A WOMAN APART: Chapter 4 - Layla

by tarskeewee08

Evangeline sat in her office staring at the deposition she'd drafted. She kept thinking of dinner with John last night. Her body still ached pleasantly from his touch, but she knew she wouldn't see him again. It wasn't going to work. She heard her office door open and looked up.

"Is this a bad time Van?" RJ asked

Evangeline looked at him angrily "Actually it is"

Why was he here and what on earth is going on with her assistant by letting him access her like this?

RJ smiled and came in anyway "We need to talk" he said walking to the chair and sitting down.

Evangeline sat back and threw her pen on her desk "What now?" she asked clearly aggravated.

"I heard a rumor," he said glaring at her

Evangeline frowned "What kind of rumor?" she said noting his anger

"A rumor that you befriended that cop McBain"

Evangeline smiled "What? Who I am friends with is none of your concern" she said dismissively

RJ stared at her. He'd seen Nora yesterday and told her how hard it was being without Evangeline and how desperate he was to fix this. Nora suggested he move on and he knew in that instant something was up. He cornered her and forced her to tell him. She implied that McBain was interested in Evangeline, which would explain the drinks they shared the other day in his restaurant.

"Was what we had that meaningless to you?" he asked angrily

Evangeline rolled her eyes. "Do you want me to hurt you? Do you want me to sit here and tell you it's been nice RJ but the party's over? Do you want me to reduce it to the level where I no longer even entertain a conversation with you?"

RJ flinched at the threat. He'd seen her act this way before. Whenever cornered on matters on the heart, she became cold and hostile "When will you open your heart to someone Van?" he asked softly

Evangeline pushed from behind her desk and walked around it to face him. "Listen, you've been a good friend, and I still like you but my heart is not available to you or John"

"Well I hope that's not true." John said leaning in the doorway.

Evangeline and RJ both looked up at him surprised

"What is this grand central station?" Evangeline snapped throwing her hands up in the air.

RJ stood from the chair and glared at him "This is a private conversation, you should leave," he snarled at him.

John smiled at RJ and then looked at her "Do you want me to go?" he asked staring at her.

Evangeline blushed.

RJ saw the exchange and could tell from her body language they were more than friends now. They'd been intimate. He glared at her "Are you already sleeping with him!" he shouted at her.

Evangeline put her hands on her hips "That's none of your damn business" she snapped back

RJ looked at her hurt "There's a name for women like you!"

John walked further into the room "And I advise you not to say it" he threatened, challenging RJ.

RJ glared at him "Good luck, detective she's a hot lay but when it's done she can be the coldest piece you'll ever have." he snapped and stormed out.

Evangeline watched him leave and felt horrible, RJ never deserved the way she treated him but she was relieved he finally got the message. She felt John's eyes on her and returned the gaze.

"Why did you leave like that last night?" he blurted out

Evangeline walked back to her desk and sat down. "I'm really busy," she said picking up her pen and scanning the deposition again.

John looked at her and went back to the door and closed. "I want to talk to you,"

Evangeline ignored him.

"Why are you fighting me?" he asked confused

Evangeline finally looked up at him and felt angry. What did he want from her? Why was he pursing her? "What do you want from me?"

"I'd like to be your friend for starters" he said softly
"Then what?"
John frowned "That depends on you Evangeline"

She softened at his sincerity "I'm sorry John, I don't mean to be rude, like I said this is new for me"

He walked over to the chair in her office and sat down "How is it new for you? You said that before"

She leaned back in his chair and looked t him "You sure do ask a lot of questions. I thought I was the attorney," she said smiling

He smiled "Okay, lets make a deal, I won't ask too many questions if you come with me to Rodi's for a burger"

She smiled "A Burger?"

"Yep and a friendly game of pool"

Evangeline looked at her watch. It was the close of the day and she hadn't eaten. "A burger and a game of pool sounds nice" she said rising. John watched her collect her things and wondered. What it would take to get her to trust him.

Layla walked up to the customs line in the airport. This acting gig was weird. She is to be a pregnant woman and fly from LA to Columbia to Llanview with this proboscis strapped to her belly.

The officer ahead of the line checking each passenger kept looking back at her. She smiled at him. He was a hottie maybe it wouldn't be a total bust and she would get his digits. He nodded to the female officer and looked back at Layla.

The female officer motioned for her to step out of the line. She did her best impression of a pregnant waddle over to the lady. The officer rolled her eyes and asked for her passport.

"Are you from Llanview" the officer asked looking at her passport
"If you can read it clearly says I'm from LA" Layla snapped not appreciating the tone from the officer. She looked back at the cutie checking passengers off the plane and winked at him. He frowned at her and kept doing his job.

"You'll need to come with me," the lady officer said grabbing her arm.

"What?" Layla snapped. "Why?" she said loudly forcing the other passengers to turn and gawk.

The officer smiled at her "Don't make me take you by force" she hissed

Layla saw that she meant it and became alarmed "What is this about?" she asked confused

The officer laughed and grabbed her arm roughly dragging her through the airport to a designated room for people like her. Layla looked back at the officer she was trying to flirt with. He was staring at her. And then he winked.

John knelt behind Evangeline trying to show her how to take her shot. Evangeline pushed further back into him enjoying the closeness. Now place your hand flat and focus only on this shot.

Evangeline smiled and slid the pool stick slowly threw her fingers. John watched her knock the ball in the corner pocket gracefully.

He rose and looked at her impressed "Is there anything you set your mind too that you can't do?"

Evangeline faced him and smiled "No"

John leaned closer into her pinning her into the pool table and kissed her.

Her tongue was sweet to him and he maneuvered his to clasp more of it. Evangeline put her arms around his neck and pulled him close oblivious to the scene they were making. Finally releasing him she smiled at him. "Would you like to come to my place?" she asked

Before John could respond his phone vibrated on his hip. He pulled it loose and saw it was Antonio "Yeah what's up" he said giving Evangeline an excuse me look. She smiled and turned back to the pool game and tried for another shot.

"We got another one" Antonio said walking through the airport headed for the security office.

"How young this time?" John asked staring at Evangeline lustfully as she bent over the table.
"This one's older and completely different from the MO. I don't know much but I will call you back after I question her, before the FEDS get to her."
"You need me on this?" John asked
"Nope, got it partner" Antonio said hanging up.

John walked back over to the pool table and Evangeline looked up.

"Was that work?"

"Yep but Antonio has it covered" he said drinking his beer.

Evangeline leaned against the pool stick she held "Is it in reference to my clients?"

John blinked and smiled "Counselor this is an ongoing investigation, I wouldn't dare show my hand to you" he said winking at her.

Evangeline nodded "What about my offer?"

John looked at her. He wanted to go home with her, but he wanted her trust more than that. "How about I take a rain check and you have dinner with me tomorrow night at the Palace"

Evangeline looked at him confused that he rejected her offer "Dinner? Well okay I can do that" she said disappointed.

John walked over to her and pulled her back to him. "Don't think for a moment that I wouldn't love to go home and make love to you tonight. I just think we need to pace ourselves," he said kissing her forehead.

Evangeline stiffened at the term 'make-love' but tried to cover it. And she agreed with him after their last encounter and the conflict it awakened in her it would be better if they paced themselves

"Agreed' she said smiling "Now take your shot'

"Yes mam" he said picking up the pool stick.

Antonio walked into the security room. On the table was the cocaine packet cut out of the stuffed pillow that had straps to wrap around you to simulate being pregnant. He looked at the two female officers and then at the pretty black girl standing in the corner glaring at him. He could tell she'd been crying.

"How much" he asked pointing at the drugs.
The officer shrugged "Half a Kilo, I suspect"

"That stuffs not mine!" Layla shouted at them.

Antonio looked at her and shook his head. Each time it was the same thing. The girls didn't know or were too terrified to confess. She was going to be no different.

"What's your name?" he said pulling out the chair and sitting down

"Layla Williamson" she said rolling her eyes
"Well Layla would you like to tell me how you ended up with almost a kilo of cocaine strapped to your belly?" he asked sarcastically

Layla glared at him "I'm an actress, this was a job. I was to be play a pregnant woman and meet a director here. He wanted me in full costume" she said tears falling down her face.

Antonio frowned. That was the worse excuse he had ever heard. "Are you kidding me?" he asked.

Layla looked at him in horror "It's the truth! I answered a casting call in LA. I have the newspaper clipping in my purse but that witch took it from me!" she snapped glaring at the lady officer in the corner.

Antonio looked at her passport and itinerary. "So let me get this straight you flew from LA to Columbia then here to meet a casting agent?" he said trying not to laugh.

Layla saw he was amused and became more upset "I had to go to Columbia for makeup and wardrobe, then I was to come here. Actresses fly all over the world for these things…but a small town hick of a cop like you wouldn't know that!" she spat rolling her neck.

Antonio's smile faded "Listen, this is a federal offense! By carrying these drugs you are looking at life in prison. So I would drop the attitude quick" he said glaring at her.

Layla's mouth dropped open "Oh my god, I swear this stuff isn't mine. Call my sister please she will know what to do" she said crying.

Antonio rose and looked at the officers "Take her to the station and book her. She can make her phone call there" he said looking back shaking his head. He had a sinking suspicion that what she said was true and her stupidity will possibly ruin her life.

He walked out and called John to meet him at the station. He was not going to believe this one!