Mixed Identities.(Short Story)

The young lady with curly red hair entered the coffee bar, and immediately went to a small square table against the wall in the far right corner, where baskets of small tropical plants hung from the ceiling. She placed her black leather handbag on the table, almost casually, while her deep blue eyes wandered vaguely, searching for someone to serve her.

She wore a dark blue winter dress with a large collar, which contrasted sharply with the auburn-coloured jacket she wore on top of it. Her legs were covered with dark stockings, and she wore low-heeled black shoes. She looked somewhat apprehensive, perhaps impatient; now and then she checked her small watch, and her gaze shifted nervously to the entrance.

When the waitress came to her table with pencil and notepad ready, she ordered a a cappuccino. She checked her watch once again, and as she was doing so, a middle-aged woman approached her table.

"Ms Williams?" the woman asked, as she pulled up a chair and sat at the table. "My name's Sally Ferguson. I'm pleased to meet you face to face. We've known each other only through the telephone. You said you preferred to have the details of the report supplied to you in person. Is there any particular reason why you don't want us to send a written report to your residential address? What about a postal address?"

"I'd like to keep this matter confidential," Ms Williams replied. "I don't have a private postal box. Does this cause you any inconvenience?"

"No, it doesn't make any difference to us. In any event, I've got it here with me."

Ms Ferguson took a white sealed envelope out of her handbag, and handed it across the table to Ms Williams, who placed the envelope in her own handbag.