Belly Literary Universe (part 2)

Cozca's Devil's part 3: Recruiting Jackie

Jackie huffed for breath, having sprinted up the stairs of Valerie's apartment complex - the strong finish to her post work run. In front of her girlfriend's door, she leaned against the wall, leaving a sweat dampened hand print. She knocked.

Nothing.

She knocked again, then tried the door handle. It opened. "Hey, you there Val? Babe?"

"I'm here." She said, her voice meek.

"Whats up?" Jackie asked, still heaving for breath.

Valerie was still in her work clothes, a demure brown skirt and blouse, a little bit tight. Her hands were folded in her lap as she sat on her couch, looking like a professional with her posture.

Jackie closed the door and locked it. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah."

"Then what's going on. Why are you sitting around looking all depressed?" Jackie sat next to Valerie and poked her belly. She nibbled at the crook of her neck, then slid her hand against her belly, in between the waistband of her skirt and blouse.

"You need a shower," Valerie said, still sitting like stone.

"Yeah, and you need to tell me what's going on," Jackie said, ceasing her physical advances.

Valerie sighed, took a deep breath and gave her answer. "I know you're dating me to get information. I've known since before our second conversation."

Jackie sat up straight. "Noo that's not - what do you mean? You think all that eating was for nothing? I mean I'm curious sure - I worked in cyber security. I see things and need answers."

Valerie sighed again. "You're working with someone else to get information about Cozca and the Secret Advisor. It was obvious from your question before about Cozca, but the Secret Advisor knows you're looking for information on him. He told me. You were sent or decided to come to me for information probably because of any number of the fat related events I've been related to in the office recently. The Secret Advisor mentioned you weren't exactly an ally of Cozca or him. I paraphrased, that's not exactly what he said. But close enough."

Jacki gulped as the sweat covering her body turned to ice. Her first instinct was to deny it all, but she could only stammer. The facade fell to pieces. "You knew the whole time? So you were what? Using me?" She said, trying to deflect any blame or culpability.

"No. It's not like that." She put her hand on Jackie's leg. "I do like you a lot, and want to continue this. Us. The relationship, not just the hedonism." A chuckle made a rare smile cross her face. "The secret advisor was also reasonably sure I could convince you you'd like to put on weight with time. But It's more important that I like you for who you are."

Jackie breathed in near silence for a time. "Sooo what is this then? Just a moment of honesty? Coming clean? You're guilty about this?"

"We need your help."

Jackie scoffed. "Help with what? And we?"

"Kelri Rivera, Maia Thorne, and probably a few other people who have yet to be brought on board. I'm hesitant to give you details, because this is tantamount to consulting with an enemy. You're not my enemy... That is a bad way to phrase it. But if I tell you too much, you may run to your partner and get it all stopped."

Jackie glared. "What is it you're planning?"

Valerie sighed and knotted her fingers. "We need to get an object into a secure area. None of us have any background in security. And you do. Obviously we'd want to get someone more amenable to the cause, but you're-"

"What? I'm what? An easy mark apparently? Gullible? Manipulatable? Clueless?" Jackie stood and stomped, and wiped sweat from her brow. She put on an angry smirk. "Why not, right? You already tricked me into getting fat. That was your con all along. And it worked. I played right into it. Well played."

Valerie looked down at the ground, accepting the charges.

"Some fat cult. Some hacker. Why are you tied up in all this? And don't give me any more of that 'gain weight and I'll answer' crap. You don't want to spill your plan? Fine. But you have to tell me why? Why do you care about all this? Do you even know who this Secret Advisor is? He's behind some of the biggest data thefts in the state, and probably beyond. Uncatchable. And he's maybe connected to the asshole researcher who got my mom killed. Tell me why the hell you're involved."

Valerie shrugged. "I don't have an answer that will make you feel better. We've already talked about this a lot." She said gesturing to her belly. "But I trust the Secret Advisor because his advice has proven useful. Reliable. I don't know anything about any stolen data."

"So because sex. And fetish shit. That's why you've thrown yourself in bed with him? Them?"

Valerie shrugged again. "They've been trying to make society comfortable for people of my tastes for a long time. My tastes - all the food and fat stuff - it's a big part of who I am. And I believe that it should be more accepted. I'm sorry if that - I'm sorry that it makes me side with Cozca and the Secret Advisor."

Jackie shook her head, and with a huff stormed out. She got to the lobby before she cleared her mind enough to think about anything. She dialed Marvin.

The phone rang.

It rang again.

In that moment she calmed down. Fuck. Fuckity fuck. This might actually get me somewhere. And I might have just blown it. God damn it.

"Marvin. Talk." Marvin said, as his beard brushed against the phone's microphone.

"Ughhh," Jackie groaned to buy time. "Just wanted to check in. Things are going good. Maybe. I uh - might have a lead. Not sure on it yet. I'll get you more details if it pans out."

"That's all you called for? To tell me things are just dandy? Really?"

"Sorry. I just put some puzzle pieces together as I called. I think. Like I said, I'll let you know." Jackie hung up the phone.

Damn it, how am I going to apologize for this without it seeming like I'm just looking for information... I need to lay low. Pretend to sulk. Make her come to me...

***