CHAPTER TWO
A/N A big thank you to everyone reading and reviewing. I really appreciate the feedback. So a huge Thanks to all you readers and reviewers, especially the repeat offenders…I mean repeat followers ;)
Clichéd absolutely, but so true. The police had no leads in their latest murder investigation, and Dr. Maura Isles was swimming in an ocean of self doubt. Everything was going his way. It was pure icing on the cake that Frost had no stomach for gore. He and the green detective were going to have so much fun together. It was a happy accident that Detective Korsak had tangled with a mouse covered in fur and lost. Really, a man of his stature unable to best a three pound puddle of hair.
It was time to make some new friends. Detective Jane Rizzoli was showing signs of sexual frustration. Perhaps he could help her with this very serious problem. The good Dr. Isles wasn't taking care of business at home. Maybe Detective Rizzoli needed to make a new friend as well. He clucked his tongue against perfect teeth as he finished his daily dressing routine and walked to the small oak table. Red, blue, yellow or black? He selected a brass tipped dart and took careful aim. Laughter rumbled as the tip sank into the cork bulls eye, green shaft quivering from the impact. "Let's have some fun shall we?"
Jane strode into the autopsy suite and leaned against an empty table. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Maura who still had her head glued to the back of the female victim with the strange carvings covering most of her body. The carving Maura studied covered the girls back from the bottom of her scapula down to a half inch above her waist. "Any idea what that represents?" Jane asked unable to remain quiet another second.
"It's a crude drawing of a female in a ritual type pose." Maura had felt Jane enter the room just as she had felt her slip into bed last night, well very early this morning. She didn't know how to tell Jane about her impromptu date last night. She still had no idea how they had gotten from the Robber to her house. Her car had been inside the garage this morning, but she didn't remember driving home.
"Do you know what kind of ritual?" Why was Maura avoiding her gaze? Jane watched Maura work another minute then stepped behind her and circled her waist pulling her in for a tight hug. "I'm sorry I missed dinner again." She pushed aside the honey blonde strands and dropped a quick kiss on the soft skin covered in light brown freckles. "I promise once this case is over, yoga every morning for a month. Even that crazy hardcore stuff you love. OK?"
The guilt was eating her alive. "Jane," Maura pulled out of Jane's embrace and stood staring at Jane's favorite boots. It was time for a shoe shopping expedition.
"Hold that thought, Babe." Jane took advantage of the open lips tempting her and captured them in a light kiss before opening her phone. "Rizzoli."
"Another murder?" Maura asked waving her hand over the body on the table. She watched Jane's face grow dark and knew the call was anything but good news.
"No, but an interesting call about another matter." Jane stalked across the floor to Maura's desk and sat on the corner. "Is there something about last night that you want to tell me?" Her call to the Robber last night had yielded little information. Murray reluctantly told Frankie that Maura had enjoyed two glasses of wine and the house special. He had failed to mention one critical detail, and so far Maura hadn't mentioned it either.
"Your friends give you a nightly report?" Maura asked a hint of anger in her voice and eyes. Was Jane having her watched?
"Why are you getting upset?" Jane hurled herself off the desk and began pacing the room. "I should be the one upset. Last night I was doing my job, while you were on a date." Jane stopped pacing and stared hard into Maura's stormy green eyes. "Maura, I thought we, you and I, were supposed to meet for dinner. Why do I have to hear from someone else that you had dinner with some rich guy. How much did he pay Murray to lie? Murray told Frankie you only drank two glasses of wine. But you drank almost two bottles. Your mystery date had to carry you out of the bar." Jane ran a hand through her hair and started pacing again.
"You had Frankie call Murray and ask how much I had to drink?" Maura cried. "How do I know you were working. Maybe you were out on a date as well."
"I was working. The proof is on your table." Jane ran her hands down her face and tried to control her emotions. Working and dating were almost always disastrous if done in the same place. "I had Frankie call because I was worried about you. When I talked to you, it sounded like you were drunk. I didn't want you driving intoxicated."
Maura crossed the room and sank into he chair. She gave Jane a long sad look. "I tried to tell you last night, but you were so tired. I was going to tell you at lunch today. His date stood him up as well. We just…"
"I didn't stand you up!" Jane exploded. "Maura, the body on your table. This poor mutilated girl is the reason I missed dinner with you last night. I was in the parking lot looking for a spot when I got the call from Frost. I would rather have been with you, but experience has taught me that murderers aren't very considerate people. They don't care if they ruin dinner, date night, or your entire fucking life."
"Hold that pose." Maura commanded, Jane's closed fisted stance jarred her memory. She returned to the body and took another look at the marks carved in skin. "It's Baddha Konasana."
The words resonated in her memory, but she was still focused on Maura and the mystery man from last night. "Bad what?"
"Really Jane, it's the Baddha Konasana pose. The Bound angle pose, used to open the hips and groin." Jane looked like a woman ready to commit murder at the words open and groin. Maura removed her shoes and sat on the floor back against the wall pressing the soles of her feet together.
"Really Maura, in the middle of a fight and a murder investigation you take time to do yoga."
"Dammit Jane, look at the back!" Maura surged to her feet and practically dragged Jane over to the body. "Look at the lines."
"Fuck me." Jane whispered staring at the knife wounds.
"Ma'am, you'll have to move your car. This is a crime scene." Detective Barry Frost appreciated the length of tan leg showing in the slit of the floral skirt. He flashed his sexiest smile and smoothed his tie.
A pair of piercing blue eyes met his. Cherry red lips curved into a seductive smile and the slit on the skirt grew impossibly wide. "I don't know what happened. It was running fine and then, just stopped." Dark curled lashes invited him to lean closer to the open window. "Will you be able to call for assistance on your radio? My cell isn't working either, bad reception."
"Ah, yeah." Frost licked his lips and ran a finger under his suddenly too tight collar. "I'll be right back." Before he could escape, she asked a loaded question.
"Would you mind if I just sat in the air conditioning of your car? It's really hot out here." Twin mounds of tan flesh played peek-a-boo with the open neck of the silk blouse.
Maybe he would stop by the Dairy Freeze for a milk shake. Frost checked the mirror for traffic and clicked on his signal for a left hand turn. It must be ninety degrees he thought pulling into the dive-thru. He placed his order for a strawberry milkshake and winked at his reflection. A smear of bright red caught his eye. On both sides of his collar, he saw a pair of red lips. The car behind him honked angrily and he scooted up to the pay window. He took the now unwanted shake, and tossed it into the nearest waste basket. How in the world had he gotten lipstick on his collar?
"Frost." He snapped into the phone. "I'll be there in fifteen. I'm on the other side of town." If they asked why, he would explode.
Jane and Korsak were already there when Frost pulled up to the scene. He rubbed at the stains on his collar, but no amount of force removed the bright red lips.
"You been on a hot lunch date?" Korsak teased immediately spotting the stains.
"Can we not talk about dates please." Jane snapped.
"Wow, you guys all got your panties too tight." Boone crowed elbowing Frost.
"Sounds like you're wearing your thong today, Boone. Make yourself useful and let someone else take over panty detail. Why don't you start interviewing possible witnesses." Jane ordered.
Korsak led them into the run down factory. He stopped in the center of the room and reached into his pocket. He tapped Frost on the shoulder and gave him two bright red barf bags. "I'll make sure everything is photographed Jane."
"Frost, you don't look so good. Why don't you go outside and help Boone with the witnesses."
"Looks just like the other one, except this one appears to be a middle aged redhead." Korsak shook his head and walked around the body careful not to disturb any prints left by the victim or her murderer. He leaned close to the hands and feet tied together, the silk bindings running under the work table.
"Same MO." Jane sighed. She wanted to caress the bald head and close the sightless eyes. "Is this the same pattern carved in her skin?"
"Looks like it to me. Did Dr. Isles have any idea what the cave drawings could be?"
Jane was scanning the room. The blood froze in her veins. In addition to the work bench the woman was tied to, the only other items in the empty warehouse were a battered chest of drawers holding a silver tray with five bottles of colored liquid, a brush, comb and hand mirror. "This is one twisted killer."
"Looks to be the exact same scarf as the one from last night. I'll see if I can get anything on it. Not too many places carry Hermes silk scarves."
Jane gave Korsak a puzzled look. "How do you know the kind of scarf used?" To her, they all looked alike.
Korsak flushed red and mumbled. "Gave my wife one for Christmas last year. Cost over three hundred bucks."
"For a scarf?" Jane demanded. "You make way too much money." she teased. "Guess that evens out all the money you spend on your boat. Find out everywhere those scarves are sold and see if anyone bought in bulk." They needed a lead and now before another woman ended up dead bound by expensive silk scarves!
