The traffic was extremely busy for a Sunday morning. Of course, one would expect to see the church going populace, but on a grim day such as this morning was turning out to be, anyone else would surely be in their bed. Even the dog walkers would have second thoughts.
The peppering of droplets of water, with just the hint of ice before it melted, attacked the windscreen of Tommy's car, forcing him to move the wipers from intermittent to a constant to and fro. Grey dominated the skyline, but within that base, lurked the torrid cumulonimbus clouds that generate hail and sleet. The weather changed fast on the island, due to swirling southerly winds that dominated, dragging inclement weather from the mainland. Tommy thought of the cold but clear winters that could come with a high pressure forcing a northerly or even easterly wind. Often, they were so much better than the summers.
Glancing at his rear view mirror, he caught a glimpse of Kiera's bag. Ready lined with a large, black bin bag, the tweed carrier could take a reasonable weight similar to a moderate holdall. Although Donald had brought a significant quantity of fish with him, he had also left some in Kiera's freezer, worried that the smell of defrosting fish would give a not so subtle perfume in the changing areas. So Tommy had been sent out on a run to fetch these. Now that she had had time to study the mermaid, Hayley had a few ideas about some drugs that could help it. The technicalities were a mystery to Tommy, but her presence in the car was more than enjoyable.
His back was sore from spending most of the night assisting his veterinary companion, and he was positively wrinkled from long term exposure to the water. Still, the image of Hayley in her bikini was not leaving his mind in a hurry. He glanced sideways. Like she needed to be wearing a bikini. Damn, he thought, how did I ever get the eyes off this one? Despite being well liked by most people, Tommy had often found women hard to relate to. Yet Hayley's fun attitude combined with her dedication to her work had made him risk a wild night. Just how mad or confusing a night he hadn't expected.
"Lot of cars about for a Sunday," said Tommy.
"Yeah. Yes, there is."
"You okay? You seem miles away at the moment."
"It's okay, Tommy. I'm just wrecked. Up all night and trying to focus, I can barely see straight."
"Just make sure you pick up the right drugs," laughed Tommy, pulling into the veterinary car park. Hayley opened the door and rocked towards it before rolling back and turning to Tommy.
"Thank you."
"Thank me? Why?"
"Last night. You were expecting something else, but it didn't turn out the way you hoped."
"No, but I don't think you expected to see a fish woman either."
"No, but thank you. You let me get on with it. All night, you just were there, helping. Thank you. I didn't know you had a heart for animals."
"Hayley, look, animals are fine, but last night I stood in that water for one reason: you. It looked important to you, you were obviously in the zone with it. So I thought, if she wants to do this, I have to help her. Didn't seem the time to be demanding anything else."
"Oh, demanding is it?"
"Hey, whoa. Sorry. I meant looking. No, asking. Hoping."
Hayley laughed out loud before swinging back to the door. Starting to open it, she had a second thought and swung back to Tommy. Reaching her hands forward, she brought their mouths to touch before exploring. His wide-eyed surprise saw her eyes close before he shut his own eyes too. He felt her hands take his, and a shudder went up his body as she placed them where only lovers are allowed. Despite the clothing, his delight was palatable as she broke off the kiss. Savouring a few last moments, his hands finally fell.
"Well, that woke me up," said Hayley.
Embarrassed, Tommy could only smile.
"I'll go get the gear," said Hayley.
"Least I know you won't leave while I'm gone." With several glances back to the car, Hayley made her way through the cold rain into the practice. Sitting behind the wheel, Tommy was oblivious to the various vehicles with satellite dishes making their way along the road, towards the harbour front. Even the return of Hayley startled him.
"Got them. Think I can pretend they're for a friend's aquarium, although the dosage is going to be a mystery. Better make out there was some sort of epidemic." Tommy just smiled, still lost in the previous moment. "Tommy, you there?"
"Yeah, sorry. Just tired."
"Yeah, right. Guess I'd be annoyed if you hadn't enjoyed it." Tommy blushed. "To Kiera's then."
Pulling out of the practice drive, Tommy found himself stuck in a long queue. It was becoming clearer that some people were bypassing the traffic on the footpaths and several cars were just parked up on the pavement.
"What the hell's all this?" Tommy said out loud to himself.
About a minute later, the cars had come to a complete halt, much to the anger of several news crews trying to get to the front of the excitement. A large gentleman in a suit with a gaudy tie swore loudly at an elderly lady who seemed to be frozen in her car, frightened by the level of traffic. Opening the lady's door, he gave a diatribe of abuse.
That's not right, thought Tommy.
Gazing at the obnoxious man, it took Hayley a moment to realise Tommy had exited the car. By the time she had got out herself, Tommy was shouting at the man. Hayley was never sure of the exact words that caused Tommy's reaction but the phrase "stupid effing bitch" was definitely in there. Within seconds of the words being spoken, Tommy had delivered a right hook, connecting with the man's jaw and flooring him. A man with a camera grabbed the suited man by the collar calling "come on". Rising, the man vowed he would have sued Tommy if it hadn't have been for the bodies ahead.
Watching the man scarper, Tommy was aware of Hayley grabbing his shoulder squeezing hard against his torso, but he was more intent on the car's occupant. He extended a hand, and the lady climbed out of the vehicle.
"Thomas Clarke, always said you would amount to nothing. What are doing going ‘round hitting people like that?" Hayley watched Tommy stand upright, head dropped ashamed.
"Just a minute, lady. My Tommy just stepped in for you, sorted that guy who was giving you a lip-full. Think you owe him some thanks."
The old lady was laughing, garbed in her black Sunday dress under a dull coat with a dowdy hat covering pinned up hair. She smiled at Hayley's response.
"Got a woman too. You might do yet, Thomas Clarke. Defender of the weak. Now off with you, I won't make church dallying like this. A good Godly stroll is required." With that, she toddled off not once looking back.
"Bloody cheek, Tommy. And after you helping her—and your hand!—The knuckles…are they bleeding?"
"My Tommy. My Tommy. I like it, Hayley. Babe, I love it."
"Who was that, anyway, daft old bat?"
"That was no daft old bat. That was Mrs. Macleod, picked me up from a rascal and got me where I am today. Right battleaxe, but she did me a lot of good. Arrogant bugger picking on her."
"Where was he going anyway, Tommy?"
"Said something about bodies. But hey, we got your patient to get back to anyhow. We'll have to turn ‘round and go to Kiera's via the back road, there's no going through town with this traffic."
"If you want to have a look, we can. She'll be okay for twenty more minutes. It's not like she's going anywhere. Anyway a stroll with my Tommy wouldn't go amiss."
Hayley grabbed his hand and they wandered down the street to the harbour front abandoning the car like everyone else.
There was an immense crowd around the number three pier, all eyes seemingly concentrated on a small fishing boat, tied to the side with policemen on board. A young sailor was giving a statement, and there was dark, brownish blood on the boat deck. A dull murmuring of the crowd was broken by occasional yells and heated arguments and the general argy-bargy of interested onlookers. Various reporters were milling about interviewing locals and sight-seers alike, grabbing whatever take they could on the tale of the boat.
"Heck, Tommy, what's all this about? Look at that boat, the blood on it."
"Looks like a drunken brawl or something on board. You don't think someone's been murdered, do you?"
"Not from losing that blood Tommy, that's not human blood."
"Hayley, look over there at those placards. Save the mermaids!"
"You think there's been more?"
Tommy pulled Hayley close like he was about to kiss her but whispered in her ear. "Careful. You don't know who's listening in a crowd like this." Hayley nodded as they moved apart. "Anyway Hayley, look there's Seamus on duty, he'll know."
Keeping a watchful eye at the back of the crowd was the town's traffic warden. With nothing moving in the main street, he was taking a restful moment leaning up against the oldest town pub with its dirty wash walls and dark musty windows.
"Still here from last night then?" laughed Tommy.
"Clarkie, you rascal. How's it going? Hope you're not messed up in this business."
"Just out with my wee woman here. Seamus, you remember Hayley from school." Seamus looked blank. "Two years below us."
"Sorry, love, but no. My loss mind, my loss. Surely you can do better than this Hayley," joked Seamus. Hayley giggled, and then grabbed Tommy's arm pulling him close.
"So what's the craic, Seamus?"
"Haven't you heard? Well, obviously not, otherwise you wouldn't be asking. Tommy, you know all this mermaid talk? Well, it seems it's true."
Tommy tried to seem surprised. "You're having a laugh."
"No, no bull today. There's a dead one on that boat. Well, a dead merman to be exact."
"How did that happen?" asked Hayley feeling a rush of tears. She detested animals dying, especially violently.
"That boat belongs to old Macreedie. He's up in the hospital on life support. Apparently, he got hit by the merman at some point. Another of his crew was also attacked and has severe concussion, being kept under observation. The young lad blew the brains out of the merman apparently."
Hayley buried her head into Tommy on hearing the detail.
"So why were they attacked?" asked Tommy.
"Well the young lad, I heard from Smith the CID guy when I was grabbing a coffee for him, was keeping pretty stum but they believe Macreedie may have had a mermaid on the line."
"Bloody hell, Seamus. Have there been a lot seen?"
"Not that I know of, Tommy but seems like they are out there. Seems Fish-Tales may not be as mad as we thought."
Hayley raised her eyes at Tommy.
"Iain, who shot that boobs-out model. Used to get called ‘Fish-tales’ at school."
"God, what's the commotion behind there?" The couple turned to where Seamus was looking and saw an ambulance forcing its way down the street. "Sorry guys, gotta go."
"Hell, Tommy, we need to tell Kiera and Donald. This changes things."
Tommy held her arms gently. "No we don't, not right away. Nothing changes. We get things sorted at the pool and then early hours tomorrow we release her down the shore. She swims off and that's it. Back to nature, taking a chance with all the other fish."
"But, Tommy," forced Hayley in a whispered hush, "She's not like the other fish. She's ……."
"Human?"
Hayley nodded.
"Hayley, you're a vet. Think about it. They just look a bit like us. You even recognised the blood difference from fifty yards away."
"But they're like us. Just with tails."
"No Hayley, no. Just stop. They smell of fish, they certainly don't crap like us, and they don't talk like us."
"But they look so human."
"Yes, look. But they're not. As much as that rack on the mermaid perks up my interest, she sure isn't human. Dammit, Hayley, I wouldn't go to bed with one."
"And this is your salient test of humanness?"
"Hey, don't dis a man's libido."
"So, what, it's just a fish?"
"That's unfair babe. I didn't say they were worth nothing, just they weren't human."
"Let's just go, Tommy. Can't believe they killed it. They're beautiful."
Placing an arm around Hayley, Tommy led her back towards the car, his head flicking once at some resounding cheers. A body was being lifted up off the boat and had become visible to the crowd. There was cheering and booing before the gathering began to push and shove. Turning his back and keeping this from Hayley, Tommy missed the start of the biggest brawl the island had seen that year, even surpassing the New Year’s Eve early closing disaster at the Trawlerman's pub.