Chapter 4
Hoyt noticed Jane watching; he froze for just a second. He wanted to catch her attention but not in a roomful of people. He wanted to get the jump on her, the element of surprise and be able to have his way with her. Too many people in a room made Hoyt nervous.
Jane saw Crowe standing close to Hoyt and moved over to him. She stopped next to Hoyt. "Hey, Fitzgerald, I'm glad you could make it," she clapped Hoyt on the shoulder. Hoyt barely nodded his head and looked away. Jane moved over to Crowe and Hoyt backed himself into the farthest corner. His foot kicked something and he looked down. A chunk of his left shoulder fell when Jane greeted him as Fitzgerald. He booted the petrified flesh and bleached bone into a corner and hoped nobody noticed.
"Crowe, thanks for bringing Fitzgerald. I didn't know you had it in you to be nice to something other than yourself," Jane said. Crowe looked at her, confused.
"Rizzoli you been getting too much of the good doctor? I didn't bring anybody. As for Fitzgerald he turned out to be a coward. Doesn't like to dress up for Halloween. He went home to his wife," Crowe replied.
"Oh yeah? Then who's the guy in the corner? He's been plastered to your side for the last couple of hours."
"How the hell should I know? It's your party and guest list Rizzoli."
Jane looked over her shoulder, the other zombie had disappeared. Oh well, she thought probably someone's date. I should introduce myself next time I see him, compliment him on his choice of costume since we match, Jane thought. She picked up an empty peanut bowl and carried it into the kitchen.
Maura placed the last of the hors d'oeuvres on the last clean tray and handed it to Jane. Giving her a solid kiss on the lips she smiled as she asked Jane to carry the tray into the living room and pass it along. Jane glanced at the clock as she rejoined the party. Eleven forty-three. Just seventeen more minutes until they all went home, she thought, and me and Maura can go to bed. Jane's thoughts were momentarily distracted by the vision of undressing Maura from her Elvira costume, otherwise she might have noticed her twin zombie entering their bedroom. None of their friends were ever welcome in their bedroom. It was Jane and Maura's private sanctuary.
Maura carried in the last of the wine bottles and opened them to breathe. She had no doubt the wine would be gone in a quick second. She stifled a yawn and smiled to herself as she watched her zombie pass the tray around. Maura briefly gave herself over to a daydream of her undressing Jane. Unwrapping her most likely, she thought and giggled. Frost held out his hand to dance and Maura accepted. Jane passed the tray much quicker and went over to cut in on Frost. No one danced with Jane Rizzoli's girl but Jane.
Hoyt wandered the hallways to get his bearings. He returned to the bedroom and opened the closet door. He fit right inside and left the door slightly ajar so he could watch. His skin began to crawl when he realized he might end up watching Jane and Maura undress each other. He looked down, a large piece of skin was hanging off his chest. He peeled it off and put it in his pocket. He wondered how many Halloweens he had before he disappeared in a cloud of dust.
Jane twirled Maura around one more time then pulled her close. Murmuring in Maura's ear, she asked, "how much longer before we can kick these idiots out of here?" Maura playfully slapped Jane. "I don't kick guest out, Jane. We can move them along but I refuse to be rude in my own home." Jane pulled Maura closer and breathed in her ear. Maura shuddered. "On the other hand, we don't want them so drunk they can't get themselves home. I'll go brew a pot of coffee so we can sober up anyone who needs to drive home."
Frost sidled up to Jane when Maura went into the kitchen. "Hey, Jane, you know that other zombie that's here? I think I saw him going down your hallway and into the bedroom. Might want to check that out."
"Thanks, Frost, I will," Jane replied. She headed down the hallway, afraid to find a drunken guest passed out on their bed. I'll rip his arms off if he is, Jane thought heatedly. Jane entered their bedroom and looked around.
Huh, not here, she thought. She was just about to turn and go farther down the hallway when she heard a familiar voice.
"Hello, Jane." She shuddered. Damn, even on Halloween I'm hearing Hoyt's voice, Jane thought.
"Never thought you'd see my again?" Hoyt said. Jane stopped, turned and stared hard at the zombie. She opened her mouth to scream. Hoyt managed to lift his arm and clamp a hand over Jane's mouth. She shuddered at the dusty, chalk smell and taste his hand left in her mouth.
"I came by to wish you a happy Halloween, Jane," Hoyt whispered in her face. Jane's eyes were glued to Hoyt's face. "I believe the terminology is trick or treat, Jane, but I'll spare you the expense of candy. You're my treat, Dr. Isles' trick."
"Don't you touch her, Hoyt," Jane managed to eek out around his hand. Why did that expression sound familiar to her? Jane thought, then remembered the day she killed Hoyt.
"You're dead, why am I worrying about you? Who put you up to this? Crowe? He's one sick bastard. I need to tell him that," Jane said. She reached up to remove the hand from her mouth but a couple of fingers snapped off instead. Jane stared at the zombie before her, in horror. Could it be…? She wondered. No, no, she shook her head. It's not possible. This is someone's costume with papier-mâché fingers to scare her with.
"I'm not a figment of your imagination, Jane. Let me prove myself. Remember when I was in the prison infirmary and I showed you my reading material? How many of your friends and colleagues did you share that with, Detective? Anyone? No? Hmm, then I really must be Charles Hoyt."
Jane's brain just didn't want to comprehend the return of Charles Hoyt, and on Halloween of all holidays.
"Wait, I saw you earlier, at the station. You're just someone in a very realistic costume. You can't be Hoyt, he's dead."
"On Halloween, Jane, the dead can return to life for twenty-four hours. You saw me earlier as I was leaving the cemetery. I stopped by the station to see you, Jane, but you didn't have time for me. I followed you."
"If you're Hoyt then you're returning to your grave right now. If you're someone else you might wish to leave now because when I get done with you you'll wish you were dead or that you went to someone else's party."
"Leave Dr. Isles' party before I paid my respects to the hostess? I don't want to be rude, Jane. Let me call her in here," Hoyt said. He turned to the bedroom doorway. Looking back at Jane he called out to Maura. In a perfect imitation of Jane's voice he called to Maura. "Maura, honey, can you come into the bedroom for a moment? I want to show you something." Jane stared at Hoyt, in horror. She believed now. Hoyt watched Jane's face for her expression then chuckled as he realized she believed in his resurrection.
Maura appeared in the doorway, her face slightly red. "Jane, I can't join you in the bedroom now, we have guests. I-" Maura was cut off as she noticed movement by the closet door. Hoyt reached out and grabbed her before Jane could stop him.
"Hello, Dr. Isles, we meet again."
"My but you have the voice down perfect," Maura complimented the zombie. Hoyt reached forward and grabbed her by the throat. Maura looked at the zombie in confusion.
"Maura, be careful," Jane managed to say. She was rooted to the spot. "It's Hoyt."
"Hoyt's dead, Jane. One of our colleagues is playing a very gruesome joke," Maura managed to choke out. The pressure on her throat was getting unbearable. Jane still couldn't move.
"He called you in the room, Maura, imitating my voice."
"A lot of people can be ventriloquists. It doesn't mean he's Hoyt."
"Remember what I told you when I taped you down to your autopsy table, Dr. Isles? More things about how I know you and I are a lot alike. I was well on the way to making a believer out of you, Dr. Isles, when Jane showed up and killed me. By the way, I have a wonderful method of using a scalpel. Shall I demonstrate?" A scalpel suddenly appeared in Hoyt's hands. He placed the tip on Dr. Isles' throat, imagining placing a matching slit on Jane's throat.
"Only now, maybe I can finish what I started that day," Hoyt said.
"NO!" Jane finally found her voice and managed to move her feet. She lunged at Hoyt and grabbed his shoulder. A chunk of decaying flesh fell to her feet. Hoyt was still holding Maura by the throat. Only now he was openly laughing at Jane. Jane looked at Maura; she could see Maura was terrified and getting more so by the moment.
"Maybe being a zombie is a good thing, Jane," Hoyt said. He shuffled toward the door, pulling Maura with him.
Jane ran over to Maura, thinking she could pull the doctor away from Hoyt's grasp, counting on his decaying flesh to prevent him from putting too much pressure in his grip. No luck. Hoyt's fingers were locked on Maura's arm. Jane didn't want to pull on Maura too much and hurt her so she let go.
"Good idea, Detective Rizzoli."
"Wait, Hoyt, you always wanted me. Why are you taking Maura?"
"Because taking her is the best way to get back at you. Why do you think I kidnapped her before? I used her to get to you, Jane, and now I'm back for my ultimate revenge. Dr. Isles is going to pay the price for knowing you, Jane." Hoyt pulled Maura from the room and started down the hallway. Jane saw tears start to make their way down Maura's cheeks but she knew the doctor wouldn't give in and start openly crying in front of Hoyt.
Jane quickly ran over to her bedside table and pulled out her service weapon. She didn't know if she could shoot and kill Hoyt a second time, she wasn't certain how bullets worked on zombies but she had to try.
"Stop, Hoyt!" Jane called out. Hoyt chuckled and didn't stop. Jane watched Hoyt pull Maura down the hallway and enter the living room. She aimed carefully and fired once. The bullet, aimed low to keep Maura as safe as possible, ripped through Hoyt's pants. Part of his foot and lower leg landed in the corner. Hoyt continued with Maura.
Jane racked her brain for how to foil zombies. Fire! She thought. Where did Maura keep matches? She wondered frantically. As the three of them entered the living room Jane's gaze fell on the fireplace. She ran over there, quickly.
"Hey, Jane, want to play a game of charades, Halloween style?" Frankie asked.
"Already doing that, little brother," she answered breathlessly. Jane picked up the flameless fire starter and headed back over to Hoyt. Maura was starting to hiccup, she was so upset.
"Take that you zombie," Jane hissed as she leaned forward and touched the blue flame to Hoyt's shoulder. Hoyt looked teasingly at Jane then screamed as a small flame started up his back. Jane ran around and grabbed Maura as Hoyt released her to attempt to bat out the flames.
"Here, let me help you with that," Korsak said. He reached over to the zombie guest and helped him beat out a small fire on his costume. "Maybe next year you should look into a flame retardant costume," Korsak continued. The zombie just stared at Korsak.
"Are you okay? Did the fire do more than just singe your clothes?" the senior detective asked. Jane wanted to scream in frustration. She wanted Hoyt in a small pile of ashes. The zombie looked back at Korsak, nodded his thanks and shuffled off.
Jane kept an eye on Hoyt as she tried to catch Korsak's eye but he turned back to the other guests. "Korsak's been dancing with your mother, Jane," Maura said. "He probably didn't recognize Hoyt."
"Probably not. Hell, I didn't recognize him even as he was telling me who he was." Hoyt was by the front door. Jane struggled to get through the guests milling about, preventing Hoyt from getting away. She was determined to put him out of their lives forever.
Just like I thought I did last time, she thought grimly. Hoyt reached the front door and stepped out. Jane was right behind him.
Hoyt stumbled down the front steps. Jane followed, reaching out and trying to re-light his clothes on fire. He managed to dance out of her way.
Just then Jane and Maura heard their guests call out that it was midnight. Jane turned back to Hoyt, only she didn't see anyone in front of her. She glanced down at the fire starter in her hand. She looked at Maura, confused.
"What am I doing out here with this? I could accidentally start a fire," Jane said. She turned off the blue flame and followed Maura back inside. She had a vague recollection of an unruly guest who had to be coaxed to leave but couldn't remember who he was.
Reaching the cemetery just at the very last stroke of midnight Hoyt climbed back into his coffin. He heard the young cheerleader yawn as she asked him if he enjoyed his annual foray back into the world. He chuckled.
"I'll tell you about it after my nap. Wake me after Christmas," he said and fell asleep.
The End
Hope you enjoyed it. Just a little delayed Halloween humor for our girls.