Chapter Three

A/N Thank you for those of you reading this. I appreciate your feedback and support. This chapter is going to focus a lot more on Angie. Maura and Jane will be here, but not center stage. Of course, more language and adult situations. This is where the violence first shows... it will escalate.

Maura made a bee line to the front desk to check in while Jane made a stop just inside the door to have a chat with the inside doorman.

"Good evening Ma'am." Came the courteous southern drawl. "How may I be of help?"

Half expecting a bow or tip of his hat, Jane stared a full minute before speaking. Wow, these folks took their jobs seriously. Sure he wasn't going to bow, she extended her right hand while reaching for her ID with her left. She flashed her ID and badge saying, "Good evening, I'm Detective Jane Rizzoli. Do you have in house security?"

Concern and fear flashed before the middle aged gentleman regained his composure. His voice was still a little unsure when he asked. "Is something wrong Detective?"

"No." What could she say? The average person lived their entire lives without having hunches that evil lurked all around them. "Just want to touch base with the supervisor, you know, make them aware I'm armed and that it's OK."

The Doorman accepted her reason but didn't totally feel she was being truthful. "Go down the hall on the right side of the desk, 2nd door on the right."

Jane thanked him and slipped a $5 in the hand she clasped. She caught Maura's elbow and steered her toward the elevator. "Let's get unpacked and find food. I'm famished." She still didn't want to say anything to Maura. Right after dinner, she would be talking to the head of security. Maura would be busy neatly putting away her clothes and toiletries so she would be free to make her rounds.

"Right on time." Angie snarled as two identical trucks pulled next to hers in the lot. If that nosy detective came snooping, she would find her task a little more challenging. A knock against the tinted window pulled her from her dark thoughts. Good henchmen were so difficult to keep. "Did you get what I need?"

A dirty haired man in baggy overalls shook his long locks and flashed a tobacco stained grin. Jimmy D wasn't much to look at, but there wasn't a vehicle anywhere on the planet he couldn't boost. "Sorry it took me so long, they were fixing potholes on the interstate. Black CTS as ordered is sitting in your drive along with fifteen clean plates on the passenger seat." He grinned even more broadly as a fat envelope was passed through the open window. "Pleasure doing business with ya."

"And you." Angie said as she grabbed the bottle of hand sanitizer and applied a liberal amount. "Really, can't these yokels do even basic personal hygiene?" She watched Jimmy D and the driver from the other truck disappear across the busy downtown street. The phone buzzed and she answered on the first ring. "Yes?" A look of pleasure filled empty blue eyes as she listened to news delivered by her 2nd in command. Good news indeed. Angie finished the call and slipped from the truck. Locking the doors, she purposely rounded the second truck and stood next to the driver's door. She made sure a couple entering the lobby saw her. Not her face, which she expertly kept averted, but saw her standing at the truck door. She then moved onto the third truck and repeated the process, this time letting the doorman see her. She noted the confusion on his face as he spotted the row of identical trucks. "Perfect." She purred stepping away from the truck and making her way to the front door. "Now you see me, but tomorrow you won't."

"Yes Ma'am, how may I help you?" the perky desk clerk inquired. Her name tag read Tammy.

"Good evening Tammy." Angie smiled a winning smile and placed her hand atop the marble desk. "I'm with Dr. Goins office. He asked me to stop in and make sure Dr. Isles and her companion checked in and have everything they need before tomorrow's engagement." Angie smirked behind her hand, a fake cough racking her frame. God these hicks were so gullible. Now this upstanding citizen was imagining the chic Dr. and her "companion" no doubt enjoying a round of hot girl on girl in the shower.

Tammy snapped her lips closed aware she was imitating a large mouth bass. She clacked a few keys on her computer keyboard and reported. "Yes. Dr. Isles and Detective Rizzoli have checked in. Would you like me to buzz them and let them know you're on you're way up?"

"I'd appreciate that. Wouldn't want to," she paused dramatically and gave Tammy a slight wink, "interrupt anything." Angie leaned closer and watched shaking fingers punch in a 5 digit code. She now knew which room her prey occupied. Time for a visit to the twelfth floor.

Angie smiled seductively at the elevator operator and made sure to step just right. Perfectly on cue, the man's eyes traveled from her abundant cleavage to her long athletic legs. She made a show of checking her silk nylons for runs. The man's eyes nearly popped from their sockets as the black lace garter snagged his attention. 30 seconds later she exited the elevator certain he had no clue what her facial features looked like, nor her hair color. Men were so easy to manipulate, given the right tools. And Angie Alexander had all the right tools and in just the right amounts.

"Care to tell me where you hid while I unpacked?" Maura teased settling on the king sized bed and applying lotion to her legs.

I need a drink Jane croaked internally striding to the minibar. She looked over the collection of beer offered and settled on her usual MGD 64. She poured Maura a glass of Cabernet and held it out, hoping to stall a moment longer. "Hope this is OK, they had this or a Pinot Noir."

Maura knew Jane didn't want to tell her where she had been, but something was bothering Jane and Maura was going to find out what. "This is fine. Thank you." She took the glass and sniffed the aroma. Hints of black cherry and blackberry along with light wisps of chocolate. A California wine for sure. "Perfect." she assured after tasting the dark crimson liquid. "Jane, please tell me what's bothering you." When Jane opened her lips to protest Maura placed the wine on the side table and crossed the room to stand in front of her friend. "If you're nervous about this," she gestured at the single bed, "I'll call the desk for another room."

Shit, now Maura thought she was afraid to sleep in the same bed. Jane had no choice. "Do you remember the silver truck at the gas station in Hendersonville?" At Maura's puzzled look, Jane continued. "I kept watch in the mirror. All the way here, that truck stayed about 4 lengths back. My radar was going crazy. While you checked in, I asked the doorman if they had security."

"And while I unpacked, you visited the security office." Maura finished. She returned to the bed and took another sip of wine. "Jane, what do you think is happening?"

In an uncharacteristic move, Jane settled next to her and pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm scared for you. Something inside tells me you're in danger. I don't know from, who or what or how. I just feel it."

Maura relaxed in Jane's embrace. She turned her head and inhaled the unique scent that was Jane Rizzoli. "This last case was enough to rattle anyone." It had certainly rattled her. She had to admit to herself, she often slept with her bedroom door locked and the light on. "I'm fine. And you are here to keep me that way. Let's get a good meal and then a good night's sleep."

She never wanted to move from this spot. Maura was in danger and every sense she possessed was on high alert screaming that danger was coming. Jane pressed a kiss to the cheek less than an inch from her lips. "You want room service, or Tootsie's Orchid Lounge?"

"Yes, Detective Rizzoli, the monster is just outside the door. I will pounce, and there is nothing you can do to stop me. By this time tomorrow. The precious Dr. Isles will be my new plaything." She chuckled softly while the phone dialed. "I need a key card for a 12th floor suite at the Loews hotel. You have an hour."