want to make sure my number one journalist is holding his own.”
“I’m fine.”
“Good. And how is Natalie?”
“She’s great. No she’s terrific. Apart from….” Dennis stopped.
“Apart from what?”
Dennis wished he hadn’t mentioned it.
“She met me from the police station and slapped me for ’playing the hero’ as she called it.”
Rogerson laughed.
“Slapped you!”
“Yeah. She had a bit of a go at me.”
“But you’re ok now. Both of you.”
“Yeah. We’re fine. I don’t know why I did it.”
“Well she’s right. You could have got yourself killed. I guess that’s why you’re the best storyteller I have. You know, always being part of the action. Getting that first hand experience.”
“Something like that,” Dennis replied.
“Well that’s it for now. Let me know if there is anything else you can think of that may be relevant to a story, any story in the last 72 hours.”
Dennis got up to leave. At the door he stopped.
“Thanks Tom.”
“For what?”
“For caring.”
“I might be your boss Pete but I’m also your friend. Grab Dixon as soon as he gets in!” Rogerson shouted as Dennis closed the door.
He made his way slowly back to his desk. There was another yellow post it note stuck to his computer screen. Before he even read it he saw that it was Becky’s handwriting and the message ended in a kiss. An ’x’ with a horizontal line either side.
“For fuck’s sake,” Dennis said quietly, “This is a form of sexual harrassment.”
He looked across at her. She was talking to another girl, Ruby, a journalist, but every time she agreed with something Ruby said she nodded then glanced his way. It wasn’t that he was shy or afraid of beautiful women, he’d had his fair share of them, it was just that this one looked like she could get him into trouble. Trouble with Natalie and that was something he wanted to avoid at all costs. He couldn’t imagine life without the beautiful archaeologist now. Their relationship over the months had blossomed into something he’d never had before. He’d been in love before of course, many times. Been hurt many times. Did the hurting. He thought about his girlfriend now and his pulse raced like it always did about her. He glanced at his clock. 10am. She’ll be here in a few hours. He noticed Becky finish her conversation with Ruby and start heading his way.
“Oh shit.”
Then he saw James Dixon breeze into the office.
“Hey James,” Dennis called across the floor.
Dixon placed his briefcase down by his desk and looked up as Dennis reached him.
“Well. Well. Well. If it isn’t the man of the moment.”
Dennis pulled up a chair as Dixon sat.
“What’s up Pete?”
“Rogerson wants us to work together this morning. I’ve got to tell you all about what happened on Fri….”
Dixon bent his neck around Dennis’ shoulder at Becky’s disappearing figure as she entered Rogerson’s office.
“Was that Becky I just saw in that short skirt.”
“Yeah.”
“What do you mean yeah! She’s the hottest babe that’s ever worked here.”
“Yeah I know.”
“And you’re telling me you wouldn’t.”
“No I wouldn’t.”
“Bullshit!”
“Look mate between you and me she’s a bloody nightmare.”
“Nightmare?”
“Well a distraction then. I think she’s interested in me. Either that or she’s just a tease.”
“If she was interested in me I wouldn’t hesitate mate. I’d be in there so quick….Oh shit she’s coming over.”
Dennis turned, saw her and grimaced. He kept his back to her.
“Oh Peter I was coming to tell you that Mr Dixon was here but I see you’ve found him.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Morning James,” she said walking off while biting the end of her pencil. Dixon just nodded and waited until she was out of earshot.
“Fuck me! Damn. I wish I was you.”
“No. You really don’t. Look, come on forget about her. Let’s get started.”
Dennis flipped open Dixon’s laptop.
“I need to know what you’ve done so far.”
Dixon tore his eyes away from the brunette and opened his documents on his laptop.
“Okay Pete. This was done Friday night.
The two journalists settled down to read the computer screen.
“Ahem!”
They looked up. Natalie was standing there. A large paper bag in one hand, two cartons of coffee in the other.
“Oh hi!”
“Did you forget.”
“What? Oh no! I….what’s the time?” he looked at his watch. It was just after twelve, “No. I’m….of course not. We were just working hard and I lost track of time. This is James.”
“Hi James.”
“Hi,” Dixon replied, then spun in his swivel chair to get something from behind, “Another one Pete?” he said quietly.
Dennis looked at Natalie who raised her hands slightly.
“Oh yeah. Right.”
Dennis got up and put the