UNDERCOVER {Competed} 😌

chapter 22

Busted!
Joshua.

I sat at the darkened bar,nursing a beer,thinking about what I wanted to say to Mercy over dinner. How would I begin? "I love you,Pepper," would start things off right. Then maybe I'd lift those hands of hers,kids the sparkler gracing it and suggest we turn our agreement into a marriage.

Was I too subtle? Did I need a more direct approach? Getting on my knees was out of the question, and I could hardly present her with the ring. She already lived the one she had.

I frowned suddenly,realizing I was jumping courtship! I couldn't propose now. Jesus! I I haven't even told her my real name yet.

My thoughts drifted to the eavesdropping device that I found at David's place. Somewhere in the ranch,someone was after my story- or has already captured it and now my shakers would be doomed.

What would be left to offer Pepper, I'd be a failed reporter,a failed publisher. Simply a failure. Before I could propose,I had to tell her what she was getting into,no way around it

Well,on Monday I'd know what I had by noon.
I had already called my stuff to get ready to produce a special edition all about Jim's wedding.
When it hit the strands,I'll ask for a copy,take it straight to Pepper and reveal everything. While she is still stunned with the news,I'd propose to her.

I skilled,contemplating the scenario. Pepper would gasp,maybe she'd cry,then she'd fall in my arms and accept. Yeah the plan would work out.

I sipped down the beer,I glanced at my watch something I've done regularly for over half an hour. Where was Pepper? Should I be worried?

Dumb question. I already was. Despite her slapdash ways,Pepper had proven to be invariably punctual. But forty-five minutes of tardiness was a little soon to be calling cops.

Just then,someone called my name. A man. I turned and looked behind me.

"Donaldson! Its you!"

My heart missed a dreadful beat. It was Chris-what was his last name? Brandon? I didn't even care! What mattered was that the guy often worked as my stringer,and had appeared at the worst possible times.

I stood up and shook his hand,thinking of the best excuse to shake him off. He reminded me of when Martin and I had met him in campus, but I didn't care about that. He knew who I was and would probably blow my cover.

"How's it at shakers?" Chris asked.

"Shaking," maybe I could tell him there's a dollar machine paying off like crazy or make up a story.

"Yeah? What are you doing around here?" At my hesitation,he asked,"oh,working on a story huh? Say no more" then a hint of question in his voice he went on, "Been a while since I heard from you,Joshua. Let me buy you a beer. We can catch up on old times."

"Well...I am expecting someone any minute."
"Just a quick one." Chris insisted settling on the stool next to mine. He called the bartender and ordered.

"Say,how is Martin and Virginia?"

"Veronica." I corrected as the bartender set down the beers. "We parted ways a while back."

Chris whistled." No kidding."

"Yeap,I run the magazine myself now"

I chose not to tell Chris the circumstances. There weren't things I wanted blasted across the industry. It occurred to me that Chris might be my rival. After all,he was in town near the ranch. But how could he had put the micro on David's home. Bribery maybe?

"You haven't thrown much work my way lately."
Chris finally delivered the accusation I was waiting for.
"I've not had a thing or two to throw at your side Chris,"
"I see,"