Chapter 13
After
Nikki had given the police her statement, Karen drew Helen to one side. “I
think she’s been through the mill enough tonight,” she said quietly. “Do you
want to take her back to her cell?”
Helen
smiled at her gratefully. “Thanks, Karen. Would you mind if I stayed with her
for a short while?”
“Be
my guest, Governor,” Karen grinned. “I almost wish I could let you take her
home with you.”
“Aye,
well. Hopefully that day will come soon enough,” she replied confidently. She
moved across to Nikki who was sitting hunched on a chair and touched her
shoulder. “Come on you,” she said gently.
Nikki
rose hesitantly. “Where are we going?” she demanded anxiously, clutching at
Helen’s hands. “Please, not the block!”
“It’s
alright, Nikki,” Helen told her calmly. “I’m taking you back to your cell. I’ll
stay with you until you’re feeling better.”
“Have
you got ten years to spare?” she asked wistfully.
They
walked back to Nikki’s cell, their footsteps echoing eerily along the silent
landing. “Let’s get you into bed,” Helen remarked as she closed the cell door
behind them.
Nikki
looked at her, a smile playing around her lips. “How can I refuse an offer like
that?”
Helen
sighed, relief showing in her face. “Nikki, I can’t bear to think about what
might have happened to you tonight!”
“Me
neither,” Nikki murmured. “Would you hold me, please?”
Helen
held out her arms and Nikki moved into her embrace, wrapping her own arms
around Helen’s shoulders. “I don’t know what I’d do without you,” she said
passionately. “The times when I thought I’d lost you were the darkest in my
life.”
Helen
drew back and looked at her lovingly. “Nikki, I’m going to resign!” she said
suddenly.
“You
can’t, Helen!” Nikki exclaimed.
“My
job has always come between us and tonight because of it, the unthinkable
almost happened!” she retorted. “Don’t you see? Fenner attacked you because
I’ve got the job he’s always wanted, so he decided to take the one thing I
really want…you!”
“But
we don’t have to worry about Fenner anymore. He’s gone now.”
“Nikki,
don’t be so bloody naïve!” Helen snapped impatiently. “He’s been charged with
attempting to rape you, do you honestly think he’ll let us off the hook now?”
“I
know that but promise you won’t resign unless you have to. Please,” she begged.
“OK,”
she agreed, albeit reluctantly. “Now, why don’t you slip into something more
comfortable and I’ll read you a bedtime story?” she drawled seductively.
“Oh,
yeah?” Nikki grabbed hold of her and ground her hips against her.
“Behave
yourself, Ms Wade,” she admonished her, jokingly. “I hope you’re not like this
with all the Governing Governors.”
“Stubberfield…Ugh!”
Nikki grimaced.
“And
if you’re very good, I might just undress you,” Helen smirked suggestively.
“Then
I’ll be very, very good,” Nikki promised, smiling as she allowed Helen to start
removing her clothing.
Helen’s
hands caressed the soft flesh she revealed as each item was shed. By the time
she stood naked before Helen, Nikki was breathing heavily and her eyes were
filled with desire.
“Nikki,”
Helen said softly against her ear.
Helen’s
warm breath against her face only served to arouse her more. “What?” She looked
at her blankly.
“Pyjamas?”
Helen smiled. She knew only too well the effect she was having on her lover
because she was having a tough time keeping her own feelings under control.
“Under
the pillow.” Nikki jerked her thumb towards the bunk.
Helen
fetched the plain white cotton pyjamas from under Nikki’s pillow and held then
out to her. As Nikki took them from her, Helen placed her hands on Nikki’s
shoulders and reached up and kissed her lingeringly. “I’ll see you in the
morning,” she said softly.
“Helen!”
Nikki wailed in dismay and held the pyjamas out to her.
“Nikki,
I said I would undress you, I said nothing about dressing you,” she teased.
“But
what about my bedtime story?” Nikki retorted.
“Oh,
I think you’ll sleep well enough now. I know I will. ‘Night, Nikki. Sweet
dreams.” She went out of the cell, smiling to herself as she heard Nikki
grumbling under her breath.
“You’re
just a bloody tease, Helen Stewart!”
Shell
lay looking up at the ceiling. The doctor had been to see her and given her the
test results. Inoperable! The word resounded around her brain. There was
something growing in her head and it was inoperable but they could give her
drugs to help her with the pain! She’d wanted to smash the doctor’s face in,
like Fenner had smashed hers! She didn’t want drugs. That was a laugh! Shell
Dockley didn’t want drugs! First time for everything. She wanted to see her
kids but they’d been fostered and she didn’t know where they were. She wanted
to go back to Larkhall – at least she would be with people she knew – but most
of all…she wanted to fix Fenner and this time he wouldn’t see it coming!
She
looked helplessly at her right wrist cuffed to the bedhead. All she had to do
was find some way of getting free. Di Barker was on duty. She’d popped her head
round the door when she’d started her shift. “Miss! Miss!” she called
anxiously.
Di
rushed into the room a worried look on her face. “What is it, Shell?” she
asked.
“Please,
I’ve got these terrible pains in my ‘ead and I think I’m going to be sick,”
Shell told her dramatically.
Di
looked around her frantically. “Hold on, Shell!”
“I’m
going to be sick, miss!” She clamped her hand over her mouth and started to
heave. “Please, miss…” she said urgently, as she indicated the handcuffs.
“Just
hold on, Shell!” Di fumbled in her pocket for the key and unfastened the
handcuffs.
She
was free! Now what? “Can you get me a drink, Miss Barker?”
Di
turned and picked up the water jug from the bedside cabinet as Shell picked up
a bedpan from the table at the bottom of the bed and brought it crashing down
on the back of Di’s head. “Sorry, miss,” she muttered as the unconscious Di
fell to the floor.
A
few minutes later, no one gave the pretty blonde prison officer a second look
as she hurried out of the hospital. Shell felt in her coat pocket and drew out
Di’s purse. She smiled as she counted the notes. Now, she could treat herself
to a taxi ride to Jim Fenner’s house!
Fenner
let himself into the house. He’d been released on bail. Fourteen years in the prison
service and because of a couple of dykes, he’d been treated like a common
criminal. Well, if he was going down, he was taking them all with him. Betts as
well. She knew about Wade and Stewart and was siding with them against him.
He’d freshen up, have a few drinks and then…he smiled softly to himself… pay
Stewart a visit!
He
went into the living room and placed the bottle of whisky he’d bought onto the
coffee table. There was a noise behind him then the door slammed shut. “What
the…?” He whirled round to find Shell, still wearing Di’s uniform, leaning
against the door barring his exit.
“’Ello,
Mr Fenner.”
“Dockley!
What the hell are you doing here?”
“You
didn’t come to see me in ‘ospital, Jim, so I thought I’d come an’ see you.” She
told him in her best little girl voice. “Let you know what you’ve done to me.
They can’t operate you know, Jim.”
He
looked at her mockingly. “I’m calling the police.”
“Sorry,”
she replied indicating the telephone wire she had yanked out of the wall.
“You’ve been cut off.”
“You’re
a bloody nutter, Dockley!” he sneered.
She
laughed, for once unaffected by his words. “Me an’ you, Jim, we belong
together. We’re two of a kind. Nobody’ll miss us when we’ve gone.” He made a
movement towards her. “Don’t,” She brought the kitchen knife from behind her
back and held it out in front of her.
“We’ve
been here before, Shell,” he smirked. “You couldn’t do it then and you won’t do
it now.
“Wrong
again, Jimmy boy,” she laughed, as she drew her hand back and plunged the knife
into his chest. She watched as he sank to the floor then sat down on the settee
and took a bottle of tablets from her pocket. She picked up the bottle of
whisky and unscrewed the cap. “Good ‘ealth, Jim,” she gloated, before taking a
long swallow.
Karen
slammed the phone down and swore viciously. Now, Dockley had escaped! Surely
things couldn’t get any worse!
In
her temporary office, Helen sat looking at the telephone, a stunned expression
on her face. She couldn’t believe it. Fenner was dead!
She
flinched as someone knocked on the door. “Come in,” she called briskly and
looked up as Karen entered. “I was just going to call you. I’ve had the police
on the phone.”
Karen
plonked down in a chair opposite Helen. “Bloody hell, bad news sure travels
fast!” she exclaimed.
“I
know it’s a tragedy, Karen, but I’d feel like a hypocrite if I said I was
sorry,” she said candidly.
“I
wouldn’t say it was tragic,” Karen replied with a frown. “But it is bloody
inconvenient!”
Helen
laughed incredulously. “That’s a bit hard-nosed especially coming from you,”
she retorted.
“Come
on, Helen. You can’t tell me you don’t feel the same way,” Karen countered.
“We’ll have everybody breathing down our necks. How could we let it happen? Why
wasn’t security tighter?”
Helen
looked at her perplexed. “Karen, what are you talking about?”
“Dockley’s
escape, what else?”
“Dockley’s
escaped?” she repeated with a look of dismay. “Shit!”
“Isn’t
that what we’ve been talking about?” Karen asked impatiently.
“Then
you don’t know?” Helen asked softly. Karen spread her hands in query. “Jim
Fenner’s been stabbed! He’s dead, Karen.”
The
Wing-Governor looked at her in astonishment. Tears sprang to her eyes. The
small part of her that still cared for him couldn’t believe it.
“I’m
sorry you had to find out like this,” Helen said compassionately. “Is there
anything I can get you?”
Karen
shook her head. “I’m OK, Helen, thanks. It was just a bit of a shock, that’s
all.” She wiped her damp cheek with the back of her hand. “What happened? Do
they know who did it?”
“The
police think it was Di Barker.”
“Di!”
Karen exclaimed. “But I’ve just been talking to her on the phone.”
Helen
looked at her in astonishment. “But you can’t have, the police found her at
Jim’s place.”
“I
think one of us is going round the twist, Helen, and if you’ll excuse me for
saying it, I think it’s you,” she said facetiously. “I spoke to Di about twenty
minutes ago. Dockley knocked her out cold then stole her uniform and…” Karen
stopped when she realised the momentousness of what she was saying. “Shit! She
stole her ID, as well.”
“Shell
killed him and took her own life,” Helen said softly.
“She’s
dead?” Karen asked incredulously.
Helen
nodded. “Pills and booze. I suppose I’d better phone the police and let them
know what’s happened.” She closed her eyes momentarily. It was a terrible way
for Jim to die, but part of her couldn’t help but feel glad the woman she loved
was now safe.
“Are
you’re thinking about Nikki?” Karen’s voice broke into her thoughts.
She
opened her eyes, almost ashamed at what she had been thinking. “Yes. Am I so
terrible feeling glad Nikki’s safe at a time like this?”
“I’d
probably feel the same way, Helen,” she told her kindly. “You’re both safe from
him now. Who knows? Maybe all three of us are!”
Stubberfield
was back at work, after being told to take things easy by his doctor. “Well,
you’ve certainly had an eventful time, Helen,” he remarked caustically, after Helen
had gladly handed over the reins to him. “The loss of a fine prison officer and
one of the inmates.”
“Not
to mention the attempted rape of an inmate by the same fine prison officer,” she countered smugly.
“Yes,
well…I’m sure you have plenty to do,” he blustered.
Helen
smiled to herself as she took her leave of him. Now, she could get back to her
lifers’ and concentrate on Nikki’s appeal which was only days away. She went up
to the room where Jill Kelly was taking the lifers’ meeting and slipped quietly
inside. Her eyes automatically sought out Nikki and she suppressed a smile as
her lover saw her and tried to stop the huge grin from forming but failed
miserably.
“Sorry,
to interrupt, Mrs Kelly. If I could just have a quick word.” Helen moved up to
address the group. “Just to let you know that I’ll be taking over from Mrs
Kelly at the next meeting but I’m sure you’d all like to thank her for her
efforts.”
“Yeah,
three cheers for Mrs Kelly. Hip…” Shaz Wiley said loudly until Helen quickly
interrupted her.
“Thank
you, Sharon. I think we’ll take the three cheers as read,” she said in
amusement.
“It’s
‘Shaz’, Miss,” she wailed. “Call me ‘Shaz’!”
“Alright,
Shaz. Now, I’ll leave you to it and
I’ll see you later.” She started to leave the room then turned back. “Jill,
would you mind if I borrowed Nikki? I need to talk to her about her appeal.”
“No,
that’s alright,” Jill Kelly replied. “We’re almost finished here anyway. Off
you go, Nikki, and good luck with your appeal.”
“Thanks,
Mrs Kelly,” she said politely then followed Helen out of the room. “So, what’s
all this about then?” she asked as they walked.
“I
really do want to talk to you about your appeal,” Helen replied, smiling at the
look of disappointment on Nikki’s face.
“Go
on, then, talk!” Nikki ordered sulkily when they were both sitting in Helen’s
office. She couldn’t believe they were alone together for the first time in
days and all Helen wanted to do was talk.
Helen
looked at her gravely as she picked up a pen and started playing with it nervously.
“The thing is, Nikki…God, this isn’t easy!”
“For
Christ’s sake, Helen, tell me!” she snapped impatiently. “Has something gone
wrong with my appeal?”
“The
thing is, Nikki, I need to buy a new bed and I was just wondering whether to get
a single or a double.” She laughed as the look on Nikki’s face turned from
distress to amusement.
“You
had me worried then, you silly cow!” she exclaimed.
“So,
is that a ‘yes’ then to the double bed?” Helen teased.
“It’s
an ‘I don’t know’,” Nikki replied.
Helen
looked at her in surprise. “Are you saying you don’t want to come and live with
me?”
“Are
you saying you want me to come and live with you?” Nikki countered.
“Just
forget I mentioned it!” Helen snapped.
Nikki
stood up and went round the desk. She took hold of Helen’s hands and drew her
to her feet. “Miss Stewart, I would be honoured to live with you, if you really
want me to? It’s what I’ve always dreamed of but I couldn’t let myself think
about it, not seriously, anyway.”
“So,
is that a ‘yes’?”
“It
is definitely a ‘yes’!”
“Good.
That’s settled then.” Helen grinned. “Because the bedroom needs decorating and
knowing how good you are with your hands, I’m sure you wield a pretty nifty
paintbrush.”
“Don’t
push it, Stewart!” Nikki threatened.