Chapter 3: Leo's Rather Enlightening Freudian Slip
Nikki woke up, but didn't open her eyes. She didn't know how long she'd been asleep, but now she could hear that Leo was here as well. He and Harry were having a heated, whispered conversation, and Nikki was rather curious as to what it was about, so she feigned sleep for a while longer.
"Are you going to tell her?" Leo was saying.
"No! Nikki needs her friends right now, and telling her could seriously compromise our friendship. There's no way I'm doing that," Harry replied. Nikki had heard enough. She was slightly scared of what she might hear next, so stirred and opened her eyes.
Her room was dark, so she assumed it was evening. Harry and Leo were smiling at her from by her bed, and Nikki was really pleased to see Leo.
"Hey Leo," she said, her throat still a bit sore. Then she turned to Harry. "Are you still here?"
"That's nice, isn't it? I keep a constant vigil at your bedside, and that's what I get for it?" Harry grinned.
"No, I meant you must be exhausted. Go home, Harry," she smiled. It wasn't that she wanted him to go, she just didn't want to look too clingy. Harry looked uncertain, so she added, "Leo's here with me, it's not like I'll be alone."
"Okay. I could do with some proper food. I'll come back in the morning, okay?" he said. Nikki nodded. Harry turned to leave, but Nikki grabbed his hand.
"Thank you, Harry," she smiled. He nodded and after flashing her his trademark grin, he left the room. Nikki turned to Leo.
"Have they caught him yet? The guy who did this?"
"No, sorry. But don't worry about that. You just let the police do their jobs, and concentrate on getting better," Leo told her.
"I am. The doctor came round earlier and said I was making a 'very good recovery'. They thought I was going to have to be fed through a tube for a while, but they were so happy with my progress that they wanted to test my intestine and gave me solid food. Admittedly it was soup, and I wasn't allowed the sandwiches Harry bought for me, but it was still solid food."
Leo laughed. "That's great. How's your head?"
"Sore. It's like having a permanent migraine, but I'm dosed up on painkillers, so I can't really feel it," Nikki explained. "How are things at the lab?"
"Chaotic. Did you know there are armed police guarding the door now?"
"No! Why?"
"In case our killer comes to try and destroy more evidence, I think. I don't know, I've been rushed off my feet. Harry told me what you remembered. Have you seen his face yet?" Leo asked her.
"No. I keep trying to picture who was under the visor, but I can't," she said regretfully.
"Oh well, I'm sure it will come to you," he said. Nikki was unsure whether to say what she'd mentioned to Harry earlier. He'd scoffed at her, but she didn't know whether Leo would do that. Eventually she decided to tentatively broach the subject.
"Leo, I'm not sure that I want to know who it is..."
"Why not?" he asked her, just as bemused as Harry was.
"I just have a bad feeling about it."
"What sort of bad feeling?" he asked her. It was further than she'd got with Harry.
"Like... like I might know him," she admitted. Leo's eyes widened.
"You think you might know who tried to kill you?"
"Possibly. All I remember is that as soon as he lifted his visor, I lost control of my car. So something must have shocked me enough for that to happen," she reasoned.
"Or someone," Leo added grimly.
"Exactly."
Leo blew out a long breath and leant back in the chair. "Well I'm telling you now," he said. "The killer had better hope that I don't know him as well."
"Oh don't you start," Nikki sighed. "Harry's already told me what he intends to do when he finds out who's done it." She laughed slightly, but Leo looked worried.
"He did? What did he say?"
"He wasn't being serious, I don't think," Nikki said with a frown. "Just like you a second ago."
"Yes, but we all know what Harry's like with rash decisions," Leo reminded her.
"What? Oh Leo, come on!" she scoffed, unable to believe that she was having this conversation. "You just said 'the killer had better hope that I don't know him as well', but that doesn't mean that you're going to actually go out and kill him! So why should it be any different for Harry?"
"Well I'm not in love with you, am I?" he blurted out. Nikki took a sharp intake of breath.
"What did you just say?" she asked quietly. Leo bit his lip guiltily.
"Nothing. It was... a figure of speech," he said feebly.
"Don't lie to me, Leo. Is Harry... is he in love with me?" she asked nervously. Leo let out a resigned sigh.
"I don't know if it's 'love', but his feelings towards you are more than just friendship, yes."
"Oh my goodness... But he can't be. Perhaps you're wrong," she said desperately.
"He told me, Nikki," Leo stated. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to tell you, it just slipped out."
"Ah, the classic Freudian slip," Nikki said lightly, but she sniffed.
"But is it a bad thing?" Leo asked tentatively.
"What the Freudian slip?"
"No," Leo chuckled. "Harry having feelings for you."
Nikki didn't answer this immediately, but chose instead to gaze down at her hands. "It would be complicated," she muttered. "And weird. Very weird. That would be like me dating you!"
"I don't think so," Leo smiled. "I love you like a father loves his daughter, and you me like a daughter loves her father. It's different with you and Harry. There's always been something there other than friendship, you know that full well."
Nikki snorted. "We kissed once. Once," she stressed. "That doesn't mean we secretly love each other."
"Doesn't it?"
Nikki glared at her boss. "Aren't visiting hours over yet?"
He laughed and stood up, gathering his coat. "I'll see you tomorrow. Take care of yourself," he smiled, bending down to kiss her cheek. Nikki grinned at him as he left her room, leaving her in it alone. She glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost seven. Her stomach rumbled and she began to wonder when the nurses would bring her some food, even if it was liquidized mulch.
Nikki thought about what Leo had said about Harry. It would explain why he never left her side, and why he became so flustered after their 'moment' earlier in the day. But surely it wasn't love? It was probably just a crush, it would go away over time. Wouldn't it?
Nikki was pulled from her train of thought by a knock on the door.
"Come in," she called out, wondering who it was. DCI Paul Harmer stepped into the room, followed by another plain clothes police officer that Nikki didn't know. He was young, well-built, and had sandy-coloured hair.
"Hi Nikki," Paul greeted. "How are you feeling?"
"I've been better," she said. "Take a seat."
Paul dragged both the chairs to the same side of Nikki's bed, and he sat in the one closest to her head.
"Nikki, this is DI Dave Jones. We're here to ask you a few questions, if that's okay?"
Nikki greeted DI Jones and turned back to Paul. "Fire away," she said.
"Right. We know that you're having trouble recollecting the events of yesterday, but is there anything that you can remember?" he asked her carefully.
"I remember driving in my car along the main road back in the direction of the mortuary. It was deserted where you'd cordoned it off. However, a motorbike suddenly revved up behind me."
"A motorbike? Are you sure?" Paul asked her.
"Definitely. Anyway, it started getting really close, and I began to panic. I... I vaguely remember my phone being on the floor, so I must have dropped it before I could call for help. The bike then became level with the passenger wing mirror, and the driver lifted his visor up and showed me his face-"
"He showed you his face?" DI Jones exclaimed. "Can you remember what he looked like?"
"No," Nikki said. "Sorry, that's still blurry. But... I think I knew who it was at the time, because I was so shocked I lost control of my car. The driver then nudged the left headlight, which was all that it took to send me spinning out of control."
"It was someone you recognised?" Paul frowned.
"I think so. I could be wrong, but my instincts are telling me that I'm right," she smiled.
"How often are your instincts accurate?" Jones asked her with a grin.
"About 99% of the time," she laughed.
"Do you have any idea at all of who it was?" Paul asked her. Nikki shook her head apologetically.
"I don't, I'm sorry."
"That's okay. You've given us a lot already," he smiled.
"The doctors are hopeful that I'll regain my full memory, so fingers crossed, in a few days I'll be able to tell you," Nikki informed them, although Paul was busy scribbling something down in his notebook. DI Jones grinned at her, however, before asking, "Can you describe the bike, Dr Alexander?"
"Call me Nikki. And of course. It was red, and had white strips on it. The driver's helmet matched. It was quite a big, expensive-looking motorcycle," Nikki told them, frowning in concentration.
"Did you see the numberplate?"
"No. I was more interested in trying not to die, to be honest," she chuckled. The two men smiled sympathetically.
"Okay, I think that's all. We'll leave you to get some sleep," Paul said, standing up. DI Jones copied him.
"Thanks for your help," he grinned. "If you remember anything else, no matter how small, then just let us know."
"I will. Bye," Nikki smiled. The two men left the room, and Nikki suddenly realised how silent it was. Being the evening, the ward outside her room was quiet and still. Nikki sat up a little straighter, her ears and eyes on constant alert. What if the killer decided to come back and finish the job? He must know that she was still alive, and therefore likely to tell the police about his identity. Nikki mentally scolded herself for thinking these thoughts. She was only scaring herself more than she already was. However, left alone in a room with no one to watch over her, she felt a shiver of fear travel up her spine.
Another chapter for you! I'm quite efficient at uploading this story at the moment! It's because it's new and exciting. It won't last. :P
I'll give you a clue about the murderer: it's someone that you all know. It's not a character that I'm just going to make up when his (or her) identity is revealed, he (or she) has already been introduced in the story. Hee hee, I'd like to hear your guesses if you have any, so let me know in a review! Then I can see how obvious - or not obvious, hopefully - I am making it.
