Agent Reptilian: Exploiting Gold|editing

Chapter thirty five: Breaking News

News papers, magazines, flyers, articles were scattered on the kitchen table in piles and heaps. The Sunshine News, that yet had to report any sunshine sat ripped apart in the middle. With Nix's help, I had gone to stores, the nearby library and even school even to find a job that I could start working at as soon as possible but we couldn't find anything. All of the sources were outdated. Like they hadn't even bothered to add new sources instead of these old ones.

"Robbing a bank seems like a solid option at the moment." I sighed. Nix nodded.

I wanted to scream at my stupidity. Why did I run? Why did I always run? It was like a default option in my brain, the first option that I would always pick. Cowardice. When I was afraid, I would just run away from the problem. But the problem would chase me back and now I sat here, $2000 in debt. I did have money but it was back at Secretum and it wasn't much. Everything was already paid for, there was little money I had earned from helping out the agents but I wouldn't be able to retrieve any of it from here.

"What if we called River?" I asked Nix.

"Then you might as well call Adams." That was true. Even if we used a burner phone to call him, the number wasn't in the Secretum's domain and would be traced back to us and we'd be in deeper trouble. Adams would probably end up at our doorstep and demand answers from us. Why did we try to contact River? Saying that I lost $2000 would not help our case against the other agents who were already weary of us.

I was conflicted. There was no other way. Well, again, robbery was an option but it wasn't. Realistically there was nothing left. With no jobs available and even if so, I wouldn't be able to get all the money back. Plus disappearing for hours everyday in the week would make Del suspicious. 

"Okay so job out of the question. Secretum out of the question. What is even left? Rob Del?" Nix snorted.

"I'd rather go with the bank option. Hey Al, I know this is a bit crazy but what if we asked Dhruv for help." I looked up at her, not because she had come up with an ingenious plan, but rather because she had come up with a ridicsoulys stupid one. "Forget it. I can sense your answer. But if you have better ideas, enlighten me."

"Nix, have you lost your mind? You think a person who hardly knows us is going to give us $2000?" She went silent. Our time was limited, and our options were pretty much non-existent. I closed my eyes and tried to think of something.

Creak. It came from the stairs.

Del was coming downstairs.

Before I could even properly open my eyes, Nix and I both shot up out of our seats and immediately began collecting all the useless papers on the table. I quickly ran and grabbed a garbage bag and we shoved everything into it and pushed Nix outside the back door of the kitchen.

"Are you ready missy?" I spun around and met a grumpy looking Del.

"Yes. let's go." I spoke out of breath.

"Where's the other nuisance?" I tried not to break her jaw.

"Left for school." She curtly nodded. I grabbed the house keys and locked the door as we exited the house.

***

"Thanks." I shut the cab door and waited for Del to pay the driver and come out of the car.

She hopped out, dressed as if she was on her way to a business meeting and not K-mart. Her signature bright red lipstick was smothered on her face and she  straightened her blazer and skirt while I stood next to her in my rags. I would've dressed up too if I actually had anything good to wear. There was a massive rip on my overalls which I had tried to sew up but now it looked like Sally's clothes from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.