I'm returning to (writing) FanFiction for the first time in over three years, so be gentle with me! Constructive criticism is always welcome and appreciated. Hope you enjoy – L.
"Who stole my coffee?" Jane Rizzoli bellowed across the office, dark curls shaking with anger as her neck whipped from side to side. Silence. Fear oozed from everyone in the room as the Detective searched for her missing beverage.
"Oh, stop your dramatics, it was me Jane." Maura Isles strode confidently on six inch Christian Louboutins, a small smile gracing lips tinged with pink.
"Is this a joke?" Jane dipped one hip and placed a hand on the other, trying to appear annoyed at her best friend, but failing.
"You told me you'd participate in my study Jane, don't you remember?"
"If I tell you I don't remember will you give me my coffee back?"
"Jane, it's only for one week. I don't see what all the fuss is about. You can get your caffeine fix from healthier sources, like apples."
"Tell you what, I'll have apple infused coffee, how's that?"
The office kept a close eye on both women as the exchange continued. It was best not to get involved in a discussion between Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles, but that wasn't to say it couldn't be observed from afar.
"Jane, you promised." Maura stuck out her bottom lip slightly, widening her thickly-lashed eyes to form an expression she knew her friend could rarely resist.
"I'll do it for a day, and if I haven't murdered anyone by tomorrow, I'll consider continuing."
"I'd rather you didn't murder anyone Jane, not with what's just been called in." The look on Korsak's face told Jane this was going to be a particularly messy one. She signalled at Maura to follow.
They arrived at 346 Prospect Street just after eight in the morning, and the suburb was just beginning to wake up. Sunlight glinted on immaculately clean windows as Jane took off her sunglasses to get a better look at the area.
"Wow, sure must be nice to live somewhere like this, huh?"
Maura squirmed uncomfortably. Her house was exactly like the ones surrounding them, and Jane knew that. Sometimes Maura felt guilty about her salary, but then she remembered she gave nearly half of her wage to charitable destinations.
"Vic's inside, on the couch. You may want to cover your noses."
Korsak made a point of looking at Frost, whose mouth fell into a grimace.
Inside the house was just as plush as outside. Cream walls with an ornate gold pattern lining the skirting boards, couches that looked as if they'd been purchased within the last couple of months and an iPod docking station in every room; it all made Jane very bitter about her pitiful apartment.
Of course, there was one couch less appealing than the rest, mainly because there was a dead body on it. Korsak had been right; the stench was unreal. The woman's feet were smoking, and the soles had been burnt almost clean off. Frost had to leave the room, retching as he went.
Jane frowned.
"Well, this is new."
"There are no bindings anywhere on the body," Maura noted.
"I don't think she was going anywhere, at least not on her feet. It must have been agony," Jane countered. She knelt down beside the woman's charred feet, screwing her face up at the offensive aroma. "Smells like gasoline."
Frost turned off the lights and set about waving the ultraviolet light across the body and surrounding area. Bright patches were flecked across the woman's trousers and on the couch next to her.
"She was raped."
"I can't be sure of that until I do a full autopsy, Jane. He may have masturbated before, after or during the murder."
"Son of a bitch." Jane shook her head in disgust.
Korsak nodded his head. Frost hung his.
As Jane began to explore the other rooms of the house, Maura noticed the victim's mouth was slightly open. Shining a torch inside the orifice, she used a pair of tweezers to gain access to what was hiding in there. She managed to pull out a crumpled piece of paper which was partially covered with bloody saliva. She signalled for an evidence bag.
"What have we got here?" Frost asked as he sealed the bag shut.
"Could be a note left by the guy, some sort of sick confession perhaps?"
"Maura won't like it if you keep making assumptions, Korsak." Jane smiled as she returned to living room. Maura grinned.
"We can examine it further once we're back at the crime lab."
"Find anything in the rest of the house?"
Jane gestured with her head for the others to follow. Maura looked up at Jane, concerned, but remained with the body, continuing her initial work up. In the kitchen were two things Jane had considered out of the ordinary. A bible, placed on the counter, open at a specific page with a passage marked with a thick, black ring. Next to it, a small piece of paper with a strange symbol on it.
"Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. This verse always stuck out to me at church. Kind of creepy." Jane's voice was but a whisper. The gloom of the kitchen seemed to engulf them.
"So he was warning the vic about heretics? Why'd he do that then kill her anyway?" Korsak received no reply as the detectives became lost in thought.
"Let's bag it all, and take it back to the station. I can't think straight here. It doesn't feel right." Jane returned to the living room and waited for Maura to finish her examination. Once back in Jane's car, Maura looked at her friend with worry marring her brow.
"What is it?"
"Each new case we do, I can't help but feel like there's just gonna be more of the same. It's never going to stop, is it?"
"No, it's not. But that means that you can't either. You're the best, Jane. These people need you to give them the justice they deserve."
She placed a hand on Jane's, thumb brushing over the raised scar gently. Jane closed her eyes, sighing deeply. She gripped Maura's hand after a moment, squeezing tightly for as much her own comfort as her friend's.
"You're right, as always. Thank you." The detective shifted the car into gear and checked her rear view mirror as she prepared to leave, but noticed something which made her stomach flip.
"Stay here, don't move." She grabbed her gun from its holster and pushed the safety button off.
The car door opened slowly and she crept one leg out before steadying herself with the other. She made her way around the back of the car slowly, gun pointed solidly in front of her. As she reached the boot of the car, she swung round, only to find nobody was there.
The note, which had caught her eye as she checked behind her in the car, was attached with tape. Maura stood next to her, a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I told you to stay in the car." Jane's voice was shaky as she read the note.
Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
The sons of God, Detective Rizzoli. Be careful on this one. I could be anywhere.
Jane felt the muscles in her back contract and her mouth was incredibly dry. Her vision went blurry and she faltered slightly, leaning against Maura who propped her up and gripped onto her arm.
"He must have left it while we were inside. Jesus Christ."
"You can stay with me tonight, Jane. I don't like the thought of you staying alone.
"I don't wanna put you in danger." Jane watched Maura intently, hoping to find some glimmer of fear or regret at her statement.
"This isn't a discussion. Please, Jane. I can't lose you. We can't lose you."
Were it not for Charles Hoyt, the team would have taken the threat entirely less seriously. They realised, though, that people, especially killers, were capable of anything, and rarely went back on their word.
Maura's house provided some much needed relief from the dreariness of Jane's apartment. The bright walls and cheerful paintings did something to raise Jane's spirits after the events of that day.
"Thanks again, Maura. I feel bad."
"Don't be silly. It's nice to have company." Maura poured camomile tea into two cups and placed them on the coffee table. She sat close to Jane and looked deep into her eyes.
"This is getting to you, isn't it?"
"They always do. I dunno. I just hate that she was so helpless. I mean, he burnt her feet, possibly raped her and then after all that he just shot her in the head. What was the point in all that suffering?"
Maura rested her head on Jane's shoulder and sighed.
"Honestly, I do not know. But I do know that you'll find him, Jane. You always do."