Chapter 11
Nikki walked sullenly down the wing. She really
thought she and Helen had something special but Helen was just like all the
other women she’d been out with…manipulative bitches every last one of them!
Then again, maybe she had a talent for picking the wrong women.
“What’s wrong with you?” Barbara asked as she dropped
into the chair opposite her.
“Pissed off with this dump!” she retorted.
“Aren’t we all?” Barbara agreed. “Why don’t you ask
Miss Betts if you can start giving your classes again?”
“Can’t be bothered!” She gave a bored sigh then
smiled. “But I think I will go and see her.” She glanced around the wing.
‘Bodybag’ Hollamby seemed to be the only screw in attendance. “See you later,”
she threw over her shoulder at Barbara then sidled up to the dumpy officer.
“I’d like to see Miss Betts, please.”
Sylvia looked down her nose at her. “I’d like to win
the lottery but there’s not much chance of that happening either.”
“This is important…miss!” she snapped.
“Miss Betts is out. When she gets back, I’ll let her
know you’ve put in a request.” Sylvia eyed her distastefully. “Now, will there
be anything else?”
Nikki shook her head and walked away.
“Thank you, Mrs Hollamby,” she heard Bodybag mutter
sarcastically.
Dominic let himself into the cottage and stood in the
hallway listening to the silence. His dad always had the television or radio
blaring out and it seemed strange not to hear them. His mother wasn’t here
either. She had gone to stay with Granny McAllister – his dad’s mother – until
the funeral.
He went upstairs to his parents’ bedroom and opened
the wardrobe door. As the only child, he had to make all the arrangements and
he had to take his dad’s best suit to the undertakers.
As he reached in for the suit, he saw a cash box on
the shelf. He hated going through his dad’s private things but he knew that was
where the insurance policies and the like were kept. Lifting the box down, he
went and sat at the dressing table. The key was hidden in the toe of an old
sock in his dad’s sock drawer. He smiled to himself as he turned the key,
anyone would think he’d got the Crown Jewels stashed. The box was stuffed with
papers and he frowned as he picked an envelope up from the top of the pile. It
bore the words ‘To be opened in the event of my death’!
He sat with the envelope in his hands for several
moments, wondering if he should wait until his mother came home and let her
open it, but if it was bad news…She had enough to cope with at the moment. He
tore the envelope open and took out a single sheet of paper. As he read the
letter through, his eyes widened in horror. “No!” he yelled at the top of his
lungs.
Helen had just come in the door and heard the sound.
She ran upstairs fearing what she might find. “Dominic, what’s wrong?” she
demanded when she saw him sitting there, tears streaming down his face. He
looked up at her then held out the letter.
Helen took the letter from him and quickly scanned it,
then read it again, not daring to believe her eyes. “Oh, my God!” she murmured
softly. “Do you know what this means?”
“Yeah, it means my Dad was a murderer!” he replied
bitterly.
Sylvia Hollamby stomped her way down G-Wing and
stopped outside Nikki’s cell. “Miss Betts can see you now, Wade.”
Nikki was lying stretched out on her bunk and looked
up as Hollamby spoke to her from the doorway. She smiled to herself. Hollamby
never came right into her cell. Probably thought she had designs on her body!
She got up quickly and the officer gave a loud sniff.
“It’s a pity you don’t jump to it every time I tell you to do something.”
“I know how much you like to have a go, Sylvia,” she
grinned. “And that bossy manner of yours is a real turn-on.”
“You’ll cut yourself one day, Wade, you’re that sharp.
Now, do you want to see Miss Betts or shall I tell her you’ve changed your
mind.”
“Wade for you Miss Betts,” Sylvia announced as she
ushered Nikki into the Wing Governor’s office.
Karen smiled up at the tall lifer. “Sit down, Nikki,”
she said pleasantly. “What did you want to see me about?”
Nikki checked the door was firmly closed before
speaking. “Us!” she said simply as she sat down.
“Us?” Karen echoed.
“You know I care about you, Karen, and I think you
feel the same way,” she said tentatively. “Neither of us are in a satisfactory
relationship and if we both want to try.”
“What are you saying, Nikki?”
She stood up and walked round the desk and took hold
of Karen’s hand. The Wing Governor rose mesmerised by the look of desire in
Nikki’s eyes. “This is what I’m trying to say.” She placed her arms around
Karen’s waist and drew her close then pressed her mouth to the other woman’s.
Her lips moved slowly and provocatively, trying to evoke some response from
her.
Karen moaned softly and slid her arms around Nikki,
surrendering herself to the soft probing tongue then, without warning she
pushed her away. “Don’t!”
“Why, Karen? It’s what we both want,” Nikki said
passionately as she tried to take her back into her arms.
Karen placed her hands on Nikki’s shoulders holding
her at arm’s length. “No, Nikki. Be honest, we don’t love each other, we both
love other people. Yes, there’s a mutual physical attraction but that’s all.”
“We could make it work!”
“It wouldn’t work, Nikki,” Karen replied regretfully.
“What sort of relationship could we have when I have to lock you away every
night? We’re drawn together because neither of us can have what we really want.
Admit it, you still love Helen.”
Nikki smiled resignedly. “You’re right, I do, even
though she is a two-timing bitch!”
“Remind me never to get on the wrong side of you,”
Karen laughed then her face became serious. “You’re very special, Nikki.
Probably more than I dare admit to myself but I owe it to my kids to try and
make a go of it with my husband. I can’t just throw eighteen years of marriage
away without a fight.”
“He doesn’t deserve you, you know?”
“You’re right, he doesn’t,” Karen agreed. “Maybe it’s
time I made him realise that.”
“Good luck, Karen. Now, can you ring for old Bodybag
to take me back to the wing?” she smirked at Karen’s raised eyebrows.
“I shudder to think what you call me behind my back,”
Karen quipped.
“Well, don’t expect me to tell you. I’m nobody’s
nark!” Came the laughing response.
“I hope things work out between you and Helen,” Karen
replied sincerely.
Nikki nodded. “Thanks, Karen. I hope things work out
for you too. I’ll wait outside for Bod…Mrs Hollamby.”
Helen couldn’t take her eyes off the letter she was
holding firmly in her hand. It was signed by John McAllister and confessing to
his role in the death of Trisha Marshall! “This proves Nikki is innocent. We
have to take it to the police.”
“Helen, we can’t. He says it was an accident.”
She looked at him aghast. “Dominic, we have to take it
to the police! Accident or not, your father was responsible for Trisha’s
death!”
“Let my mother lay him to rest first,” he said
pleadingly. “Give me a couple of days. Please, Helen.”
“Do you know what you’re asking?” she demanded
angrily. “Nikki has already spent a year of her life in jail for something she
didn’t do.”
“I’m begging you…just until after the funeral.
Please.”
“OK,” she nodded agreement. “But immediately after the
funeral, I’m going to the police, with or without you.”
“Thanks, Helen.” He touched her hand but she flinched
away from him. “Will you come to the funeral?”
She laughed bitterly. “I’m sorry, Dominic. It would be
hypocritical of me when he’s the reason the woman I love is behind bars.”
Helen pulled up outside Nikki’s house. She wasn’t sure
what sort of reception she would get from Monica but she had to make her peace
with the woman now Nikki’s release looked imminent. Her finger hovered over the
doorbell then she pressed it purposefully. After a few moments Monica opened
the door.
“Hello, Monica,” Helen said nervously, then to her
great relief the older woman smiled.
“It’s good to see you, Helen. Come in.”
“How are things?” she asked when they were settled in
the lounge.
“Fine, thanks,” Monica replied. “Are you still at
Dominic’s?”
“No, I moved out. He has enough to worry about with
the funeral,” she edged. “Anyway, I didn’t think it was a good idea, staying
there alone with him. You know how people talk.”
“I certainly do,” Monica agreed. “Nikki got some
foolish notion into her head about the two of you. I tried to put her straight
but she wouldn’t listen.”
“Tell me about it,” Helen murmured wryly. “She gave me
a real roasting!”
“She’ll get over it.” Came the confident reply. “It
can’t be easy for her, locked away from the people she loves.”
“That’s what I came to see you about, Monica,” she
began hesitantly. “Fresh evidence has come to light that proves Nikki’s
innocence. I can’t say too much but I don’t think she’ll be locked away for
very much longer.”
Monica sat there, a stupefied expression on her face
then silent tears started to trickle down her cheeks.
“Oh, don’t, Monica,” Helen pleaded, close to tears
herself. She reached out and gave the other woman a comforting hug.
“I can’t believe it, Helen,” Monica replied, dabbing
her eyes with a handkerchief. “Nikki’s coming home!”
“Yes, Monica. She is,” Helen said with a smile.
“Miss Betts would like to see you, Nikki,” Di Barker
said pleasantly as she poked her head inside the inmate’s cell.
Nikki rose from her bunk and followed the officer to
Karen’s office.
“Come in, Nikki.” The Wing Governor gave her a beaming
smile. “I think you’d better take a seat and prepare yourself for a shock.”
Nikki looked at her curiously. “Have you decided to
let me out and run away with me?” she asked jokingly.
“You really would get a shock if I decided to take you
up on some of the things you say to me,” she teased.
“You’ll never know because you’ll never do it,” Nikki
retorted with a grin. “Come on then, Karen. Shock me!”
“There’s been a development in your case, Nikki.” She
smiled as the inmate frowned at her. “The police know who really killed
Trisha.”
Nikki looked at her stunned, knowing she had to ask
the question uppermost in her mind but so afraid to do so. She took a deep
breath. “Who was it?”
“John McAllister.”
“John!” she echoed incredulously.
“He left a letter to be opened after his death.
Apparently, she was having his grandchild. He…” she stopped when she saw the
look of horror on Nikki’s face.
“Trisha and Dominic!” she said harshly then her face
contorted bitterly. “Why did I never see it?” She looked at the Wing Governor.
“I’m sorry, Karen. Go on with what you were saying.”
“Are you sure you want me to?” She asked worriedly,
continuing only after Nikki had nodded. “Mr McAllister heard Trisha telling his
son she was going to have an abortion, so he went to your club and tried to get
her to change her mind but she wouldn’t. The day she died, he saw her walking
along the cliff tops. They argued and she slipped and fell.”
“What happens now?” she asked softly.
Karen smiled at her delighted at the news she had to
impart. “Once your release papers come through, you’re free to go!”
Whilst they waited for news of Nikki’s release date,
Helen had moved back into Nikki’s to be with Monica. As soon as they received
the call, Helen flung her clothes into her suitcase. She would spend the night
in a hotel and be waiting for Nikki when she came out of Larkhall.
“If she calls, don’t tell her I’m coming, I want to
surprise her,” Helen told Monica.
The following morning, bright and early, she pulled up
outside the prison. She couldn’t wait to see Nikki. The last time she’d spoken
to her harsh words had passed between them but she was sure they would all be
forgotten when they saw each other again.
Nikki tearfully said her ‘goodbyes’. She had made a
lot of friends in Larkhall and she would miss them all, none more so than the
woman who accompanied her to the gate. As she stepped outside, she turned to
Karen. “I’m going to miss you, you know.”
“Well, things are certainly going to be dull without
you around,” Karen replied with a twinkle in her eye.
“Sure you wouldn’t like to come with me?” Nikki
invited.
Karen shook her head. “Go home and find your Helen and
be happy.”
“You too, Karen,” she said softly. She drew her away
from the gate and prying eyes and kissed her gently on the mouth. “I’ll never
forget you.”
“I think you’ll stick in my mind for a long time, as
well.”
Nikki looked around her. “Why is there never a taxi when
you want one?”
The Wing Governor held up her car keys. “Taxi, miss?”
she asked mischievously. “Come on, I’ll drive you to the station.”
“Are you sure this is allowed?” she asked dubiously.
“Of course, I’m the Wing Governor,” Karen replied.
“Anyway, who’s going to know?”
Helen watched in dismay as the two women drove away.
Blonde and beautiful, Nikki had said. So, that was the Wing Governor. Feeling
sick to her stomach, she started up the engine. There was nothing in Cornwall
for her now. She drew away from the kerb and started the long drive back to
Yorkshire!
Nikki stepped down from the train disappointed Helen
hadn’t met her. Outside the station, she got into a taxi and, after giving the
driver her address, sank back into her seat.
As they drove up to the house, she felt a lump form in
her throat. She hadn’t realised how much she’d missed the place. “Hold on and
I’ll go and get your money,” she told the driver. As she climbed out of the
taxi, Dominic appeared round the side of the house. When he saw her, he turned
and started to walk back the way he had come.
Nikki’s disappointment about Helen turned into blazing
anger and she dashed after him, dropping him to the floor with a well-timed
rugby tackle.
“You’re a bastard, McAllister!” she exclaimed. As they
both struggled to their feet, she swung her fist and caught him a glancing blow
to the chin, sending him staggering. “Got yourself a new career, have you?
Serial shagger of my girlfriends!” She swung her fist again and hit him in the
face with all her might. He sank to the floor blood pouring from his nose. She
was breathing heavily but there was a satisfied smile on her face as she looked
down at him. “By the way, McAllister. You’re fired!”