CHAPTER FOUR
A/N Thank you guys so much for jumping on this train and taking a ride with me! It's so much fun being able to take these characters anywhere your imagination can go.
Here we are going to learn a little more about Maura and the FBI special assignment and Jane and her own special assignment.
Maura settled in the comfortable leather seat of the private jet and allowed her mind to wander. She kept returning to one particular point in the meeting in Captain Matthews' office. "Dean is a pro. Losing a woman, even to another woman isn't enough to rattle him. That boy is on his way to becoming director of the FBI.
"Dr. Isles, please fasten your safety belt we are preparing to take off." The pilot informed.
"Thank you. Could you tell me where we'll be landing? I assume Agent Dean will have someone waiting to take me to his location." It was imperative that she learn where they were going. Something wasn't settling right with her. The Commissioner had aspirations of higher political offices and the Mayor had his sights set on becoming Governor. Where did Matthews fit in all this?
"We'll be landing at Thurgood Marshall. Enjoy the flight. There are refreshments in the cabinet against the wall just behind you."
"Thank you." So they were headed for Baltimore, MD. More than likely the first meeting would take place at FBI headquarters in Langley, Virginia. From there, it was anyone's guess. At least once she was settled at Langley, she would try to get word to Jane.
"You wanna ride over with me?" Frankie asked dropping onto the sofa next to Jane.
She forced herself to stop wondering where Maura was and what she was doing. Was Maura thinking of her? Missing her? "I'm sorry, Frankie, what did you say?"
"I asked if you wanted to ride to the stakeout with me. " He stood and looked down at his sister with concern. "I'm gonna grab a beer, you want one?"
"I..Frankie, I've been staying at Maura's, there isn't anything in the fridge. I'll run to the store."
A firm hand settled on her shoulder and pushed her back onto the sofa. He gave her a concerned smile and headed to the kitchen. He removed two MGD 64's from the shelf in the door and removed the tops. "I stopped by earlier and put a few necessities in the fridge. Listen, we haven't really talked about before, you know."
Jane took a long drink and looked deep into her brother's teary eyes. She had ran from this conversation for almost a year. Her parents, even Maura, Frost and Korsak had no idea what she had endured. The feelings flooded her and still haunted her at odd moments. Sometimes she would find herself in a daze back in the morgue or on the street. At night she would wake and find herself holding her side trying to keep her life blood from spilling. Frankie had also spilled blood that crazy day. He alone knew exactly what she felt.
"You took that bullet for me."
"Frankie, I…please. That's behind us, we don't have to talk about it. We both survived." Jane finished her beer and stood peeling the label from the bottle.
"I just want to say…"
She threw herself into his arms and buried her face against his neck. "Shhh, that's what big sisters do for little brothers." She stopped talking and let the warmth of his body seep into her. The steady rhythm of his heart beating against her chest soothed the fear raging in her own heart. "You would have done the same thing for me."
"In a heartbeat, Sis. In a heartbeat." Frankie held her close and rubbed his hands over her entire back. He dropped a kiss on the rim of her ear and whispered hoarsely. "Thank you Janie for offering your life for mine. I owe you big time."
Jane gave him a tight hug and took a step back. "Want another beer?" She desperately needed to stop talking about the shooting. They were both alive!
"How about we throw that pizza in the oven for a warm while we enjoy a second and maybe a third beer?"
Jane heated the oven and put the pizza in to warm while Frankie opened beers and chased down paper plates. They sat at the island and enjoyed Moretti's deep dish supreme pizza. Once the entire large pizza and the six pack of beer had been devoured, they returned to the living room and conversation.
"You know this assignment is to keep you from worrying about Maura, right?"
"What about the two murders?" Jane asked remembering the photos of the two dead bodies.
Frankie gave Jane a serious look. "Word on the street has it that the deaths are not gang related, but you didn't hear that from me. Matthews knows you need to work, so make it look good OK?"
"Word from who? Whom. Have you been getting intel from Rondo again?" Jane asked. "Thanks for the heads up. I know you got my back."
"I can't reveal my sources. Just keep your head down and consider this busy work. Consider it an opportunity to study the criminal element up close and personal." Frankie gave her a look and checked his watch. "I'll pick you up at 7. Don't keep me waiting. By the way, Rondo says Hi."
Jane gave him a tight hug and a swift kiss. "Thanks for tonight. See you at 7."
Maura stepped off the jet and into a non-descript government vehicle. She rode in silence already knowing her destination. The pilot confirmed she would be met at the airport and driven to FBI headquarters. He had also let her know that Special Agent Dean had left yesterday for a meeting in Washington, D.C.
"Dr. Isles, please have your ID ready for the guard at the gate." The driver called through the bullet proof partition dividing the front and back seats.
"Welcome back, Dr. Isles." The guard greeted her after returning her ID. "Special Agent Morris is waiting for you in the lobby. A guard will escort you in. Have a pleasant day."
She was being escorted to a secure briefing room by an agent ordered to keep watch on her. Her instincts were screaming that Dean had removed her from Boston for a specific reason. Was that reason Jane? Did he think with Maura out of the way, he could convince Jane that… Her imagination was running away with her. Even before she and Jane began dating, Dean had known Jane didn't have feelings for him.
"Welcome Dr. Isles. I'm Special Agent Rebecca Morris. Follow me please." It was spoken as a command rather than a question. The tall commanding red head lead Jane inside the building and to an impressive briefing room. "Please make yourself comfortable. Agent Willows will be with you shortly."
"Would it be possible to visit the washroom?" Maura asked. After the flight from Boston and the ride from Baltimore she needed to relieve herself. It would also be good to take a quick look around the place.
Half an hour later a distinguished woman in her fifties entered and gave Maura a cheery smile. "I apologize for the wait, Dr. Isles. I'm Special Agent Amanda Willows. I was on the phone with Agent Dean. He was filling me in on your assignment here."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Agent Willows. Please call me Maura." Maura gave her an answering smile and asked. "Will Agent Dean be joining us tomorrow?"
"He sends his apologies and has asked me to sit in for him. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a firm schedule when he will be able to join us." Agent Willows settled herself in the chair at the head of the table and waved Maura into the chair on her left. She opened the file lying in front of her and spent a few minutes reading before giving Maura a penetrating look. "Agent Dean tells me you were able to use facial recognition to solve a case in Boston. I believe, you were instrumental in saving the life of your best friend and her brother."
Maura made the decision to continue playing Dean's game. She needed to know why he had staged this elaborate ruse. He was secure in Washington and she was being held in Langley. It was time to begin gathering intelligence. However, Special Agent Willows was not going to give her much, she would have to bide her time and tread careful so as not to raise suspicion.
"Agent Dean is giving me too much credit."
Agent Willows pushed the file across the table to Maura. "These are the suspected members of the sleeper cell. We have a database available to you with all the known members of al Qaeda and their known sympathizers. Of course, we don't expect you to run every face on your own. A team has been assembled to work with you. Agent Dean has requested that you give a brief seminar on facial recognition to the five agents who will be working with you."
"Are any of the agents familiar with the technology?" Maura asked already knowing the answer.
"Unfortunately no. They are the best in their graduating class. I'm sure you will have them up to speed in no time." Willows checked her watch and stood. "I'm sorry to desert you, but I have a meeting. Agent Morris will see you to your quarters and help you get settled." She offered her hand and gave a firm, but brief shake. "Good to have you with us, Dr. Isles."
"Thank you. I'm sure this will be a memorable assignment for us all."
Maura watched Willows leave and wondered again what Jane was doing and if she had been told of Maura's abrupt departure. "I'll be home soon Baby. Soon."
"Mornin' Jane. You get any sleep at all?" Korsak asked noting the dark circles under her eyes.
"A few hours. Good morning to you also." She settled in Frankie's truck and gave her brother a kiss on his clean shaven cheek. "Say, did either of you read the police report on those two DB's?"
"She just can't stop." Frankie chuckled pulling away from the curb and into traffic. "Yea, I read the report why?"
Jane pulled the crime scene photos from the file along with the coroner's report of autopsy. "If you just look at the photos, it's an easy leap to gang hit. But if you read Maura's report,"
"The male was shot point blank in the heart with a .45." Korsak stated. He had called Sean last night and told him this was not a good goose chase to keep Jane busy. Matthews had brushed aside his worries and told him to keep Jane out of trouble.
"So what's got your radar up, Sis?" Frankie asked pulling into an alley and cutting the motor.
"The female victim was found sitting on the toilet. Her COD was blunt force trauma."
"She was whacked on the back of the head." Korsak offered.
"With what? Maura stated that the blow was consistent with the victims head being thrown against the wall with great force."
"OK, one of the gang smacked her head against the wall. C'mon, Jane what are you getting at?"
"I'm saying this is not gang related. The female victim shot the male. She had GSR on both hands and the bullet recovered form the male matched the .45 registered to the female."
"So who killed her?" Frankie asked already knowing the answer.
"I don't know. But it wasn't a gang member."
Korsak was in the extended cab holding his breath. He exhaled when Jane said she didn't know. Matthews had been smart and removed part of Maura's report. God help them when Jane finally put all the pieces together.
OK, let me know what you think!