Tales from the Firehouse.
Authors ramble: Right then, this is an alt story set around most of the gang (obviously) in a different setting to anything I've seen on here (hopefully). Give it a go and send me some feedback.
Authors ramble 2: IMPORTANT I've tried to keep it real without being too technical. Sorry if it seems that way. As I've said previously firefighters see and experience injures and death regularly, so you are warned reading this...I will not give a 32 page warning if I'm about to do anything to any of the characters as I feel it spoils the story for the reader. If you've been keeping up, you'll have realised by now
Sadly, I've been to too many of the event that starts in this chapter. Oh and I fleshed out JJ's family a bit and gave him a sister. And a friend. Aren't I nice?
Little notes: Keffy does not exist in my world. (but Hyperfitched writes the most awesome Keffy if that's your gig)... and just a warning, going to funerals and seeing people die will make Naomi act a little quirky and possibly seem goofy and out of character.
Hold On Real Tight
Emily was allowed to sit with Naomi and the rest of the company in the front pew reserved for pallbearers. Tomone, Naomi, Cook and Freddie were four of the volunteers, while JJ's best friend and father took up the front positions. Emily sat between Naomi and Jones's friend, a beefy twenty-something kid with eyeglasses and a pencil-thin mustache. He continually lifted his glasses and blotted his eyes with a tissue. Cook, she noticed, had become the epitome of class. His evil grin, the playful gleam in his eye, everything that made him "Cookie Monster" was hidden behind a veil of reverence and dignity. Freddie had done the same. His gentle eyes showing genuine upset, those big hands flexing and unflexing rapidly.
As the service began, Emily reached over and took Naomi's hand. Naomi squeezed it, her hand like steel through her cotton gloves. The priest spoke of JJ's contributions, of his devotion for the church and the programs he ran with the kids. He revealed that JJ had approached him for a Junior Firefighter Program in the church which would teach primary school kids how to observe basic fire safety in their homes.
The friend sitting next to her stood when the priest motioned him forward. He walked onto the stage and took the podium from the priest. "Hi, I'm JJ's friend, Mike." He sniffled softly and he looked down at his hands for a moment before he started speaking. "Jay... man, he always wanted to be a fireman. Since we were kids and we were playing with matches, he was always the one who squirted us with the garden hose." He cleared his throat. "Sorry, Mrs Jones, by the way..."
The audience laughed softly.
"I heard that when he died, Jay was serving as the hose man. He was leading the way into that fire. It was fate that he happened to die on that assignment, but I know that he died proud. And I want to thank whoever gave him that opportunity."
Emily felt Naomi's hand tighten around her own and looked up and saw tears glistening at the corners of Naomi's eyes. Emily reached over with her other hand and touched Naomi's bicep. Naomi covered Emily's hand with her own and smiled weakly.
The friend finished his speech and joined them again on the pew.
The priest resumed his place and motioned to Chief Tomone.
Tomone stood, causing every firefighter in the room to turn and look at him in surprise, Thomas was never known for speeches. He straightened his jacket and stepped up on stage, his shiny-as-new shoes squeaking on the wooden floor as he took his place.
He cleared his throat and whispered a thank-you to the priest. He gripped the lectern with both gloved hands and flexed his fingers before he spoke. "I'm going to give the people who know me a few seconds to close their mouths..." A gentle laugh undulated across the gallery. "I'm Watch Commander Thomas Tomone. I was Jonah's boss for the few months he was on the ladder and the engine. Before he moved over to Blue Watch, I had a talk with him and asked him what he wanted to do. He said, 'Fight fires.' I asked him if he wanted to be a hero and he looked me in the eye and said, 'I want to be a firefighter, sir.'
"JJ wasn't a firefighter for very long, only a few months. But we shouldn't forget that he was a firefighter." He pursed his lips, flexed his fingers on the edge of the podium again and then shrugged. "That's it. That-that's all."
He turned, shoes squeaking, and stepped off the stage. After a few moments of silence, the priest returned to the lectern and said, "Thank you, Chief. If no one else would like to speak, Jonah's sister, Sarah, requested that she be allowed to sing a special song for her brother. Sarah?"
A lovely teenage girl with curly brunette hair stepped onto the stage, taking a microphone from the stand. She waited for the organist to begin a hymn and began singing something that Emily vaguely remembered from her days in the church. She couldn't quite recall the words, simply getting a flashback to sitting in a pew and squirming in her least-favorite gingham dress next to her sister, doodling on the bulletin and wondering how long it was until lunch.
She looked over at Naomi, who had her eyes closed and her lips pressed tightly together. Her jaw was working madly, her brow furrowed and her nostrils flaring. She squeezed Emily's hand, then released it and rose suddenly. She stayed low, ducking her head down and hurrying down the aisle until she exploded out the back doors of the sanctuary. A few people turned to mark her passage, but Sarah Jones showed no sign of disturbance.
When the song was finished, there was a polite smattering of applause. Emily stood, eased down the row and followed Naomi's escape route to the back of the church. She found Naomi in the foyer, hugging herself tightly and looking out the glass doors at the car park. "Are you okay?" she asked softly, rubbing her hand up and down the womans arm, ruffling the tailored sleeve.
Naomi turned and looked at her with red-rimmed eyes. "Sorry, it all got a bit much. I got pulled out of a fire when I was a kid. Our flat was on fire and they got my mum out. They went back and got me, saved my life. I thought the fireman was a monster at first. But he saved me. And then I saw him without his helmet and... he was just an ordinary man." She looked out the door again, her hands balled into fists. "When I was seventeen, he died. House fire. Ceiling collapsed. It was... years later, but I still couldn't shake the feeling that he died in exchange for me. He died so I could live. It's why I became a firefighter. To make up for his life. Now... JJ is dead for me, too."
"He didn't die because of you, Naomi. There's no way to know what will happen in fires or... hell, walking down the street. Would you have felt so guilty if that first fireman had died of a heart attack?"
"But he didn't. He died in a fire."
"That doesn't matter." Emily put her arms around Naomi and held her tightly. "You've made up for what that man did for you. You saved the lives of others. Fate is repaid."
The doors to the sanctuary opened and the priest stepped out. "Ms. Campbell? They're ready for the pallbearers now."
Emily turned her head until her lips were against Naomi's ear. "Will you be okay?"
"Yeah," Naomi whispered. She pecked Emily on the cheek and slipped from her arms. "Okay sir, I'm coming," she said to the priest. She let her hand trail down Emily's arm in an effort to stay in contact with her as long as possible. She turned at the sanctuary door and tossed Emily her keys. "You can wait in my car for me if you want... I'll be there in a few minutes."
Emily nodded and mouthed, "Okay" as Naomi ducked back into the sanctuary. The doors were pushed open a few moments later and held in place by two teenage ushers. Jones's fiancee, mother, and sister were the first ones out and Emily stepped aside to let them pass. They waited outside as the rest of the mourners filed out into the suddenly chilly afternoon. Finally, the pallbearers appeared.
She felt a surge of sadness and pride as she watched Naomi taking the right center section of the casket. The firefighters, resplendent in their dress uniforms, were a sharp contrast to the more casual suits of Jones's family members. Emily waited until they passed, then slipped out the side door and headed for Naomi's car.
The door was unlocked with a remote entry button and she climbed inside, turning to watch as Jones was loaded into the hearse. When she turned back, she spotted several CDs tucked between the driver's seat and the console. Looking over her shoulder to make sure Naomi wasn't coming, she pulled them out and catalogued Naomi's music choices. The Who, Rolling Stones, The Doors, Pink, nothing too surprising until... She gasped when she found Billy Joel's Greatest Hits. She giggled and turned the case over to read the track listing.
When the door opened and Naomi climbed in, Emily held up the CD. "Busted," she said.
Naomi looked at the case and took it from Emily, tucking it between the seats again. "An old girlfriend got that for me... I should toss it out or sell it online or something..."
"I wasn't making fun of you," Emily said. "I like Billy Joel. 'Piano Man' might be my favorite song."
Naomi held the wheel for a second and stared out the windshield. "Who is the real-estate novelist?"
"Paul. And he never had time for a wife."
Turning in her seat and leaning close, Naomi lowered her voice, "No one hears about this, especially not Freddie and Cook."
"Not from me," Emily assured her, stoking the pale cheek of her girlfriend.
"Okay," Naomi said, turning her head to press her lips to the young doctors palm. "If you swear." She took the disc from the case and fed it into the player. When she started the jeep, the harmonica signaled the intro to 'Piano Man.' Emily grinned and fastened her seatbelt.
They joined the procession behind Tomone's truck and directly in front of Freddie's 4x4. Emily turned in her seat, waving her fingers at Freddie. He leaned forward and pushed his nose up with his thumb, poking his tongue out at her. She laughed and said, "Freddie and Cook look unexpectedly... grown-up in their dress uniforms."
"Yeah, it has a maturing effect on us all," Naomi said with a smile. "Because every minute wearing them feels like an hour to us."
Emily reached over and stroked the sleeve of Naomi's jacket. "Still... you have to admit, it's very... appealing."
Naomi looked down at Emily's hand, looked at Emily, then looked back out at the road. She cleared her throat and said, "Mm-hmm."
"What are your plans for after the cemetery? You're off-duty, right?"
"Mm-hmm. Why, did you have something planned?"
"Not particularly," Emily said. She leaned back in the seat and shrugged. "I just... I don't want to leave you."
Naomi smiled. "Well, I'll see if I can think of something."
"Try your hardest," Emily said. "If I have to, I'll go to the firehouse and wash trucks with you."
Naomi laughed and reached over. She slid her hand between Emily's shoulder and the seat and rubbed Emily's back. "Thank you. I didn't think I would be laughing today."
They went the rest of the ride in silence, Naomi occasionally humming along with Billy Joel as he sang about Captain Jack's private island. When they pulled into the cemetery, Naomi reached down and silenced the piano man. They parked along a narrow gravel road, the doors of every car in the procession seeming to open on cue and a sea of grey and black suits and uniforms poured from the cars.
Emily walked around the back of the car, intercepting the woman everyone was calling Effy, and met Naomi on the other side. Naomi said she'd meet up with them soon, hurrying down the row with Freddie to unload the hearse. Effy and Emily walked together down the gentle slope towards the large green tent covering a freshly dug hole.
"I fucking hate funerals," Effy muttered.
Emily looked at her for a moment, trying to determine if it was an attempt at conversation or just a general observation. After a moment, she said, "Yeah, they're awful."
"I'm Effy Stonham, by the way."
"Emily Fitch."
"Fitch. That's an interesting name."
Emily smiled. "So is Effy."
The other woman smiled and then looked over her shoulder. Her smile faded quickly. Emily turned and saw the pallbearers were carrying the casket down a gravel walkway rather than heading downhill with it. They carried it past the mourners and carefully placed it upon a contraption meant to lower it into the ground. Emily's eye caught on the mother and fiancee, who were clinging to one another in the front row. When Naomi was again by her side, Emily wrapped an arm around her and put her head down on one sturdy shoulder. She felt Naomi's soft glove in her hair and closed her eyes.
The priest spoke again and Jones's sister stood. This time, she sang "Dream a Little Dream of Me." Naomi lowered her head and her lips were against Emily's ear. "Do you have a shift tonight?"
Emily shook her head, the intimacy of Naomi's whisper threatening to send her into convulsions. She felt Naomi's fingers tighten on her shoulder, just a slight gesture, there and gone. But Emily smiled and pressed her face against the wool of Naomi's jacket. It was so warm. Cozy, even. She wondered what it would be like to curl up naked in this jacket... she wondered if maybe she'd get a chance to find out soon. Then she silently berated herself for letting her feelings wash over her at a funeral.
The service ended and the priest thanked everyone for coming out. He led the group in prayer and then sent them away "with God." Jones's mother, a matronly woman with frizzy blonde hair, made her way over before the firefighters could escape. "You worked with Jonah?"
"Yes, ma'am, we did," Freddie replied.
She took each of their hands in turn, giving each one a shake before moving to the next one. "Jonah spoke of you all often. You treated him well."
"He was a good man, Mrs. Jones," Tomone said.
The corners of Cook's mouth twitched, but he contained himself before the woman saw it. She thanked them all again and then allowed her son's fiancée to lead her up towards the cars. Naomi asked, "What was the smile about, Cook?"
"Me-ee and Missus... Missus Jo-ones," Cook sang, finally releasing his smile.
Naomi rolled her eyes. "Better off not knowing."
They headed up the hill and Freddie put an arm around Cook. Together, they half-whispered, half-sang, "Got a thaaang going on..." Emily grinned; Cookie was back.
Ignoring the men, Naomi put her hand in the small of Emily's back and said, "I'm going to go to the firehouse and change, then we'll go to your apartment so you can change into something more comfortable."
"Where are we going?"
"Somewhere without a dress code," Naomi said. "I'm not specific on all the details yet, but I know that much."
x-0-x
Naomi and Effy changed on one of the sheet while the guys were changing a few feet away on the opposite side. Freddie said, "We shoulda put the ladies next to a window. Then we'd get them sexy silhouettes on the sheet. Hindsight and all that."
"I'm sorry, Freddie," Effy said. "Did you say hindsight or harassment?"
Naomi had a hoodie and jeans in her locker and changed into them in record time. Carrying her Converse in her hand, she wrapped the tie from her dress uniform around her eyes and crossed the barrier between boys-side and girls-side. "Don't worry, guys, no peeking... the blindfold is as much for me as it is for you."
When she'd made it clear of the locker area, she pulled off the tie and stuffed it into her pocket and shoved her feet in her trainers. Holt was crossing the apparatus bay, puffing on a cigar and apparently heading for the front of the garage. "Hey, Holt!" she called, waving politely at him. He turned and frowned at her. "Did you go to the funeral?"
"Nuh-uh," he said.
"How's the gym?"
"Eh."
"Well, nice talking to you."
He nodded and lifted his cigar in a salute before he turned around again. She went into the kitchen where Emily was waiting and touched the brunette on the shoulder. "Ready?" she asked.
"Mm-hmm," Emily said.
They said good-bye to the other firefighters they passed, Naomi promising she'd catch them the next time they headed to the pub. When they were safely in the Nissan, Emily asked, "So... you change with all the guys, huh?"
"Yeah. There's a sheet between us, though. The guys are gentlemen, despite the facade Freddie and Cook put on."
"I'll take your word for it," Emily smiled. "So, any thoughts on where you're taking me?"
"Somewhere away," Naomi said.
"Good," Emily nodded and settled into her seat. "Away is good."
x-0-x
While Emily changed clothes, Naomi sat on her couch and thumbed through the books on the coffee table. A paperback novel called Avalanche, a hardback Stephen King alongside a thick novel by Amy Tan and a leather-bound copy of Oliver Twist. Eclectic taste, Naomi thought. Sort of like the kind of woman who reads classic literature and dates a firefighter. She looked around the apartment, bathed in the sun thanks to the skylight. It was gorgeous, impeccably clean... the sort of place people like Naomi Campbell only saw during a fire.
The bedroom door opened and, a few seconds later, Emily appeared. She was wearing a green jumper that hugged her torso, her hair down and her legs hidden by tight fitting jeans. "What do you think?"
"It doesn't show enough leg," Naomi said. "Otherwise, it's perfect."
Emily grinned and said, "Well, then. Shall we go?"
"We shall," Naomi said.
x-0-x
Naomi got into the Nissan and revealed she was just going to drive until something pointed her in the right direction. Emily agreed that it sounded like a nice adventure and off they went. Billy Joel serenaded them until Naomi had to change the CD, telling Emily to pick anything that struck her fancy. "If you like Billy Joel," she reasoned, "nothing in my collection should horrify you too badly."
They finally settled on a Leonard Cohen compilation. "Any preferences?" Naomi asked with her finger over the 'track advance' button.
"I like all of his songs."
Naomi nodded and skipped ahead to "Hallelujah." She conceded there were versions of the song that were on par with the original, but no one could beat his version of the chorus. Emily agreed, humming along and idly watching the scenery whip past the window.
After an hour of driving, the sun was getting low in the sky. Emily suggested finding a campground nearby, getting some take-out and just having a picnic under the stars. Naomi agreed and had started searching for a suitable spot to pull off when she saw something just off the road that make her laugh.
"What is it?" Emily asked.
Naomi pointed at the wooden sign by the side of the road as they sped by.
Emily leaned forward and smiled when she read the announcement. "Oh, this is too perfect," she said. "A winter fair. There's an honest-to-God winter fair about a mile up the road." She smiled. "I haven't been to one in ages!"
"In that case," Naomi said. She reached over the console to take Emily's hand, "I think we've found out where we're going for our... um... second date?"
"I think this would be the... fourth."
"We'll well on our way to a real relationship."
Emily smiled.
x-0-x
According to the flyers, the stands along Crosby beach and promenade were set to close at nine. The fair was set up on the promenade, just off the beach. The metal fence between the prom and the sand had been lined with Christmas lights, making the entire area look like the world's most cluttered landing strip. Naomi and Emily wandered hand-in-hand through the displays, the stall holders offering them 'end-of-the-night' specials and promising they wouldn't leave without a 'stuffed bear as big as their heads.'
Naomi declined all of the games of chance, telling Emily she was saving all her money for snacks. About halfway down the midway, Naomi gasped and said, "This is what I was saving my cash for. Feel like a pancake?"
"I... I haven't had them for years."
Naomi gasped and said, "Okay, we're getting you one. You obviously led a very sheltered life not eating them enough and, as your girlfriend, I'm obliged to make amends." They stood in line and Naomi ordered two plates. She turned to Emily and presented a paper plate covered by pancake with whipped cream and chocoate sauce. The entire thing was a mass of sugar.
They walked together off the prom and found a nicely secluded spot on the sand to sit and enjoy their snack. As Naomi settled the plate on her thighs, Emily said, "You called me your girlfriend."
"Did I?" Naomi asked. She honestly hadn't noticed when she had said it, but she wasn't surprised it had slipped out.
Emily nodded and said, "Am I?"
Naomi leaned in and kissed Emily's lips gently. "Yes. Now... prepare yourself for a treat! I reintroduce to you... pancakes." She tore part of the pancake heaped in cream and sauce off and held it between two pinched fingers. "Open wide."
Emily did as requested and Naomi rested the treat on her outstretched tongue. She chewed it carefully, swallowed and took a swig of her drink. "Well?" Naomi asked.
Instead of answering, Emily moved onto her knees and leaned forward. She cupped Naomi's cheeks and leaned in to kiss her. Naomi picked up the plate and moved it to one side. Emily settled on Naomi's lap and ran her fingers through Naomi's short hair. After a few seconds, hoots and whistles began to rise from their impromtu audience, both women parted blushing.
Very aware of the audience they now had, Naomi picked up the plate and guided Emily back to the promenade. "I haven't had this much fun at a fair since I was a kid," Naomi laughed. "And I haven't been kissed at a fair since I was sixteen."
"So that kiss wasn't fun?"
"The kiss was okay," Naomi said waggling her eyebrows. "But what happened after the fair was even more fun."
Emily laughed and pressed against Naomi's side. As they headed down the boardwalk, Naomi spotted a stand selling balloons. It was about to close for the night, so Naomi hurried over. "One green balloon?" she asked.
The man peeled a green one away and said, "On the house. My last customer of the night."
She took it and stuffed a £5 note into the tip jar he still had set up. "My last purchase of the evening."
He laughed and tipped his hat to her - he actually tipped his hat; she could barely contain her laughter - and went back to Emily. She stood close, reaching around and gathering the red hair in one hand while holding the balloon with the other. "What are you-" Emily asked, trying to look above her head.
"Shh," Naomi admonished as she tied Emily's hair into a ponytail using the string, using her height to her advantage and bending down to pepper light kisses along the red heads exposed elegant neck and jaw.
Emily pressed her face against Naomi's sweater and smiled as she hummed with contentment at Naomi's playful and goofy behaviour. Wrapping both arms around the tall blondes waist as they stood in happy contentment she asked, "What if I float away?"
"I'll just have to hold onto you extra-tight," Naomi whispered into the top of Emily's head.
"Okay," Emily breathed.
They held each other for a few moments before the flow of the crowd forced them to move on. The street lights remained on, but one by one the fair's lights turned dark. Booths stood empty, abandoned for the night with curtains pulled down over their fronts. Signs proclaimed bargains that were no longer available and knick-knacks that were no longer on the market.
When they got back to the Nissan, Emily ducked her head and used her hand to guide the balloon into the car so she wouldn't accidentally pop it or get it caught in the door. They sat in the darkness for a while, watching as sweepers moved out and started to clean up after the day. "Erasing the day," Emily said softly.
"Yeah," Naomi said.
Emily looked over at Naomi in the darkness of the car. "What was the name of the fireman who saved you when you were a kid?"
"Michael Graham," Naomi said without hesitation.
"Do you feel fate is still trying to get you?"
"Mm-hmm."
Emily reached over and took Naomi's hand. "Then do you mind if I hold on real tight, too?"
Naomi smiled. "I think it would make all the difference."
x-0-x
Emily's apartment building seemed almost closed for the night. From the outside, a few windows were alight, but the lobby issued forth only a dim glow. Emily opened her eyes long enough to key in her code at the front door, getting them past the intercom system. Naomi escorted Emily up to her apartment, practically carrying the exhausted doctor into the elevator. During the trip home, Emily had grown progressively quieter and her head had dipped towards her chest a few times. Now, she was just barely conscious, her eyes shut, her weight resting against Naomi like a drunk being escorted from a bar.
At Emily's door, Naomi smiled and kissed her cheek. "Hey," she whispered. "You're home. I need your key to get in."
Emily's eyelids fluttered and she glanced towards the door, groaning and standing up. "Right." She fumbled around in her pockets for a moment, finally producing a key and opening the door. As she stumbled inside, she stepped out of her shoes and flipped on a light switch. Three lamps in the living room immediately came on. "Do you want something to drink?" she asked, heading into the kitchen. "I have wine, coffee... some orange juice."
"I should probably get going... it's kind of late."
"Are you sure?" Emilys eyes were tired but focused intently on Naomi.
They looked at each other for a moment and then Naomi reluctantly nodded, breaking the tension. "Yeah. Probably should."
"Well... okay..."
Naomi kicked herself. Emily sounded so damn rejected. She walked into the kitchen. "I had a really great time today. I... never would have imagined it waking up this morning, but... you really made today good." She tucked a strand of hair behind Emily's ear, smiling as she played with the balloon ribbon, before caressing the soft skin of her girlfriends neck. "You look good with your hair up."
Emily pressed her forehead against Naomi's shoulder and whispered, "I really wish you'd stay."
"I know," Naomi half-breathed, half-sighed.
"So stay. I won't regret it in the morning."
"I-I don't think we should."
"Are you scared of me?"
Naomi closed her eyes and kissed Emily's temple. "Yeah."
"I'm just a woman," Emily said. "I want to hold you. I want to be with you." She kissed Naomi's neck just below her ear and felt the taller woman tremble. "But I'll wait for you."
Naomi stepped back and kissed Emily's lips, moving her hand from the small of Emily's back to the curve of her backside, cupping it through her trousers. Emily's lips parted and the kiss deepened, Naomi moaning helplessly as her tongue moved into the warmth of the other woman's mouth. Speaking against the kiss, Naomi said, "I should go."
"Then go soon," Emily begged.
Naomi broke the kiss and touched Emily's hair again, taking a moment to release the balloon string. She handed the balloon to Emily and said, "Good night."
"I want to cook for you like I promised."
Naomi smiled "I'm off tomorrow night?"
Emily nodded. "Good night, Naomi."
Naomi wanted to go back to her, kiss her again just for good measure. But she resisted. She held herself back, knowing she wouldn't be able to stop. She opened the door and stepped into the hallway, shutting the door behind herself before she did something she would regret.
Alone in the apartment, Emily smiled and whispered, "Suddenly, the night has grown colder." She snickered and tied the balloon string around the back of a chair. She ran her finger down its length, making the head rise and fall like a fishing bob. Sighing, her body electrified from the parting kiss, she headed down the hall to take a long soak in a bubble bath.
x-0-x
They hadn't spotted her after the funeral, nor had there been any sign they realized they were being tailed during their insanely long road trip. She couldn't decide if they had a specific destination in mind or if they were just driving aimlessly around. When they stopped at the fair, she climbed out and wandered the same area a few paces behind them, always close but almost never within earshot and always losing herself in the crowd if they looked around. They bought a snack and sat on the sand, feeding each other.
She turned away during their putrid display of affection, nauseated, waiting until she saw them move apart from the corner of her eye.
Tracking them back to Liverpool wasn't hard; by that time, they were practically the only other car on the road. They stopped inside an expensive looking apartment complex and Campbell practically carried the redhead inside one building. She groaned, expecting to not see them again until morning. The neighbourhood was quiet, the cars on the street speaking to the level of money secured behind these walls. It was top class, which meant security systems so she had to watch from outside the gates.
She waited a few minutes, watching the face of the building until she spotted a window light up on the top floor. She planned to stay until the light went out and head home. Or at least somewhere she could stop thinking about what they were doing.
To her surprise, Campbell came out of the building alone a few minutes later. She waited until she exited the high security gates and trailed her at a safe distance until she parked in front of an old building in a rougher part of town. She parked in an alley and sat in silence, paying attention to the door Campbell entered.
A few minutes later, a light came on in the corner window pinpointing her location. She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel until the light went out again. She gave her some time, just in case she planned on leaving again, but after half an hour she slipped out of her car. This neighborhood wouldn't bat an eye at the sight of someone getting into a car they didn't have the keys to.
She hurried across the street and worked the lock. She'd picked up the skill at a 'camp' that was supposed to have repressed her criminal activities. Even before her teens, she'd been a holy terror, an utter nightmare. She snickered at the thought, knowing that the 'camp' had been the origin of her more horrendous acts. It was there she learned how to set a good fire, there that she had learned how easy it was to pick someone's pocket and pick locks.
The lock was pathetic. She was in the car before anyone happened by and spotted her. She went through the glove compartment, looked at her CDs - she resisted the urge to break the Billy Joel disc in half - and searched for something good. The bad part about the neighbourhood was that Campbell was smart enough not to leave anything expensive in the car overnight.
Then, she found it, tucked between the side of the seat and the hand break. A mobile phone. It must have fallen out of her pocket. Dumb bitch.
She picked it up and flipped open the front. She hadn't even put a lock code on it. She snickered at how stupid the firewoman was. The screen saver was a fire department symbol. She fiddled with the keys until she found the phone book. A smile spread across her face as she read the names and numbers of people near and dear to Naomi Campbell's heart. She closed the phone book and went to 'recently received calls.'
"Fitch, Emily" was at the top of the list. She closed the phone and tucked it into her coat pocket as she got out of the car. A kid in low-riding jeans hoodie and a beanie sidled by on the sidewalk, eyeing the jeep. They locked eyes and she slammed the door. "Keep walking, kid. Fuck off."
The boy held up his hands in acquiescence and kept walking.
She patted the side of the jeep before returning to her own car. The kid had his pick of people to rip off; Campbell was her designated victim. Hers alone.