I thank everyone for all the love for this story, and I'm glad everyone is pleased with it! I would like to thank the Guest and Mamabella for the help on Flynn's heritage, much appreciated!
Anyways, ENJOY!
The blonde stood with a faint smile still staring at Sharon as the Detective stood. Tao rounded the corner and barely even glanced at the blonde. He placed a twenty on Sharon's desk and leaned down to whisper in her ear.
"The Chief of Police hired the blonde— Brenda Leigh Johnson. I don't think Pope knows yet. Would you like me to tell him?"
"No,no. I'll tell him, thank you, Detective," Sharon whispered back with a shaky smile. "And about the loss of your child, I'm terribly sorry. If you and your girlfriend need anything, I'd gladly help."
Tao blinked back unshed tears, "I think I'll take you up on that. Would you like to grab some lunch later on today?"
"I'd love that," Sharon replied, gently patting his shoulder as she turned her attention to the blonde. "Detective-"
"Lieutenant," Brenda corrected with a slight nod.
"Lieutenant Johnson, if you'd follow me please," Sharon led the Lieutenant down the hall to the electronic room. Knocking to announce her presence, Sharon opened the door. She greeted the Chiefs, and Brenda nodded politely.
"Is there something we could do for you, Detective?" Chief Pope asked.
"Chief, this is Lieutenant Johnson," Sharon responded facing the Chief of Police. Her hands nervously sought her blazer pockets.
"Oh, she's a few days early. Thank you, Detective," The Chief of Police replied with a dismissive nod. Brenda had watched the interaction and felt that the woman in front of her was rather shaky. Brenda had a fleeting thought that she might be replacing the Detective.
Sharon muttered a faint, "Sir, Chief," and left the room.
"Ms. Johnson, would you mind giving the Chief of Police and I a second? Some paperwork must've missed my desk," Pope asked gently gesturing for her to wait outside the electronics room.
"How could you hire someone without my knowledge?" Pope feverishly whispered.
"If I remember properly, you're my subordinate. Best thing about being in charge is I don't have to explain myself," The Chief of Police said in a calm voice, hoping it would lower Pope's rage.
"You put me in charge of this division! Going out and hiring a lieutenant without my permission is not your job! You could've at least asked!" Chief Pope said, his voice raising with every word. If only the man knew what blondes did to him.
"And wait another year for you to finally hire the woman? I've waited four years to see this plan put to action! I need something good done while I'm Top Cop. The detectives will bring suspects in. She'll make them talk."
"You just witnesses Detective Montgomery make that woman talk in less than five minutes!" Pope practically cried. This whole situation was costly, Pope could have easily hired the blonde if he wanted to. The division was working. It was actually working. And the Chief of Police worried that the division wouldn't make him popular.
"Let the Lieutenant see the scene-"
"No."
"Let the Lieutenant see the scene and talk to this 'suspect'. The Lieutenant will have that woman talking the minute she sits down," The Chief of Police pleaded. He had as much faith in the woman he hired as Pope did in Sharon.
Chief Pope sighed in defeat, "She has ten minutes at the scene, and five in the interview room. If the suspect isn't talking at the five minute mark, the Lieutenant goes."
"You know, I can fire you," The Chief of Police threatened.
"And my last act will be to promote Detective Sharon Montgomery," Pope replied with the same threatening menace. He knew Sharon has potential, and he's willing to fight for her.
The Chief of Police let out a sigh, "Fine. We'll do this your way, and when Brenda wins-"
"If," Pope snarked.
"When Brenda wins, she will lead your division. You will step aside and let her. She'll go to you for help is she needs it-"
"You're making me a Taylor? That guy is fucking puppet!"
"You will step aside-"
"My career is on the line as it is. I will not let you make me murder it. I will supervise her and all her cases. That is if she can make the 'suspect' talk. Her time starts now," Pope muttered turning and walking to the door. "Lieutenant, follow me please."
Pope led Brenda to the garage where she could examine the set up scene. On the way, Pope explained what Brenda was to do. He reviewed her file later in his office. Too of her class, and extremely good notes on making people talk. Pope sighed, maybe this woman was better than Sharon.
...
Flynn, Sharon, Provenza, and Tao all passed in their paperwork and left for lunch. Brenda Leigh Johnson's blonde tendrils were shown across all the computer monitors.
"She has five minutes, starting now," Pope clocked as he turned on the audio.
"Hi," Brenda's southern twang rang through the room. "I'm Lieutenant Brenda Leigh Johnson of the LAPD, how are you, ma'am?"
Brenda folded her hands over the Manila folder. Brenda's gaze stayed locked with the 'suspect'. They sat, staring at each other, for three full minutes. Until Brenda stood and muttered, "You won't help me, I can't help you." And with that Brenda left the room. Two minutes passed, and
Pope glanced at his watch for confirmation, "That's five minutes."
...
Tao looked up from his burger to Sharon. She was poking at her salad, never once bringing it to her mouth.
"Is your salad not good? We could send it back-"
"No, no. Thank you though. The salad is fine, it's my appetite," Sharon muttered, forcing a smile. "How badly did you and your girlfriend want the baby?"
"Badly. That baby was everything to us— to me. Cathy loosing that baby, it felt like I lost a part of myself, you know?" Tao shrugged and took a sip of his coke.
Sharon hummed and said, "I know what you mean. I had a hard time with it, too."
Tao choked on his coke, "You had a miscarriage?"
Sorry to leave this with such cliffhangers! And as my apology, my Earth Science teacher brought something to my attention: The Closer and Major Crimes happen in California. Combined, the shows have covered everything from fires to Ambers, but there's one thing that was never covered. Know what it is?
As always, please review!
