“I have to admit, I sort of told everybody in school that we were dating.”
“Oh… poor you.”
“They were impressed. I never really thought about your job as being dangerous. I mean, it’s not like the police on the streets.”
Garrick stopped himself from wolfing down the pizza. He had eaten little all day, and he was finding the combination of Wendy’s company and her adoration to be an addictive cocktail.
“Normally it’s not. Not really. I turn up when the danger has already passed. To be honest, most killers give up at the end and don’t put up a struggle.” He decided she didn’t need to know about fighting his old friend as his shop burned down around them. He’d also edited out the fact the bullets had been blanks; the team wanted to keep that quiet for now. He felt guilty that it was making him appear far braver than he had been.
She reached across the table and took his hand. She didn’t let go.
“It still made me realise what we have and…” she seemed lost for words.
Garrick suddenly had the unprovoked thought that she was about to dump him. As a younger man, pounding the streets as a PC, he’d had a series of short relationships with women who loved a man in uniform, but drew the line about getting involved with somebody who flirted with danger. Poor Wendy didn’t even have the benefit of the uniform.
She continued. “And it suddenly felt precious.” She flashed a lopsided grin, then let go of his hand and covered her face in embarrassment. “Wow. I sound like one of those cheesy Hallmark movies.”
Garrick didn’t know what she meant but played along anyway. “No, you don’t.”
“I just mean that I joined Heartfelt because I needed a change in my life. My job is dull and mostly repetitive. Although I love the kids.”
“You keep saying.” And she did. As a teaching assistant she was increasingly frustrated at work but stopped short of suggesting that she could do better than half the teachers in the school. Garrick suspected she was more than capable.
“But now I’m dating an actual action hero, it puts my boring life in perspective.”
His relationship muscles were so badly tuned that he wasn’t sure how to respond. “Sorry?” He was relieved when she smiled.
“Don’t be. You’re that welcome relief I needed in my life.”
Garrick beamed with pleasure. He was starting he feel the same about her, although he hoped it wasn’t just because she had spent the entire time over pizza and a chocolate sundae, which they diligently shared, telling him how wonderful he was.
The moment was spoilt when Garrick caught movement out of the corner of his eye. A gaggle of Millennials seated at a table opposite were hunched conspiratorially together and casting looks his way. The furtive movement that caught his attention was one of them angling their phone for a photograph. A spotty, thin-faced man broke ranks and approached their table.
“Excuse me, mate. Are you that copper from the telly?”
Garrick treated him to a lazy smile. “Poirot? I get that a lot.”
The gag passed in orbit over the young man’s head. “From the news?”
“Not me. Sorry.”
The man retreated to his table, but obviously wasn’t buying it. Some of his friends were already Googling the story and nodding.
“Time to go,” Garrick said, burning with embarrassment.
Wendy was quiet as they strolled across the car park. Something was on her mind. They reached her car when she finally spoke up.
“It’s a bit of a disappointment to call it a night so soon. Want to maybe get a coffee?” Then after an awkward pause, “Back at mine?”
Garrick screamed at himself for hesitating, but the offer coincided with a sudden crashing wall of fatigue as the last two days caught up with him.
She playfully toyed with the collar of his Barbour, straightening it. “I just remembered that you don’t drink coffee. I’m sure I have something much more to your tastes.”
“I’d love to, Wend. But I haven’t slept at all…” His bumbling apology sounded like the death knell to his manhood. And he did not know where Wend had suddenly sprung from.
“Oh. That’s okay. I’m sure it’s been a mad few days.” She awkwardly thumbed her key fob and unlocked the car.
“I mean between last night and this morning, I only had a few hours–”
She silenced him with a crushing hug, wrapping both arms tightly around him. Every bruise on his body screamed, but he got away with a strained gasp.
“Next time,” she said and planted a lingering kiss on his lips. Her tongue gently sliding against his. She smiled and slipped into her car without another word.
Garrick ran his hands across his stubbled cheek as he watched the red tail lights recede into the distance. She had left him with a promise of so much more… if only he could stay awake.
He cut the engine to his car, but left the headlights on, illuminating his front door. He had driven home on autopilot, having no recollection of the trip. He recalled watching Wendy leave, then getting into his own car, but precious little else.
Just how tired was he?
He ran a tentative hand over his head, half expecting to feel the growth pressing from within. Of course, he felt nothing, nor did he feel the persistent nagging migraine. His doctor had warned him to avoid banging his head – whether it be on a football or his bed’s headboard. Tumbling off rooftops was probably higher up the list than either of those. His eyes were dry and sore, and when he closed them, he could feel the welcoming embrace of sleep beckoning him. He turned the headlights off, locked the car and walked to the house.
He raised his key to the lock and stopped. The front door was ajar.
Was it an illusion in the shadows? No. Only
