A WOMAN APART: Chapter 5 - YOU HAVE A SISTER?

by tarskeewee08

Evangeline struggled to open the door to her apartment with her mail, briefcase and purse in hand. As she turned the key she heard the phone ringing. She pushed the door open and snatched the key out of the lock. Who was calling this late, she wondered? Once entering the apartment she dropped everything and raced to the end table and picked up the cordless.

"Hello" she said breathlessly
"Van" Nora said
"Hey girl" Evangeline said looking at the mess she made when entering and going over to pick up her belongings.
"I've been calling you all evening, where were you?" Nora asked concerned.

"You have? Did you try my cell?" she asked then remembering she left it on her desk in the office.

"As a matter of fact I did and you didn't answer"

Evangeline laughed. It wasn't like her to be so absent minded, but when she's around John she lost all focus. "Is something wrong" she asked picking up her mail and looking back through it.

"RJ called me"

Evangeline frowned "Nora, speaking of him, why on earth did you tell him about me and John?" she asked a little angry.
"Wait, theirs a you and John" Nora replied frowning.
"You know what I mean" Evangeline said dismissively opening her suit jacket and walking toward her bedroom.

"I don't understand this, you break the man's heart without any explanation and when I asked you why you say that you need space. Now you have started dating again? I knew he asked you out but dating?"

Evangeline sat on the bed and rolled her eyes "Nora, honestly I don't know why you have such a bleeding heart for RJ. You're my best friend remember" she said frustrated.

"Sweetie, its you that I am worried about. I've watched you close up and shut down. I don't believe you are anymore interested in John than you were with RJ. I want you to stop running from love and embrace it. You are choosing men that you can keep at a distance"

Evangeline smiled and fell back on the bed. Nora had no idea how wrong she was this time. John McBain was the first man that she really saw differently. Admitting that to herself took courage. She wouldn't be foolish enough to fall in love with him but she definitely wanted to know him. "Nora, please don't worry about me I'm fine and do me a favor don't discuss my business with RJ"

Nora sighed into the phone "Sorry about that. Care to tell me how your date went with John?"

Evangeline chuckled "He made some type of ghoulosh and it was horrible"
Nora laughed "John cooked for you?"
"He sure did" she said smiling
"Wow, then what?" Nora asked suspiciously.

Evangeline started to get into it when her line beeped "Hold on a second got another call"

"Hello"
"Vangie" Layla said softly
"Layla?" she said sitting up in the bed
"Vangie, I'm in trouble" Layla said bursting into tears.

John walked into the station and saw Antonio at his desk. "So what's the scoop?" he asked sitting on the edge of the desk.

Antonio hung up the phone "Just got off the phone checking this one out. Looks like she got caught up" he said
John frowned "Caught up?"

Antonio gave John the breakdown on what Layla described to be a mistake. John shook his head and laughed "An actress? You have got to be kidding me"

Antonio laughed and then looked up "Here comes Halle Berry now!" he said giggling

John looked at her. She reminded him of someone. He got up "Have we met?"
Layla rolled her eyes "You never had the pleasure".

She looked past John to Antonio "When do I get my phone call?"
Antonio shrugged "When you drop the attitude and give us something useful" he said amused.

John noticed others staring in the precinct and nodded to Antonio. Antonio understood and got up heading to their interrogation room. He turned back to Layla and smiled. "Do you mind if we talk?" he asked "We don't have to but maybe we can clear this mess up" he said fixing his blue eyes on her.

Layla looked at him. He had a manner about him that made women soften. "Fine, because those were not my drugs!"

John looked at the lady officer giving her the nod to take off the handcuffs. "Follow me"

John took her into a gray room with a table and two chairs. The two way mirror hid Antonio who was observing from behind.

Layla had seen enough 'Law and Order' to know what they were up to. She looked at the mirror "Too much of a small town hick cop to face me hunh? Gotta hide behind that glass?"

John looked in the direction of the glass "Do you know him?"
Layla looked at him confused "No, but I know his kind and yours too" she said rolling her eyes.

John smirked "Really, and what kind is that"

"You see a young African American woman and you automatically think I'm guilty that I'm some low life dope dealer. Well I'm not! I came from a good home and my family will own this police department before this over!" she shouted her eyes glistened with tears.

John shook his head "Layla you got me wrong. I want to help you. I just need you to cooperate. We need to know your connection to the Barker clan"

Layla frowned "Barker?"
John fixed his eyes on her "Who are you working for Layla?"

Layla let a tear fall "I told them at the airport, I told that robocop behind the mirror and I will tell you, I'm working for Challis Talent Agency"

"Now I want to call my sister!" she said angrily

John shook his head "Do you understand what you're facing?" he asked with fake concern. "That was a half of a kilo you carried into this country on a commercial flight. If you're lucky you will be out of prison around the age of 65"

Layla looked at him with hatred, He was trying to scare her and it was working. "I want to talk to my sister she's an attorney and I have a right to an attorney." She said through her teeth fighting back her tears.

John stared at her "You sure? Once I leave any opportunity to settle this between the two of us has passed"

"I want my phone call" she said wiping at the tear that got away.

John got up and shook his head toward the glass. Antonio appeared a few moments later with a phone. They both walked out while she made her phone call.

Antonio rolled his eyes "So you think we can use her?"

John looked back to the door. "Call Nora and get her down here quick, maybe we can get information when her lawyer arrives to use for a warrant. I want Nora all over this"

Layla dialed Evangeline's number with her hands shaking. "Vangie, I'm in trouble" she said through her tears.

"Layla where are you? What's wrong?" Evangeline said her heart pounding.
"At the police station" she said her voice quivering
Evangeline rolled her eyes. "What did you do? Do you need me to wire money?" she asked throwing her feet over the side of the bed. She really wasn't in the mood for this.

"No, Vangie I'm at the police station in Llanview" she said still crying
"What?" Evangeline froze
"They think the drugs are mine. They said I could be in jail until I was 65. I was just doing an acting job and and and" she said choking on her sobs.
"Drugs? Oh god sit tight I'm on my way!" she said hanging clicking back to Nora

"Nora" Evangeline said quickly
"Why did you keep me on hold so long" Nora asked aggravated.
"Meet me at the station my sister is in trouble!" she said jumping up looking for her shoes.
"Your sister? What?" Nora said confused. "Wait looks like the station is calling me on the other line. I may have to go there anyway"

"Fine, Fine" Evangeline said hanging up. She ran her hands through her hair. "Layla what are you mixed up in" she thought grabbing her keys and purse and rushing to the door.

John sat in his office and saw Evangeline rushing in. He got up and stepped out of it. She looked panicked which alarmed him. "Evangeline what are you doing here so late?" he asked frowning.

"John, Thank god my sister is here. I need to find her" she said desperately
John touched her arm "Its okay, calm down. I didn't know you had a sister" he said wanting to touch her more to ease her panic.

Evangeline looked around the station. "I spoke to the officer at the front desk and he said she's already been booked and is in a holding cell" she said "I know its after visiting hours but I really need to see now"

"Well, I'll take you to her." He said nodding "What's her name why did they bring her in?" John couldn't imagine that Evangeline would have a sister in town and never mention it, let alone a sister that would be arrested. The whole thing felt surreal.

"Layla Williamson"
John looked at her shocked. He didn't know what to say. Evangeline frowned at his reaction and heard Antonio and Nora coming up the hall.
She raced to Nora "Nora, I'm glad you came, I need to see my sister"

Nora frowned "Of course sweetie its after visiting hours but John you can take her" she said wondering why John was looking at them all flushed.

Antonio saw his face and looked back at Evangeline "What's her name?" he asked
"Layla Williamson" she said not understanding John's demeanor and looking at Antonio confused

Nora frowned and looked at the folder she'd received from Antonio "Wait isn't that who you two guys collared for the drug trafficking charge at the airport today?"

Evangeline stepped back from shock "Drug trafficking" she said slowly.

John ran his hands through his hair. This was bad. Really bad.

Antonio looked at Evangeline confused "I didn't know you had a sister."
Evangeline turned to John "Take me to her, now" she said with tears in her eyes.
John nodded "Yea, follow me"

Nora and Antonio watched them leave. "Antonio please tell me this is a horrible mistake." She said dismayed

Antonio still tried to process it. That spitfire down in lockup was Evangeline's sister. He could now see the resemblance but they couldn't be more opposite. And from the look on his boys face he was about to caught right in the middle.

"Sorry Nora, its no mistake" he said walking back to his desk.