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unfinished business; Bad Girls / Judge John Deed trilogy
Topic Started: Jun 22 2008, 10:39 AM (19,818 Views)
Andliv2laf
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G2 landing
Great story Richard!! I can't wait for Nikki to get to Larhall...better yet, I can't wait to see the faces! Wonderful writing as usaul, keep up the great work!! :girlygiggle
AND
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JAM
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Out of Dorm
Fantastic Richard!! I love it when Nikki goes back into larkhall in an official capacity. It's always so much fun! :D
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emtsue
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G3 Curtain and Duvet!
:D Hiya Richard,
I loved the dialogue between Helen and Nikki. It was facinating to see just how equal they have become in terms of their relationship. And that Helen recognizes without compunction, that Nikki has all the power as far as going back into Larkhall is concerned, and is only too happy to do so.Although Nikki seemed to have some trepidation about this,she was able to look back and see her own strength along with Helen's love,faith, and trust in her.
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emtsue
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Hey Richard,
I was re-reading my last post, and as it was at 4am that I originally posted, it doesn't surprise in the least that a small part may be unclear( well...at least to me).
When I mentioned that Helen recognizes without compunction that Nikki now has all the powerand clout to go back into Larkhall(and here is the part that came out a little murky),I was also trying to say that, Helen most readily gives up that position which she(Helen) held for so long, while they were both at Larkhall.This, due to the fact that they have been able to level the playing field in their personal relationship through love trust and faith.
Does that make any sense? Maybe it's just me!
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Axiegirl21
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And so the investigation begins. Can't wait to see Fenners face when he sees Nikki :lol1 Anyone good at manipulations so we can get a visual, I'm thinking along the lines of when Nikki threatened Fenner in the staff room :rofl after he attacked Helen, you could see the sweat dripping off his face :lol1
The past is history.
The future a mystery.
And now is a gift thats why we call the present.



Larkhall Lovelies Rule
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richard
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Enhanced
Fantastic feedback which certainly makes me sit back and reflect on what I've written.
To you, Andlif2laf , JAM and Axiegirl21, you will most certainly be satisfied when you read Nikki's two scene investigation and I was most struck by the comparison with nikki contronting Fenner in the PO room. This time, it works a little differently.
To you, emtsue, you are quite right that this shows, more than I thought when I wrote it. You have captured very clearly how profoundly Helen has voluntarily handed her source of power which caused so much conflict in the past. There's a sense that Helen has had input without exercising power.
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Sashindu
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Sashindu
Such a fantastic update...thanks again
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richard
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Hi Sashindu, thanks ever so much for your feedback- I have been away or I'd have replied before now.

This next episode is a real Helen piece, showing how she's lrearnt the knack of patient direction and how she's moved on since Larkhall which gains resonance from the insightful feedback I've been getting. Enjoy.


........................................................................................................................


Scene Ten

“You’re forgetting one thing before you charge into the lion’s den, sweetheart. We haven’t heard Karen’s version of what’s been going on,” Helen suddenly interjected as she pulled the car onto the side. She had picked up Nikki from her place of work and had traveled some distance home when the taller woman immediately announced her plans to Helen. She was full of vim and fire and, to Helen; this was Nikki enthusiastically returning to the scene of past battles as much as investigating the place officially. Circumstances had led to Larkhall being sidelined, a place neither of them had wanted to return to. Both knew without saying it that their past could not be sidestepped so easily.
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Nikki confessed, open-mouthed. She had accepted Helen’s sudden halt in their journey as perfectly normal but her words had taken her aback. This was urgent conference time.
“You know what it’s like there. Surface impressions are one thing. The reality is something else and we’ve been out of circulation for nearly a year. We need to know, one, does Karen want our help, two, Karen’s version of events and then three… what are we best able to do. Assuming she’s seen through that bastard Fenner, she’ll be the most reliable of official guides on what’s going on in that snake pit. ”
“So the prisoners don’t matter……..,” Nikki started to protest angrily, red in the face when Helen cut her short.
“Of course they bloody do, Nikki. I’m not about to throw away knowledge of the place that I learned through so much heartache and tears, all those hateful meetings where I was belittled and demeaned…..urrgh,” the smaller woman said passionately, breaking off to express her disgust before verbally speeding off towards the horizon.
“I learnt very quickly that I couldn’t trust the backstabbing bastards that worked for me, which was why I turned to you…other reasons for that… well I learnt as we went along,” she broke off with a quick smile.” You must know that when I planned to finally finish Fenner for good and all…I used Yvonne’s help to dish the dirt on him. Everything I learned at Larkhall isn’t just kept in my memory, it’s inscribed in my DNA. Even in my position as boss, I treat those who work for me with real consideration and understanding. Male, female, young, old, straight or gay, didn’t matter who they were. So believe me, Nikki, I’ve learned.”
Nikki’s expressive face was twisted with remorse for her tactlessness. This was Helen’s total unvarnished truth, just as much as she had spoken this way down the years. Spiritually and emotionally, she would be revisiting Larkhall through Nikki’s eyes. Above all else, she both respected and loved Helen so deeply.
“I’m really sorry, Helen. I’ve been an idiot. I’m just a bit wound up at the thought of going into Larkhall and wanted to get in there tomorrow while I’m all psyched up to go.”
“As if I hadn’t guessed that,” came the warmhearted reply and the smaller woman’s arm slipped inside Nikki’s. “Come on, let’s go home. If we really take this on, we’ll be working out plan number ten while plan number nine gets shredded in the waste bin. That’s how it goes in planning strategies.”


Helen gestured to a takeaway and Nikki nodded assent. The evening was shaping up to be one taken on the run and was soon eaten when they got back home. They stuffed the wrappings in the bin, thinking, sod the calories, this takes priority.
“What about Karen’s home phone number? It’s not in the directory,” said Nikki, after leafing in vain through the phone book.
“I’ve got Karen’s phone number,” exclaimed Helen triumphantly, waving a small Prison Issue notebook from the recesses of her desk drawer.
“I bet you were figuring that out as we drove back,” smiled Nikki, and Helen grinned triumphantly in reply.
“Hi Karen, it’s Helen here.”
“Who’s that?” came the very edgy reply. It rang immediate warning bells. She immediately recalled her abiding memory of Karen’s calm and controlled exterior and contrasted that with the woman whose nerves were wound up like a tensely coiled spring.
“It’s Helen. Helen Stewart, the owner of the Red Peugeot you ran into the back of six months ago who used to be your boss at Larkhall.”
“Oh God. Is it really you?” came the surprisingly incredulous tones, not believing what she was hearing. Their most recent communications weren’t of the best but at least both women were sincere and honest. It was that knowledge that edged the breaking tone of emotion in her voice. This version of Karen was new to Helen.
“We’d read about what’s happened and wondered if you minded Nikki and I popping round as we want to help. That is, if you don’t mind.”
“After all the shit of the last few days, how could I mind? You won’t find me at my best, I warn you.”
“Nikki’s been there before. She knows the score,” Helen offered gently, only to be received by a sharp intake of breath. Instantly she regretted her words as she read Karen’s frightened flash of fast moving thoughts. Nikki’s arrest meant that she got life in prison and would still be there if she hadn’t fought for her freedom. Karen supposedly ran down a pedestrian in cold blood so therefore she would be imprisoned, perhaps in Larkhall. After all, it was nice and handy.
“Look here, Karen, we know you didn’t knock down that pedestrian and I mean every word I say. Would it help if we came round to talk about it? We’re not here just to offer long distance sympathy.”
The emphatic way that Helen spoke on the phone made Nikki prick up her ears and took the heat out of Karen’s desperation.
“My social calendar’s not exactly bulging at the seams Helen, so yes, I’d strangely like your company. One thing though, you’ll have to phone me up from your mobile as soon as you’re outside the house. There are journalists and photographers around. Apparently, I’m hot news,” Karen finished on an acid note, veering sharply away from her previous note of weary resignation. Something in her manner disturbed Helen and Nikki could reads it on her face.
“Give us time to quickly change and we’ll be right over. Oh yes, you’d better give us directions to your place,” answered Helen in businesslike tones in which she intended to rally Karen’s spirits. Happily, the other woman rattled out directions in what was left of her official style.

The two women quickly changed into jeans and tops and were out on the road again. Both were intrigued, that their journey took them in the general direction of that horrific accident. Presently, they turned off the main road and found themselves outside a modern set of flats, complete with a car park underneath. The entrance completely secure against intruders. Both women looked at each other. It immediately challenged what loose preconceptions they had of the crime.
“How in hell could someone break their way into that place? It’s looks as secure as Alcatraz.”
“We should await the facts and have no preconceptions,” Helen pronounced as she led the way up the outside flight of steps and knocked politely twice at the door. There was a significant pause before the door opened a fraction, revealing a part of Karen’s body.
“You’d better come in quick,” she said in nervous tones.

The two women slipped through the door before it was swiftly shut behind them and found themselves in what had been a comfortably furnished flat. A brief glimpse of it somehow suggested a sense of disarrangement before Karen’s appearance confirmed it.

“You’ve not seen any strangers outside.”
“Not that we’ve noticed, Karen,” Nikki urged gently.
“That’s not to say that you weren’t noticed. You might end up on the front page of some tabloid. It must be the first time that the phone hasn’t been ringing or I’ve not been door stepped.”
Karen’s jumpy tones made Helen shift her stance from being generally open and sympathetic. They had to get Karen mentally on track. Karen was dressed in her usual suit and shirt but both of them looked as dishevelled as her makeup and her hair. More startling were the dark shadows under her eyes and the way she eyed, the half full whisky bottle.
“Karen, listen to me. There’s nothing we can do about anyone that may or may not have been spying on us. We came to see you, to help, not talk about some random paparazzi. There’s a lot we have to get through.”
Nikki smiled faintly, as she let Helen’s distinct crack of authority dominate the proceedings. It brought back memories and recalled to Karen that she was once her boss. Automatic habits made her defer to Helen.
“I’m really sorry… after you took the trouble to come over.” Karen answered as she reached for a hairbrush to quickly tidy herself up. “Things haven’t been good, especially recently.”
“We didn’t just want to come round to offer tea and sympathy … well your tea, yes.” Nikki put in with her idiosyncratic touch of sympathy. It drew a faint weary smile from Karen.
“We tailed your car that night and we saw what happened and we know for certain that it couldn’t have been you behind the wheel. The driver might have looked like you but couldn’t possibly be you. You have far too much respect for human life to do what that driver did. You’re not perfect, no one is, but your faults are your driving…it’s not too hot and you’ve got lousy choice in men.” Helen was sure to inform her onetime subordinate.

Karen laughed bitterly, mostly at herself. Too bloody right. This was the same old Helen and it took her back to better times. “Still the same Helen… Anyway, you’re right on both counts. Take a seat, both of you. Care for a drink?”
“I’m driving so no, but Nikki?”
“Looks like whisky or whisky. Just dilute it a bit, Karen.”
The way that Karen poured a huge slug for herself, hardly diluted worried both women intensely. No sooner had Karen laid the bottle on the side and taken a swig then she started to unburden herself.
“I worked ten years of my life in hospitals trying to save lives not to take them,” Karen said and then paused, a most unusual break in her voice as feelings welled to the surface that at last there was genuine, spontaneous human beings out there. She felt humbled, that both women would be kind hearted enough to take notice of her plight. Echoes of past voices haunted her. The other two women maintained a respectful silence.

‘Just watch him, Karen. He’s a sly bastard ……Oh I know ……You can’t see him. ……You’re too close …… He's been playing you since day one, Karen. He's a misogynist bastard. And I am sick to the bloody back teeth trying to get you to see it. So I'm done. He's all yours.’

Finally, she shook her head to dismiss those ghost voices and interact with these real women before her.
“What are you thinking about, Karen?” that selfsame voice from the present softly asked her with infinite kindness. It came close to breaking her heart.
“If you both want to know,” Karen said at last.” I remember as clear as yesterday the number of times you tried to get me to see through that bastard Fenner …but the fool that I was ignored everything you said. Now I’m listening….when it’s all too late.”
“It’s not,” Helen fiercely protested.” if we fight against him. The three of us are irresistible.”
“You’d better listen to Helen,” Nikki added quietly.” There I was, banged up for life, no belief in my future and she gave me my hope back. She petitioned the Home Office to get a retrial and that got me sprung from Larkhall. When we got together on the outside, my solicitor Claire Walker put me in touch with one of the finest barristers around and the three very human guys that made up the court of appeal wiped my record clean. If that isn’t miracle working, I don’t know what is.”
Nikki’s calm reassuring words had their effect on Karen. She took several huge breaths out to exhale all the tension and fear that she’d absorbed. The words she said in a calmer tone of voice was her way of blindly feeling her way and seeing which way that took her.

“Since we had that argument about running into the back of your car, I remembered what you said about looking after the women in Larkhall. I did my best, but I’ve been up against Fenner and Di Barker who has turned out to be a real viper in the nest and has married the new Governing Governor Neil Grayling….”
“Neil Grayling, married – to a woman?” Helen laughed incredulously.” I went to my one and only managers conference and I swear to God that the guy is as gay as… well, I don’t know what.”
Nikki laughed out loud at the way Helen put it and even Karen managed a wan smile, mixed with wonder how this brown-haired woman knew so much already.
“If it helps, I thought I’d let you know that I’ve tried to remedy some of my past idiocy. I received a phone call at work from this extremely dodgy solicitor. He claimed he’d traced a distant relation of yours, Nikki, who’s left you a legacy and wanted to trace you. It rang warning bells to me so I played dumb.”
“I have no such relative,” Nikki said, white faced. “When was this call?”
“I think it was last March,” Karen said slowly as her memory produced this snippet of information from her memory vaults. This was a miracle as her mental functioning felt very dubious right now.
“That was just before I went for my re-appeal. It must have been that bastard Frobisher at the back of it trying to find something he could use against me. He was the prosecution barrister, Karen.”
“You don’t have to believe everything I say, Nikki.”
“I do,” came that typically intense reply.

Karen sat back in her armchair in a more relaxed fashion. She sipped at her drink and offered her cigarette packet, which Nikki accepted. She looked more like the woman they’d known.
“OK, I’ll tell you everything you’ll want to know. All I can say is that now I know that I’ve missed both of you being around. Somehow, the two of you helped to hold the balance and since then, everything became wildly unbalanced. It’s a long story….”

Karen started to relate the ups and downs of Larkhall life, missing no details and the two women’s eyes opened wide with horror. They could identify with Karen’s losing battle for control and admire the tenacity with which she’d fought the up and downs. All the time, Fenner’s presence loomed large like an evil spirit, the man who had raped her, who had professed his love for her, while trying to weasel his way out of the consequences. It brought Larkhall back into focus for them in a horrifying fashion. Both Helen and Karen felt the venom of their final clash of words and the determination with which Karen had assembled her file together.

“There’s one thing that puzzles me, Karen. I’ve only had a look at the outset of your flat and it looks to me that the garage doors are impregnable. Whoever stole your car, got access to your car keys… yet you said that you were here all night working on your file. I don’t get it,” Nikki pointed out.
“Frankly, neither do I,” confessed Karen ruefully, impressed by Nikki’s sharp questioning. In turn, she gave credibility to the two women. “The first thing I knew in the morning, was getting down to the car park and seeing the empty space where my car had been. I didn’t check my car keys in advance. You both know how you set off to work on autopilot.”
“Could anyone have broken in? I mean, have forensics even been round here?” Nikki questioned.
“Of course they haven’t, Nikki,” Karen said bitterly.” I’d read your case file once, years ago and I also remembered the police blundering around when Renee Williams died. You’ll remember her, Nikki. Now I know only too well what you went through and how the police zero in, on what they think is the answer and sod anything else that gets in the way.”

The emotional force of Karen’s remark struck Helen and Nikki forcibly. Karen had struck them both as a basically well-meaning woman, who somehow hadn’t really got to the heart of what Larkhall was about. Now that she had at last caught on, they hoped it wasn’t too late. They looked at each other before they carried on with their investigation.

******

When they left Karen’s flat two hours later, the two women’s minds were overburdened with the enormity of the task in hand, most of all in seeking to establish Karen’s innocence. They were absolutely convinced of it but they were by now well versed in the ways of the law to not see how the case was stacking up against her. They needed some time to puzzle out, how on earth, Karen’s car was stolen and who did it.

Karen hugged each of them before they left as someone precious to her, some kind of lifeline amidst all the insanity of her present life. Everything that she felt certain of, that she could depend on, had been cruelly taken away from her. Her perception told her that this was only for starters; this was a curse, not a blessing. Helen and Nikki’s commitment to help her and visit her soon was the only solid dependable thing she had in her life, that and the bottle of whisky on the side.

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Andliv2laf
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G2 landing
Great writing as usual Richard!! It's nice to see Karen so receptive to Helen and Nikki, feeling like they are old friends;and that she can admit that she makes mistakes. Looks like Helen and Nikki may become very handy as they have some very important new friends! I hope this time Fenner will finally get his day!! I'll be waiting on the next post, as patiently as I can...things are bound to start getting more difficult soon...after all we are possibly dealing with Fenner!! Thanks Richard and happ writing! :girlygiggle
AND
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emtsue
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G3 Curtain and Duvet!
Well done Richard!
The conversation between Helen and Nikki in the car, is a perfect example of how understanding they have become of each other. Even though Nikki was ready to pop a cork, she was ready and willing to listen to Helen's explanations. And Helen was ready and willing to patiently give them. If this conversation had taken place back in Larkhall, they probably would have ended up not speaking to each other(again).
I was especially impressed with how Helen, and with great ease, had Karen quickly realizing, that the three of them needed each other more than ever before.I was quite taken aback when Karen admitted to Nikki and Helen how she missed them when they left Larkhall and evrything fell apart.Richard the way you used all the past conversations with Helen,by having Karen go through them in her mind, was absolutely perfect.It seemed to tie everything together.
They have one hell of a job ahead of them. And you're giving us one hell of a story!
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Axiegirl21
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Out of Dorm
Anyone else hearing the theme tune to CSI :D Wonder how long it will take 'Charlie's Angels' to realize that Fenner probably still had a key from when Karen was seeing him.
Loved the update Richard, good to see that Nikkki is taking a breath and thinking before opening her mouth and getting in trouble :tongueout Wonder Wade to the rescue :superman
The past is history.
The future a mystery.
And now is a gift thats why we call the present.



Larkhall Lovelies Rule
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hopelessromantic
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Have the lab run a CBC with differential an a chem pro plus stat
I didn't miss to much being away. So now that am back it's back to beta-ing writing and sadly work. Brilliant last 2 Scenes ... This third in the series really takes it all ... just SUPER as always Richard.

:tumbup

HR
>>>>>> BGEnhanced <<<<<<

One cannot expect Congeniality when one does not exhibit Courtesy, Politenes and Impartiality.

Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the grateful and appreciating heart... Henry Clay
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richard
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Fantastically thoughtful and creative feedback as before which really makes me think. Bless you all.

To you, Andliv2laf, you have seen the way the wind is blowing with a timely warning of how tricky Fenner is when cornered.

To you, emtsue, you are so right in reminding readers how much easier it is for Helen and Nikki to communicate outside Larkhall and how things were when they were there, something I'm in danger in overlooking in writing fanfic.

To you, Axiegirl21 in covering similar territory and raising the question of the key- I checked out early Series 4 when Karen and Fenner were talking about Helen's file and I think (???) it wasn't the same flat- very good point though

To you, HR, very generous praise from a fellow writer.
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Sashindu
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Sashindu
I am still on the edge of my seat. This story is amazing. Great reading!
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richard
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To you, Sashindu, I'm really glad that this fic has gripped your imagination this way.

I've been dying to post this next piece as it shows Nikki with a bit of pre visit nerves being comforted and finally going in with a 'cool but deadly' approach and borrowing a bit of Helen's terminology. She has that vital influence on Yvonne and I followed the Series 5 descriptions pretty closely here but with a difference. The visit is in two parts. Enjoy. :D


.......................................................................................................................


Scene Eleven


Nikki was up at the crack of dawn and was already dressed in her smartest suit by the time that Helen rolled over on her side. She was seated before the mirror, nervously adjusting her makeup. She fixed a reassuring smile to her face to try and sound calmer than she felt.
“Hope you didn’t mind me not waking you up, darling. You looked so peacefully asleep that I hadn’t the heart to wake you.”
Helen slipped out of bed and padded over to Nikki. The smaller woman slipped her arms round the neck of her lover and her fingers slipped downwards to her breasts. Nikki felt the warmth of her lover’s body against her. She breathed in deeply several times and leaned back against her. It wasn’t the first time that she loved Helen for her sensitive insight into her various moods and was always there for her.
“Thank you darling,” she murmured unsteadily.” I really am scared as hell at the thought of going into that hellhole again. What if I don’t come out of there?”
“I don’t wonder how you feel the way you do. If I were in your shoes, I’d react the same way. You’re thinking as if you’re Nikki Wade prisoner. You hadn’t got the friends in high places that you now have, both in your job and the barristers and judges we can count on as friends. When you meet up with our enemies, you go and tell them that the boundaries have changed and scare the hell out of them. They’ll be bound to have seen you on TV or heard of you.”
Nikki relaxed in the feel of Helen’s strength about her and all the tension evaporated out of her.
“Thanks a million, babes,” she answered more confidently.” I owe you for this one.”
“You’d do the same for me anytime I needed it,” Helen said calmly with total certainty. She sounded more confident than she felt as she couldn’t help worrying a little for her lover, but she trusted to her strength and intelligence to head into the lion’s den. She lightly kissed the top of Nikki’s head and started to get herself ready to bus into work later.

*******

An hour and a half later, Nikki had parked their red Peugeot outside the prison gates, checking herself in the driver’s mirror. She felt as if electricity flowed through her nervous system but fortunately, it made her sharp and alert rather than frightened and inhibited. She grabbed her briefcase, locked the car and strolled up to the wooden gates with all the confidence in the world. She greeted the very same PO on the gatehouse who once knew her as ‘Nurse Ford’ and was inwardly surprised to be treated as a visitor of some substance, the tone of respectful regret at having her briefcase searched. That alone was a huge change from once being strip searched by the DST. She was directed across the yard, as any newcomer would be.
“You can get out of here whenever you want,” she murmured to herself as she crossed the yard and looked up at her old cell window of the prison block as Helen had done on more than one occasion.
“I’ll show you up to Mr. Grayling’s office. This place is a right rabbit warren for newcomers,” the young PO offered helpfully.


As soon as she got onto the wing, she saw the Julies’ mouths open wide in an O shape visual question. For once, they were speechless. Nikki raised her hands expressively and smiled broadly for them to conclude that she wasn’t a prisoner. Inwardly, she wondered why the Julies had both decided to get short haircuts but she supposed she would find the answer.
“See you later,” she mouthed back at them.
“You haven’t been here before,” the PO said. He was young and naïve and Nikki murmured a reply. Typical Larkhall ‘cockup, she thought, but she couldn’t in all conscience take the piss out of him. Besides, her sense of professionalism forbade her.

As soon as she entered the door, she half expected Helen to be behind the desk. She spotted the smart suited man, arm outstretched, cold charm personified.
“Ah yes, Ms Wade, we are looking forward to your visit,” he lied in clear tones. “Take a seat. You will find that this prison has got on board all kinds of forward thinking radical ideas that stand up to any scrutiny. We have, of course, mapped out an itinerary of all the wings and one of my most experienced wing governor to show you around if you wish,”
Grayling offered with just that kind of salesman’s smile.
“Actually, I’ve decided on a more in depth survey of one sample wing, G wing.”
“Is that wise? I know of course of your previous incarceration. Won’t you find it a little embarrassing,” Grayling coaxed, his smile wobbling noticeably.
“I am the one and original Nikki Wade. I don’t embarrass easily. In my time, I have socialized with everyone from prostitutes to high court judges. I’m sure all your staff is competent and professional to deal with me. I am bound by the same unwritten code of professionalism as your staff is. I’m not going to kick off, obviously.”

Damn the woman’, Grayling fumed inwardly at her bright smile. ’She’s way too smart to be safe. She’s as bad as Karen Betts and that Helen Stewart as well’ , judging from the memory of the one manager’s conference they had both attended. As the meeting went on, Nikki found Grayling a slippery customer, expert in the art of evasion and half-truths but her persistent question extracted from him more than he cared to admit and all got noted down in her memory, ready to be written up.

She soon bumped into Di Barker, wearing her brand new grey two-piece suit, down turned mouth and suspicious expression.
“Come to my office, Nikki and I’ll show you the ropes,” she said in her coaxing manner.
“It would only duplicate what Neil Grayling told me, Di and anyway, I’d rather you showed me round the wing,” Nikki politely but firmly insisted.
“Just as you will. Your old mates will be in danger of wanting you to get you the key of the jailhouse door,” Di grumped.
“How do you find stepping into Karen Betts’ shoes, or come to think of that, Helen Stewart’s?” countered Nikki.
“I’ll show you the PO’s room first. You’ll want to see them,’ came the spiteful reply to which Nikki smiled nonchalantly.

A kaleidoscope of past memories of those uniforms whirled round with the present situation as Nikki politely introduced herself.

“Ah Wade. We wondered if you were coming to spy on us.”
“Call me Nikki,” the taller woman replied silkily, offering her outstretched hand to Bodybag. “Of course, I’ll report as I find and I’ll be scrupulously honest and fair.”

The mild mannered words had the effect on Bodybag of a whiplash across the face and Nikki ruthlessly dissected practices and attitudes as only she knew how with her expert background. Di’s strategy born of spite had seriously backfired.

“Ah, Jim Fenner,” Nikki finally exclaimed as a well-remembered face came into view. It turned to solid stone and his eyes turned glassy blue at the sight of her.” We’ve met before. Your colleagues will no doubt bring you up to speed on what we’ve discussed. Now I’m done here, I want to talk to the prisoners,” Nikki interjected, stealing Di Barker’s lines, much to her irritation.
“Not many of your old chums are still here, Wade.”
“Nikki, if you please. I intend to start with Yvonne Atkins. I know she’s still here.”
“That’s not possible.”
“And why?”
“She’s down the block.”
“So where’s the problem? Do I have to name and shame you in my report to my boss in the Howard League for Penal Reform?” Nikki cut back with deadly quietness.
Too late, Fenner realized that Nikki was no longer his prisoner. He hadn’t properly adjusted to her present position and her perfectly articulated tones had the knack of scaring him. He had only just got over the adrenaline surge of breaking into Karen’s flat, stealing her car and killing a pedestrian, only to return to normal at Larkhall prison when that bitch turned up. Her presence really wound him up, but his ingrained soldier training kept his mouth shut.
“I’ll get one of the PO’s to volunteer for escort duty.”
“I’ll do it,” Colin Hedges jumped in.
“You’re wanted for a job I’ve got for you,” snarled Fenner as much as office etiquette allowed. The younger man looked nervous, downcast and more than a little afraid of the glowering presence of the Principal officer. Di Barker was unable to find her voice while Nikki looked on at the scene with fascinated horror. This woman was no Helen Stewart. She was a usurper. A chilly silence hung on the air. No one said anything until Nikki finally forced the issue.
“Well, someone’s going to have to escort me,” she said brightly with a mocking gaze. Finally, Fenner muttered the name of Selena Geeson, the very young, smartly dressed blond woman with carefully combed hair and wearing a neat, knee length skirt.
“Right, locks bolts and bars. Smiley faces everyone,” Di Barker intoned with a feeble attempt at demonstrating control of the situation. Everyone knew where they had to go, anyway.

Selena Geeson led her onto the wing and down the well remembered flight of steps down to the segregation block. It was as she remembered except that in times past, she had been, manhandled, by two burly PO’s. This woman was clearly new to the prison service, which was why she was chosen, Nikki thought cynically.
“Why is Jim Fenner so seriously hostile to you, Nikki? It seems more than you being from what he sees as a liberal minded prison welfare organization.”
The taller woman laughed. “Believe it or not Selena, I was a lifer here for stabbing the policeman who was trying to rape my girlfriend. I’m here after getting a clean record, a university degree while I was here, and some far sighted guy having the intelligence to see that I made the obvious choice as a researcher.”
Nikki noticed straight off, that the blond woman didn’t blink at Nikki’s frank confession of her sexuality.

“I’ll wait on duty outside just in case there’s any trouble,” advised Selena lightly. The woman was no fool, judged Nikki, and the other woman opened the door and let her in.

“I must be tripping or something,” croaked Yvonne’s unmistakable voice from out of the gloom,” You can’t be Nikki Wade.”
As the dark haired woman’s eyes got used to the gloom, she picked out the woman tied up in strips, her hair disarranged and spiky and her face bare of any makeup. Nikki knew well enough not to burden Yvonne with a load of overdone concern. She knew that all Yvonne wanted was for Nikki to be real with her and maybe conceal half a ton of gelignite to spring her out of this hellhole but that was pushing it a bit.
“Don’t worry, Yvonne, I’m a reformed character, a distinguished visitor- at least someone they are too shit scared to keep out.”
“No matter how posh a git you are on the outside, Nikki, you’ll never sell us out.”
“I work for the Howard League for Penal Reform and I’ve got a particular interest, especially with what I know, has been going on down here. I mean Karen Betts.”
A wide smile of relief spread across Yvonne’s face as she saw how clued up her old friend was. It brought out the bottled up emotions that she had suppressed along with her growing fears of never getting out of this hellhole. Nikki’s sudden presence from the outside world brought it all home.
“I’ve missed you, Nikki. You’ve been in my dreams from time to time. The Julies, Babs and Denny mean everything to me… but there ain’t been anyone as strong and smart as you. I have to do everything all my own bleeding self ”
“Aah, I never knew you cared for me that way,” teased Nikki, “You should have told me when I was here.”
Their tone of voice veered from mocking banter to lurking affection. A wealth of past experiences lay between them. It was Nikki who snapped them back to the present.

“I’m here on official work so I don’t have too much time to carry on a bit of private investigation. Just how did Karen get stitched up? What in hell has happened here since Helen and I left? I’ve heard enough official shit from Grayling and Di Barker. I want to know the real truth.”
“What’s happened……?” said Yvonne vaguely, as the months of nightmare spread across her mind. Then everything came back to her, the rule by that uncertainly matched duo, Grayling and Fenner and Karen’s long sustained losing battle to fight her corner. She explained in bitter tones how Karen was finally undone by the dead wasp sting by that fake American prisoner, Snowball Merriman who left that lying letter to drop Karen in the shit before finally topping herself. Somehow, the world had slid out of kilter, the uncertain balance removed. Nikki gulped with feelings of guilt when it came home to her that she and Helen had been that balance. She never knew how much difference they made until today.
Yvonne rapidly described her shaky alliance with the alternately, weak, lovelorn and spiteful Colin Hedges, whose courage had leaked out of him thanks to that spike in his arm into which his heroin flowed. She had been similarly dependent on Tina O’Kane, plump, naïve, trusting, self-hating but none too smart. In no time at all, Nikki had the measure of everything that had happened in this hellhole.

“Oh yeah, Hedges told me that Grayling told him that Karen’s file had been put through the shredder at area and he should back off with his charge if he knows what’s good for him. I think that’ll scare the shit out of him. And another, Hedges told me that two witnesses saw a blonde at the wheel of Betts’ car and, oh yeah, Fenner’s put the frighteners on Tina.”
“Jesus, the bastards are having it all their way,” exclaimed Nikki in disgust.
“So that’s why we want you to perform bloody miracles on the outside. No use you wishing you were back here and fighting the bastards. Don’t be a bloody fool, Nikki… you sort it out on the outside. You either do it legal or I get my Lauren to arrange a pizza delivery. I mean it.”
Nikki’s mouth opened at Yvonne’s dark hints. Her instant reaction born of her time spent in the outside world and out of Larkhall was to find that shocking. As she meditated over the matter, yes, she could see Yvonne’s point and it was down to her to think of a better alternative.
“No, Yvonne, we’ve got to do this legally. I’m not so soft in the head to trust in the police investigation, far from it. We need a private detective we can trust, the best in the business. Someone like your Lauren would do the trick.” Nikki insisted firmly and rapidly, steamrollering over Yvonne’s obvious opposition.
Yvonne gazed at Nikki with a faraway look in her eyes as she chewed the idea over in her mind.

“Nice idea, Nikki but Lauren ain’t the kind to cosy up to the police ….”
“Well, can you think of anyone else?”
“Now I come to think about it, my sister’s daughter Shirley might do the trick.”
“You never told me about her.”
“I fell out with her as she grew up the poor but honest type. When I took up with Charlie, I became too much of a flash git for her taste and pissed her off. She knew he was bent and it made things kind of strained between us. Still, blood’s thicker than water and after Charlie was…put out of the picture…we started to make friends. I guess she was kind of sorry for the way I’d been landed in the shit. I’d always had a soft spot for her Shirley who grew up to be a private detective.”
“What’s she like?”
“Deep down, she’s a chip off the old block, same as Lauren and me. She’s got that same nose for finding things out except that she’s stayed the right side of the law. She’s got Lauren’s class.”
“You write down how I’m supposed to contact her.”
While Yvonne scribbled down details, the taller woman created a mental picture of this woman. This was only too easy.


A little while later, she looked at her watch and realized that time wasn’t on her side. It had flown past even as they talked urgently and rapidly. Neither woman, were inclined to beat about the bush even if time were on their side.

“Gotta go, Yvonne,” Nikki said with all the regret in the world. She’d heard those words before and now knew how Helen once felt. The other woman grabbed her in a big hug as if she didn’t want to let go. This disproved her theory that eternally straight women like Yvonne could never hug another woman with such fierce emotion. Come to think of it, she felt choked up inside.
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