UNDERCOVER {Competed} 😌

chapter 9

The waited Sunday
Mercy

The Sunday couldn't have come sooner. I had been so impatient, I could barely make it through the day. But finally...just finally with recorders secured in my pocket, Joshua and I were at the door step with David introducing us to his wife.

"Hello." Speaking with heavy Russian accent, David's wife extended her hand and her hospitality surprised me. I expected someone a little rough with the house helps. And actually to be a little honest I expected someone a little chubby and short with hair tied at the back.

But this woman was tall and slim,as regal as a princess, and her simple greetings made me feel like I was introduced to royalty.

I breathed in and extended my hand,returning to her greetings with the same tone and noting that Joshua responded with equal measure.

Then we were assured into the cottage,and I glanced around with a twinge of envy as I noted lots of luxurious furniture. And space. Lots and lots of space.

As that wasn't enough,new,obviously expensive table and curtains hang around the wall. We were led at the table.

As David held out the chair for me, I sneaked a glance at the far door at the left. That must be the bedroom sometime during the evening I had to sneak a recorder there.

"Mercy you are staring," Joshua whispered.
"No am not."

Mrs David poured us some wine when we were all sited then leaned slightly towards me,
"I hear you are Horsewoman."
"Yes, I am."

Then i continued to tell about my experience with the horses. My childhood at the ranch. She listened and asked questions. As the questions continued I realized to my disappointment that we wouldn't spend a whole evening speaking about the wedding.

After a while, I fought the urge to tell her to stop but David tapped his fingers of the table and said,
"Slow down honey, you are asking loads of questions and giving her a hard time. For crying out loud she only wants to teach you riding horses and you are interviewing her as if she will run off with Carolina's jewels."

"Of course David. Its my job. I'm in charge of Laura's things." She smiled proudly. "Some of the girls I get well, they have done that and more." She said and patted my hand. "Forgive me. I do appreciate."

I nodded and asked her about her riding experience, giving tips on the problems the woman brought up.

Everyone relax and David brought a chess board while his wife poured more wine. I took advantage of this confusion to plant recorders under the table. About half way to the chess game, Joshua asked for the bathroom.

David pointed to the door I had stared at. "Its in the bedroom."

I smiled. That's so much luck. I could have kissed Joshua for solving the sneaking problem.
When he came back, I smiled at him approvingly,which he returned with a puzzled look in his eyes.

Then the game began and grew lively with David and Joshua focused in it.
David won the first round. He turned to me,
"Help your husband Mercy." He laughed. He need some womanly encouragement give him pecks and kisses. He'll focus better.
I bit my lower lip and looked at Joshua. A mischievous smile on his face with his green eyes holding a mock. No.

"I think I'll use the bathroom." I said. He made me nervous. I couldn't remember ever being nervous around Edwin.
"May,I?"

David nodded. As I walked towards the door I looked back, both men's eyes were focused on the board. I had plenty of time.

But as I closed the bedroom door my heart was beating like the west African's drums. Hell! I was scared to death, not to mention I was feeling very guilty for deceiving my hosts. But I'd do anything for the story.

The big moment was within my grip. I patted my pockets pulled out the recorders. All I had to do is plant them properly and the story would be mine.

As I had expected the room had a phone, I wedged a recorder in the U of the plastic part then reconnected it. From here I would pick up any conversation from any phone of the house.

I head some sounds. My overworked heart skipped a bear,then resumed double time.

No matter what my runaway imagination said,I knew u have heard something. Something swished again, then again. I jumped like I as under a sniper rifle.

Just when I realized I had been brushing my hair with the hand with the micro recorder, it bounced on the bed then rolled into the carpet bounced several times then it disappeared.

My mouth went dry. I looked in the holes in the carpet,and saw nothing. Dropping on my knees I crawled around the bed rubbing my fingers through the carpet.

Now where is the damn thing! The floor couldn't have swallowed it up. The search became more and more frantic...then I heard the bedroom doorknob turn.

"Its your turn,Pepper," Joshua's voiced boomed into the room. The door swung open,giving entrance to a steam of light. I sprang to my feet.

"Joshua!" I forced a grin on my frozen face. "My turn? Already? That was fast. I have only been gone for a minute,not long at all."

"Pepper what were you doing.? You shouldn't be nosing around."

"Nosing? I am not nosing. I uh sort of dropped my lipstick,that's all. And it rolled over here. Can you imagine that? All the way over here. But I found it."

I fished into my pocket,then waved a lip gloss. "Yep you see?"

He walked over until he stood inches away. The lines on his for head deepened. His green eyes shone with concern.

"You have been acting strange all night. Are you fine? Pepper you don't wear lipstick. What's going on?"
He put his hand on my shoulder then his forehead touched mine.
"No no fever what is it Pepper?"

I breathed in,but what landed on my nose was his scent. I felt weary. Very very weary. The week had been long and tiresome and for a moment I leaned on Joshua for support.

"I'm fine," I managed to lie. "Really."

"The act you putting on is it getting to you? and the questions are you okay?"

He was concerned. What is wrong with him today? He was never nice to me.

"Its bothering you!"
I steered myself another lie. "Its harder than I expected."
"For me too." He confessed.

"We'd better get to chess." I said feeling ashamed,I looked down and was about to move away but I say the recorder kicked down the bed and hugged Joshua tightly.

"You ain't planing on making love in our bedroom are you?" David joked.
I blushed and couldn't look up I let go of Joshua and moved away.

We went back to the table. Mission accomplished, I thought even though I nearly died of fright. I just hope they don't vacuum the bedroom very often.