Chapter 12
Nikki
went back to G-Wing purposefully. She knew Helen was only trying to protect her
but she couldn’t resist wanting to have a dig at Fenner. For over two years, not
only had she suffered at his hands but she’d seen what he’d done to some of the
other women. Rachel Hicks, a young single mother, had hanged herself because of
her involvement with Fenner. Although, she was sure Dockley wasn’t totally
innocent about Rachel’s suicide even she had been systematically beaten by him.
Fenner deserved what was coming to him and she wanted a front row seat!
Her
eyes sought out the Principal Officer as she went onto the wing and she gave
him a mocking smile before making her way to where Barbara and Tommo were
sitting at a table.
“How
is Shell?” Barbara asked her as she sat down.
“The
Doc’s sending her to hospital. He thinks there might have been some brain
damage when she was beaten up,” Nikki informed her. “When Shell gets through
spilling her guts,” her voice rose dramatically so Fenner could hear her.
“Whoever beat her up will get what’s coming to them!”
“Nikki!”
Barbara said warningly. “Please, don’t wind Fenner up.”
Nikki
ignored her as she continued. “There’s no telling what might come out now. We
never did solve the little mystery about Rachel Hicks. Did she hang herself or
did somebody help to put the rope around her neck?”
“Nikki,
mate, don’t!” Tommo exclaimed. “Fenner won’t take it lying down.”
“I
know we’ve all done wrong,” Nikki carried on relentlessly. “But why should we
have to be scared of bent screws?”
Fenner
walked up to her and bent close until their faces were almost touching. “I
suggest you shut your dykey mouth now, Wade, before I shut it for you!”
“Not
your style, Mr Fenner,” she sneered. “Too many witnesses.”
“There
won’t be any witnesses when I shag Stewart!” he whispered in her ear, then drew
back smiling evilly.
“You
bastard!” Nikki launched herself at him before anyone had time to stop her and they
both fell to the floor.
Fenner’s
fingers dug into her shoulders as he tried to force her off him. “Thanks,
Wade,” he muttered triumphantly. “I only have to threaten Stewart, don’t I?
Works every time.”
Nikki’s
heart sank and she realised too late that Fenner had deliberately provoked her
into attacking him. She would be down on the block again and there wasn’t
anything even Helen could do about it. She rose slowly to her feet as two
burley officers ran up and grabbed hold of her arms.
“Take
her down to the block,” Fenner ordered as he brushed down his clothing.
Nikki
struggled as her captors dragged her away. “Your days are numbered, Fenner!”
she cried. “You haven’t got Stubberfield backing you now and when Dockley’s had
her say…! Let go of me, you bastards!”
Fenner
watched the scene, the smile on his handsome face eventually turning to a
worried frown. He didn’t think Dockley would shop him but with that dyke bitch
Stewart putting pressure on her he couldn’t be sure. He would have to silence her for good, like he should have done
the night of Sylvia’s party but first he had to deal with Wade!
“Do
you think she’ll talk?” Helen asked Karen as they stood and watched Shell being
helped into a wheelchair by Alex and the paramedics.
Karen
shrugged. “She’s opened up to Nikki, so who knows? What is it they say about
death-bed confessions?”
“Karen!”
Helen exclaimed, a shocked expression on her face.
“Face
it, Helen, according to what Alex said, Dockley might not recover,” Karen said
grimly. “I’ll go to the hospital with her. I’ll take Di Barker with me. She’s
not the sharpest knife in the drawer but I think she’s the most trustworthy.”
“OK,
Karen,” she replied as Alex came up to them. “Let me know how she goes on.”
“Do
you fancy going for a drink after work?” Alex asked, when they were alone.
“I
could do with it but God knows what time I’ll get away from this place tonight
and I want to try and have a word with Nikki before I leave.”
He
looked at her with concern. “Have you thought about what you’ll do if Nikki’s
appeal doesn’t succeed?”
She
let out an audible sigh. “That doesn’t bear thinking about but I’d try to hold
onto my job with Area Management as long as possible and if we were found out
I’d have to resign myself to just visiting her.”
“Do
you really think that’s enough to sustain a relationship?”
“I
didn’t always think so but now I know it’s what I want. It’s what we both
want,” she replied sincerely. “We love each other and that’s all that matters.”
He
shook his head at her. “Nikki Wade doesn’t deserve you, you know?”
She
smiled at him, softly. “You’re wrong there, Alex. I’m the one who doesn’t
deserve Nikki!”
Karen
and Di Barker sat outside Shell’s private room waiting for the doctor to finish
examining her. Karen was worried. Things really didn’t look well for Dockley
and if she died and it was proved that Jim had beaten her, he could be looking
at a murder charge, or at worst, manslaughter!
“I’ll
wait until the doctor gives us his verdict and then I’d better get back,” Karen
told Di. “I don’t want you to let anyone into Shell’s room except bona fide
hospital staff or myself and, Di, I mean anyone!”
“Alright,
Miss Betts,” Di replied, giving her a curious look. “I must say, I’ll be glad
to be here, there’s been enough excitement in the prison for one day.”
“How
do you mean?” Karen frowned.
“Nikki
Wade attacked Jim. He had to put her on the block.”
“Why
the hell didn’t anyone tell me? I am the Wing Governor for Christ’s sake!”
Karen exclaimed.
“Well,
what with Shell and everything…I forgot. I’m sorry,” Di replied apologetically.
“It’s
alright, Di. I’ll sort it out when I get back,” she reassured her. “What
happened anyway?”
“Nikki
was mouthing off about Shell being attacked and Jim told her to shut up. The
next thing I knew, she’d jumped on him.” She looked at Karen hesitantly.
“And
that’s it?” Karen demanded, then she saw the indecision in Di’s eyes. “If
there’s something else, Di, spit it out!”
“Well,
I could see there was going to be trouble and just as I reached Jim, I heard
him say something to Nikki about Miss Stewart. I don’t think he thought anyone
else could hear.”
“What
did he say?” Silence. “For God’s sake, Di! What did Jim say?”
“He
said there wouldn’t be any witnesses when he…shagged Miss Stewart.”
“Don’t
let anyone at all into Dockley’s room!” Karen yelled over her shoulder as she
ran down the corridor.
“No…Miss
Betts.” Di looked after her and shook her head, totally bemused.
Karen
ran down the stairs – there was never a lift available in a hospital when you
wanted one – and arrived breathlessly at reception. She flashed her ID at the
receptionist. “I need to use your phone.”
“There’s
a pay-phone over by the entrance,” the receptionist informed her haughtily.
“Look,
you stupid bitch, this is a matter of life and death!” she exclaimed angrily.
“Do you want your name splashed all over the tabloids in the morning because
you’ve been responsible for a prison riot?” She suppressed a smile as the
shocked woman passed her the phone. She dialled Larkhall’s number and demanded
to be put through to Helen Stewart. “Then put me through to the G-Wing office
then!” she snapped after being told Helen wasn’t answering her office phone.
She raised her eyes skywards when the phone was answered and she recognised
Sylvia’s voice. “Sylvia, it’s Karen Betts. I want you to find Helen Stewart and
stay with her. On no account leave her on her own! Have you got that, Sylvia?”
“Of
course I’ve got it. Do you think I’m stupid?” Sylvia retorted.
“No
time to answer that now, Sylvia. Just do as I ask.” She replaced the receiver
and with a hurried ‘thank you’ ran out of the hospital.
“I
don’t know,” Sylvia muttered as she left the office. “It’s bad enough we have
to nursemaid the inmates, now I’ve got to nursemaid the Number One.” Well, at least I don’t have to look far, she
thought thankfully as she saw Helen disappear into Nikki Wade’s cell.
Helen
started to come out of Nikki’s cell to find her way barred by Sylvia Hollamby.
“I was just looking…”
“I’ve
had Miss Betts on the telephone, Ma’am,” Sylvia interrupted her. “She said I
had to find you and not let you out of my sight.”
Helen
looked at her in surprise then gave an amused laugh. “Did she happen to say
why?”
“No,
Ma’am. Just that I hadn’t to leave you on your own.”
“I
can assure you, Sylvia, I don’t need a bodyguard,” Helen replied. It was bad
enough trying to see Nikki on her own without Sylvia dogging her footsteps.
Anyway, what the hell was Karen playing at?
“I’m
sorry, Ma’am. Miss Betts was adamant.”
“Alright,
Sylvia,” she agreed. Find Nikki first and then get rid of Bodybag. “You can
help me look for Nikki.”
“No
need to, Ma’am,” she chuckled triumphantly. “Wade’s on the block!”
“What!”
Helen exclaimed. “Why the bloody hell didn’t you tell me? What happened?”
“Because
you didn’t ask me, Ma’am,” Sylvia told her smugly. “She attacked Jim…” She
watched as Helen stormed off and then started to follow her. “Can you walk a
bit slower, Ma’am? I can’t keep up!”
Nikki
lay on the hard concrete slab, pulled her blanket up to her chin and pillowed
her head with her hands. She couldn’t believe she was on the block again, after
everything she’d promised Helen. Fenner was right. She would do anything to
protect Helen but how long would it be before Helen got sick of defending her
and trying to keep her out of trouble.
She
heard a key in the lock and looked at the door, hoping it was Helen. As she
started to rise the door opened and Fenner was illuminated in the doorway.
“What do you want, Fenner?”
“Won’t
you ever learn, Wade? You just can’t keep your trap shut can you? The
unfortunate thing is, someone might start to listen to you one day but you’ll
never get the better of me.” He came into the cell and pushed the door shut
behind him.
“I
wouldn’t bank on it, Fenner,” she snarled. “You’ll be the one behind bars this
time next week.”
He
walked across and sat beside her. “I don’t think so, Wade. I don’t think you’ll
want to admit to your Acting Governor girlfriend that you’ve had me inside
you!”
Nikki’s
blood ran cold at his words but before she had time to react, he grabbed hold
of her arms and twisted his body until he was lying on top of her.
“You
really should think about yourself more, Nikki, instead of worrying about
Helen. When she goes out of those gates at night, you’re totally forgotten,” he
said maliciously.
“Piss
off, Fenner!” she hissed.
“I
always thought it was such a waste that you were a rug muncher,” he whispered against
her ear. “Time to see what you’ve been missing, Wade.”
She
felt his arousal through the thin blanket and started to struggle, turning her
head from side to side as he tried to kiss her.
“That’s
right, love, fight. I’ll enjoy it more.” He laughed evilly, then swooped on her
mouth but, as their lips touched, Nikki bit down hard on his bottom lip. “You
dyke bitch!” he exclaimed as he released one of her hands and slapped her hard
across the face.
“Let
me go!” she screeched.
“I’ve
waited a long time for this, Wade!” he laughed triumphantly. His laughter was
short-lived as he was grabbed by the scruff of the neck and hauled off Nikki
and a fist connected with his stomach and then his chin.
Alex
stood over Fenner, breathing heavily and rubbing his aching hand. He looked at
Helen who was cradling a sobbing Nikki in her arms. “Is she alright?”
Helen
nodded. “Thanks, Alex,” she said softly.
He
looked down at the unconscious Fenner. “I can assure you, it was a pleasure!”
“It’s
alright, darling. I’m here,” Helen soothed Nikki softly, her hand stroking her
lover’s dark hair.
“I’m
sorry I got into trouble again, Helen, but he threatened to hurt you,” Nikki
said tearfully.
“I
know he did, sweetheart, but I think this was his intention all along.” She
wiped the tears from Nikki’s face with her fingertips, then kissed her brow
gently. “You’re safe now, sweetheart. He won’t ever hurt you again.”
“Miss
Stewart…” Sylvia spoke hesitantly. “Is Nikki alright?”
Helen
closed her eyes. In her fear for Nikki’s safety, she had forgotten about
Sylvia. The shit had just hit the fan!
“She’s
fine thanks, Sylvia,” she replied with a sigh.
“Don’t
you think, Ma’am, under the circumstances she ought to go back to her cell or even
the medical wing,” Sylvia said kindly. “She’s in shock and I don’t think she
should be alone tonight. Why don’t you take her and me and the doctor will wait
here until Miss Betts and the police arrive.”
“Sylvia,
I…”
“There’s
only one bad apple in here, Ma’am.” She pointed to Fenner, who was just
beginning to regain consciousness. “That one!”
“Thank
you, Sylvia,” Helen said gratefully. “But would you mind not calling me
‘Ma’am’. I’m not the bloody queen!”
Sylvia
looked at her, for once a twinkle in her eyes. “Whatever you say, Ma’am!”