Isle of Waves (8 page)

“Quick.” Nibs pulled him along, spilling his coffee.

Wig frowned at him. “What’s the matter?”

“It’s Bosco.”

“Oh shit. Where?”

Bosco was a dog from hell. Sam called him an ASBO dog because he deserved to have Antisocial Behaviour Order served on him. He refused to listen to his owners or his victims, and the dog trainers on the island had banned him from their classes. Strangely, the only person he obeyed on sight was Liam, who had quickly refused the desperate owners’ offer of Bosco as a wedding present.

“Ahead to the left. Don’t look, don’t look. We’ll never get away.” Nibs hissed as Wig went to look. “We’ll cross the road.”

Nibs led the way up the beach to avoid Bosco’s owners, Daisy and Rod. They had a sweetshop that supplied the local population of children with all the cavity-inducing sugar they could buy. Initially they had been hostile to Sam, who was openly gay at an early age, but a boycott by the local kids soon brought them around. A case of business trumping bigotry.

“How about going on the pier?” Wig asked.

“Why?”

“Because we never do.”

Nibs shrugged. “Lead the way, babe. As long as we’re outside and in the sunshine, I don’t care.”

They walked along Sandown pier, steering clear of the arcade. It was sunny, but there was enough of a breeze to remind them that autumn was on its way. They’d exchanged their coffee for a fresh one and then leaned against the railings to look out to sea.

Wig saw Nibs’s pensive expression and waited, knowing he had something to say. Nibs swallowed three large gulps of his coffee, his throat working hard. He looked nervous.

“Just say what it is that’s bothering you,” Wig said when it seemed Nibs couldn’t get the words out.

“I’m not sure how to say it.”

“I know it’s hard, but we need to talk.”

It’s not like they hadn’t talked endlessly as their situation had deteriorated over the summer.

“I’ve had enough.” Nibs finally admitted.

“Had enough? Of me?” Wig asked.

Nibs raised his head. “Hell no, babe. Is that what you’ve been thinking? God, never. I love you. Don’t you get it? I want to protect you. I saw those petrol cans, and all I could think of was you going up in flames.”

Wig shuddered because he’d had those thoughts too. “But they didn’t get away with it, did they? We stopped them, and they’d be stupid to try again.”

Nibs tugged on Wig to pull him in close. “We keep having the same conversation over and over. It’s doing my head in. If we don’t sell to the Sawars, let’s put the Lagoon up for sale. We don’t need the stress, and maybe it’s time for something new. I don’t care what we do as long as it’s with you.”

“The Lagoon is our home, our livelihood, Nibs.” He looked up into Nibs’s big brown eyes, desperate to make him understand, but all he could see was the hurt, anguish, and exhaustion etched into his face.

“So let’s open a beach shack in Mauritius instead.”

“Better weather,” Wig joked. “Boys in shorts. But it wouldn’t be the Blue Lagoon.”

Nibs cupped Wig’s face in his huge paw. “I never thought I’d see the day you’d be fighting for the Lagoon.” Wig blinked rapidly and nuzzled into his hand. “We can start again somewhere else. Call it the Blue Lagoon 2.”

“Okay, then.” Wig sniffed and put on his game face. “We sell up and move to Mauritius and buy a beach shack.”

“Now you’re talking.” Nibs smiled at him, and Wig’s heart broke a little.

Wig could hear an old lady tutting in the background, but he ignored everything, his focus on his lover. “What do we do now?”

“We get rid of all the Owenses, or they’ll eat us out of house and home, and I’ll go and talk to Ghuram Sawar.”

“
We’re
going to talk to him,” Wig emphasized. “There is no way I’m letting you go into the lion’s den by yourself.”

“It’s disgusting. Two grown men touching. Ought to be ashamed.”

Wig pressed his lips together and turned to look at the speaker. He wasn’t surprised to see two elderly women with matching scowls sitting together on a bench.

“Yes, you should be ashamed,” Nibs said to them before Wig could speak.

“I beg your pardon?” One of the women sputtered.

Wig had fears for her false teeth.

“I accept your apology.” Nibs turned back to Wig. “Shall we give them something to be really disgusted about?”

Wig wound his arms around Nibs’s neck and smiled brilliantly. “Bring it on, honey.”

Nibs bent to kiss him, and for a brief wonderful moment, Wig forgot about the women and the Sawars and even the Blue Lagoon, because the only place he wanted to be was here, in Nibs’s arms. He closed his eyes, let Nibs ravish his lips in true male hero romantic fashion and melted like a schoolgirl.

When Nibs let him go, Wig blinked, licked his lips, and turned to look at the old dears. They were staring openmouthed at them. “Marks out of ten?” he asked.

“Why are you asking them?” Nibs asked.

“I thought they would appreciate being part of the audience, but they seem stunned. I reckon you knocked them out with your performance, lover.”

Wig smiled at the women, and if he bared his teeth a little, he had good reason. He felt a smug satisfaction as they drew back.

“You’re a wicked boy,” Nibs murmured in his ear, sliding his hands down to cup Wig’s arse and squeeze it briefly before letting go.

“You make me wicked.”

“I know.” Nibs had that same look of smug satisfaction. “Let’s go home.”

They walked hand in hand off the pier, giving the women a cheery farewell and receiving a stunned “bye” in return.

Wig refused to let go of Nibs’s hand until they were in sight of the restaurant. Skandik was leaning up against the doorframe looking at his phone.

Nibs coughed and Skandik looked up. “Hey, Paul’s just gone looking for you.”

“I thought you had a day off.” Nibs unlocked the door and stood back to let the others pass.

“We just wanted to see how you are. Paul has promised to take me to see a windmill.”

“Cool. Want a coffee before you go?” Wig asked as they tramped up the stairs.

“No, thanks. Mattie mainlined me in coffee earlier today.”

Banging on the door drowned Skandik’s words.

“Two guesses who that is.” Nibs disappeared down the stairs again.

Wig grinned at Skandik as he heard Paul grumble, “Where have you been?”

“Out.”

“I got that, moron.” Paul sounded really annoyed.

“We walked along the beach and the pier.”

Paul grunted as he walked into the room. “There you are.”

Skandik raised an eyebrow. “What’s got your panties in a twist?”

“Hush, don’t tell the boys I wear panties. They might want to see.”

Wig rolled his eyes. “No, don’t try and excite the old married couple.”

“Who are you calling old?” Nibs said. “And we’re plenty exciting enough, with or without panties.”

“Do we have to talk about women’s underwear?” Wig had a selection of lingerie in his bedroom, but the only person who needed know that was the one who got a frequent show. Wig could put on a strip show like no one else. He could make Nibs come just by the slither of silk and lace.

“You two can go away now,” Nibs said.

Paul shook his head. “The detectives will be here soon.”

“And we can handle them. We’re big boys now.”

Paul looked like he was going to insist, but Skandik said, “You promised me a windmill, remember?”

“I really should—”

“Go,” Wig said. “Go and enjoy the lovely scenery, Skandik. And we can meet you for dinner at the pub at seven thirty. I’ll phone Chrissie and book us a table for four.”

Paul huffed, but he said, “Better make that six. Sam will sulk if they’re not invited.”

“Done. Now go away.”

Wig shooed them out of the flat and turned back to his lover. “Do you think we’ve got time for a quickie before the fuzz descend on us?”

“Do you mind if we don’t?” Nibs looked regretful. “I’m hungry rather than horny.”

Wig was taken aback because his man was always horny, but he went into the kitchen and looked for something to make for lunch. He generally made breakfast and snacks to give Nibs a break from the kitchen. “Smoked salmon and cream cheese baguette?”

“Sounds good,” Nibs called. “I’m going to make a couple of phone calls.

“’Kay.” Wig put on a pot of coffee and made the baguettes. Despite the amount of coffee he’d already drunk, he felt he needed to be fully caffeinated to deal with the afternoon ahead.

Nibs came into the kitchen as he was pouring the coffee. “I spoke to Ben and Steve. They’re coming in tomorrow. They sound shell-shocked at what’s happened.”

Wig nodded. He couldn’t see the boys having anything to do with the Sawar’s. They liked working in the Lagoon, as had most of their staff. “Sit down and eat, babe.” He pushed the plate toward Nibs, who moaned in appreciation.

“You always look after me so well.”

“You deserve it.” Wig kissed Nibs and sat down next to him at the breakfast bar.

Getting time for a leisurely lunch together was a rare treat. It was a shame that the food felt like a solid mass stuck in his gullet. Wig forced himself to finish the food and sipped his coffee.

Despite his claim that he was hungry, Nibs seemed just as preoccupied, and he toyed with the salad on his plate. “We ought to go round to Sawar’s.”

Wig bit down on his lip. “I know, but not today.”

“But—”

He reached out to clasp Nibs’s hand. “You’re tired, I know I am, and we’ve got a busy afternoon ahead. Let’s do that when we’ve had a night’s sleep.”

Nibs looked unconvinced, but Wig stared at him until he nodded.

Wig let out a breath. He’d been expecting more of an argument, and the lack of fight in Nibs worried him.

The doorbell went promptly at two. Nibs pulled a face. “The insurance guys I guess.”

“Yep.”

Wig cleared away the plates while Nibs went to the door. This promised to be a fun afternoon. Not. While he put on another pot of coffee, Wig plastered a smile on his face and kept it there to greet the nice man.

The man from the insurance company was tall and hot, in a stuffy man-in-a-suit way. He was about Wig’s age with graying hair, sharp cheekbones, and a wedding ring. Wig took all this in while Nibs was shaking his hand.

“This is Mr. Dunlop,” Nibs said. “This is my partner, Wig.”

Dunlop looked at the form in his hand. “Mr. Tobias?”

Wig nodded. “Toby Tobias. Call me Wig. Would you like a drink?”

“A coffee, please. White with two sugars.” His voice was curiously high and his palms clammy.

Wig took an instant dislike to him. Nibs didn’t seem that impressed either, but he made the man welcome as they sat down.

Dunlop gave them a thin smile. “I gather you had a break-in.”

“Two break-ins,” Wig corrected.

Dunlop looked at his form again and then at them. “Why don’t you tell me what happened?”

“We had a break-in two nights ago when they smashed all the crockery.” Wig showed him pictures from his phone. “Last night they tried to set the place on fire, but our guests woke us up before they could get started.” He showed Dunlop the pictures of the petrol cans.

“And this has been reported to the police?”

Nibs nodded. “Yes. Sergeant Biggs has all the information.”

“It’s unusual to get break-ins two evenings running.” The doubt in Dunlop’s voice was obvious.

“I’ll get the coffee,” Wig said, because if he didn’t get out of the room at that moment he was going to explode.

He stood at the coffee machine and took a deep breath before he made the white and two for Dunlop. Damn, he was still so tired. Nibs was right. It was time for them to pack up and leave before they got seriously hurt.

In the lounge, Nibs was giving Dunlop a potted history of their relations with their neighbors.

“Do you have proof the Sawars were behind the break-ins?” Dunlop asked as he accepted the coffee.

“No. Thanks, babe.” Nibs accepted his mug with a tense smile.

“But the police are aware?”

“Yes. The two people staying with us are police officers, and one of them overheard Sawar threaten us.”

“What security do you have here?”

“None apart from the locks on the back door and the restaurant door. We’ve never needed it before. We have got a locksmith coming to change the locks.”

“You need to improve the security here.”

“No shit, Sherlock,” Wig muttered.

Dunlop’s lips twitched. “I know it sounds obvious, but a lot of people are resistant to spending money rather than considering it an investment in their business.”

“What are you thinking of?”

“An alarm is essential. Shutters on the windows, CCTV. You’ll need to improve the security before you’ll be able to renew the insurance next year.”

Nibs nodded. Wig closed his eyes and leaned back. What was the point? They were leaving anyway.

W
IG
AND
Nibs arrived at the pub just before seven thirty, Paul and Skandik following behind. They’d had a nap before they left. Wig burrowed into Nibs’s arms and refused to move until the last possible second before he had to get ready. Nibs still didn’t seem interested in having fun, but Wig was tired and didn’t care.