The following morning a hungover Osian dragged himself out of bed to meet up with his mum and stepdad for breakfast. Dannel slept in until insistent knocking woke him up. He trudged to the front door, fully prepared to have a go at whoever had interrupted his lie in.
“What the devil did you tell Archie last night after I left?”
Dannel blinked blearily at Niall. How’s he know where we live? “I’m in pyjamas. Why are you shouting?”
Niall was silent for a full minute. “Sorry.”
“Coffee.” Dannel didn’t want Niall in their personal space. “Wait here.”
Shutting the door in the bewildered Niall’s face, Dannel retracted his steps to the bedroom. He changed quickly out of his pyjamas into his workout gear since it was handy. I can do this. Ossie practised questions with me. Inside voice, just remember to use your inside voice.
Count the eye contact. Several seconds, then look away. Don’t make it odd.
Inside voice.
No matter how hard Dannel tried, he always struggled at knowing how loud his voice was. It had led to many embarrassing moments over the years. Talking too quietly or practically shouting without being aware. It frustrated him.
He adjusted his T-shirt and sweatpants, shoving his feet into his trainers. They’d get a coffee. He’d ask questions and then go for a run to release the tension, hopefully avoiding another meltdown.
Not the way Dannel had intended to spend his morning. He had several emails he needed to respond to along with a query on a commission. One of their friends wanted a set of armour similar to one from the video game Thief.
Dannel had never played the game, but he’d seen screen captures. Sleek, dark leather armour. It was an almost stereotypical roguish style. He thought he had the skills to handle the design she wanted.
“Took you long enough,” Niall grumbled when he opened the door again.
“Coffee,” Dannel repeated. He stepped out of the flat, rolling his foot slightly to get his trainer on properly. “Who are you?”
“Niall Bishop.”
“Yes, but who are you?” Dannel wanted more than a name.
“Travel vlogger.” Niall followed him down the stairs. “Photographer. Run a YouTube channel all about hiking on a budget.”
On a budget.
The few times Niall had been around, he’d worn nothing but high-end clothing. He wore shoes Dannel had seen one of the solicitors at Wayne’s office have. Expensive ones. They probably cost more than his paycheck as a firefighter.
“Did your mum and dad leave you money?” Dannel couldn’t stop the question. “I can’t imagine travel vlogs make enough money for swanky shoes or the gear required for hiking. Archie saved up for ages to kit himself out for a year of travel.”
“My grandfather, actually. Not that it’s any of your business.” Niall exited the building behind him. “Where are we going? You haven’t answered my question.”
Dannel pointed down the street to the café on the corner. “We can get a coffee. I’m no good in the mornings without a kick of caffeine. I don’t remember your question.”
“Fine.” Niall sighed rather dramatically. “What did you say to Archie last night? I saw you and your boyfriend chatting with him once I left.”
“I didn’t say anything,” he replied honestly. Osian had done most of the talking. “Do you love Archie?”
“Do I….” Niall trailed off, shaking his head. “Is this a ‘don’t hurt my friend’ sort of lecture? Aren’t we too old to be beating our chests?”
“No.” Dannel was confused. Did anyone ever get too old for their friends to show concern? “I didn’t beat my chest. Why would I hurt myself?”
“Are you being funny?”
“Not on purpose.” Dannel stepped up to the counter, ignoring Niall’s sputtering.
Ordering his usual coffee, sausage roll, and chocolate croissant, Dannel made his way outside to an empty table. He’d barely taken a bite when Niall joined him. The awkward silence lingered between them.
Dannel grew tired of pretending they were eating on their own. He didn’t want to spend his entire morning dancing around the topic. “Did you snog some bloke outside the theatre?”
“Excuse me?”
“Did you snog—”
“I heard you.” Niall cut him off with an irritated wave of his hand. “Not sure I appreciate being accused of cheating.”
“Do you ever answer questions directly?” Dannel might as well go for his run now, even after eating breakfast, if Niall had no intentions of genuinely responding. “Birdie saw you snogging some bloke.”
“And?”
Is that neurotypical for yes?
Dannel finished his sausage roll while contemplating Niall’s blasé attitude. “Is yours an open relationship?”
“None of your business.”
“So, no then.” Dannel folded the top of the bag on his chocolate croissant. He’d save it for later. “Is Archie aware?”
“What do you think we were arguing about last night?”
You murdering his mum? Was Archie lying last night or is Niall doing so now? Or did you argue about both?
“This is a waste of time.” Niall shoved away from the table. He grabbed his coffee so roughly that it sloshed out of the top. “Damn it.”
“He stomps off a lot.” Dannel watched Niall leave with a slight feeling of confusion.
What have I learnt? Niall definitely cheated on Archie. Birdie likely confronted him about it. Does it make him a killer?
Probably.
As Haider would say, he’s got motive.
Handing his untouched croissant and coffee to one of the rough sleepers in the park, Dannel took off at a slow jog. He knew many of them by name. They generally tended to refuse help aside from the occasional meal.
Dannel jogged a meandering loop through the park and returned to the flat. He slipped into the shop on the ground floor, waving to his auntie behind the counter. “Morning.”
“You’ve missed your uncle. He’s gone to move furniture for your mum.” Auntie Myriam held her arms out for a hug. She always waited to see if he wanted one. “I’ve missed you, sweetheart. Are you and your Ossie doing well? Enjoying the change of pace? Not missing running into burning buildings.”
“We’re all right.” Dannel helped her empty several boxes and stock shelves with a variety of Jamaican spices. The shop sold all sorts of difficult to find products from throughout the Caribbean. “I miss my friends. The chief. Some nights I miss the excitement. And the thrill of knowing I’ve helped save a life.”
“But?”
“I remember the barrage of sound from the sirens and the flashing lights. The assault on my senses every night. I can feel the intensity of struggling to not hit sensory overload every shift.” Dannel knew deep within himself the decision to leave the station had been the right one. “I couldn’t handle the stress much longer without breaking down.”
She reached up to kiss him on the cheek. “I’m so proud of you, love. Your uncle and I both are.”
Dannel shuffled uneasily and returned his attention to organising the broad selection of curry powders. “Are there any other boxes?”
She pinched his cheek, chuckling, and pointing to a stack behind the counter. “Just like your uncle. Never able to take a compliment for anything.”
Working in the empty shop was almost meditative in nature. Dannel rearranged the shelves while stocking them. He spent an hour, putting everything in order.
His uncle and auntie had gone out of their way to make the shop a Caribbean pantry oasis. It smelled of sweets and spices. The shelves were packed with a variety of goods imported from Jamaica, Barbados, Dominica, and a host of other islands.
Some weeks, his auntie Myriam also sold home-baked gizzada, a tart filled with sweet and spiced coconut. It was one of his favourite childhood sweets.
“Why don’t you take this upstairs and have coffee with cake?” Myriam brought him out of his alphabetizing of various brands of crisps. “Off with you. I’ll be opening the shop soon, and you won’t feel quite so relaxed.”
Spiced coconut cake, coffee, and working on a new cosplay design.
Not a bad way to spend the rest of his day until Osian came home.