Part sixteen
Sitting in the press bench of the local magistrates' court, Victoria reflected that she would have to keep a
tighter hold on her utterly unstable torrent of feelings if she didn't want her friends to look deeper than they
doubtless already were. She began to wonder why in the world she'd allowed herself to become so hung up
on what Tash and Kirstie had done to Nikki. She was knowing of herself enough to admit that it probably
wasn't what she actually felt about the situation that was the problem. She obviously felt for Nikki and
hated the barefaced way Kirstie was clearly intent on disregarding anyone else's feelings, but that wasn't it.
Victoria came to the conclusion that she had simply used the situation to let out some of her own
aggravated hurt and anger which she hadn't had the chance to let out in the usual way over the weekend.
But she was going to have to sort that out. If Nikki was going to be staying with her for some time, which it
looked like she would be, there was no way Victoria could keep on doing the things she usually did when
she had the place to herself. That was another thing. She had to start getting that under control. Victoria
knew that what she did wasn't normal, but it was almost as if she was addicted to it. She'd thought she'd
had it under control until her finals this year. Then it had reared it's ugly head again and she'd been forced
to admit that this wasn't going to be the easiest thing to kick.
Sitting beside her, Nikki was also doing a lot of thinking. There was something going on with Victoria. Nikki
didn't really have a clue what it was, but something had to have made her do what she did this morning. She
took a little glance at Victoria's face and discovered that she was clearly away in some world of things that
haunted her. Nikki wasn't stupid enough to think that this morning's outburst had been the root of it. That
had just been the icing on the cake. Maybe she'd learn a lot more about the woman whilst she was living
with her. This brought Nikki back to the reason why she was living at Victoria's. Nikki reflected that if
Victoria hadn't been so quick to say what she did to Kirstie, Nikki might have done it herself. Tash had
definitely looked uncomfortable when she'd appeared in the office this morning. But Kirstie, that brazen
little tart, had acted like she had a right to touch Nikki's lover with such affection. Then the little voice that
inhabits most people's brains reminded her that Tash was no longer Nikki's lover. But Nikki realised that
apart from this morning and when she'd seen Tash on Saturday, she hadn't really felt much anger. She was
just hurt. Whether it was hurt because of what Tash had done or hurt because of the fact that Tash had
seen the obvious before she had, Nikki didn't know. Her and Tash had been together two years. Sure, there
wasn't quite the same amount of raw passion that there had been in the beginning but all relationships were
like that. Had Tash got bored? Nikki simply didn't know. She had to see Tash at some point, she needed
some answers and some straight ones at that. Straight! Nikki almost laughed out loud. This wasn't exactly a
word that could be applied to hers and Tash's relationship. Then she had a thought. So what if it was a
Monday and she had the rest of the week with numerous stories that needed investigating and then writing
up. She was going to drag Yvonne out tonight for as many drinks as they could handle.
The magistrates finished with their errant clients at around three that afternoon. Neither of them spoke on
the way back to the office. They were both immersed in two many thoughts to spare one for each other. As
they walked through reception Victoria waved her notebook at Nikki and said,
"do you want me to start writing these up?"
"Yeah, sure. I've just got to see Mike about something and then I'll get cracking on the others." But as
they entered the reporters' office, they walked in to open paper hostilities. Jim Fenner and Nick Jordan were
clearly competing for the paper airplane which could fly the farthest and being encouraged from all sides.
"what the hell brought this on?" Said Nikki to Victoria.
"Probably all the tension." Nikki grinned at Fenner.
"Is that your best attempt at a dick extension, Fenner?" Jim immediately stopped laughing and turned to
face Nikki.
"At least I've got a dick. You're just a frustrated dyke who's so bitter and twisted that not only did she lose
her bit of Asian totty but who will also never get her rocks off the way that all us real men do." Nikki was
used to Fenner's insults but this time he had completely stunned her. But she didn't need to respond.
They all suddenly became aware of the tall, slightly sinister-looking Anton Meyer. They all knew there
boss, but it wasn't often that he spent time in their work space. He had obviously been watching for some
time but now he approached Fenner.
"Mr. Fenner, a word. Now!" They were all very aware of the quiet yet commanding tone with which the
word "now!" was delivered. Then he turned on his heel and stalked out of the office. Fenner, looking more
like a lap dog than he'd ever done in his life, followed. Once out of the hearing of everyone in the office,
Anton turned to Fenner.
"If I ever hear a comment like that again in this office, you'll be out of it the very same hour. Do I make
myself clear?" Fenner just stared. "I will not tolerate any form of prejudice from anyone. I do not know
what has caused everyone to behave like overgrown school children today, but you have gone too far.
Childishness, whilst irritating, does not hurt people. You on the other hand, do hurt people and I will not
put up with it coming from a member of my staff. Let this be a warning to you." Anton turned and walked
up the stairs. Fenner just stood and stared after him. Never, in his whole bloody life had anyone spoken to
him like that. After all, it wasn't as if he'd said anything wrong. When he returned to the office, everyone
was working silently and nobody gave him even the slightest acknowledgment.
Nikki slipped out of the office and went up to see Mike.
"Nikki, I was wondering where you'd got to?"
"I took Victoria with me to court."
"It doesn't usually need two of you, does it?"
"No, but we both needed to get out of the office today." Mike looked concerned.
"Ah, yes. I heard about what happened this morning. What was that all about?"
"On Friday night, I discovered that Tash has been seeing Kirstie. I've been staying at Victoria's this
weekend and she's been brilliant, but I think it's getting to her a bit."
"Nikki, I'm sorry. You and Tash, well, that's been going quite a while now, hasn't it."
"Just over two years. But hey, we all have to move on some time."
"Mike knew this wasn't how Nikki felt but he recognized her need to put a brave face on everything. He
changed the subject.
"Anything exciting at court?"
"No, not really. I wish that if people were going to commit crime they'd at least be a little creative about it.
Just about every Monday you get the same old line of people up for being drunk and disorderly, breaking
an entering or speeding offences. There was something interesting though and we'll get a good story out
of this one. The police did a couple of raids on the red light area at the weekend. They had quite a few
prostitutes in court this morning."
"What do you think your angle might be?"
"Well, we could do the same old thing about prostitution and it's immoral effect on society," Mike grinned.
"Or, and I have to say I prefer this, we could look at why so many people and mothers in particular get in to
it in the first place."
"Sounds good to me."
"I took down a few of the names and addresses of people who were in court today, and I'll take Victoria and
Denny to see some of them tomorrow."
"Is this for Saturday's issue or next Tuesday's." The Lark City Post ran two issues per week. One on
Tuesday to catch everyone either on their way to work or in their lunch hour, and if there was anything big
from the weekend, and the Saturday one to round up all the news from the working week.
"I thought we could do something for both. Say, we concentrate on the women who were in court today for
the Saturday issue and for next week's," Nikki suddenly had a gleam in her eye which meant she'd hit on
something good. "I think we should try and track down some of the customers for that one."
"Were there any in court today?"
"No, no curb crawlers. But I've got a friend who works in the court office. I'll ask her to give me a bell if
there's anyone scheduled to appear on either offence."
"It sounds like you've got all this worked out."
"Yeah, I think this is going to be a good one." As Nikki went back downstairs, she reflected how a good
story to follow up always kept her mind away from other, more painful things. Work always came to her
rescue when she needed to avoid anything difficult. She wondered if this approach would help Victoria.
Sitting in the press bench of the local magistrates' court, Victoria reflected that she would have to keep a
tighter hold on her utterly unstable torrent of feelings if she didn't want her friends to look deeper than they
doubtless already were. She began to wonder why in the world she'd allowed herself to become so hung up
on what Tash and Kirstie had done to Nikki. She was knowing of herself enough to admit that it probably
wasn't what she actually felt about the situation that was the problem. She obviously felt for Nikki and
hated the barefaced way Kirstie was clearly intent on disregarding anyone else's feelings, but that wasn't it.
Victoria came to the conclusion that she had simply used the situation to let out some of her own
aggravated hurt and anger which she hadn't had the chance to let out in the usual way over the weekend.
But she was going to have to sort that out. If Nikki was going to be staying with her for some time, which it
looked like she would be, there was no way Victoria could keep on doing the things she usually did when
she had the place to herself. That was another thing. She had to start getting that under control. Victoria
knew that what she did wasn't normal, but it was almost as if she was addicted to it. She'd thought she'd
had it under control until her finals this year. Then it had reared it's ugly head again and she'd been forced
to admit that this wasn't going to be the easiest thing to kick.
Sitting beside her, Nikki was also doing a lot of thinking. There was something going on with Victoria. Nikki
didn't really have a clue what it was, but something had to have made her do what she did this morning. She
took a little glance at Victoria's face and discovered that she was clearly away in some world of things that
haunted her. Nikki wasn't stupid enough to think that this morning's outburst had been the root of it. That
had just been the icing on the cake. Maybe she'd learn a lot more about the woman whilst she was living
with her. This brought Nikki back to the reason why she was living at Victoria's. Nikki reflected that if
Victoria hadn't been so quick to say what she did to Kirstie, Nikki might have done it herself. Tash had
definitely looked uncomfortable when she'd appeared in the office this morning. But Kirstie, that brazen
little tart, had acted like she had a right to touch Nikki's lover with such affection. Then the little voice that
inhabits most people's brains reminded her that Tash was no longer Nikki's lover. But Nikki realised that
apart from this morning and when she'd seen Tash on Saturday, she hadn't really felt much anger. She was
just hurt. Whether it was hurt because of what Tash had done or hurt because of the fact that Tash had
seen the obvious before she had, Nikki didn't know. Her and Tash had been together two years. Sure, there
wasn't quite the same amount of raw passion that there had been in the beginning but all relationships were
like that. Had Tash got bored? Nikki simply didn't know. She had to see Tash at some point, she needed
some answers and some straight ones at that. Straight! Nikki almost laughed out loud. This wasn't exactly a
word that could be applied to hers and Tash's relationship. Then she had a thought. So what if it was a
Monday and she had the rest of the week with numerous stories that needed investigating and then writing
up. She was going to drag Yvonne out tonight for as many drinks as they could handle.
The magistrates finished with their errant clients at around three that afternoon. Neither of them spoke on
the way back to the office. They were both immersed in two many thoughts to spare one for each other. As
they walked through reception Victoria waved her notebook at Nikki and said,
"do you want me to start writing these up?"
"Yeah, sure. I've just got to see Mike about something and then I'll get cracking on the others." But as
they entered the reporters' office, they walked in to open paper hostilities. Jim Fenner and Nick Jordan were
clearly competing for the paper airplane which could fly the farthest and being encouraged from all sides.
"what the hell brought this on?" Said Nikki to Victoria.
"Probably all the tension." Nikki grinned at Fenner.
"Is that your best attempt at a dick extension, Fenner?" Jim immediately stopped laughing and turned to
face Nikki.
"At least I've got a dick. You're just a frustrated dyke who's so bitter and twisted that not only did she lose
her bit of Asian totty but who will also never get her rocks off the way that all us real men do." Nikki was
used to Fenner's insults but this time he had completely stunned her. But she didn't need to respond.
They all suddenly became aware of the tall, slightly sinister-looking Anton Meyer. They all knew there
boss, but it wasn't often that he spent time in their work space. He had obviously been watching for some
time but now he approached Fenner.
"Mr. Fenner, a word. Now!" They were all very aware of the quiet yet commanding tone with which the
word "now!" was delivered. Then he turned on his heel and stalked out of the office. Fenner, looking more
like a lap dog than he'd ever done in his life, followed. Once out of the hearing of everyone in the office,
Anton turned to Fenner.
"If I ever hear a comment like that again in this office, you'll be out of it the very same hour. Do I make
myself clear?" Fenner just stared. "I will not tolerate any form of prejudice from anyone. I do not know
what has caused everyone to behave like overgrown school children today, but you have gone too far.
Childishness, whilst irritating, does not hurt people. You on the other hand, do hurt people and I will not
put up with it coming from a member of my staff. Let this be a warning to you." Anton turned and walked
up the stairs. Fenner just stood and stared after him. Never, in his whole bloody life had anyone spoken to
him like that. After all, it wasn't as if he'd said anything wrong. When he returned to the office, everyone
was working silently and nobody gave him even the slightest acknowledgment.
Nikki slipped out of the office and went up to see Mike.
"Nikki, I was wondering where you'd got to?"
"I took Victoria with me to court."
"It doesn't usually need two of you, does it?"
"No, but we both needed to get out of the office today." Mike looked concerned.
"Ah, yes. I heard about what happened this morning. What was that all about?"
"On Friday night, I discovered that Tash has been seeing Kirstie. I've been staying at Victoria's this
weekend and she's been brilliant, but I think it's getting to her a bit."
"Nikki, I'm sorry. You and Tash, well, that's been going quite a while now, hasn't it."
"Just over two years. But hey, we all have to move on some time."
"Mike knew this wasn't how Nikki felt but he recognized her need to put a brave face on everything. He
changed the subject.
"Anything exciting at court?"
"No, not really. I wish that if people were going to commit crime they'd at least be a little creative about it.
Just about every Monday you get the same old line of people up for being drunk and disorderly, breaking
an entering or speeding offences. There was something interesting though and we'll get a good story out
of this one. The police did a couple of raids on the red light area at the weekend. They had quite a few
prostitutes in court this morning."
"What do you think your angle might be?"
"Well, we could do the same old thing about prostitution and it's immoral effect on society," Mike grinned.
"Or, and I have to say I prefer this, we could look at why so many people and mothers in particular get in to
it in the first place."
"Sounds good to me."
"I took down a few of the names and addresses of people who were in court today, and I'll take Victoria and
Denny to see some of them tomorrow."
"Is this for Saturday's issue or next Tuesday's." The Lark City Post ran two issues per week. One on
Tuesday to catch everyone either on their way to work or in their lunch hour, and if there was anything big
from the weekend, and the Saturday one to round up all the news from the working week.
"I thought we could do something for both. Say, we concentrate on the women who were in court today for
the Saturday issue and for next week's," Nikki suddenly had a gleam in her eye which meant she'd hit on
something good. "I think we should try and track down some of the customers for that one."
"Were there any in court today?"
"No, no curb crawlers. But I've got a friend who works in the court office. I'll ask her to give me a bell if
there's anyone scheduled to appear on either offence."
"It sounds like you've got all this worked out."
"Yeah, I think this is going to be a good one." As Nikki went back downstairs, she reflected how a good
story to follow up always kept her mind away from other, more painful things. Work always came to her
rescue when she needed to avoid anything difficult. She wondered if this approach would help Victoria.