Chapter 13
As Christie sat and listened to the man’s story, she felt a sinking feeling of dread in her stomach. She realized, with a dull sense of panic that she had been so focused on chasing the story and keeping her job that she hadn’t really thought about the impact that the story could have on her. Or on the father of her child.
The men that Ace talked about sounded dangerous. They sounded like the kind of men who would have no problem hurting a pregnant woman, just because she brought their story to the papers.
She wanted the story, and she was desperate to keep her job, but she just hadn’t thought about what might happen if she eventually got the story that she had been chasing for so long and published it. She felt anxiety shiver through her like a brutally cold spell.
“Hey lady, you listening? I’m not telling you twice.” He was a surly looking man, skinny and lean, with an edge to his face. He was a friend of a friend of a man she had talked to, and he had seemed very closed off until she had mentioned Ace’s name.
She didn’t like mentioning Ace, even like this, but it was getting her information and that was what counted for her in the end.
“Yes, of course. Please continue.” She smiled pleasantly.
He snorted and continued, “Next fight’s in a few days’ time. It’s a big one too.” He shrugged, “I have no interest anymore, but word gets around when it’s a fight this damn big. Current champ versus a contender.”
Christie nodded and pretended she knew who these people were. She had dressed down, hoping not to come across as a reporter and it seemed to be working.
“Really?” She smiled and tried her best to seem interested, “Where will it be held?”
The man shook his head with a sneer, “It’s not worth my life to tell you, sweetheart. If you don’t know, you don’t know.” He frowned, “Besides, I thought you knew Ace? He’s the damn champ.”
Christie felt a little giddy at his words. Ace was the current champion? He was in this big fight? She felt nausea creep into her gut. If she blew this open while he was fighting, the police would get him.
She sighed, “I know him. We haven’t talked for a while.”
“Oh I see.” He snickered and gave her a dark look, “Good luck, then.”
He fished a cigarette from his pocket and lit up, a puff of smoke clouding his face, “That’s all I have for you.”
Christie smiled and nodded, “Thank you so much. It really means a lot to me, you know.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He waved her off and Christie could tell that she would not be getting any more information from him.
With a sigh, she stepped away, walking down the street and wondering where the nearest coffee shop was. She really wanted a coffee, but she had been cutting back, trying to stick with tea. It was only adding to her exhaustion, which Christie was feeling all the time regardless of how much sleep she was getting.
Then again, sleep seemed to be eluding her as well. She spent her nights worrying about the baby, worrying about the story, worrying about her job and thinking about Ace. It was a potent mix and it did absolutely nothing for her sleep. She was left feeling tired, exhausted and anxious almost all the time and it was really starting to get on Christie’s nerves.
She mulled over what her informant had said while she ordered a cup of tea from the lady at the counter. She received it quickly and sipped it slowly, savoring the taste of it. When she was done, she set off back down the street. She had to get back to work soon, as she’d only booked out an hour or so for field work. Christie was convinced that she was getting very close. She now knew the time and date of the fight and even who was fighting in it.
She just needed a location and she would be fine. She’d be able to go and have a look, jot down important names and details, and get out of there with a great story.
Still, she was beginning to realize that it was a risky move. These people seemed to be dangerous and well connected and Christie wasn’t sure if she was getting in over her head here by pushing their buttons. But she really didn’t have a choice. She needed the story. She needed the work. It wasn’t an option to quit now. Taking a deep breath, Christie tried to work through her options as she stepped into the warmth of the office. Maybe she could convince her boss to let her publish the story under another name.
Maybe she could hand him the written story and let him take the glory, while letting her keep the job. She sighed and shook her head. Whoever published the story would be the one who got the full wrath of those they were crossing. She wasn’t sure she could put anyone else in danger like that. Also, she wasn’t completely sure that if she handed over the story it would no longer be her problem.
As Christie sat down at her desk, she realized that her own thoughts were echoing something that Ace had said to her, about not wanting to put her in danger. For the first time she had a glimpse into what he might be feeling. For the first time, she realized that he might have acted to protect her from a world that was more dangerous that she had been able to comprehend. Even now, she knew that she didn’t truly understand the full extent of it. She was, after all, from a small town.
Thoughts of Ace surfaced in a rush, and suddenly, Christie couldn’t stop thinking about his smile over dinner, the way his hands had felt on her body, the feel of his lips on hers, the way his eyes sparkled when he saw her, and of course, how he filled her so completely.
Tears flooded her eyes and Christie squeezed them shut tightly, refusing to entertain the misery that tried to take up residence in her chest. She had to keep moving forward, for the baby’s sake as well as her own. She couldn’t be sitting at work crying over Ace.
Taking a deep breath, Christie marked off her calendar. The fight was approaching soon and Christie vowed that she would have a location by the time it happened. She would have that story and she would have to deal with the consequences. Fear tingled through her but she steeled her resolve. After all, what choice did she have?