Trial Run
The sun had just begun to ascend over the roofs in Elk River when a loud knock came on the door. Brandi rolled over and tried to ignore it but the sound resounded a second time; more frantic.
"Ok, I'm coming." It came out as a grumble, certainly not audible to whoever was knocking. She quickly pulled on slippers and went to unlock the door. Aaron stood on the other side when she pulled it open.
A smile and a flirtatious batting of eyelashes. "Hi."
"Morning. You need to get dressed."
"Why? You buying me breakfast again?"
"We've got to fly to New Jersey. You're giving your testimony tomorrow."
Brandi's eyes widened to the size of half dollars. "Oh God I forgot. Uh…come in."
It had been nearly eight months since she and her mother had entered WITSEC. She raced back into her room, leaving the door slightly ajar as she pulled on clothes.
"You'd think I'd be totally ready for this, you know. It's why I'm here after all."
Aaron stood in the small living room, back turned towards the door. "We'll grab something to eat on the plane."
"Hey…how long are we going to be gone again?"
"Two…three days tops." He heard drawers slamming in the other room and couldn't help but smile. Brandi was nothing if not entertaining. "Don't forget to say goodbye to your mom before we go. We don't want her frantically calling Karena, thinking you've run off."
Brandi stuck her head out, "Very funny."
Some ten minutes later, Brandi emerged dragging a suitcase behind her. Aaron just shook his head in amusement. She couldn't go anywhere travelling lightly.
"Go say goodbye."
Brandi set her purse down atop the suitcase and walked quietly into Jinx's room. Her mother lay sprawled out beneath the covers. She bent down and shook her mother lightly by the arm. Jinx let out a moan but didn't wake.
"Mom."
Another groan and this time her eyes fluttered open. "What?" A pause and then she sat bolt upright. "I'm not late for work am I?"
"No Mom. I'm leaving…for New Jersey…I have to testify tomorrow."
"Oh…well…" Jinx ran a hand over her face. "Be good."
"Bye Mom. I'll call when we land." With that, Brandi returned to the living room to find Aaron pulling her suitcase.
The walk out to the car was quiet as they tried to avoid the other's glances. They had kept in touch over the last eight months, more so than most witnesses and their marshals. Aaron had been careful to keep it casual and friendly. He had no desire to lose his job. Still, he couldn't lie to himself; Brandi was an attractive young woman.
"So…it's just us on this trip?"
He looked at her as he put the suitcase in the trunk. "Yeah."
"Cool."
Some twenty five minutes later, they boarded a small jet. Brandi had to admit that Witness Protection really knew how to treat people. She slid into one of the leather seats and leaned back.
"You guys sure travel in style."
Aaron just gave a nod and sat down beside her. They shared a quiet breakfast before the jet took off, climbing steadily into a misty gray sky.
"So…do you think they're going to find him guilty?" She looked almost embarrassed to have broken the silence.
"I don't know. It's up to the prosecution to present the best case they can."
"What happens though…if he doesn't get convicted? He can…well he can be persuasive, you know?"
He waited a minute before giving her an answer. As inconspicuously as possible, he placed his hand on hers. "You'll be safe no matter what happens. He can't find you now."
She glanced down at his hand and laced her fingers through his. "I guess so." Brandi let out a slow breath, her hand still firmly clasped with his.
"So…you get to travel a lot I bet…with all of your witnesses."
"Sometimes. But Brandi, you know I'm not allowed to talk about my other cases. It would be a breach of protocol."
"I get it…chill, ok. I was just saying is all." She turned her head away, letting him catch a glimpse of a pout.
Aaron pulled his hand from her grasp and looked out the window. The sky had cleared as they'd moved away from Elk River. The sun was beginning to filter through the glass and dance along the interior of the jet. Brandi kept her gaze away from him as well. Soon, both were lost in their own thoughts, oblivious to the pilot's announcement that they were about to land until the wheels whirred beneath them and collided with the runway.
Aaron unbuckled his seatbelt and got to his feet. Brandi remained seated. She appeared to be avoiding his gaze at all costs.
"Are you coming?"
She looked up. "Yeah." With a soft 'click' she was on her feet, purse slung over her shoulder. "So where to now?"
"Hotel. We'll get settled. You should get some rest. We'll be up early tomorrow. You're the second witness being called."
"Shouldn't we like go over my testimony or something? Like they do on TV?"
"You'll do fine. Just tell the truth and you will fine."
"You aren't the one who has to face Chuck."
He led her over to a car waiting a short distance from the runway and pulled open the back door. She slid in and watched him climb into the passenger seat in front of her. The driver didn't make any attempts to speak to Brandi. He only accepted a slip of paper from Aaron before driving away. They drove for a good fifteen or twenty minutes before they reached a two story hotel. Brandi tried to get her bearings, figure out where they were but nothing was clicking. She'd been away from New Jersey for too long.
"Here you go."
Brandi nearly jumped through the roof of the car as they driver finally spoke. She tried to give him a smile through the rearview mirror as she undid the seatbelt and climbed from the car. She watched Aaron thank the driver and take a small envelope.
"Who was that?" she asked as they headed for a room.
"Marshal here in Jersey."
"Not much of a talker."
"No…he's not." He pulled a key card from the envelope the other Marshal had given him.
"Come here often?"
"Let's just say the Marshal Service is more coordinated than you'd think." The lock gave a 'beep' and he pushed the door open.
Brandi peered inside; two beds. It would be an interesting three days. She pulled her suitcase over the threshold and set it beside the bed nearest the bathroom. Aaron walked in behind her and shut the door.
"So…couldn't spring for two rooms, huh?"
He could hear the teasing tone in her voice. "It's safer this way."
"Safer…right." She gave him a wink as she headed into the bathroom.
Just as the door shut, Aaron's phone began to vibrate on his belt. He pulled it open and flipped it open. "Greene."
"Did you land?"
"Yeah, Kar, we did. We're at the hotel." He could hear she wanted to say something more. "What is it?"
"Just be careful."
"No one will get near her. I think I've been doing my job long enough to know how to protect a witness during a trial."
"That's not what I meant, Aaron."
He let out a breath, listening to the sounds in the bathroom. "Nothing's going to happen." The door opened. "I've got to go." He ended the call just as Brandi walked back out.
"What's up?"
"Nothing. Karena was just calling to make sure we made it."
"Oh…I should probably call Mom." She rummaged in her purse for her cell phone.
Afternoon slowly faded into evening. They laid low, ordering take out for dinner. Brandi was currently lying on one of the beds, flipping channels when she heard footsteps outside. A knock came on the door and she stood up slowly. She peered through the small peep hole and hurriedly unlocked the door, letting Aaron in.
"I come bearing food."
"Great…I'm starving."
He handed her one of the bags and she retreated to the bed. They sat in relative silence, the TV humming in the background, as they ate. Brandi stared down at the fortune cookie in her hand and turned it over a time or two.
"Something wrong?" Aaron asked.
"No…just thinking." A 'pop' a she opened the cookie. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Are you married?"
He blinked. He couldn't stop himself. He moved closer to her before answering. "Why?"
"I don't know…just asking. I mean you don't wear a ring."
"No. I'm not married."
She gave a half-smile, reaching out to brush her hand against his. His mind urged him, shouted at him, to back away but he couldn't move. He sat there and watched as she moved closer, pressing her lips against his. As if on instinct his let his hand cup her cheek. Her arms soon wound their way around his neck, pulling him closer.
"Brandi." It came out as a rasp.
"Hmm?"
"Stop. We can't."
She pulled away, giving him a look of confusion. "Why not?"
"Because…we just can't."
"What? Am I not good enough for your or something?"
"No…that's not it." He grabbed her by the wrist to keep her from moving. "It's against the rules. I…I can't get involved with a witness. I could lose my job."
"Oh." She locked gazes, radiating guilt.
"It's not your fault. You didn't know. I should have said something sooner."
She nodded, pulling her wrist from his grip.
"You should get some rest. Early day tomorrow."