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:
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:
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.
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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.
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The kiss of life – very well played! And I love how you brought in the painting at the end as well. Great scene!
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I sneaked in ‘kiss of death’ too, Jemi – although somewhat obliquely. I’m aiming to get each painting into future challenges, if I can – adds to the challenge.
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This is truly lovely. Huge thanks for all the effort it required. The unrelenting effort. Sentence by sentence, word by word you are beating the beast back.
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Thanks Sue. This challenge has given me motivation to write. Without it, I fear not one sentence would have emerged. Now to eke out the next one.
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I like this story. It’s got about the right amount of drama, and leaves some openings to spin off–like the sexism issue. Good use of the prompt.
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Not sure how many of the openings will become threads, Rebecca, but ideas gathering for future challenges.
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Nice: a kiss for life. I like this story.
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Thanks Olga – glad it worked for you.
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I loved it. Such a great entry for the challenge and so well wrapped up! Excellent.
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Thanks Yolanda – tried to end on the right note.
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A wonderful glimpse at a story. I am sad I do not know about the characters already, I will have to go back and read the old ones so I’m ready for the next ones!
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Thanks Steph. Although my detective couple – yes, they are a couple – have a complex backstory which I’ve been writing about on this site, easiest to start with last year’s novella via the last challenge post: https://rolandclarke.com/2020/12/14/wep-iwsg-december-challenge-unmasked/
There are other bits, like another novella here, and a novel I’m trying to edit.
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Love the entry, the desperation really comes through
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Pleased the desperation was apparent, Dixie – thanks.
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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.
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I have to keep the beast or MonSter at bay, Denise. I’m sure Lleilu will return as she’s already a secondary character in three Snowdon Shadows cases, including the novel I’m editing.
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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!
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I feel the more cases dovetailing in, the more detailed the world of Sparkle and Kama becomes. Thanks Nilanjana.
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Enjoyed the kick off. Looking forward to more…
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Aiming to concoct more now I’ve kicked off my 2021 writing. Thanks Wordweiver
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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
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Lleilu had to survive as she appears in later cases – including the one behind my forthcoming novel. I agree about undertows, Hilary, although I’ve never encountered one.
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I like this a lot. I like characters who return, but not in a continuous plot between stories 🙂 This one is self-contained, for me. Nice work, and glad you made it.
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Self-contained is a challenge but easier as well, Jemima. It leaves me a cleaner slate for next time – even if the characters return.
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Great job in creating and sustaining characters. The take you had on the kiss was unique and her gift to them made for a perfect circle in writing to this theme.
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Thanks Lee. It helps having characters I’m getting to know as I give them more cases.
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Beautiful and sensual. Hang in there Roland. Keep up the IWSG and WEP too. So glad to have you on board.
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IWSG and WEP keep me hanging in there, Susan. Thanks for dropping by.
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I enjoyed your kiss of life very much. Two detectives saving a life. And the painting as a gift afterward. Well written.
Nancy
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The theme was a gift Nancy – and grew from the detective couple kissing.
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Hi,
Mouth to mouth resuscitation, the kiss of life.
Beautiful done.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat
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The theme proved inspirational, Pat – thanks.
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It’s nice to Anwyl and Kama back 🙂
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And they should return next time, Bernadette – the next painting has already sparked ideas.
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Will look forward to it 😀
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I enjoyed your take on the prompt, and I always enjoy revisiting these characters. I love the painting being given as a gift!
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I’m pleased the take worked. I had to be wary of who gave the gift as police have to be careful accepting them.
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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.
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I’m happy it paid off, and you were gripped by the story, Kalpana. The painting as a gift was my starting point, while the paperwork was an after-thought – a kiss of death idea 😉
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Roland – I just tried to follow you on twitter by clicking on the link in the side-bar but it doesn’t go to your twitter.
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I will check out the link, Kalpana. My Twitter page is: https://twitter.com/rrclarke53 – not that I do more than retweet other posts these days.
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Great take on the prompt.
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Thanks Sally. I just hope future prompts work as well.
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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!
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This may be my last entry, Louise, as my writing struggles have reached combustion. More about that in my IWSG post – due today, but….
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I’m very glad that they saved Lleillu.
I’ve been having an awful time of it with this challenge. It’s like I’m cursed. I haven’t yet gotten around to everyone’s stories, and I’m having a worse time than usual commenting on WordPress blogs.
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Well, I’ve only replied to comments here. Reading has suffered badly, and I fear the writing is a non-starter too.
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