Chapter 9
“Well, well, Ms Wade! So glad you could rejoin us,”
Jim Fenner said spitefully as he stood in the doorway of Nikki’s cell on
segregation. “It hasn’t been the same since you left.”
She was stretched out on the excuse for a bed and
didn’t even bother looking up. “Got myself captured, Mr Fenner, just so I could
come back and see your happy, smiling face,” she replied sarcastically.
“I’m sure a week in here will knock the smile off your face.”
“Alright, Jim, that’s enough!” Karen Betts ordered as
she came up behind him.
He looked from one to the other, a knowing smirk on
his lips. With a shake of his head he walked out of the cell and his footsteps
echoed down the corridor.
Karen closed the cell door before turning to face
Nikki who was now sitting on the edge of the bed. “How are you, Nikki?”
“I’m fine, miss, thanks,” she replied then stood up
and began to pace the cell. “Why am I back here? What happened to my transfer?”
“They refused to take you. I think they thought you
were too high profile, too big a troublemaker.” She gave her a wry smile. “I
heard about the man you saved. You did well.”
“Yeah, well…” she shrugged and stopped pacing. Her
eyes finally met those of the Wing Governor. “How are you, Karen?”
“Missing you more than I thought possible,” she said
softly then, seeing the surprised look on Nikki’s face, continued. “Sorry, I
know that was the wrong thing to say.”
“That’s what got me shipped out in the first place.
Though I don’t suppose you could arrange for me to break out again could you?”
She smiled roguishly. “I’ve got some unfinished business to take care of.”
Karen laughed. “You’ll not be going anywhere for the
next week, love. After that I think you and I should keep our distance.”
“Guess you’re right,” Nikki agreed readily.
“Don’t sound so relieved,” the Wing Governor teased.
“Sorry,” she laughed. “It’s just that I’ve met someone
and I didn’t want any complications. I’m in love with her.”
“Whilst you were on the run?” Karen asked
incredulously. Nikki nodded. “I’m impressed. You don’t waste much time.”
“It just happened, literally by accident. She’s a
journalist and was supposed to be reporting on my escape.” She gave a bitter
laugh. “Would you believe, we were going away together? I was on my way to meet
her when I was picked up but I don’t think I should be telling you that.”
“I won’t say anything,” Karen promised. “But I suppose
it was unfortunate you were picked up though I’m surprised you put your trust
in a journalist.”
Nikki looked at her with a puzzled frown. “What are
you trying to say? That Helen shopped me?”
“Helen?” Karen repeated. “Your little journalist?”
“Bitchiness doesn’t suit you, Karen,” Nikki told her
sarcastically. “You said yourself, you’re in love with your husband.”
“And now you’re in love with Helen. Guess this just
wasn’t our time. See you later, Nikki.” With a ghost of a smile she opened the
cell door and was gone.
Nikki stood, arms folded, and mulled over what Karen
had implied. Helen couldn’t have shopped her…she loved her…they were going away
together. She couldn’t believe it! She had only been back in Larkhall a few
hours and already the doubts and uncertainties were crowding in!
“What the bloody hell are you playing at, Helen?”
Daniel Lofthouse shouted angrily down the phone. “You’re supposed to be down
there working, not on your bloody summer holiday! Wade has been captured and
have I heard anything from you? Have I shit!”
“Calm down, Lofty.” Helen grimaced as she tried to
pacify her boss. Maybe ringing him hadn’t been such a good idea after all. “I
know I haven’t been in touch…”
“And I know you bloody haven’t!” he exclaimed. “What
the hell have you been doing for the
past few days? Sat boozing in some hotel bar at my expense, I’ll bet!”
“No, I have not!” she retorted. “I haven’t spent a
penny of your money, you tight-fisted sod! If you must know, for the past few
days I have been living in Nikki Wade’s house, trying to help her find out who
really did kill her girlfriend and…” she hesitated slightly to give him chance
to digest what she had said, before continuing. “She’s promised me an exclusive
interview when she’s released.”
She was stunned when Lofty suddenly laughed out loud.
“This is a newspaper I run. We deal in facts, not bloody fantasy!” he replied
sarcastically.
“Sod you, Lofty!” she snapped. “If you’re not
interested in this story, I know plenty who would be.”
“I didn’t say I wasn’t interested,” he edged. “So
you’ve been helping an escaped murder? I repeat, what the bloody hell are you
playing at, Helen?”
“Nikki is not a murderer!” she said angrily.
“What the hell makes you so sure?”
‘Because I couldn’t love a murderer!’ she wanted to
yell at him, but just said out loud, “Take my word for it, Lofty, Nikki Wade
didn’t kill anyone!”
“What is going on down there?” Lofthouse demanded
suspiciously. “I hope you’re not getting yourself into any trouble.”
“Of course I’m not,” she replied innocently. “You said
yourself, she’s been captured. I’ll e-mail my copy to you. I’m having to use
Nikki’s computer, I forgot to bring my laptop with me.”
“You seem to have made yourself at home,” he remarked
slyly.
“Lofty, these are really nice people,” she replied
defensively, and they were. She knew Monica and Dominic thought the world of
Nikki and couldn’t believe either of them would do anything to hurt her.
“I’ll take your word for that,” Lofty was saying.
“Keep me posted and I’ll look out for your e-mail.”
“I’ll send it straight away,” she promised him. “Speak
to you soon.” As she replaced the receiver, there was a tap on the study door
and Monica came in.
“Hope I’m not bothering you, Helen,” she said with a
smile. “I’m going up to the cemetery. If you want anything, just help
yourself.”
“Thanks, Monica.” Helen returned her smile. “Would you
mind if I came with you?”
“No, of course not. I’d be glad of the company.”
“Can you give me five minutes to finish off and I’ll
be right with you?”
A few minutes later – e-mail duly sent – Helen grabbed
her jacket from the hallstand and went in search of Monica. “Sorry if I’ve kept
you waiting,” she apologised as she entered the kitchen. “These are beautiful,”
she indicated the spray of flowers on the table.
“Spencer loved flowers,” Monica told her softly. “I
take him some every week.”
“Your son?” Helen asked quietly then, seeing the
surprised look on the housekeeper’s face added, “Nikki told me about him.”
Monica looked at her sadly. “Trisha hated Spencer
being here. She couldn’t stand imperfection of any kind but he was my son and I
loved him, as did Nikki.” She smiled suddenly, remembering the past. “Spencer
worshipped the ground Nikki walked on. He followed her everywhere and would
have done anything for her.”
Helen touched her hand gently. “Come on, let’s take
your son his flowers.”
When she had served her week on the block, Officer
Barker led Nikki back to G-Wing to a cell on basic.
“You’re in here now, Nikki,” Di Barker told her
pleasantly.
“Thanks, miss.” Nikki dropped down onto the bunk and
stretched out. The word soon got round that Nikki was back on the wing and it
wasn’t long before Barbara Hunt stuck her head around the door.
“It’s good to see you back safe and sound, Nikki,”
Barbara told her sincerely. “We were really worried when we heard you’d
escaped.”
Nikki swung her long legs onto the floor. “I can’t
believe I’ve finished up back in this shit hole!” she exclaimed. “Another few
hours and we would have been on our way.”
“We?” Barbara echoed.
“I’ve met someone, Babs. She’s bloody gorgeous!” She
smiled sheepishly. “We were going to hide out at her place in Yorkshire until I
could get a passport then we were going away together.”
“Nikki, this is so unlike you,” Barbara said
incredulously. “You put all your trust in someone you must have only known a
matter of days and then you’re surprised when you’re captured and brought
back.”
“What the hell is it with everyone!” Nikki exclaimed.
“Why are you all trying to make out that Helen shopped me?” She stormed angrily
to the door.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to ring Helen and bloody well ask her!” she
spat viciously.
“Monica, I’m back,” Helen called out as she entered
the front door. She frowned when she saw her suitcase standing in the hallway.
“Monica!” The older woman glared at her angrily as she came downstairs. “What’s
going on? Why is my suitcase here?”
“Because I want you out of this house!” Monica replied
angrily. “You have betrayed Nikki and you have betrayed all of us who made you
welcome!”
“What’s happened?” she demanded. “Why are you being
like this?”
Monica picked up a newspaper from the hall table and
thrust it at her. “A friend of mine sent this to me. How long did you think you
could get away with telling a pack of lies?”
Helen took the newspaper from her and her heart
sank…it was the paper she worked for and the article she had written was on the
front page. “Monica, I can explain. Nikki knows I’m a journalist.”
“I don’t think so!” she replied coldly. “Nikki loathes
and detests journalists. She certainly wouldn’t have one under her own roof.”
“You’ve got it all wrong,” she said wildly. “There’s
nothing in that article to hurt Nikki. I’m trying to help her.”
“You betrayed her merely by writing the article,”
Monica accused her. “Now, would you please leave?”
“Monica, please…”
“Or would you like me to get Dominic to throw you
out?”
“No, I’m going,” she said resignedly. “But you’re very
wrong, Monica, and I’ll prove it to you.” She picked up her suitcase and left
the house without a backward glance.
Monica stared at the front door. She had really liked
Helen and had begun to think of her as a friend. She was shaken out of her
reverie by the telephone shrilling. “Yes?” she spoke softly into the
mouthpiece.
“It’s me, Monica. Is Helen there?” Nikki asked
anxiously.
“No, Nikki, she’s gone,” Monica told her, close to
tears.
“Gone? Gone where?” she demanded.
“I’m so sorry, Nikki. Helen betrayed you…” she heard a
click and the phone went dead.
Helen stowed her suitcase into the boot of the car
then, with an aching heart, slid into the driving seat.
“Helen, wait!” Dominic called out as he ran round the
side of the house. He leant on the car door, an apologetic look on his face. “I
heard Monica having a go at you. Sorry I didn’t intervene but when Monica gets
in a paddy, I keep my head down.”
“Dominic, I did not betray Nikki!” she retorted. “She
knows I’m a journalist.”
“I don’t understand,” Dominic frowned. “How did you
meet in prison, if you’re a journalist?”
“I’ve never been in prison. Nikki told Monica that to
explain how we met.” She sighed. “Get in the car, Dominic, I’ll tell you
everything.” As she drove, Helen told him about how she and Nikki had met and
her reasons for the secrecy.
The young man shook his head. “I can’t believe Nikki
thought Monica had done it! Me either for that matter.”
“I think maybe we should start pursuing another avenue
of investigation, Dominic,” she told him thoughtfully. “If we could find out
whose baby she was having then I think we’ve found her killer.”
“No!” A
strangled cry escaped his lips.
“Dominic?” She glanced sideways at him and saw the
look of anguish on his face. She gasped and her feet slammed down as she
executed a perfect emergency stop. “My God! It was you! You killed Trisha!”
Dominic slumped in the seat his head in his hands.
“No, Helen. I wouldn’t have hurt her for the world, I was in love with her!”
“Was the baby yours?” she asked gently. He nodded.
“And you’d been having an affair?”
“Yeah. Nikki had to go away a lot and Trish and me
started spending time together. I picked her up from the club one night – she’d
had a good bit to drink and came on to me. I suppose I should have resisted for
Nikki’s sake but I’d fallen for her and I thought she felt the same.” He looked
at Helen, his face a mask of sorrow. “The day she died, she came to see me. She
said she was going to tell Nikki everything, about us and about the baby and
that she was going to have an abortion.”
A tear rolled down his cheek and splashed onto his trouser leg. He
brushed it away, absently. “She wanted to get rid of my baby. I asked her to
come away with me but she just laughed. I couldn’t give her the things Nikki
could. Nikki was her meal ticket.”
Helen touched his arm comfortingly. “Did she tell Nikki
about the baby?”
“I don’t know. She left the cottage and a few hours
later she was dead.” He wiped his eyes on his jacket sleeve. “I never meant to
hurt Nikki. I owe her so much. If she hadn’t kept me on after Dad had his
stroke…and she arranged through her lawyer to have the mortgage paid off on
their cottage.”
“Maybe it was to ease a guilty conscience,” she said
softly.
“What do you mean?”
“When Trisha died, so did your baby and whichever way
you look at it,” she closed her eyes, momentarily trying to blot out the horror
of what she was thinking. “Nikki was the only one who had a motive for killing
her!”