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‘I’m sorry if I was rude. I’m very protective of Juno, that’s all.’
‘Of course you are. I can’t imagine, losing your dad and your grandad all at once. Before you were even born.’ Tamara looked genuinely anguished.
‘It was terrible. For everyone.’
‘We’re going to make this anniversary the event of a lifetime. I promise you.’
As Tamara slid away, Nikki heard a text come in on her phone. She pulled it out and read it.
I’m in the Codmother. Want chips?
She’d lost her appetite completely.
No thanks I’m good she texted back.
OK. See you on the front in 5.
She put her phone back in her bag with a sigh of relief. If there was one person she trusted with her life, it was Detective Sergeant ‘Woody’ Woodman. He knew everything about her. They had no secrets. He’d help her put everything into perspective, she was sure of it.
18
Nikki slid into the passenger seat next to Woody. He was parked outside the Neptune, scoffing his chips one by one, and her heart swelled with affection as she watched him.
The problem when they’d been together was that they never really saw each other. Woody’s shifts were punishing and unsociable and sometimes weeks went by when they only crossed over in the wee small hours of the morning. And then Woody came home one night and cried, admitting to having feelings for the custody sergeant, Angela Lewis, whom he saw significantly more often than he saw Nikki.
Nikki wasn’t cross, or upset, or even surprised. They peeled apart, gently, and she bought her house which was walking distance from his, and Bill bobbed quite happily between the two of them. They had parented him brilliantly after the split, she thought. Much better than they would have if they’d tried to stay together.
They were still the very best of friends.
In front of them, the sea was Quink-dark, the boats swaying as the tide came in and filled up the harbour. It felt calm and peaceful, as if nothing could go wrong, but Nikki knew you could never be complacent where the sea was concerned. A deadly rip, a broken-down engine, a drink too many – anything could happen. Across the harbour by the slipway, the lifeboat station kept a watchful eye. Behind them, the coloured lights strung across the front of the Neptune threw a rainbow glow across the cobbles.
Woody’s car was filled with the steamy scent of vinegar. She smiled down at the chips in his lap.
‘It’s no wonder you’re such a fat lump.’
Woody couldn’t put on a pound, no matter how hard he tried. He was a string bean, all six foot four of him.
‘Go on,’ he said with a grin, poking a chip at her. ‘You know you want to.’
Nikki dodged her head out of the way, laughing. They still teased each other mercilessly, as if they were still in the sixth form.
He aimed the chip at his own mouth instead, chomping with satisfaction. ‘So what’s up, then?’
She sighed. ‘I’ve been getting these weird cards.’
‘What kind of weird?’
‘The first one said there are no secrets in a small town.’
Woody shrugged. ‘Well, there are. We know that. Otherwise, I’d be out of a job.’ She didn’t answer. ‘Why are you so worried?’
‘It was addressed to me. Personally. And it felt like a threat.’
‘Let’s have a look.’
‘I ripped it up and threw it in the bin.’
Woody tutted. ‘I could have had it fingerprinted.’
