The Brass Ring (23 page)

Jamie flashed a captivating smile up at CC that made her heart skip a beat.
‘How do you do that?’
The brunette pondered as she approached the small blonde.
‘You really are the one, aren’t you? How am I going to focus on this case and deal with what’s happening between us?’
CC smiled as Jamie stood. "Wait for me in the car, Max," CC instructed her partner. He simply nodded in response before leaving the two women alone.

Jamie took CC’s hand and began to gently caress the back of it with her thumb. CC knew that Jamie was unaware of what she was doing. At times, touching like this just happened naturally between the two of them. "I might be late tonight," CC explained softly as she stepped slightly closer to Jamie.

"I’ll be here," Jamie responded softly as she wrapped her arms around CC’s waist and nuzzled her head against CC’s chest.

CC sighed as she wrapped her arms around the smaller woman, allowing her body to absorb the heat from Jamie’s body. As CC inhaled the delicate scent of Jamie’s shampoo, she pulled her even closer. Her heart was beating in a steady comfortable rhythm. The moment wasn’t about sex or desire; it simply felt so right to hold the smaller woman. "Try to get some sleep," CC suggested before placing a kiss on the top of Jamie’s head.

"I’ll try," Jamie said softly.

"And lock up everything after I leave," CC continued as she reluctantly released her hold on the smaller woman. Jamie rolled her eyes at the comment. "And call me if anything, and I mean anything, happens." Jamie groaned with displeasure. "Humor me," CC persisted.

"Okay," Jamie agreed with a slight smile.

Then, as if the past twelve years had simply vanished, CC did something that felt completely natural. She leaned down and kissed Jamie goodnight. It was a short tender brushing of their lips and it took both women by complete surprise. They stood there for a brief moment, simply looking into one another’s eyes as they both smiled brightly. "That seemed so right," Jamie said in quiet wonderment.

"It did," CC responded in the same soft tone.

"Maybe we should do that more often?" Jamie suggested with a hint of playfulness.

"Oh yeah," CC answered enthusiastically. "I need to get going before Max thinks you kidnapped me or something."

"That could be arranged," Jamie said in a teasing tone as she ran her hands along CC’s hips in a suggestive manner. "Tell me, Officer, where do you keep your handcuffs?" Jamie’s hands started to run along the sides of CC’s body in a mock attempt to find the handcuffs.

CC’s eyes darkened with desire as she released a low tempting growl. "Wouldn’t you like to know?" she taunted the blonde. "If you’re good, maybe I’ll show you sometime."

"I’m always good," Jamie responded in a husky tone.

"Oh boy," CC choked out. "Is it getting hot in here? I really need to go," she asserted as she maneuvered herself away from Jamie.

"Coward," Jamie teased her as she was leaving.

"Brat," CC shot back before exiting the townhouse.

She knew that she was sporting a silly grin when she climbed into the car. Max simply laughed at her. "Knock it off," she said, still unable to wipe the smirk off of her face. "Tell me what she said," she stated firmly while thanking the darkness that surrounded them. The last thing she needed was for Max to see the blush that she was certain covered her features.

Max continued to laugh at her expense before reviewing just what Jamie had told him. CC’s anxiety grew as Max related the story on the way back to the station house. "So how did he get her phone number and address?" Max pondered aloud.

"Can’t be that difficult in a place like that," CC reasoned. "She’s a doctor. Her contact information must be lying around somewhere in case they need to call her in, like they did the night of the big fire. Fisher could have seen it in a Rolodex or on the computer. Hell, he could have probably just looked it up."

"If he isn’t the guy that killed that girl, I still don’t trust him as far as Dr. Jameson is concerned," Max explained with concern. "That boy is definitely living in his own world."

"That’s one way to put it," CC grumbled. "Personally I’m going on record right now and saying that he’s a big old nut job."

"Don’t worry, partner," Max offered comfortingly. "Nothing is going to happen to Dr. Jameson. We just need to be careful. You’re a little too close to this one."

"No kidding." CC grunted, feeling the earlier tension return full force.

Later, Max and CC were watching the garage videotape with bleary eyes. "That’s not Terrell," Max noted as they watched. "He must not have been on duty at that time."

"We need to find out who that is," CC commented as she wrote down the time, "since it’s close to the time our victim got off duty." They continued to watch. "We need to run the plates of the car that was parked next to Sandra’s. It was there the entire time."

"It’ll have to wait until DMV is open." Max grunted. "This is so dull. How do those guys spend eight hours a day locked in those little booths?"

Just as Max made his inquiry, something on the screen caught their interest. "My, isn’t she pretty," CC said with amusement. "If you like that ‘hi, I’m a big slut’
look. She seems to know our friend in the booth really well. Yes, she’s going into the office with him. Oh gee, why do you think she got down on her knees? You think she dropped something?" Max snorted in amusement at her commentary. She continued merrily until something else caught her eye. "Wait, play that back," se said hurriedly.

"I didn’t think you were into that kind of thing," Max taunted her as he complied with her request. "How far?"

"Right as she’s stepping into the booth," CC explained quickly. "There! Pause it!" she shouted. "There in the opposite corner," she explained as she pointed to the screen. "Do you see who I see?"

"Dr. Fisher." Max grunted in agreement. "Not a clear picture, but I’m willing to bet that it’s him. Let’s run it and see when Sandra enters the garage," he explained as he hit the play button. The screen played for a few more moments, showing different images of the garage. Once again they could only see rows and rows of empty cars. The only other activity was the guy in the booth making out with his lady friend. Suddenly the screen went blank before resuming with the same images. Only this time the worker in the booth was quite alone. "There’s our gap."

"Now we know why." CC groaned in disgust. "Our friend in the office had a date and didn’t want it on film. If he’s done this before, maybe some of the regulars know about it. Pause," she said suddenly as the camera showed Sandra’s unattended car. "The car next to hers is gone."

"Just enough time to grab her," Max commented in disgust as he once again pushed the play button.

They both knew there wouldn’t be anything to see but they had to double check. "According to the printout, Dr. Fisher punched in around the same time Sandra did the day before. And he punched out during the blackout."

"And who else?" Max pushed.

CC was about to protest when she caught the cautioning look in his eyes. "Okay, we’ll give these to the computer boys and have them print out anyone who was parked there during the same time. Then we’ll run all of their plates through the DMV," CC conceded.

"Good girl." He humored her. "It’ll have to wait until tomorrow. Let’s call it a night."

"It is tomorrow," she said.

"Too early though," Max grumbled.

"You know what sucks?" CC muttered.

"The coffee in the vending machine," Max teased.

"That too." CC smirked. "No, it’s just that even if we match all of this up with Fisher it’s still not enough for a search warrant. I’d love to see this guy’s tire iron and have the lab boys spray some lumonal in his car," CC remarked. The chemical would illuminated with a black light and reveal any traces of blood, even if someone tried to clean it up.

"It’s enough for a second interview," Max added hopefully.

"Which I can’t be present for," CC snarled.

"We’ll figure something out." Max patted her shoulder gently. "Let’s get out of here before my wife forgets what I look like."

CC was exhausted when she got home. Between the tension and the lateness of the hour, every muscle in her body ached. She padded her way into the bedroom, trying to be as quiet as she could. She wasn’t accustomed to having someone waiting for her in her bed. She smiled down at Jamie; she was curled up, clutching her pillow tightly. The heartfelt smile instantly bloomed into a full grin.

"I’m awake," a muffled voice said.

"Did I wake you?" CC asked in concern.

"No." Jamie yawned. "Come to bed," Jamie offered in a soft tone.

CC felt the tension quickly slip from her body as she replayed the sweet words in her mind. "I just need to take a shower," she explained as she bent down and placed a kiss on Jamie’s forehead. The blonde mumbled something in response as she turned over. CC stifled the laugh that built inside of her when she heard the tired squeak in Jamie’s voice.

CC quickly secured her sidearm and shed her clothing. After a long relaxing shower, she dried her long hair and dressed in a long T-shirt before returning to the bedroom. She closed the door quietly when she noticed that Jamie hadn’t moved in her absence. Gently she pulled back the covers and slid into bed. She kissed Jamie’s cheek before wrestling the pillow out of the blonde’s grasp.

After fluffing her pillow to the desired firmness, she snuggled her body down and released a cleansing breath.
‘This feels so right,’
she thought happily as she settled herself slightly closer to Jamie’s warm body. Jamie’s arms wrapped themselves around CC’s waist. Once again CC found herself grinning like an idiot as Jamie nuzzled her neck.

Warm inviting kisses brushed the skin of her oversensitive neck. She moaned before she could stop herself as Jamie’s mouth continued to suckle her neck. CC whimpered slightly as her body began to tingle with desire. "Are you awake?" CC choked out as she clutched the bedding tightly.

"Hmm," Jamie purred before running her tongue along CC’s jaw line.

Jamie’s hands slipped up under CC’s T-shirt as her mouth began a slow tantalizing trail back to her neck and then over to her ear. CC whimpered once again as Jamie began to nibble on her earlobe. "I missed you," Jamie whispered hotly in her ear.

"Oh baby," CC groaned as her hands moved to Jamie’s back.

Jamie shifted her body and lay on top of CC. The brunette looked up to find Jamie’s emerald eyes twinkling with delight as she ran her fingers along CC’s full lips. The temptation was too great. CC’s tongue peeked out of her mouth and began to caress Jamie’s fingertips. She could feel Jamie’s breath growing ragged as she captured one of the digits in her mouth. "You’re driving me crazy," Jamie panted.

"Good." CC smirked as she recaptured Jamie’s hand. She began to feast delightfully on each one of Jamie’s digits as the blonde straddled her body. She could feel Jamie pressing her center against her firm abdomen. CC slipped her free hand down Jamie’s body and under the waistband of her sweatpants. Jamie’s hips ground faster as CC cupped her backside. As CC tortured Jamie’s fingers with her tongue, her hand massaged the firm naked flesh of her cheek.

Jamie’s hands slid up past CC’s rib cage until she was cupping the brunette’s full breasts. "Caitlin," Jamie pleaded as she began to roll CC’s nipples between her fingers. CC’s body arched as the pleasure of Jamie’s touch set her body on fire. She released Jamie’s digits from her mouth and cupped Jamie’s other cheek, pulling her lover closer as the blonde rocked against her.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, CC knew that she should stop what was happening between them. Her heart and body took control and banished the thoughts.
‘I need this.’
Her body screamed its need as Jamie pulled her T-shirt up. CC raised her arms, allowing the blonde to remove the garment. Jamie tossed CC’s shirt across the room before lowering her mouth.

CC released a strangled cry as Jamie kissed the valley between her breasts. She kissed and tasted her way across CC’s chest as she nudged the brunette’s legs apart with her knees. CC lay there completely naked as her passion flowed freely. Jamie captured one of CC’s aching nipples in her mouth and suckled it greedily while she pulled the other nipple with her fingers.

Jamie teased CC’s erect nipple with her teeth and her tongue as CC wrapped her long legs around Jamie’s body. CC began tugging at Jamie’s clothing as their hips swayed in unison. CC released a hiss as Jamie continued to nibble and suckle her nipple. Jamie’s T-shirt ripped as CC clawed at the material. Jamie raised her head; even in the darkness CC could see her flushed features.

Jamie lifted her body further up and, as her hips maintained a steady rhythm, she pulled her shirt from CC’s tightly held grasp and yanked it off her body. CC’s hands immediately reached out to capture Jamie’s full breasts as they swayed above her in a tantalizing manner.

The doctor brushed away her advances and lowered her mouth to CC’s other breast. She lavished the nipple with the same delightful attention she had given its twin. CC was squirming as she pulled on Jamie’s sweatpants. She needed to feel her lover pressed against her, to have their overflowing desire merge until they collapsed. She used her long arms and legs to pull the pants down Jamie’s body as the blonde feasted upon her breast.

Jamie pulled away from her. CC reached for her lover only to have Jamie gently lower her back onto the mattress. Jamie pulled the blankets down and then removed the last of her clothing. CC raised herself so she could watch her lover as she settled her body between CC’s quivering thighs.

Jamie cupped her backside and raised CC’s body to her mouth. The brunette draped her legs over the blonde’s shoulders. Jamie began to slowly lick the inside of CC’s thighs. "So wet," Jamie murmured against her skin as CC ran her fingers through Jamie’s short blonde hair.

A warm breath blew through her damp curls and she trembled in response. Jamie’s tongue slid slowly along her slick folds as she looked up at CC. Jamie’s tongue circled her now throbbing clit, slowly teasing the brunette with each flicker. Jamie parted CC’s swollen lips with two fingers as she sucked her clit into the warmth of her mouth.