Chapter 10: When He Returns

Harry and Nikki barely made it through the door to their apartment later that night before they had their hands all over each other. Harry felt like a child with a new toy; never wanting to put it down. As his lips roamed her shoulder, Nikki's fingers were roughly working on the buttons on his shirt. A mobile phone started trilling in the background, but Harry couldn't even say whether it was his or Nikki's. On and on it rang, but neither himself nor the woman now working on his jeans answered it. Besides, when the pair finally toppled into Harry's bedroom, they couldn't even hear the ringing, so it didn't matter.

Meanwhile, Nikki's mobile phone moved across the table slightly as it vibrated. The word 'Dad' was flashing on the display, only for no one to see it. Eventually it stopped, and for a moment the lounge was eerily quiet but for the giggling coming from the bedroom, however, a slightly louder and clearer ring then broke the silence. Someone was now trying to get through using the land-line. But still, the laughter from the other room didn't cease, and the caller was directed to the answer machine. The recently recorded new message echoed slightly in the empty room.

"Hello, you have reached Harry – and Nikki! - Nikki, this was your idea, stop interrupting me! Yes, and Nikki. I'm sorry we're not available to take your call at the moment, but if you leave a message we'll get back to you as soon as we can. Thank you."

There was a sharp beep, and a moment later someone sighed on the end of the line.

"Niks, it's Dad." The voice was shaky, the breathing ragged. The machine speaker probably wasn't good enough quality. "I really need your help, it's important. That... that man that I owe money to... well, he's turned a bit nasty." Another pause, another sigh. "I'm in trouble, Niks, and I don't think I can get out of it very easily this time. I'm not going to ask you for money, because I know I don't deserve anything from you and you understandably said no last time. But if you change your mind, I would so very much appreciate it. If not... well... I just want you to know that I've always loved you, and don't think I've told you enough."

There was another beep, this one slightly longer. The preoccupied couple in the bedroom remained blissfully unaware as the lounge was filled with silence once again.

*

The tinny ring of Harry's mobile phone blared through the dark bedroom, causing both Harry and Nikki to groan.

"That had better be yours," Nikki mumbled, turning her back to the noise.

"It is," he replied wearily, knowing exactly what that phone call meant and who it would be from. He leant over the edge of his bed and eventually found his jeans. Pulling his phone from the pocket, the ringing got louder, causing Nikki to groan and do the classic thing of folding one half of the pillow over her exposed ear.

Harry hastened to accept the call; it was giving him a headache. "Harry Cunningham."

"Harry, it's Leo. I'm sorry to wake you, but I need you here."

Harry tried and failed to stifle a yawn as he replied. "Leo, it's-" He glanced at his clock. "Four in the morning! Can't you handle it on your own?"

"Well I could, but I think you'll want to be here. It is important, I wouldn't have called you otherwise," the older man replied, sounding tired himself.

"Fine," Harry conceded. "What's the address?"

"I was paged an hour ago; I've already done the crime scene," Leo told him. "I'm at the lab."

Harry couldn't for the life of him see why Leo would need his help at the lab, not when they were both as equally qualified. However, he knew that Leo was right: he wouldn't have called unless it was essential. Sighing, Harry said, "Okay. I'll be there in about forty-five minutes. Do you need Nikki as well?"

"No. Make sure it's just you," Leo replied quickly. Harry frowned but didn't say anything.

Once he'd hung up the phone, he rolled over and slid his arms around Nikki. "I have to go to work," he told her.

"I heard," she grumbled. However, she rolled onto her back to allow Harry to kiss her. "I'm going to stay here and sleep," she smiled. Harry pouted, causing Nikki to laugh and press her lips to his cheek.

"I'll see you later," he said softly. Nikki just made a noise of agreement and rolled over again, already shutting her eyes. Harry tutted pointedly, but planted a gentle kiss on Nikki's temple before he climbed out of bed.

*

When Harry arrived at the lab, bleary-eyed and dosed up on caffeine, he was greeted by a hassled looking Leo.

"I hope you've got good reason for getting me here at this unearthly hour," he joked, tugging off his scarf. Leo didn't say anything as he led the way down to the cutting room. Harry frowned at his boss's frosty reception. "Leo, what's going on?"

"It's Victor Alexander," he said stiffly, still walking. Harry raised his eyebrows.

"Nikki's dad?"

"Yes."

They'd reached the cutting room now, and Harry didn't know what to expect. Part of him was imagining Victor stood by one of the slabs, wanting to borrow money from Harry because his daughter wouldn't give him any. The other part of Harry, the realistic part, knew what he was about to see.

Sure enough, when he walked into the cold, dark room, he could clearly see the outline of Victor Alexander's body lying on the slab furthest from the doors, with a white sheet draped over him.

"Oh god," he muttered, his worst fears coming true.

"Now do you understand why I wanted you here and not Nikki?" Leo said bluntly. Harry nodded and he slowly walked towards the slab, with Leo close behind him. He couldn't tear his eyes from the body; wouldn't believe it until he actually saw Mr Alexander's face. However, when Leo did remove the sheet, Harry dropped his Starbucks coffee in surprise. It fell to the floor with a clatter and the hot liquid spilt around Harry's feet, but all he could focus on was the gaping bullet wound in the deceased man's head.

"Bloody hell..." he breathed.

"I know," Leo replied grimly.

"But... but how?" Harry stuttered, still unable to remove his eyes from the empty, staring ones of Mr Alexander.

"The police aren't sure yet. He was found in the back-alley of a restaurant, buried amongst the bags of rubbish. I'm pretty certain it was the actual place of the murder, but I won't know until I go back and examine it when it's light enough. But I don't think that's what we should be worrying about right now," Leo said, with a meaningful look at Harry. It was only then that the realisation of what this could mean for Nikki became apparent.

"Nikki," Harry sighed. "What are we going to do?"

"We'll tell her of course, just as we would any relative. We won't let her see the body unless she specifically asks to. There's no need for her to formally identify him; his DNA is plastered across the police database. I want Nikki kept out of this investigation as far as possible."

Harry nodded sadly. Worry about what Nikki's reaction was going to be spread through him like wildfire.

"I'll call her, shall I?" Leo asked, pulling his mobile out of his pocket. Harry, however, stopped him.

"No. Let her sleep. It's not like there's anything she can do. When she comes in later we'll tell her."

Leo nodded. "She's not going to take it well, is she?" he asked.

Harry didn't say anything.

*

"It was one clean shot," Harry commented, his nose mere inches from Victor Alexander's head. "Bullet went in at a 70° angle, straight through the frontal lobe, then the temporal, and out of the cerebellum. He would have died instantly. Photo please, Nigel."

"Do you think it was suicide?" Leo asked as they stepped backwards to allow the lab technician to get the shot. "I mean, for the bullet to have come out the other side the gun must have been at a pretty close range."

"No, I don't," Harry said firmly. He wasn't certain why he was so sure of that fact, but he was. "His eyes are open, for a start. Plus, with suicides the MO is usually temple to temple, not through the forehead. No, this is definitely a murder."

Leo sighed. "I just didn't want Nikki to know that her father was murdered."

"I know," Harry said. He bent down over Mr Alexander's body again. They'd been working on him for over three hours, he didn't really know what more he was expecting to find. An explanation, maybe? Harry mentally scolded himself for being stupid.

"Nikki!"

Harry's head snapped up at the sound of Leo's exclamation, but his boss was no longer looking at the body, instead he was staring over Harry's shoulder. Harry spun around to see Nikki smiling at them from the doorway. It looked as if she'd just arrived, her cheeks were tinged pink with cold.

"Good morning," she grinned, stepping into the room. "I just thought I'd come and see the case that had you both out of bed at such a ridiculous hour."

When she started walking towards them, Harry tore off his gloves and apron and said, "Nikki, wait!"

Frowning, Nikki stopped. "What?"

Harry sent a meaningful look at Leo, who subtly moved to Harry's side of the slab and stood in front of it, blocking Nikki's view of her father's head. Harry then moved forwards slightly. "Go and wait for us in the locker room, and we'll explain," he told her gently.

"Explain what?" she asked. "Harry, you're scaring me."

"Trust us, Nikki," Leo said clearly. Nikki still didn't go anywhere.

"Tell me what's going on!" she demanded. There was silence in the room as neither Harry nor Leo knew what to say. Nikki just glared at them.

"It's... it's your dad," Harry said eventually.

Nikki's brow furrowed. "What about my-" she trailed off, and Harry saw her gaze land on the slab next to him. Her eyes widened and filled with tears. "No. No, no, no..." she muttered over and over again to herself. Then she started walking towards them.

"Nikki, please!" Leo said desperately, but she ignored him. Her pace quickened to a run as she got nearer. But Harry stepped in her path and held out his arm so that Nikki ran right into it. But Harry knew it was too late when he suddenly felt her stop struggling against him and weaken in his arms. He looked down at her. She was staring at her father, her face pale and blanched. Harry knew what was going to happen before it did. Releasing her, he took a step away from Nikki as she promptly bent over with her hands on her knees and vomited on the linoleum floor.

Leo rushed over to the sink to get a cup of water and some tissues, while Harry held Nikki's hair away from her face and rubbed her back soothingly. Eventually she straightened up, and accepted the plastic cup with shaking hands. Harry put his arm around her shoulders, trying to ignore the pile of sick on the floor. He could cut open dead bodies, he could dissect livers and hearts, but vomit was the only thing he couldn't stand.

"I'm really sorry, Nikki," Leo said gently. Nikki looked up at him.

"Don't be," she said coolly. "He deserved everything he got."

Harry watched Nikki closely as she turned away from him and Leo. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. When she turned to face them again, Harry could see her eyes sparkling. He took a step towards her, but Nikki held out her hand to push him back.

"Don't," she told him firmly. "I'm fine."

"You're not fine," Leo scoffed. "Take the day off."

Nikki didn't argue, to which Harry was greatly relieved. Instead she just nodded and looked at Harry, who was attempting to follow her out of the cutting room. "I know you're worried about me, but I'm okay," she told him. "I just need some time on my own."

"Are you sure?"

"Definitely."

Harry reluctantly let Nikki go, not at all certain that it was the right decision. He watched her retreating back until she disappeared, and released a long breath.

"She just needs to think things over," Leo said comfortingly.

"That's what worries me," Harry replied grimly.

Another chapter. Bit of a twist as well. Some of you probably saw it coming though, what with the phonecalls and him asking for money etc. I don't think the first part of this chapter is very good either, but there was no other way I could work the calls into the story.
Please review, I'm in a really crappy mood and need cheering up! :P