Chapter 18

"Well, chaps. It was a fuck up, and not on our part." Derek threw half a tree of paperwork on the table. "Those fucking knobs down in the tobacco department raided the place and didn't bother to communicate with anyone else. Words have been said between me and their so called department head."

Saturday morning and we're sat around the conference table in my works department after an eventful end to a shitty bust of a night. I'm pissed off to say the least, some stupid Herbert 'forgot' to tell other departments they were raiding a busy club for illegally trading in cigarettes brought in from abroad. I'd had to fucking run for it. Although, as I told my guv, I reckoned I could use it to my advantage. Jimmy saw me legging it from a police raid, surely that had to be good for something, besides my fitness levels. He'd actually sent me a text asking me if everyhitng was ok and did I get caught. No mention what over. I'd replied I didn't want to get caught there and left it at that. I wasn't lying either. As Tony'd said, I couldn't get caught wearing a wire. Hopefully, he might bite and something positive would come out of the fuck up.

"Aye Naomi. The thing is, the top brass are thinking of pulling the plug on this. I've persuaded them otherwise, but we're going to have to look for a result in the next 2 weeks. Did he even deal at all?"

I shrugged. "I'm sure he was going to, did our boys find any drugs dropped over the side of the wall? I'm sure I saw him drop a bag. Fucker avoided me all night. Maybe I misjudged him and he's cannier than I thought."

Tony grabbed his notebook and flipped a few pages over. "A bag of class A and class B was found, but it was damp when it found, so no prints. It was a decent amount, couple of crack bombs in there too. If it WAS his, we could have had a raid on his. Problem being it was chaos out there. It was all I could do to get rid of you before those wankers came in. Fucking frisked me and J too, didn't they mate? " JJ nodded his head and sat there, looking miserable. "Took pleasure in it too, cunts".

Derek dismissed us and told me to try and get something, ANYTHING out of Jimmy. I knew I had to try, but there was only so much I could do. Surveillance on Jimmy's house was agreed to be stepped up round the clock in any attempt to secure some evidence. Derek dismissed us and I strolled out towards the exit with Tony. I checked my phone for any messages off Ems. I'd replied to her last night; well, technically this morning telling her my ears were burning like hell last night, did she know why and the night out was shite. No reply, but I knew she was working this morning, so I'd catch her later.

"What you up to now Naoms?" Tonys voice brought me out of my thoughts of sexy personal trainers.

"Going your sisters mate, she's taking me food shopping and my car fucking died this morning. Temperamental piece of shit."

Tony nodded at me, told me to buy a new car, 'something big and butch' and said he'd drop me off at Effy's. Bless him. We had a quick chat on the way about the case. I didn't think I'd get anything else out of the knobhead. The only way forward was to stake his house out. And that was a shot in the dark. The thing was, the Crimestoppers girl had been so insistent that he was up to no good. How the hell could she be so sure? And who the fuck was she? If we could just get hold of her for a chat. We stopped outside Eff's and Tony told me to tell Eff he'd call her later. With a quick beep of the horn he drove off and I knocked on Effs door.

So, here I am with Eff at Tesco's taking the piss out of everyone we could find. What can I say; we were still a pair of hormonal kids at heart. I'd shocked the hell out of her by actually having a list written down on my phone. Hey, what can I say? I actually wanted to get food that wasn't mouldy and maybe if I could persuade Emily to hang around my apartment she'd be a little more impressed if I actually had food in date and edible.

Walking out into the sunshine to Effs car I caught a flash of sunlight on red. Fuck. I was seeing Emily everywhere. Nosey and observant copper that I am, I took a second look. Fucking hell, it WAS Em's. I deafened Eff by hollering her name and saw the red head turn my way.

The most beautiful smile spread over her face, possible matched by the one on mine. She jogged over to me and literally jumped into my arms. I wrapped her up in a hug and peppered little kisses over face and neck, humming with happiness. God, it was so right to hold her.

She grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me down for a proper greeting. Her lips were soft and she tasted of strawberry lip gloss as she kissed me senseless. I'd just managed to slip my hand under her top when I heard Effy cough and a loud voice shout

"BONKERS!"

We came up for air, breathing heavy, foreheads touching. She had her eyes closed and a gentle smile graced her lips. I kissed her eyelids and mumbled a greeting to her.

"Fancy meeting you here" She laughed at me and opened her mouth to talk when she was interrupted.

"So, I'm guessing this must be Naomi Ems. Cause wow, you can see the sparks flying off the pair of you and that was such a lush kiss. I love it when Thomas kisses me like that, it makes me feel so good my toes curl and you look so good together."

I looked at Emily and raised an eyebrow. She smiled and turned around in my arms so that I ended up resting my chin on her shoulder.

"Yes Panda, this is Naomi" I could hear the fond tone in Emily's voice for this blonde chatterbox. I smiled at her; she was much prettier in the flesh, and stuck my hand out for her to shake. She ignored my hand and swooped in for a hug, creating an Emily sandwich.

She was just about to launch into another breathless speech, when I realised I'd better introduce Effy. I picked Emily up causing her to squeak and spun us around to where Effy was leaning against her car, giving me that enigmatic smile she had.

"Effs, Ems, Ems, Effs" I considered the introductions done. Effy pushed herself away from the car and came over to us.

"Well, I WAS hoping it was Emily, all that smooching in public. I can only thank you for turning this idiot into a mush ball the past couple of weeks". She surprised both Emily and me by giving her a peck on the cheek. I nuzzled into Emilys neck.

"So, should my ears still be burning then babes?" I muttered. Emily laughed and escaped my grasp.

"There's the slight chance I spoke about you last night a little"

"More like all night" chirped Panda, I smiled at the girl, she really did have the most innocent looking face. "Honestly, she's bonkers about you Naomi, and its blimming brill" I looked at Emily and she was as red as her hair. I thought about teasing her, thought better of it and let her off. Effy was just stood there smiling, eyes flicking between Pandora, Emily and me, absorbing it all in. I leaned in and kissed her lips gently.

"Babe, I'm bonkers about you too, but we've got to dash, Effys running me around cause my car died a fucking death, I'll have to get a new one. I'll text you later yeah?" She ran her hand down my arm, linking our fingers, leaving goosebumps in her hands wake.

"'Kay. Panda and I are on our way to dads' gym for some classes anyway. Call me later and I'll see you tomorrow.

We parted ways with a gentle kiss and not without a few lingering glances back at each other. Pandora I decided, I was going to rename Tigger. She'd bounced over and gave me another huge hug. I sat in the car avoiding Effys gaze. We drove to my flat in relative silence.

"You two look so good together you know. That Panda person was right. The sparks fly off you." She went quiet again and I glanced across at her.

"And?"

"And I think you should try and hang on to anyone who makes you forget you're in a Tesco car park by kissing you as if it's the last time you'll ever see each other. You didn't do her justice tiger. She's gorgeous." She pulled into my car park and parked up.

"She scares me Eff." I sat back, looking at my best mate. "All I can think about is her. We've not even slept together yet. And what if I do that wrong."

Effy looked at me, sympathy in her eyes. She reached across and gently ran her fingers through my hair, scratching my scalp as she went.

"Shut the fuck up Naomi, you're talking utter shite now. That girl is head over heels for you, just like you are for her. It's just neither of you will admit it yet, it's not the right time. But it will be soon." She sat back. "Go with the flow girl. And buy yourself a new car. Something black and butch would suit you I think". She smiled. "Now go on, piss off."

I kissed her cheek and thanked her and made my way into the flat with my shopping.

I spent the rest of my evening working out to relieve my, well, let's be honest here, sexual frustrations. I stood in the world's coldest shower after going for a run and deliberated relieving my tension myself. I couldn't do it. Well, not that I COULDN'T do it, just I wanted to wait and break my drought with Emily in person rather than a substitute ghost lover. Towelling off, I wasted some time browsing car makers online. Black and butch, big and butch. Hmmmm. Well it's not as if I couldn't afford it I guess. I decided to go car shopping tomorrow morning before Emily arrived.

Strolling into my bedroom before getting into bed, I grabbed my phone and looked at the inbox, sure enough the red LED was blinking and I had a text from Emily. Must have missed it earlier. I opened it.

"Why can't I keep my hands off you Naomi? :-) Panda would so not shut up about you, me, us. Whoah, thats freaky. Us. I like it. You're becoming very important to me very quickly. Effy's very pretty and nice. Glad I met her. Can't wait for tomorrow babes. E XX"

I grinned. Ha. It's not just me then. I quickly rattled off a reply. Writing the first things that entered my head.

"If you find the answers to those questions, let me know will you? I can't stop either. I spoke to Eff's about it funnily enough. She likes you. Thinks we make a really cute couple. Pandas funny, and she seems like a good friend to you. I'll let you have some sweet dreams and I'll be here, starving tomorrow at 2pm sweetie. N XX"

I hit send and went to sleep. Dreaming the most wonderful dreams of my red headed girl.