#WEP/IWSG February Challenge – The Kiss

by

49

Crime never sleeps.

This year’s WEP/IWSG challenge theme, the Year of the Art, ties in to my novella for last year’s challenges, the six-part story called ‘Custody Chain’.

I was wary of attempting another ongoing case for Sparkle Anwyl and Kama Pillai of the North Wales Police, but I sensed many of you would expect something else involving them.

However, another Snowdon Shadows novella was too daunting – and a commitment too far. Although I managed to get there, I had to eke out the end of ‘Custody Chain’ sentence by sentence – sometimes one each day.

So, I’m going down the stand-alone path, although there will be a few links – beyond my dynamic duo.

Apologies, the word count is over the limit – but let’s move on.

If you wish, please comment, or suggest what links are ongoing.

Many thanks for reading.

As always, apologies if I’m slow to respond or slow to visit your posts.

Plus, ensure you visit all the other writers in this challenge via: 

https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com

LIP SERVICE

2015

Friday, January 9th

Surf crashes onto the beach, churning the sand and tossing seashells aside. Rollers rush the rocks bordering the bay.

Perfect for thrill-seeking surfers, but treacherous for casual swimmers. Deceptive currents.

Another challenge for Kama and me. Nothing deflects us from our dawn swim.

We race into the roiling sea, limbs driving us out until Morfa Bychan disappears.

Then we turn for shore and breakfast.

A familiar figure waits for us. A brunette in uniform, with sparkling eyes – and a worried expression.

PCSO Lleilu Dace, the police community support officer, who proved so invaluable on an art theft case the previous year.

She waves as we walk ashore.

“I knew you’d both be here, so wanted to catch you off-duty. Sorry for the intrusion—”

“—anytime. What’s the problem?” Kama’s tone is calm and encouraging.

I find myself reading Lleilu’s lips. The case had involved Tesni Szarka, a deaf painter.

“Don’t take this wrong. I’m not proper uniform and certainly not a detective—”

“But you’re part of the team with vital input. What’s happened? Sexism?”

“Too often – some of your colleagues expect me to make their tea, even when they are capable. No, it’s the paperwork. It has to stop.”

I share her frustration. Time sheets, surveys, assessments, as well as our regular case reports.

“We do depend on non-police staff to type up our Smartphone notes.” Kama shakes her head. “But only if we’re stretched and we shouldn’t expect PCSOs to do that. You have key support roles – and you’ve proved invaluable. You should talk to DCI Baines – she’d understand.”

Lleilu shakes her head. “It’s just my observation, not an official complaint. That would require triplicate form-filling. Paperwork will be the kiss of death for real policing. Anyway, I’m going for a swim.”

She slips out of her uniform, down to a swimsuit and a lithe body. Warmth spreads up to my face and I glance at Kama. Resist, her face says.

Lleilu plunges into the sea and begins to carve her way through the turbulent water.

Pounding. My chest. She’s disappeared. Undertow.

Kama and I dash in, diving underwater. Searching.

I find Lleilu fighting to surface. Fighting to breathe. Choking.

As I reach her, she collapses. Remain calm. Slow my racing heart.

I slip hands under her armpits, then kick to the surface, swimming parallel to the shore – out of the undertow.

Kama is beside us, guiding us back to the beach once we’re out of the undertow.

We lay Lleilu on the sand. Her pulse is weak. Not breathing. Kama presses her lips to another. I shiver. No. Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Kiss of life. 

Kama continues the methodical airway-breathing-circulation then chest compressions. Lleilu’s eyes flutter. No gasp for air.

My partner motions for me to take over. I press my mouth to Lleilu’s, pinching her nose – and praying.

She chokes up seawater, then forces a smile.

***

Sunday 25th January

Kama and I kiss, lips soft as tongues tease. Then we zip up our leathers over evening glad rags.

The front-door bell rings.

Lleilu – with a large package.

“Dydd Santes Dwynwen Hapus. I have a gift for you both – for saving me.”

She kisses us on both cheeks, then hands us the wrapped gift.

We undo the protective cloth, revealing a painting we will cherish.

“Tesni Szarka painted this replica. Dropped everything to finish it for—”

“St Dwynwen’s Day. Our own version of St Valentine’s Day – which we’re about to celebrate—”

“Join us – unless there’s someone—”

“Not yet, but he’s out there.”

I place the replica of Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss on our mantelpiece.

1077 words FCA

For more on the theme of art, check out the amazing WEP/IWSG Challenges Calendar for 2021 with designs by Olga Godim:

https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/12/announcing-wep-2021-calendar.html

For more on Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss see:

The Story Behind Gustav Klimt’s Shimmering Symbolist Painting ‘The Kiss’

For details on St Dwynwen’s Day:

https://www.visitwales.com/info/history-heritage-and-traditions/st-dwynwens-day

And for other February entries visit:

https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com

49 thoughts on “#WEP/IWSG February Challenge – The Kiss”

  1. I love the way you’ve continued this story, almost like a spin-off with the main characters and a, sort of, new addition. Will Lleilu be around more? I like how you connected this story to the last series through the painting and tied it into the prompt perfectly. Nicely done! I always enjoy a good Sparkle story.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thanks Toi.
      It is a spin-off as the art theme for this year ties into last year’s case. Lleilu first appeared in that case, and she appears as a secondary character in ‘Fevered Fuse’ as you might remember. So, the links will continue to appear.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  9. Intriguing Roland. Beautifully done. Thank you for your efforts against the beast, as Sue calls it. I like this spin off. I’m sure we’ll see more of Lleilu in future WEP challenges…or I hope we will. ‘Kiss of Life’, ‘Kiss of Death’, great response to the prompt.

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. Super neat take on the prompt! and I loved the way this dovetails into the overall story of Sparkle and Kama. Loved the subtle humour too – ‘papaerwork will be the kiss of death….’ 🙂 Well done!

    Liked by 1 person

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  12. Hi Roland – well done … and I’m glad she survived – but even more the art-work idea is delightful … inspiring. I am always worried about undertows and the thought horrifies me – well told. All the best – Hilary

    Liked by 1 person

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  20. Glad to be reading about these characters again. It made for a gripping story and your sentence by sentence painful progress paid off. That undertow!! I didn’t even wonder how you were going to bring it back to The Kiss, I was just out there on the beach rueing the paperwork conundrum.

    Liked by 1 person

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  23. Happy IWSG Day, Roland! I enjoyed your story. You’re so good at writing spare, evocative prose. “Not yet, but he’s out there.” ~ Subtle! You are inspiring, continuing to write even if it is just one sentence! I’m rooting for you, my friend! Take care!

    Liked by 1 person

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