About three months had passed since that fatal night. She was just looking out for her best friend, her only friend it had sometimes felt. Although Paddy Doyle had survived, Maura still hadn't forgiven Jane. Sure they worked together, but the only exchange of words took place at a crime scene or over a dead body, and even then they were the bare minimum. Jane didn't think she ever would forgive her but secretly Maura wanted her best friend back, she missed her.
On an early Monday morning Maura and Jane got a call.
'Get to University campus now' Frost ordered, to both Jane and Maura- an order they were both taken aback by.
Jane arrived first. Frost met her at the front and she knew from the look in his eye at this was a big case.
'What's with the early wake up Frost?' Jane asked still slightly disgruntled from being awoken.
'Triple homicide' he replied dryly. Something was wrong with him.
'Jesus' Jane muttered.
'Yeah, they've called in half the department. This is going to be a big case' he added, avoiding Jane's stare.
'Frost, what is it?' she asked, knowing something was wrong.
He shook his head for a moment 'I can't go back in there'
'Why? Do you know the victims?' Jane instinctively moved closer with concern.
'No...it's just...it's a mess' Frost looked to her, his jaw set slightly. He wasn't going back.
She eyed him carefully for a moment 'alright, okay'
'I called Dr Isles. She'll be here in a bit so I'll wait here for her.' Frost said.
'Fine, yeah, get some air... there's some water in my car' Jane tosses her keys to him before heading into the building.
There were police everywhere. Every student was out of their dorm or peering there head around the door. Cries could be heard from girls and the boys had their heads in their hands. At the end of one corridor there was a police cordon set up. Flashes from a camera bounced off the walls. Jane showed her badge to the officers on guard, they nodded and let her past. Korsack stepped out of the dorm. His eyes met Jane's for a moment before he looked to the ground shaking his head. Cautiously Jane stepped to the doorway.
It was a mess. Instantly she knew this was a knife crime. It looked like something from Scream. Blood stained every inch of the room. It was a living area with two bedrooms off to the sides. A body lay in the door way of one, a man. Jane moved to look into the other and saw the body of a girl half collapsed against her bed. She moved to the man and looked into that room where she saw the body of another man on the floor.
For a moment Jane stood taking the scene in. This was the definition of 'blood bath'. It was only when she heard Maura enter that she looked up.
'Triple homicide' she informed the doctor as she entered.
'Frost told me' Maura answered, taking in the scene. Jane nodded and continued looking around. 'Is there a murder weapon?'
'I don't know, I just got here. Looks like a knife or something though' Jane replied.
The sound of a raised voice in the corridor suddenly hit the room. Jane frowned and moved out into the corridor followed by Maura. Jane stopped Maura slightly and braced her hand on her weapon.
'Ma'am, stay back!' a cop yelled.
'No! That's my dorm let me in' the voice called back, a clear British accent.
Jane moved forward to the scene. Maura eyed the girl carefully, she had dark hair and dark eyes. As Jane approached the girl she seemed to calm down and almost shy away.
'You live here?' Jane questioned.
The girl seemed stumped, almost shocked at the detective before her. It took her a moment to find her words.
'Y-yeah, I do...what's happened?' she finally replied.
Maura's eyes narrowed slightly as she watched the girl. Jane eyed her curiously.
'You live with two males and a female?' Jane asked.
'Yes- answer my question! Please! What's happened? Why's everyone crying?' the girl asked quietly.
'What's your name?' the detective ignored the girl's questions.
There was a pause while the girl realised Jane wasn't going to answer her.
'My name's Beth, I'm 20, and I study psychology. Now will you tell me what the hell is going on? I want to come and see' Beth's voice was exasperated.
'Your roommates have been murdered' Jane replied to her bluntly.
Beth's expression dropped. Her eyes became impossibly dark. 'I want to see' she replied.
'I don't think-'
'I don't care' Beth replied. 'I need to see...if I can see...if I can see maybe I can help'
Jane looked to Maura for a second who was still eying Beth. Maura met her gaze after a moment and sighed before heading back to the crime scene.
Jane nodded to the officers to let Beth through. Beth swallowed slightly. The smell of blood meeting her nose made her bring her hand over her nose and mouth. Walking behind her, Jane watched the girl carefully. As they came to the doorway Beth slowed slightly, already able to see blood by the doorway. Jane placed her hand on her shoulder but Beth shrugged it away lightly before moving into the room. Maura was crouched down next to the man in the doorway. She looked up as Beth entered and met eyes with Jane for a second before standing.
Beth was stood perfectly still, her eyes wide and trained on the man in the doorway. After a moment she stepped forward and peered into the bedroom to the left. There she saw the girl. A small noise escaped her throat and she closed her eyes. She began to shake slightly. After a moment she opened them and looked into the other bedroom and saw the other man, letting out another noise. Tears began to spill uncontrollably out of her eyes and her breathing began to sped up.
'Come on you need to leave' Jane ordered taking her arm.
'No' she protested quietly, her voice broken.
Maura watched with curiosity.
Beth took a breath. Slowly she raised and pointed to the girl.
'E-Emily Gardner' she points to the boy in the door way 'Patrick Carter' then to the other boy 'Craig Moorcroft'
Jane watches carefully and calls to an officer 'you get those names'
'Yeah' he calls back.
Beth steps back and into the corridor. She turns to walk away but faints and collapses to the floor. Maura steps forward slightly but Jane rushes to her side in time.
'Beth' Jane lifts the girls head slightly 'Beth wake up' her eyes open slightly.
'Jane what's going on?' Frost asks as he passes through the police cordon.
'This is the other roommate. She fainted. Here take her and get her some fresh air then take her down to the station' Frost nods and lifts the girl into his arms.
Jane watches as he takes her down the corridor. Maura comes to stand by her side.
'Do you know her?' Maura asks quietly.
'No' Jane replies looking to the doctor.
'You aren't related to her?' Maura continues.
'No, she's British, why?' Jane eyes the doctor with confusion.
'You just seemed...she seemed...never mind' Maura shook her head and walked back into the room.
Jane rolled her eyes and shook her head muttering 'great talk'.
Turning back to the crime scene she places her hands on her hips with a sigh.
'Happy Monday' she sighs.