Chapter 20
After
a final lingering kiss, Helen was left alone with just her thoughts for
company. She stared vacantly out of Karen’s office window. She had hated laying
into the woman she loved the way she had but it was only part of what Nikki
would have to go through in the Appeal Court. She could see now why Nikki had
not been called to take the stand at her original trial. Given her state of
mind then, and if her reaction today was anything to go by, she would probably
have admitted to anything.
She
knew Nikki was mortified by what she had done and regretted it totally.
Convincing an appeal judge she had these feelings wasn’t going to be easy but
it was the only hope they had to gain her an early release. Even if the private
investigator did manage to dig up any dirt on Detective Sergeant Edwards, so
what? Edwards could have been the biggest bastard alive but he didn’t deserve
to die in such a horrific manner.
There
was a knock on the door. Helen turned round as the door opened and Karen poked
her head in. She was surprised to see Helen was alone. “Nikki gone?” she asked
coming into the room.
“She’s
gone for her lunch. Woman cannot live by love alone, you know, Karen,” Helen
laughed.
“Is
everything alright?”
“It
is now,” she replied. “Nikki’s ex-girlfriend has been doing a bit of stirring
between us but we’ve sorted it out.”
“How
about joining me for lunch? My treat,” Karen offered.
Helen
glanced at her wristwatch. “It’s a nice idea but I’d better get back to work,”
she answered regretfully. “Thanks anyway, Karen. I tell you what, why don’t we
meet up one night? My treat, just to show my appreciation.”
“Great!
Give me a call when you’re free.”
“Well,
I suppose I’d better go or they’ll be sending out a search party for me,” she
said wistfully but made no move to leave.
Karen
smiled at her. “Who was it that said, just a short while ago, they had no
regrets about leaving this place?”
“Yeah,
I know,” Helen agreed. “It was hell being here with her and now it’s hell not
being here with her.”
“We
could always swap jobs,” Karen suggested.
“Good
idea,” she laughed. “But the next time it’s a choice between Nikki or my job,
the job goes.”
Karen
laughed incredulously. “You mean you’d give up your career for her? She means
that much to you?”
“Nikki
Wade means more to me than even I could ever imagine,” she replied happily.
“I
really envy you,” Karen said sincerely.
“Envy
me?” Helen echoed then continued with bitter irony. “I suppose I am in an
enviable position, totally in love with a convicted murderer who may be going
to spend the next ten years, at least, behind bars. Oh, and by the way, she’s a
lesbian! What’s not to envy?”
Karen
burst out laughing. “Helen, I’m sorry. It was just the look on your face.”
Helen
joined in her laughter. “I know I’m lucky, Karen. I trust Nikki implicitly and,
since I’ve known her, everything she’s done has been out of love for me.” Her
eyes misted over with tears. “I’d better go before I make a fool of myself.”
Karen
touched her arm gently. “Take care, Helen, and call me.”
“Yes,
I will. Bye, Karen.”
Helen
walked out to the prison car park feeling happier than she had done in weeks.
She knew now she would stand by Nikki whatever the outcome of the appeal,
assuming she was granted one, that is. They would be together one day even if
Nikki had to serve all her sentence and in her own way she would serve every
day along with her. She pulled up at the car park exit. The road was clear
except for a car parked further down the road. As she turned right she absently
noticed the car indicate to pull out.
She
decided to call in at her flat and see if there was any mail. It was on her way
back to Brackenbank and would only add a few minutes to her journey. Now she
was back with Nikki there was little point ‘hiding out’ at Beverley’s flat and
she made her mind up she would move back home at the weekend. She hadn’t made a
decision about any of the houses she’d seen but once Nikki came home maybe they
could look for somewhere together. A tingle of anticipation ran down her spine
at the thought of her and Nikki house hunting and setting up home together.
She
pulled up outside her flat and climbed out of the car. At the top of the steps
she rummaged in her bag for her keys.
“Helen,
hi.” Someone spoke behind her.
She
turned and her welcoming smile froze on her lips. “Trish. What are you doing
her?”
“I
followed you from the prison.” Trish smiled pleasantly as she climbed the steps
to the front door.
“Followed
me?” she frowned.
“I
went to see Nikki,” she explained. “But they wouldn’t let me in without a
visiting order.”
“Did
you want to see her about anything in particular?” Helen asked suspiciously.
“Actually,
I did. I’ve got some great news,” she replied animatedly. “Do you think I could
come in?”
Helen’s
hand closed over her bunch of keys at the bottom of her handbag. “Sure.” She
opened the door and indicated for Trish to precede her into the hallway. As she
turned to close the door behind her she felt a sharp blow to the back of her
head then the lights went out!