She was running late, she had slept not only through her alarm but two phone calls. Shrugging into her jacket she swore loudly as she noticed a day old coffee stain on the lapel. There wasn't time to go back, with a deep breath she let it go. Besides with the weather getting warmer she probably wouldn't wear it much today. Stomping down the steps to the street she reached her car in three long strides,
The vibrations on her hip caused a tightening of her jaw.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, I KNOW,"
She wrenched it from the holster to answer the call, that was when her world went black. The call went unanswered as the phone clattered to the asphalt.
Knocking lightly on the office door Korsak quietly announced his presence. Maura looked up, her greeting died on her lips at the pensive look on his face. He was wringing his hands, a nervous tick apparently most of them shared.
"Hey Dr Isles, I was wondering if you had heard from Jane at all this morning?"
She put down her pen, a quick glance at the clock.
"I haven't, but it isn't completely outside the realm of possibility for Jane to be late to work."
"No, no it isn't. But she does normally answer her phone after a few missed calls to curse and say she'll be in."
Standing, Maura offered him a reassuring smile.
"She's just running late Vince. You know Jane, she'll turn up flustered and cranky but with an arm full of pastries and coffee to make up for it."
He nodded with a smile that didn't quite meet his eyes,
"You're probably right, but I just can't shake this bad feeling in my gut y'know?"
"I've said this to Jane many times, you can't listen to your intestines."
This time he actually laughed.
After signing off her toxicology report and a quick glance at the time Maura nodded to herself, time to get some lunch. A low rumbling in her abdomen concurred. Reaching under her desk for her purse she called out to Susie to tell her she was taking her break. Pressing the call button to the elevator she checked her cell as she waited. No missed calls or messages, even she had to admit this was a little out of character even for Jane.
Walking into the bull pen, out of instinct she looked to Jane's desk. It was empty, not even a discarded coffee cup or snack wrapper graced it. A small cough turned her attention to Vince's desk, his expression the same worrisome one he wore that morning.
"She still hasn't called Maura, I'm telling you something is wrong."
The blonde gripped her purse a little tighter as she stood straight.
"You know Vince, I am quite hungry. There is a wonderful deli just down the street from Jane's apartment. Would you like to join me for lunch?"
She refused to let nerves take over her until she had solid facts in front of her, but even now she could hear her own intestines talking.
The older man didn't need asking twice. He might not have spent as much time with the doctor as Jane had, but even he knew when she was giving him an out. Together they walked a little quicker to the parking lot.
Maura's eyes darted around looking for anyone that could hear her,
"You haven't mentioned this to Angela or Frankie have you?"
"Are you kidding? There would be a full scale riot, and with my luck Jane would walk right through the doors just as her mother broke down. No, I need to be sure before I tell them anything. Thankfully Frankie is covering leave in another team, so he might not have caught wind just yet."
The blonde nodded sagely, there really wasn't anything to be gained by worrying the Rizzoli family. The behaviour was odd, but they had nothing solid just yet.
She put her hand on Vince's arm as he reached for the door handle on his car,
"Perhaps we should take mine," he looked perplexed, how they got to Jane's apartment didn't really seem important. She sucked in a breath, her eyes darting away for a second.
"If we get there, and if something isn't quite right. We might need the equipment in my trunk."
Her breath hitched at the implication, he caught it. Turning from the car he followed the blonde in silence.
"And if we get there and she is asleep on the sofa with her phone turned off, no one will know I killed her myself."
"You'll hear no complaint from me,"
Fifteen minutes later they were walking side by side up the side walk to the apartment building. The imperceptible weight of the vinyl gloves in her purse seemed an almost Herculean task to carry as she allowed a modicum of doubt into her mind. Korsak stopped her by the steps,
"That's Jane's car,"
"Let's check upstairs first, I stand by my earlier comment, if she is asleep-"
"You and me both Doc, and then her mother."
Entering the door code they made their way up to Jane's floor.
Outside the door Maura tried the handle,
"The door is locked,"
Korsak rolled his shoulders, "Alright, stand back," The blonde just held up a key, "Or we could do it your way,"
The older detective reached for his side-arm, Maura hadn't moved.
"Vince, if the door is locked Jane is either inside, or something has happened some where else. The only people who would take the time to lock the door are Jane, Jane's family or me. I really don't think there is a present, credible threat behind that door."
He huffed lightly, she was right and he knew it. Still his hand sat on his belt just a little closer to his weapon as Maura produced her emergency key. With a quick twist of the wrist she cracked the door open quietly, she stood back and glanced to the older man. Whilst she was confident they weren't in any danger, letting him clear the apartment would settle them both.
His right hand still hovering over his holstered gun as he silently strode into the apartment. Quick glances left and right he continued. Maura couldn't help but hold her breath as she slipped in behind him. They both spun quickly on the spot at a sudden scattering sound. Korsak's shoulders slumped as he saw the cause, Maura crouched and scooped up the excitable dog rushing to greet them. Stepping back she held the dog close to her trying to keep the terrier quiet as they continued their search.
After a few minutes they were satisfied that the apartment was empty. With a sullen look the doctor fetched the dog's leash and hooked it to her collar.
"I can take her if you want doc, the rest of my little menagerie will keep her company,"
"Thank you Vince, but I have plenty of her food and toys at my house."
Walking out of the apartment Maura made sure to lock the door behind them.
"I'm going to put Jo in the car, I'll grab my crime scene kit."
The detective tried to hide his shock,
"I need to be thorough. Jane isn't in her apartment but her car is still here. Her car only stays here if she drives in with me."
Maura returned shortly and wordlessly handed a pair of gloves to him before putting on her own.
"Don't suppose you have a spare for this?"
"Oh definitely not, whilst we do share quite a lot. Jane's car is definitely her space. I was only ever a passenger. Have you tried calling her cell phone again since we've been here?"
"Once upstairs, I didn't hear anything. But I can try again,"
After keying in a few buttons on his cell they waited, seconds later they heard a distinctive rattle of plastic on the ground. Maura stepped around to the driver's side of the car before crouching to the ground. She sucked in a breath as she saw Jane's quite distinctive cell phone vibrating on the asphalt. Picking it up she stood and held it out to Vince.
"Oh god, Jane,"
Pulling out an evidence bag she sealed the phone before placing it back in her purse. She pulled out a swab kit testing a patch of liquid on the car, she held up the indicator.
"There's more Vince. Here where the door meets the roof, there's blood. There is also some hair."
"Dispatch, Vince Korsak, I need a crew at Detective Rizzoli's home address, immediate priority."
He hung up the phone and looked forlornly at the ME. Her voice broke as she spoke,
"There was a struggle here. Jane is missing."