UNDERCOVER {Competed} 😌

Chapter 17(ii)

Joshua.

Even though I was running late,I still walked slow to the main house for my night shift. Humming the song, that I don't remember the tittle.

I still couldn't get her name out of my head. It echoed in there between the words of the song. Mercy,oh mercy. There, I'd think about it again. Mercy.

My only other thought was "wow!" I laughed,glad that I had no midnight co workers. Somehow I couldn't picture anyone willing to listen to "wow,Pepper,Wow mercy!"

When I entered the kitchen fifteen minutes late for my shift,the head cook was already waiting at the door.

"You are late Joshua," his face frowning, "Joe Piper want something to eat."

"Right away." This was the third time,since I had started working night shifts that Joe had appeared for a meal,but never this early.

Mostly was at two or three in the morning. Once he appeared around sunrise,making me wonder if the man ever slept.

I grabbed an apron and put it over. The head cook scrawled,but clearly there was nothing else to say unless he planned on asking me where I was. So he walked off.

Despite his reputation,I found out that I liked his style. The man was ever direct,and always sober. Twice he had asked me to sit and eat with him,and figuring out he is one of the bosses,I had accepted.

Besides I wanted information.

I breezed into the kitchen,tying the apron as I went,and found Joe sitting at the kitchen bar with his elbows on the counter and his head morosely in his hand. His tie,which I have never seen other than perfectly knotted,hung lose around his collar. His eyes barely open.

"Where have you been?" Joe asked in a slurry voice.

"With Pepper. We lost track of time. Sorry I was held up."

"Yeah. Heard you two made up." He grinned slyly,"laura was awful disappointed. "

I stood there for a moment not knowing how to respond. When Joe said nothing more,I asked,
"Would you like to drink? Or a meal?"

"Get me the  whisky," he said pointing at the locked cabinet."in there. "

"I'll check."

After going through a complicates procedure to get the key I rummaged and sure enough,found the liquor and waved it at Joe.

"How do you like it?"
"On the rocks,skip ice."
"Sure,but let me get you to sign this." I handed him a clipboard holding a running inventory of the booze,and the man signed without a flourish. When u put the board away,I noticed that the signature was almost unreadable. I reached under my apron and turned on a recorder in the pocket.

What luck! I didn't know what had set him off- rumors have it that he drinks sparingly- but I'm sure he'd talk. Chances like this don't come along everyday. I got out a thick lead crystal glass,poured it yo the brim and put it in front of Joe

Joe tilted back his head and took a big gulp. He grimaced afterwards,the hot liquid obviously burnt his throat
"Take it easy man." I had visions of Dave collapsing with alcohol poisoning.

"How about I scramble you some eggs?"
"Eggs will be fine. Haven't eaten all day." He swayed unsteadily on his stool. And took a more genteel sip. The glass sloshed as he put it down onto his big hands.

"Fried or scrambled?" When I saw his puzzled expression, "the eggs"
"Oh yeah. Fried,easy over." He lifted his glass.
"You gonna join me?"
"Yeah,sure,if you want me to,"

"Good. You're the only one here who is nice to me nan,you know that? No one else gives a damn."

Alcohol talking

"Sure they do."

Joe shook his head slowly back and forth. "No,no. Not him. Not any of his band. Not Laura. Especially not laura. " he paused."she used to,you know." For a moment he looked proud. "Used to think u was a hot stuff. Real hot stuff. Really,really hot."

I looked over to Joe. Him and Laura? Hard to believe
"Don't kook like that man. Its true."

"I believe you." What else was i supposed to say.

Joe silently nursed his whiskey. Breaking four eggs,I watched the white begin to curl and waited for him to continue. I turned the eggs. He still hasn't spoken.

"Don't know why she is marrying that bastard when she could have a man who treats her right."

I looked up and saw misery in his eyes. Would I feel that if Pepper left me? Even the idea was unbearable. For a heartbeat I felt guilty for pumping Joe in his darkest hour. Then the magazine's overdue bills popped into my mind,and I remembered I couldn't afford luxury like sympathy.

"You seem like the kind of man who knows how to treat a woman," I said turning the eggs.

"Right on man. But it doesn't matter." Joe shook his head again and weaved  dangerously on his glass. "When the sun comes up on the wedding day,laura is gonna marry Jim and there's nothing I can do about it."

"Well,I'm sure she's making a mistake."
"You said it well."

This was definitely my day!first I have bedded the woman of my dreams,again. And Joe was handing me my prime story over a glass of whiskey.

Wanting to cover my excitement with activity,I scooped up the eggs,slid them on plates, then made myself bust seasoning food and buttering toast. Joe's visits to the kitchen were informal,so I arranged orange slices and a colourful splash of parsley around the food.

When I finally looked back up,I found Joe sprawled on the counter in a pool of whiskey. The glass rolled over back and fourth near his hands

Poor devil needed some peace. I went over and touched his shoulder,called him, several times,receiving no response, I braced my arm around his back and lifted him to his feet.

"Huh?" He muttered
"Come on, I'll help you to your room."

"Awful nice of you." He leaned heavily on me and we stumbled towards the elevator-lord knew we couldn't handle the stairs. Then in a drunken voice Joe muttered," you're a real friend man. That's for sure. So real. You wanna know the truth?"
I stopped,lurched. I almost lost my balance.

"You are the only friend I've got."
"Thanks" I said feeling more guilty.

Sometimes I hated my work.

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Teenie bee