The clouds rolled over Boston with a dark intent. An uneasy thickness clung to the air filling it with a darkness that unfolded on the docks. The water smashed against the wooden docks with a heavy fist; creating a harsh tune of it's own.
Maura Isles held her head high as she made her way through the ever growing crowd of curiosity. Her knee high boots clicked on the wooden docks, her hair styled around her perfectly made up face. Walking up to the body, Maura was already composed, she lowered her eyes to the body before signing in.
"Doctor Maura Isles, chief medical examiner". She spoke with a calm confidence, the Queen of Death had a presence about her that was undeniable. She observed the girl laying on the docks; she wore a white ankle length dress, Maura knelt down beside her, she moved the matted hair from the girls face.
"When did you pull her out?".
Officer Sherwood, a young nervous rookie replied, "She was. We didn't".
Maura looked up at him waiting for a straight answer; "She wasn't in the water when we got here. The guy that found her said he hasn't moved her".
Jane Rizzoli logged in with officer Kacey with her usual, "Rizzoli, Victor eight two five". Jane made her way to the body; seeing the girl, she spoke softly, almost to herself. "She's just a kid" she determined. Jane too noted the girl's wet hair and crumpled dress, she watched as Maura lifted the eyelids of her Jane Doe, she had hazel eyes. As Barry Frost joined her, Jane tilted her head, "How tall would you say she is?".
Frost looked down, "Five six". It was a good guess, the girl once stood at five foot seven.
"When was she?" Jane started, but was cut off mid sentence by Maura.
"According to the witness and officer, she was never in".
"Her hair is drenched" Frost stated. Jane smiled at Frost; he was lost in his tongue tied confusion.
"Great one captain obvious" Jane smirked. Frost grinned back and shrugged.
"I know, but she is not a floater" Maura informed.
Jane put her hands in her pockets and shrugged, "So what are you saying? Right before she died, she went bobbing for apples?" Jane gave a small look to Maura, half confused, half amused.
Maura returned a small smile, then went back to the body. She picked up Jane Doe's right hand, paying close attention, she looked up at Jane and Barry. "There's no oil depletion of the finger tips which supports the theory she never entered the water, or at least, she wasn't in the water when she was alive".
"Oil depletion?" Frost questioned "What's that?".
Maura rose to her feet gracefully, "Oil depletion" she began, "is the prolonged exposure to water. It's when the keratin-laden epithelial skin is immersed in water, the absorption..."
"English Maura" Jane smiled reminding her friend of their lack of medical knowledge.
Maura shrugged a little; "Pruney fingers. She doesn't have wrinkly fingertips".
"You couldn't just say wrinkly fingers?" Jane asked, her sarcasm coated with a platonic love for her awkward friend.
Maura smiled softly, her eyes capturing the lone ray of sun light that escaped the cloudy darkness. "Are you coming to the autopsy?".
"Wouldn't miss it" Jane replied.
/
Jane entered Maura's territory. She looked over to her educated friend with hope in her eyes. "Maura, what've you got for me?".
"There's no obvious wounds, no entry points for bullets, no knife wounds". Maura began; "She is a fan of tattoos. She has three. On her left wrist, she has a large star, with two smaller stars to the left of it, seemingly meaning nothing significant".
Jane raised her eyebrows, "In comparison to...?" Jane asked knowing Maura had not told her everything.
"Her right wrist". Maura raised Jane Doe's right wrist, "It's a symbol of eternity. See how the lines never end, they're continuous. It's also known as the triquetra to the Wiccan community".
"She's a witch?" Jane seemed almost amused.
Maura tilted her head slightly, "No. It's possible she's in a coven, studying Wicca as a Wiccan. Wiccan's worship nature and the Goddess".
"So she doesn't cast spells and ride around on a broom stick?" Jane asked sarcastically.
Oh no. Wiccan's cast spells" Maura informed Jane; a smile graced the doctor.
Jane frowned slightly, it never ceased to amaze her what strange knowledge and facts Maura knew. She shrugged off the witch comment and put on a blue lab coat, she picked up a mask whilst Maura made the 'Y' incision.
As Jane put on the mask, she called out to Maura; "I know you don't like guessing, but what are your first thoughts?".
"Blood" Maura's soft voice replied.
"What?".
"Blood" Maura said this time louder. Crimson liquid pooled around the scalpel. "Jane get the emergency kit. She's alive".
"Alive?" Jane asked as she ran to the wall ripping the first aid kit from it.
"The opposite of dead" Maura barked back panicked. She pressed down on the open wound of the now live victim. An overwhelming stress pushed Maura in to a deep concentration punctuated with panic, she barely heard Jane as she called for EMT's.
/
Jane and Maura stood watching helplessly as a doctor and nurse were deep in conversation. Maura clasped at Jane's hand as the doctor put down the chart and made his way out of the room. As the doctor finally graced the women, both of them noticed his appearance, his stocky build, blonde hair and clean shaven face.
"Doctor Isles, Detective Rizzoli, I'm doctor Rosenthorpe". He greeted them with a monotone drone. "The girl is stable now, her temperature is slowly rising and her heart rate is picking up nicely. She is doing well. Considering". He lowered his head, took a deep breath in and exhaled almost theatrically. "Her blood work suggests she has been poisoned". Rosenthorpe spoke clearly and was evidently well educated. His cold harsh tone was hard to listen to.
"What with?" Jane asked.
"I can't tell you what exactly was used. All I know is, it was a cocktail of components".
"So you're telling me this girl has been poisoned with a new death simulating drug?" Jane sighed heavily, almost defeated. She ran her hand over her forehead and down her cheek before speaking again. "Great...".
Maura listened intently, her realisation knocked the fear out of her, then straight back in, "Jane Doe is Juliet". Jane threw a look at Maura, "Juliet took a drug that imitated death, when Romeo found her, he mistook her for dead and took his own life" Maura spoke quickly as the words and reality spilled out in front of her.
"That doesn't explain the water. Or how she got to the dock. It's possible someone drugged her, knowing someone would find her, maybe dunked her head, make it look like a drowning".
Rosenthorpe was close to choking on the air around him as he listened to the detective and doctor spin out a theory. The details lodging in his brain. "If you ask me, someone drugged her, raped her then dumped her. With no signs of life, 'they'" Rosenthorpe air quoted, "waited for you to conduct the autopsy".
"Meaning I'd be responsible for her death".
Rosenthorpe cleared his throat clearly irritated Maura had finished his sentence, "You saved her life Ms Isles" he forced a small toothy smile. "But. If this is a star crossed lovers case, you'll have a Romeo out there waiting to be found". Jane had built a steady resentment for Rosenthorpe, his tone was mocking and something inside bit down hard. He knew something.
/
"Jane, check this out" Frost called across the squad room. "Our Jane Doe's fingerprints are in the system. Florida tried her for with holding evidence against a guy named Archie July last year".
"Good job" Jane muttered, "We any closer to finding out who she is?".
Frost shook his head, "No, but she has an alias she gave to the police, you're going to love it" Frost seemed amused which intrigued Jane further.
Jane walked over to Frost's desk and read over his shoulder, "Hannah Bull". Jane smirked, "Now that's original". Jane walked back to her desk leaning over it slightly scrambling for a piece of paper. "You might want to add Juliet if she makes it".
Frost perked up slightly, "What did you just say?". He began typing again, his fingers breezing over the keys.
"Juliet. Why?".
"Juliet. Archie July, the guy she protected, get this, his alias is Romeo".
Before Jane could speak through her smile, Korsak hung up the phone, he too shared a small but visible smile. "We've got a break, the semen stain on Jane Doe's dress is a match to a Bradley Rosenthorpe".
Jane's thought process sped up instantly, "He's the doctor on JD's case at the hospital". Jane picked up her jacket, she, Korsak and Frost left for the hospital.