The Tangled Web (6 page)

‘If you need any spies for your little agency, I’m here to
help,’ Adam whooped with laughter as he and Magnus made their way out of the
dining room and into the living room.

‘First time you do a stake-out, I want to be there.  It’ll
be hilarious!’ Pamela snorted, walking into the kitchen without taking her eyes
or hands from her phone.

Flic and Vicky looked at each other, each trying to gauge
the other’s thoughts.  They were silent and remained so in the midst of the
jokes and sarcasm from Vicky’s family.  There was some kind of unspoken
dismissal of these jokes from both of them though, which was evident in their
expressions when they looked at each other.

Vicky leaned over the table and motioned for Flic to come
closer, which she duly did.  Vicky glanced over each shoulder to check that
no-one else was within earshot before she whispered, ‘So what are we going to
call our detective agency?’

4

4
^th
January

Christos wants to chat with you!

Vicky says…

Hi Chris :D *hugs*

Christos says…

Hey Blondie :)

Vicky says…

How’s your night going?

Christos says…

It’s going ok thanks.  Not as interesting as yours
obviously!

Vicky says…

Why do you say that???

Christos says…

I just read an update on Tête-a-net that you’ve got a new
career…?

Vicky says…

Oh right.  That. 

Christos says…

Care to share?

Vicky says…

Ok.  Don’t judge though.  And I know it sounds ridiculous…

Christos says…

You’re not entering Page 3 Idol are you?  :D

Vicky says…

I would need boobs for that.  Or at least a suggestion of
them :P

Christos says…

I’m not getting into that boob job conversation again.  You
know my feelings on that.  Just tell me what your new career is.

Vicky says…

Ok, do you remember I wrote that blog to say that I’d
accidentally hit Flic from Pebworth & Co. in the face with a seagull?  And
to make amends, I’d invited her for dinner, even though I’d felt a bit pressured
into it by Scarlett.

Christos says…

Ah yes, Flic from Pebworth & Co, the snooty unhelpful
cow you were moaning about on Christmas Eve.  And I thought it was a pigeon?

Vicky says…

That’s her!  And no, it was a seagull.  Long story.

Christos says…

Right.  And you texted me while you were waiting for her to
arrive to say she fancied Adam and you were worried she was an old lush trying
to get into his pants.

Vicky says…

I didn’t exactly put it like that!

Christos says…

Those were your exact words Blondie :P

Vicky says…

Ok, maybe that’s how it came across but that was a bit
unkind of me.  It’s her I’m going into business with.

Christos says…

Explain?

Vicky says…

We were having a conversation at the dinner table about
following your dreams, because Adam’s finally opening the gym he’s been banging
on about for years and Pamela’s writing her Chaka Demus and Pliers tribute
musical.

Christos says…

A Chaka Demus and Pliers tribute musical??? 

Vicky says…

I know, it’s very strange.

Christos says…

You’re not kidding.  So starting up a business with an old
lush is your dream?

Vicky says…

*slap* very funny!  You know my dream is to be a writer but
I need something interesting to write about.  Her dream is to be a private
investigator.  So we’re starting a detective agency together, and I’ll write a
blog about our adventures.

Christos says…

Ok.

Vicky says…

Or misadventures.  What do you think?

Christos says…

Honest opinion?

Vicky says…

Yes please.

Christos says…

It doesn’t sound like a good idea.  You barely know this
woman.  You said yourself that her customer service skills were non-existent
when you had to deal with her on the phone.  And what kind of detective agency
is it?  Are you going to be doing something dangerous?  People don’t like being
spied on.

Vicky says…

No no no!  We talked it over.  After throwing a few ideas
around, we decided to do what I did with Bidean.  We will create fake profiles
on Tête-a-net and other social networking sites and catch cheaters using honey
traps.  It’s ALL
done online.  There will be no overheads so we can
offer a cheaper service than other local investigators. 

Christos says…

I’m guessing your market for that would be huge!  The
Internet is full of people carrying on with strangers.

Vicky says…

And people creating separate profiles for their real life
and their life as a cheat :(

Christos says…

I think we can both relate to this problem, agapi mou.  I
can understand your motivation for this.  It’s like a way of trying to get over
what’s happened with Ian.  I still think it’s a bad idea though.

Vicky says…

Well, it will all be done online.  No meetings will
actually take place. 

Vicky says…

Are you still there?

Christos says…

Yeah.  Just having a weird flashback moment.

Vicky says…

Sorry.  Is talking about cheating bringing back memories?

Christos says…

Yeah.  Even when it’s in the past, it still hurts because
the memories are always there.  And they don’t stop hurting.

Vicky says…

:( *hugs*

Christos says…

Never mind, tell me more about this.  Whose pictures and
names are you going to use for the fake profiles?  And what will you call
yourselves?

Vicky says…

Well, we’re still trying to come up with a name for our
agency.  The names for the fake profiles we’ll make up.  I’ve been coming up
with some ideas using clients from work and mixing up their first and last
names.  We’ve got a small database of “characters” already.  As for pictures,
we’ll use our own.  Flic’s apparently had every hair colour under the sun in
the past and we’ll use wigs to change our appearance if we need a new picture.

Christos says…

This is sounding less and less faceless :/  And using the
names of the deceased???  That doesn’t sound right to me.

Vicky says…

It’ll be fine.  I’ll mix the names up.  And we won’t take
on men we know as clients.  Or even men from this area.

Vicky says…

Well, not after this first one.

Christos says…

Oh God.  Who are we talking about?

Vicky says…

You know my friend Scarlett?  She’s convinced her partner
Peter is a cheater, and because Flic has never met him we can use her photo.

Christos says…

Scarlett?  Oh no Blondie, this is a bad idea!  Isn’t she
the one who’s always in tears?  Doesn’t she claim to have once been married to
one of Prince Albert of Monaco’s official translators?

Vicky says…

She still is legally. 

Christos says…

Why does she think Peter’s cheating?

Vicky says…

He works as an investigative journalist.  He’s does
freelance work for national papers and spends a lot of time away from home. 
Last weekend a woman answered his phone.  He said it was a colleague, but
Scarlett doesn’t believe him.  He’s freelance.  He has no colleagues.

Christos says…

I can’t fathom why you’re getting involved in Scarlett’s
latest drama.  Aren’t you worried her step-kids will do something horrible to
YOU next?

Vicky says…

I can handle them.  They just take the piss out of her
because she’s so anxious and neurotic.  She’s an easy and amusing target.

Christos says…

What have they done this week?

Vicky says…

Put Veet in her shampoo bottle.  Her new wig is rather
lovely though, I have to admit.

Christos says…

*rolls eyes* Why is she still with this guy Peter when he’s
not sticking up for her and pulling them into line?

Vicky says…

She told me why a couple of months ago.  She said she’s
desperate for a baby of her own and she sees him as the sperm donor.  Once
she’s pregnant she says she’ll ditch him.

Christos says…

Might be a better idea to ditch him first and then find
someone to have a baby with.  Especially if she suspects he’s cheating.  And
the step-kids from hell will be in her life forever if she has a kid with him!

Vicky says…

Well, it’s up to her.  You and I can see it but she can’t. 
I know how hard it is bringing up a baby on your own.  I don’t know why she
would willingly do it.  At least I was able to move back in with my parents for
help.  She wouldn’t be able to.  She just wants this baby because she wants
someone to love who will love her back.  It’s sad really.  I know I moan about
her and take the piss but it must suck to be her sometimes, being so nervous
and uptight on a daily basis.

Christos says…

I know.  She’s still better off without him though. 

Vicky says…      

She says quite often the best way she can contact him while
he’s working or see what he’s up to is to check on Tête-a-net.

Christos says…

Sounds like a nice healthy relationship :P

Vicky says…

I know :/

Christos says…

So, how is Flic going to get the truth out of him?  What
does the honey trapping involve?

Vicky says…

It all depends on whether she can get him to flirt with her
honey.  If he does, we’ve been successful.  If not, there’s no proof we can
give that he’s a cheater. 

Christos says…

I hate to point this out, but I will.  Flirting online
doesn’t mean he’s a cheater.