‘I thought you said you vetted everyone.’ I enjoyed a moment of smugness, I’ve never managed to get one over on Barney.
‘Olivia,’ his exasperation showed. ‘We’re not sodding MI5. Besides, define vetting. We check up on people.’
‘And what does that entail?’ I said, determined not to let Barney have the last word.
‘They have to bring their driving licence and proof of current address with them.’
‘And that’s it?’
‘What more do you want?’ He spat down the phone.
He had a point. A driving licence was pretty official.
‘Well, is there anything you can do? He’s freaking Emily out and I’ve got to live with her.’
‘I’ll make a few enquiries.’
And that would be the end of that, I thought with a sneer.
‘I’m sure...ifit was him, it was an isolated incident but don’t hesitate to call me if anything else happens.’
What! Had hell just frozen over? Before I could summon up the capacity to speak again, Barney had gone.
* * *
In contrast Kate thought it was all highly amusing.
‘Serves her right,’ she sniggered down the phone later that afternoon.
‘It’s not funny,’ I said, the handset tucked in the crook of my ear as I carried on typing an email. ‘I think it’s a bit scary. Emily’s just pissed off.’
‘Probably because the wrong guy emailed. Let’s face it, Olivia, she ticked three different boxes — there are still two other guys out there she’s not moaning about at the moment.’
True, Emily hadn’t said a word about any other contact she’d had. I glanced up at her on the other side of the office. She was chatting away to Cara, perched on her desk as they both poured over a page ofHello!.
‘So how’s the packing?’ I asked, changing the subject. ‘Did you get everything you wanted in Boots?’
There was a pause and a sigh as if she was about to say something and changed her mind. ‘A nightmare.’ Her voice wobbled. ‘Mum has gone out and bought grocery supplies — half of Asda. I’m never going to get it all in. You’d think I was emigrating for good. I’m only going back to Oz for another six months.’
‘Can’t you extend your visa?’
‘What the hell for?’ she snapped.
‘Sorry, I thought you loved it there.’
‘It’s all fine. Greg is great. Australia’s great. Everything’s just great.’
‘Sure?’
There was a pause and a deep breath. I thought she was going to launch into some confessional but her voice was back to its usually perky tone. ‘It’s all fine. My biggest worry is getting through customs. I can see it now, surrounded by hysterical sniffer dogs driven wild by Mum’s Marmite stockpile.’
I giggled. ‘I’m sure they’re used to it. All Poms travel with the stuff.’
‘Not ten jars of it.’
‘You’ll get it all in. If not, you could leave me a couple of pairs of shoes.’
‘Not bloody likely. I’d rather ditch the Marmite.’
