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Date Posted: 13:57:54 06/21/02 Fri
Author: Repost Fairy
Author Host/IP: 64.193.19.25
Subject: Chapter 70
In reply to: Repost Fairy 's message, "Burden of Proof - 68 and up" on 11:17:24 06/21/02 Fri

After letting the heavy front door swing shut behind her, Nikita pulled off her black beret and ran a hand through her hair. Slipping the little hat into her coat pocket, she gave her secretary a wary smile. “Good morning, Hazel.”

Mrs. Hannaford looked up from her typewriter. “Good morning, Miss Wirth.” Unsmiling, she held out several small slips of white paper. “I have your messages here.”

Swallowing her habitual sarcastic suggestion that Hazel actually take the time to learn the office email system, Nikita nodded and took the proffered messages. “Thank you.”

She had neither the inclination, nor the energy, to play one-upmanship with Hazel today. The weekend had been a whirlwind of kickboxing, break-ins and heartfelt confessions. After spending Saturday seeking distraction from the week-that-was by punching as many inanimate objects as possible, she’d made the mistake of telling Carla about her breakup with Gray…which led to telling Carla about everything else. As a result, she’d spent Saturday night baring her soul, wiping her eyes, and arguing with Carla about the Law Ball until after two in the morning.

Nikita had slept late yesterday. When she’d finally dragged herself out of bed, she’d indulged in a frenzy of cleaning and sorting, an exercise that ended with her lugging three boxes of unwanted junk, and clothes, to the nearest Red Cross depot.

And now, it was eight o’clock on Monday morning. Last week and its ominous mediation behind her, Nikita was determined to get this week off to a good start. And if that meant being friendly to Hazel, then so be it. Taking a deep breath and thinking of Walter, she gave her secretary the brightest smile she could manage. “Did you have a nice weekend?”

Mrs. Hannaford’s gray eyes widened slightly. ”Yes, thank you,” she finally replied, looking slightly disconcerted. There was an uncomfortable pause, and Nikita could see the older woman scrambling for something pleasant to say. “…and yourself?”

Too late, Nikita realised that years of alternately ignoring and provoking this woman was definitely not conducive to spontaneous chitchat. Especially this early in the morning, Nikita thought, repressing the slightly hysterical urge to laugh. She gave Hazel another smile, wishing she’d never started the conversation, and answered, "Not too bad, thanks.” They looked awkwardly at each other for a moment, then Nikita held up the handful of messages. “Well, I’d better go return these, hadn’t I?”

Mrs. Hannaford looked relieved. “Yes. Of course.”

Nikita strode down the corridor, hoping to reach the sanctuary of her office before she did start laughing. Reading her messages as she walked down the long hallway, she ran into Walter coming out of the library, coffee mug in hand. She looked at him in surprise. “You’re here early.”

Her uncle smiled secretively. “No rest for the wicked, Sugar. I’ve got something on the boil.” He tapped his finger against his nose. “And I’m not talking about the kettle, if you know what I mean.”

Walter looked rumpled and slightly dusty. God only knew what he’d been doing in that poor library. Well, as long as he doesn’t set it on fire, I don’t care. With an affectionate grin, Nikita reached up and straightened the bandana tied crookedly around his head. “Thankfully, I have no idea what you mean, and I’m more than happy to keep it that way.”

He wrinkled his nose at her cheerfully, then turned toward the staff kitchen. “Your loss, Sugar.”

Nikita put her hand out to stop him. “Actually, Walter…I’m glad you’re here early. I have a favour to ask you.” During her cleaning session at home yesterday, she’d had a brainwave. Seeing as it had been one of the few ideas she had all day that hadn’t involved Michael Samuelle, she’d pounced on it gratefully. The catch was, she needed Walter’s help to make the idea viable.

Her uncle grinned, and waved his coffee mug toward the kitchen door. “If you let me get my coffee while I listen, I’m all yours, Sugar.”

“Thanks.” Nikita trailed after him. Leaning against the door, she watched as Walter spooned coffee and poured milk, and tried think of the best way to phrase her request. When he took an appreciative sip and looked at her expectantly, she decided to come straight to the point. “Do you have any contacts who would be able to offer Joe Duskovic some contract work?”

Walter hastily swallowed his mouthful of coffee. “You want me to find the kid a job?” He gave her a knowing, yet sympathetic look. “You wouldn’t happen to be feeling guilty about that nice little cheque you told him to turn down, would you?”

Nikita looked at him unhappily. “That’s part of it.”

“Sugar, I told you last week. You did the right thing.” Walter made a point of putting the milk back in the refrigerator as she watched, making her smile. He wasn’t known for his communal office housekeeping skills. He grinned up at her, but she saw the concern in his eyes. “You can’t go around reorganising your clients’ lives for them.“

“I know.” Nikita waited for him to join her, then they walked slowly toward her office. “But Joe’s a friend as well as a client.” She gave her uncle a beseeching look. “They’re good people, Walter. I’d like to do what I can to help.”

“Okay.” Walter feigned a long-suffering sigh, but Nikita saw the beginnings of a smile, as though her explanation had secretly pleased him. “But you know I can’t promise anything, Sugar.”

“Of course.” Nikita beamed and gave his arm a gentle squeeze. “But I also know you’re on ‘drinking buddy’ terms with at least one partner from most of the major law firms in London.”

Walter laughed. “Now that I can’t deny.”

“So you’ll make a few calls?”

“Definitely.”

“Today?”

Walter hesitated. He glanced toward the library with a frown, then back at her. Nikita smiled at him hopefully. “Please?”

His expression softened. “You got it, Sugar.”




~*~*~*~*~





Author's Note: Happy "World Red Cross Day" (8th May). This commemorates the birthday of Henry Dunant (1828 - 1910), founder of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, joint recipient of the first Nobel Prize for Peace in 1901.

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  • Chapter 71 -- Repost Fairy, 14:00:01 06/21/02 Fri
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