Chapter 3
Maura had left last night's events, yesterdays cases and anything else that could bother her, behind. When she got into the autopsy lab, she had to be completely focused on the individual on her table. Maura could shut out the world and focus on every detail of every story the body had to tell, in a quest to get justice and to truly put a person to rest.
The young man she was working on today was only 23 years old and in very good health. Maura could tell that he looked after his health; he had lovely teeth and well developed musculature, indicating he had been somewhat athletic. He had been stabbed to death in a one on one fight with another younger man who was still in the hospital with his injuries. There was little mystery here, there had been several witnesses with a variety of different perceptions of what had happened and what they had seen, it would be the Detectives job to piece that puzzle together. Maura however, was determined to leave no stone unturned in her examination and investigation of this boy's life and death.
Detective Korsak entered the lab and watched quietly as Maura placed clearly labelled tubes of vitreous fluid, urine, bile and blood into the refrigerator for later toxicological testing and histology.
"Hey Doc." He greeted when she had closed the heavy steel door of the fridge and turned to give him her full attention. "Just thought I'd come and update you on the mother of the kids yesterday."
Maura nodded and smiled grimly.
"She survived the overdose, didn't do as good a job on herself as she did on those kids. Woman hasn't said a word since she came around, there watching her now, waiting for a psyche evaluation. Only someone crazy could have done something like that." Korsak shook his head.
"I hope Detective Frost is feeling better." Maura asked genuinely.
"Oh sure, he'll be okay Doc, may even make it all the way inside the door next time." Korsak chuckled as he turned to leave and then thought again and stopped with a sigh. "How about you though Doc? You okay? I know your cool as a cucumber but, case like this gets to the best of us."
Maura took a moment to seriously consider his enquiry. Korsak was a very fatherly figure to many of the younger detectives and had been very kind and welcoming to Maura in the course of their work together. "Thank you detective, I am fine." Maura assured, giving Korsak her first real smile of the day.
Just then a harassed looking officer Rizzoli bustled into the lab. "Korsak, I wanted to catch you down here." Frankie said, throwing Maura an apologetic glance and a wave of acknowledgment. "Hey Doc."
"Frankie, where's the fire?" Korsak asked.
"It's Jane, you said for me to let you know when she was back in town." Frankie said quickly.
"She's back? That's great Frankie, how did she seem." Korsak clapped Frankie on the back as he still tried to get his breath. Maura tried to look like she was doing anything but listening in on their conversation as she crossed to her computer and looked blankly at the screen.
Frankie looked worried and shook his head. "I don't know. Jane just isn't Jane these days; I can never work out what's going on in her head. She didn't look good, didn't say where she's been the last three months."
Korsak nodded understandingly. "She been to see your Ma yet?"
"No and I don't even know what to tell Ma, what if Jane disappears again?" Frankie rubbed his forehead with a sweating palm.
"I'll try and speak to Jane." Korsak assured Frankie. "Don't worry, she'll come around eventually, she is a good girl Frankie." Korsak smiled, patted Frankie's shoulder one more time and left Frankie standing in the lab.
Frankie sighed heavily then suddenly seemed to notice Maura. "Sorry Doc I didn't mean to disturb your work." He waved an apology and began to back toward the door, head slightly bowed in respect.
Maura edged out from behind the computer. "Are you okay Officer Rizzoli?" She called.
Frankie stood with his hands on his hips. "Sure, just family stuff, y'know how it is."
Maura felt a little ache in her chest at his words, the truth is she didn't know how it was, and her family didn't have any of the family drama or dysfunctional behaviour that seemed to typify every other family in America.
"Your sister knows Detective Korsak?" Maura gave in to her curiosity. "I don't mean to pry, if you don't wish to talk about it, she just seems to know a lot of BPD and her name is familiar, I just can't place it.
Frankie looked at the floor then back at Maura. "She used to be his partner, in homicide." Frankie admitted a proud tilt to his chin. "She was great y'know, the youngest officer to be promoted to Detective and you know it's harder for women Doc." Frankie shrugged, of course she knew.
Maura nodded in sudden recognition. "She was the Detective involved in the Hoyt Case. I read the case files and some articles when I accepted the position here." A few pieces of the Jane Rizzoli puzzle began to slot into place for Maura. "What happened to her?"
Frankie seemed unsure where to start "She was working a case where she shot a suspect, she swore she saw a knife in his hand; it was dark, roof top, she was alone, when back up got there, he was dead, no weapon was ever found. The boy's parents were powerful people, swore he was guilty of nothing. There was a big investigation and they dragged up all the Hoyt stuff and every cop who ever had anything bad to say about her came crawling out of the woodwork. Plenty of guys wanted to see her fail." Maura could hear the pain and the anger rising in Frankie's voice, noticed his clenched fist.
Maura spoke quietly. "I'm sorry Frankie, I shouldn't have questioned you."
"No Doc, it's okay. It's all history; I just wish Jane could see it that way." Frankie composed himself and Maura saw some of the light come back into his face as he straightened himself up and looked around the lab awkwardly. "I should get back to it." Frankie nodded and left the lab with a "bye Dr Isles."
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Jane was woken by a loud banging in her head and as she twisted her body away from the sound she felt pain shoot through most of her joints. Her head felt like she was carrying a couple of bricks around on top of it as she rolled off the sofa on to the floor.
"Jesus! I'm coming!" She yelled, wincing at the volume of her own voice. Jane threw open the door, ignoring the pain in her arms as she sought desperately to stop the banging.
"Jane!" Korsak threw up his hands in delight then let them fall to his sides as he fully took in the bedraggled sight before him.
Jane groaned and stumbled back to the sofa. "Why are you here? Banging." Jane said pulling a cushion over her head. It hadn't been a wise decision to continue drinking after she had seen Dr Isles home last night but Jane hadn't felt like coming back to an apartment full of nothing but painful memories.
Korsak stepped inside the apartment; Jane obviously hadn't spent any time here since she got back to town, the place was spotless, cleaned and tided repeatedly by an anxious Angela hoping for Jane to come home. The only mess in here was Jane herself.
"I'm here to visit with Jo Friday, where the heck is she?" He looked around as if he expected her to pop out from behind some furniture and run around his feet.
"She's staying with a friend." Jane mumbled into the cushion. "She's okay, well looked after, probably pampered." Jane peeked out at Korsak's concerned look. "I'm picking her up tomorrow, you can see her then." Jane assured him sinking back into her cushion.
Korsak crossed to the kitchen and began to search around for the ingredients to some cups of coffee.
"Where you been Jane?" Korsak called as he pulled down mugs and waited for the water to boil.
"Around." Jane replied vaguely, dragging herself into a sitting position as she realised that Korsak wasn't leaving any time soon. Korsak looked expectantly at Jane, letting her know that her answer was not enough. "I took a break, used some of my savings, saw some more of Massachusetts. Drank my own weight in beer a few times over, nothing special."
"I hear you got into some trouble over in Wrenthem, buddy of mine works for the local law enforcement over there." Korsak turned back to the coffee making as Jane narrowed her eyes at him.
"It was nothing, I didn't like the way some idiot was looking at me." Jane frowned.
"Way I hear it; you stood up for some kid against that idiot and got a beating for your troubles." Korsak said casually, not looking at Jane.
"You shouldn't believe everything you hear. The guy got what was coming to him." Jane gave a satisfied smile. "It was nothing."
Korsak brought over two coffees and sat beside Jane on the sofa, handing her a mug.
"So, what you gonna do now Jane? You're staying right?" Korsak looked sideways at Jane.
"We'll see." Jane shrugged.
"What about the private eye business Jane? You didn't hardly give it a chance. Frankie was right; you would be great at that." Korsak enthused.
Jane rolled her eyes. "Sure." She said sipping her coffee experimentally. "I got some calls from that Ad he went ahead and placed, all from pathetic women wanting me to follow their loser husbands. Not exactly the best way to restore my faith in humanity Korsak."
Korsak nodded thoughtfully, both his large hands wrapped around his mug. "Well it's something, until you get back on your feet, give it a chance Jane." Korsak looked at her seriously now. "Me, Frankie, your Ma, we're all hoping you'll stick around."
Jane appreciated the sentiment and bumped her shoulder against Korsaks with a small smile.
"Plus, y'know, you should be giving Jo Friday a more stable home life." Korsak said sternly.
Jane smiled broadly now. "I'll keep that in mind Detective."
Korsak sighed deeply. "We miss you Jane." He didn't say which we he meant and Jane didn't ask, she didn't think that she was missed too much at BPD. "You got to stop punishing yourself Jane, you made a mistake, you paid for it and then some."
Jane turned away and had to fight her urge to get up and walk out of the room. "Anyway, how's the new partner doing?" she said changing the subject.
"Frost? He's a good guy, knows a lot about computers, but he's no you Jane."
