She walked out of the LAPD Headquarters without looking back. She couldn't. She'd made up her mind a long time ago. A dull tightening of her heart reminded her that she had started to let her emotions get too far into her cases. It had all started 3 years ago with Stroh and that dreadful Johnson Rule. Between then and now she had alienated pretty much everyone around her at one point or another.
She couldn't blame any of them.
Walking across the street she entered the Bank of America with only one thing on her mind. 2030 tonight.
"Good afternoon, Chief Johnson. What can I do for you?" The young, strawberry blonde teller behind the mahogany desk asked cheerfully. Brenda had frequented this branch since she moved to LA.
"Hi Wendy. I need to access my safety deposit box please." Brenda said in her best southern drawl.
They exchanged pleasantries while Brenda followed her to the room that housed the boxes. Wendy left Brenda to her own privacy as she opened box number 6019. She hadn't been to this box since she'd been told about it but here she was opening it for the first time. Pulling the small box out of its place she extracted another key that looked just like the one she used to unlock the current box. Taking the key, Brenda looked around to make sure no one else was around, then proceeded to box 9099.
Her hand shook as she unlocked the second safety deposit box. Never having had to open it, she was aware of what it meant once she did. Inside the box was a lone cell phone. She quickly placed it in her purse then locked both boxes and left the bank as quickly as she could.
An hour later Brenda Leigh was sitting on her sofa with a bottle of wine on the table in front of her. But her eyes were trained on the clock numbers and the foreign cell phone before her. 45 minutes. She poured a full glass of Merlot and sipped it generously. The liquid tingling down her throat.
Sitting back against the cushions she let her mind wander. She had enjoyed every minute of her life inside the LAPD. Despite the nature of the business it filled her life when nothing else could. Those guys were her family even more than Fritz had been. Sure she loved him and at one point she was in love with him. But she couldn't separate herself and her work as much as she tried.
Fritz had walked out 3 years ago right after the Stroh trial. She didn't stop him and he didn't look back. She caught glimpses of him every now and then but he didn't notice or he didn't care. Either way it was for the best…for him. He needed someone who was an equal partner. Someone who didn't cheat on him with work every night.
She nearly jumped out of her skin and spilled the glass of wine when her phone beeped. But it wasn't the phone. It was her phone. Holding it at arms length and squinting she read the message.
I didn't get to say goodbye.
It was from Captain Raydor. Pope must have told her already. Brenda knew it was awful the way she left. But she couldn't bring herself to face that emotional deathtrap. She could almost see the Captain sitting at her desk clicking her pen open and closed over and over again. Brenda Leigh had noticed the Captain did that a lot when they were in the same room together.
She put her glasses on to reply back. Sighing she typed her response.
I'm sorry. I had to do it that way or I may not have done it at all.
Brenda laid her phone down and willed the tears to stay inside. But almost right away the phone beeped back. Raydor again.
Why did you?
You know why. I'm sorry, Sharon.
Captain Raydor didn't reply back. With her head resting on the cushions the tears finally fell out of the corners of her eyes. Somewhere at some point, Brenda developed a sort of protectiveness over Sharon Raydor. Of course Sharon didn't need protecting. She was a strong, smart woman on her own but Brenda couldn't help feel the way she did. Naturally, she didn't let it show on the outside.
Brenda hadn't had many friends in her life so she wasn't sure what to make of a friendship between herself and the captain. She wasn't even sure it was possible. It was common knowledge that they didn't get along at the office but the times they had interacted outside of the office they were quite friendly with one another. It hit her that she wished she could have one last drink with the Captain before everything changed but now…now it was too late…and too dangerous.
As memories of Sharon and the LAPD bounced through her head, the cell phone rang. The cell phone. She looked at the clock. Exactly 2030.
She set down the glass of wine and picked up the phone.
"Hello." She answered evenly.
"Ah Vivien Leigh, I knew you would not disappoint me."
She recognized the deep, raspy voice immediately. No one else knew that code name. She never thought they would contact her again but here she was getting dragged right back in. Technically she was still CIA but inactive. Apparently they've decided to reactivate her.
Part of her was excited for the new adventure. Part of her was scared out of her mind. She wasn't as young as she used to be.
"I need you to drive to Las Vegas and check into the Wynn tomorrow by 1600. A reservation has been made under your name. Further instructions will be waiting there for you."
The phone call ended. He hadn't waited for her to agree or not. There was no choice.