BTC 9: Joy

Joe Trebble and the Bio Tech Conspiracy

Chapter 9: Joy

Back to Chapter 1: A Hot Pink Car

Christie entered the house and collapsed on a chair in the living room. Tears swelled in her eyes. The golden retriever looked up at her. "I'm not going to cry Duncan." Christie stroked his muzzle. "I'm not going to cry!" she said louder, to no one in particular, as tears started to roll down her cheeks.

"It's alright dear" Rachael said entering the room from the hall at the bottom of the stairs. "Joe has been away for a long time. He has changed and now has his own life. I'm sure he still has feelings for you" Rachael said putting an arm around Christie.

Christie looked up into her mother's eyes, through tear soaked ones of her own. "I know, but it still hurts. I have known for a while" Christie looked down." At least could guess, as you guessed at my crying."

Rachael kneld down infront of her. "You have been holding on to him for too long. We all have. At least now you know it won't happen" Rachael said gently holding Christie's chin up and meeting her gaze.

"You're right mother" Christie lent over and gave her a hug. "I'm sure I'll feel better after some sleep."

~~~~~

Christie awoke to her mobile ringing. "Uh. . . hello" she said in a sleepy tone after groping for it beside her bed.

"Hey Christie. Um. . . "

"Who is this?" Christie said sitting up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Trevor" the voice on the other ends sounded a little shocked and downhearted.

"Oh hey Trevor. Sorry I just woke up, had a late night." Christie looked at the clock and was surprised it showed 1:03 PM.

"Oh. . . . Um. . . ."

"An old friend was in town, nothing special." Her heart ached.

"Oh? . . . So, . . . um. . . want to study together?"

Even though her heart ached from Joe's news, she laughed a little at Trevor's request. She had to get him over this shy romantic bumbling. "Not really in the mood to study. Kind of in the mood for something more entertaining."

"M . . . m . . .movie then?" His voice squeaked.

Christie knew Trevor's age, and thought it was slightly weird his voice cracking at 21, but, hey, he had a crush on her and the mere fact he managed to studder out asking for a date amused her. "Sure, why not. What about the one you told me about yesterday? But not before four."

"Great! There's a 4:35 PM showing. Want me to pick you up or meet there?" Trevor said quickly and anxiously.

"Why don't you pick me up. Make this a real date."

In the dead air of a reply Christie could almost hear Trevor blush.

"Pick me up around 4 PM." Christie gave Trevor her address and hung up after a meek acknowledgment. She looked at herself in her dressing mirror. "It feels like spring" she thought as her aching heart was also filled with joy.

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Next: Chapter 10: The Sea

BTC 8: Dogs/Cars/People

Joe Trebble and the Bio Tech Conspiracy

Chapter 8: Dogs/Cars/People

Back to Chapter 1: A Hot Pink Car

The dogs barked as Joe pulled up in the pink Cadillac in front of Christie's house to drop her off. The poetry night had been canceled which left more time for Joe and Christie to catch up. However as the night wore on, Joe had to say goodnight for his busy day.

"Thanks for a wonderful evening" Christie said giving Joe a kiss on the cheek before getting out of the car. "And thanks for being so open and honest with me." Joe watched Christie head to the door and silence the dogs before going inside.

"Honest and open" Joe thought shaking his head. "If ony she knew." Joe drove off. There was one place he had to go to before he could rest for the night.

Soon Joe pulled his pink Cadillac into a used car lot with many other cars of the same vintage. Joe threw the large duffel bag of his belongings over his shoulder and grabbed the smaller briefcase from the back of the car. He then went to the back of the car lot office, dropping the duffel bag strategically on the way, and pulled out of the briefcase lock picking tools. Making sure no one was looking, Joe jimmied the lock and quickly hacked the security code.

"Way too easy" Joe thought as he made his way to a computer. Within minutes he'd hacked his way into the system and logged the pink Cadillac into the inventory. Joe dropped the keys into a pile of other keys, after tagging them, and discretely made his exit.

Picking up his duffel bag he made his way to the SPCA shelter near by. Joe knew better than to break in there, but this was to be a drop point for the briefcase. Walking nonchalantly around the building at a safe distance, so as to not get the dogs barking, Joe looked for the drop point. As he started his third circuit, switching his direction this time, he saw it; a broken air exhaust vent behind a dumpster. Checking again that no one was watching, Joe hid the briefcase.

With that done, Joe hiked to the Greyhound bus terminal. As the doors slid open, Joe saw the time; 5:58 AM. "This is going to be a long day" he thought seeing all the people already waiting for a bus. Joe found an empty corner, threw down his duffel bag and, using it as a bed, lay down to get some sleep before his 9:15 AM bus.


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Next: Chapter 9: Joy