Chapter Three
The bullpen is quiet when she reaches the fourth floor of the station. Her heels click so loud its like someone has a microphone on her feet, blasting her footsteps all over the room. But suddenly she stops, as though seeing Jane's desk is a road block she has to cross. Her chest tightens. Tears burn in her eyes. With a shaking hand, she runs her hand over the smooth surface.
"Get out of my chair." She can almost hear Jane's voice, scolding her.
Maura ignores the voice and sits in the chair. It feels strange, like she's sitting on something she shouldn't, but at the same time it feels like she has belonged here all along. She presses her lips together but the sob comes anyway, like its found a back way to get out. Tears spill down her cheeks as angry thoughts run through her head. this isn't fair. Jane isn't supposed to be walking around Boston with a woman who could be-who is-Maura's twin. Her name is not Jane Doyle.
Something cold slides down Maura's spine. She doesn't want to imagine how badly they beat Jane, tortured her, to make her not remember her real life.
"Maura?"
Maura glances up, wiping at her eyes, to find Korsack walking toward her. "I just-I went to see Hope. She confirmed that I have a twin. Vince, I want to see her. I want to see Jane."
"Maura-"
"I know, it would be complicated considering but I need to see her." Maura can't stop her voice from shaking. "I'll change my hair. I'll change my name."
"Maura, slow down. I know you want to see her but aside from the picture your mother took, we have nothing to go on."
Maura wraps her arms around her stomach. "Maybe she'll come into the robber again." It's wishful thinking. She knows this. But she can't help but hope.
"I can't promise anything but if she comes back in, we'll figure something out."
Monday dawns clear but breezy. Jane walks into the kitchen to find Maura already awake, sitting at the bar with coffee and her laptop.
"Coffee's fresh," Maura says, glancing up from her laptop. "I'm trying to register Avery for school. And I already sent in an application to a small clinic that helps women and children. It's called Mend."
Jane stares at her sister, coffee pot in mid air. "Maura, its seven thirty in the morning. How long have you been awake?"
"Since four. I couldn't sleep. There's so much to do around here and Avery really needs to be in school."
"She's ten. What can she miss in a couple of days?" Jane pours a cup of coffee, taking her first sip. "When will you hear about the job? I thought you were going to apply to Mass General."
"I was but with Avery, the hours are so much better at an office or a clinic. Mass Gen is a huge hospital. It's not like the one I left."
"That makes sense. Well while you were job searching, did you happen to come across anything for me?" Jane comes to sit next to Maura at the counter. "I can't exactly apply to the police department. It's not like it was at the sherif's office."
"Hey, how about that restaurant? The Dirty Robber. I know, I freaked out but it'd be close to Avery's school and-"
"And full of cops, Maura. One slip up about who our father is and we both go to jail and Avery goes to foster care. No. Not happening."
"You're right." Maura pats Jane's shoulder. "You'll find something."
"They have really good burgers," Jane mutters into her coffee cup.
It's that afternoon that Maura gets the call for an interview. Jane is setting up their entertainment center while Avery reads on the couch when Maura's excited voice comes from the kitchen.
"This is Maura Doyle." A pause and then, "thank you! Thank you so much! Three o'clock tomorrow is great!" Another pause, "Yes. Thank you, Dr. Martin."
"Well?" Jane asks when Maura walks into the living room.
"I got an interview!" Maura is practically glowing. "At that clinic called Mend. I'll be interviewing with a Dr. Hope Martin."
Jane is on her feet and her arms around Maura in two seconds. Avery joins them.
"Mom, that's so great!" Avery says, "Can we go celebrate?"
"We celebrated last night, kiddo," Jane says with a laugh. "But how about as soon as I get the TV hooked up we'll watch a movie."
"Rent?" Avery asks. She looks up at Maura. "Please, Mom!"
"Okay! Rent it is!"
Maura is in her office going over paperwork when there is a knock at the door. She looks up to find Hope in the doorway.
"I'm very busy today," Maura says, not looking up from her work. She can't handle another conversation with Hope right now. Not with the hurt and anger is so fresh.
"I found her."
Those three words cause Maura to look up. "Found who?"
"Your sister. The one pretending to be you. She applied for a job at my clinic. She has an interview tomorrow at three."
Maura's heart constricts. She wants to speak but nothing comes out. "She's a real doctor?" She blurts. It's the only thing she can think of to ask. "Is she pretending to be a doctor as well as stealing my life?"
"Maura!"
"No! Don't "Maura" me! My best friend has been missing for a year and now running around with my so-called sister saying she's Jane Doyle and I want to know why! I want my best friend back!" Maura is sure everyone in the lab can hear her but for the first time in her life she doesn't care.
"She's a real doctor. I checked. I called the school on her application and all her references. I'm going to keep a close eye on her." She pulls out a piece of paper. "Her address."
Maura takes the paper with shaking hands. Lifting her gaze to Hope, she manages a tearful, "Thank you." She stares at the paper. Now she's one step closer to seeing Jane.
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