Once Sara and Brass had finished eating, Sara changed into something more comfortable, putting a load of laundry on and sorting out a bag of clothes to take to the lab with her next shift. Once she'd done what she needed to do, Sara settled down on to the sofa, a glass of Iced Tea in her hand. She half wished it was beer, but she was also glad that it wasn't. For the most part she was glad to have overcome her addiction, but she still had moments of weakness, especially when the bad memories started to resurface. So far she had managed to resist, and she hoped she would continue to be strong. Lost in thought, she didn't notice Brass take a seat next to her.
'Everything ok Sara?' he asked, placing his hand on her knee. Startled, Sara turned to him 'Uhh…Sure, sure, just thinking… anyway, you were going to tell me about the cold case you looked at…'
Brass took a deep breath, trying to figure out what to say, and how best to say it. 'Yeah… I did say that, didn't I… but afterwards Sara, you need to tell me why not Judge Davies…'
Sara leaned back into the sofa 'Yeah… I suppose I do… have you got a good story to tell me, or not?' she questioned
'Well…' Jim began awkwardly 'It rather depends on your point of view…'
Sara nodded in understanding, and took a deep breath 'Let me tell you my story first then… I'll need some good news after what I need to tell you…' Brass just smiled in encouragement.
'Do you remember Judge Cohen?' Sara asked, placing her glass down on the table, and wrapping her arms tightly around her.
'Yeah, scumball corrupt Judge that Warrick got tangled in with back when he was gambling… I helped throw him in jail…' Brass frowned, not understanding how they had gotten from Davies to Cohen 'Sara?'
'Please… don't rush me' Sara whispered, a long silence falling over them, at last she spoke again.
'I'd been in Vegas for 13 days, I'd officially been part of the team for 4 days, I got a case with Nick, we needed a warrant, I offered to go, you know, wanting to make a good impression, connections… thought it would be a good idea to meet some of the Judges in person… I went to Cohen… he was sweet, he's just won some bet… he was in a good mood, he didn't only have Warrick running for him… I don't know who was… I ignored his flirting, thanked him for the warrant… I tried to leave… he grabbed me… he…. His hands were all over me… he raped me…' Sara was shaking by now, the tears falling fast 'I tried, I really tried to stop him… I nearly did. I was so scared… I was actually going to report him. Report a rape for the first time… it was all I could think… then someone walked in… Davies walked in… he laughed, unfazed by it, waited for Cohen to finish… then they both threatened me, said no one would believe me, a 'Frisco transfer against two well respected Judges… then Davies said something… and I knew, I just knew, I could never tell anyone, no matter what. He knew who I was… he was the Judge who took my Parent's case…. He knew about everything, he even knew I'd had a baby…. I promised my silence, then I left… I went to the clinic, but that's all I did… a few days later Cohen was arrested because of the gambling… the next morning after that, I received a phone call, it was Davies, threatening me to keep my silence on the matter… turns out Cohen and Davies are cousins… I've never told anyone… I haven't seen either since, I avoid Davies court, and Cohen I heard died of a heart attack about 6 months later… I didn't see the point in telling anyone… ' Sara wiped away at the last of her tears, feeling a little numb.
Brass wanted desperately to reach out to her, to take her in his arms and to hold her closely, his anger rising, but he knew that right now any form of comfort or touch would only be rejected.
'I'm sorry Sara… I'm so very sorry'
Smiling weakly, Sara managed to get out 'I know…'
'Sara… do you know if the phone call was ever recorded?'
'I… I don't know, why?' she pulled the blanket from the back of the sofa around her shoulders, something she'd been doing a lot of lately
'Well… now that people know a bit more, about your past, his threat has no weight… we can go after him, if you like? If it will help?' he moved, and placed his hand near her leg, not quite close enough to touch her, but so she knew she could take it, if she wanted
Reaching out, Sara grabbed his hand, entwining their fingers 'Tell me about your case…'
'Sara… I don't think now's the time…' he sighed, squeezing her hand gently
'Why not? Unless I'm involved somehow, nothing can be as bad as what I've just told you' despite herself, Sara smirked
'I wouldn't be so sure… and you are, involved, I mean…'
Sara snatched her hand back, unsure of what Brass could mean
'Jim?'
'Sara…You know I care about you, but after learning what I did the other day, at your session, about your parents, about your Mother… I just wanted to know a bit more… I pulled a few files, looked into it… I came across something really interesting…'
'I don't want to know Brass!' Sara snapped 'You had no right to do that, no right! What could you have possible found out about my own life that I DON'T ALREADY KNOW!' Sara screamed, getting up from the sofa, beginning to pace up and down.
Brass took a deep breath, not wanting to shout back. He waited, hoping Sara would calm down. She was pacing for another 5 minutes, before collapsing on to the sofa exhausted.
'I'm sorry…'
'I know you are' Jim said, smiling weakly, but not liking how volatile Sara could still be.
'Are you ready to listen?'
Sara just nodded, curling up on to the sofa, picking at a loose thread on the blanket.
'I came across a document, the Bed and Breakfast, it went to auction after…after what happened'
'So?' Sara questioned 'It was run down in places, we never had customers towards the end, I didn't want it even if I could have, I don't care what happened to it'
'I think you're going to want to hear what I have to say Sara, are you going to listen?' Brass questioned, trying not to get impatient. He knew that Sara was still feeing raw from her confession, and probably over tired from her first day back at work, but he also hoped that after he had told her what he had discovered, that her mood might improve.
'Yes' Sara pushed herself up a little, wanting to give Brass her full attention.
'The B and B went to auction, along with the 25 acres of land it was on'
'26.4' Sara corrected him
'Anyway' he continued 'You're right, the building itself needed a lot of repair work towards the end, but it was an impressive size, on good land, in a great location… it had access to a semi-private beach, a stream that ran down to the sea…'
'And woodland, yes I know, it's where I grew up'
'Yes… did you know that when it was surveyed prior to auction it was discovered that it had gold and silver ores in the ground, and in another area some rare species were nesting, some birds…to be honest, when it went to auction, the house wasn't really at the forefront of the bidders minds, but rather what the land held… it had an estimated worth of $350,000… it was up against someone who wanted the gold and silver, and someone who wanted to set it up as a nature reserve… I'm pleased to say that the nature reserve won out… by the time they won the bid was up to $440,000. At this time Sara, you were in the system, having your own troubles, and no one knew how to tell you. It seems it was decided that the money would be placed in a trust fund, that you would be given access to it when you turned 21. By that time though, no one knew how to find you… they tried, but they gave up. The money has been just sat there, waiting… gathering interest… and now, it's all yours…. Every last penny. I found the records, the fund, everything… I don't know who set up the fund, that's the only thing I'm having trouble finding, but it's a very generous fund, with very generous terms… ' Brass paused, taking her hands 'Sara, they applied interest too it…'
Sara's head shot up 'How much…' she whispered, her heart racing, she couldn't believe that she had that amount of money, that she'd struggled on and off throughout her life with finances, to be told she had close to half a million in funds, on top of the compensation she had asked for from the lab, her breathing heavy
'5% compound interest over 17 years'
Sara's jaw dropped, her breathing getting even more ragged, as Jims words registered in her mind, her analytical and scientific side taking over, doing the maths in her head. She couldn't believe the figure that came into her mind, and she lurched over, vomiting on the floor, her whole body shaking.
'It's ok Sara, it's ok….I've got you…I've got you'
$1,008,488' Sara repeated over and over,
'Yeah sweetie… a little over a million dollars… '
Lurching over, Sara was sick once more, the shook too much for her to handle right now.
'Come on…' Brass pulled her up gently 'Let's get you in the shower, and then in the bed, we can talk about this later…'
Sara followed him, a little unsteady on her feet, repeating the figure again.
Xxxxx
a/n sorry it's been a while folks, I've either been busy with work, or sleeping. I actually took a sick day this afternoon, for the first time in this job as I was so exhausted. Hope to write again on Monday, energy levels depending, as I've not long found out I'm in Sara's position, so to say, currently 8 weeks pregnant… I'm excited, but drained.
