Chapter Two of A Reporters Nightmare

     The pickup would be considered a rust bucket by most people and that was why Aragon had chosen it. No one would suspect a reporter to be driving something so out of style, especially in the big city.

     Just as Aragon reached for his keys he happened to look to the side and saw a gun staring at him. Aragon froze. The man behind the gun was Smoky and behind him were two other men.

     Aragon didn’t have time to start the engine. By the time he got the key in and the pickup put in gear the men could pull the trigger and he would be dead before the pickup was even moving.

     He put his hands in the air. Smoky motioned for him to get out. Aragon did so but moved slowly, his mind was frantically thinking of an excuse as to why he was in this area at the same time the men had been having their conversation.

     “What’s going on?” Aragon asked, annoyed to find that he squeaked a little.

     “What’re you doin’ over here?” Smoky demanded.

     Out of the corner of his eye Aragon saw a pet shop sign. “I stopped for my lunch break and a nap, right here seemed like a good place.”

     Smoky glared at him. “Where do you work?” He growled.

     “A pet shop.” Aragon said.

     One of the men behind Smoky reached inside his jacket and pulled out his notepad. Aragon was relieved that he hadn’t written anything on it yet.

     “What’s this?” Smoky said, the cigarette in his mouth bouncing with every word.

     “It’s a notepad.” Aragon said. “It’s used to write stuff on. I like to write stories in my spare time.”

     Smoky seemed to think this over before uttering a sharp word to his men, then he looked at Aragon. “Get in the back of your pickup.” He said.

     Aragon gulped. “In the back or the back?”

     Smoky glowered at that. “Watch your mouth.”

     “I was watching it but then I saw you and started watching you instead.” Aragon said and was rewarded with a hard slap that would have knocked him flat but he had been expecting it. Now he knew that the men weren’t afraid of beating someone up to get what they wanted.