Three days later…
"What is this?"
Nick stood before his desk and stared. Sergeant Wu ambled over, leaned forward to examine the offending object on the table, and finally solemnly said, "It looks like flowers to me. Roses, to be exact."
"Thanks."
Wu clapped him on the shoulder and cheerfully said, "Anytime, man."
Nick snorted and investigated the unexpected roses closer. A little card was tucked into the bouquet. It simply read "A token of affection from a secret admirer" and a little heart was drawn under the sentence. A slight frown found its way onto Nick's face. A secret admirer? What the hell? He couldn't think of anyone who would send him flowers. Surely this was a stupid joke. Nick turned back to the others and asked, "Has anyone seen who brought them?"
Hank, who was grinning broadly, said, "They were delivered. But what's more important: what's on the card?"
Nick reluctantly showed him the pink slip of paper. Hank's grin got even wider. "A secret admirer? Oh, that's too good.
"Very funny, Hank", replied Nick and he snatched the card back. "If I find out that someone of you sent me these flowers, there will be hell to pay."
Hank was now outright laughing at him and Nick had another retort already on his tongue when they got called out to another crime scene. Nick hastily deposited the card on his desk and hurried after Hank out of the precinct.
The next morning another bouquet made of sunflowers was waiting for Nick. There was again a little card attached to the flowers and again the "secret admirer" was responsible for the floral greetings. For a second Nick thought that maybe Juliette had sent the flowers, but he discarded this idea almost as fast as it had arisen. Sunflowers had been her favorite, but she didn't have any reason to send them to him. Their split had been mostly amiable, but they both kept their distance. It was a little bit easier this way. Nick suppressed a sigh and forcefully quashed this train of thought. In this direction only heartbreak awaited him. And there were more pressing matters to contend with. Nick probably should try to find out who was behind this flower-nonsense, but he had more important things to do. He shoved the flowers to the side of his desk and concentrated on his work. He would throw them away later.
The next morning Nick hurled a bouquet of orchids into his wastebasket. The sickly-sweet smell of the flowers was giving him a headache and today he was in no mood for this shit.
"What are you doing? Those flowers are gorgeous!"
Nick glowered at the protesting Hank, ripped the orchids out of the basket, and threw them onto his partner's desk. "Here! You take them."
"Temper, temper…"
Hank was laughing at him and Nick's scowl deepened. This secret admirer-business wasn't funny anymore. And he had the suspicion that at least Hank knew who had sent the flowers.
"You know what? Tell this jokester that everybody had his laugh and he can stop now."
"Man, I don't know who sent the orchids. I think it's nice. Flattering."
Nick wanted to wipe Hank's grin off his face, but a summons from Renard prevented him from further measures.
The next morning no flowers were in sight. Nick sighed in relief. He placed his coffee on his desk and booted up his computer. Reams and reams of paperwork were waiting for him today. He sorted through the various files when he saw a small, leather-bound book peeking out under them. Nick felt trepidation when he opened the book. It was love poetry. Nick was by no means an expert, but the little he read while thumbing through the pages seemed extremely kitschy. And on the front page was another inscription from the secret admirer: "True love is waiting for you".
Nick closed the book and wearily rubbed his eyes. At least there were no more flowers.
Thankfully Nick's weekend had been wholly unremarkable. No flowers, no love poetry. And when he arrived for work on Monday nothing untoward was in sight. Maybe his warning to Hank had dissuaded the prankster.
The next morning he still found nothing strange on his desk and Nick allowed himself to relax. Apparently the stupid joke had run its course.
TBC.