𝐒𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐍'𝐒 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 | 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐡𝐞𝐰

3 | Maeve Cooper

Celia sat up in shock, quickly running over to the door before she slams it close, making sure it was locked. She didn't even have an appetite anymore, so she went into the kitchen, wrapped up the chicken, and placed it in the fridge for later. 

After she was done with that, she walked back into the living room, grabbed her knife, and placed it back into the drawer where it was housed.

She acted oddly casual about this, so casual that she didn't even take any sort of weapon up to her bedroom. As if nothing happened, she got into her pajamas, took off her makeup, and went to bed.

─┉┈◈†◈┈┉

It was the next day and Celia was down at the police station working with the other detectives on the case. She was joined by Ms. Cooper, but she decided not to mention what she knew as it could, sorry, most definitely, cost her her job. Celia figured she'd save that information for a later date. Keep it in the vault just in case she pisses her off.

They continued to review pictures of the last murder and all of the detectives actively participated in trying to figure out the motive and who exactly was doing this. Celia decided not to mention anything about her conversation with the nun or the priest, and instead just built off the theories of everyone else.

She added virtually nothing to the conversation.

They finally wrapped up after two hours, and Celia figured it would be best if she got to know her assistant detective a little more. Especially since she had some sort of relationship with the church, and more importantly, the priest.

She approached the detective with a smile plastered across her face. She invited her to lunch to which the detective agreed. It seems they both had the smart idea of getting to know each other. Celia knew there was some tension with her getting demoted, so she also wanted to clear up that.

They went to a small sandwich shop just around the corner owned by an old retired couple who had the sweetest faces. They both ordered, then sat down at a two-top. 

"Ms. Cooper.." Celia began, but she was quickly cut off.

"Maeve. Just call me Maeve."

Celia nods, appreciating the request to call her by her first name, "Well, Maeve. I figured since we are working together so closely, we should probably know a couple of things about each other."

She nods her head, agreeing as she takes a sip of her coffee, "Completely agree. I also wanted to apologize for my slight attitude the other day," She laughs before continuing, "It's hard to see your replacement."

She smiles sympathetically, "Yeah, I could imagine."

"Especially when we look so alike! It's like looking in a mirror!"

"You noticed it too?"

She laughs, "Honey the entire department noticed. Hell, one of the officers called me Mrs. Collins. I was so caught off guard, I thought I suddenly got married!"

Celia grins, "Widowed."

The smile drops from her face, "Oh I am so sorry, I didn't mean to... make a joke out of it or anything I just-"

"No," Celia smiles, dipping her head, "It's not your fault. I just figured I'd keep the title."

She has an empathetic grin on her lips, her eyes sparkling, "If I may ask... what was he like?"

"Gosh," Celia starts, shaking her head, "He was incredibly handsome. The most caring man I have ever met. He was always weirdly obsessed with cleaning? Like, everything had to be spotless and sparkling. New almost, like... pure."

She hums, "Weird. Were you guys close?"

"Very. We would do everything together. Two peas in a pod!"

She chuckles softly, "That must have been amazing. My last boyfriend wasn't obsessed with cleaning, but we definitely were partners in crime."

Celia nods, "Exactly how we are. Were.. Sorry, excuse me. The wound is new, you know?"

Maeve laughs, "No I get it. It takes time to process everything. But from what I have witnessed, you're doing a really good job."

Celia smiles, "Thank you. That means a lot."

The topic soon shifts to the case and through out lunch, they become closer and closer. Laughing and talking as if they were friends forever. Before they knew it, it was 5pm.

Maeve looks at the time on her phone, and she interrupts Celia, "I am so sorry. But I actually have to get going."

"Oh. Right, actually me too."

Maeve stands up, scrambling all her belongings before she gives Celia a hasty goodbye. Celia reciprocated the goodbye, but something was odd about this. Being late for something, sure. But it felt like she was late for something very important.

So, as any good detective would, Celia followed her. There was something strange about her that wasn't quite adding up. She learned that Maeve was actually quite sweet, shy too. She had once volunteered at the retirement home! How darling of her.

She was about 2 cars behind her on the road and she followed cautiously for a good 30 minutes before Maeve pulled into a dark parking lot in front of a small building. Celia parked a couple blocks away, enough to be hidden, but still close enough to watch Maeve.

She squinted her eyes, watching as Maeve jumped out of her car and scrambled to the trunk. She thought she was going to pull out a gun, or a mask. Something that could possibly draw her closer to who the killer was. But no.

Instead, she pulled out a lacy red bra and the smallest "skirt" she had ever seen.

This was nothing to what Celia had imagined. A sweet Christian lady going into what she assumed was some sort of adult club. And worse than that, she was the entertainment.

─┉┈◈†◈┈┉

Lowkey short chap but :shrug: