Chapter 16
"Right boys. You exit first and I'll follow in 15 mins. I'll see you there." It was time to go to work.
I waited 15 minutes for the boys to leave and left myself. The lads would have the chance to get into the pub first and find a good place to watch the doors, unless the target was already there. They'd sit within a decent distance then. Tony was effortless at this when he wanted to be. The good looks he shared with his sister and his easy going charm helped him in any setting, and helped him ease poor JJ into any setting. He'd made it his life's ambition to get J a decent woman.
I enjoyed the walk up to town from my flat. The evening wasn't too cold and it helped me keep my head in the right place for tonight. I checked my watch, 7.20pm. Nice. Not too early and not too late. I walked up to the Rat and Parrot and approached the inconspicuous white Transit van parked a small way away. I banged twice on the side as I went walked past and smiled as I heard the swearing inside.
'Just making sure you're alive and kicking boys' I muttered into my wire. I took a deep breath and pulled open the door to the pub.
God I hated these types of places. All poncey fake brass and wood, alcopops on special offer to encourage the binge drinking and loud shit music so you couldn't talk. Fucking hell, I sounded like an old person. I stood and scoped the place for a moment, looking for either Andy or Pete. I wasn't looking for my boys. I wouldn't look for them. I knew they were there, and I knew they'd come and help me if needed.
I spotted Andy's tall figure and caught his attention. I waved and gestured to the bar making the universal sign of "do you want a pint?" with my hand. I got a thumbs up and 2 fingers. Assuming that was a request for two pints and not him telling me to fuck off I made my way to the bar and found myself between a rock and a hard place, seriously. I looked to my left and there was Jimmy with his tongue down the throat of some woman who looked as rough as a badgers arse. I assumed she was his wife. I caught the eye of the barman, ordered 2 pints of lager and a diet coke and then looked to my right. Barbara the nurse was standing there smiling at me. See? Rock and a hard place.
"So, are you going to buy me a drink then Naomi?" She smiled at me and I felt like shit. She seemed like a nice lady, but totally not my type even if I wasn't seeing Emily. Fuck me that sounded so right. I said it again in my head to check. Seeing Emily. Yup, there came the ridiculous grin.
A hand on my arm brought me back to my senses. I looked at Barbara and raised an eyebrow.
"That's a nice smile, thinking about anyone in particular?" I looked at her and decided the truth was the best option.
"Yeah, my girlfriend. I was wondering what she was up to tonight with her best mate." I looked at her crestfallen face. "I'm sorry; Pete didn't know I was seeing someone when presumably he told you about me. It's all new and shiny, hence my stupid smile. Let me get you that drink and maybe we can be friends?"
Amazingly she said yes and I ordered her a drink. Whoah. Eff'd be stunned by my maturity. I let her down gently, extracted myself from a dodgy situation and played nice all in a mature way with no scowling. I grabbed my drinks and turned around. Jim had his tongue down a different woman's throat and his hand up her skirt. I heard him saying "they all come to the Cookie-Monster" as I left to find my porter mates. I caught Tony's eye as I walked past him, he just shrugged slightly. I ignored him and handed Pete and Andy their drinks. They looked at my diet coke with disgust.
"What the fucks that?"
"It's diet coke Andrew, it's called a drink." I smiled at him. "Sadly lads, I'm on the boring shit. Got some sort of tooth abscess thingy, the dentist shoved me on tablets and I can't drink"
They both winced at me in sympathy and Pete slapped me on the shoulder.
"Never mind studly, we get to sit and watch the Cookie show" Andy pointed at Jimmy, who was by now practically fucking that woman at the bar. As we watched (god I felt dirty) the barman broke them up and said something to Jim. He nodded and headed out of a back door, dragging the girl with him. Like a shadow, Tony followed through the door at a discreet distance.
"Fucking hell he's a horney twat tonight. Worse than usual" I looked at Pete.
"That's not his wife? Or the other one?" Pete shook his head no.
"They must have had a row or something, he normally only shags everything in sight when they've rowed. Otherwise it's just one or two maybe. Depends on any stimulation he might have taken if you know what I mean." He shrugged.
I decided to be blunt and ask out right. "Coke? Not the type I've got?" I jiggled my glass at Pete. He just smiled at me and gave a little shrug. I looked back towards the door and saw Tony exit and ghost his way back towards where I assumed JJ was sitting.
Jimmy came roaring back in and jumped on Andy.
"Naomi! You came!" He grabbed me in some sort of manly hug. "Come on! Lets party and not in this shit hole. Cookie monster's done the decent totty in here, time to move folks." He bounced off. Yup, coke alright, or maybe a speed bomb. I looked at Andy and Pete and shrugged. Time to move indeed. Hands in pockets I strolled out of the pub and followed the Jimmy along with the other workies who had come out for a night of 'fun'.
The next pubs were exactly the same. We'd go in, have a couple of drinks. Jimmy would kiss some random women and shag a few more. Poor JJ and Tony kept having to tail him when he disappeared. I think JJ looked like he wanted to die after one incident. God knows what the fuck he'd taken or was doing to some woman. The thing was, I'd not seen him deal or take anything, and I was pretty sure the boys hadn't either. He avoided me too, wouldn't talk to me. Fucking hell, this was going to be a bust of some sort, I just knew it.
I found myself in a local club called The Razz with the few of us who'd remained. Even Barbara had given up and gone home or somewhere else. I didn't blame her, the club was rank. I'd been in it a few years ago, but it was a fucking health hazard now. You know the type of place, sweat and mould on the walls and 3 for 2 offers on the cheap nasty booze. Jimmy was up against a wall with some new conquest and I needed air. I saw JJ at the bar and walked past him to a small outside area. I walked a little closer to him than I needed.
"I need some air mate, keep an eye on that thing over there will you, I'll only be 5 minutes."
I kept walking and made the safety of the outside area. God it was fucking stifling in there. Too many bodies in too small a space creates all sorts of new and interesting smells. They sweat was pissing off me and I'd not even been drinking.
I pulled my mobile out and saw I had a new message. I leaned against a wall and opened it.
"Ok, so it's a little late and I'm a little squiffy from too much wine. Me and Panda have been talking and she's decided you're lovely and I'm lucky, and she's all loved up herself, so she'd know. Hope your ears aren't burning too much babe. Can't wait for Sunday, miss you. Ems XXXXXX"
Oh boy a drunk Emily. I bet you that was a cute sight to behold. I was just replying to her when Jimmy walked past me with a couple of party goers in tow. Fuck was he going to deal? He fucking was, result, I was sure of it. They were huddled in the corner away from me. I saw Tony poke his head out and managed to let him see I was paying attention. He shook his head, an alarmed look on his face. What the fuck?
All hell broke loose at that moment. No other words can describe it. All I could hear was screaming and loud voices shouting.
"ENFORCEMENT RAID, EVERYONE STAY WHERE YOU ARE" People were running around in front of me and briefly I lost sight of Jim. Did he drop a bag over the side of the building? Twatting hell. I couldn't be sure. Tony had hold of me, taking advantage of the pissed and panicking crowd.
"Get the fuck out Naoms, you cannot be seen in here with a wire and your badge on you if we all get searched, it'll blow your cover. We'll sort it tomorrow, fucking run for the fire exit".
I looked around and saw the fire exit stairs at the back of the building. Wild look in my eyes I legged it for the stairs, running past Jimmy and headed for the exit as quick as I could. Running past two people I assumed were guarding the back entrance I saw the works van, ran over and climbed in to safety, away from prying eyes.
Fucking hell. What the hell just happened?