Chapter 5
"Mr Brandz, who has access to your car?" Sara asked.
"As I told your colleague already, it's my car, I'm the only one that drives in it."
"Then why did we find this inside?" She held up the comforter in an evidence bag.
Mr. Brandz's eyes betrayed him –surprise clearly visible. He tried to save himself and told them it was his little niece's –who had stayed at his place last week, but Catherine and Sara had both caught his surprised look.
But since his car wasn't the one involved in the hit-and-run, and having a comforter inside his car wasn't a crime, they had nothing else to look for. (even though both women felt something was off)
After the three of them had thanked Mr. Brandz for his cooperation, they walked back to their Tahoe. While Sara put both kits in the back of the car, Catherine informed Brass that Warrick and Nick had found the other SUV –the right SUV. So they headed for the CSI HQ.
Sara took all the evidence into the layout room. The fingerprints she had found, the long blonde hair, and the comforter.
Catherine walked in after her just ending a phone call.
"Warrick said it would be another twenty minutes before the tow truck came and another twenty to get back here, so that gives us enough time to grab something to eat."
Sara sighed and leaned both hands on the table. "I'd rather start on the evidence, check the prints through AFIS, get Greg to analyze the hair –see if he can get a DNA-profile. Brass was going to look into Mr. Brandz's family, so that part is covered."
"It can wait, besides if Mr. Brandz's story checks out there's no reason to analyze that evidence. Just wait until Brass knows more."
"Let's go." Catherine said as she walked over to Sara and pushed her into the hall.
Sara was reluctant to go, but when Catherine's hands connected with her lower back she was ready to oblige to every thing Catherine would ask.
They went to a nearby diner. As they entered the woman behind the counter waved at Catherine. The two of them took a seat at the back, and the woman walked over to them.
"Evening Libby"
"Hey Catherine, how are ya doin?" The Gray-haired waitress asked as she gave Sara a once-over. Not waiting for Catherine's response she offered Sara her hand. "You must be Sara, right?"
"Yeah," Sara said surprised as she hesitantly shook the woman's hand sending Catherine a questioning look. Catherine quickly picked up the menu and hid herself not wanting Sara to see how embarrassed she was.
Libby had been her confidant. Through the years Catherine had come often to Libby's diner after shift, most of the times alone, sometimes with Warrick and Nick –yet never with Sara. Last week Catherine had told Libby she had feelings for someone she worked with. Although she never told her who this person was Libby immediately knew Sara was the person Catherine had been talking about.
Seeing Catherine's flustered state Libby decided to tease Catherine a little more. "Catherine has told me a lot about you." she said looking over from Sara to Catherine –a smug smile on her face.
"Did she?" Sara looked over at Catherine, raising an eyebrow.
"OK," Catherine piped up "I'm ready to order, how 'bout you?" Not waiting for Sara to answer she gave Libby her order. Sara –still taken aback by the fact that Catherine had been talking about her with the old waitress- tried to clear her head and also order something.
As Libby walked away Catherine forced herself to look at Sara.
"I only told her good things, you know" Catherine explained.
"Is that so?" Sara asked, feeling giddy all of a sudden.
"I told her about how dedicated you are to your work. How passionate you get when you're working on a case." Catherine started rambling earning her a full-blown smile from her co-worker.
Libby came back with their orders, and put the plates on the table.
"Well, enjoy your meal" As she started to walk off she turned around once more grinning at Catherine "Oh Catherine, you were right. She really is a looker." Catherine's face immediately turned beet-red.
Sara –who just came back from the toilet- hadn't heard Libby's comment and settled back into the boot. She saw Catherine's flustered state which was kind of odd: Catherine and flustered in the same sentence. However, she decided not to ask her about it and started to devour her meal.
After a few minutes of silence between them the awkward moment seemed to have passed and they continued to talk amicably.
That's when it started. From that moment on their work-relationship changed gradually. The tension between them changed.