Chapter 12
Barbara
spotted Karen Betts, the new Wing Governor, doing her rounds of the wing. She had
seen and heard what had happened between Nikki and Shell Dockley and there was
no way Nikki was going to take all the blame, not if she had anything to do
with it. Miss Betts was no Helen Stewart but, from what she had seen so far,
she was fair and prepared to listen. “Miss Betts, may I have a word, please,”
she asked politely.
“Of
course, Barbara. What is it?” Karen asked with a friendly smile.
“I
am not a lagger, Miss Betts, but I do think I should speak out on Nikki Wade’s
behalf.”
“Oh,”
Karen frowned.
“Michelle
Dockley goaded Nikki into the fight. She was saying some evil things about
someone Nikki cares deeply about.”
“Nikki
has got to learn she can’t take matters into her own hands,” Karen snapped then
added in a softer tone, “But I will take your comments into consideration.”
“Thank
you, Miss Betts.”
Give
me a prison full of men any day, Karen thought as she carried on with her tour
of the wing.
“Right,
Nikki. Do you want to tell me what the fight was about?” Karen asked the
following day at Nikki’s adjudication.
“Not
really…Governor,” Nikki replied
insolently.
“So,
nothing to say in your own defence?”
“No…Governor.”
Karen
looked at Nikki thoughtfully before passing her sentence. What the hell was her
problem? It was nothing she could put her finger on but from day one Nikki Wade
had been a thorn in her side. Nikki was polite, overly so, but Karen had the
distinct impression Nikki resented her or her position. “Alright then, fourteen
days loss of wages and seven days exclusion from working in the garden.”
“You
can’t do that, it wasn’t my fault!”
“You
should have said something when you had the chance. Just be glad someone else
has your best interests at heart. Now, shut it, Nikki, or I’ll double the punishment.”
“Why
is Nikki Wade such a pain in the arse?” Karen stormed as she entered the
officers’ common room. Jim Fenner was the only occupant, sitting with his feet
on a coffee table and reading a newspaper.
Fenner
folded his newspaper and dropped it onto the floor beside him. “You know who
you’ve go to blame for that?” She looked at Fenner questioningly waiting for
him to continue. “Helen Stewart! Wade was her pet con. Let her do as she
pleased. I’m surprised she didn’t give her a set of keys to let herself in and
out.”
She
poured herself a cup of coffee and sipped it slowly. “Judging by Nikki’s
records, her behaviour improved after Helen Stewart took over.”
“And
we all know why don’t we?”
“You
seem to be the only one in the know, Jim,” she replied sarcastically.
“Wade
was shagging her!” he announced with a leering smile on his face.
“And
you have proof of this?”
Jim
looked uncomfortable. “No, but everyone knows, Wade was in Stewart’s knickers.”
Karen
looked at him distastefully. “What’s wrong, Jim? Upset because Nikki Wade got
somewhere you couldn’t?” She walked away without giving him time to reply.
Nikki
looked up from her book. She loved reading but having to stay away from the
garden was driving her crazy and she still had another three days of Betts’
sentence to serve. She heard what she thought was a scream and listened
intently. What the hell was going on? It sounded as if a herd of elephants was
charging around the wing. She went out onto the landing. It seemed as if the
whole wing was on the stairs or leaning over the railings. “What the hell is
going on?” She demanded of the two Julie’s.
“It’s
Hazel. She’s gone berserk!” Julie J informed her.
“She’s
gone berserk!” Julie S repeated.
“She’s
got a knife to Bodybag’s throat. Wants the screws to open the gates.”
“The
silly cow!” Nikki exclaimed. “Isn’t anybody doing anything?” She leaned over as
far as she could. There was a crowd of inmates at the other end of the wing
with a group of officers in front of them, Fenner, McAllister and Karen Betts.
“Why doesn’t somebody do something?”
“They
can’t get close enough to her.”
Nikki
could just see Hazel from where she was standing. Her left arm was across
Bodybag’s throat and a knife was in her right hand pressed against the
officer’s jugular. “Well, I can.”
“Be
careful, Nik,” the two Julie’s said in unison as she climbed over the railings
and dropped silently onto the landing below. Dodging under the stairs she came
up behind Hazel. She must have made some sound because Hazel spun round her
eyes staring wildly.
Hazel
tightened her grip on Hollamby’s neck. “Keep back, Nikki, I swear I’ll kill
her.”
“Hazel,
don’t be daft. Bodybag may be a screw but she’s not worth serving another life
sentence for. She’s just a harmless old cow. If you want to kill a screw, do us
all a favour, and make it Fenner.” I’d like to stick a knife in him myself,
Nikki thought silently.
“Tell
them to open the gates, Nikki. Tell them or I’ll kill her.”
“Hazel,
they’re not going to do it, love. Stick that knife in her and they’ll be on you
like flies on a piece of shit.” She took a step forward, her eyes never leaving
Hazel’s face. “Now, let her go.” Another step forward. “Give me the knife,
Hazel and let her go.”
Fenner
made a movement but Karen caught hold of his arm. “Leave her. She knows what
she’s doing.”
“Nikki,
I can’t stand it in here.”
“I
know you can’t, love. Neither can I, but this isn’t the way.” She took another
step forward. “Give me the knife and let Sylvia go,” Nikki repeated softly.
Hazel’s
arm relaxed on Hollamby’s neck and Nikki leapt forward and pushed the prison
officer to one side.
“No!”
Hazel yelled making a grab for Hollamby.
Nikki
swung her fist as Hazel brought back her hand and lunged forward. As her fist
made contact with Hazel’s jaw the pain was excruciating and she felt as if she
had broken every bone in her hand. She watched with satisfaction as Hazel sank
into a heap on the floor. A cheer went up from the women and a smiling Nikki
turned to face them. She heard someone scream.
There
was a throbbing pain in her side and she felt something warm and sticky
trickling down her stomach. She touched her side then tentatively brought her
hand up to her face. “Jesus!” she gasped. “I’m bleeding.” Then she lost
consciousness.
Karen
Bett’s rushed to Nikki’s side and felt her neck for a pulse. “Phone for an
ambulance and get me a clean towel!” She ordered then pointed to Hazel. “Check
to see if she has a broken jaw. If not, get her down to the block!” She looked
at Hollamby sitting on the floor, her back against the wall, looking for all
the world like a rag doll. “And for goodness sake, someone do something for
Sylvia!” She knelt on the floor and gently lifted Nikki’s head onto her knees.
Someone passed her a towel, which she folded and pressed against Nikki’s side.
“Ambulance
is on its way, Karen,” Dominic informed her. “How is she?” he indicated Nikki.
“Bleeding
heavily. I just hope that ambulance hurries up,” she told him with a worried
frown.
Nikki
groaned and her eyes flickered open.
“You’re
alright, Nikki. Just lay still,” Karen said gently stroking Nikki’s hair.
“Helen?”
Nikki whispered.
“No,
Nikki. It’s Karen Betts.”
“Tell
Helen I…” Nikki began then lost consciousness again.
When
the paramedics arrived, Karen gently laid Nikki’s head down and let them take
over. “Di, I want you to go in the ambulance with Nikki. I’ll follow on in my
car. I’ve just got to make a phone call. Dominic, give the women another
fifteen minutes after we’ve gone then lock them up.” After checking Nikki was
still with them, she hurried back to her office. As she passed her secretary
she paused momentarily. “Linda, will you ring Brackenbank Rehab, please. I want
to speak to the Governor, Helen Stewart. Put her straight through.” She went
into her office and sat on the edge of her desk. When the phone rang she
snatched up the receiver. “Miss Stewart? It’s Karen Betts at Larkhall. I’m
afraid I have some bad news for you. There was a fight and Nikki Wade was
stabbed. She asked for you just before she passed…”
“Noooooooo!”