Can You Keep A Secret? | COMPLETE

Chapter Nine

She had just enough time to clean everything up before Evangeline got there. But dammit, she had to get her nerves under control.

She usually isn't this nervous.

She managed to get everything done and put away mere moments before there was a knock at the door.

She smoothed down her shirt and hair to hide that she had been rushing, to hide suspicion.

She answered the door and smiled.

"Hey, honey," she greeted the woman on the other side. "Come in." She stepped out of the way and allowed the detective to enter.

"I'm sorry you're kinda fired," the Russian said, closing the door and following her to the couch.

Evangeline shook her head and sat down on the couch, kicking off her shoes and slumping over to lay down on her side. "It's fine," she said.

Anastasia came around and sat beside her. "What would you like?" she asked, stroking Evangeline's wavy dark brown hair. "Wine? Rum? Vodka?"

"Wine," Evangeline sighed, looking straight ahead at the table. "I can't afford to get shit-faced right now."

"Okay," the redhead said softly. "I'll be right back with a glass."

"Thank you," Evangeline said, crossing her arms.

Anastasia stood and headed into the kitchen.

Evangeline sat up with a sigh and looked around the room. It seemed cleaner and tidier than usual. She found it curious at first, then realised the woman could have been in the mood for cleaning that day. She looked up at hearing the woman coming back in.

The detective smiled and accepted a glass from her friend. "Thanks, Ana," she said and then took a sip.

"Anytime." Anastasia took a small sip from her glass and sat back against the arm rest of the couch, legs crossed as she faced the other woman.

Evangeline finished off the glass, swallowing.

The two remained in silence for a while until Evangeline slumped over, eyes closed and body limp. She made no noise as the glass slipped out of her hand.

***

Everything was blurry as she opened her eyes. She blinked a few times before everything cleared up and settled for her. She saw the redheaded Russian pacing at the foot of her hospital bed.

"Anastasia?" the brunette spoke, sitting up slowly. "What happened?"

Anastasia looked at her and hurried over to the side of the bed. "I don't know what happened, Eva. You drank the wine and passed out."

"I did?" the detective asked.

Anastasia nodded. "Could be from stress? I don't know. It was strange."

The red haired woman brushed the brown locks from her best friend's face. "You gave me a scare."

Evangeline took her friend's hand in her own, then noticed the bandage around it.

"What happened to your hand?" the detective asked.

"You dropped your glass when you fainted," Anastasia replied. "It broke. I cut myself cleaning it up while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. I'm okay."

"What did the doctors say?"

Anastasia shook her head. "Don't worry yourself. I'll let you know when they say anything."

***

Evangeline had been asleep again for another few hours when the doctor came in.

"We have results—" She cut off when she saw the patient was asleep.

"The results are back?" Anastasia spoke from the bedside.

The doctor looked at the Russian woman. "I- Yes."

"Well?"

"I'm not allowed to reveal that information to a—"

"She told me to tell her what you say when she wakes up. She's not awake. I have a promise to uphold."

"I'm really sorry but—"

"Just tell me what the hell you found out!"

The doctor quickly relayed the information on her clipboard. "We found high dosages of Temazepam and Zolpidem in her system. She ingested it."

"What the fuck are those?" Anastasia asked, getting fed up with the woman. "Drugs?"

"I'm afraid so. You were there when she– Did you..."

"I didn't drug my best friend! Why the hell would you think that?"

"I was just–"

"Get the fuck out." The Russian said it sternly, angrily.

The doctor left without another word.

***

The woman made her way down the lamp-lit street, hood up and gloved hands in pockets. She approached the house and rang the doorbell. Just a few quick moments later, it opened.

"I have your money," the woman said and held out a wad of cash. "Thanks for the stuff."

"You're welcome," the man in the doorway said. "You owe me one. Now get the hell out of here before I turn your ass in."

The woman stepped back off the doorstep and watched as the man counted the cash as his door shut.

She turned and made her way toward the trash can in his yard off the side of the road. She pulled two vials out of her pocket and looked at them, opening the trash's lid.

One of the glass vials was labelled Temazepam and the other Zolpidem. She tossed them in and shut the lid before taking off back down the road from where she came.

She did not notice, however, the little woman seated in the window of one of the houses she passed, her husband beside her watching curiously. She did not notice them conversing about what they had just witnessed. She did not notice that they recognised her short, graceful silhouette.