Chapter 3

Helen looked her new boss up and down; she was older than what she expected when she had been told about her down the phone. A Stern look was on her face which Helen believed was probably there all the time. Joy was doing the same as what Helen was at the time, looking at the woman that had been selected to be her assistant. She knew things about her of course, the two main details that she had once been both G Wing governor and governor of the prison at different points of time. And also a rumour that at one time there had been something between her and a.......

Helen cleared her throat to attract Joy's attention which snapped her quickly out of her thoughts and begin to address Helen.

"I'm grateful your are here to help out" Joy said stepping forward her hand outstretched which Helen received with her own and shook strongly before letting go.

"That is what I am unclear about at the moment, what I am exactly here to help out with" Helen said her eyes flitting up at the prison itself.

Joy gestured at Helen that they should start walking, and they headed in the direction of the nearest gate into the prison. They walked together for a few moments before Joy spoke again.

"As you may or may not be aware of there have been a number of incidents which have happened at Larkhall since your resignation as wing governor which have not been seen as acceptable by the Prison Service; the deaths of a number of inmates especially the suspicious circumstances involving the death of Yvonne Atkins. "

"Yvonne's dead?" Helen muttered instinctively pretending that she didn't already know that fact, that she hadn't had spent all night consoling Nikki as she cried when she had heard about it. She knew while she was working here that details of her relationship with Nikki would once again be hidden. Nikki may no longer be a prisoner in her charge but she had been when things had first started. And even with Fenner gone she couldn't still be certain that he hadn't hid a file about her.

Joy heard what Helen had said but decided to not question her about it, working out herself that she probably knew a number of the people involved in Larkhall incidents, and she knew for a fact that Helen hand more than one run in with Jim Fenner.

"With the murder of Wing Governor Fenner, area decided that major changes need to happen at Larkhall; Firstly with my appointment as Governing Governor, the demotion of Neil Grayling to wing governor; and finishing with the appointment of you as my assistant."

Helen reached across and stopped Joy from walking, Joy faced Helen once she realised what she wanted

"Why me? It's not like even my time running the wing and the prison was that successful, a suicide of a prisoner, an escape by a lifer when I was running the unit, a riot on g wing over the treatment of a Nigerian prisoner."

Joy looked critically at Helen before she spoke again. She appreciated the younger woman who was in front of her, the honesty of her tone refreshing to her after years of backstabbing within the service.

"You were deemed the most suitable candidate, the experience you have of Larkhall being of must importance. You know how much of a hornets' nest it can be, especially on G Wing. You know the type of prisoner which usually comes here. And you understand the type of problems which could come up here." Joy said trying to reassure Helen of the reason why she was giving the job

"But I quit working here twice, both times without notice. And to be honest, I was unsure actually about returning here today. My times working here weren't the best times for me at all" Helen said, there was only one thing that had been good during her time here and she couldn't mention in to Joy.

"Helen" Joy said putting one hand on Helens shoulder. "From what I believe your problems mainly seem to stem from Jim Fenner, that during your time working here he seemed to have a problem with you and he went off his way to cause problems"

Helen fought back the tears, the moment when Jim had assaulted her came flooding back. The memory still affecting her after all these years and even with him gone she could barely hold back shuddering.

"Just give working here a chance Helen; you'll see that it has changed since your time here. The wellbeing of the prisoners is more important now, than the politics between officers and there life's"

When Joy said these words, it was almost truth. There were still problems within the prison between her and Neil, but with the appointment of Helen she hoped that problem would go away for good, with Helen being the push to get him to leave.

Helen looked at Joy, not sure if she should believe what she was saying; unbelieving that things in Larkhall were running smoothly as they had never done before. But she felt that she could trust Joy that she understood the problems which Helen had faced at Larkhall and since she had come out as a lesbian in the prison service, thinking probably that she was gay as well

Helen took a deep breath before speaking again.

"I'm still not certain about being back here, but I can sense something about you Joy which makes me believe that what you are trying to do here will work, that the prisoner's wellbeing for once will be paramount; and that you do understand that the type of people which work for you."

There last sentence was put into to see if it provoked a reaction, a clue to what Helen believed to know about Joy. It was only a small thing that happened around Joy's mouth. But it seemed to be for Helen this was her way of acknowledging that Helen was correct in her assumption that she was gay. Something which relieved Helen strongly, knowing that one factor of her job would be made easier by having a boss who understood her sexuality.

***************

Helen followed Joy down the corridor. Her breathing deepening as she grew closer to G Wing. Her nerves had been under control until whilst she had been in the administration wing of the prison. She could distance herself more from her memories there, but even the thought of going on G wing scared her, the unknown which she was going to face frightening her and her past as well. She could see the gate which led on the wing, and she shut her eyes, mentally bringing a shield up to protect herself. Opening them she reached the gate which was opened by Joy who invited her to step through first. She heard the gate close behind her and the sounds of it being locked behind her; she was gratefully for the reassuring presence she had from feeling the weight of her keys at her side, knowing she could escape from the wing at anytime.

The atrium was empty apart from a few officers mulling around, the faces familiar to Helen but the names buried away in her mind. The prisoners were all in their cells awaiting first unlock and the night staff would soon be replaced by the officers that Helen had been brought into meet. Helen and Joy strode across the space purposefully and the headed into the PO's office. As soon as they went into the room Helen was transported back. The room looked the same as it did on the day that she had left Larkhall all those years ago. The same posters adorned the walls of the room, Sylvia's mug still taking pride of place on the side, every stick of furniture still the same and one item which surprised her the most, the mug that she had left here years ago when she was Wing Governor.

Standing opposite the door which looked out on the main gate she had the perfect vantage point to see the people coming into the wing and the perfect spot to be noticed by any officers when they entered the room. She wasn't disappointed, as the next two officers to come from the gate contained one person who was instantly familiar to her as she would be to her also. The woman who she had her eyes on hadn't noticed her, something she was happy about, the element of surprise was what she was after at that moment.

The moment she wanted came and the woman in question came to the door, looking across the room properly she noticed the women in front of her and she recognised her immediately despite the years between seeing each other. Her mouth dropped and she stumbled to get the words out

"Helen......Stewart"

"Hello Sylvia" Helen responded back to her a smile starting to creep onto it. She knew that Sylvia had never been her biggest fan during her tenure at Larkhall, and had always sided with Jim Fenner in regards to any problems.

"Ahh, Mrs Hollamby, I see there is no need for an introduction between you and Miss Stewart then"

"No Ma'am" Sylvia muttered before heading to her chair. Obviously in shock by the return of Helen, she had been extremely happy the day that she had left, believing that always that someone with experience should be in charge, someone with Jail Craft.

Helen noticed the other women to which Sylvia had been speaking to, a familiar face and one she was actually glad to see.

"Hello Mandy, I glad to see you are still here, but didn't you always work on H Wing."

Mandy smiled back at Helen, she had always liked her and was happy to see her back. She had always liked the way Helen had worked especially her work with the lifers unit which was the reason she had requested to change wings.

"I did until recently; I transferred to help with the running of the lifers unit on this wing."

Helen smiled inwardly at that, she was happy the lifer unit was still getting support; all she ever heard about it was from dry reports from the people she sent in to inspect it. She had started many units since leaving Larkhall but the one at Larkhall had always had a soft spot in her heart, it was the first unit that she had set up, and it had helped to get Nikki out of Larkhall and into her life where she had been for all the years that had passed since.

Before she had a chance to speak again, she felt a change in atmosphere in the room, looking over Mandy's shoulder she saw someone come on to the wing who could only be the current Wing Governor Neil Grayling

He strode in the room, and shot a less than subtle glare at Joy, instantly noticeable to everyone in the room that there was no love lost between him and Joy and Helen could sense the ructions which would soon occur once she had been introduced to him. And she could see clearly why she had bee brought in to Larkhall. And know she could see the under handiness of the service once again, she wasn't here to just be an assistant. She was here more than likely to replace Neil. This meant once again she would end up running G Wing again.

"Good Morning Neil" Joy said a very obvious smile on her face about what was to come.

"Joy" He muttered back, his eyes landing on Helen just after he had done.

"I need to introduce you to someone" Joy said gesturing for Helen to step forward to meet Neil

"Neil, this is Helen Stewart. She is here to assist with the running of Larkhall"

Neil shot Helen a look before he put his gaze back onto Helen.

"Cut the Crap Joy, I'm not stupid; I know for a fact that both you and area want me out of this job. She's been brought here under the pretence of being an assistant in reality she's my replacement as wing governor once you've managed to push me out."

Neil reached down and removed his name badge from his suit jacket, grabbing the keys from his belt he threw them onto the table next to him.

"Here, why don't I make it easy for you? I quit." He said turning and walking away, knowing that he would regret it later, but glad once and for all to have got one over on Joy.

Waiting for Neil to depart she walked over to the desk and picked up his keys. Looking over at Helen she spoke

"I guess this makes you wing governor now Helen."