Brenda Leigh slept maybe a total of an hour after the encounter with Griff. She had to move on the information she learned or the opportunity would pass by. G. R. Hawthorne was the best she'd ever seen and he knew very well how to cover his tracks.

It was still dark when she pulled herself out of bed. Her mind had been racing all night. Two people were set to die tonight and she had to stop it before it happened. But she needed help.

Rummaging through the dresser in her closet, she found the black leggings and pink sweatshirt she had packed for jogging. She only hoped Griff was still passed out from his drunken New Year's Eve party. She'd taken up running once she arrived in London. It was a way for her to clear her head and to take surveillance of G. R. Hawthorne before he approached her. But she found that she enjoyed it more than she thought she would. It was therapeutic. She had always busted Sharon Raydor's chops about her daily running addiction.

Brenda scribbled a quick note to Griff saying she went for a jog. She scribbled another note and stuffed it in the small pocket of her jogging tights.

Sneaking out of Griff's house at dawn was easier than she thought yet she still had a panicky feeling she was being watched. This would be the riskiest move yet. But it couldn't be avoided.

It only took about ten minutes to make her way up to Griffith Park. At this time of morning there wouldn't be many people there except local runners. She didn't see Sharon's car in the parking lot as she rounded the hill but knew…hoped…she'd see it soon. Brenda Leigh took a quick, fast-paced 15 minute jog through the trails. Some of the knots and tension finally released from her body.

Out of breath she finally spotted Sharon's car parked just at the entrance but didn't notice the brunette anywhere. Covertly taking the piece of paper from her pocket, she balled it up in her hand in case she had to throw it away in a hurry. She still wasn't sure that one of Griff's people weren't following her.

Continuing her run she slowed her pace as she neared the driver side of Sharon's car. With an exaggerated limp she fell lightly against the side of the car and pretended to wrestle something out of her running shoe. At the same time she maneuvered the wadded up piece of paper underneath the door handle without being conspicuous.

She could only hope now that Sharon would find the paper and read it. Her mind was racing again as she meandered her way back to Griff's house.

Sharon Raydor started running in college. It was time just for her where she allowed herself to think and contemplate her life's choices. After joining the LAPD she forced herself to continue her routine. It was free therapy.

She smiled to herself as she recalled how Brenda Leigh couldn't understand how she could give up perfectly good sleep for the physicality of laboring and sweating in the deep midst of nature. When they met at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf the times they needed to converse away from the confines of work, Sharon would arrive with her hair pulled up and in her jogging clothes while Brenda Leigh would be fresh faced with sleepy eyes.

But today, she was focused on something else. It was the first day of a new year. She had to get her head back into her own life and career. She had worked too damn hard for what she had and where she was to let the ghost of Brenda Leigh Johnson screw it all up.

As she stretched her aching calves and reached her arms high above her head, she let go of all the weight that held her down during the previous year. The sun cresting above the mountain warmed her beautiful face.

It was only 8am so she planned her whole day in her head. She had 4 days left on her RTO and she had a lot of housekeeping to do…both mentally and literally.

Brenda Leigh showered and changed into a pair of winter white slacks and a chocolate brown cashmere sweater. Her espresso colored boots elongated her already 5'5" height. As she wrapped a silk scarf around her neck and stepped out of her bedroom she was met head on by a clearly hungover Griff.

He looked her up and down with heavy lidded eyes. "Are you going somewhere?" He glanced at the watch on his wrist. "It's only…not even 8 o'clock."

Brenda watched his eyes narrow. "I'm going to get a cup or two of coffee then I'm off to Rodeo for shopping. I need to purchase a few things before heading back to London." Then she tested him. "I also need to do a little facetime with a few of my buyers."

"Henry will drive you."

"I'm perfectly capable of making my way around this city. I did it for years."

"Doesn't matter. Henry will drive you. I insist." He tried to lighten his statement with a smile.

But this time she didn't return it. She put her hands on her hips. "Fine."

Henry, a burly, bald bear of a man, chauffeured her to the coffee shop. Thankfully, he waited in the car when she went in but he made sure to park himself in line of sight of the front door and windows so that he could see the front door and most of the inside of the small shop.

Brenda ordered her large mocha latte and waited at the same window table she sat before. She knew Henry could see her and she wanted it that way. He couldn't get suspicious. Not yet anyway. She sat there nonchalantly reading the newspaper.

After stretching and cooling down, Sharon unlocked her car with the key fob attached to her running show. Gripping the silver door handle she felt something rough against her fingertips. Turning her head from left to right she looked around suspiciously as she pulled the paper from underneath the handle. She didn't see anyone but got in her car right away and locked the door behind her.

She still looked around the park as she unfolded the paper in her hands.

CBTL 9am

-B

Her stomach lurched into her throat. And just like that all the tension that she had released during her run was back with a vengeance. She held the paper in her hand for a long time. It was all flooding back now.

Sharon drove her sports coupe down the mountain a little faster than she should have but she had to get home and showered to meet Brenda. She shook her head at that thought. She never thought this would happen again. And the note was quite cryptic which caused her more concern.

Brenda saw Sharon's silver BMW pull into the parking lot so she made her way back to the counter and whispered something conspicuously to the barista as she tossed her cup in the trash. Turning, she went through the door labeled Restrooms and waited in the ladies room.

Sharon Raydor was nervous. She bit her lower lip so hard she thought it would start bleeding. Her mind had already decided Brenda Leigh was out of her life forever but now…out of nowhere she was back like a whirlwind. But wasn't that how Brenda Leigh Johnson did everything? Sharon chuckled to herself.

She hurried into the store and looked around for her blonde friend. But there were only two college guys in one corner and an older couple sitting at a table near the door. Looking at her watch she noted it was precisely 8:57am. Maybe she was early.

The barista tried to catch her eye but she was already digging for her wallet as she ordered her usual Earl Grey.

"Ma'am?"

She didn't pay attention to him so he leaned forward and asked again.

"Ma'am?"

"Yes, I'm sorry. Milk. Two…"

He pointed to the restrooms and widened his eyes.

Sharon eyed the closed door and took a deep breath. She suddenly got an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She knew that note from Brenda had been puzzling but now she was really getting concerned if she was to meet Brenda in the restroom.

She pulled down on the bottom of the dark grey jacket she wore over matching patching pants and a lavender silk shell. Her black heels clacked as she slowly walked towards the door that would open up to the one thing…the only thing…that she had allowed to consume her very existence.

The restroom door closed behind her cloaking her in silence and her own loud thoughts. The men's room was to her left and to her right…a mystery. Putting her open hand on the ladies room door, she gently pushed it open. And standing against the back wall with her back to the door was a woman…a woman whose body she knew all too well. The shell was different. The dark, short hair wasn't the same as that hard to tame, blonde mane but it was her.

"Brenda?" Sharon whispered softly.

Brenda Leigh Johnson quickly turned around. Her stern mouth slowly eased into a wide smile. She couldn't help it. Seeing Sharon again was like living her life again after almost a year. Being undercover allowed her to step away from the real world—the emptiness from her parents' deaths, the anger from her divorce, and the sadness from leaving the job she loved. But standing in front of Sharon again made her question her decisions.

They slowly closed the short distance between them but continued to stare at each other. Brenda bit her bottom lip and nervous stuck her hand out in front of her for a handshake.

Sharon tilted her head to the right and smirked. She gripped Brenda's soft hand in hers and pulled her old colleague to her body. Brenda's audible gasp practically echoed in the small room.

Before Brenda left they had never acknowledged a physical closeness but being apart seemed to bring their souls closer together and the embrace was natural. Standing there so close for several minutes they could feel each other's chests heaving.

Finally, Sharon stepped away. "What is this about?" She asked in her calm, even tone.

Brenda rubbed her forehead with her hand as she started to pace the floor. "I don't have much time." Sharon narrowed her eyes. "You have to listen and that's all. No one…no one can know about this."

Brenda Leigh could see the skepticism crossing by-the-book Sharon's face. "Please." Brenda pleaded softly.

Sharon Raydor crossed her arms over her chest. What had Brenda Leigh gotten herself into, she thought. "Ok." She agreed.

Brenda explained the story of the CIA, G. R. Hawthorne and the murder for diamonds plot that night. She didn't get into much detail because she couldn't risk being out of Henry's sight for too long. Sharon couldn't believe what she was hearing. But she couldn't, in all good consciousness, leave Brenda hanging out to dry.

"You should call Fritz. It's a federal issue now."

"NO!" Brenda shook her head ardently. She couldn't risk screwing up her surveillance now.

Sharon finally agreed to meet Brenda Leigh in Long Beach at 10pm later that night.

As Brenda profusely thanked Sharon and made her way to the door, Sharon grabbed her forearm and stopped her. Their eyes burned into each other.

"I've…" Sharon started. "It's good to see you, Brenda Leigh." She smiled that crooked smile that Brenda had missed so much.

Brenda swallowed the lump in her throat and managed a smile and nod in return before walking out the door. Sharon closed her tear moistened eyes. But before the door completely closed Brenda rushed back in and threw her arms around her friend.