Undercover Cops

Chapter 11

Worried, I paced around the hotel room with my heart beating furiously against my chest. It was already past supper time and Joe still didn't show up. What if something happened to him and he got caught? The mission would go downhill! 

I shivered in fear once I imagined Zachary's psychotic face in my head. I said it a thousand times and I will repeat it a thousand more; Zachary is a cold-hearted murderer. I know something horrible happened in his past, but nothing could excuse the inhuman crimes he committed.

The victims were all normal teenagers, and I couldn't help but think what he was doing with them. Even though none of them were found sexually abused, I was frightened that it could happen one day, especially to Bea. More I knew about this girl, more I liked her. She reminded me of myself before my parent's death; kind, innocent, full of life. I hope nothing happened to her because she deserved the best.

Joe... I texted him hundredths of times, but he didn't reply any of them. I know he had no reason to share his life with me, but I still wondered about the mission. If we lose him from our team, we'll be screwed. I was so lost in worry that I didn't hear the door open.

"Why so serious?"

I jumped once I heard a mocking voice that I instantly recognized. Furious to find him safe and sound, I glared at Joe as he entered and threw himself on the couch.

"Where were you? Why are you coming back so late? Did something happen? Did you find anything?" I babbled rapidly as he tried to catch up with my never-ending questions.

"Calm down your hormones, Demi! You have such a short fuse! Nothing happened, actually, except the fact that I found the love of my life!"

"What?" I roared, outraged. "You mean I was worried sick about your safety while you were finding yourself a new toy?"

"Worried about me?" Joe curiously whispered, suddenly with his smirk back.

"Only because of the mission, damn it!" I justified myself, throwing him a cold look on my shoulder.

"Sure, whatever you say!" he chuckled. "And for your information, this girl is not like all the others. I'm genuinely interested in her and not just because of her body. Hard to believe, right?" He chuckled another time in front of my skeptical expression. "Don't worry, we all fall in love someday! You know, it's a marvelous feeling. Too bad that no one would ever love you back. A shame, really."

I shook my head desperately and he returned the gesture with a fake smile. Sighing and rolling my eyes, I carefully sat on the bed and searched for my laptop. I needed to recopy all the notes I took in my mission book - we never know-; a good agent better be prepared and every for anything.

Time seemed to tickle slowly as we both tried to ignore each other like yesterday, but I was unfortunately too curious to keep quiet. "How did it go?"

His eyes flickered from his phone and reluctantly landed on me. "Why do you even want to know? It's not like I'd tell you anything."

"Because it's our mission, damn it!" I exploded, letting out a frustrated groan. "We have to work in team whether we agree or not."

He raised an eyebrow at my stubbornness and chuckled slightly. "You were the one who didn't want to work with me," he reminded me with an amused expression.

"Do I look like I have a choice?"

There was a silence where we simply stared at each other, sending daggers with only our eyes. He finally broke our telepathic conversation to update me about his findings, or more like his lack of findings. "I learned some things about Zachary, but it's basically just his childhood. Taylor didn't tell me anything related to his traumatic experience, but she will hopefully give me more details when we'll be a couple."

"You plan to use her?!" I exclaimed, shocked and offended. Even if I didn't exactly appreciate the idea of them together, I'm a feminist and I can't bare with the idea of using someone -a woman, especially- for one's personal benefit.

"As I said, I'm genuinely interested in her. You don't have to believe me, but I swear I'm sincere. She's funny, beautiful, understanding, and open. You know... Everything you're not."

I felt a pinch on my heart, something that never ever happened with this jerk. Normally, his comments would only piss me off. Did I become sensible? "You don't know anything about me!" I snapped, trying to disguise how hurt I was even if he was joking.

"Well, I certainly know that you're stupid, stubborn, sarcastic, permanently angry, selfish, negative, not so good looking-"

"For God's sake, I got it!" I interrupted his trail of insults. "Shut your freaking mouth, because you're no better, Mr. Arrogant!"

What he didn't know what how much his words lowered my self-esteem.

"Can we spend a day without arguing with each other?" He sighed. "It's all so childish and I want to grow up and be a man! So please stop trying to provoke me because it ain't working anymore. I won't get affected."

He seemed so seriously annoyed by our games, and I must admit it shocked me. Maybe the girl was a really changing him? I felt a wave of disappointment inside of me because deep down, I knew our daily arguments almost entertained me. It was more of a routine and I was completely caught off guard by his reaction. A little humiliated, I nodded like a robot and focused back on my laptop. He is such a complex human being to decode; one time he seems to care about me just a little bit, and other times, not at all.

I shook my head, determined to change my ideas and distract myself from him.

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 Nancy xox