✓ 𝐒𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐍'𝐒 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 | 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐡𝐞𝐰

6 | wine drunk

Celia entered her car, turning on the ignition before she pulled out her phone from her pocket. She had nothing else to do today so she scrolled to Sister Megan's contact. After a few rings, she didn't answer.

Celia hated to even consider this, but maybe it was the only option to burn some time until night. She turned off the car, went back into the church, found Charlie, and invited him to lunch.

He smiled, delighted, "Of course. Let me just finish up here and I can meet you someplace."

Celia nods quickly. She names the first restaurant off the top of her head and then spins on her heel, walking out of the church. Celia knew she could have invited Maeve, but then again, she thought there was still a little bit of tension there. Talking to Charlie was easier, especially since Megan did not answer.

However, Sister Megan always answered the phone to her. She must have been incredibly busy.

Celia drives to the restaurant she told Charlie about. She parks quickly then heads inside to grab a table. She gets sat at a booth and while she waited, she scrolled the church website, eager to read more of Sister Megan's articles.

They were all so detailed and interesting. She was an incredible writer and Celia was jealous she never had a talent like this. She read and read, realizing some of the details were strangely unfamiliar to her. Maybe she had created what the scene looked like her in head. But... no.

Some of these details were some not even she considered. She knew more. Was she talking to Maeve? Or did she just make it up for the story?

Suddenly, Father Charlie slips into the seat across from her and she turns off her phone quickly, sliding it under her leg.

"Glad you could make it."

He smiles, "Why would I miss up a date with you, pretty?"

Celia could feel her cheeks get warm, "A date, huh?"

"Only if you want it to be."

Celia smiles shyly, shrugging her shoulders as if she was a teenager again. She rests her chin on both of her hands, "I dont mind."

His brown eyes pierced right through her blue and she could feel her skin crawl from his gaze. Finally, a waitress interrupts and she takes their drink orders.

"So Detective," Charlie starts, "Tell me about the case."

She sips her lemon water through her straw before answering, "Well we are still looking for leads. Which in truth... isn't good for us. By now, we should have something."

He nods his head, swirling his iced tea, "What happens if you guys don't crack it in time?"

"Well, I'll probably get fired. A lot of us will. I mean, our jobs are to solve cases, and when we can't, well, we're of no use."

He nods again, "Well I suppose instead of having lunch with me you should be investigating."

"Who said I wasn't investigating?"

He raises a single brow, "What are you saying, detective?"

She shrugs, "Well you work with Sister Megan, and I'm told you have a close relationship with Ms. Cooper. You must know something."

"In full honesty, I actually don't know a lot. The only details of the case I get are from Sister's articles."

Celia hums, looking down at her drink. She didn't quite believe him. He, after all, was the first person Sister Megan goes through before she publishes an article. I'm sure there were many instances where he had requested her to change something to something else.