CHAPTER THREE

Sara and Catherine noted Brass leaving with Annie as they walked down the hall. Sara was on her way to go with Greg on their case assignment, while Catherine was headed to her office.

"Who's that with Brass, never seen her before?" Sara queried, her eyebrow raised curiously.

"That would be one Annie Kramer. Gil gave me a heads up that she's in town to visit Brass for a few days it seems. She's a friend of his from back in the day." Catherine replied.

"Hmm…how good a friend then?" Sara continued, thinking of Iris.

"Let's just say the closest of friends," Catherine replied, "and I'm thinking of Iris too."

"Not a spot I'd want to be in," added Sara, as they continued down the hall.

Brass held the door open for Annie. She got ready to step in but stopped suddenly to kiss him. Jim was caught off-guard by her action. He stepped back from her and she stared at him with a confused expression. "Jim, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, Annie, let's get out of here," Brass answered as he went on to get into the car to drive them away.

Annie leaned over to Jim. "Do you know what I'm thinking?" she said in a low, husky voice. She began to rub his arm slowly and work her way down to his thigh.

Brass nearly lost control of the steering wheel. "What are you doin'…trying to get us killed?"

Annie sat back in her seat. "I want to pick up where we left off. I was hoping for that to happen in LA when you came looking for Ellie that last time. Things may be going forward finally with the Vic Patterson case with that evidence you left with me. If it does, I'm likely looking at a transfer and here seemed like a good idea. We've still got chemistry and history between us. I know it, I feel it, and I want it to happen. I want to be with you again. I can't stop thinking about us. I've felt that way especially after you got shot several months ago. I wish you had let come see you then. I don't want to lose you."

Jim and Ellie were still working out their differences, but their relationship was closer than it had been in years. He attributed part of that to Iris's influence on his daughter.

Iris had made every effort to be there for Ellie but in such a way as to make Ellie think of her as an older friend.

Brass still had a full plate today…two entrees.