Breve Series: Date at the Water Grill

Untitled Part 10

                                                                                        -20-

After Brigitte and Evelyn updated Pete on all they had found out, Evelyn called John, who was at home, watching TV with Helen. When he saw Evelyn's number, he realized he hadn't planned this far ahead; he had no easy excuse for the conversation he was about to have. Not wanting to miss Evelyn's call, he quickly picked up.

"Hello."

"Hi John! It's Evelyn."

"Is everything alright?" asked John and turned to Helen, mouthing: "It's Jennifer."

"Who?" asked Helen.

"I was just calling to ask how you want us to proceed," said Evelyn.

"It's Jennifer, my assistant," said John loud enough so that Evelyn could hear him too.

She apparently did because she raised her voice.

"No, it's me, Evelyn! Is your phone working fine? I can hear you well; can you hear me? It's me, Evelyn!" she yelled.

"What did she say?" asked Helen. "Is she at the Beverly Inn?"

"I'd better take this is the study," said John. "Hold on Jenn."

He walked into his study and carefully closed the door behind him.

"OK, we're in the clear now. I was with Helen. I don't want her to be suspicious or think that I... you know... am seeing another woman."

"Oh, yeah, how silly of me not to think of that!" exclaimed Evelyn. "Listen, we followed your blonde. . . "

"Her name is Ginger," cut in John.

"So we followed Ginger, and she met up with this tubby, little fellow. They are in cahoots. Brigitte and I got some information from Ginger, but the fellow, Eddie is not the head of the operation, and Ginger doesn't know much more. We need to talk to Eddie to really get to the bottom of it. What do you say?"

"Evelyn, I don't want to put you and your daughter in harm's way. Eddie could be dangerous," John's voice was full of worry.

"We'll be at a public place, he won't be able to pull anything there. Besides, any man who'd send a woman to do his dirty work for him is a coward. We'll be fine. I wanted to get your permission for something though..."

Why start now, thought John but then he had to admit to himself that Evelyn had actually asked for his permission before going on this crazy mission.

"Yes? What did you have in mind, Evelyn?"

"See, I think we need to offer some incentive here to make him talk. Threatening to call the police would probably work but you don't want to take that route. So how about we offer him that they can keep the money?"

"As far as I'm concerned, they already have the money. Sure. Offer away."

"OK. I'll call you afterward."

"Be very careful, Evelyn!"

"Careful is my middle name!" laughed Evelyn.

Somehow I doubt that, thought John and hung up. He walked back to Helen, who looked up from the program she was watching.

"Is everything fine at work? Why is she calling you after work?"

"Oh, yeah, she just stayed longer in the office to take care of some stuff I'll need for tomorrow morning and she couldn't read my handwriting."