good to reveal the boring truth straight off, whether about a magic trick or anything else. I was no more going to tell her I bribed the staff than I was about to start belching words or leaving my pants scattered around. Those are third-date tasks at the earliest.
Sarah and I headed to the taxi rank down the road, her still pestering for the truth, me playfully resisting. The city centre streets were busy with people - couples and groups - but by this time most of them were just getting started, and there was no real taxi queue, just three cabs parked up, engines idling. Sarah slipped her arm into mine. It was the first solid physical contact we'd had, and it felt good. As we approached, she pulled back slightly, using the weight of her body to stop us both before we reached the taxis.
'Maybe we should get this out of the way first?'
She leaned in and kissed me, slipping her arm properly around me. I reached round and held her, marvelling at the sudden sensation of her lips and how slim she felt. Her personality had been so strong that it seemed there should be more to her than this, but I could feel her spine through her shirt. She was light as air. Then I smelled the faintest trace of it.
A flower in a bottle.
Tori's perfume.
But that was okay. In the week and a half since I'd seen her, I'd stuck to the decision I'd made. No texts, calls or emails. The association was still strong, of course, but I was determined. They had the same perfume - so what? Maybe it wouldn't be too long before I smelled it and thought of Sarah instead. I hoped so. And as she continued to kiss me, I hoped so more and more.
'Figured that would make things easier.' She smiled.
'It did. Thank you.'
'So . . . are you going to ring me, or shall I ring you?'
'Those are the options,' I said.
'Ah, but there's also that other option. The one where neither of us rings the other.'
I shook my head. 'Not going to happen.'
'Well, that's all right then. We can sort out the details later. I've had a lovely night, Dave. Thank you for dinner.' She held up the ring. 'And this.'
'Me too. We'll sort something out soon, I promise.'
'Cool.' She gave me another quick kiss and then headed for the taxi. 'See you, then.'
Definitely.
I took the second taxi in the queue, gave the driver my address, and we set off. The nightclubs and restaurants and bars began to flash past in the window, but I wasn't paying attention to anything apart from the feeling of excitement in my chest. It felt like a small sun was shining behind my ribs, warming my whole body with its energy. If I hadn't been strapped into the backseat - and if there hadn't been anyone around to see - I might actually have jumped up and down a bit. As it was, it felt like I wouldn't be getting to sleep any time soon - and for a good reason, this time.
Great, great night, I decided.
Bad morning, though.
I woke up with a dull ringing in my ears.
The ringing stopped. I groaned to myself and opened one eye to look at the clock on the bedside table. Quarter to eight. Why had I set the alarm for that time?
The ringing returned, and this time I recognised it for what it was. Someone was at the front door. I clambered out of bed and over to the bedroom window, and lifted it up. The sounds of traffic on the main road blew in on a blast of cold air.
Two floors below, a couple of men were waiting outside. One was in his mid-forties, the other slightly younger. Both were wearing identical long black overcoats.
'Hey,' I shouted.
They looked up. The older one called up at me.
'Dave Lewis? Police. Could you open the door, please.'
Shit. Eddie.
'Give me a minute.'
'Quick as you can.'
I hunted around for clean clothes to wear, feeling sick.
Just keep calm.
I managed to get dressed, then went to the bathroom and splashed water on my face, pausing to inspect myself in the mirror. My expression bothered me. It was too nervous. I leaned on the sink, my shoulders hunched, and stared myself right in the
Sarah and I headed to the taxi rank down the road, her still pestering for the truth, me playfully resisting. The city centre streets were busy with people - couples and groups - but by this time most of them were just getting started, and there was no real taxi queue, just three cabs parked up, engines idling. Sarah slipped her arm into mine. It was the first solid physical contact we'd had, and it felt good. As we approached, she pulled back slightly, using the weight of her body to stop us both before we reached the taxis.
'Maybe we should get this out of the way first?'
She leaned in and kissed me, slipping her arm properly around me. I reached round and held her, marvelling at the sudden sensation of her lips and how slim she felt. Her personality had been so strong that it seemed there should be more to her than this, but I could feel her spine through her shirt. She was light as air. Then I smelled the faintest trace of it.
A flower in a bottle.
Tori's perfume.
But that was okay. In the week and a half since I'd seen her, I'd stuck to the decision I'd made. No texts, calls or emails. The association was still strong, of course, but I was determined. They had the same perfume - so what? Maybe it wouldn't be too long before I smelled it and thought of Sarah instead. I hoped so. And as she continued to kiss me, I hoped so more and more.
'Figured that would make things easier.' She smiled.
'It did. Thank you.'
'So . . . are you going to ring me, or shall I ring you?'
'Those are the options,' I said.
'Ah, but there's also that other option. The one where neither of us rings the other.'
I shook my head. 'Not going to happen.'
'Well, that's all right then. We can sort out the details later. I've had a lovely night, Dave. Thank you for dinner.' She held up the ring. 'And this.'
'Me too. We'll sort something out soon, I promise.'
'Cool.' She gave me another quick kiss and then headed for the taxi. 'See you, then.'
Definitely.
I took the second taxi in the queue, gave the driver my address, and we set off. The nightclubs and restaurants and bars began to flash past in the window, but I wasn't paying attention to anything apart from the feeling of excitement in my chest. It felt like a small sun was shining behind my ribs, warming my whole body with its energy. If I hadn't been strapped into the backseat - and if there hadn't been anyone around to see - I might actually have jumped up and down a bit. As it was, it felt like I wouldn't be getting to sleep any time soon - and for a good reason, this time.
Great, great night, I decided.
Bad morning, though.
I woke up with a dull ringing in my ears.
The ringing stopped. I groaned to myself and opened one eye to look at the clock on the bedside table. Quarter to eight. Why had I set the alarm for that time?
The ringing returned, and this time I recognised it for what it was. Someone was at the front door. I clambered out of bed and over to the bedroom window, and lifted it up. The sounds of traffic on the main road blew in on a blast of cold air.
Two floors below, a couple of men were waiting outside. One was in his mid-forties, the other slightly younger. Both were wearing identical long black overcoats.
'Hey,' I shouted.
They looked up. The older one called up at me.
'Dave Lewis? Police. Could you open the door, please.'
Shit. Eddie.
'Give me a minute.'
'Quick as you can.'
I hunted around for clean clothes to wear, feeling sick.
Just keep calm.
I managed to get dressed, then went to the bathroom and splashed water on my face, pausing to inspect myself in the mirror. My expression bothered me. It was too nervous. I leaned on the sink, my shoulders hunched, and stared myself right in the
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