Houston, We Have a Problem Chapter 2

Brian walked down the hall of In Cahootz magazine followed by a woman who would have been pretty had it not been for her big mouth.

"Whaddaya mean, you won't do it," she said, "I've got to pay my rent!"

"Barbara Jean, she dumped me! Why would I want to do an in-depth story about her marrying another man?" said Brian.

"Look here, Brian, you may have a stash of money hiding under your grandmother's clock. I have to work for a living. You need to suck it up and be a man. This could be your big break! Think of this not as paparazzi fodder, but in-depth analysis of the second marriage. Or even do the middle-class/upper-class angle. And I am Reba's best friend! Who better to do the spread?"

"So you obviously don't care about my feelings. Barbara Jean, you could be a serious reporter. You have the presence and the looks. You could could command six figures if you went to grad school in communications and-"

She cut him off. "Pie in the sky, Brian. If I had the money and time, I'd go back to school and be the next Katie Couric. And you should be directing cutting-edge documentaries, eh? But we're here. I had a major melt-down while doing the weather and you had a run-in at the Boston Globe for running a story about the editor's drunken daughter. We got these jobs because we were desperate and gossip mags love employees who know scandal personally. Face it, Brian. We already are the paparazzi. At least they eat regular meals."

Brian glared at her, and then knocked on a door that said "Melissa Chaswyck, Local Editor."

Mrs. Chaswyck stood as they entered. "Good morning Brian, Barbara Jean. Thank you for coming. I hear there's some trepidation about the wedding story."

Brian started right in. "Who in their right mind care about some oil baron marrying for the second time?"

"Plenty of people," said Mrs.Chaswyck. "He is the city's most eligible bachelor – worth millions. He had old family money which he was savvy enough grow. The public would love to see and hear all about who bagged this guy and what she has that they don't. His story is widely known. Hers is not. Reba Hart, average hard-working real estate agent nails the rich bachelor. People want to know what gives."

"It's voyeuristic," said Brian.

"It's what the public wants," said Mrs. Chaswyck.

"It pay the bills," said Barbara Jean. "Plus, I have the ultimate 'in.' Please, Brian. I haven't had a decent meal in three days."

"And yet your shoes are brand new," said Brian.

"First things first," said Barbara Jean. "I have my priorities straight. Henry, Beanie Babies, clothing, hair, makeup, food, and then sleep."

Brian rolled his eyes and turned back to Mrs. Chaswyck. "It would have to pay very well to convince me."

"Everyone has their price, Mr. Collins," said Mrs. Chaswyck. "One weekend. Six pages. Twenty thousand for each of you."

Brian's eyes popped. "Twenty thousand? I'd normally have to work six months for that."

"The sales would more than cover yours and Barbara Jean's fees."

Brian swallowed. Barbara Jean jumped around and tried not to squeal.

"I still think it's unethical," said Brian.

Barbara Jean pouted. "Then, Mrs.Chaswyck, find me another reporter, someone who isn't worried about whether it's ethical or not. I personally think Reba would love having her picture and story all over the gossip mags!"

A voice came from behind her through a door that had just opened. "Then you haven't talked with her in a while, Barbara Jean, because Reba has changed, and not for the better."

"Brock?" said Barbara Jean. "What are you doing at In Cahootz?"

Mrs. Chaswyck interrupted. "Dr. Hart has agreed to help convince whomever needs convincing that this story needs to be written."

Barbara Jean frowned. "Wait just a minute. What's in it for you, Brock? I don't trust this setup. Do you mean to hurt Reba?"

Brock was looking at Mrs. Chaswyck, not Barbara Jean when he said, "Trust me, Barbara Jean; there is a good reason. And it will actually prevent Reba getting hurt."

Barbara Jean was incensed. "Alright, out with it, Brock. Who's trying to hurt Reba?"

"I'm not at liberty to say," said Brock.

"I can keep a secret," said Barbara Jean, grinning wildly.

"Brock smirked. "So said John Haldeman. Look, Barbara Jean, if I tell you, Reba will get hurt immediately. Do you want to be the cause of Reba's pain?"

"No, no, no," said Barbara Jean, stepping away and wringing her hands.

"Then let me handle it," he said.

Brian threw up his hands. "Intrigue and the ex-husband. Another two reasons to avoid this story like The Plague."

Brock walked over to Brian. "How about free dental for the next twenty years?"

Brian's eyes rounded once again, but bigger. He stared at Brock for a moment. "You're kidding, right? Free dental? For twenty years?"

"He's my ex," said Barbara Jean to Mrs. Chaswyck, emphatically pointing her finger at herself. "But he was Reba's ex first because he got me pregnant in his xray room," she blurted. "And he's a dentist!"

Mrs. Chaswyck looked at Brock, who shrugged. Then, she smiled briefly. "Already I see multiples angles."

Brian shook Brock's hand. "I'm in. For free dental, I'd snoop on the Pope."