A WOMAN APART: Chapter 11 - A VISITOR IN JAIL

by tarskeewee08

Evangeline walked into 'Divas' and braced herself. It was an adult bar off of 5th street owned by the Barkers. She hated coming into this establishment but Fredrick Barker would only meet here. He was suspicious of everyone and everyplace. Rightfully so, because everyone from the federal government to rival families wanted a piece of him.

She knew at least one man would touch her and dozens would proposition her no matter how she was dress. She ignored the catcalls and entered the office. Fredrick Barker was a portly man that stood about 6'2. Everything about him was fat, his face, nose, ears, hands and probably his feet. She'd never had a meeting with him where he wasn't eating something and apparently today was no different. She frowned at the sub sandwich he was taking a bite of. Eugene was standing in the corner. He was the complete opposite of his brother. Evangeline thought he was the spitting image of Colin Farrell including the playboy life style he led. Every meeting with him he was staring at her breast, legs or ass if given the chance. He's made so many advances towards her it just got old and aggravating.

"Evangeline" Eugene said rising from wall and walking to her. He looked her up and down and she wished she had chosen to wear jeans instead. "Glad you could meet with us today"

Evangeline looked at him and smiled "Eugene, how are you?"
Eugene watched her take a seat and cross her legs. He loved black women; to him they were the best kept secret. This one before him was not like most he'd met. She spurned his advances and when flashed his temper she didn't flinch. She was the challenge he wanted to conquer. Recently he was offered a solution to a ongoing threat to his business, when it was suggested that she be used to resolve it he had to admit his crush made him hesitate. However, her brilliance as an attorney assured him that she'd be okay. Only problem was he had to keep Freddie in the dark and that was never good.

Evangeline ignored the stares from Eugene and decided to speak to the person that made all the decisions "As you know this bar will not be allowed to be wire tapped, however, the judge is hearing a motion to have your books turned over to the government for tax evasion"

Fredrick or Freddie as most called him, lowered his sandwich and laughed "What else is new."

Evangeline shrugged "I think you need to get a tax attorney to be safe"
Eugene leaned over from his chair and put his hand on Evangeline's knee "Hey how's your sister?"
Evangeline looked at his hand and then him "How do you think she is?"
Freddie watched the tension between the two of them confused "What's wrong with your sister?"

Evangeline pushed Eugene's hand from her knee and smiled at Freddie "Apparently someone set her up to bring drugs into Llanview and she's facing trafficking charges"

"Interesting thing is that a person went through great effort to have her flown from LA to Columbia and then here. I can't figure out why?" she said looking into Eugene's piercing gray eyes. His eyes always made her feel cold but today the smug look on his face just made her angry.

Freddie started choking on what was in his fat mouth. It took several minutes and big gulps of his super sized soda to regain control. As he choked Eugene licked his lips and leaned in closer to her. "You know white looks good on you and I'm sure would be good in you too"

Evangeline looked at Eugene; the crass comment wasn't really upsetting to her because he'd always made comments about her attire. What was disturbing is that she always felt her toughness garnered some respect and distance with these evil men. Now this asshole had stepped into her personal life and she wanted to punch his face for it.

John was right it was a set up and now she knew who did it. Was it because she spurned his advances? What did he hope to gain?

"Wouldn't you like to know" she said coolly dismissing him and turning back to Freddie, he was the person that she knew Eugene feared above anyone else. His little choking spell indicated that he had no idea about this set up.

Freddie glared at Eugene "Did you have anything to do with this?"
Eugene threw his hands up in the air "No, absolutely not! From what I hear the charges facing her sister are stemmed from the Columbia trade we have nothing to do with that."

Evangeline frowned. She knew what they did, but turned her head to it and tried not to absorb much of it. Most of the time that was easy because they were always careful to never admit anything directly to her, but this was the first time either made direct comments such as these in front of her. Now she was beginning to understand where she fit in.

"Well unless the DA's office levels charges against you I believe you gentlemen are okay."

Freddie saw her about to rise and glared at Eugene "We need to talk!" he hissed

Eugene turned to watch Evangeline leave "Hey, dinner maybe a movie?"
Evangeline smiled at him "Hold your breath" She walked out closing the door hard.

So Eugene gave Layla the get out of free jail card to turn up the heat on his competition. Did that mean they had nothing to do with the drug trafficking that was coming through with these young girls? And why use her, why make it personal when she's saved them many times. Evangeline had a sinking feeling that there was something else she'd overlook in this situation. Something under her nose.

She walked through the bar and headed out. At least she knew how she would get Layla out of this mess. That in itself was a big relief.

Sitting in her car she retrieved her cell phone and dialed John's number.

John walked into the hospital and went to the nurses station "Hey have you seen my brother?"

The nurse looked up and smiled "Sure have he should be down to this floor soon from surgery"

John walked over and sat down. His phone rang and he retrieved it.

"Hello"
"John, you were right" Evangeline said
"Really?"
Evangeline watched the parking lot as cars pulled in and left. "Yea, but not the way you think. I don't know how much I can reveal to you but I will say that the Barkers aren't apart of this trafficking ring. They want it shutdown as much as you do"

John frowned "Are you sure?"

Evangeline wasn't a hundred percent sure and before she said so she noticed RJs car pull up. His black Acura pulled in 3 rows ahead of her. If she had waited a little while longer they would have ran into each other. Evangeline knew his taste intimately and 'Divas' wasn't it.

"Evangeline, you there?" John asked concerned about the pause.

"Yeah sorry, I'll talk about it tonight with you, I need to see Nora" she said starting her car and watching RJ walk into the bar.

"Okay see you tonight" John said closing the phone. He saw Michael coming down the hall and rose.

"Hey, got a minute?"

Michael smiled "Where you been hiding bro, left messages at your place with no return"

"Why didn't you call my cell?"

Michael shrugged "Too much effort just checking in with you"
John nodded "Well a lots been going on so we need to catch up" he said patting his brother on the back.

"Okay let's go in here" Michael pointed to an empty exam room. John followed him in.
"Now what's up? It's rare that you visit me at the hospital on Saturday"

John leaned against the door "I'm in love and her name is Evangeline Williamson" he said smiling at the shocked look on Mikes face.

Nora opened the door and let Evangeline in "Don't you look pretty in that sundress, But you might get it dirty helping me hang these pictures" she said walking back into the living room. Her lower level was recently repainted and Evangeline had offered to help her hang paintings and draperies this Saturday.

Evangeline shrugged "You know me always overdressed"

Nora looked up from the picture she was lifting to see the sullen attitude her friend had "You seen your sister today?"

Evangeline walked over and picked up the pictures scattered around the living and shook her head no "I don't plan to see her until court Tuesday"

"Why?" she asked

Evangeline grabbed the handless drill "Where does this picture go?"
Nora pointed to the wall that stretched up the stairs. "Answer the question"

"Because when Layla is cornered she's not nice to be around. She blames me now for spending these nights in jail. A visit to tell her to hang in there will only result in a ugly fight. I can't do it again. It drains me" Evangeline used the beam on the drill to outline a perfect spot.

Nora stared at her friend. Her family was something she rarely spoke of. She knew she had a younger sister but was real anxious to see what type of woman she is. It might give her a clue as to why Evangeline is so guarded "Did you call your mother?"

Evangeline hung the picture and her hands tightened on it at the mention of Lisa "No, its best that I handle it she would only worry. Layla's her baby girl" she said turning to face Nora with a fake smile.

"Well as a mother I would want to know Van, but I can understand why you'd want to spare her the anxiety before you knew what the outcome of this is going to be"

Evangeline walked back toward Nora. "You speak to RJ again recently?" she asked casually.

Nora shrugged "Had dinner with him the other night"

"Did my name come up?" Evangeline stared at her friend a little dismayed at her continual interference when it came to RJ.

"As a matter of fact it did, you know that office visit he had with you left him extremely upset. He's confused as to when your friendship with McBain began and yours with him ended" Nora peeked up at her interested herself in the answer.

Evangeline rolled her eyes "RJs been clean for sometime hasn't he?" she said picking up another picture.

Nora nodded "Sure has makes me proud. I am sure Hank would be too"

"Well for the record what I have with John is my business, what I had with RJ is over. Since you insist on being his confidant I want you to make that clear."

Nora watched her friend hang the picture confused "Did something happen?"

Evangeline looked back at her "Not sure yet, I may have to pay him a visit myself to find out but I hope not. If RJ messes with me I will level him." She hissed

Now Nora was really confused "Okay girl now you got my attention, spill the beans"

Evangeline hung the picture and turned and laughed "Oh never mind that, I'm hungry, what you got to eat?"

The guard came to Layla's cell "You have a visitor"
Layla looked up and rolled her eyes "Tell my sister I'm not in the mood"
The guard smiled "It's not your sister"

Layla sat up confused. If it was Antonio he would've just come down here. "Who is it?"

"Get up and find out" the guard snapped.

Layla rose and looked at herself in the dirty mirror hanging on her cell wall. Her hair was jacked up and she could use some makeup. She fixed herself as best she could and stepped out of the cell. She allowed herself to be shackled and led out. Maybe someone heard of the case and wanted to help. It would be nice to get out of here without having to use her sister's help.

The guard removed her handcuffs when she entered the visiting room but kept the leg shackles on. "Down the row to the second booth" he pointed and turned away.

Layla shuffled toward the designated spot, the dividers kept her from seeing who it was but her curiosity made her quicken her pace. When she got close enough to peer through she gasped. Lisa sat there glaring at her. Layla pulled back the chair and looked at her mom.

Lisa was as polished as always. Hair and makeup flawless and she always appeared to be their sister instead of mother. The only thing that revealed her true nature was the coldness in her eyes. She held the phone and pointed for Layla to pick up hers. Layla bit her bottom lip like Evangeline does when nervous; they both did this as an involuntary reaction to Lisa's tyranny.

"Mom" she said into the receiver once she found the courage to retrieve it.
"Well, well, look at you" Lisa said smiling at her daughter

Layla fought back the urge to cry "I can explain"

"Oh this ought to be good. Is this the new gig you told me about weeks ago?"
Layla couldn't mask her hurt. She could make sense of her setup when she explained it to anyone but Lisa. Lisa made her feel that her choices were ones made because she had the brain capacity of a 2 year old. She just stared at her.

"So once again you have Cookie working to keep you out of trouble. Once again Cookies time is wasted because you are too selfish and spoiled to deal with anything responsibly. But this time you've gone as far as to bring your screwball antics to Llanview where Cookie has a stellar reputation. Now she has to face the community as an attorney with a drug dealing sister!" Lisa snapped

Layla let a tear fall despite the extreme effort she took to keep herself in control. "Did Cookie call you?" she asked weakly

"Of course she did! She's embarrassed and ashamed, as well she should be. You are a waste. You have always gotten in the way of your sisters talents and abilities. Now I'm here to make sure you don't do this again" she said smiling

Layla wiped her tear and looked down "I made a mistake, it was not intentional. I am sorry if you and Evangeline…"

"You're sorry!" Lisa shouted "Now you're sorry, well sweetie it's too late for that! You need to plead guilty and accept your punishment. End this farce now"

Layla looked up at her surprised "But I'm not guilty!"

Lisa laughed "Did you bring drugs into Llanview on a commercial flight?"

Layla wiped at the flow of tears now coming down her face "I won't plead guilty! And I don't need you trying to make matters worse. Go back home and leave me alone!"

Lisa glared at her "Same ole selfish Layla, always you, you, you. I should have known you wouldn't put Cookie first. I should have known you would stoop to dragging her down to your level!"

Layla knew her mom could be cruel. She knew her mom could twist things. She also knew Evangeline and if her mom knew her daughter she would understand that Evangeline could careless about being the Supreme Court judge they all think she'll become. "Cookie will get me out of here on Tuesday and there is nothing you can do to stop it" she said smiling at her mom.

Lisa slammed the phone down and glared harder at her. She rose from her chair and walked off.

Layla hung up the phone and put her head in her hands. She wasn't confident that Evangeline would come through for her. But the best defense she and her sister ever had against Lisa is a united one.

Early on they learned to survive her constant efforts to pit them against each other by standing together. Evangeline was better at it than Layla. Years of being labeled the black sheep of the family had made Layla resent her sister on so many levels. But the biggest pain was and always will be Dennis.

Layla rose from her seat and shuffled back toward the guard. Her life was in the toilet and the one person she needed the most just came to visit and taunt her. What did she ever do in this life to deserve Lisa as a mother?

John opened to door to let Evangeline in. She smiled and kissed him on the lips before walking pass him. "Well someone seems to be in a good mood" he said.

Evangeline shrugged her shoulders "Just happy to see my guy"

John noticed her casually slip in calling him her guy and was pleased "Really, so are we going steady?"

Evangeline walked over to him and gave him a kiss "What do you think?"

John picked her up and kissed her back "I hope you bought a toothbrush because you aren't leaving here until Monday morning"

She stared in his face "My bags is in the car" she said seductively returning her kiss.

Lisa sat in her hotel room at the Palace and called Evangeline's cell phone again. Each time it went to voicemail. She hung up. She couldn't wait to see her daughter. She had to do some damage control. Layla should stay in prison, and she would convince Evangeline of that.

She got up and looked out of the window of her hotel room. She thought of their father and the promise he made to him. "Robert, I will keep my promise. I will keep my promise"