Mr. Write [COMPLETED]

Chapter 18 - "Jump off a cliff!"

"Look at it this way," Cece said. "You could be traveling on a ship that gets attacked by pirates and you are left to freeze to death in the ocean while everyone you love is sent into slavery before your eyes."

Elliot raised her head off her crossed arms and stared at Cece.

"That's the best alternative I have to going to work with Beck today? Being attacked by pirates?"

Cece shrugged and leaned back in her chair.

"I'm trying to look at the bright side of things here," she said.

Elliot raised her eyebrows.

"Pirates are the bright side?"

"Fine," Cece said, "you could be in Florida laying on a beach, doing nothing."

"You're right," Elliot said. "Pirates are the brighter side."

Cece stood and took a bow.

"Thank you."

She settled back into her seat and picked up her coffee cup.

"What do you plan to do?" she asked.

"Besides cling to my sanity and avoid picking up sharp objects? Not sure."

"There's always the obvious option."

"Yes, but hiring a look a like takes too long and I'm not sure Beck would be fooled."

"True."

They sat in silence for a long moment, sipping their coffee with glazed looks as they thought.

"You could-" Cece started.

"Nope, it takes three months and monkeys are hard to come by."

Cece nodded, looking off.

"Right, forgot about the time problem."

They lapsed into silence once more. Beyond the windows the summer sun flooded the sidewalks and peered into houses. Elliot rested her head on her fist, contemplating the far side of the kitchen.

"There's always-"

"We would need a construction crew and Randy isn't talking to me after what happened last March."

Cece looked over at Elliot with a puzzled expression.

"You still haven't resolved that?"

Elliot shrugged.

"He found my insult to his truck highly offensive," she said. "There's no coming back from that."

Elliot took a sip of her coffee. They could hear faint footsteps come from upstairs followed by a muffled curse.

"Oh what about-"

"We would have to pass a Bill to make it happen and Justin still blames you for his surgery."

Cece made a face.

"Okay, well I do take full credit for that," she said.

Elliot set down her cup and rubbed her face, letting out a loud sigh. She kept her face hidden in her hands, glaring at the thoughts in her head.

"It's possible that-"

"He was sent to jail and hates the smell of cats."

Cece rested her chin in her hands, looking disappointed.

"I forgot that."

Elliot dropped her hands away and gave Cece a small smile.

"I appreciate you trying to help me out but there is just one option I can take."