************
"I'm tellin' ya...you should have seen the lip-lock Alisha put on your partner," Cahill said, grinning. "And then he took her home."
Brenna blinked as she stared at the young female detective. "Tell me you're kidding. Sweet Jesus...they just met!" She had to keep this light chitchat. As his partner, she had no reason to be jealous. He took her home! screamed the voice of his jealous wife. Frank would not do that to me, she assured herself, trying to calm the voice that screamed in the back of her mind.
"Not kidding, Bren. Lish was all over him like white on rice. The man didn't stand a chance." Cahill giggled and waved as she made her way over to her desk.
"Sonofabitch," Brenna ground out as she sat down at her desk.
"Oh?"
She looked up to see Mike sliding down into his chair and their eyes locked. He read the fury in hers. He hoped he was hiding the guilt in his.
"Have a nice time last night, Lt.?" she asked nonchalantly.
He was about to answer when a booming voice yelled through the office, "McKendry! Get your ass in here!"
Mike cast a glance toward the Captain's office and then at Brenna. "What the hell is that all about?"
She shrugged as she eased herself up out of the chair. "Guess you're cramping his style. Hard for him to ask me out with you sitting there." She heard his irritated hiss as she turned and made her way toward the Captain's office.
"Sir?" she said, peeking her head into the office.
"Come in, come in." He waited until she stood in front of his desk. "I just received a call from Jameson's lawyer."
"Yes, Sir?"
"You interviewed him about the details of that drug bust. His lawyer said he insists on talking to you again. And you alone."
"Alone? What..."
George looked up at her. If he was hiding something regarding Brunell, it was undetectable. Her gut told her this man had nothing to do with Brunell...the fact that Brunell had gotten off without so much as a slap on the hand in the past was just a fluke. She read concern in his eyes...distrust of the situation...but why, she could not fathom.
"I don't know what he has to say to you, McKendry, but he insists that no one is with you when you talk. Richards can go with you, but he will not be allowed in the room."
Brenna nodded. "Very well, Sir. I'll go see Mr. Jameson and find out what this is all about."
"Report back to me immediately."
"Yes, Sir," she replied and left his office. When she returned to her desk she shut down her laptop and pulled out her briefcase.
"What's going on?" Mike asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
"The suspect that was arrested during this drug bust insists on speaking to me again. Alone."
"Like hell," he cursed, following behind her.
"Whatever. You can come along, but you can't go into the interrogation room," she stated harshly.
She moved quickly to her car, not waiting to see if he would join her, but was not surprised when he slid into the passenger seat and slammed the door.
"Dammit, Shay...what the hell's wrong with you?" he demanded as he
stilled her hand on the ignition.
"Nothing...nothing." She looked sideways at him and decided she would just lay it all out for him. "I know we're UC, Donovan...but do you have to go to bed with anything in a skirt that moves?" She hated herself for her thoughts and the hitch in her voice from the sobs she held back.
"What the fu..." He cupped her chin with his hand and turned her to face him. "I did not sleep with her. How could you think that?"
She pushed his hand away and turned the key in the ignition. "I got the report first thing this morning. How the two of you were all over each other...and one helluva lip-lock you laid on each other." She pulled out of her parking space and, tires squealing, headed for the garage exit.
"Yes...we kissed. Yes...I took her home." He replied. "She was drunk...I took her home and walked her to her door. That was it."
She glanced over at him and read clearly his frustration. Whenever he had been that frustrated with her in the past it was because he had been truthful with her and she had read things into the situation that were not there. Her jealousy was getting the better of her.
"Mike...Frank...whomever the hell I'm supposed to be talking to..." she began. She shook her head and smiled wearily. "Can I help it if I'm married to a man every woman in the world would kill to get her hands on? It tends to warp the mind...bend perceptions...and let that damned green-eyed monster in a little too easily."
"Hey, babe..."
"Hmmm...?"
"I feel the same way about my wife," he admitted.
His smile was bright and warm and she felt her insides melt.
"Still love me?" he asked playfully.
"'Til the end of time, darlin'."
"That'll do," he replied as he took her hand and their fingers twined together.
************
Sitting across from Jameson, Brenna took in the sight of the unkempt man in the orange prison issue overalls. "Your lawyer said you needed to speak to me."
"I have a little bit of information for you. Something you might find useful in nailing that scumbag Brunell," he spat.
Mike stood impatiently in the small room behind the large mirror of the interrogation room. The sound had been cut off and Jameson's lawyer stood nearby to make sure his client's privacy was not disturbed. Mike made as if his ear itched and slid the small receiver in his ear. Brenna could not hear him, but he could hear her and Jameson. He was uncomfortable with her being completely alone with Jameson, but the fact he was shackled to the floor eased his mind somewhat. A guard stood just outside the door, but Jameson refused to talk if anyone was within earshot. He was afraid for his life.
"I can't make any offers for your freedom, Mr. Jameson," Brenna said.
"I don't want your offers and I don't want any promises. What I want is Brunell to go down."
"What's your stake in this," she asked calmly.
"A year ago, Brunell needed a fall guy for his prostitution ring. He chose my brother."
"Why would your brother go down for Brunell?" She watched him intently. He was raw emotion...unstable and ignitable.
"He threatened to have our sister sent away. Here..." his handcuffed hands slid a piece of paper across the table. "This is my sister's address. Her name is Cherry...she'll tell you everything."
Brenna nodded. "I'll go see your sister. But you did not answer my question...what's your stake in this?"
"My brother was murdered in prison three weeks after he was put away. I want Brunell to pay for his death. Now...I have one more piece of information for you."
"And that is?"
"There were ten kilos of coke in my apartment when the bust went down," he said calmly before yelling for the guard that he was ready to leave.
--
"What did he tell you, Detective?" Captain Steiger questioned as she left the interrogation room.
"Nothing, he was just trying to get a reduced sentence. He thought I was an easy touch and could play me," she insisted. "If you'll excuse me, I have another appointment I'm going to be late for." Without waiting for an answer, she took Mike by the arm and hurried down the hall.
Neither spoke until they were inside her Celica. "Ten Kilos, Frank...ten."
"I heard him, Ash. That's six more than was turned in to the evidence department."
"How much is that worth on the open market? $215,000? Now we know how he pays for his expenses."
"We need to prove it...catch him with the merchandise."
Shay nodded. "I don't think Captain George has anything to do with Brunell, Frank...but to be on the safe side, we won't mention the coke to him. I need to give him something."
"Give him the sister. Tell him Jameson wanted to cut a deal and his sister could lead us to his drug connection."
Shay nodded and pulled out her cell phone.
************
To be continued...