Friday had arrived, and Nikki took her time dressing herself in her cell. She checked her make up one final time in the mirror as she tried to distract herself from the churning feeling in her stomach. There was only one person who could relieve her stress, and she wouldn't see Helen now until she took her place on the witness stand. A knock on the door brought temporary relief from her worries, and the inmate was pleased to see Dana entering her cell.
"You ready Nikki?"
"Yes Miss, as ready as I'll ever be"
"Right, well we're an Officer down at the moment what with Mr Fenner leaving, so I'm afraid it's only me escorting you today"
Nikki smiled "I can think of far worse people"
Dana rolled her eyes "Now, as it's just me, I need you to be on your best behaviour. No funny business, ok?"
"Don't worry" Nikki reassured her "Causing trouble would kind of work against my appeal, don't you think?"
"Well I'm glad we have an understanding. Is all your stuff packed?"
Nikki turned to look at the plastic bag on her bed. It contained the entire contents of her cell from the past three years, and appeared upsettingly small. To see the whole of her life fitting in one bag hit Nikki hard, and she had to pause for a moment to gather herself before she was ready to follow Dana out of the cell.
The women of G Wing began to cheer as Nikki made her way towards the exit. She was stopped by many women wanting to shake her hand or wish her good luck. With a few exceptions, Nikki was well liked by inmates and officers alike, and almost everyone was hopeful that her appeal would succeed.
Alice was the first to offer a personal goodbye "You go get 'em girl!"
Nikki chuckled "Cheers Al"
"Nikki!"
The inmate spun round just in time to prevent being knocked to the floor by the two Julies who threw their arms around her. They squeezed her so tightly that she felt as though all the air had gone from her lungs, but she still had to laugh at their display of affection.
"Now don't you dare be showing your face here again, you hear me Nikki!" Julie S ordered.
"Not unless it's on the other side of the visiting table!" Julie J added.
"Got it Julies" Nikki replied with a laugh.
Bette waited for the Julies to give their final instructions before meeting Nikki's gaze. She smiled and the two women moved together to embrace one another.
"Good luck Nik, and thank you for everything" Bette said softly.
"I'll be seeing you mate. It's my birthday coming up and you and Tina are top of my guest list" Nikki whispered back.
Bette laughed softly "A girl can dream huh?"
Nikki stepped back and clasped Bette's hand "You'll be there"
Unspoken words were exchanged between the two women before Officer Fairbanks nudged Nikki in the direction of the wing gate. There were just two more good byes to be said.
"Nikki…"
The inmate smiled as one of her preferred officers approached her.
"Miss Kennard" she grinned "I hope next time I see you it'll be on a more level playing field"
Tina rolled her eyes, and Nikki winked at her.
The officer reached out her hand to shake Nikki's "Best of luck Nikki"
"Thank you"
There was one final face waiting for her by the wing exit. For a women who normally appeared so confident and self-assured, Nikki could see a trace of fear in the young women's eyes.
"Hey Shane" she said softly.
"Hey Nik" Shane bit her lip "I just wanted to wish you all the best"
"Come here" Nikki pulled her into a hug "You take care of yourself kiddo"
"I will. But please don't forget about me!"
Nikki laughed softly "Of course I won't. And who knows, I could be back here before the day's over!"
"Don't you dare be walking back in here! Or I'll be forced to kick your arse"
Both women laughed.
"Let's hope you don't get the chance eh?" Nikki grinned.
The two women embraced again and held each other for several moments, neither one wanting to get overly emotional infront the entire wing, but both wanting to convey their gratitude for the others support throughout their time in Larkhall.
"Come on Nikki, it's time to go" Dana encouraged her along.
Nikki took one final look at the place that had been her home for the last three years, and silently prayed that she would never have to come back. To know that she was so close to freedom, and then be returned to Larkhall, would almost be too much to bear. But she had to think positively, and tried to calm herself with thoughts of the future. As she walked out of the gate to a chorus of cheers, she focused her eyes forwards and walked confidently towards the waiting car.
In the Appeal Court Nikki's case had broken for lunch. She sat in a holding cell, accompanied as she had been all day by Dana, and joined by her solicitor, Claire. The court had provided her with food, but all Nikki could do was push it around her plate. Nerves were getting the better of her, and the confidence she had displayed when leaving Larkhall that morning was long gone.
"Miss Fairbanks, do you mind if I have a word alone with Nikki?" Claire asked.
"No problem, I'll be right outside"
Dana got up and left the room. Claire sat down and waited for Nikki to look her in the eye. She didn't speak until she knew that she had Nikki's full attention.
"I'm not gonna get out am I?" Nikki said eventually.
"Try and keep positive Nikki. We've still got Helen to testify as to your character, and Sally-Ann, the former colleague of the man you killed. We can still do this"
"I wish I could say I shared your optimism"
"Nikki, listen to me" Claire placed her hand on Nikki's arm "Nothing has happened today that we didn't expect. The CPS were always going to try and rip you to pieces over your statement from that night. But you didn't play into their hands, you stayed calm, which is the best we could have hoped for. And as for the old boys network, well of course they were always going to put up a fight. None of them want to admit the real character of one of their own"
"So you really think I still stand a chance?" Nikki asked incredulously.
"Do you really think I'd still be representing you if I didn't?"
Nikki raised an eyebrow.
"Ok, don't answer that" Claire said "but seriously Nikki, the whole thing always hinged on this afternoon anyway. So long as both of our star witnesses hold themselves together, I think we stand a very good chance of winning this"
"I can only hope that you're right"
"Have I been wrong yet?"
"I guess not" Nikki managed a half smile for the first time since they had entered the court house.
"You just need to keep your hopes up Nikki. I can't promise anything, but I do genuinely believe that you stand a chance. And you need to show that Judge that you believe in your case without coming across as arrogant"
"And do you think I'm arrogant?"
"Not at all. I think you made things a hell of a lot more difficult for yourself with that first statement you made to the police. But I also know that you don't deserve to be locked up for murder. And that's why I'm here today, to make sure that everyone else sees that too"
There was a knock on the door and Dana re-entered the room.
"Courts about to reconvene. Are you good to go?" she asked.
"Yep, let's do it" Nikki stood up with a new found enthusiasm.
They re-entered the courtroom and it seemed that the Judge was eager to proceed quickly. Within minutes, Claire was being asked to call her first witness.
"Your honour, I would like to call Miss Helen Stewart, Wing Governor at Larkhall Prison, the facility at which my client has been detained for the past three years"
"Very well" the Judge nodded, indicating that they should proceed.
As Helen entered the courtroom she was well aware that everyone's eyes were on her. She felt an immense pressure knowing the importance of her testimony. But the only eyes in the room that she could see were Nikki's. And she knew immediately by the look on her lovers face that the morning hadn't gone well for her. Without revealing anything to the rest of the room, she used her eyes to try and reassure Nikki. They held each others gaze for a moment before Helen made her way to the stand. She was sworn in, and confirmed her details for the court before Claire began her questioning.
"Miss Stewart, thank you for taking the time to come here today. I understand you have a busy schedule, and we are very grateful that you can be here" Claire started.
"It's no problem" Helen had to resist the urge to look at Nikki.
"How long have you known Miss Wade?"
"Around three years. Ever since she was first put in my charge at Larkhall"
"And what was your first impression of her?"
"She wasn't what I expected. Because of the nature of her conviction, Nikki's case was a high profile one. The press painted an extremely negative picture of her. So when I actually met her, I was pleasantly surprised" Helen explained.
"In what way?"
"She was a woman struggling to deal with the gravity of the situation in which she found herself. Instead of having a violent and vindictive character, she is in fact a very even tempered and intelligent woman"
"Yet members of the prosecution have gone out of their way to prove her to be an angry individual who poses great threat to the public. What would you say to that?" Claire asked.
"I'd say they've obviously never spoken properly with her. Nikki is one of the gentlest women that I've ever worked with. Within the prison environment she acts like a mother figure to many of the younger women. She's a credit to herself and those that know her, and I genuinely believe that she poses no threat to the public. She is full of remorse for what she did, but people need to understand the circumstances behind what happened. She's not some cold blooded killer. What she said that night was in the heat of the moment. All she was doing was protecting someone that she loved"
"Objection!" called the CPS lawyer "The witness is making suppositions as to the defendant's intentions that night"
"Sustained" said the Judge firmly "Miss Stewart, if you could please keep your answers to the facts"
"I'm sorry your honour" Helen apologised.
"Continue Miss Burke" the Judge nodded to Claire.
"Miss Stewart, I'd like you please to tell the court about Miss Wade's development whilst in prison"
"I'd say she's one of our prison systems success stories. She took every opportunity that was given to her, particularly with regard to education. She refused to just rot away in jail, instead she grabbed everything that was offered to her with both hands"
"And what do you think would happen if Miss Wade was released?"
"I believe she would fit herself back into society. Nikki has a lot to offer. And her chances of reoffending are no greater than yours or mine"
"Thank you Miss Stewart. No further questions your honour" Claire said as she sat down.
Nikki squeezed her hands tightly together as the prosecution rose to cross-examine Helen. Silently she prayed that her lover wouldn't fold under the pressure. She had every faith in the small Scot, but didn't have a good experience of prosecution lawyers, so was understandably nervous.
"Miss Stewart, you yourself have stated that Miss Wade committed this killing to protect someone she loved. Yet you rate her risk of reoffending as nil. What's to say the same thing won't happen all over again if we let her go? A threat to anyone she cares about, and who knows what she might do"
"That's not true. While she is an incredibly loyal person, I also feel that she has matured a lot over the past three years. She's a shining example of someone who has learnt from her mistakes"
"A mistake which cost a man his life" the CPS lawyer pointed out.
"Something which Nikki regrets infinitely. But the past can't be changed. She has paid a huge price for the events of that life. But she's pulled herself through and stands in court today a better woman"
"What makes you so confident in her? I mean, who's to say the side you, as a Wing Governor, see of Miss Wade, isn't simply a facade to hide the killer underneath?"
Helen had to take a deep breath to control her anger at the insinuations the lawyer was making. Even though she had expected such things, it was hard to hear someone making allegations like that about the woman that she loved.
"Ma'am, I hope you will understand that in my capacity as Wing Governor I am around the women twenty four hours a day. I see their good sides, their bad sides, and everything in between. When you are in prison you are under constant supervision and there's nowhere to hide. And I can categorically state that the Nikki Wade that I describe to you today is the real one"
"But how can you be sure?" the CPS lawyer persisted.
"Because I have had the pleasure of spending time in her company over the past three years, as I take a proactive role in engaging the women in education. I prefer to know the women in my care on a personal level rather than just treating them as a number"
"Nice to see that all our murderers and prostitutes are being treated well"
"Objection your honour!" Claire jumped to her feet.
"Sustained! If you will watch your remarks…"
"I'm sorry your honour. I have no further questions for this witness"
Nikki leant back in her seat looking defeated. Despite Helen's best efforts, this afternoon had been no improvement on the mornings events. All they had left was Sally-Ann Howes, a former colleague of the victim, to rely on.
The mood on G Wing had been somewhat subdued throughout the day. Everyone that knew Nikki, which was pretty much the entire wing, could think of nothing but her appeal. Needless to say, the inmates had little faith in the justice system. While they were confident of Nikki's innocence, they were less confident in the fact that it would be seen in a court of law.
"I'm out" Alice declared, throwing down her hand of cards.
"Shane?" Denny asked.
"Sorry, what?" Shane turned to her.
"Come on Shane, get your head in the game" Alice poked her.
"Sorry, I seem to be a little distracted. I can't help worrying about Nikki" Shane admitted.
"I know, I just wish we'd heard something" Bette agreed.
A few minutes later the game had dissolved and the women simply sat at the table, lost in their own thoughts. Tina approached them hurriedly.
"Girls, the news is on!"
The women jumped up and joined the rest of the wing to gather around the television. After a story about climate change and one about a fluctuation in the stock market, the women were growing restless.
"Come on, give us something about Nikki!" Alice yelled in frustration.
"Keep it down Piezecki, some of us are trying to watch this" Officer Hollamby scolded.
Alice cursed her under her breath and returned her attention to the screen.
"And finally" said the newsreader "we go the High Courts where Nicola Wade has been appealing against her conviction for the murder of a police officer three years ago"
"Thank you John" said the reporter based outside the courts "Just this minute all parties have left the court, with Miss Wade's conviction being reduced to one of manslaughter"
Excited mutterings spread amongst the women as they tried to work out what this meant. On screen, the reporter continued.
"Following testimony from a former colleague of the victim, a Miss Sally-Ann Howes, the High Court Judge was convinced of a different view of the character of the victim. He accepted that Miss Wade did in fact act in self defence. Additionally testimony as to the character of the appellant was provided by her Governor at Larkhall Prison. Following on from this decision, Miss Wade's sentence was reduced to one of three years, time already served. This evening, Miss Wade left the court a free woman"
Screams and cheers went up amongst the inmates. The women were hugging each other and jumping up and down. As she threw her arms around Shane, Bette's eyes met Tina's. They grinned at one another, and Tina motioned for Bette to follow her to one side. The inmate excused herself and made her way to the side of the wing.
"Hey…" Tina started with a small smile.
"Hey you"
"So, what do you make of that?"
"It's brilliant, I mean, I'm so happy for Nikki. And Miss Stewart must be over the moon too"
"I'm sure she is. Has it made you think any more about your own appeal?" Tina asked, biting her lip.
"T…." Bette took a deep breath "Don't push me ok?"
"I'm not trying to. I just want what's best for you. And for us"
"I know…I just….I don't know if I could go through the pain of being sent here all over again"
"I understand. I just want you to think about it, ok? And know that if you do decide to go for it, I'll do everything I can to help you"
"I know" Bette smiled "And it means that world to me"
"I think you'd best get back to the celebrations" Tina nodded in the direction of the other inmates.
Bette smiled "Yeah, I probably should. Goodnight T"
"Goodnight Bette. Sweet dreams"
"They always are when you're in them" Bette said with a wink.