I'm glad you're liking this.
I'm enjoying writing it. Even though every time I start a new chapter I end up going in a totally different direction than what I set out on. But…oh well. Thank you for the reviews and comments. They make me write faster!
By the time Brenda made it back to the Peninsula Hotel it was nearly 11pm. She was already late but she couldn't follow all of Griff's rules. His territorial attitude needed an adjustment where she was concerned. Collecting her bag from the front desk where she'd left it earlier, she walked out confidently to the waiting car. Henry was still drowsy with sleep as she approached.
As Henry drove back to Los Feliz, Brenda checked her cell phone. She left the bag at the hotel on purpose as she was sure Griff could track her phone's GPS if he wanted. The phone indicated 3 missed calls and at least 5 texts from Griff. She shook her head while texting him back.
I'm on my way back. Good news!
It really would be good news if Fritz was able take down the handlers and the smugglers without anyone getting hurt or worse. She put her full faith and trust in Sharon even though it was hardest for Brenda Leigh to let go of control. But even apart, Sharon became Brenda's safe house.
Not knowing what to expect as she arrived at Griff's house, Brenda carefully opened the front door and tip-toed in. The house was completely dark except for a dim light from the kitchen. But immediately she saw his silhouette. He was sitting straight upright on the white leather sofa and staring out the picture windows overlooking the city.
She sat down beside him but he didn't look at her or say anything…just continued staring out the window into the dark LA night. Laying her hand on his leg, she could feel the tension radiating through his body.
"My deal is done. Two years. 350 diamonds a month. 750 million." She smiled trying to lighten the mood.
In one swift movement he grabbed her wrist and held it tight…too tight. She tried to pull away but he tightened his grip. Turning to look at her, his eyes were dark. It had been a long time since she had seen a man's eyes fill with such anger.
Out of the corner of her eye she noticed the nearly empty bottle of Jack Daniels sitting on the table before him.
"You need to let me go." She said as calmly but sternly as possible.
"I don't need to do anything. You were late." He spit. The booze heavy on his breath.
Brenda Leigh clenched her jaw. "No, I was past the time I told you I would probably be back by. And I don't have to check in with you anyway."
Her wrist was beginning to throb.
"You are my guest here, Ms. Steele."
Thankfully his cell phone rang and he released her. Wincing, Brenda Leigh rubbed her bruised wrist. Griff walked into his office without another glance her way. He was clearly inebriated which didn't give him an excuse to manhandle her the way he had.
As she walked to her room, she heard him yelling and cursing behind the closed door. She suspected his contact was telling him his exchange had been busted. He would, no doubt, want to get back to London as soon as possible.
It was 4am when Sharon Raydor walked out of the FBI headquarters. Fritz's team had easily apprehended all parties involved in the diamond exchange. The interviews of the 7 men and 3 women didn't do very well but she hadn't expected that they would. These people were professionals and wouldn't give up their contact even if they knew who it was. The smugglers evaded death, at least temporarily, but would probably be extradited back to their homeland where they would surely be put on another death walk if they were lucky.
Fritz hadn't questioned Sharon about her tip off. There hadn't been time-everything had moved so fast. She wished she'd been able to get her own team on this case but knew, logically, the FBI had more resources and she'd have to turn it over to them anyway. And technically she was still supposed to be on required time off.
As Sharon was dragging herself to her car parked in the visitor lot, she heard footsteps behind her. Reaching into her purse, she flicked off the safety strap on her gun holster. Being a high ranking official of a criminal division that delved deep into the criminal world, she knew she could easily be a target of any number of nefarious people. She wasn't scared but she was always prepared.
"Captain?" The voice behind her called out.
Turning on her heels, she raised her chin letting him know she wasn't backing away. "Agent Howard."
"I just wanted to say thank you. The FBI appreciates the tip." She raised her eyebrows above her dark rimmed glasses. "And…I appreciate it." He watched her run her tongue along her top row of teeth. It hadn't been easy dealing with Captain Raydor after his and Brenda's divorce and it was even harder after Brenda left. "Our personal relationship has not been favorable…"
"There is no personal relationship, Agent Howard. I was just doing my job as an officer of the law and as a citizen." She turned to go.
"Wait." He stopped her.
"I know Brenda Leigh was your friend. And I'm glad she had someone like you. But you can't blame me for everything. It wasn't all my fault." Fritz looked sad but believed what he said. Their marriage was a two way street and Brenda Leigh didn't put as much effort into it. He'd let it go before but after Phillip Stroh and her parents' deaths she wasn't the same person. And he refused to tip-toe around her and pretend everything was ok.
Sharon inclined her head and nodded twice. She was well aware of Brenda Leigh's own detriment to her marriage.
With a small smile on his face, Fritz extended his arm. She returned her own barely-there smile and shook his hand firmly. Fritz was a good guy. It just pained her to see the further torment Brenda put herself through after he left.
The silence between them stretched into several awkward, long seconds.
"Was it her?" His question was answered with a curious look.
"I can't reveal the source of an open investigation."
This time the smile spread across his dimpled face. Accepting her reply but knowing the answer he turned without another word and walked away.
Driving through the quiet downtown streets, Sharon let her mind wander. Her body was exhausted but her mind was amped up with adrenaline. She'd been up nearly 24 hours now but didn't want to go back to her empty house.
There was still an hour before dawn when she pulled thru the drive-thru at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. She couldn't bring herself to go inside. For one, she was too drained physically and for two, she would only be reminded of her meeting with Brenda Leigh the previous morning.
She thought about going for a run but wasn't sure if her body would physically make it so she took her $4 cup of tea and drove home.
The hacienda style 3 bedroom home was bigger than she needed but when she bought it 6 years ago, she expected that her kid would be living with her. Technically she was still part owner of the estate in Chatsworth that she bought with her husband when they first got married. And speaking of technically—she was still "technically" married to her husband even though they'd been separated, officially, for the last 7 years.
It never occurred to her that her son would choose to stay with his father who was rarely home and when he was home he was most likely in a drunken stupor. But she'd given him his choice. It was getting fewer and farther between when she saw him. He was 19 years old now and an adult but he'd wanted very little do with her anyway.
Collapsing onto her perfectly made bed, she threw her hands above her head and just laid there staring at the white ceiling. She'd always known that her professional wants and needs superseded her parental quality. It cut her to her core that she always put the job before her family. But she couldn't go back and change it now. Especially not now with her promotion and the diligence and dedication it took to run major crimes.
Which reminded her, she needed make a note to tell Sanchez to check any open murders near Pier J. She was afraid this diamond smuggling job could close a lot of their cold cases.
Pulling the pad of paper and pen from her purse, she clicked the end of the pen and started to jot down her reminder. But something already written on the page stopped her.
I missed YOU -B