Hi Andrew

There was a long pause. Good evening Louise

Barbara was not sure what to type next. How are you? It sounded trite. She was not good at small talk at the best of times.

I'm well. How are you?

Yeah, good.

I'm new to this, Louise. You are my first contact.

I only joined the other day myself, so I know it can be daunting. So far everyone has been a creep.

I'm not sure how to respond to that.

Barbara groaned. Sorry, I didn't mean to imply you would be too. Everybody's been after sex. The last bloke even asked me about my favourite sex position. Barbara groaned again. "Why did I say that?" I hung up on him, she added hastily.

I'm pleased. That type of behaviour is abhorrent. I am not after sex, Louise. I ticked Strictly Friendship.

Me either. I changed my status to that too. I want to avoid those type of men.

Wise move.

There was a pause. She was expected to answer. Nothing came to mind. "Why am I doing this?" In desperation, she resorted to a neutral comment. Andrew is a nice name. Do you have Scottish ancestry?

Not that I am aware, although most British people probably have a mix of English, Welsh, and Scottish ancestry. Probably Irish too. It's a family name. Louise is a pretty name. I had a great-aunt called Louisa.

Thanks. I think we were just English, but who knows. Barbara tapped the side of her keyboard trying to think of another question. What does an insurance investigator do?

Mostly track down people doing the wrong thing. A lot of it is paper-based, but some of my investigations involve fieldwork. Your profile says you are a civil servant? What area?

Criminal justice. Barbara did not want to say she was a cop. I handle the paperwork to put people in gaol.

Well, that's a related field, hunting down the bad guys. We have something in common.

Yeah, I guess we do.

We might have other things too once we get to know each other.

I hope so. Barbara glanced at the clock. It was nearly midnight. I don't like to be rude, Andrew, but it's getting late.

Of course. Like me, you probably have to be up early for work. Perhaps we could catch up again? Say eight o'clock tomorrow evening?

Yeah, sounds good. Good night.

Good night, Louise.

Barbara was smiling as she logged off. Andrew seemed genuine and nice. Maybe she could find her soulmate after all.

For the next week, Barbara and Andrew chatted online. The conversation was very general, mainly about the run of wet weather, what food they both enjoyed, whether they shared any common hobbies or sports. That changed with one line.

So why do you want a friend?

Barbara paused. It was an unexpected question. She hesitated while she thought of a reply. I guess because I am lonely, she eventually typed.

Me too. Desperately at times.

Barbara admired his frankness. Because you travel so much?

Partly. There was a pause. I am not very good at maintaining close relationships.

Snap.

Really? I thought it was just me.

No. Me too. I don't get out much and I have lost contact with people over time, and I tend to be wary of getting too close to anyone. That was more than she had intended to say.

I understand. We might make a good pair. ;)

Yeah, maybe. Everyone said she and Tommy were quite a pair too, and look how that turned out. She decided to change the topic before he asked her why she was like that. Are you married?

No. Why would I be on here if I was?

He sounded innocent. A lot of people use these things to cheat.

I don't cheat. Were you married?

How do you know that I'm not, Andrew?

Because you mentioned cheating and brought up the topic. Is that what happened to you? Your husband cheated on you?

No. I've never been married.

Choice or circumstances?

Barbara took a deep breath. This was starting to get very was tempted to end the conversation, but how do you ever get close to someone without talking? A bit of both.

I feel there is a story there.

There is always a story. Put it down to too many years pining over an unobtainable man. You?

No, I've never pined for an unobtainable man.

Barbara liked his humour. Touché.

I have pined for unobtainable women. I have the habit of falling in love with women who do not love me as much.

Yeah, I can understand that.

Why people wouldn't love me?

No! Falling for people who don't return your feelings.

I'm sorry. I feel I am oversharing. I'm not used to getting to know people these days.

I am hopeless too, so don't worry. I can be a bit Barbara paused to think of a word. abrasive

That made me laugh. What's the shorthand for that? LOL?

I guess. Were you married?

I was. It ended a while ago.

I'm sorry, that must have been hard. Children?

No. You?

No. It's probably my biggest regret. Why was she disclosing so much to a man she did not know?

Yes, I can understand. Maybe it will happen for you. I still hope to have one or two someday.

You will. The right woman will come along.

I thought she had.

Ah, so that was it. Still, Barbara could hardly complain. She was only here because Tommy had left her. Your wife? Was it a messy split?

No, not my wife.

Is that why your marriage ended?

That's direct. No. My marriage ended for other reasons. I don't cheat remember?

I'm sorry. That was rude. It's none of my business.

No, it's okay. It's part of getting to know someone. I am not sure I am ready to tell the story yet. It's still too raw.

Barbara understood exactly. That's okay.

I don't want you to think I am looking for a replacement. That's why I ticked Strictly Friendship. I was alone and missed her companionship I guess. Are you upset?

No. I didn't come here looking for romance either.

Your heart is still with Mr Unobtainable?

Yes.

That's fine, Louise. These things take time. We should change the subject. Do you have a large family?

No. I'm an only child. Not strictly true but easier than explaining about Terry.

That can be hard I but at least you don't have to fight with them. Were you close to your parents?

Barbara hesitated. I was brought up by distant relatives. She winced at her lie, but it was only partly untrue, they had been distant in the way they treated her after Terry's death.

I am sorry to hear that. My parents both died when I was a teenager.

That would have been hard too. Did you grow up in London?

I lived most of my younger years just out of London. I moved into the city for work several years ago. You?

Yeah, in the north-west.

Look, my phone is ringing. I will have to say goodnight.

Sure. Goodnight, Andrew.

Bye.

Normally they arranged their next conversation. Barbara had a feeling that was the last of Andrew. That hurt. She had begun to grow fond of him. She watched for several minutes expecting him to unfriend her, but he remained on her list.

"Go to bed, you idiot."

Barbara put her PC on the table and snuggled down in her bed. Now she was haunted by two men, with added guilt about being disloyal to Tommy. Her life was mess.

It was late on Saturday morning when her doorbell rang. Barbara answered it before she had thought about it. When she saw Tommy, her heart raced and she felt slightly faint. Her smile faded and she wished she had been more vigilant. Tommy held out a bottle of Scotch and a box of expensive chocolates. He was smiling at her as if he had already been forgiven.

"You can't buy me off."

"I'm not trying to buy you off. I am back in London this weekend and came over to apologise and sort things out. I hate it when we're not speaking."

"You should have thought of that before you threw me under the bus and went to Fraud."

Tommy visibly winced. "May I come in? We need to talk but I don't think the whole of Chalk Farm has to hear us."

Barbara stepped back. "What is there to say?"

Her ex-boss stepped into her flat. He looked around. "You've been busy."

"Yeah, I had to do something with my enforced leave. I had been saving it to go to Europe, but Smithers forced my hand. No, it was you who forced my hand."

Tommy sat on her sofa. He looked like he intended to stay. "I'm sorry. I had no intention of taking the job, but when you started arguing with me about Barraclough, I snapped. Your attitude towards 'my lot' upsets me, Barbara, because I am not who you imagine me to be. You should know me by now, and the fact you don't..." His voice trailed off.

"I upset you? You're the one who said I was savage, opinionated and intractable."

He raised his eyebrows. "You deny that?"

Barbara clenched her fists and thumped down into the armchair. "No, but saying I had no friends and no heart... that hurt."

"And I apologise unreservedly for that. You do have a friend, me. But even I have limits to how much of your bitterness I can tolerate."

"And I have limits as to how much elitism I can tolerate." She folded her arms.

Tommy shook his head. "I drove down to the dojo that first weekend, but you weren't there."

Barbara looked up and frowned. "Did you?"

"Yes. I was worried, and I wanted to apologise. I hate fighting with you. Bickering is one thing, but this is something entirely different. I hate not having you beside me."

He looked genuine, and she had to acknowledge, she felt the same. "Yeah, well you're in Fraud, and I am being moved on by Smithers."

"I will be back in six months."

"Too late."

"We don't have to work together to be together," Tommy said quietly.

Barbara was not sure how to interpret his words. He could not possibly mean... She looked at him. They were so different. Despite her fantasies, it could never work. And he probably did not mean that anyway. "It wouldn't be the same. Solving crimes together, that's who we are."

"It's not all we are, Barbara."

She watched him closely. He looked offended. No, on second thoughts, he looked wounded. She frowned then shook her head. "Yeah. It is. We had a friendship based on crime. Fighting injustice together. We... have nothing else in common. Much as I want to stay friends, we won't. We're destined to drift apart, and I would rather remember it as it was than have it die a slow painful death."

Tommy ran his hand through his hair. "If this is your idea of an end, it feels pretty painful."

Barbara shrugged. "It is what it is."

Tommy stood. "I hate that saying. When you think about this, remember it was your decision." He marched down her hall and slammed the door as he left.

Barbara picked up the book on the table and threw it at the door. Tommy had left and she only had herself to blame.