The next morning, Mr. Henegar called and said that he was sending a copy of the City's offer over to her by courier. "Please read it but don't discuss it with anyone except your husband. I have to be out of the office for the rest of the day so I'm going to transfer you to Mrs. Donley and she'll make an appointment for us to discuss it together."
"How much time do we have?"
"The offer states 24 hours but I told John that I would be out of the office for the rest of the day so he verbally agreed to 48 hours," he replied as he transferred her to Mrs. Donley.
"Good morning, Ms. Johnson. Are you available tomorrow morning?" Mrs. Donley asked in her usual professional, cheerful voice.
Linda buzzed Brenda about half an hour later and told her that a messenger had dropped off an envelope for her. But, as much as she wanted to, she had no time to look at it until she got home that night.
She didn't see Fritz's car in the driveway as she rounded the corner onto her street. "Good," she thought. "Maybe I can read through the offer before Fritzi gets home." So she settled down on the couch with a glass of Merlot and Joel on her lap and pulled out the offer. "I don't see any surprises," she told Joel as she stroked his fur. He purred his reply. "So what do you think, baby? Should I settle this thing once and for all?" But Joel was clearly bored with this line of conversation so he jumped off her lap and went hunting for something more worthy of his attention.
The phone rang. It was Fritz telling her that he was probably going to be participating in a stakeout all night long. "We're hoping to roll up the Barrado drug ring," he explained. Brenda knew that the Barrado brothers were the Catorce's drug suppliers and she hoped that quashing them would severely cripple the Catorce gang.
"Ok, honey. Good luck and I'll see you tomorrow." She decided not to distract him with news of the offer since he didn't have either the time or the privacy to discuss it.
That night she had a hard time sleeping. Her feelings about the lawsuit, the Johnson Rule, missing Major Crimes, the new policy of deal making, and the surprise of Chief Taylor's support all somersaulted through her consciousness and made sleep impossible. She really needed to talk to Fritz. "He's so clear-headed," she said, even though she knew she'd give him a hard time about whatever he had to say. "Oh, well. This is my lawsuit and my responsibility," she said to herself as she inhaled his scent from his old T-shirt she'd worn to bed.
The next morning she went directly to Mr. Henegar's office. "Good morning, Ms. Johnson," he greeted her. "Have a seat and we'll go through the offer line by line."
After a discussion of the entire offer Brenda asked, "What is your recommendation, sir?"
"I think it's a fair offer. It only eliminates your name from the Johnson Rule. But my source on the Police Commission told me that the Commissioner doesn't like the rule and that it's likely to disappear regardless of what happens in your suit. Of course, that means that they will have to deal with Peter Goldman again. But, as you can see in this agreement, no use of your name and no action against you can be made, now or in the future. So changing their agreement with Mr. Goldman will be their problem. John Bandy assures me that nothing will reflect on you."
"Does he think Chief Pope will agree to that?" Brenda was suspicious.
"Oh, yes, I'm sure. He now knows the alternative is to have his dirty laundry aired in public and that would very likely damage his career."
"I must admit that lettin him off the hook sticks in my craw. But since my name is comin off the Johnson Rule I guess I can live with that," Brenda replied. "But I don't want to take any chances. I want the wordin to be air tight. I don't want their dealins with Goldman to come back to hurt me again."
"I will personally review every letter and punctuation mark in the agreement before I recommend that you sign it," Ms. Johnson. "You will be protected," Mr. Henegar assured her.
"Well, that makes me feel safe. Even though my previous attorney betrayed me, for some reason I trust you."
Mr. Henegar chuckled, "I take that as high praise, Ms. Johnson."
Brenda smiled and asked, "So, if we're in agreement, are we ready to sign?"
"Almost. I want to have John include everything we agreed to verbally. That should strengthen it even further. I should have the final version shortly and I'll send it to you by messenger after I've reviewed it."
"All right. I'll wait to receive it, then. Thank you so much, sir." Brenda smiled.
When she got back to her office she saw an urgent message to call Claire Baldwin. "Hello, DDA Baldwin. This is Chief Johnson. What can I do for you?"
"Oh, yes. Thank you for returning my call. I just spoke to Lara's attorney and she is once again refusing to testify." She sounded alarmed.
"I was afraid this might happen," Brenda was annoyed. "Have you seated a jury yet?"
"Yes, and testimony is supposed to start tomorrow."
"What's the order of your lineup?"
"I think the housekeeper will be my first witness and the security guard will be next, followed by the coroner, then the arresting officers. Before Lara testifies I think the judge wants to hear from you so you should both testify day after tomorrow, provided she shows up."
"All right. I guess I need to pay Lara another visit and I want to take that warrant with me. We may be arrestin our star witness."
"I don't think she'll talk to you. Her agent says she's practically barricaded herself behind the walls of her estate."
"Oh, she'll talk to me, all right. Have no doubt about that," and Brenda dialed Sgt. Gabriel's desk. When he answered she commanded, "Sargent Gabriel, please alert the Hollywood Division that I need four squad cars at Lara's front gate in an hour. Tell them to bring a batterin ram and make sure it's visible on the security camera."
"Yes, ma'am," he replied.
Brenda met DDA Baldwin outside her door, took the warrant, and told her secretary that she was leaving to visit a reluctant witness.
Driving up to the front of Lara's estate she met the squad cars and told the men to make sure the squad cars' lights were flashing and to follow her. Next she rang the bell. When the housekeeper answered Brenda told her that she needed to speak with Lara.
"She's not here," the housekeeper answered but Brenda could tell from the stress in her voice that she was not telling the truth.
"I think she is, ma'am, and I need to speak with her. Please put her on the speaker."
Brenda next heard Lara's petulant voice. "I'm not talking to you."
"I know you can hear me but are you where you can see the police officers behind me?"
"Yeah," Lara answered, still in a defiant tone.
"Then, can you see the large, heavy metal object they are carryin? That is a batterin ram. If you will not let us in, they will use it to destroy the lock on your gate." And when Lara was silent, Brenda continued, "And are you where you can see your toothbrush?"
"No, why?" Lara sounded puzzled.
"Because that is likely the only thing you'll be able to keep with you when you are placed under arrest. Because I also have a warrant and these gentlemen have handcuffs. Because I'm sure by now the TV stations and paparazzi's scanners have all gone off and they are on their way. So are you gonna let us in, or do you want every paper and news channel in the country to see us batter down your gate and drag you out in handcuffs?"
Silence. Then Lara said, "All right. You can come in. But only you."
"You do not tell me who I can bring with me. This warrant lets me bring whoever I want with me," Brenda lied.
Lara was silent but Brenda heard the lock release and she, followed by four police officers, walked up to the front door. They were admitted by the housekeeper.
Lara, no longer defiant, was practically in tears and pleaded, "Please don't make me face that man."
Brenda wasn't sure whether Lara's emotion was simply an act or whether she was still terrified of Toomey. But she decided that by now she probably was equally terrified of her and that it was best to keep that fear going. "I've already told you that, even though he'll be in the court room, there is no way he can get to you unless you refuse to testify. And I don't like repeatin myself. I find it borin."
Lara's demeanor immediately changed. "That's what I thought," Brenda said to herself before speaking to Lara. "Now I've already proven that I can get to you wherever you go. So what's it gonna be? Are you gonna cooperate and testify?"
Again, Lara hesitated so Brenda added. "All right, I've had enough. Officers, arrest her and read her her rights."
One of the officers produced his handcuffs. "No, wait! I'll be there. Claire Baldwin said I would testify day after tomorrow," Lara said in a panicked tone.
"Now that's the right answer. I'll see you in court day after tomorrow. And don't even think about not showin up. There's no way that would end well for you," she said sternly. When Lara nodded, Brenda added, "Thank you so much." And the housekeeper showed her and the police officers out.
When she got back to her office she called Claire Baldwin to advise her that Lara would be testifying after all. "I'm sure she's more afraid of me than she is of Jeff Toomey at the moment," Brenda concluded.
"I'm sure she is too," DDA Baldwin chuckled."
Brenda then called Steve Corning and told him that she had to strong-arm Lara in order to get her to agree to testify. "I just want to give you a heads-up in case Lara decides to plead her case before the media. I doubt she will, but you need to be aware," she concluded.
"Thank you, Chief Johnson. I might hear from her attorney but I hear from witnesses' attorneys all the time. I doubt we'll have any problems from her."
She next turned her attention to the manilla envelope Linda said was delivered by messenger while she was out. There was a sticky note on the first page in Mr. Henegar's handwriting saying that he approved of this agreement. Brenda read it and saw that the language protecting her from any future negotiations with Goldman had been beefed up and the provision that the city would pay all fees and court costs had been added. She buzzed Linda to come in and bring her notary stamp with her. She signed it and, when it was notarized, told Linda that she was leaving for the day. She dropped the agreement off with Mrs. Donley then stopped at the grocery store on her way home.
Fritz was asleep on the couch when she got home so she tiptoed to her closet, changed her clothes, and went into the kitchen to start dinner. Fritz awoke to the aroma of meatloaf baking and the methodical thump, thump, thump of potatoes being mashed so he went into the kitchen and kissed his wife.
"Mmm. I don't know which tastes better. Your kisses or meatloaf," Fritz smiled at her.
"I know which you'd better say tastes better if you don't want these potatoes dumped on your head," Brenda retorted in mock annoyance.
"Well, I guess I'll have to eat some of that meatloaf to decide."
"You're sure in a good mood. How about settin the table while I finish gettin dinner ready?"
When they were both seated Brenda asked, "So, did you get the Barrado brothers?"
"Mmm hmm," Fritz murmured as he savored the meal. "We caught them with a room full of cocaine, heroin, and lots of cash. They're finished."
"So the Catorces will just have to find another supplier. I wonder how long that will take," Brenda commented.
"Oh, there's no shortage of low level cartel operatives who are more than willing to supply them."
Brenda sighed, "It's like tryin to drain a river with a thimble, isn't it?"
"Exactly. But we have to continue to try."
When they had finished eating Brenda picked up her copy of the final agreement and told Fritz that the lawsuit was finally settled. As he took the agreement from her hands he asked, "Have you signed it?"
"Yes. I dropped it off on my way home. It's over."
Fritz sat down on the couch. As he read it Brenda sat down beside him. Fritz whistled through his teeth. "Two million dollars. Wow. So you're getting over a million dollars?"
"I'm only gettin $25,000. Nothin more." Fritz turned to her with a puzzled expression so she continued. "I don't want one dime beyond what I want to give back to you. I'm donatin the rest of it to the Stern and Duran Victims Assistance Fund for an endowment." Since Fritz's expression didn't change she explained. "Mike Stern and Enrique Duran were the two LAPD officers who were gunned down by Neo Nazis about five months after we got married. That money will provide a college education for the children of police officers who are killed in the line of duty."
Fritz searched his memory for a moment. "Now I remember." Then he put the agreement down and put his arms around Brenda. "That's a wonderful thing to do," and he kissed her gently. "I love you."
"More than meatloaf?" Brenda teased.
"Even more than meatloaf. And that's saying a lot," he grinned. Then Fritz picked her up and carried her into the bedroom.
Two days later Brenda was in the courtroom when DDA Baldwin approached her and said that the judge wanted her to be deposed in camera. Brenda knew that meant that she would give her testimony privately. Only the judge, the court stenographer, the attorneys and, if he desired, the defendant would be in the courtroom. As expected when it came time for Brenda to be deposed as to what was involved in getting Lara to testify, the judge ordered the jury, the spectators and other witnesses excluded.
After the bailiff cleared the courtroom and Brenda was sworn in, DDA Baldwin asked her to describe her attempts to locate Lara and convince her to return to Los Angeles. So Brenda told of contacting the NYPD and asking them to find Lara and ask her to voluntarily return to testify. She told the court about her telephone conversation with Lt. Kowalski regarding his contact with the witness. Then DDA Baldwin introduced his sworn statement describing how he had located Lara and that she refused to return voluntarily in order to testify. The opposing attorneys examined the statement and allowed it to be entered into evidence.
Brenda then described her initial contact with Lara in order to serve her with a subpoena and Brenda's affidavit of service was entered into the record. She then was asked to recount her most recent contact with the witness. And she concluded by saying, "It took the threat of imminent arrest before she changed her mind and agreed to appear."
Jeff Toomey's attorney stood up and asked if Brenda would characterize her threats as necessary and realistic, suggesting that the DA's office exceeded its authority.
"Yes, they were necessary and very realistic. We were ready to break down the gate and bring her to court in handcuffs if necessary," Brenda responded.
"And would you also say that your threats of violence were necessary?"
"They definitely were necessary. The court could not allow her to defy the law. I had a lawful warrant and the judge had assigned a reasonable bail, considerin the witness' resources."
The attorney then turned to the judge and said, "Your honor, it is clear that the witness was improperly served. A footprint is not proof of service."
DDA Baldwin responded, "This is Lara's footprint and it is as much proof of service as an X written by the witness."
"I will allow the footprint to stand as proof of service," the judge ruled.
The defense attorney continued, "This was clearly an abuse of power and it's obvious that the prosecutor's witness will be testifying under duress. I move that Lara be dismissed as she is obviously an unreliable witness given the threats and intimidation she endured."
But the judge denied the motion and said, "I find that the District Attorney's investigator acted properly given the witness' behavior. The witness will be required to testify. Should she refuse she will be cited for contempt of court and remanded to jail."
With the judge's ruling, Brenda's deposition was finished. She stepped down and took her seat beside Claire Baldwin. The judge announced that testimony would resume in fifteen minutes and ordered the bailiff to open up the courtroom to interested parties.
DDA Baldwin turned to Brenda and said, "You don't have to stay any longer, Chief Johnson."
"Oh, I think I do. I want to sit here throughout Lara's testimony and stare at her – just in case she gets cold feet. Besides, my bein here will give her someone to focus her attention on instead of Jeff Toomey."
"All right. Suit yourself," Claire said clearly unhappy that Brenda was going to stay and observe. When the judge returned and called upon the prosecution to call the next witness, Claire announced, "The State calls Lara Bronstein to the stand."
When she was administered the oath, the stenographer asked her to state and spell her name for the record. Then Lara was asked to describe her relationship with the defendant, Jeff Toomey. She said that they had no relationship and that she'd never had any face-to-face contact with him. In response to DDA Baldwin's questions she described receiving strange letters from him which declared his undying love and quoting twisted scripture verses in order to claim her as his own.
When DDA Baldwin asked her how she felt about Jeff Toomey's devotion she replied, "He totally creeps me out. I'm terrified of him and I don't want anything to do with him." She also testified that she cried when she learned that her security guard had been killed trying to protect her and said, through tears, that both her security guards had been more than employees. They had both been friends and that she considered the man who was murdered almost as a father figure. She had even thrown him a birthday party the year before he died. She concluded by tearfully saying, "I didn't know it would be his last birthday."
During her entire testimony she avoided looking at Jeff Toomey who was muttering to himself and twisting in his chair. Instead she alternated her gaze between DDA Baldwin and Brenda who, at first, looked back at her with a steely look. However, as Lara continued her testimony, Brenda's look softened until she was smiling at her.
Jeff Toomey erupted. He stood up shouting his version of scripture and then began singing love songs to Lara. The judge tried to gavel him to silence but when that failed, ordered him to be removed from the courtroom.
Lara was clearly rattled. Apparently Toomey's attorney didn't want to further damage his client's chances by harshly cross-examining her so the questions they asked were not contentious. Finally she was dismissed. Brenda followed her out of the courtroom and found her in the witness waiting room crumpled in a chair and breathing heavily so she got her a some water and sat beside her.
"You did a wonderful job, Lara. As a result I'm very sure you'll never have to deal with him again. You'll be safe now," Brenda said softly.
"I don't feel safe," Lara said with tears in her eyes.
"But you are. And because of your strength, you'll stay safe."
"Strength?" Lara was obviously surprised.
"Yes. It took a lot of strength to testify in front of him, even though you were afraid of him," Brenda said as she put her hand on Lara's arm.
"I only testified because I was more afraid of you. I didn't want to be arrested," Lara admitted as she sniffled.
Brenda took a tissue from her purse and put it into Lara's hand. "I know. It's my job to use anythin necessary, includin scarin you, to get you to testify. But that doesn't mean that I didn't understand how you were feelin."
Lara wiped her eyes and asked, "How could you possibly know how I was feeling?"
"I know because I've been there. You see before I began workin' for the DA's office, I was in charge of a homicide unit at the LAPD. And I was stalked and attacked in my home by a man who had raped and murdered a lot of girls. Believe me, I know what it feels like to be terrified for your life."
Lara was shocked. "What? You were stalked and attacked by a crazy person too?"
"Well, he was crazy like a fox. But, yes. When he realized I could put him on death row he broke into my home when my husband was out of town. He tried to rape and murder me."
"How did you get away?" Lara was beginning to forget her own fear and was fascinated by Brenda's story.
"He knocked me down onto the kitchen floor and first he tried to get my pants off. But I was fightin so, when that failed, he tried to strangle me. I got my foot up and pushed him away and tried to get to my gun. He came at me with his knife and I had to shoot him."
"Did you kill him?" Lara asked.
"No. He's alive. He was in the hospital for a long time because I put four bullets into him. But now he's in jail awaitin trial."
"Wow. And you'll have to testify against him?" Lara was clearly impressed.
"Yes, I will."
Lara looked at her for a minute, then smiled and said, "If you need any help with testifying against him, you just let me know. I'll be glad to threaten to have you arrested to be sure you don't chicken out."
Brenda laughed and said, "Thanks. I'll remember that." Brenda smiled at Lara and said, "You'll be fine." And she patted Lara's arm before leaving. She walked back to her office smiling the entire way.
The next afternoon, DDA Baldwin knocked on Brenda's open door. "Got a minute?"
Brenda looked up and smiled. "Of course, come on in."
"I thought you'd like to know that we got a guilty verdict. The defense put on no witnesses and the jury debated only two hours. He got life without parole."
"I'm glad to hear that. That man does not belong on the street."
"Lara's testimony did the trick. She was great and her testimony prevented the defense from making the case that Toomey reasonably thought that he had a right to be there," Claire added.
"Yes. She did a great job," Brenda agreed.
"Well, thank you for getting her into court."
"I didn't do anythin, Claire. Just my job," Brenda said.
Claire nodded. "Well, thank you for doing your job, then," and she left Brenda's office.
Before she left for the day Brenda's cell phone rang. It was Wilson Henegar. "Ms. Johnson, the City's check arrived. I will subtract my fee. And then I need to disperse the remainder according to your wishes."
"Well, I only want a check for $25,000. Would you make a check out for the remainder to The Stern and Duran Victims Assistance Fund? I want to donate everythin to provide college assistance to the children of murdered police officers," she explained.
"I'd be happy to, Ms. Johnson, but you need to write two letters. The first is a letter directing me to disperse the funds according to your wishes. And the second is to the charity explaining how you want your donation to be used."
"All right. I'll write them both tonight."
When she hung up the phone, Brenda sat back in her chair reflecting on how far she'd come. From being Daddy's Girl to her college days at Georgetown. From her CIA service to moving to a law enforcement career. From the terrible mistake she'd made in having an affair with a married man to a disastrous marriage conceived on the rebound, to reaching for the brass ring and moving to Los Angeles. From her fear of allowing herself to love Fritz to a strong, happy marriage. She thought about all the good she'd been able to accomplish while at Major Crimes and the friendships she'd made there. And finally her move to the DA's office and the good she was sure she was going to do in the future. She savored it all for a few minutes. Then she grabbed her purse and headed home.
The End
A/N: Now, please take a minute and complete the box below. Your feedback is incredibly important to me. It provides the motivation I need to keep writing. In the words of Brenda Leigh, "Thank yew".