A WOMAN APART: Chapter 8 - MAKING A DEAL

by tarskeewee08

Evangeline walked into the station and headed toward Nora's office.

"Evangeline" John said approaching

She looked at him and smiled "Hey" she said weakly

"Are you sure you're okay? Today was pretty rough,"

Evangeline softened "That's really sweet of you John, but this is what I do remember. I'm fine,"

He stared at her. "Okay, you ready" he said looking toward Nora's office. Evangeline nodded and headed in that direction with him following.

She opened the door to see Nora and Prosecutor Davis sitting and talking. She walked in and took the other open chair, while john hung back at the door.

"Evangeline, let me introduce you to Prosecutor Davis" Nora said extending the greeting between the two.

Evangeline leaned over and shook his hand "Nice to meet you."

He smiled at her "Sorry about your sister" he replied.

Evangeline nodded and noticed how he held her hand longer. She pulled her hand from his and inside rolled her eyes. Sometimes she hated working in this male dominated arena she was not in the mood to be flirtatious.

John caught the exchange between the two of them and he smiled to himself. "You don't have a chance in hell" he thought chuckling.

"Evangeline, Layla's not who we won't in this thing I'm sure you know that. But unless you give us something to work with, I don't know how we can really help" Nora said regretfully.

Evangeline sighed. "First, I want the Federal charges dropped so I can take my chances with the State."

Federal prosecutor Davis laughed "Of, course you do because your sister is looking at hard time under my jurisdiction" he said

Evangeline nodded "Yes but what do you really win? I know something of the drug element in Llanview. These girls flying in with small amounts of drugs are very expendable. What you need is to uncover how they leave Columbia undetected and how many commercial flights are stacked with them," she said seriously

Davis smile faded and he sat up uncomfortably "We have a good handle on this operation and I'm confident…" he started

"Cut the bullshit, if you had anything concrete you wouldn't be sitting here today negotiating a possession and trafficking charge with a local DA." Evangeline said glaring at him.

Davis looked to Nora for help, who was smiling at Evangeline. Her girl was back and swinging "You know something that we can use," she asked sizing Evangeline up.

Evangeline smiled at her friend "I might. I'm also connected in ways that could benefit you both"

John frowned. The last comment made him alarmed. There was no way he would let her sacrifice herself in this. Nora shook her head. You are bound by attorney privilege she said

"You and I both know there are ways around it" she said sweetly knowing that Nora knew exactly what she meant.

Davis smirked at her "Careful counselor, we won't play games with you that could end up tarnishing my departments reputation and destroying yours"

Evangeline smiled at him. "Like I said I want all Federal charges dropped. I also would like you to grant Layla bail. She is traumatized and you will need her thinking and alert to help get the information you need. If we can agree on this I will speak with her and set up a meeting for her to disclose what she knows."

Nora looked at Prosecutor Davis "This one's your call"

Davis looked at Evangeline and soaked in the part of her he could see from his limited viewpoint "Only if she produces something we could use. Something solid. As for bail, I'll leave that up to the Sate."

Evangeline felt a wave of relief. She'd come in here and played poker and held her hand close. Her bluff bought her some time.

"Okay, Well lets meet again after the bail hearing. I need time to prepare my client," she said rising.

Davis rose and extended his hand to her "I like your style Williamson, ever think of working for the good guys?" he asked openly flirting now.

Evangeline accepted his handshake "Who said I wasn't?" she said winking at him and then turning to leave. She saw the amused look on John's face as she approached the door and winked at him too. John got up and followed her out.

"Evangeline" he said stopping her
She stopped and looked at him "Yes"
"We have dinner plans tonight remember?"
Evangeline looked at him confused "We do?"
"At Rodi's I asked you to join me at the Palace for dinner" he said
Evangeline nodded "John, I'm sorry with everything going on I completely forgot about it"
"Which is why you have to join me tonight" he said not giving up

Evangeline looked at him. He was doing it again. When he was in her space it made it hard to resist him. She had Layla to worry about and she still would have to deal with Lisa soon.

As if John read her mind he smiled "It's just dinner and you have to eat. Maybe we can put our heads together and figure something out. You may have them fooled in there but I know you were holding an empty hand" he said gently

Evangeline laughed, "You're so persistent!" she said enjoying him holding her hand.

"Well I like what I like. What can I say?"
"Fine what time?"
"I'll pick you up around 8"

She looked at her watch. She needed to take care of something and needed time to unwind from today's events. "How about I meet you there around 9?"

He agreed and let go of her hand. He watched her walk away as beautiful to him as the first day he saw her. She looked back at him and smiled and he felt encouraged. He was making progress with her.

Layla heard the clickclak of heels coming down the corridor and looked up from her bed in the cell. She knew it was her sister.

"Layla." Evangeline said concerned
Layla sat up. "Did the judge change his mind?" she asked weakly
"No sweetie, but we need to talk" she said. The guard opened her cell and Evangeline walked in and sat at the desk inside.

Layla lay back on the bunk and looked up at the bunk bed that was above her head. This was a nightmare and she was beginning to loose her mind

Evangeline looked at her sister who appeared to be so vulnerable to her now

"Layla here's the deal. We need to get the federal case dropped and deal with the sate. It's our best hope. I think we can do this but you have to think hard, is there anything else that was given to you? Any instructions. Anything that I can use" she said

Layla turned and looked at Evangeline with tears in her eyes "I didn't do this willingly Vangie, I had know idea I was carrying drugs. Everything appeared legit." She said desperately

Evangeline put her hand to her forehead "When you went to the airport in LA who took you?"

"Eddie the light technician"
"Who paid for the ticket?" Evangeline asked
"He did,"
"Who picked you up in Columbia? How did you meet up with these people?" Evangeline asked writing it all down.

"Eddie gave me a number to call. It's still in my purse I guess. I was to ask for Claudette. She came to the airport. She was one of the few people that spoke English," she said

Evangeline looked up. "You have a phone number to a contact in Columbia?" Evangeline asked shocked.
Layla nodded
"My god Layla, why didn't you say this earlier?" Evangeline said angrily

Layla glared at her "What difference does it make you never listen to me!"

Evangeline closed the folder. "If you don't stop fighting me I will call mama"

Layla glared at her "That's right Vangie, run to mama when it gets tough. But I'm not like you I know she won't help me, you would think after how she tricked you, your tail would know better!" Layla yelled at her.

Evangeline felt the tears well up again and the anger take over her. She wanted to lash out at her sister for the dagger she just inserted into her heart. Only Layla had this affect on her. Mommy and Daddy did their damage, but it's the unspoken things between her and Layla that kept her tortured. "You know what, that's it" she said rising.

Layla sat up immediately wishing she knew when to keep her damn mouth shut. "Vangie, I'm sorry…"

Evangeline shook her head "I don't deserve this. You want to blame me for the failure your life turned into fine. But I'll do you a favor. I'll call mama and let you deal with her. That way you won't have to be bothered with my weak attempts to help you." She said signaling the guard to let her out.

Layla stood up and grabbed Evangeline's arm "I am so sorry, I didn't mean it, I can be an idiot. Please Vangie I'll do what you ask"

Evangeline snatched her arm away and walked out of the cell. Layla called after her but she knew this time she'd done it. She turned around and folded her arms around her.
"Dammit!" she screamed
"Please Van, don't call mama" she said sitting back on her bunk dejected.

Evangeline walked into her apartment exhausted. It was only 4 o'clock so she had time for a hot bath before she met John. She headed toward her room when the phone rang.
She walked over and picked it up.

"Hello"
"Cookie" Lisa said
Evangeline called and left a message for her when she left the courthouse. As soon as she heard her moms voice she wished she hadn't
"Hey Ma" she said putting her briefcase on the table and falling into the lounge chair next to it.

"What's going on? Your message sounded serious," she said anxiously

Evangeline thought about it. She was their mother and she knew in her own way she loved them both. She had a way of keeping Layla in line and might be able to help.

"It's Layla, she's in jail" Evangeline said

Lisa got quiet and Evangeline braced herself for what came next.

"What did she do?" he mother said harshly
"She's charged with trafficking and drug possession, but momma she was set up. I really think this is not all her fault,"
"Drugs! Layla was trafficking drugs!" she yelled into the phone.
"It's a long story ma, I can explain it to you when you get here." Evangeline said
Lisa laughed, "Who said I was coming?" she snapped nastily
Evangeline sat up in the chair "What do you mean? These charges are serious, she needs our help."

"Layla's a waste of energy. Get her a public defender and teach her butt a lesson. You shouldn't be wasting your talents on something like this. How did she end up in Llanview selling drugs anyway? What about your clients what if they found out your sister was a drug dealer!" Lisa said nastily

Evangeline felt her temper boil "First of all most of my clients are drug dealers!"

Lisa gasped "What!"

Evangeline continued, "Second she's my sister and your baby girl we will help her!" she said demandingly

Lisa laughed, "That's been your problem all along. Trying to save people. Well Layla is a grown woman. I love her I really do but I am tired of these antics. Good luck!" she said hanging up on Evangeline.

Evangeline threw the cordless against the wall causing it to break apart. She burst into tears and pulled her knees up to her chest. The anger rising in her was making her sick with rage. She hated herself. She hated her life. She hated her mother most of all. It felt good admitting it in that moment. It made the anger that she kept hidden subside some. She sat there and released the tears she'd been carrying inside since she was 17. She just cried until she felt like herself again.