The Hurt Business

A Cover Story

Katy POV (Current day)

In life, there are moments where one is offered a choice. To pursue their dream or to chase a more practical line of work. To admit to the truth or to tell a white lie. To be a sensible human being and walk away peacefully with your life or to follow a potentially life threatening lead from an anonymous source who happened to choose the dying newspaper instead of hundreds of others with deeper resources.

I tore through my closet as I continued my last minute packing. Six months ago, we had received an anonymous tip about an underground organization dubbed as the hurt business. All we knew so far is it was a fairly large syndicate where the members called themselves using names of animals depending on the division.

Then, the tips started coming in at different intervals with more information. We learned that the their animal code names depended on the division they were in. For example, those with insect code names were in the deep research and spying division (which is a little on the nose). Those with predator names were in the hunting, espionage and threatening division (basically dealt with anyone who needed to be roughed up). While the rest could blend in with society. Our source had forbade us from engaging until they gave us the go ahead.

When the company I have been working for since college was facing foreclosure, I swore to do all I could to save this place. However, this was ridiculous. My partner Bruno and I had taken this story because everyone else was already taking up their money and finding another place to work while they still could. I stayed because I really loved this place while Bruno had to take care of his legacy because this was his family business.

A few days ago, we had been given the go ahead. I was told that the hurt business worked through recommendation to avoid being exposed. They had dirt on their customers, which helped to ensure their confidentiality.

I was also told that my handler would identify me if I wore a black t-shirt, black jeans and a red pair of sneakers. Secondly, the answer to his riddle would be karma. That is all we had to go with.

Our story would be that Bruno and I were a married couple. We had been married for five years and I was certain Bruno was cheating. I didn't have evidence to present to the court hence I needed their help to fabricate it. I was the Trojan horse because I was the better journalist of the two of us.

My entire livelihood depended on this going right. My sister's medical bills kept pilling up over the past few years and it's a miracle that we haven't lost everything. For the time being, my poor sister would stay with Bruno's family while we were under cover.

"Come on chop sticks, hurry up." Bruno walked up to me using his nickname meant to pay homage to my love for Chinese food or to throw shade at my skinny legs, I never could figure that out.

"If I wasn't struggling with this bag, I would have turned you inside out already." I threatened him, to which he just laughed it out.

Bruno and I had a very wonderful and practical relationship. We basically got there at the same time and for some reason, two rockies got paired up together to handle the Hills' blog. He and I would make a very logical couple. We had the same interests. We were both understanding and compassionate. We were both driven to be defined by more than just our background. We had a strong foundation of friendship. And he wasn't hard on the eyes. We had just never took time to try and move things to the next level. Going undercover as a couple should be a breeze.

"Should I take your bags to the car?" He asked, pointing to the other bags I had already packed and placed by the door.

"Please do, pumpkin." I teased our new status and we laughed as we took my bags to the car.

I would surely miss my apartment. It was the place where I hung out whenever I wasn't at work. It was my safe haven. I wasn't one to go out. My life revolved around very few factors and I loved it that way. I got to stay out of trouble and do the job that I loved, all at the same time.

I had been to New South City a few times over the years. It was much more busy and more fast pace than our peaceful town of Dry Hills so I was never a fan.

"So?" Bruno pulled me out of my thoughts. "Do you remember your story?"

"Yeah, Bruno. I remember." I said, leaning against the headrest. I knew he pulling my mind away from the stress of what I was about to do and I really appreciated it.

"Really? Pop quiz then, who are we and where do we work?" He asked, focused on the road.

"We are exactly who we are- Katy and Bruno. Changing our names is too risky because of our documented career. If they find out we changed our names, they would dig deeper and possibly find out why we are here." I replied with a bit of sass.

"First of all, we are Bruno and Katy. Secondly, how long have been married?"

"Five years."

"Aha! I knew that you would get it wrong. It's actually six years."

I took out the file we had prepared for this case, then looked for the part marked with a yellow highlighter to prove my point then I carefully placed it Bruno's line of vision without impeding it.

"Five Years." I emphasized my point victoriously, to which he just groaned.

"Whatever. I just wanted to make sure that you were paying attention. Get some rest, it is going to be a long drive and atleast one of us needs to be awake to fix our new apartment." He sighed, thinking about the drive.

"Well, our source has already provided a full staged apartment for us, with our names and everything so no need to worry about unpacking boxes. It's funny, it is almost as if their lives also depend on exposing these criminals."

"Yeah. It is weird the lengths they are going to just for us specifically to write this story. And we still don't know who they are. But you know what is more weird? Us. Going head first in what could be a set up for murder or something."

"Well, at least we will go out with a bang! Besides, aren't you the one always nagging me about thinking positively?" I retorted, my eyes now closed as the soft hum of the electric car slowly lulled me to sleep.

"Look at us, bickering lovingly like a real husband and wife. Who knows, if this goes well, we might end up like all those romantic comedy characters who end up together after a long weekend with the colleague they never paid attention to." He laughed at his idea to which I just rolled my eyes. Internally seeing where he was coming from."Don't tell me you can't see the parallel." He added.

"Keep dreaming sweetheart. Speaking of which, wake me up if you get tired so that I can drive."

"Uh-uh! Absolutely not! You have the coordination of a small pregnant lizard, I am not putting my life in your hands. Let alone while you are still a bit sleepy." He argued vehemently, leaving no room for me to argue back. Honestly, I wasn't really that keen on driving either so I didn't put much effort into supporting my argument. So, I just shrugged it off and surrendered myself to the call of the sandman.

*********************

"Hey, Snores r us? Wake up!" Bruno's happy go lucky voice pulled me out of my peaceful siesta for which I flicked him off. "We are here."

The apartment was beautiful. It was modern, had furniture to match, it was staged to be a bit messy like people had been living there for a while and there was mail in our names going as far back as ten months ago in the mailbox.

This fricked me out a bit because I had only volunteered for the task six months ago.

We took our bags upstairs, and then I packed our closets with our clothes while Bruno slept, as per our agreement. I then went about placing pictures of Bruno and I in different places, which we took in front of a massive green screen. This put a much more personal touch to everything.

Tomorrow would be the big day, but for now, it was time to get myself acquainted with this place and prepare food.

X Ça Leo X