Chapter 18
Trish’s
house was on a pleasant tree-lined avenue. Helen pulled up outside number
twenty-two. Trish must have a good job, she thought surveying the large
bay-windowed semi, or Nikki had. It was funny but, her mother apart, she hadn’t
even thought about Nikki’s past, prior to the killing, until now.
She
walked up to the front door, her heart thudding loudly, rang the bell and
waited. She had seen Trish fleetingly when she had come to visit Nikki. Her
curiosity had got the better of her and, knowing Nikki was expecting a visit
from Trish that day, she had deliberately gone into the visiting room to see
what she was like but she wasn’t prepared for the vision that opened the door.
Hair, make-up and clothes were all immaculate making Helen feel downright
dowdy.
“Miss
Johnson? My name’s Helen Stewart.”
Recognition
appeared in Trish’s eyes. “You’re the Governor from Larkhall, aren’t you? What
can I do for you?” She smiled but the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Yes,
that’s right. I wondered if I could have a word with you about Nikki Wade.”
“Nikki?”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’d better come in.” She left Helen to close the door and
preceded her into the lounge. “Please sit down.”
Helen
sat down and looked around her. “This is lovely,” she said appreciatively.
Looking at Trish she had expected something floral and chintzy but she approved
of the heavy mahogany furniture, plain suite and warm colours.
“Nik’s
taste, not mine.” Trish shuddered visibly. “If she’s going to be in prison much
longer I’m going to give this place a thorough re-vamp.”
Helen
felt a wave of something totally alien to her course through her body. This was
Nikki’s ex-girlfriend, her ex-lover and she was consumed with jealousy at the
thought that this woman had shared Nikki’s bed and knew her body intimately.
“That’s
what I want to talk to you about,” Helen forced herself to act normally. “We’re
trying to formulate an appeal for Nikki and we were hoping we could rely on
your testimony.”
“You
mean Nik could be out soon?” Trish asked eagerly. “How long?”
“Well,
we’ve a long way to go yet but if everything goes according to plan it could be
a matter of months.” Helen realised she was being a little optimistic in her
estimate but Trish didn’t look the patient type.
“That’s
brilliant!” Trish said animatedly. “Of course I’ll testify.”
“Good,
because we…” Helen began but Trish seemed oblivious to her presence as she
carried on talking.
“It’ll
be great having Nik home again then things can go back to the way they were.”
“I
thought the two of you had split up,” Helen said softly.
“No,
we’ll always be together, me and Nik. When she gets out she’ll come back to me,
you’ll see. Nik would do anything for me. She’ll take care of me.”
The
phrase ‘not the full quid’ sprang into Helen’s mind but maybe she was being a
little harsh. Maybe she wanted to find fault with Trish Johnson because she
couldn’t compete with this beautiful woman who had won Nikki’s heart and shared
a life with her. “I’d better go. I’m glad we can count on your support. Look,
I’ll give you my number in case you think of anything that might help.” She
took a business card out of her bag and scribbled her mobile number on the
back.
As
Trish took the card she let her fingers rest a little too long on Helen’s hand.
“I’ll give you a call sometime,” she promised.
Her
feet felt like lead as she walked down the steps and out to her car. Is that
what the future held for her? She would get Nikki out of Larkhall only to lose
her to Trish!
“Helen,
you’re being bloody paranoid!” Beverley exclaimed impatiently. “Nikki loves
you. She won’t go back to her ex-girlfriend just because she wants her to
unless she’s spineless.”
“Well,
she’s certainly not that!” Helen retorted.
“Exactly.
Do you think she would have pursued you so relentlessly if she didn’t care
about you?”
“Maybe
it was because I was available.”
“Available!”
Beverley snorted in disgust. “From what I hear your knickers were firmly
super-glued on!”
“Beverley!
You know it was difficult.”
“Difficult
or not, if it had been me I would have been bonking her brains out at every opportunity
and don’t say you didn’t get the chance. You were just too cowardly to take
it.”
Helen’s
mobile rang playing the tune Jingle Bells.
“I
wish you’d get that bloody tune changed!” Beverley said irritably. “It’s the
middle of flaming summer!”
“Oh,
Beverley, sod off!” Helen snapped as she picked up her mobile. “Helen Stewart.
Trish, hi,” she said cheerfully but grimaced at Beverley as she listened
intently. “Can’t you tell me on the phone? Alright then. Yes, I know where it
is. See you tomorrow then.” She switched off her mobile with a frown. “That was
Trish. She wants to meet me for a drink tomorrow night and talk about Nikki…or
Nik as she delights in calling her.” She pretended to stick two fingers down
her throat.
“Maybe
it would do you good to get to know her,” Beverley suggested.
“Why?
So it wouldn’t hurt so much when Nikki decided to go back to her?” she retorted
miserably.
“Oh,
Helen. Just for once, why don’t you let your glass be half full instead of half
empty? You bloody pessimist!”
“Beverley,
what do you think to this?”
“For
goodness sake, Helen relax,” Beverley said patiently as Helen rushed in for the
sixth time wearing a different outfit. “Anyone would think you were going on a
date.”
“I
want to look my best,” Helen protested.
“And
you did with the first outfit you had on.”
“So
you think I ought to put that back on?”
“I
think you had better make your mind up soon or you are going to be late,” she
indicated the clock.
“Shit!
I haven’t got time to get changed again. Will this do?”
Beverley
looked her up and down. She was wearing a black trouser suit and a cream silk
blouse with a plunging neckline. “Helen, you look…elegant.”
Helen
grimaced. “Elegant? Is that better than beautiful?”
“Will
you just go, Helen, and let me have a bit of peace. You’re doing my head in.”
“So,
Trish, what is this new information you have?” Helen asked once they were
seated in a corner of the White Lion pub.
“I’m
sorry, Helen. I told a little white lie. I didn’t think you’d come out with me
otherwise.” Trish looked at her coyly.
Helen’s
heart sank. “You mean you don’t have any new information.”
Trish
shook her head. “Sorry.”
“Shit!”
Helen muttered under her breath. How could I have been so bloody stupid? She
thought.
“Don’t
be angry with me, Helen. I think you know I like you.” Trish reached out and
touched Helen’s hand.
“I
thought you wanted to get back with Nikki!” Helen snapped snatching her hand
away.
“I
do but that’s months away. I have needs now.” Without warning she slid her hand
round the back of Helen’s head and pulled her mouth into a burning kiss.
“What
the hell do you think you’re doing?” Helen retorted as she pulled away. “I’m
sorry, Trish, I’m in love with someone else and even if I wasn’t I wouldn’t be
interested!” She picked up her bag and hurried out.
Trish’s
eyes narrowed angrily. So, she was in love with someone else, was she? We’ll
soon see about that, Miss ‘Wing Governor’ Stewart!