me, Helen?” she said softly. “But that wasn’t what I
meant when I said it wouldn’t happen again. Next time I won’t stop and I’ll
make it as hard for you to leave me as it is for me to let you go with him
now.” She placed her glass on the bar and started to advance towards Helen.
“Nikki,
please don’t make it difficult for me to work with you.”
“I
won’t make it difficult, Helen. I’ll make it bloody impossible! Remember that then
you’re in bed with him tonight.” She grabbed hold of Helen’s arms and pulled
her hard against her. “And remember this.” She fastened her mouth over Helen’s
then, hearing Sean’s footsteps in the corridor, thrust her roughly away.
“I’ve
been thinking, Hel,” Sean said as he came through the door, totally oblivious
to the tension between the two women. “We could hold our engagement party
here?”
“We’re
fully booked,” Nikki retorted.
“But…”
“Leave
it for now, Sean, “ Helen interrupted quickly. “Come on, we’d better be going.
‘Night, Nikki.” She headed for the door before he had time to argue.
Sean
shrugged. “’Night, then…Nikki, is it?” he said pleasantly.
“Yeah,
‘night.” She watched him leave the room then, with a wicked smile playing round
the corners of her mouth, said softly to herself, ‘Please, God, let him fall
downstairs and break his bloody floppy-haired neck!’ When she heard the back
door slam she knew her prayers hadn’t been answered and her face became
serious. There was no way she could go home to Trish and act as if everything
was alright, not tonight. She went downstairs and bolted the back door, set the
burglar alarm then went back up and lay on the settee in the office. She would
just have to tell Trish she had been drinking and couldn’t drive home. Anything
but the truth…that she had fallen hopelessly and totally in love with Helen
Stewart!
“You’re
quiet,” Sean commented as they pulled up outside the flat.
Helen
forced a weak smile. “Sorry. I’m tired and I have a headache.”
“I
know just the cure for that,” he leered. As he leaned across to kiss her she
turned and got out of the car. He frowned and then shrugged. She was in one of
her moods again but he knew how to get round her. He ran up the steps, grabbed
hold of her around the waist and carried her bodily into the hallway where he
pressed her up against the wall and ground his hips against her. “Fancy a
shag?”
Helen
looked at him distastefully, a picture of Nikki Wade forming in her mind. She
momentarily closed her eyes. She wasn’t like Nikki! She wasn’t! She slid her
arms around Sean’s neck. “Yes,” she murmured against his mouth.