Chapter 9

I finished my early shift after dragging people around the hospital, drinking as much coffee as possible, skivving and chin wagging with the boys about the upcoming night out and how 'they were going to introduce me to the friendly nurses'.

I drove home and waited for Tony to turn up by updating my reports and notes for the boss. I was lying on the couch dozing when my phone beeped at me. I picked it up and smiled. Emily.

"Hi Naoms, sorry about earlier, my sisters hubby's been a dickhead again and I had to deal with her. I don't know how she does it but she combines being bitchy and weepy at the same time. My address is 27 St Michaels. Just give me a bell when you're outside and I'll run down, it's a flat you see. Can't wait to see you. Ems. Xx"

I smiled some more and pressed the reply button. My chicken shit genes appeared to be losing the battle against their brave relatives.

"Ems, hi. Yeah, no problem with earlier. I've not got a sister, but I've got mates who are like that. I'll give you a ring when I'm outside on Wednesday. Is it ok if I give you a ring before then to see if I can make you laugh? I know you get busy with your training, so don't want to disturb you. N X"

I dropped my phone to the floor and relaxed again, dozing in and out of day dreams involving me and Emily spending quality time together. I'd just got the point of Dream Naomi and Dream Emily about to kiss when the intercom buzzed.

Bastard. That'd be Tony then. I let him in and put the kettle on knowing he would demand his usual cuppa as soon as set foot in my pad. The kettle boiled just as there was a knock on the door. Yup, there was Tony. I opened the door and walked back to the kitchen to make his cuppa.

He followed me into the kitchen like a Labrador and not saying a word. I looked up at him quizzically. He had a really weird smirk on his face.

"Naomi's got a ddddddddaaaaaaatttteeeee" he started in a sing song voice. "Naomi and Emily up a tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g". I put his cup of tea on the counter in front of him and walked into the living room with a cup of coffee. I wasn't angry with him, but I wasn't about to let him see who amused I was by his antics. Daft twat he was.

I sat down as he almost danced into my living room; I looked at him and couldn't help smiling. "You finished then you fucker?"

He smiled. "Yeah, it's just nice to hear you're actually going to go out with a girl Nai. Been too long. Eff is not so secretly made up as I'm sure you're aware. Says you really like this girl yeah?"

"Yeah, she's nice mate, but come on, let's get the business stuff sorted out and then I'll let you take the piss out of me yeah?" Tony nodded and took a loud slurp of his tea waiting for me to continue. "The unit night out is next Friday, meeting at the Rat and Parrot in town at 8pm. I know I sent you a text with the details, but here you go" I handed him the flyer Jimmy had given me. "We'll need to get a wire set up on me, and I'll need some back up off you guys in person as well as the boys in the van recording all the stuff on that yeah? I don't know what he's going to do, sell or anything like that, or even if he will, but it's a start I guess".

I handed Tony a pen drive. That's all my reports up to date too, give that to the boss will ya?"

He nodded, "I've had another crack at the Crimestoppers women. All they'll tell us is that the informant is a young woman. I'll keep at them, if we could just find out WHY she's so certain he's a dealer". He put his cup down, reached into his rucksack and brought out a large amount of DVD's. "Here you go Nai, JJ's sorted you with the disks dickhead wanted, just to keep him sweet mind. They're the usual good quality. Wasted on a fucking tit like him." I smiled. "Now, about this Emily girl..."

I laughed. "Tone, she's this little firecracker. Red hair, big brown eyes, and this damn husky voice. And fuck me she smells nice. I'm taking her out on Wednesday next week. Your sister reckons cause she's a personal trainer she'll be well bendy."

He burst out laughing. "That's my sister all over. Can you believe she didn't talk for a year once? And she went off the rails when our folks split up. She was a right little weirdo. Mind you, I went a bit wild there for a bit. Can't shut her up now. She hen pecks that drip she's married to."

Tony's ambivalence towards Freddie was well documented. Don't get me wrong, Freddie wasn't a bad bloke, I mean, he couldn't afford to be with me and Tony around, but he just didn't seem to have any get up and go.

Tony stood up, stretched, yawned and smiled down at me. "Don't worry Nai, we'll get this wrapped up so you can dazzle this new girl of yours. Where you taking her?"

I stood up too as he made his way towards my front door. "I dunno, can't go the usual haunts as they know who I am. I was thinking of that nice pub down the way that overlooks the river. Not too dressy and we can get a good meal."

Tony looked at me. "You going to give her the usual about the job?"

I gave Tony my patented Naomi eye roll. "Yes Tony, fear not. I'm a civil servant working for Customs and Excise" Our usual cover story until people discovered who we really were and in my case ran screaming for the hills calling me a closed, cold lying bitch.

He smiled sadly at me, knowing my disastrous past with women. "Nai, it won't be long and you'll meet a girl you can trust. This girl may be the one, you never know." He enveloped me in a hug and I basked in his comfort and understanding for a few minutes. I nuzzled into his shoulder and sighed a little. "I understand you know" was spoken softly from above my head. He dropped a kiss onto the top of my head and stood back.

"I'll be in touch yeah? I need to get the warrants sorted for the wire and surveillance. At least we've got plenty of time to sort this out." He gently patted my cheek. "Let me know how it goes with Emily yeah? Run to the toilets and ring me if you need woman advice".

I laughed out loud. Tony was a great friend and really knew how to help me with my romantic insecurities. He was so similar to Effy it was scary. "Will do big man. I'll keep in touch yeah? Let the guv have those reports and thank JJ for doing those disks so quick for me"

Tony left and I closed my front door.

"Master! I have mail for you!" My phone alert let me know I had a new text message. I smiled as I walked to pick it up. Emily or Effy. Who was my money on, and who did I really want to talk too?

Emily. Oh yeah, my luck was in. Although I reckoned Tony would be on his phone to Effy before he'd left the car park, so I expected a call or text off her later. I lay down on the couch and opened the text.

"You are so lucky not having a sister. I love her to bits because she is my sister, but she drives me totally mad. And yes please to talking to each other. Don't worry, if I'm working, I'll let you know. I have to admit though, I'm enjoying the texting. It's oddly liberating. I bet you think I'm like, seriously mad now! Em Xx"

I laughed out loud. I really did understand what she meant and I really was enjoying texting her. It WAS liberating and a nice way to slowly get to know each other, although it was no substitute for hearing that sexy voice of hers.

I rattled off a quick reply.

"Hey Ems. Yeah, I do know what you mean. And it's not odd, and I certainly do not think you're mad. There is only one drawback to texting though; I don't get to hear your voice. You can ring me too you know, anytime, doesn't matter. Wednesday seems a long way away... N Xx"

I looked at it. My finger hovered over "send". Was it too much too soon to send what I thought was a rightly soppy text? My home phone rang and I stretched to pick it up.

"Whatcha doing?" I smiled. Effy. Told you Tony'd be on the phone nefore he'd left the car park didn't I?

"Hey Eff, I'm lying here wondering if I should send a text I've written or not". I read the last few texts out on her request.

"You big mushy lezza". I could hear her laughing. "There's nothing wrong with that text. Send it, see what she says. Trust me Naoms."

Fuck it. My traitorous right thumb hammered down on the "send" button and the slightly soppy text from the big mushy lezza headed out into the airwaves.