Simona Davis

20:The Detective meets Natalia ☕

Jones waited outside the cafe for the reporter of SUSPENSEFEEDS.

He sees her crossing the road, approaching the cafe. She is wearing a different wig - chestnut coloured. A clear contrast from her signature purple colour.
She passes him with a whif of strong perfume.

He hears the cafe door close and walks in the cafe.

He watches her take her coffee and sandwich to an empty booth at the back.
The waitress places a tray of condiments and sugar in front of her.
"Merci." She thanks her. Her accent is so well done, Jones raises his eyebrows.

He orders a coffee and a muffin and walks to her booth and sits.

She looks up and greets him. " Bonjour."
He refrains from smiling and greets her.
"Hi there, I don't know french."

"Zat is okay. I speek eenglish." She gives a little look of panic as he sits across from her.

"You don't mind me sitting with you?" He asks.

She swallows and smiles genuinely." Not at all." Her accent slips but he shows ignores it.

She clears her throat." Ow can I elp you?"

"Well..." He stirs his coffee." I was looking for a reporter."

"A reporter?" She frowns.

Her acting is good. He thinks.

"Yes, I am a  detective and I am looking for a reporter called Katie Andrews."

Her  fake blue eyes freeze on his as she tries to maintain her elegant composure. She covers it with drinking coffee.

"I don't know this reporter." She lies. Her accent slips again.

"She reports on paranormal activities in the city."

"That maybe ze reason I don know her." She replies quickly." Paranormal activities do not interest me."

"I see." He clears his throat and waves to the waiter. He turns back to her and notes her rising inner tension.

"One more cup please." He instructs the waiter." Would you like another cup?"

She wants to say no but she nods.

"Excellent!" He smiles at her. She gives him a wavering smile.

"If I may ask you, monsieur." Her accent is back.

"Yes,go ahead."

"I am an ordinaire tinning. Why would you follow me exactly? I have no relation to zis woman."

"Because you look like her." He keeps his eyes on her.

She blinks away from him then back.
"I don understand."

"Her eyes- they were warm and brown."

"Mine are blue." She chuckles sipping her coffee.

"Exactly,but they are the same shape and structure- more like a bambi's."

"I still don't understand where you a going wiz zis,sir."

"Is she your twin sister. She prefers purple,more exotic colours compares to you."

She sets her cup down with a thump." I don't know zis woman wiz ze purple hair!" She shouts.

The people around them look at her. She avoids them and straightens her tissue paper.

"I don't mean to unnerve you madame." He replies.

"You are stalker and I can report you to the p-"

"Ma'am, I am the police." He replies sternly this time.

She looks up at him and clenches her jaw.

It's her and he knows it. Time to bring down the timber.

"So what if you are ze police? I have done no crime so I can report you."

He chuckles." You can't."

"Why not?" She blinks furiously.

"For starters, you are an impostor  He replies.

She smiles a little and swallows." How are u sure of zi-"

"You can drop the act Natalia." He drinks the rest of his coffee.

She gasps and looks around the cafe if anyone heard.

She tries to speak but he stops her."I'd save your breathe if I were you."

She leans in and whispers." How do you know my name?"

"I am pretty sure I mentioned am a detective earlier." He sighs." You are a fugitive of the law. You were part of a gang and spent most of your time robbing retail outlets. You betrayed them so now, you are running away from them too."

He breathes and continues." I get it. You don't want to suffer for your consequences but if you're going to hide in plain sight why the purple hair? Why the tv show? Aren't you exposing yourself already?"

She closes her eyes and exhales." I had to find something to do. I was broker than broke. No place to stay. Nothing to eat. They hunted me like dogs would."

"Why the purple hair? Why the show? As you said- I had to hide in plain sight. I was a different person with them. They would never think of me like that. The show isn't a complete farce. It is actually interesting."

He nods, watching her tired eyes - realizing the effort and strain in keeping up a disguise must have taken a toll on her.

"Listen, if you cooperate, it will be easier. It has been hard for you,I see that."

She frowns." Will you arrest me if I don't do what you want?"

"Pretty much, yeah." He smiles weakly.

"So it's blackmail?" She tilts her head.

"Yes it is." He says." Coming from a detective must be shocking but-"

"Oh,please." She stops him." We all have dirt under our nails, it doesn't matter what we do. You're just doing your job."

"Yeah,I am." He looks down to avoid looking desperate to find the cause and killer of his partner. He could care less about his job. This woman was the only one with a lead to this fucked up gizmo.

"Okay detective. I will do what you want to survive but I want you to prove who you are and I want a contract."

He looks up at her with disbelief." You are agreeing to this?"

"I don't have a choice." She shrugs." And this french accent is wearing me out. I want another disguise. Changing your appearance is not as burdening as you would think." She smiles a little.

He admires her true smile and nods.

"Right, what sort of contract?"

"Total protection and a non disclosure. I don't want to be exposed on any account while giving you the intel I have collected and after . And... I want my past crimes wiped out of the police system. I want to be clean." She maintains eye contact with him.

He was expecting her to demand a clean cut and he was willing to do anything to find justice for Connor.

"Okay, Margo." He points to the cup with her fake name on it." We have a deal." He smiles.

She smiles  back at him.