Chapter 5
Nikki went into the other room, angry and ashamed with
herself for what had just happened. She had never lost complete control like
that before and couldn’t believe she had almost forced herself upon someone.
Was this what prison did to you? The last woman she had held in her arms had
been Karen Betts but what she had felt for her was nothing like she was feeling
at this moment. She didn’t even know the woman’s name, for Christ’s sake!
Although, there was something vaguely familiar about her and she could’ve sworn
she’d seen her before.
She reached into her pocket and took out a mobile
phone she had removed from the woman’s handbag. She switched the phone on and,
after a while, was informed there was a new message. ‘Wade seen in Cornwall,
Lofty’, the text message read. So, she wasn’t just a tourist. What was she…a
copper? Nikki gave a bitter laugh as she suddenly remembered where she had seen
her before. The press box at her trial. She was a bloody journalist!
When her weeping subsided, Helen rose from the bed and
snatched up her handbag. She rummaged frantically inside it. Her mobile phone
was missing. Wade must have taken it.
“Shit!” she mumbled softly as she tossed the bag onto
the bed. She opened her case and, after taking out a clean pair of jeans and a
sweater, dressed quickly, keeping her eyes on the door the whole time. Wade
wasn't going to catch her again, literally, with her pants down.
Later, when Nikki again knocked on the door – this
time to inform her she had cooked a meal – Helen ignored her. Even the gnawing
hunger pangs caused by the appetising smell of frying bacon wafting in to her,
and the fact that she hadn't eaten anything all day, wouldn't let her open the
door and face Wade.
Sleep eluded her as she lay, for what seemed hour
after hour, staring up at the ceiling. She had no idea what time it was and it
was too dark to see her wristwatch. She shivered and huddled the blankets
closer to her.
Her lips were dry and her stomach was griped with
hunger pains. She had to have something even if it was only a drink of water
and she needed the loo. She flung back the covers and swung her legs from the
bed.
The door made no sound as she opened it carefully. The
other room was illuminated by the eerie glow from an oil lamp and she could
just make out Nikki Wade’s form slumped in an armchair in front of the small
Calor gas fire.
Silently she moved to the small kitchen area. "I
wondered how long you would hold out," a mocking voice said.
"I'm thirsty," Helen muttered sullenly.
Nikki stood up and turned round to face her. "And
cold and hungry as well?" she asked not unkindly.
"Yes," Helen agreed reluctantly. “Is there a
loo…toilet around here?”
“There’s a chemical toilet round the back,” she was
informed. “Hope you’re not scared of spiders.”
“I think spiders are the least of my worries, don’t
you?” she said pointedly and Nikki laughed. “Oh, I’m glad you think it’s all so
amusing,” she snapped.
“Look, why don’t you just go to the loo and I'll get
you something to eat," Nikki replied as she started to walk towards her.
"I can manage," Helen replied hurriedly. The
kitchen area was small, scarcely big enough for one let alone two, and she didn't
want an action replay of the scene in the bedroom.
“OK then. Have you got any matches to light the
stove?” Nikki demanded.
“No,” she admitted.
“Not going to get very far then are you, love?” Nikki
replied facetiously.
“Alright then, smart arse, you do it!” Helen exclaimed
and flounced out of the door, only to return a few moments later to snatch the
torch Nikki was holding out to her.
Nikki smiled good-humouredly as she watched her
retreating back…actually, her gorgeous retreating backside! She lit the small
camping stove and filled the kettle from a plastic water carrier.
After a few minutes, Helen returned. “Is there
somewhere I can wash my hands?”
“There isn’t any running water,” Nikki told her. “But
there’s some in the carrier or I’ve just been grabbing a handful of snow.”
Helen went back outside and came dashing in seconds
later shaking her hands. “It’s bloody freezing!” she exclaimed taking the towel
Nikki handed to her with a muttered ‘thanks’.
"Why don’t you go and sit down in front of the
fire?” Nikki suggested. “It's not very good but it's better than nothing."
She watched as Helen sat down in the chair she had just vacated. "For what
it's worth...I'm sorry about what happened before. In fact, I’m bloody ashamed
of myself," she said as she made two mugs of black coffee. “It's a long
time since I held a beautiful woman in my arms. I'm afraid I let it go to my
head."
"I rather thought it was other parts of your
anatomy," she replied sarcastically.
"Point taken," she admitted as she handed
Helen a pre-packed ham sandwich and one of the mugs. "Sorry there's no
milk. These are the last of the rations."
She proffered the sandwich. "Do you want
half?"
Nikki shook her head. "I ate earlier,
thanks." She sat down in the other
armchair and, as Helen ate, sipped her coffee and regarded her intently.
"Do you have to watch me?" Helen snapped
after a while. "I'm not going anywhere."
"I'm sorry,” Nikki replied. “I just realised, I
don't even know your name."
"It's Helen…Helen Stewart."
"I don't think I need to introduce myself, do
I?" Nikki asked tartly.
"Hardly." Helen looked around her, taking in
the desk and shelves filled with books. “What is this place?”
“It’s my hideout.” Nikki laughed at the puzzled look
on Helen’s face. “My house is nearby and I built this place so I could have
total solitude when I was writing. No phone, TV or distractions.”
“But won’t the police come looking for you here?”
“As I said, I built it myself and not many people know
about it. The ones who do won’t shop me,” she replied confidently. They sat in
silence for a few minutes before Nikki finally spoke. "What were you doing
travelling in such bad weather?"
Helen chewed a mouthful of sandwich thoughtfully,
wondering what would the consequences be if she told her the truth. "It
wasn't as bad as this when I set out."
"From where?" she probed.
Helen ate the last mouthful of sandwich. "Thank
you I enjoyed that."
"You're welcome, but you didn't answer my
question. What were you doing travelling on a day like this?"
She hesitated momentarily. "I'm on business for
my company," she replied half-truthfully.
Brown eyes studied her keenly. "What sort of work
do you do?"
"I'm tired. I'd like to go back to bed, if you
don't mind." She started to rise
but the coldness of Nikki’s voice when she spoke again made her cringe back.
"I do mind, I haven't finished." Nikki
rested her elbows on the chair arms and sat with her hands almost in
prayer. "Well?"
"W...well what?" Helen stammered.
"What sort of work do you do?" she repeated
staring Helen straight in the eye.
Helen swallowed hard. "I'm a journalist."
"I know," Nikki said simply.
"Then why the hell did we have to go through all
that farce?" Helen demanded.
Nikki gave her a weary smile. "Because I am
surrounded by dishonesty and I just hoped, for once, someone might tell me the
truth."
Helen’s brow furrowed. "How did you know? That
I'm a journalist, I mean."
"Don’t ask me why I should remember you but I saw
you at my trial. You seemed so…different to be in such a shitty
profession."
Helen gave her a surprised look. "You obviously
have no love for journalists."
"The papers crucified me at my trial," Nikki
retorted bitterly. "They had a field day because Trish was pregnant and
printed a pack of lies about me."
"Miss Wade, I happen to love my job. As far as
I'm concerned I write the truth."
"As you see it," she sneered.
"No, Miss Wade, I tell it like it is. Your
girlfriend had an affair and got herself pregnant so you murdered
her!" She sucked in her breath as
Nikki’s eyes darkened angrily and her fists clenched until her knuckles showed
up white.
"Well, two out of three ain’t bad," she said
sarcastically. "Yes, Trish had an affair. Yes, she was pregnant but no, I
didn't murder her."
"You're still sticking to that story, are
you?" Helen demanded.
"You believe what you want to believe, as far as
I'm concerned that's the
truth." Nikki dropped her head
into her hands wearily.
"But why..." Helen began but Nikki
interrupted her. "Go to bed!"
She rose hesitantly but before she had time to move
away Nikki sprang to her feet and grabbed hold of her wrists. She twisted
Helen’s arms behind her back and pulled her close.
"Shall I tell you what it was like out there on
the cliffs?" she hissed. "The fear in her eyes just like there is in
your eyes now." She released her abruptly and turned away. "For God's
sake go to bed, Helen."
Helen, rubbing her aching wrists, scurried back to the
bedroom where she again curled up in a ball on the bed. Wade had virtually
admitted killing her girlfriend, now she really was afraid!
Eventually she fell into a troubled sleep and when she
awoke light was streaming in through the small window. She stretched and rubbed
her cold, aching limbs.
The other room was empty when she finally dared to
emerge from the bedroom, but the outside door was open. If Wade had gone off in
the Range Rover maybe now was the time to escape.
As she reached the door Nikki appeared in the doorway
carrying a box of food. "Not thinking of trying to run off, are you?"
she said pleasantly.
"Why should I do that when I'm having so much fun
here with you!" Helen retorted sarcastically.
"Glad to hear it." She brushed passed her and took the box into the kitchen.
“Where did you get that lot from?” Helen asked
curiously. “Surely you haven’t been shopping. What if someone recognised you?”
She looked at Nikki and saw she was just standing smiling at her. “What?”
“If you’re trying to let me think you’re concerned
about my welfare, forget it!” Her face suddenly became serious. “Look, Helen, I
think we both know I can’t keep you here forever. Apart from anything else, I
can’t do what I have to do if I’m standing guard over you the whole time.”
Helen looked at her anxiously then took a deep breath
before replying. “So, what are you
going to do with me then?”
“I’m going to let you go, what else?” Nikki laughed
derisively. “What did you think I was going to do, bump you off and bury you in
the woods?” She saw Helen flush. “Jesus Christ, you did, didn’t you?” She
looked taken aback. “What sort of monster do you think I am?”
“Miss Wade…”
“For Christ’s sake, can’t you even bring yourself to
say my first name?”
“N…Nikki,” Helen began tentatively. “You said you
couldn’t do what you had to do…”
“Yeah, so?” Nikki looked at her questioningly. “Look,
if it’s any of your business – which it isn’t – I’m…I’ve…” she hesitated,
wondering if she could trust Helen then, for some strange reason, decided she
could. “I’m going to find out who killed Trisha then I’m going to turn myself
in.”
“But you said you were going to leave the country,”
Helen replied accusingly.
Nikki sighed. “Whilst I was banged up in Larkhall,
there was no way anyone was going to look for Trisha’s killer. As far as the
cops were concerned they had the guilty party…me! I went on the run because I
saw my chance and took it but now I have the opportunity to try and clear my
name. Helen, will you help me?” She heard the other woman’s sharp intake of
breath. “Please, help me and I promise I’ll give you an exclusive interview.”
Helen looked at her for several moments before
replying. “OK, Mi…Nikki. I’ll help you.”
Nikki smiled with relief. “There is just one thing. If
we do find Trisha’s killer, depending on who it is, I may have to suppress the
evidence and I’d expect you to respect my decision.”
“You mean, you’d take the blame for something you
didn’t do?” Helen asked incredulously.
“You almost sound as if you think I’m innocent,” Nikki
replied. “Look, Helen, I think I know who killed Trisha and there is no way I
am letting them go to prison for a scheming, two-timing, little slut like her!
So, will you still help me?”
Helen nodded. “But I can’t promise to suppress
evidence.”
“OK then,” Nikki agreed. “We’ll have to cross that
bridge when we come to it. Now, let’s get you back to civilisation.”
After again stowing Helen’s suitcase in the Range
Rover, Nikki drove her back to her car, which was now parked on the roadside.
“I moved it. Thought it might look less suspicious,” Nikki explained. She transferred
the suitcase to the boot of Helen’s car and then handed her the keys. “Thanks
for doing this, Helen,” she said sincerely.
“Well, I get a scoop at the end of it,” Helen replied.
“So, what do you want me to do?”
“I want you to go and stay at my house. I rang my
housekeeper, Monica, and told her to expect you. Sorry, I used your phone.” She
took Helen’s mobile out of her pocket and handed it to her. “She thinks you’re
my girlfriend,” she told her sheepishly.
“Girlfriend!” Helen echoed in surprise.
“Well, I could hardly tell her the truth, could I?”
Nikki said defensively. “I told her I’d met you inside and I escaped to be with
you after you were released.”
“This gets bloody better by the minute!” Helen
exclaimed incredulously. “Now, I’m an ex-con!”
“Look, Helen, if you don’t want to do this, I’ll
understand,” Nikki replied disappointedly.
Helen looked at the hangdog expression on Nikki’s
face. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t do it. I just didn’t realise it would be so
complicated.”
Nikki’s face cleared and she smiled. Helen quickly
looked away. The smile was doing crazy things to her stomach.
“All you have to do,” Nikki was saying. “Is enjoy my
hospitality – Monica is a very good cook – and keep your eyes and ears open.”
“So, apart from Monica, is there anyone else I should
know about?” Helen asked, ever the investigative journalist.
“There’s Dominic…Dominic McAllister. He looks after
the running of the house for me. He’s a bit wet but he’s a nice guy.” She again
gave a stomach-churning smile. “And he’s single.”
Helen took a deep breath. She was having enough
trouble coping with her feelings for Nikki Wade without adding this Dominic to
the equation. Ever since Nikki had kissed her she had felt as if she was in a
state of suppressed excitement. “He’s hardly going to try it on if he thinks
I’m your…girlfriend.”
Nikki shrugged. “That doesn’t seem to stop some
people. Trish was my girlfriend as well,” she replied bitterly.
Helen looked at her guiltily. “Sorry, that was a
thoughtless thing to say.”
“Don’t worry about it, Helen. It doesn’t matter to me
anymore,” Nikki reassured her. “Look, you’d better go. I’ll try and contact you
somehow. Take care.” She started to walk to the Range Rover but Helen’s voice
stopped her.
“Nikki, wait! Don’t go. I…”
Nikki turned and walked slowly back and stopped in
front of Helen. She looked at her, searching her face, trying to see what Helen
wasn’t saying. She bent her head and gently pressed her lips to Helen’s. She
was rewarded with a soft moan then Helen’s arms went around her neck.
They drew apart shakily. A faint smile touched both
their lips. “Don’t worry, Helen. I’ll be around,” Nikki promised. “I know this
might be hard, but be careful who you trust.”
“Even you,” Helen murmured.
“You’ll have to work that one out for yourself. Do you
want to trust me, Helen?” she asked seductively.
Helen nodded. “More than anything. I’ve never felt
like this before,” she said softly.
“I know,” Nikki agreed. “I don’t think I have either.”
“But you must have done.”
Nikki shook her head. “Not like this, Helen. It’s even
more important to me now that I prove my innocence.”
Helen looked at her curiously. “Why?”
“I think we’ll leave the explanations for another
time,” Nikki laughed. “I’ll see you.”
“Yeah, see you,” Helen replied. She watched as Nikki
drove away then climbed into her own car. Her hand stilled as she reached for
the ignition. She had just realised how important it was to her that Nikki Wade
was proved innocent. Either that or admit to herself…she had fallen in love
with a convicted murderer!