Charles Hoyt, Zombie

Chapter Two

At the stroke of midnight a slight rumbling could be felt by all the dead. Hoyt waited for his coffin to open. Finally the lid opened and he jumped out. Looking around he saw the cheerleader who was interred to his left. He saw her good side glance at him.

"Hello, Charlie, want to party later?" she asked, smiling. Just then she moved and saw her full face. What was left of it anyway. The accident that killed her fifty years ago had pulled off part of her face. Looking at her full-on Hoyt noted it was like looking at Two Face from Batman: one good side, one bad side. While waiting for Hoyt's reply she reached up with her good hand and pulled the maggots out the side of her face.

"I have a date with someone, sweetheart. Maybe next year," Hoyt didn't want to disappoint her, they had wonderful conversations throughout the winter. It got cold and lonely in the grave and Hoyt wanted to keep on everyone's good side.

"See you later, Charlie, enjoy your date," the cheerleader said and wandered off. Hoyt noticed most of the gravesites had opened and the occupants were gone.

"Happy Halloween, Jane," Hoyt said as he gazed at his favorite picture of Jane Rizzoli: clad in her pajama pants and tank top, in her detective pose with her service weapon. It had been taken in front of Jane's apartment building last year, when Emily was trying to be his newest apprentice. The mortician thought it was a family picture when he found it in Hoyt's pocket and made sure to bury it with him. Hoyt knew he'd be forever grateful.

Attempting to walk presented a slight problem: Hoyt hadn't used his legs in some time. Taking tentative steps and grabbing onto headstones and tree limbs he got his legs working and headed off down the street.

Let's see, he thought. The precinct is down this way, but how many miles? I don't remember. Just then he saw a taxi coming down the street. Carefully raising his arm he flagged him down. Getting in the back he gave the address of Boston Police Department to the driver.

"An early Halloween party, eh buddy?" the driver asked. "Like your costume. Not many zombies look this realistic."

"Thanks." Hoyt watched the streets as they passed. His memories of chasing Jane Rizzoli sharpened as he saw homes and businesses whiz by the cab. A few moments later the driver pulled over.

"Boston PD, buddy. That'll be eleven fifty please," the driver said. Hoyt reached in his pocket for a small rock he picked up when he climbed out of his grave. Smashing it against the driver's skull he started to exit the cab but noticed a small opening in the back of the driver's skull.

"Oh, brains," Hoyt was distracted. Scooping out a small amount he guzzled them down. "What a delicious delicacy." He wondered briefly how Jane's brains might taste and promised himself a small taste when possible.

Hoyt stood on the front steps of the precinct for a moment, thinking about the best way in. He knew it was way too early for Jane to be at her desk but he wanted to surprise her with his presence. He knew she'd be pleased to see him, renew their old acquaintance. The front door to the precinct opened and a uniformed officer exited. Hoyt put his head down as the officer went by.

"A little early for Halloween aren't you buddy?" Frankie Rizzoli asked.

"I like to be prepared," Hoyt answered. He recognized Frankie almost instantly.

Frankie kept going, shaking his head. Halloween costumes were getting to be almost too realistic, he thought. This guy's dressed as Hoyt. He shuddered to think what his sister would say if she saw one.

Hoyt walked around to the back of the precinct. This was how I got in last time, he thought, walking up to the ambulance bay of the morgue. Hoyt slipped in when a body had been delivered from the local hospital for Dr. Isles to autopsy. She and Jane had been separated at the time, largely due to Hoyt's stalking Maura's parents.

Hoyt glanced around the bay area, looking to see any movement inside. None. The autopsy area and morgue lights were out so chances were no new cases were being worked on. Perfect, he thought. He climbed up on the loading dock and hid in the corner.

Jane read through Maura's email one more time and ran through the attached photos of appropriate Halloween costumes she'd attached. Jane groaned. I hate Halloween, she thought. I never liked it when I was a kid except for the candy. I hate dressing up. I'm an adult, why do I have to do this? She thought.

Because it's Maura and you're whipped, she instantly answered herself. Paging back through the costumes Jane found one she decided she could live with and placed the online order. She'd pick it up on her way to work tomorrow. She smiled. Maura's going to love this, she thought.

Maura checked through her list one more time then surveyed her dining and living rooms. All of the decorations were up; the punch was chilling in the refrigerator, she stocked the wine and beer in the second refrigerator in the garage. The hors d'oeuvre trays took up most of the room in her refrigerator and the rest of the dinner items were to be delivered just before the party was to start.

Perfect, she thought, snapping off the lights and retreating to her bedroom. I wonder if Jane got my email, she thought. Maura giggled at some of the costumes she'd emailed to Jane. She wanted Jane to dress in costume so she included several costumes she felt Jane would never wear, just to be silly. She hoped Jane appreciated her thoughtfulness and wasn't angry with her.

Maura slipped into bed. This was one of the few nights Jane wasn't sleeping over. Maura told Jane she'd be too busy with the Halloween decorations and preparation for her party. Jane was too impatient to be much help so Jane went home for the evening. Maura thought of her girlfriend as she felt herself getting sleepy.

Hoyt watched the sun rise, grateful to have a nice shady place to spend his time until Jane and Dr. Isles came to work. He smiled, it wouldn't be long now before he had his chance. He hope to take Jane back to his gravesite with him, where they could spend eternity together.

He watched Dr. Isles drive into the parking lot and get out of her car. His eyes widened. She was dressed as a beautiful witch. Hmm, he thought, maybe I chose the wrong one. Dr. Isles walked around to the front of the precinct. Dressed in a long blood red gown with long black hair she sported extremely long nails. Hoyt wanted to whistle but his lips didn't respond. Instead his upper lip fell off at his feet. He reached down and picked up his upper lip and tried to press it back into place. It wouldn't go. He tucked it in his pocket instead.

Hoyt continued watching the parking lot. Sure enough, Jane's familiar cop car slid into the parking space next to Maura's. Wow, Hoyt thought. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

My darling, Hoyt wanted to cry out, I'm here. He kept silent instead, not wanting to scare Jane away. His heart pounded all that harder in his chest. He watched the object of his affections stalk into the precinct her arms straight out before her, knees locked.

Jane was dressed as a zombie.

Jane stomped into the precinct. Nearly every cop she encountered stopped and stared. "Oh, my God," Angela cried out as her daughter made it into the café. "My daughter the zombie." Angela started to laugh.

"Yeah, a zombie going crazy for a caffeine fix," Jane said. She dropped her arms to her side. "Can you help me out?"

"Sure. If you're hungry I just thawed out some brains, Janie, I can make you a nice brain omelette."

"Ha ha, Ma, very funny. Just coffee please."

"Here you go. Dr. Isles help you with that costume?"

"Yeah, not bad. I reserved it online last night and went in a little early to pick it up and get my face painted by the girl at the shop. Like it?" Jane twirled. Angela giggled. Jane was a terrific zombie. Her makeup included a "lazy eye" hanging out of its socket.

"I'm going downstairs to see Maura, see if she approves," Jane said, taking the coffee cup from her mother. "See you later."

Maura heard the elevator door open, then a consistent stomp, stomp, stomp. She looked up from the shoe shopping she was doing. Two long arms dressed in bloody rags preceded the rest of the zombie walking into the morgue. She laughed out loud as she recognized Jane's costume.

"Very nice zombie, Jane," she said. Jane stopped and looked at her in surprise.

"You know what I'm dressed as?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I know a zombie when I see one?" Maura replied.

"It's just you don't always recognize monsters, Maura."

"Jane, how many zombie, werewolf and vampire movies have we seen this month?" she chided.

"Okay," Jane said and kissed Maura. "Hello, gorgeous. Can I keep you down here all day?"

"Why?"

"So the guys don't see your cleavage, Maura. That's what I don't like about your costume."

"Jane, it's for Halloween, I'll be fine. Everyone was respectful this morning when I came in," she said.

"I'll bet they were," Jane mumbled.

"Oh Jane, you're cute."

"Cute? Maura come on."

"You're jealous."

"I am not, I just don't want every guy you run into today staring down your breasts."

Maura leaned up to whisper in Jane's ear. "You're the only one who gets to enjoy my assets," she whispered. Jane shuddered in response and turned to go.

"God woman, you're going to be the death of me yet. Let me go back upstairs to the bullpen. I'll see you later. Lunch?"

"Eyeballs and brains on the menu, should be nutritious," Maura quipped. Jane groaned then smiled over her shoulder.

The rest of the day passed quietly. Jane was surprised; normally they received a lot of calls on Halloween, some pranks and others serious. Right at five p.m. she powered down her computer and went downstairs to see Maura.

Maura was gathering her purse as Jane got off the elevator.

"Ready?"

"Yup. What do you need me to do?"

"Not much. Why don't you go home, pack a bag and bring Joe over to my place. We can put her in the backyard while the party's underway. You can stay at my place tonight."

Jane leered at Maura. "What do I get for a treat, Maura?"

Maura stood with her hand on the doorknob. She turned and looked at Jane. "Like what you see?" she smiled. Jane groaned.

"How do you expect me to get through the party and wait so long, Maura?"

"Don't whine, Jane, it's unbecoming a zombie."

"Funny, Maura."

"Elvira to you."

Hoyt watched the two women leave the precinct. He nearly started drooling when he saw zombie Jane.

TBC