Chapter 29

"Is something up?" Harry asked. Nikki looked up, surprised. It wasn't like the new Harry to notice. Or not notice her.

"You just seem a bit quiet. Bad case?"

Nikki nodded. It was one of those ghastly ones. Not that many weren't ghastly in her particular line of work, but this one had the trimmings of pure evil.

"Psychopath," Nikki replied. "Clever one, had a wife, a family, good job, life and soul of the party."

"What did he do?"

"You really don't want to know." Harry could tell from the green colour that Nikki had gone, that he actually really didn't want to know.

"How could his wife not know? How can you be that close to someone and not even suspect?"

"I'm not the one to answer that question," Harry admitted.

"Sorry," she apologised. "I wasn't thinking."

"What can I do?" Harry asked.

Nikki looked at him, caught off guard by his interest.

"Tell me the world's not an evil place, that life is fair…"

"I won't lie to you," Harry said sadly. "I've had enough lies to last a lifetime."

"Everything that man did, it was all lies; everything…"

"Have they caught him?"

Nikki nodded.

"And he won't be released any time soon?"

Nikki responded with a shake of the head.

"Then you have to get him out of your head. You've done your bit. I'm sorry it's upset you." he offered and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Thanks," said Nikki. Grateful that Harry had dropped the topic and appreciating the warmth of his touch. Most of the stories she unravelled made sense in the end, a cause and effect. Not this one. This one was just evil because it could be. She shuddered.

"Coffee?"

"I think I'll go decaff tonight," Nikki replied.

"You all set for tomorrow?"

"I think so. You'll be back by 11. We'll manage. Do you think Leo would play hairstyles with me?"

"Don't push it!" laughed Harry.

Nikki yawned.

"I hope you're able to sleep."

"Me too," Nikki returned but she felt doubtful.

"Not sure I can have both of you waking me up with your nightmares."

"No, you've got an interview tomorrow and you need to look the part." She looked at him closely and thought back to the mental image of the defeated man she'd seen in the conference room the first morning he'd returned. "You look better than you did. I like your glasses, they suit you. Did I ever tell you?" Harry shook his head and smiled. A full smile, with his eyes as well. "You'll do fine tomorrow," she said confidently.

"I think you've probably got the tougher end of the deal." Harry suggested.