Chapter Fifteen
"Hi Nikki," Clarissa greeted Nikki as she walked into the day room, followed by Emily
"Clarissa this is Emily, Emily this is my colleague Clarissa," Nikki introduced the pair
"Are you a pathologist too?" Emily asked
Clarissa shook her head "I'm a forensic scientist,"
"Ooh like Jack?" Emily asked and Clarissa nodded "Are you his boss?"
"No," Jack said quickly
"I make him look clever," Clarissa said and Emily laughed
"Are you ready to go, Emily?" Jack asked and she nodded, following Jack to the nurse's office so they could be let out
"She seems nice," Clarissa said and Nikki nodded "She trusts you Nikki, I can tell,"
"Emily trusts anyone," Nikki sighed "That's part of the problem,"
"Including William Brown?" Clarissa asked "Jack passed your lead along to the SIO,"
"And?" Nikki said
"William must have got the combination from Emily because when the police went looking, the safe was empty. No sign of forced entry at all,"
"What about DNA?" Nikki asked "You found some in Edward's car though," she said and Clarissa nodded
"Jack took samples from the safe and we're running tests on them," Clarissa said "But that's by the by. I came here to see you Nikki,"
"I'm fine," she replied to Clarissa's unasked question "Jack said I'm different,"
"Well you would be given what you've been through," Clarissa said "Have you heard of Kintsugi?" she asked and Nikki shook her head "It's an art form in Japan of mending broken pottery with gold. It doesn't hide the breaks, but embraces the imperfections. They become part of its history. That's what I think Mexico is to you,"
"You should re-train as a psychiatrist," Nikki laughed
"I already am, having to work with Jack," she teased "Where is he anyway?"
"He promised Emily he would take her into the grounds. She gets escorted leave now and I think she has a crush on Jack," Nikki smiled
"She's not the only one, is she?" Clarissa said cryptically
…
"So, do you know what was in that safe?" Jack asked as they took a slow walk around the grounds.
The day was cold, cold enough for them not to take as seat on the bench, but to keep walking to get some warmth into their limbs.
"No," Emily shrugged "Well not really,"
"What does not really mean?" Jack asked
"Just papers and stuff," Emily said
"Did you ever see them?"
"Just once. I walked in to Dad's office and he was putting stuff back into the safe,"
"Can you remember anything more. It's important Emily,"
"There were photos, I think," Emily said, frowning in concentration
"Of who?"
"I think, William," Emily said "Why can't he come and visit me anymore?"
"Emily, the police told you, don't you remember?"
"The pills make my head fuzzy,"
"The police think he killed your Dad," Jack said
"Why would he do that?" Emily said looking startled
"That's what we're trying to find out," Jack told her
"Oh…."
"We should start heading back soon," Jack said changing the subject
"I don't want to go back," Emily said sadly
"I know you don't," Jack said sympathetically
"Nikki's going to go soon," Emily said
"Go where?"
"Home," Emily said sadly "Then I'll have no one to talk to,"
"How do you know she's going to get discharged?" Jack said
"She's not crazy like me,"
"You're not crazy Emily, you're just unwell. And so is Nikki,"
"But she's getting better. I can tell," Emily shrugged
"And you?"
"I still hear them…"
"The voices?" Jack asked and Emily nodded "Tell them to do one," Jack said and Emily cracked a small smile
"When Nikki does go, will you look after her?" Emily asked
"Of course,"
"I like Nikki," Emily smiled
"I like her too,"
…
"How was your walk?" Anna said as Jack and Emily came back to the ward
"Fine," Emily shrugged "Thanks Jack,"
"No problem," he smiled
"I'm going back to my bed space now," Emily said "I'm tired…."
She waved across the room to Nikki and Clarissa and then exited the dayroom
"Did she tell you anything?" Nikki asked as Jack sat down
"She thought she saw photos of William on one occasion," Jack said sitting down
"That fits with our blackmail theory," Nikki said
"But why was he found dead in his car when he wasn't killed there?"
"Where was he found, location wise?"
"The car park of a cemetery,"
"Unusual…" Nikki pondered
"We're getting nowhere," Jack said looking frustrated
"At least you can get somewhere. I'm stuck in here," Nikki said sounding frustrated
"Emily thinks you're going to get discharged soon," Jack said
"Emily thinks a lot of things," Nikki said "My section does run out in a week,"
"How do you feel about that?" Clarissa asked and Nikki sighed
"I've been here nearly a month," she said "I need to get out of here,"
"And we need you better," Jack said "Not just hanging on in there, we need you firing on all cylinders again,"
"What if I cant get better though. What if Mexico is always going to be there?"
"Then we'll deal with it as a team," Clarissa said "Remember, kintsugi," she said
Nikki nodded, staring at her hand. It had started healing properly though she knew she would always have a scar. Maybe, she could deal with Mexico. It might never go away but she could come back stronger from it. She'd had a breakdown, that was obvious but she felt different from when she had first arrived. Maybe, just maybe, she was making a breakthrough.