Well, here we are! The short story that acts as a kind of prequel-prologue to Shadows of Cathedral Lane. Nikki heads into central Truro for her third date with Anouska. While there, weird stuff happens and she bumps into an old friend.
‘You’ve got your special perfume on for special occasions.’
Nikki grabbed her cardigan from the back of the sofa, contemplated it for a moment, and then put it back. ‘What do you mean by “special perfume for special occasions”?’
‘It's perfume you only wear at Christmas, when you’re going to a job interview or function, or a date with someone you’re really really really into,’ Rob replied.
‘Admittedly I don’t wear it often, but is it that obvious? Bugger.’
‘It’s only obvious to me as I’ve known you long enough to pick out your patterns. Whereas Anouska has only known you, what, six weeks? If that. She won’t know about your special perfume for special occasions.’
Nikki flushed. ‘Yes, six weeks. About that.’
‘I think it’s great you haven’t stopped grinning all day. I can’t wait to meet her.’
Nikki closed her eyes and took a deep breath. ‘Grinning so much my cheeks hurt. Ouch. Hopefully, you will get to meet her on Sunday!’
Rob stepped forward and placed his hands on Nikki’s shoulders. ‘Sorry, just making sure the butterflies don’t float you away.’
‘Oh har de har har,’ Nikki said but laughed along with him. She rubbed her tummy. ‘Oh my god, the butterflies are unreal. I don’t even want to know what my blood pressure might be right now.’
‘Have you ever had it this bad for someone?’
‘Never! I keep catching myself mapping out a whole future for us. Wondering what it’ll feel like to hold her hand, worrying I might vomit the first time that happens. Dreaming about transferring here and spending summer lunch breaks together in Victoria Park. You know, all that romantic stuff.’ Nikki mimicked a fishing rod. ‘Need to reel it in. Don’t seem too eager and all that.’
‘Wow, Nikki.’ Rob looked at the clock on the wall. ‘Should we go?’
Nikki nodded. 'Rob?’
‘Yes, Knickknack?’
‘Do you think I’m a bit much? With this Anouska situation. I just can’t stop thinking about her.’
‘What makes you say that?’
‘I've literally just told you I’ve been fantasising about our long-term future. This is our third date. Third. That’s a bit intense, isn’t it? A bit much? Even by my standards?’
Rob shrugged. ‘You’re a romantic soul. You don’t get a connection like that very often but when you do?’ He put his hands to his head and mimicked his skull exploding.
‘Yeah, you’re right.’ She looked at the clock again. ‘We need to go. Table’s at 7:00.’
Nikki fumbled for her keys, but her hands were shaking so much she dropped them. She retrieved them from the floor and slipped them into her cardigan.
The moment they stepped outside, Nikki changed her mind about the cardigan, re-opened the door, removed her keys from it, and tossed it on the sofa.
‘I don’t know what I’m going to do with these now though.’
‘Pockets?’
‘Rob, I identify as a woman and have never been in any doubt about that. I also have a fairly bog-standard female shape. That means I wear women’s clothes, which further means I have precisely one pair of bottoms with pockets. They're jeans which I don’t wear when it’s this hot. I also have two hoodies with pockets. That’s it. That’s as far as I am pocketed. It even feels slightly too hot to wear these.’ She pointed to her palazzo trousers.
‘Fair enough. You don’t need your keys. I’m not planning on going anywhere tonight.’ Rob opened the passenger door. ‘The offer to pick you up remains. You don’t have to get an Uber.’
‘Welllll,’ Nikki said. ‘I’m hoping we’ll be propping up a bar after we’ve eaten. Besides, I demand you have a large whisky after slaving over the oven making sticky toffee pudding.’
‘Haha, you have it all planned out? I’ll probably end up falling asleep before I get to the alcohol.’ They got in the car. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes, I’ll make my own way back.’
Just before Rob pulled away, Nikki sent a quick text. Just leaving. See you in a bit xoxo
They made idle chit chat along the way, Nikki keeping one eye on her phone.
Rob took them down Lemon Street, Nikki admired the beauty of the Georgian buildings as a distraction. The city’s modest skyline unfolded before them. The towers of the cathedral dominated both it and the bright blue sky.
They only got as far as the cinema. A lorry was parked across the road and the police had blocked it off, turning all the traffic around and back up the hill.
‘I could drop you off here?’ Rob said.
‘They’re not letting pedestrians through, look.’ Nikki pointed at the police cordon across the footpath beyond the cinema entrance.
Rob smiled awkwardly as the uniform police officer directed them to turn around and back up Lemon Street.
‘Well, that was weird,’ said Nikki. ‘They only tend to do that if someone died or might be dying and don’t want rubberneckers getting in the way.’
Rob shuddered.
Nikki looked at her phone again and frowned.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘She hasn’t replied. That’s not like her.’
‘Stop,’ Rob said, turning left onto the bypass and joining the dual carriageway.
‘Stop what?’
‘Overthinking. I’m sure she was already on the way and didn’t hear her phone go. Is she driving?’
‘No. Her brother is dropping her off and picking her up.’
‘So, she might be constantly checking herself in a mirror, making sure she looks perfect for you?’
Nikki flushed. ‘She could turn up ridden with bubonic plague, straw in her hair and wearing a binbag tonight and my eyes would still pop out of my head because, well, it’d be her binbag and her straw.’
‘Or maybe she has a high-flying caller from London begging her to work on their case at the Old Bailey. Point is, there might be a million reasons she hasn’t texted back yet.’
They pulled off the dual carriageway and behind the bus station.
‘Can you drop me off here? I can walk the rest of the way.’
‘Yep!’
Nikki hopped out of the car. ‘Thanks Rob! You’re a star.’
‘Have fun!’ Rob called as the door closed.
‘I will!’ Nikki closed the door and headed quickly through the meandering streets before ending up on the cobbles of Boscawen Street, pleasant scents wafting from the restaurant. Nikki smiled; Anouska was probably already in there, sipping a glass of wine, a cold white one waiting patiently for Nikki and a sharer bowl of olives in the centre of the table.
Nikki’s heart skipped a beat.
But she wasn’t going in there just yet, as much as she wanted to see Anouska.
Nikki waited for the taxi to trundle over the cobbles and disappear up the street before crossing and heading into the supermarket.
After grabbing some essentials, Nikki stepped out of the supermarket and, with her heart thumping in her chest, crossed back to the Coinage Hall, heading for the nearby restaurant. With a deep breath and the sound of hammering in her ears, she forced an awkward smile and entered the restaurant.
A young waitress smiled as she entered. ‘Good evening!’
Nikki looked around the restaurant but couldn’t see her date. ‘Evening! We have a table for two for seven o’clock, booked under the name of Anouska Pierce?’
The waitress tapped her tablet and frowned. ‘I’m ever so sorry but we have you down for eight, not seven?’ She showed Nikki the tablet and there it was in digital ink – Anouska+1, 8pm.
‘Oh,’ at that moment, Nikki’s phone buzzed. ‘Sorry, let me get this?’
It was a text from Anouska. Hi Nikki. Just got out the shower. Isn’t our table at 8? Sorry if not, I’ll get my arse in gear.
‘Is everything alright?’ the waitress asked.
‘Oh yes, sorry. My fault. You’re right, it’s eight. Never mind! See you in an hour. Thank you, and sorry!’
‘Easily done!’ The waitress beamed. ‘Last summer, we had a family on holiday turn up on the 30th of June for a table they booked for the 30th of July.’
They laughed together and Nikki left the restaurant, stopping long enough to reply to Anouska. Yeah, silly me! I was actually in the restaurant. Embarrassing! Damn clocks. Three months and still not used to it. See you soon xoxo
The text came back minutes later. K. See you then. Nikki frowned, not quite sure why Anouska’s texts seemed off tonight.
Unsure what to do with herself, Nikki crossed back to the supermarket. As she walked across the shop front, an older man and a younger woman stepped out. Nikki almost collided with the latter – she had strawberry curly blonde hair, and had what Nikki often called “smiling eyes.”
‘Oh, I’m so sorry!’ Nikki said, stepping around them, placing a finger to her head. ‘Far too distracted today.’
The older man smiled at her awkwardly. ‘Detective Sergeant Sandford, is that you?’
Nikki looked at the man confused, her jaw going up and down. ‘I- I’m sorry?’
When his awkward smile widened, it hit her. ‘Oh my god! Karl!’ She launched forward, throwing her arms around him and hugging tightly.
‘Wow, it’s good to see you Nikki but I didn’t expect that warm of a welcome!’ Karl hugged her back.
‘Oh my god, I am so sorry I didn’t recognise you. You’re looking well!’ She broke the hug.
‘Thank you! Yes, I am well. Still enjoying my retirement and as you can see- away from Salmonweir for the evening.’
‘Just hope they don’t all kill each other while you’re away?’
Karl rolled his eyes. ‘Oh, please don’t jinx it. I leave for five minutes and the next thing I know there’s a local news crew reporting another catastrophe. How are you? How is detectiving?’
‘Detectiving is going well,’ Nikki said, glancing at the woman and smiling politely, noticing her smiling eyes had not yet averted from Nikki.
‘Oh, where are my manners!’ Karl said, gesturing to the woman by his side. ‘This is my daughter, Claire.’
Claire leaned in and offered her hand for Nikki to shake.
'I knew you looked familiar; I must have seen pics of you and your other siblings at your dad’s place. Lovely to meet you, Claire!’
‘Likewise!’ Claire smiled widely. ‘I’ve heard so much about you I was almost worried dad wanted to adopt you.’ Claire nudged her dad gently in the ribs and all three laughed.
Where is he!
Nikki stopped what she was going to say and blinked. When the disembodied voice didn’t follow through, Nikki continued. ‘Anyway, what are you doing in Truropolis?’
Karl gestured across the street. ‘Seeing a show tonight. Birthday present from Claire.’ He leaned in and hugged his daughter. ‘I suspect she paid more for these tickets than I’d normally let her spend on me.’
‘You deserve it, dad! It’s been a tough few months for you.’ Claire shrugged. ‘And you’ve not stopped helping arrange four weddings!’
‘Four?!’ Nikki said, once again noticing how Claire’s eyes smiled whenever her mouth did.
‘Yes, four! Next month all taking place in the space of a week,’ Karl said. ‘You’re out on the town tonight?’
‘A date, actually. But me, being far too keen as ever, turned up an hour early.’
‘Oh wow!’ Claire said. ‘He must be worth the wait.’
‘She!’ Nikki corrected, and beaming, added, ‘it’s our third date, and yes, she very much is.’
Claire straightened her hair and nodded approvingly. ‘Nikki could join us for a drink while waiting if you two want to catch up?’ She nodded at Nikki. ‘If you’d like?’
‘Oh, that’s really kind!’ Nikki said. ‘And I’d love to.’
A small smile spread across Claire’s lips.
‘We’ll need to head to our seats about ten to eight, so that should line up quite nicely?’
I said, where is he!
‘Did you hear that?’ Nikki asked.
Claire and Karl exchanged glances.
‘No, sorry. What?’
‘A few minutes ago, I heard someone say, “where is he.” And then just now, the same voice said: “I said, where is he.” A cold and raspy voice.’
‘No,’ said Claire. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t hear anything either, Nikki.’
‘Date nerves?’ Karl said.
Nikki laughed awkwardly. ‘Probably! I can get really gooey sometimes.’
‘I know the feeling,’ Claire said awkwardly.
‘Yeah, there must be something in the air around here!’ Nikki said.
Claire cleared her throat and gestured at the bar. ‘Anyway, shall we?’
They crossed Boscawen Street and entered the bustling bar at the back of the theatre. Karl gestured at a table in the corner. ‘What are you having?’
‘Apple juice please! Thanks dad,’ said Claire.
‘Oh no!’ Nikki said, ‘I’ll get these!’
‘No, no. Sit down. I owe you a drink.’
Nikki blinked. ‘Do you?’
‘Trust me,’ Karl said bluntly. ‘I remember every round I’ve ever not repaid in kind. I still feel guilty about some university friends I owe drinks from forty years ago. I definitely owe you a drink from the night Earl Beige arrived. Now what are you having?’
‘I best not have booze on an empty stomach. Elderflower cordial? Pink lemonade? Anything soft but fancy.’
With a nod, Karl turned on his heel, leaving Claire and Nikki smiling at each other across the table.
‘So, things are serious with this lady?’ Claire said.
‘Anouska and yes, she’s special. Just hearing her name makes me.’ Nikki fanned herself. ‘I don’t know about you, but I don’t fall for people often. When I do I go hard. Mostly men, but Anouska has the honour of being the first woman to really capture my heart.’
Claire smiled. ‘That’s so lovely.’
‘What about you?’ Nikki asked. ‘Married? Partner?’
Claire looked up at Nikki and seemed to flush. ‘Ah, single for a few years now. I don't know. I’m very much a people person but just never seem to vibe with people like that, you know?’
‘Yeah, I definitely hear that,’ Nikki said. ‘I rarely vibe with people, well until recently anyway.’
They locked eyes briefly, nodding together. Claire broke the gaze and leaned back. ‘Sometimes it just hits me out of nowhere.’
‘Oh yes!’ Nikki said, ‘not often with me, but I do know that feeling.’
Still looking out of the window, Claire smiled.
Karl returned moments later.
I will find you!
‘I’m sorry,’ Nikki said. ‘Did you hear it that time? It said I will find you.’
Again, Karl and Claire exchanged glances. ‘No, I’m sorry. You’re not wearing a wire you’ve forgotten to take off?’ Karl said, not altogether seriously.
Nikki tapped her stomach, then patted around her sides. ‘Oh yes. You can never be too careful. Even when I’m off duty I’m on duty. Pasty smugglers are everywhere.’
‘Criminal,’ said Claire. ‘The stuff they put in them these days.’
‘Right? Don’t get me wrong, some innovations are great. Steak and stilton.’ Nikki mimicked a chef’s kiss. ‘But the time someone made a fish and chips pasty. Well, wars have been started over far less. In that instance, I’m sorry Karl but emmets will really need to choose a side or get caught in the barrage.’
Claire giggled and once again her smiling eyes seemed to consider Nikki with extra curiosity.
Nikki smiled back at her.
A flash of purple outside caught her eye and she recognised the gait immediately as Anouska.
Nikki’s heart skipped a beat.
‘Oh well, that’s. That’s uh. My date.’
‘Take a deep breath, Nikki!’ Karl said, touching his glass to her near-empty one. ‘Just be your normal dazzling, charming, witty self.’
Claire peered out of the window. ‘I love her dress!’
‘Yeah, purple really suits her. Phoo!’ Nikki said, ‘nobody has ever had this effect on me.’ She smiled nervously at Claire.
They locked eyes again. ‘It’s a rare and beautiful thing! Enjoy it.’
‘Thanks Claire, it was so lovely to meet you!’ She turned to Karl. ‘Wonderful to see you again. I suppose I’ll be seeing you in the court?’
Karl nodded solemnly. ‘Until then, look after yourself.’ He stood, leaned in for a hug and kissed Nikki on the cheek.
With a deep breath, Nikki stepped out onto Boscawen Street and hurried over to Anouska. She was on her phone.
Nikki stopped, waiting for her phone to buzz. When it did, she took out her phone and read the message: I’m here.
Nikki texted back: Look up. Right ahead of you XD
Anouska looked up and gave a small wave as Nikki approached.
‘Good evening!’ Nikki put her hand on Anouska’s waist and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Silly me for getting the time wrong! I was just having a drink with Karl and his daughter.’
‘Karl?’ Anouska looked at her blankly.
‘Yeah, the Salmonweir guy? You remember I told you about the case. They’re here watching a show at the theatre.’
‘Oh, I see. Yes I remember you telling me. Shall we?’ Anouska gestured at the door, and stepped inside.
I will find you.
Nikki frowned and looked out onto Boscawen Street. A young couple holding hands shared a joke as they strolled on by. A small group of people entered the bar at the back of the theatre. A taxi driver stood by his vehicle playing with his phone. A young boy on a pushbike cycled past.
Not one of them reacted to the voice.
Nikki shrugged and followed Anouska into the restaurant.
Thank you for reading! Shadows of Cathedral Lane, the first Salmonweird spinoff, is released on 31st May 2024. Click here to preorder
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