Disclaimer: I do not claim to own the characters from Bad Girls, they are the property of Shed Productions with the exception of Laura Gossard who is completely fictional from my own head, innit. They are used here without permission, purely for entertainment purposes, not profit.
Copyright: Copyright of this piece belongs to Liz Mulligan. Please do not reproduce it without permission.
As this is my first attempt at writing a BG-based story, I would be grateful of any feedback.
E-mail me: liz_
Shit Happens - Chapter Seven
Karen had both Nikki and Helen's undivided attention, now. "You say the man who got the confession had a knife at your throat? Well, you could say that you were only telling him what he wanted to hear, fearing for your safety. The only other evidence they have is hearsay and rumour, isn't it? If you say the confession was obtained under duress, it will be ruled inadmissible."
"I don't know if it'll work. I didn't tell the police about being blackmailed when I saw them last Tuesday. They'll probably think I've got something to hide, now."
"So that's where you were on Tuesday. I wish you'd told me the truth. OK maybe I couldn't have done anything practical, but I could have been there for you."
"I didn't want to think about what had happened, Nikki, and I felt like I'd betrayed you by admitting to our relationship on tape."
"You didn't betray me. Any sane person would have done the same. No secret's worth dying for."
"So are we going to tell them it's not true then? That you only said what you did because he had a knife? That way you can still see each other and Nikki, your chances of appeal aren't damaged. There's no point in everyone losing out in this." Karen raised an eyebrow expectantly, not caring that Helen and Nikki, and now herself, were playing a dangerous game.
"Are you sure?" Helen was wary of her replacement's motives, which given the events of the last few weeks was hardly surprising.
"If you care enough about Nikki to leave your job for her then it's obviously worth giving it a shot. You've come too far to have it all taken away now." Nikki and Helen looked at one another and nodded a silent agreement. "OK wait here while I make a few phone calls." Karen left the room, fully aware that she would be leaving to two lovers alone, but didn't think that either of them was in any state of mind to leap on the other.
The police had arrived quickly and escorted Helen to the local station to be examined and to give her statement. Another police officer had stayed with Nikki, taking her statement and asking endless questions, double checking every detail. Helen and Nikki had made sure they both knew what the other was going to say before the police had arrived so that they could keep up the pretence that there was nothing but friendship between them. Jim Fenner had been arrested and was being questioned thoroughly. Laura was transferred to another prison with the promise of her sentence being extended as details of her involvement in Tricia's death and attempted blackmail of a Prison Service Professional came to light. G-wing was buzzing that evening as rumours spread rapidly about the departure of Jim Fenner and Laura Gossard and about Nikki and Helen's involvement in it. Nikki was glad that Karen had not argued when she asked to be locked in her cell, she could not face all the inquisitive stares and demanding questions. She had had enough of answering questions and she felt exhausted as the events of the last two weeks caught up with her. She only left her cell once, to phone Helen to make sure she was OK. She hated to think of her on her own when she needed someone there with her. Their phone call had been brief as Nikki's phone card was running low, but they had said all that was necessary to one another. Helen had assured Nikki that she would be fine and would return to work after a few days. Nikki had told her she would phone again when she could and that she would be thinking of her, how she wished she could be there with her. Helen had replied that she may well be able to join her soon, if her appeal was successful. Nikki was always downhearted when it came to 'ifs', but Helen had assured her that her reaction to the situation that had arisen that day would work in her favour, showing she had a great deal more control over her temper than in the past. Both slept that evening better than they could have imagined, feeling more united and stronger than before.
The approach to the day of Nikki's appeal was upon them before they knew it. Nikki's case was looking stronger and stronger as they learnt more of DC Gossard's violent history and the reasons for Laura wanting to keep Nikki from appealing. They found that she had every reason not to want his past investigated. Her father had intimidated a number of WPCs and his own wife had cited mental and physical cruelty as a reason for divorce resulting in a restraining order against him. It became clear that Laura had always idolised her father and resented her mother for keeping them apart, choosing to ignore the signs of abuse at his hands. Mrs Gossard had agreed to act as a character witness for Nikki's defence team and one of the WPCs he had assaulted and intimidated had also agreed to give evidence if the judge felt there was enough doubt to order a retrial. Nikki did not dare to get her hopes up too much, knowing she would not be able to cope if all this failed, but she was growing increasingly confident of her chances. Her case was also proving popular with the Press. There was a media feeding frenzy around her lawyer's office, with newspapers and television reporters hoping to grab the latest news about the possible release of a 'lesbian cop-killer', especially as she was the only woman serving life for killing a police officer. Details of the case were being carefully guarded so that it would not affect Nikki's chances or compromise her appeal in anyway.
All through the preparations for Nikki's appeal, she worried that Helen was not dealing with the events that had transpired during those horrific two weeks. She had thrown herself into her work, returning to Larkhall after just a few days compassionate leave and refused to talk about what had happened. She claimed to want to put it in the past and move on, ignoring Nikki's warnings that if she did not deal with it she would never be able to move on. After a while Nikki stopped trying to force the issue, seeing that she was getting nowhere and resolved to be there after her appeal to pick up the pieces. She was sure Helen would fall apart once she did not have Nikki's appeal to focus on and hide behind. She wanted more than anything to be able to be there for her properly, not just when they could grab five minutes in Larkhall, especially now that Karen had engineered so that they were never alone together at Simon Stubberfield's insistence.
On the morning of her appeal, Nikki sat up from where she had been dozing for the last hour or so. She had got little sleep that night, nerves, excitement and apprehension all playing havoc with her mind and stomach. She dashed to the toilet, convinced she was going to be sick, her stomach had taken on a life of it's own and wanted out of her body. Helen was experiencing similar emotions as she tried to choose what to wear to court. Her heart was pounding and she could not stop shaking as pure adrenaline raced around her veins. Thoughts that by the end of the day Nikki could be free were making her frustrated. She wanted the day to be going a lot faster than it seemed to be doing. For Nikki it was going too fast. She was terrified of hearing the judge send her back to prison with no chance of early release and having to accept that she would not be free until she was at least 50, if ever. She was also terrified of the prospect of being free. She did not know what to expect, or what was waiting for her on the other side of the walls. It had been three years since she had set foot outside the prison, having served two years on remand before being sentenced and her previous life now seemed an age away. Finishing getting dressed in the new suit Helen had sent in for her, she heard a key in the lock. The door swung open and Bodybag ordered Nikki out for breakfast. Nikki chuckled, that was one thing she would not miss if she was let out.
She made her way down to the canteen. There was an air of excitement during breakfast, with many of the women wishing Nikki luck. 'Everyone who gets out of here gets out for all of us.' Nikki's words to Monica on the morning of her appeal came back to her as she felt all the goodwill and hope of the women directed towards her. Nikki chose to sit with the two Julies, Yvonne and Denny, who since Shell's departure and under Yvonne's guidance had grown into a sensible, controlled young lady. She was sulking a little that morning as Nikki joined them due to her girlfriend, Shaz, being sent to the block after winding up Bodybag once too often. Her mood soon brightened as Nikki sat down and the conversation turned towards the chances of her getting out. Denny wished Nikki all the best before wandering off to join a game of pool.
"You'll keep in touch, won't ya Nikki?" Julie S enquired, desperately wanting Nikki to be freed, but knowing she would be missed.
"Won't ya?" Julie J echoed her friend. Nikki suppressed her laughter at this routine of finishing each others sentences she had become accustomed to and realised that she would miss them.
"Course I will. But I've not gone yet, I might be back again this afternoon."
"Not a chance, love. After everything that's gone on, it's bleedin' obvious that he was asking for it. It was only a matter of time and if it hadn't been you it would've been someone else." Yvonne assured Nikki. They chatted for a while longer, Nikki pushing what constituted prison food around her plate unable to eat for nerves. Then Dominic appeared beside the table.
"Are you ready to get your stuff, Nikki. The van will be here in about ten minutes so we'd better get you checked out. Let's hope for the last time." Nikki was touched and a little shocked at Dominic's compassion towards her and felt herself choking on a lump forming in her throat. She smiled and stood to go to her cell, tears springing to her eyes. Gathering her belongings, neatly packed into a regulation plastic bag, she headed back down to the gates to say what she hoped were her final goodbyes to friends on the wing. After much hugging and promises to write soon, she was escorted to the waiting van. She paused before getting in, looking round at the place that had been her home for the last three years.
Helen sat impatiently at traffic lights, willing them to change as she glanced at the neon clock on her dashboard. She still had plenty of time but was determined not to arrive on the last minute. She drove slightly faster than she knew she should but was on edge and desperate to get to the court. She arrived and found a parking space and then went in search of the right courtroom. There were a large number of journalists waiting on the front steps for a chance to speak to Nikki's lawyer before the appeal was heard and then for a chance to speak to Nikki herself if she was released. Helen pushed through them without being bothered. None of them realised who she was for which she was thankful. She did not feel able to string together a coherent sentence such was her anxiety. As she reached the doorway she heard the Press begin to shout questions in a cacophony of noise. Turning she realised that Nikki's lawyer had arrived and was trying to push her way through the dense crowd of photographers and journalists surrounding her. Helen slipped into the courthouse before the lawyer saw her and drew attention to her. It was a few minutes later when she finally managed to join Helen inside the large modern building. Helen was happy to follow Nikki's lawyer, Claire Harris, to the right courtroom, saving her the hassle of asking anyone. Claire then disappeared down to the cell where Nikki was being held. There were twenty minutes before Nikki's case was due to be called and Claire wanted to make final checks with Nikki and see that she was alright.
The minutes were soon over and Nikki entered the dock, her eyes immediately searching for Helen. She relaxed a little as she caught sight of her in the public gallery. For the remainder of the hearing Nikki kept her eyes firmly to the front of the courtroom, looking suitably remorseful. The hearing seemed to last for an eternity as Nikki's lawyer outlined her case and presented the basis for the appeal. The judge called for a short recess while he deliberated what to do and then Nikki was back in the dock growing increasingly nervous. Claire had assured her that it had gone well and that there was nothing more they could do to convince the judge, but that did nothing to calm her nerves or still her rapidly beating heart. Nikki gripped the handrail for support as the judge delivered his verdict.
To Be Continued…