Part Seventy Nine
Once Yvonne had left, Nikki retreated to her office, supposedly to work on the books, but in reality to mull over what Yvonne had asked her to do. Could she persuade Helen to stand as a witness, should she even try. They were settled, Helen and her in their new life, Nikki with the club and Helen with her psychology patients. What right did Nikki or anyone else have to upset the apple cart so completely. Nikki was well aware that Helen hadn't entirely dealt with or moved on from what had happened with Fenner, Karen and everything to do with Larkhall. But Nikki sure as hell knew that going back in to that world was not the way forward, for either of them. But Nikki simply couldn't ignore what had happened to Karen. No matter how much Karen had been wrong to dismiss Helen's persistent warnings about Fenner, she didn't deserve to have been raped. Nikki knew none of the details, because Yvonne hadn't voiced them, but Nikki hadn't either needed or wanted her too. Fenner was Fenner, and if someone said they'd been raped by him, then it must be true. Eventually, she abandoned her computer and walked out to the bar and told the women working there that she was going home early tonight and only to ring her if it was urgent.
when she walked in to their flat, Helen was in the kitchen pouring herself a glass of wine.
"Nikki," She called, "Is that you?"
"No one else," Said Nikki, walking in to the kitchen and giving Helen a kiss.
"You're home early. Do you want some of this?" Helen asked, holding up the bottle.
"Please," Replied Nikki, thinking that she'd need some Dutch courage for this one. When they were ensconced on the sofa, Helen said,
"So, to what do I owe the unexpected pleasure of having you home at this time?" Nikki reached for the cigarette packet, a habit that she'd never abandoned since her Larkhall days.
"I had a visit from Yvonne today."
"Oh?" Said Helen, knowing that there must be a lot more to it than this. "How is she?"
"She's okay. Do you remember about a week ago when I told you she was seeing Karen Betts?"
"Of course I do and I didn't believe a word of it. There was never a pair of women more in to men than those two."
"Well, it's true. Believe it or not, but yes, they are. It's in its early days, but Yvonne seems happy."
"Nikki, why are you telling me this?"
"She came to tell me that Karen is in the process of putting a case together against Fenner, for rape."
"What, you mean Fenner raped Karen?"
"Yeah, and she's got herself a hot shot barrister and they're preparing to take him to court."
"No way, Nikki."
"What?"
"Whatever they want from me, the answer's no."
"You don't know what I was about to say."
"don't give me that, Nikki. Karen wants me to stand as a witness because of what Fenner did to me, and after all the bullshit I had from her. No way!"
"I'm not trying to persuade you either way," Said Nikki, trying to remain calm in the face of Helen's fury.
"Nikki, that is exactly what you're doing by even bringing this up."
"Listen," Said Nikki plicatingly. "I know you're still furious with Karen for not taking any notice of the things you said about Fenner, and in your place, so would I be. But she didn't deserve what he did to her, the same as you didn't."
"I know," Said Helen, sounding utterly defeated. "But I can't go back to all that, Nikki. I just can't do it."
"If it makes you feel any better, I don't think it was Karen who wanted to involve you. For what it's worth, I don't think she even knows Yvonne came to see me. It's Karen's barrister who wants to talk to you, about everything you know about Fenner, not just about what happened to you. Let's face it, you were around for most of his serious blunders."
"Tell me about it. Rachel Hicks, Shell Dockley's beating, the stabbing, the escape, you bloody name it."
"As far as I know, this Barrister, Jo Mills I think she's called, just wants to talk to you. No pressure whatsoever, just a chat."
"You don't seriously believe that?" Said Helen in disgust. "That's how these people start, no pressure, just a chat, and the next thing you know you're entering a witness protection program because of the dirt you've got on some bloody no mark like Fenner." Nikki laughed affectionately.
"They're not all that bad. You're forgetting that one of their ilk got me out on appeal," She said turning serious again.
"I doubt even a QC could put Fenner away."
"This one is by all accounts. After Yvonne left, I did an internet search on her. If anyone can give Fenner what he deserves, it's her."
"Nikki, I really don't know about this. Yes, I want Fenner to rot for what he did to me and everyone else over the years, I just don't know if I can be part of that. Jesus, I even changed my bloody name to get away from all that."
"yeah, Yvonne said they'd had some trouble finding you. I think that's why she came to me."
"did she know about us when you were still in prison?"
"We never discussed it, but she's not stupid."
"I really don't want to have to see him again, not even across a courtroom."
"That's what's really scaring you, isn't it."
"Yeah. I have enough nightmares about him already, without that."
"You don't know that you'd even have to appear in court. For now, Jo Mills simply wants to talk to you because of everything you know, not least because of the Virginia O'kane stuff."
"god, I'd almost forgotten about that. A jury would crucify him if they knew about that."
"Precisely. So, will you at least talk to her, see what she has to say?" Helen poured herself another glass of wine and helped herself to one of Nikki's cigarettes.
"Okay," She said after taking a long drag. "I'll talk to her, but no promises."
A while later, when Helen went for a long soak in the bath, Nikki called Yvonne.
"You bloody owe me one for this," Said Nikki, half joking, half serious. "That is the hardest thing I swear I've ever had to do."
"What did she say?"
"Helen will talk to Jo, but absolutely no promises. You've got to make that clear. It's taken all I've got to get her to do this much, and I don't think your gorgeous QC's got a cat in hell's chance of getting Helen in to court, but she will fill her in on as many of Fenner's misdeeds as possible."
"First, you're an angel, and second, how do you know Jo's gorgeous?" Nikki laughed.
"After you left, I did a search on her. There was a picture of her, very nice if you're free and single."
"And straight," put in Yvonne, "She only indulges in men."
"That's what I'd have said about you a couple of years ago."
"I know, crazy, isn't it. Let's just hope she can do to Fenner what she did to Snowball and Ritchie."
"Was it her who prosecuted Ritchie?"
"Yeah, bloody fine job she did of it as well. Though, with the evidence they had stacked against them, a chimpanzee could have probably still sent them down, just not with as much style." All this was said in the half wistful, half abrasive tone that Nikki knew hid so much regret.
"By the sounds of it," Said Nikki quietly, "You did everything you could for Ritchie."
"Nikki, please don't even think of going there. Karen's the one I've got to concentrate on now."
"Well, tell her from me she's a very lucky woman," Said Nikki fondly.
"Oh, I don't know about that," Said Yvonne with a deprecating smile in her voice.
"Yes," Said Nikki grinning, "She got to initiate you and I didn't. All I can say is, she must be special."
"You daft cow," Said Yvonne beginning to laugh, "But yeah, she is special, very special. Maybe even a you and Helen kind of special."
"Jesus," Said Nikki, "I just hope you don't have half the problems we did at the beginning."
"You're happy now though, aren't you?"
"Oh, yeah, but it was hard at first, incredibly hard."
"You see, this is why I've got to fight all I can for her. She still has to work with Fenner day in day out, and it means she can't move on from what he did to her."
"She's lucky to have you, just don't let her forget that."
After speaking to Nikki, Yvonne phoned Jo.
"I've got you the goods," She said as a way of opening the conversation.
"Do you say that to everyone you do slightly dodgy deals for?" Asked Jo, smiling broadly.
"yeah, sorry," Said Yvonne beginning to laugh, "Force of habit." Then, turning serious, she said, "I have found Helen Stewart and she will talk to you."
"Marvelous, I thought you'd find her."
"No one, not even Fenner on a good day, could hide from me."
"so why couldn't she be traced via normal means?"
"Probably because she's changed her name, to Helen Wade. Her girlfriend is an old mate of mine, someone you may have heard of, Nikki Wade?"
"You mean, The Nikki Wade?" Said Jo in astonishment.
"The very same. Now, there's just one other thing. You need to tread extremely carefully with Helen. There's still clearly a lot of resentment there for Karen's total ignorance of Fenner's true nature. Helen will talk to you, but at this stage, you've got no chance of getting her near a courtroom. Just, treat her with kid gloves, or she might do another disappearing act."
"Okay, unlike George, I know how to be gentle with witnesses."
"Whatever happens with Helen, I really think you ought to tell Karen about this. She isn't going to be amused with me for keeping it from her as it is, but I think she deserves to know."
"Point taken. Thank you for doing this."
"Any time. I just hope it was worth it."
Once Yvonne had left, Nikki retreated to her office, supposedly to work on the books, but in reality to mull over what Yvonne had asked her to do. Could she persuade Helen to stand as a witness, should she even try. They were settled, Helen and her in their new life, Nikki with the club and Helen with her psychology patients. What right did Nikki or anyone else have to upset the apple cart so completely. Nikki was well aware that Helen hadn't entirely dealt with or moved on from what had happened with Fenner, Karen and everything to do with Larkhall. But Nikki sure as hell knew that going back in to that world was not the way forward, for either of them. But Nikki simply couldn't ignore what had happened to Karen. No matter how much Karen had been wrong to dismiss Helen's persistent warnings about Fenner, she didn't deserve to have been raped. Nikki knew none of the details, because Yvonne hadn't voiced them, but Nikki hadn't either needed or wanted her too. Fenner was Fenner, and if someone said they'd been raped by him, then it must be true. Eventually, she abandoned her computer and walked out to the bar and told the women working there that she was going home early tonight and only to ring her if it was urgent.
when she walked in to their flat, Helen was in the kitchen pouring herself a glass of wine.
"Nikki," She called, "Is that you?"
"No one else," Said Nikki, walking in to the kitchen and giving Helen a kiss.
"You're home early. Do you want some of this?" Helen asked, holding up the bottle.
"Please," Replied Nikki, thinking that she'd need some Dutch courage for this one. When they were ensconced on the sofa, Helen said,
"So, to what do I owe the unexpected pleasure of having you home at this time?" Nikki reached for the cigarette packet, a habit that she'd never abandoned since her Larkhall days.
"I had a visit from Yvonne today."
"Oh?" Said Helen, knowing that there must be a lot more to it than this. "How is she?"
"She's okay. Do you remember about a week ago when I told you she was seeing Karen Betts?"
"Of course I do and I didn't believe a word of it. There was never a pair of women more in to men than those two."
"Well, it's true. Believe it or not, but yes, they are. It's in its early days, but Yvonne seems happy."
"Nikki, why are you telling me this?"
"She came to tell me that Karen is in the process of putting a case together against Fenner, for rape."
"What, you mean Fenner raped Karen?"
"Yeah, and she's got herself a hot shot barrister and they're preparing to take him to court."
"No way, Nikki."
"What?"
"Whatever they want from me, the answer's no."
"You don't know what I was about to say."
"don't give me that, Nikki. Karen wants me to stand as a witness because of what Fenner did to me, and after all the bullshit I had from her. No way!"
"I'm not trying to persuade you either way," Said Nikki, trying to remain calm in the face of Helen's fury.
"Nikki, that is exactly what you're doing by even bringing this up."
"Listen," Said Nikki plicatingly. "I know you're still furious with Karen for not taking any notice of the things you said about Fenner, and in your place, so would I be. But she didn't deserve what he did to her, the same as you didn't."
"I know," Said Helen, sounding utterly defeated. "But I can't go back to all that, Nikki. I just can't do it."
"If it makes you feel any better, I don't think it was Karen who wanted to involve you. For what it's worth, I don't think she even knows Yvonne came to see me. It's Karen's barrister who wants to talk to you, about everything you know about Fenner, not just about what happened to you. Let's face it, you were around for most of his serious blunders."
"Tell me about it. Rachel Hicks, Shell Dockley's beating, the stabbing, the escape, you bloody name it."
"As far as I know, this Barrister, Jo Mills I think she's called, just wants to talk to you. No pressure whatsoever, just a chat."
"You don't seriously believe that?" Said Helen in disgust. "That's how these people start, no pressure, just a chat, and the next thing you know you're entering a witness protection program because of the dirt you've got on some bloody no mark like Fenner." Nikki laughed affectionately.
"They're not all that bad. You're forgetting that one of their ilk got me out on appeal," She said turning serious again.
"I doubt even a QC could put Fenner away."
"This one is by all accounts. After Yvonne left, I did an internet search on her. If anyone can give Fenner what he deserves, it's her."
"Nikki, I really don't know about this. Yes, I want Fenner to rot for what he did to me and everyone else over the years, I just don't know if I can be part of that. Jesus, I even changed my bloody name to get away from all that."
"yeah, Yvonne said they'd had some trouble finding you. I think that's why she came to me."
"did she know about us when you were still in prison?"
"We never discussed it, but she's not stupid."
"I really don't want to have to see him again, not even across a courtroom."
"That's what's really scaring you, isn't it."
"Yeah. I have enough nightmares about him already, without that."
"You don't know that you'd even have to appear in court. For now, Jo Mills simply wants to talk to you because of everything you know, not least because of the Virginia O'kane stuff."
"god, I'd almost forgotten about that. A jury would crucify him if they knew about that."
"Precisely. So, will you at least talk to her, see what she has to say?" Helen poured herself another glass of wine and helped herself to one of Nikki's cigarettes.
"Okay," She said after taking a long drag. "I'll talk to her, but no promises."
A while later, when Helen went for a long soak in the bath, Nikki called Yvonne.
"You bloody owe me one for this," Said Nikki, half joking, half serious. "That is the hardest thing I swear I've ever had to do."
"What did she say?"
"Helen will talk to Jo, but absolutely no promises. You've got to make that clear. It's taken all I've got to get her to do this much, and I don't think your gorgeous QC's got a cat in hell's chance of getting Helen in to court, but she will fill her in on as many of Fenner's misdeeds as possible."
"First, you're an angel, and second, how do you know Jo's gorgeous?" Nikki laughed.
"After you left, I did a search on her. There was a picture of her, very nice if you're free and single."
"And straight," put in Yvonne, "She only indulges in men."
"That's what I'd have said about you a couple of years ago."
"I know, crazy, isn't it. Let's just hope she can do to Fenner what she did to Snowball and Ritchie."
"Was it her who prosecuted Ritchie?"
"Yeah, bloody fine job she did of it as well. Though, with the evidence they had stacked against them, a chimpanzee could have probably still sent them down, just not with as much style." All this was said in the half wistful, half abrasive tone that Nikki knew hid so much regret.
"By the sounds of it," Said Nikki quietly, "You did everything you could for Ritchie."
"Nikki, please don't even think of going there. Karen's the one I've got to concentrate on now."
"Well, tell her from me she's a very lucky woman," Said Nikki fondly.
"Oh, I don't know about that," Said Yvonne with a deprecating smile in her voice.
"Yes," Said Nikki grinning, "She got to initiate you and I didn't. All I can say is, she must be special."
"You daft cow," Said Yvonne beginning to laugh, "But yeah, she is special, very special. Maybe even a you and Helen kind of special."
"Jesus," Said Nikki, "I just hope you don't have half the problems we did at the beginning."
"You're happy now though, aren't you?"
"Oh, yeah, but it was hard at first, incredibly hard."
"You see, this is why I've got to fight all I can for her. She still has to work with Fenner day in day out, and it means she can't move on from what he did to her."
"She's lucky to have you, just don't let her forget that."
After speaking to Nikki, Yvonne phoned Jo.
"I've got you the goods," She said as a way of opening the conversation.
"Do you say that to everyone you do slightly dodgy deals for?" Asked Jo, smiling broadly.
"yeah, sorry," Said Yvonne beginning to laugh, "Force of habit." Then, turning serious, she said, "I have found Helen Stewart and she will talk to you."
"Marvelous, I thought you'd find her."
"No one, not even Fenner on a good day, could hide from me."
"so why couldn't she be traced via normal means?"
"Probably because she's changed her name, to Helen Wade. Her girlfriend is an old mate of mine, someone you may have heard of, Nikki Wade?"
"You mean, The Nikki Wade?" Said Jo in astonishment.
"The very same. Now, there's just one other thing. You need to tread extremely carefully with Helen. There's still clearly a lot of resentment there for Karen's total ignorance of Fenner's true nature. Helen will talk to you, but at this stage, you've got no chance of getting her near a courtroom. Just, treat her with kid gloves, or she might do another disappearing act."
"Okay, unlike George, I know how to be gentle with witnesses."
"Whatever happens with Helen, I really think you ought to tell Karen about this. She isn't going to be amused with me for keeping it from her as it is, but I think she deserves to know."
"Point taken. Thank you for doing this."
"Any time. I just hope it was worth it."