Chapter 36: Push That Knot Away

The next two weeks passed quickly, too quickly for Nikki's liking. A hot July had now rolled into a pleasantly warm August, her morning sickness had eased slightly and her relationship with Joe, although awkward at times, had successfully survived the events of a fortnight previously. To all intents and purposes, it had been a relatively good two weeks. Except that the arrival of August also meant the arrival of Harry's trial, something that Nikki had been trying, unsuccessfully, to ignore until now. Because now that the time was upon her, it was suddenly frighteningly real that in just two days time she might lose Harry forever. And that thought made her feel more ill than the morning sickness did.

So it was on the bright, sunny morning of August 6th that Nikki arrived at work an hour early and rushed into Leo's office. Her boss was sat behind his desk and looked surprised to see her.

"Nikki? What are you doing here?"

She sat down heavily in a chair opposite him and said, "We need to find the evidence to get Harry out of jail."

Leo sighed, which irritated her slightly. "Nikki," he said placatingly. "We've been trying to do just that for two months now."

"No, we haven't!" she half-shouted. "We haven't been trying hard enough at all. Sitting and reading the report isn't how you solve a case!"

"Harry's trial is the day after tomorrow-"

"Exactly, we've still got two days left! Come on, Leo! How can we just sit here doing nothing when there's a high possibility that we might lose Harry for good? I couldn't live with myself, could you? He's your best friend, are you just going to let him rot in jail for the rest of his life?"

"Stop!" Leo said firmly, standing up now and pressing his palms to the edge of his desk. "That's enough."

Nikki visibly slumped in her chair as her resolve broke with a sigh. She knew that she'd overstepped the mark.

"You are not the only one who is worried about Harry," he said roughly, glaring at her. "If there was anything I could do to make this whole mess go away, I would do it in a second. You know that full well."

"I'm sorry," Nikki whispered, and she was. Nodding, Leo slowly sat back down. "But there is something we can do," she continued quietly. "I can reopen the case. Pick it to pieces. Go over every little detail until we work out what we're missing. But I can't do that without your help, Leo."

Leo carefully scrutinised her for a moment, and for the first time in ages Nikki noticed just how tired he looked.

"Fine," he eventually conceded. "Get the file, we'll read through it again."

Without hesitation, Nikki leaned behind her and grabbed the file from the bottom drawer of Leo's filing cabinet, before slapping it onto the desk inbetween them.

"Thank you, Leo," she said sincerely. Leo simply nodded as he opened the folder and extracted the contents.

. . .

It wasn't until mid-morning and Nikki's stomach rumbled so loudly that it could no longer be ignored that they stopped for a break.

"It's no use," Leo sighed, leaning back in his chair with a groan. "We've been through it cover to cover."

"We can't give up," Nikki said quickly. "We need to speak to the witnesses again."

"Nikki," Leo said, that familiar look of disapproval in his eyes. "You know we can't do that."

"But-"

However, Nikki's retort was lost when Zak knocked and then entered the office, carrying two Starbucks coffee cups and a paper bag.

"I thought you guys might be peckish," he said, placing the items down on Leo's desk. "So I got you both a coffee and a cinnamon bun."

Nikki smiled at the young lab technician. "Thanks, Zak," both she and Leo said in unison.

"You're welcome. Umm, Doctor Cooper would like to know if he's going to get any help today with the, and I quote, 'million dead guys cluttering the halls'?" Zak asked.

"No, he's not," Leo said bluntly.

"Right. Also, there's a guy in reception says he needs to speak to you both," he informed them.

"Who is it?" Leo frowned.

"Says his name's Cameron Gables," Zak told them. "A lawyer or something."

Nikki immediately looked at Leo, her eyes wide. Leo returned her gaze for a moment before saying, "Okay, Zak. Can you send him in?"

As soon as Zak had left, Leo turned to Nikki and said, "What does Cameron want?"

"How should I know?" Nikki shrugged, reaching into the Starbucks bag. "I can't drink that coffee," she added.

"There's an orange juice in the fridge," Leo told her distractedly, signalling to other side of the offices. Nikki went to get it and as soon as she returned to her seat in Leo's office, the doors buzzed and Zak entered with Cameron in tow.

Spotting them, Cameron smiled as he strode into the office. "Hi, Niks, how are you?" he asked, bending down to give Nikki a quick hug.

"Oh, I'm absolutely perfect," she said sarcastically.

"Leo?"

"Fine, thanks. What's happened? Why are you here?" Leo asked hurriedly.

Cameron placed his briefcase down and sank into the chair beside Nikki with a sigh. Nikki pushed her untouched coffee across the desk towards him, which he sipped at gratefully.

"Harry's decided to change his plea," he said.

"What?" Leo exclaimed, while Nikki remained silent with shock.

"It's a logical decision," Cameron explained, "as I'm sure you both know. He's been charged with murder. If he pleads guilty he maybe gets fifteen years. If he pleads not guilty and then gets found guilty he'll be handed a life sentence on a silver platter, in which case you're looking at least thirty-five years."

"But he didn't do it!" Nikki cried. "If he pleads guilty then there's no chance that he'll be found not guilty!"

"I know that," Cameron said softly. "And more importantly, so does Harry."

"Then why's he doing it?" she asked desperately.

"Because he wants the shorter sentence," Cameron argued. "It's what most people in Harry's position would do."

"Well, I think it's a stupid idea," she grumbled mutinously.

"So do I," Leo agreed. "But it's up to Harry, isn't it? And it's not like we're really getting anywhere, Nikki."

Cameron observed the mess of scattered papers on the desk in front of them. "Are you reopening the case?" he frowned.

"Yes. I can't sit here and do nothing, Cameron," Nikki shot at him.

"I wasn't going to suggest that you should," he said, holding up his hands in defence. "Look, I like Harry. I really do. I don't want to see him go down for this any more than you do. So let me help you."

Nikki frowned, wondering if she'd misheard. "Help me?"

"Yeah. That was what I really came here to tell you both. I want to help, in any way that I can."

Touched by his kindness, Nikki swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. "Okay," she said with a small smile, feeling a lot more positive now that they had someone else onboard. "So let's get to work. Leo, can we do another post mortem on Robert Jones' body?"

"No," he said.

"I know it's unethical, but please, Leo?" she tried.

"No, I mean, we physically can't," Leo explained. "We had to release his body nearly a month ago. I'm pretty sure his next of kin would have buried him by now."

Nikki clenched her jaw. "Cremated," she corrected. "His next of kin was his brother, Christopher Jones. He would have cremated him to get rid of any evidence."

Leo sighed, shaking his head. They'd reached a standstill. None of them knew what to do next.

"I want to go and speak to the women in Harry's apartment block who gave the statement," she said abruptly.

"I'll drive you," Cameron offered. Grabbing the piece of paper with the statement on, Nikki grabbed her bag and left the office with Cameron in tow before Leo could say anything.

"What if, even after all this, it doesn't work, Cameron?" she asked quietly as they crossed the car park. "What if we don't manage to build a solid case in Harry's favour and he gets found guilty for murder and goes to prison for fifteen years?"

"I don't know, Niks," Cameron said honestly.

"No, nor do I," she muttered miserably.

"Look, you've got another suspect," he said more positively as they got into his car. "You're pretty certain that it's this Christopher Jones, yes? So just look at it from his point of view. Would Jones have been able to do it, etc?"

"We've done that already," Nikki said. "The police weren't interested."

"So find something that makes them interested," Cameron pointed out.

Musing on his words, Nikki looked down at the statement in front of her. "Okay, the woman we're going to see is Holly Brownlow. She lives on the opposite side of the corridor from Harry, two doors down from him and three doors down from Robert. She's twenty-eight years old, a stay-at-home mum. Married to an accountant. She was just coming back from the shops when she saw Harry enter Robert's apartment."

They drove quickly to Holly Brownlow's apartment. As they trod the familiar route along the corridor, Nikki couldn't but feel a clenching in her stomach, particularly when she could actually see Harry's front door. Taking a deep breath, she stopped several meters short of where she normally would and turned to the left, rather than right. She knocked on the wooden door harshly.

"Who do we tell her we are?" Cameron whispered hurriedly.

"Let me do the talking," Nikki told him, just as the door opened.

A woman was stood there, balancing a baby on one hip. She had brown hair that was thrown up into a messy bun, a pale complexion, and bright green eyes that were complimented by the lime green cashmere jumper that she was wearing with dark blue skinny jeans and black Converses.

"Yes?" she said impatiently. "Can I help you?"

"Hi, I'm Nikki Alexander, Home Office Pathologist," Nikki said professionally, flashing Holly her ID. "This is Cameron Gables. Do you mind if we have a word?"

Looking puzzled, Holly stepped back to let them in. "You'll have to excuse the mess, I'm afraid."

Nikki entered the apartment. It was smaller than Harry's and much more homely. There were bright colours everywhere and baby toys littered the floor.

"You have a nice home," Cameron said as he followed Nikki.

"Thanks," Holly said, shutting the door and then catching up with them. She put the baby boy, who couldn't have been much more than a year old, down on the floor in front of some large plastic animals, which he immediately began to play with.

"He's adorable," Nikki smiled, unable to help the excited feeling that swelled inside her when she realised that in just seven months, that would be her.

Holly laughed slightly. "Only when he wants to be. Isn't that right, Jack?" she directed this last at the baby, who gazed up at her with wide innocent eyes.

"So," Holly said, gesturing for Nikki and Cameron to sit down and then doing the same on the sofa opposite. "What's all this about?"

"We're here to ask you some questions about the afternoon of the 5th June, when Robert Jones was murdered," Nikki said gently.

"The man from across the hall who played his music for the world to hear. Yes, I remember," Holly nodded.

"Do you mind if I record this conversation?" Nikki asked with a smile. "It's just for our records."

"No, go ahead."

"Great. Okay, Mrs. Brownlow, what do you remember about that afternoon?"

"Call me Holly," the young woman replied. "Err... I'd been out shopping. I had a work do the next week and needed a new outfit, you know how it is. Anyway, I'd just rounded the corner of the corridor when I saw Harry Cunningham rush out of his flat. He was in a right state, all angry looking. He banged on Robert's door but it must have been left unlocked or something because it swung straight open. Harry stormed in and a second later the music stopped. I couldn't hear any arguing or anything so I just ... went into my apartment. I didn't really think anything of it. I mean, his music drove all of us mad, I assumed Harry was the only one to finally do something about it."

"You say the door was unlocked?" Nikki frowned.

"Well, it must have been left ajar or something because as soon as Harry touched it, it swung open."

"And you definitely didn't hear any arguing once Harry had entered the flat?" Cameron quizzed.

"Nope. I stood there for a second to see if I could, Robert could be quite argumentative when he wanted to be, but I didn't hear any so – like I said – I assumed it was all right," Holly explained. "But I don't know, I am quite far down from his apartment here. Maybe one of the other neighbours heard something?"

"How well did you know Doctor Cunningham?" Nikki asked, feeling another pang in her stomach.

"Quite well," Holly nodded. "He was always very helpful if I was struggling with Jack and bags of shopping. I remember one time that the lift broke and Harry helped me carry Jack's pushchair up all the stairs. He was a gentleman. Which is why I couldn't believe it when I heard that it was him who killed Robert. It just didn't make any sense. Although, who knows what someone can do in a fit of anger?"

"I don't suppose you saw anyone else pass you on your way back up to here, did you?" Cameron asked.

Holly looked thoughtful. "I don't know. Possibly a couple of people. I can't really remember, if I'm honest."

Nikki forced a smile onto her face. "Okay. Well thanks, Holly. I think that's all we need."

She and Cameron got to their feet, Nikki swiping up the dictaphone and placing it in her pocket.

"You're welcome. Anything else you need, you know where I am," Holly smiled.

"Thanks. We'll see ourselves out," Cameron said, leading the way back to the door.

Once outside in the corridor, Nikki leant against the wall and released a long breath. "If she gave that statement to the police, why are they so certain it was Harry?" she asked. "I mean, she says that the door was already open when Harry got there, and that there was no arguing, which surely indicated that Jones was already dead!"

"I don't know," Cameron shrugged. "But we've got the statement. It's something."

"I suppose so."

"Come on, let's go and ask the other neighbours if they heard anything," he suggested.

"The police already did a door-to-door," Nikki told him.

"Yes, but the police had already interviewed Holly, and look what we found out."

They spent the next hour talking to eight of Harry's neighbours, but none of them told them anything that they didn't already know. Disheartened, Nikki and Cameron trudged back to the car in silence.

"Come on, Niks, cheer up. This isn't the be-all-and-end-all," Cameron said as they reached the car.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, there's one person who we haven't interviewed yet..."

"Who?" Nikki asked, perplexed.

Cameron stopped and looked at her. "Christopher Jones."

This chapter is dedicated to JustHuddy, who is a little bit more than awesome and whose reviews never fail to make me laugh. :)

But thank you SO MUCH to everyone who takes the time to review; it means the world, it really does.

xxx