AN: Okay first off thank you again for all the sweet PM love and critiques! And I'm trying something different this chapter, introducing another case but doing it like the show first. And it's going to be a in two parts (hence cliffy, not because of the case but because of how dang long the word document was. There will be a long flashback from what is referenced early on this chapter included in the next chapter... Hope you like! And enjoy me using my Cinema major expertise in the new case. Maura's facts are on point, for now and upcoming chapters, as I've interned on a few movies. Please review and critique It keeps me going! And PS. Sorry for the delay was without internet for a while. Also I'm only fluent in Spanish and English so if my French titles suck blame google.
Chapter 4: Film De Mort (Death Film)
Sam Cooper stood on top the white packaging tape, indicating his marker for the scene. He was rocking on his feet, waiting for them to begin shooting. The camera was situation behind him, as they were doing an over the shoulder shot (his back in the lower part of the shot, focus on the actress in front of him), as it was concentrating on Zoe's reaction to his line. It was the fifth time they'd done the scene today and he was already agitated. He wasn't getting paid enough for this, doing the same damn thing over and over. He was an A-lister damnit, and yet here he was in a tiny café in Boston waiting for Zoe to get the wording correct.
He continued to roll on the balls of his feet, still on his marker, waited as makeup did their final touch up on both him and Zoe. They did a continuity check to make sure his stance wouldn't screw up the next shot. If his stance was any difference from before it would ruin the scene.
"Okay guys. Ready?" Eric, the director asked as he sat in his chair behind the screen of the camera.
"Yes we are." Zoe said cheerfully, peering at her marker and making sure she was on cue.
"Let's do it already okay?" Sam said sounding like he wished he had never been bothered with this.
"Alright. Rolling." Eric shouted.
The assistant director shouted out once everyone was in place, "Action!"
"I love you Katie, I just don't…" Sam was saying to Zoe. Zoe's face began to fall, then quickly turned to terror.
"SAM!" Zoe, screamed, seeing the spotlight above him was about to come crashing down on him. She tried to rush to push him away but was to far.
Sam had looked up, staring at the heavy spotlight that was about to hit him hard on his head, and all he could think about was if he would go out as a famous star.
Over the coming weeks Jane and Maura had slowly adapted to their new relationship, keeping things private instead of public, wanting to be sure that they were both comfortable before revealing their new found partnership to their loved ones. It was not fear that caused the stolen kisses, holding of hands, and lingering, but the need to keep each other to themselves for a while.
One particular morning Angela had found them in the kitchen hovering together over fixing breakfast.
"Morning Ma." Jane smiled passed her a mug.
"Making the sleepovers a habit?" She asked pouring herself a coffee.
Jane and Maura exchanged a look. They slept in the same bed. Took showers together, drove together… And now apparently lived together without even realizing it.
"The condo/apartment is having plumbing problems again. The new landlord is great but it's an old building. Korsak has Joe Friday, otherwise he might scare Bass." Jane explained.
"Uh huh. Why are you in Maura's yoga wear?" Angela asked smirking over her cup of coffee.
"I haven't done laundry. Little Rizzoli has been making me sick." Jane countered peering down at how they were much shorter on her, like capri's compared to Maura.
Angela brushed it off, knowing it was a long time coming for these two. Although once they admitted it, she was sure she would have a moment of stress and fear. Catholic raised meant feeling guilt at everything. Angela brushed it aside. The time would come when the two were comfortable.
"Well. We better eat up and change if we want to be in work on time don't we Maura?" Jane felt the uncomfortable all seeing eye of her mother shift between the two of them.
Maura merely smiled and took a bite out of her strawberry, wondering if she should formally ask Jane to move in.
Jane parked her car out front of the precint, despite regulations and Cavanaugh always threatening to tow it.
"Maur-" Jane said as they unbuckled their seat belts.
"What is it Jane?" She asked, not really paying attention. She was switching her black patented Louboutins for a pair of white kitten heeled Ferrigamo's. Jane had dragged her out of the house, saying they were going to be late after Maura stood in front of the closet for 15 minutes, not being able to decide.
"They're just clothing Maura. Pick a top, a bottom and put it on." Jane was feeling was irritated. She had to go out buy larger t-shirts and bra's to hide the small bump that was beginning to form. She had to keep it under wraps for as long as possible, desk duty was not her thing. Plus she knew Ma was hot on her heels about Maura.
"Jane. You know how I feel about how I present myself." Maura huffed scanning her color coordinated closet.
"I'm getting some more toast and if you are not ready when I get back I swear I will pick you up, put you in the car even if you're still in your pajama's.
"You wouldn't dare!" Maura snipped back, her hand hovering over a button up before switching to a silk blouse.
"Try me. Five. minutes Maur. Five."
Maura mentally chuckled recalling the memory. She wanted every morning to be like that with her detective, even if it meant silly arguments. Tonight, she mused she would formally ask her to stay with her.
"I tried to kiss you once." Jane said biting her lip; she had wanted to tell Maura for a while and the words just fell from her mouth.
"What- when?"
"Before you left for boarding school." She turned to her and smiled weakly, Maura looking dumbfounded.
A tapping sound at her car door window interrupted their moment.
"Ms. Vanilla!" Rondo, her CI, was waving and grinning at Jane and nodded to Maura who was still in shock at Jane's revelation.
She shot Maura a glance, and mouthed sorry and got out of the car.
"Ms. Vanilla…. You're looking better and better every time I see you."
"Rondo… What are you doing here?" She asked dumbfounded. "If it's for money, I forgot my wallet at home."
"Woah, woah. Slow down sweetness. I came to see Mrs. Vanilla. She made a bunch of sandwiches for those who can't make it down to the homeless shelter tonight. I'm going to go around and pass them out once it gets dark. It's getting cold, and I asked Mrs. Vanilla for a favor. People shouldn't go hungry and freeze."
Jane smiled and ran a hand through her hair. Oh Rondo…
Maura finally got out of the car, blinking, trying to think of the moment the detective had referenced but was coming up blank. Jane had tried to kiss her in high school?
"However, if you'd be willing to walk around with me Vanilla, your fine assets would warm the hearts of many." He grinned and stuck out his tongue.
Maura actually felt a twinge of jealousy upon hearing that, an emotion she hadn't felt in awhile but brushed it aside. Rondo was always flirting with Jane but was completely harmless.
"Okay, that's enough. Go get those sandwiches before I arrest you for… creepiness. And be nice to Mrs. Vanilla." Jane shook her head at him.
"Always." He saluted her. "Dr. Isles, you are looking lovely today." Rondo nodded his head toward Maura and made his way to District One Cafe.
She smiled kindly at him and placed a hand on Jane's shoulder. Jane looked back.
"So what you were saying earlier?" Maura prompted.
"The night you were leaving and we were saying goodbye-".
Their phones both rang at once. Jane moaned.
"Of all times?"
"Rizzoli."
"Dr. Isles."
"Be right there."
"Heading there now."
"We'll talk about it tonight? I don't want to do it as we drive to a crime scene, not very romantic." Jane suggested to Maura as they stood by the car. She took Maura's hand and kissed her knuckles before breaking the embrace.
"Okay. But why did you tell me in the car before?"
"Just kind of blurted it out." She shrugged climbing back into the drivers seat.
"Oh The Littlest Café!" Maura smiled as they crossed the crime scene tape. "Remember when you took me here the first day we met?"
Jane shot her a smile.
"Yes and while I got a burger and fries you ordered the Chicken Curry. What 15 year old orders the Curry?"
"Me." Maura scrunched up her nose as to how this would even be a question.
"Wait. Wait a minute. Jane this is where they're filming that new romance movie! With Sam Cooper and Zoe Lynn!"
"How on earth do you know that?" Jane asked, as they walked into the café. Movie lights were set up, cameras, set dressing. It looked nothing like the last time they were there six months ago, let alone 20 years when they were in high school.
"Well this is different." She murmured as Maura looked more excited than usual.
"How much do you think they paid to rent out this space?" Jane mused. They were still at the edge of the threshold waiting for Frankie. Frost was out on another case, a possible hit and run, while Korsak was offering backup via tablet.
"At least half a million? Possibly per day." Maura mused, almost dancing with anticipation.
"Maura, why do you look so excited for a dead body?"
"Well, if you must know Jane I was hoping to meet Mr. Cooper and Miss Lynn. They have wonderful acting skills. It is interesting though. These people are being idolized for basically lying for a living."
"Right. Where is Frankie? And where is the director?" She sighed wanting to get a move on. Her feet were aching and she was already hungry again.
As if reading her mind, Maura pulled out a protein bar from her purse.
"I have water too if you want."
"You're the best." She grinned and took a big bite.
"Hey! Hey, I'm here!" Frankie huffed, clearly rushing to be here on time. "And I brought with me Eric Rodriquez. He's the director. Mr. Rodriquez this is Dr. Maura Isles and Detective Jane Rizzoli."
Eric Rodriquez looked like he walked out of a LA magazine. He had on black thick rimmed glasses, slicked black hair, a green t-shirt and white scarf paired with black tight jeans and converse. He towered over Jane, was probably in his forties and definitely not from Boston.
"I wish we were meeting under better circumstances Dr. Isles and Detective Rizzoli."
"What happened?" Jane cut straight to the point.
"Let me show you. Although I don't think we need a detective or an ME, I think it was just a tragic accident." He sighed and lead them to the body.
Jane exchanged a glance with Frankie who shrugged.
Eric showed Maura, Franke and Jane, Sam Cooper who was flat on the floor with a stage light still half on his head.
"What happened?" Maura asked hugging over the body.
"We have it all on tape." Eric pushed his glasses up and heaved a sigh.
"Show us. Maura mind poking around?" Jane asked.
"Of course not." She was already engrossed in the new situation, circling the body and placing down her kit.
Eric brought Jane and Frankie back into the kitchen, where the rest of the cast and crew had hunkered down, even spreading out onto the patio in the back.
"I asked none of them to leave until you arrived." Eric explained at the mass of bodies. Jane had never realized how many it took to create a film.
"I apologize if this sounds insensitive but Mr. Rodriquez, you don't seem that upset." Frankie asked studying the mans face.
"To be honest?" He said as he grabbed his laptop, "He was the one of the most hated individuals on set."
Frankie noticed a Zoe Flynn in the background sobbing and nudged at Jane. Jane nodded back at him and whispered low so he could only here, "we'll get to her."
"Why was he the most hated?" Frankie asked as Eric was pulling up a file.
"He was hard to work with. Got an Emmy and immediately thought he was hot shit. Pardon my language. I've worked with him before and the Emmy changed him. Where is my sparkling water? What time do you expect me?I like to sleep in. You don't have a vegetarian option? Why is there no champagne? That kind of ego."
"That is for sure." Zoe Flynn interrupted, overhearing Eric and had noticed the detective nodding at her. She stifled her cries and wiped away at her eyes. Her mocha face skin was covered in tears, her blue eyes bright and wet, puddles still threatening to pour over.
"Pardon me?" Jane asked looking down on her. She couldn't have been more than 5'2 and was absolutely stunning. She was short but looked strong her long black hair made her eyes pop even more. Her skin tone highlighting the eye color.
"We dated for three years and once he got that goddamn Emmy, he broke up with me and turned into someone I never knew. He had an ego the size of Russia." She answered hand on her hip.
"Why were you working with him now?" Frankie asked.
"It's my big break. As much as I hate it, people flock to Sam's films because of his looks and past films. He's a crowd favorite." She explained wrenching her hands.
"Here detectives look at this." Eric said and showed them the video from earlier where Sam and Zoe were on camera and watched as a light toppled on top of Sam, killing him instantly. Zoe turned away, busing herself with picking lint off her sleeve. She had lived it, no need to see it.
"Looks like an accident to me." Jane said turning to Frankie.
"Same."
Maura shoved through the kitchen doors as soon as the words were out of Frankie's mouth.
"Jane!" She shouted, excited, and a bit sad at the same time.
"Yes Maura?" Puzzled. Maura pulled her and Frankie aside.
She whispered. "It wasn't an accident. The bolts the the lights, they've been tampered with. There is weird marks on the screws. Like someone may have loosened it. Yes it sounds like an assumption," she glared at Jane, knowing she hated guessing,
"but at the moment, I'm ruling Sam Coopers death as suspicious. It may have been an accident, just a tired oversight from an intern or the lighting director, but for now, it's suspicious."
