Sylvia stared at the article on her computer, as if the words in front of her would rearrange themselves and give her the specific answers to questions she didn't know to ask. When they in fact did not do so, she groaned in frustration and lifted the travel mug next to her and drained its contents. She had been working on the mystery concerning the vigilantes and the goings on around New Atlantis for a while now and wasn't making much progress.
“I've got to be getting close to something at least…” she mumbled as she picked up her notebook and glanced over it one more time.
The girl who usually worked behind the counter at The Brewer's Cafe came up to Sylvia's table and set a steaming cup of something on the edge of her table.
Sylvia did a double-take and called back to her.
“Excuse me, Charlie? I didn't order anything else…”
Charlie turned around and pointed back to the coffee bar.
“She did,” the girl said.
“Didn't say why, just ordered and asked me to bring it to you.”
Sylvia glanced over and saw a woman who appeared in her late thirties to early forties. She wore smart business garb with an expensive-looking jacket and a hat that complemented the assembly. She seemed very well off and somewhat out of place in the setting of this particular cafe.
Sylvia then examined the beverage. It was a specially crafted vanilla and spice Chai latte… made exactly how Sylvia would have ordered it. She glanced back over to see the woman looking directly at her and Sylvia quickly looked away. The next thing she knew, the woman had approached her and was standing near the seat across from Sylvia’s.
“Do you mind if I join you?” she asked in a suave tone.
“Not… not at all…” Sylvia said nervously, not making eye contact.
The woman slid into the seat and took off her hat, revealing tightly styled blonde hair.
“Can I help you…?” Sylvia asked.
“Actually, that is why I am here,” the woman answered.
“I’m here on behalf of someone rather important who is very interested in your work as an upcoming journalist.”
Sylvia quickly looked up, wide-eyed.
“You’ve read my work?” she asked, surprised, as she finally looked at the woman.
“Of course,” said the woman with a side grin.
“Otherwise I wouldn’t be here. More importantly, the person I work for has read it and sent me with a proposition.”
Sylvia reassessed the woman, then realized who she was.
“You’re the mayor's aid!” she said.
“Ms. Camilla Leonne!”
Camilla nodded.
“Quite perceptive,” she commented with a smile.
“I'm sure that comes in handy with your line of work.”
“So… the Mayor wants me for something then?”
Camilla slid over a tablet with a headline that was familiar to Sylvia displayed on its screen.
“Specifically he is interested in your current investigation on the recent vigilante activity,” she began.
“While the local authorities are obviously attempting to do so, we feel that a more… civilian touch might glean more information by way of people trusting a friendlier face that they know.”
Sylvia continued to stare at her article that Camilla had shown to her. “Who Are They?” was in large bold print across the screen.
“Give it some time to think it over, but know that upon agreement, you'll receive full compensation for your efforts, along with updated equipment for anything and everything that could help you do this,” Camilla added.
“Honestly it's a hard offer to refuse if you ask me.”
Camilla stood from the table, placing her hat back on her head.
“You can keep the tablet,” she said with a gesture.
“Use it to contact me when you make your decision.”
She turned and walked toward the door, almost running into a man who had just entered. He wore a black long coat and a short top hat, a stylized ace of spades marked across his back. The man gave a cool glance over to Camilla then recognition brought a sly grin to his face.
“Ms. Leonne! What brings you to this fine establishment today?” he asked in an overly jovial tone.
“Are we campaigning to support locally-owned businesses or just here for the delicious pastries?”
Camilla looked the man up and down, scrutinizing him as if she had never seen him before.
“Maybe both,” she said as she waved a hand dismissively.
She glanced back at Sylvia, then left.
Sylvia watched on then turned back to the tablet. Things were unfolding in ways she never could have predicted.
Comments