Author's note: thank you again for all your reviews, I'm really happy to see that you're enjoying this story!

Chapter Four:

"The murders look alike on every point except I can't link them, as much as I try to do so. They have nothing in common; from the company directors to the caterers employed for both playhouses. The only – and yet so tiny – thing is the roles that both victims played: Nora and Antigone."

For having practiced the autopsy of both corpses, Maura knew what Jane meant. Both actresses had been killed according to the same scheme; within a week. As much as she never trusted her very own instinct, the honey blonde knew that they might have been dealing with one and only one killer. Too many coincidences, too many parallelisms. But it was her friend's last comment that made her frown and bend over the table, eager to hear more.

Chewing on her fries, the detective shrugged and looked around before lowering her voice.

"You told me Nora was some kind of a rebel, right? Then a bit like Antigone who refuses the rules of her society that state that women must be afraid of men who are considered as dominant. I'll read Ibsen's play tonight but perhaps it's in this direction we should look at."

Maura didn't hide her surprise. She had never imagined that Jane actually knew much about plays, even less Greek tragedies. One more time, she had underestimated her and she felt sorry, guilty.

"Do not fear for me. Make straight your own path to destiny."

The brunette scoffed and looked at the medical examiner in disbelief; somewhere in between envy and pride. Slowly, she shook her head then took a sip of her soft drink.

"How do you do that, Maur'? How do you manage to quote a play or a poem so easily? Have you learned them by heart at some point?"

The scientist burst out laughing; bit her lower lip as a wave of timidity spread over her.

"I just have a good memory... Although to come back on your case, I have to say that your idea isn't bad; even if it doesn't explain why someone would kill actresses who both were to play feminists of their time. A conservative person? These plays are extremely symbolic."

A rear of laughter – a couple of tables away – caught their attention. A group of students – five of them – had settled there for lunch. Yet when Maura cast a glance at the restaurant, she realized the crowd was quite young in itself. Once in a while, both friends liked sharing lunch outside; far from a noisy and rather impersonal BPD, cold offices.

As if to remember that days weren't drawn to murders and suspicious deaths only.

"Do you have anything planned on Saturday evening?"

The question seemed to take Jane aback; almost as if it had sounded incongruous enough. But as the seconds passed by, the brunette squinted her eyes at her friend; trying to read through such a remark.

"I already told you that I wouldn't try Bikram yoga on Saturday night. It's worse than speed dating. If that's ever possible..."

Maura giggled – rolled her eyes – and pouted at the detective's obviously sarcastic answer. If the group of students hadn't been loud, she would have probably forgotten about it but there she was, now.

"I was more thinking about a bar. Actually, Cailin was thinking about a bar. She wants to invite us to spend the night out with her and a few friends."

Hard to say that Jane wasn't surprised by the offer – just as the scientist had been in the morning when her sister had advanced the idea – but glad enough, she ended up nodding.

"Why not. They'd better not make me feel too old, though. How is it going between the two of you, by the way? Ma' told me that you had gone wild again last evening."

Maura made a face. Of course she could count on Angela to make a daily report about that odd cohabitation going on at her place. Growing uncomfortable, the medical examiner began to move around on her seat.

"My house has turned into a sorority place. Or the brand new bar everyone has to try, I am not too sure. I would have never imagined that someone could actually know so many people nor trash it all around within such a short amount of time."

An amused smile played on Jane's lips. With the case going on, she hadn't had much time lately to stop by Beacon Hill; except for a dinner or two, and yet it was to study medical procedures.

"Are you jealous of Cailin because she has friends and you didn't at her age?"

Maura scoffed, obviously offended. She gulped down whatever was left of her glass of wine and folded her napkin by her empty plate.

"We are simply different, extremely different... To the point it is hard to believe that we are related, in the end."

...

"After a phase of observation which conclusions turned out to be positive, we agree on launching the "Jane and Maura Mission" which main purpose – beyond a psychological and an experimental angle – is the pursue of happiness between these two subjects. Our dedication to the case will be full and meticulous. At no moment will we abandon the project that will only be seen as over once Jane and Maura commit to each other."

The young blonde looked up from the iPad at Cailin and Megan sat in front of her and shook her head; smiling brightly.

"You. Are. Just. Crazy."

Sipping on their respective lattes, Cailin and Megan laughed before exchanging a well knowing look. Hope's daughter spoke first; ready to present the arguments she had built in her head for quite a long time already.

"They are made for each other, like you have no idea. It's obvious. I give you five minutes with them for you to notice it. They're so wasting their life, right now. I mean... Since I've been living with my sister, I've realized many things about her: she's so lonely and looks so lost. All the time but when Jane is around. Even the stuff she says about her "friend". It's... It betrays her."

Molly – the blonde girl – frowned. She didn't look convinced yet rather amused by her friend's odd project.

"What about Jane? Are you sure it's mutual?"

Cailin chuckled. As much as she still had to get closer to the detective in order to prepare her plan to the perfection, she felt confident enough. Megan sighed loudly then rolled her eyes.

"They're in love with each other. They just don't know it yet. Perfect object of study for my behavioral lecture. These two are basically married already. The only thing missing is the sexual character of their oh so symbiotic relation."

Molly rose her hands in the air – in a sign of abdication – and looked down at the iPad on which the pact that her two friends had signed had been typed in detail. The "Jane and Maura Mission", as they had named it.

"Goal 1: the bar...?"

Cailin nodded but let Megan answer. After all, she was the one who studied psychology; these phases supposed to bring her sister and Jane together had been elaborated by the one who knew the most about human behaviors and such.

"We're taking them to Sister Sorel although they only know we're going out."

Molly choked on her coffee – coughed loudly – and tried to restrain her laugh. Perhaps, this pact would be a lot funnier than what she had assumed in the first place.

"You're taking them to a gay bar?!"

Grabbing back her iPad to open a new window with a very detailed plan, Cailin nodded and with all the seriousness in the world, tended back the device to her friend.

"Yes, we take them to a gay bar. And... This is basically when we need you in the picture."