CROSSING THE LINE

Chapter 1

"God! I can't believe that animal is still out there!" said Jane as she slammed the door to her apartment behind her.

"Don't worry, Jane," said Maura. "You'll catch him, you always do."

In the last three weeks, two young, successful women had been brutally murdered in Jane's neighborhood. Jane locked the door and walked to the kitchen to get Maura a glass of wine.

"Thanks," Maura said as Jane handed her a glass of red. Jane took a beer out of the fridge and sat down at the kitchen counter.

"I have no idea how to catch this bastard," she sighed. "He manages to kill these women without leaving a single trace."

"Maybe we're overlooking something," replied Maura. "I'll reexamine the bodies tomorrow."

"OK, I'll read the reports on the interview again," Jane said as she walked to the couch and grabbed the files.

"Don't do that now, it's getting late," Maura said. "You should be well-rested when you interview our only suspect tomorrow."

"I won't be able to sleep, Maura. This creep could be wandering around my block as we speak. We could be next," Jane said.

"What if I stay over?" Maura asked.

"I'd like that. You're right; I'd better get some sleep," said Jane as she closed the case file in front of her.

Jane turned off the lights in the living room and walked into her bedroom. Maura was in the bathroom brushing her teeth with one of Jane's spare toothbrushes. After Jane put on her shirt and boxers, she tossed an old pair of pajama bottoms and one of her Boston PD T-shirts onto the bed for Maura. Jane put her gun on the nightstand and climbed into bed when Maura entered the bedroom. Jane watched Maura undress, feeling a bit uncomfortable. She couldn't explain why. She hardly ever saw her best friend without clothes. Maura crawled under the blankets and turned on her side to face Jane.

"I bet we find something tomorrow that is going to help us break this case," she said.

"I hope so," Jane replied.

"Good night, Jane," Maura said as she closed her eyes.

"Night," Jane answered and turned off the light on her nightstand.

She liked having Maura in her bed. It felt right. She could hear her breathing and felt the warmth of her body next to her. She felt a sudden urge to put her arm around Maura, but she knew Maura was not yet asleep and she knew that Maura would find it strange if Jane put her arm around her. Sure, they hugged on occasion when one of them was upset, but snuggling in bed for no particular reason was not standard best-friend-behavior. Jane stared at Maura in the dark for a couple more minutes and realized how lucky she was to have Maura in her life. She couldn't imagine a life without Maura. They had both dated men, but no man had ever been able to come between them. They had always been there for each other. Jane often thought that Maura was the only one who really knew her. She wondered if Maura felt the same way. Jane suppressed the urge to touch Maura's face and closed her eyes. She decided not to think about these feelings and went to sleep.

Maura woke up to the smell of coffee and toast.

"Morning!" Jane said as she walked into the bedroom, already dressed.

"What time is it?" replied Maura, rubbing her eyes.

"Time for breakfast, come on," said Jane.

Maura got out of bed and made her way into the kitchen. After they had breakfast, Maura went to the bathroom to have a quick shower. Jane couldn't help but stare at her best friend as Maura walked out of the bathroom with just a towel wrapped around her.

Damn it, what is happening?! Jane thought. We've been friends for years, why am I having these feelings all of a sudden? Jane found herself attracted to Maura, but she couldn't explain where these feelings came from. Twenty minutes later, they walked out the door and headed for the Boston PD Headquarters. When they arrived, Maura went down to the morgue to take another look at the two victims and Jane went to find Korsak to prepare for the interview with the only suspect in their case.