The Brass Ring (41 page)

"Janie disappeared," Simon responded in confusion. "I keep hoping that somehow she’ll be found."

"You may get your wish," CC explained, maintaining her composure. "Right now a team from the FBI is searching your family’s cabin at Lake Tahoe." She noticed his face paled slightly.

"Why?" Simon inquired in bewilderment as his mind tried to sort out what was happening.

"Because that’s where you hid her body," CC explained. "Where did you put her - the basement?" Seeing no reaction she pressed on. "The woods? The boathouse?" He flinched slightly and CC made a mental note to contact the team in California so they could check the boathouse thoroughly.

"No," Simon protested in a distant voice. "I just saw her."

"That must have been very confusing, seeing her in bed with another woman," CC continued, trying to focus on her case. "Even more confusing seeing two of her," she pressed as she watched the wheels in his sick mind spinning.

"It was," Simon mumbled.

CC glanced over at Getz who was rubbing his throbbing temple.
‘Oh yeah, your client just shot himself in the foot and you know it,’
CC’s mind reasoned. She reached over and pulled the tray table over. Slowly she placed a photo of one of his victim’s bodies on the table. "How did it happen?" she asked casually as he studied the picture with a disinterested look. "Did you let just a little air out of her tire?" she continued as she placed another picture down. "You volunteered to follow her since you were heading up north," she offered as she slowly laid out the next set of pictures. "She pulled over and you offered to check the tire," she continued. His face remained blank as she placed the photos of eight of his victims before him. She refused to look up at his father, knowing that this was probably killing the poor man. "Thinking that having her stranded out in the middle of nowhere would be the perfect opportunity to talk some sense into her. You were changing the tire for her and she refused to listen to reason," she went on. She fought back the tears as she placed a photo of her lover before him. "You didn’t mean to start choking her, did you?" she pushed. She watched his face begin to twitch slightly as his fingers caressed Jamie’s photo.

"No," he muttered as Getz groaned in defeat.

CC placed the last photo of a young happy Janie Jensen before him and watched as the tears slipped from his dark eyes. "The tire iron was just there," CC supplied. "You just wanted her to understand that she belonged to you."

Simon’s breathing was becoming erratic as his face turned red. Everyone watched as his fist clenched and the veins in his neck bulged out. Suddenly he shoved the table with the photos away, sending them flying across the bed. "Get out!" he screamed. Everyone except CC flinched. She simply began gathering up the photos and replacing them in her folder.

"She belonged to you, didn’t she?" she pushed, fearful that she had gone to far.

"She’ll always belong to me, you queer," he bellowed. "This is your fault. If you’d just left her alone, none of this would have happened. She’s mine and I had to show her that!"

"Simon, shut up," Getz warned him.

"What?" Simon stammered. "Can’t you see that this is her fault?" he said accusingly as Getz rolled his eyes in amazement.

"I need a moment with my client," Getz said with a heavy sigh.

"Of course," CC agreed as she gathered her things. She cast an understanding look at the weeping Mr. Fisher before she and the prosecutors left the room.

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

J
AMIE WALKED INTO the doctor’s lounge and found her lover sitting at the table with a weary expression. "It’s over," CC said in a soft voice. Jamie’s heart clenched, uncertain what CC was talking about.

"What’s over, Caitlin?" Jamie carefully inquired.

"Simon," CC explained as she blew out an exhausted sigh. "He’ll be flown to California tomorrow. I had a hunch and we found Janie Jensen’s body. It sent him over the edge and his lawyers are working out a deal with the feds. He’ll be locked up in an institution for the criminally insane. It won’t be some place he can just fake his way out of. We were able to close all the cases."

Jamie felt the pressure of the last couple of weeks slipping from her body as she stood behind her lover and began to rub her shoulders. "I’m almost done for the night," Jamie offered in a soothing tone as she continued to knead CC’s broad shoulders. "Let’s go home."

"How did it go for you tonight?" CC inquired in concern.

"It was hard at times," Jamie confessed wearily. "There were lots of questions and looks of pity. But I got through it."

The day had indeed been arduous for the blonde doctor. She could understand the discomfort her colleagues felt being around her. Just what do you say to someone after you discovered they were stalked and attacked by another co-worker? Yet if one more person approached her and asked how she was holding up, she might just set someone on fire. All she wanted to do at this moment was go home and wrap her lover up in her arms. Her emerald eyes drifted to the soft curve of CC’s neck. Jamie licked her lips; her throat suddenly went dry as her mind decided that there might be one or two other things she wanted to do when they got back home.

Jamie could feel the heat rising in her body as her eyes drifted along her lover’s body. Maybe she just needed to reconnect with her lover after everything they’d endured in the last twenty-four hours. Or maybe it was just the fact that her lover was the most beautiful passionate woman on the face of the planet. Either way Jamie was forming some very interesting plans for when the two of them were alone later.

"What are you thinking?" CC inquired in a sultry tone as she captured Jamie in a lustful stare.

"I’m thinking about . . ." Jamie blushed deeply as she felt her body react to CC’s look. "Never you mind what I’m thinking. I need to get back to work."

Her name being paged confirmed her need to return to her duties. "Should I meet you at your place?" CC suggested in a hushed tone as someone entered the lounge.

"Yes," Jamie responded as she leaned over and kissed CC on the cheek. "And don’t bother bringing your jimmies," she added hotly in her lover’s ear. Jamie’s nipples became erect as her lover shivered from her words.

"Hi, Jamie," the Asian man greeted her with a shy smile.

"Hi, Shilin," She said as her hands continued to caress CC’s shoulders. "Shilin, this is my partner, Caitlin."

"Nice to meet you," he said warmly as he offered his hand to CC who stood to greet him.

"A pleasure," CC responded as she accepted his hand.

Jamie hid her amused smirk; her lover towered over the smaller man who was drinking in all of her assets. CC turned to her with a shy smile. "I’ll see you at home," CC offered shyly. Jamie understood her lover’s discomfort and uncertainty as how she should act around her co-workers.

"Just let yourself in," Jamie instructed her as she reached up and placed a promising kiss on CC’s lips. She almost broke out in gales of laughter at the goofy grin CC sported. "I shouldn’t be too long now that Shilin is here; maybe I can duck out a couple of minutes early."

"Thanks a lot, Jameson," Shilin grumbled. "I haven’t even put my scrubs on yet."

Jamie waved goodbye to CC as she flashed a cocky smirk at Shilin. "Damn, Jameson; you have to tell me how to get one of those," the doctor said appreciatively as he poured himself a cup of coffee. He sniffed the brew and wrinkled his nose in disgust before tossing it out.

"It is simple," Jamie responded proudly. "When you see the brass ring, just reach out and grab it and don’t ever let go."

"Oh, is that all?" He laughed as Jamie walked out of the lounge.

Later that evening Jamie’s heart swelled when she entered her townhouse. The living room was lit by candlelight. On the coffee table were a dozen roses and a note taped to a bag of Pepperidge Farms Nantucket Chocolate Chip Cookies. "You do know the way to my heart, Detective," Jamie said with a wry smirk as she read the note that instructed her to follow the rose petals.

Jamie shrugged off her leather jacket, blew out the candles, and began to follow the trail of rose petals that led up the staircase. She continued to shed her clothing as she followed the delicate petals to her bedroom. The blonde doctor was completely naked as she stepped through the bedroom door. The sight that awaited her made her breath catch.

Her body trembled, the palm of her hand rested against her chest and she felt her heart pounding beneath her hand. The room was lit only by candlelight, revealing rose petals leading up to and covering the bed. Nestled comfortably on the large bed was her lover, holding another dozen roses and clad only in a long red silk robe. CC sat up and placed the roses on the nightstand before curling her finger and beckoning Jamie to join her.

Jamie stood there frozen, completely mesmerized by the sheer beauty in front of her. "Jamie," CC beckoned her in a husky tone.

"I’m sorry. You just took my breath away," Jamie confessed as she somehow willed her feet to move across the room. Slowly she crawled up on the bed and hovered over her lover. "I love you," she confessed before kissing her lover.

It was a slow lingering kiss that stoked the fire already burning inside the blonde as she lost herself in the feel of silk and rose petals. CC rolled her over onto her back and Jamie’s body burned from the feeling of CC’s silk-covered body on top of her while soft rose petals kissed her naked back. CC’s hands began to roam as the kiss deepened. Jamie felt complete as CC poured her love into her kiss and touch.

When their lips separated Jamie was panting as her body pulsated with desire. She shivered as her lips continued to tingle. CC traced her ear with her tongue. "I want to make love to you," CC whispered in a hot breath before beginning to nibble on Jamie’s earlobe.

"I’m yours," Jamie offered in a breathy voice as CC’s mouth and tongue began to worship her neck.

Jamie wrapped her fingers in CC’s long raven tresses while CC kissed and tasted her way down to the valley between Jamie’s breasts. The doctor’s body arched in response as her lover’s tongue traced the swell of her breasts. "Caitlin," she moaned with needy desire as she felt CC’s tongue circle her nipples without touching them. CC continued to tease her as the brunette’s hands drifted down Jamie’s body.

Jamie moaned deeply as CC’s fingertips danced lightly along her skin. She fumbled as she tried to reach between their bodies to undo the tie on CC’s robe. The feel of silk was intoxicating but she craved the touch of her lover’s body. CC gently guided her hands away as she lifted herself up. She smiled down at Jamie and once again the blonde felt her heart skip a beat.

Crystal blue eyes held Jamie captive as she felt her wetness grow. CC gently clasped her wrists and guided them up over Jamie’s head. "Please," Jamie begged as she lost herself in CC’s gaze. The brunette smiled down at her; she held Jamie’s wrists firmly with one hand while she undid the tie of her robe with the other. CC leaned down as she released the tie only to reveal a slight glimmer of the bronze flesh that was lying beneath. CC reclaimed her lips, keeping her body a hair’s breath away from Jamie’s quivering form.

The loosely hanging robe and CC’s soft tresses caressed Jamie’s body as her lover once again kissed and tasted her way down her body. Jamie squirmed beneath her in a desperate attempt to feel more of CC’s body. "Caitlin!" she cried out as CC sucked her nipple into her mouth. Jamie slipped her knee between CC’s firm thighs and pressed against her warm wet center. CC suckled the erect nipple harder while she rode against Jamie’s thigh.

CC still held Jamie’s hands above her head while her mouth feasted upon her breasts, moving from one to the other. Jamie’s hips arched up as she felt her lover’s desire paint her thigh. Jamie rocked against her lover’s body urgently; CC’s body moved in unison with her. As their bodies ground in a wild rhythm, CC released her hold on Jamie’s wrists. The blonde’s tiny hands instantly slipped beneath CC’s silk robe and began to caress the brunette’s skin as CC’s hands cupped her backside and guided Jamie’s body to melt into her wetness.

CC’s head flew up as Jamie began to tease her nipples with her fingers. Both women were gasping as they lost themselves in the sensual rhythm. Jamie cried out as her clit danced against CC’s firm thigh. Jamie felt herself nearing the edge as their bodies began to thrust more insistently. She groaned as she felt CC slowing their frantic pace.

Jamie relaxed into the slower rhythm as she pulled CC’s robe slightly off her shoulders while they engaged in another promising kiss. Her mind understood their need to slow down and savor the moment for as long as they could, yet her body was screaming for release. CC cupped her face in her hands as the kiss came to a slow reluctant end. Their breath mingled as they stared deeply into one another’s eyes.

Jamie rolled both of them over so that they were lying side by side. "I can’t believe how truly beautiful you are," CC said in wonderment as Jamie blushed at the compliment. Jamie slowly removed CC’s robe as her lover’s fingertips gently explored her skin. "I love you," CC offered on a soft breath as they continued to slowly touch each other. Their hands drifted lower and lower with each tender caress.

Jamie sighed as she dipped her fingers into CC’s wetness while her lover mirrored her actions. Slowly they each explored each other’s slick folds while their fingertips occasionally brushed the other’s throbbing clit. They stole sweet tender kisses while they slowly entered one another. Each of them parted their thighs, welcoming the other’s touch as they filled one another. Their nipples brushed as they slowly began to glide their fingers in and out of the other’s center.

The kisses grew deeper as the rhythm of their fingers increased while they stroked each other’s clits and their legs wrapped around each other’s body. They both neared the edge as desire consumed them. Jamie felt as if she was ready to explode as she slipped her fingers from the warm wetness of CC’s center. Once again CC mirrored Jamie’s actions as the blonde shifted so that she was now kissing the inside of CC’s thighs.