Can You Keep A Secret? | COMPLETE

Chapter Six

"Welcome, ladies."

Mark led Evangeline and Anastasia into the house, then toward the door that leads to their backyard.

"Alexa's working on some finishing touches on the cake," the man explained, opening the back door. He led them out to the patio and pulled a chair out for one of them at the table.

Once both women were seated, Mark said, "I'll be right back with some lemonade." And with that, he headed inside.

When he entered the kitchen, he saw his wife was just standing there, staring at the radio on the kitchen counter.

"Alexa?" Mark said cautiously. "Is everything okay?"

"Listen to this," she said, turning up the volume.

"...Local man Patrick Rambeau was murdered two days ago. The killer is still at large and suspected to be in the area. The local authorities are asking that anyone with any information or suspicions to please turn them in to the detectives and officers on the case: Captain William Young, Detective Maria Rosen, and Detective Evangeline Brear."

"Evangeline's working on a murder case?" Alexa said, eyes wide. "Why didn't she say anything?"

"Why hasn't anyone mentioned Patrick's murder?" Mark inquired. Alexa shook her head.

"Should we ask?" she questioned.

Her husband shrugged his shoulders. "It might be confidential information. We should probably wait and see if either she or Anastasia brings it up. If neither of them do, we wait until more details are released."

***

Evangeline kept glancing to the door, checking to see if Alexa and Mark were coming out.

"Just talk to Young," Anastasia said. "He should believe you. You're his best detective."

"That doesn't mean much when it comes to evidence, Anya," the detective said. "He will know that that's my necklace. He's seen me wearing it."

"You'll have to steal it from evidence, then," was all Anastasia said before the hosting couple emerged from the back door.

"Sorry for the wait!" Alexa said as she set a tray down with the lemonade pitcher and four cups on the picnic table. "We were hearing something on the radio."

Evangeline's stomach dropped. 

"What'd you hear?" Anastasia asked, taking notice of her friend's expression.

Mark swallowed as he took a seat. "The investigation around Patrick's murder is still ongoing and Evangeline is one of the detectives on the case."

"It's true," Evangeline said. "I'm on the case. I'm not allowed to share anything right now though. I'm sorry."

"No, Evangeline," Alexa shook her head. "It's okay. We understand."

The group of four fell silent. Then Anastasia cleared her throat. "So, that cake looks delicious!"

***

"Captain." Detective Rosen stood in the doorway of the police captain's office, a manila folder in hand.

"Detective," the large black man seated behind the desk looked up from his work. "Is the precinct on fire?"

"No sir," the woman replied.

"Did the bathroom explode?"

"No, sir."

"Then what are you doing here?"

"This, sir." The woman approached his desk, opening the folder and placing a photograph from within it on the desktop. "Do you recognise this item?"

"Yes, I do." The man looked up at her. "Why are you showing me this?"

"This photograph was taken at the scene of Patrick Rambeau's murder, Captain."

"It was?"

"Yes, sir."

"Call up Detective Brear," the man said quickly, scooting his desk chair back toward his computer monitor. "Immediately."

"Of course, sir!"

With that, Detective Rosen left Captain Young's office. She took the file back with her, leaving the lone photograph of a small, golden, acorn-shaped necklace on her boss's desk.