The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 35 Pretending Xavier After kissing Joy, | hugged her so tightly.

| didn’t want to let her go. It has been six long months since | had Joy in my arms. Unlike Sebastian and Cristos, once | arrived in New Salem, | stayed, keeping a close watch on the people of this town. | had my suspicions, but | didn’t have the evidence to prove my theories... not just yet.

Joy was supposed to arrive when construction on her shop was almost finished, but after they arrested a man said to be the primary suspect of the murders of both Kimberly Smith and Joan Summers, Joy decided to cearly.

I, of course, was against it, but now | see how distracted Liam and his group have becnow that Joy was here.

| saw how Cris stood in the middle of the pub, all tongue-tied, drooling right in front of her. | noticed the longing looks Liam gave her while she sat at the bar. | saw how Noah. whispered something into Liam's ear when they passed each other at the restroom. And just while ago, | saw the grin on Jack’s face when he walked back to his truck.

to admit, there was something different about Noah, although | still didn’t agree with b astian’s theory that Noah could be a hitman. If he was a hitman, why didn’t he finish off Joy when he drove her hafter her assault? Did he feel sorry for her because they were bestfriends? I could see the dilemma. But Noah the assassin? don’t think so.

“What is it, Cristos? What did you see from the CCTVS?” Sebastian asked as we followed them into Joy's sound proof den. | sat down on the couch and made Joy sit right beside me. | buried my nose in her hair, blissfully inhaling the floral scent of her shampoo.

“I miss the smell of your hair,” | murmured, kissing the top of her head. She giggled and snuggled closer, wrapping her arms around my neck.

“Focus, you two,” Cristos scoffed at us. | took a throw pillow and threw it at him.

“I've missed Joy,” | murmured, staring at her and caressing her cheek. “I've been in this town. for six solid months helping everyone with their shopping. Please... letbe happy just this once.” Sebastian rolled his eyes at me, then fixated his gaze on the screen of the huge Smart 1/4 [x] Mon, CHAPTER 35 Pretending TV.

“Is that Noah?” Sebastian asked, surprised. Cristos nodded his head.

“I didn’t expect this from Noah,” Cristos said. “He pretended to be drunk and asleep in my car while | drove.

Virtue, if we had slipped and reverted back to our names, he would have found out. We have to make it a rule to use our fake names everywhere and anywhere in this town. It doesn’t matter if we're alone in the car.

“Chip is right. We have to embrace our fake identities full time,” Sebastian said. “Chip, | need. you to call Lou and tell him to fly in as soon as possible, so he can install the security system of Virtue’s home. | want him here later in the day.” He pointed to the ongoing now footage on one of the smaller windows at the bottom of the screen. Noah was looking through the windows of Joy’s house, trying to find cr acks within the curtains. “It looks like. he’s been employed by Liam to keep a close watch on you, Virtue, a very close watch.” “What did you hear from Liam and Jack’s conversation, Dom? Do you know why Liam was parked outside?” | asked.

“Jack told Liam to lay low until elections and no, Liam didn’t say why he followed Virtue,” Sebastian answered while he reviewed the footage. “Noah cout from the back of his house and stopped at the big elm tree at the side of Virtue’s yard. He was listening to her versation with Jack. Now, he’s trying to peek through the windows. This isn’t the Noah we known for the past six months. There's something different about him.” “I was just thinking the sthing. Can we now include him on the list?” | asked them, hoping they would agree.

Well, | gotta try.

“To kill? It's up to Virtue,” Cristos answered. “But I'm going to start doing sdigging. | can’t believe he outsmarted me... | mean, us.” “I think you should hire another contractor for your store, Virtue,” | suggested. “He could do all kinds of sabotage or h ook up CCTV cameras as small as a screw in hard to reach areas.or even place a bug.” “I can’t, Bo. | already hired him,” Joy argued. “Don’t worry. Lou is suppose to givethis camera detector and bug scanner device.” “If he doesn’t, you can borrow one of ours,” Sebastian said. “Chip, | need you to hack into his hWi-Fi system, get all his passwords and check if he orders anything online, especially CCTV cameras and aulistening devices,” Sebastian ordered Cristos.

2/4 13:32 Mon, Mar 25 d CHAPTER 35 Pretending “Gotcha, I'll check his schedule while I'm on it,” Cristos replied, nodding his head.

“Do you have anything on Nicole, Abigail or even Lisa?” | asked him.

82% “I've hacked into their Wi-Fi network and have all their data, but | haven't found anything unusual in their group chat except for the usual Let's get a drink. Not even Cris. | suspect they use burner phones without Wi-Fi capability. | went over to Sheriff Combs’ house and didn’t detect a Wi-Fi system,” Cristos said, sighing. “He's a dinosaur. As for the Cohen Mansion, it has security roaming twenty-four seven. That place is built to keep everyone out. Leo and Benny are currently on the inside getting information, but we need to move faster.” Leonard and Bernard Primo are two of Cristos closest cousins. When we told them of our plans, they wanted in right away, but Cristos told them to wait until we can find them the perfect undercover job and now they have been working at the mansion for three months.

“Chip, you need to hack into town hall,” Joy suggested. “Or place a bug or camera inside. Liam's office, maybe even Cris’ office and the Sheriff's. Those three offices are easily accessible to the public.” “Why didn’t | | think of that? I'll hack into town hall asap. But bugging Liam's office... it isn’t as easy as it sounds, Virtue,” Cristos said. “Not everyone is allowed inside Liam's office. Have you gone into Liam's office, Dom?” Sebastian shook his head. “How about you, Bo?” | shook my head too. “I haven't either. See?” nput a bug in Cris Murdock’s office,” | said. “He’s been houndingabout sponsorship r his reelection. I'll ask him to meet withat his office.” “One down,” Sebastian said. “Any takers for the Sheriff's office?” “I-I'll do it,” Joy answered. The three of us looked at her reluctantly. “I-I think Jack has a crush on me. He askedto have coffee with him if we ever bump into each other in town. Ill try and visit his workplace after we've had coffee.” “You are going to go on a date with that f ucker?” | asked, feeling jealous and angry.

“Bo, isn’t that why I'm here?” Joy took my hand and placed it on her cheek. “Remember, it’s for a od cause.” “Bo, we've already discussed this,” Sebastian argued. “Virtue’s here to manipulate all four.... well, five, if we count Noah. I'll place a bug in the newly renovated office at town hall. Nicole toldsomeone close to Liam will be using that office. Chip, have Benny and Leo place a tracking device on Liam's car.” 3/4 Mon, Mar 25 Mu CHAPTER 35 Pretending “Got it.” 3.82% “One last thing,” Sebastian took out a black box which looked like an airpod charging case from his his pocket. “Virtue, | need you to place a bug inside Noah's house. It's already preformatted so all you have to do is stick it in a concealed space like under a table.” He give you a GPS tracking device if | can’t place one on Noah's truck myself.” Joy nodded her head enthusiastically while placing the small black case in her pocket.

handed the box to Joy.

“Noah just ran back to the elm tree,” | said, pointing at the screen of the Smart TV. “Chip you need to leave while we run out the back door. Virtue, go outside and say goodbye to Chip,” | instructed. | saw the disappointment in her eyes. | lifted her chin so | could gaze into her beautiful blue eyes.

“Hey, we'll see you later in the morning. You can spend tat Dom's store or hang around at the grocery.

Remember, we'll be sleeping at our offices from now on. Chip, though, is still clearing out Old Man Eugene’s office,” | told her, kissing her on her forehead.

“Well, since I'm having construction done, | can fix the back and make it into an office slash bedroom and have a sofa bed placed inside, Chip. So all three of you are next to each other,” Joy offered.

| that’s a plan,” Cristos said, smiling. “Okay, we all need to leave. Virtue, make sure you your gun beside you when you sleep. Bo, switch off the lights at the back before you ys leave.” gave Joy one last hug and quickly went to the back door of her house without looking at her. | felt | wouldn't be able to leave if | looked at her one more time.

“Hey, the GPS tracker | put on Dan’s car showshe and Nicole went somewhere else,” Sebastian said while | turned off the lights in the back. “You wanna check it out?” “Sure.” Chapter Comments Luna-Mom another great chapter, full of suspense.

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