Can You Keep A Secret? | COMPLETE

Chapter Two

Evangeline had beaten Anastasia to the bar, arriving six minutes early. She had ordered a wine to start herself off, and got out the files to read over once more. None of this makes sense. None of it.

"You got started without me?"

The detective looked up. "Hello to you too, Anya."

The red haired Russian woman sat down across from the detective and frowned at her. "What made you change your mind about drinks?"

"I need your help. With the case."

"Anything," the Russian replied quickly. "What's up?"

Evangeline pushed the files toward the other woman. "Look," was all she said.

Anastasia gave her an odd look before opening the folder and looking through the information and photographs. Then she noticed it. 

"Is that your necklace?" she asked, pointing to the specific picture.

"It is," Evangeline confirmed after a silent hesitation. "I don't know how though."

"So you didn't kill the guy?"

The detective scoffed and took the files back. "No!" she said. "Why would I?"

"That's what I want to know!"

Evangeline looked over to her left, feeling eyes on her, and panicked. "Shh," she hissed. 

"What--"

"The Whitmans," the detective replied, moving her hand up to her face and trying to look non-conspicuous.

Anastasia looked confused. "And that's a problem how?"

"They're nosy and if they overhear us talking about this," the brunette sighed deeply, "they'll one-hundred-percent just go ahead and turn me in and ask for an award."

"That's bullshit," the red head said. 

"I know! And it sucks to think like that," the brunette agreed. "But it's not entirely impossible either."

"Well hey there, ladies!"

Both woman whipped their heads over and saw the mentioned couple approaching their table.

The couple was around their age, if a little older. Alexa Whitman was about average height for a woman of her age and she styled her medium-length dark brown hair and dressed like she was in the fifties a lot. Including wearing Baby Dolls heels. Her husband Mark was a snappy man, wearing formalwear almost everywhere he goes. If he was not wearing formalwear, he could be seen in a slick button down with slacks, a shiny belt, and shined loafers. His cropped blond hair was always gelled stiff in a swooping style.

"Alexa, Mark," Evangeline greeted, feigning a welcoming grin. "How are you?"

"We're doing fantastic," Alexa replied, her British accent gentle yet thick. "Thank you. And yourself?"

"I'm doing fine," the detective replied, tucking the long strands of her brown hair behind her ears. 

"We were planning on having a dinner party this Sunday after Mass," Mark stated. He was raised Catholic since his childhood and stuck with it up to his current age of 37 years. "You and your friend here are gladly invited."

"Oh," Anastasia said after a quick moment. "Thank you, but I'll have to check my schedule."

"That's fine," Alexa waved her off. "If you're free, stop on by. We'll have a plate ready for you."

"What are you two doing here anyway?" Evangeline asked, referring to the fact the couple was in a bar of all places. 

Mark chuckled a little embarrassedly. "I know, we wouldn't normally be in a place like this," he said. "But a family friend wanted to go out drinking with some of his pals and we offered to be his designated drivers so he wouldn't have to worry about a ride while intoxicated."

"We'll get out of your hair now," the British woman said, smiling widely with her thin, red-painted lips. "Take care!" 

She took her husband's arm and pulled him away.

Evangeline and her friend watched the married couple leave before sighing and turning back to each other. 

"What do we do?" the brunette asked finally.

Anastasia stayed silent for a moment before closing her eyes. "I may have an idea, but I'll need some time to make sure it'll work first."

"What is it?" the detective asked. "What's your idea?"

"Just trust me on this, okay?" 

The Russian stood and gave her a smile. "Trust me. Now focus on your investigation while I save your ass from unemployment and murder charges."

"Thank you, Ana," the other woman said. "Thank you so much. I'll owe you after this."

"I won't let you forget that!" And with that, the redhead left.

Evangeline opened the folder again after a moment and pulled one of the photographs out and looked at it again. Her necklace was in evidence. If anyone who looked at it knew her, she would be in serious trouble.

She was going to be in trouble anyway if anyone found out she had just shown a civilian confidential police files without permission from her captain.

She put the photo away again and double checked she had all the files she had brought with her, then packed up and left a tip on the table. She headed out.