Chapter 6

Jane's exterior may not have shown any indication of a reaction but inside she was reeling. All of the photos and information were overwhelming her senses and she was having trouble thinking. Breathing. Being. She had thought many things about her father. Most of them not pleasant over the last few years. But she never thought he would have been capable of any of the things that were in the file on the table.

But it was him. Over and over and over again. The Feds were thorough in their investigation. Their surveillance of Ramos and Montoya had given them plenty of opportunities to snap action shots of Frank. It was right in front of Jane and there was no denying how compelling the photos were. The Feds had pictures of Frank helping to load a van with what was most likely cocaine. And photos of Frank driving the loaded van off into the sunset. It was all there. Somehow, through some perverse joke being played upon the Rizzoli family, her father had become a drug trafficker.

That fact alone was almost more than Jane could handle in the moment. She needed some time. Time to think. Time to read for herself what Frank had been up to in the last two years. Time to decide how she would react to everything. Time to figure out what she should or shouldn't tell the rest of the family. But mostly time to think. She needed space and to be away from the Special Agent now sitting across from her.

She knew it was not Nixon's fault that all of this was happening but she was starting to feel the resentment towards him. He had just rocked her world and she didn't appreciate it. She was also serious when she asked if they had considered whether she even wanted to help them. Or help Frank. She didn't know. Her instinct in that moment was that if this was all true he was a drug trafficker and deserved to have the book thrown at him. But that was just her first reaction. She didn't know if it was the right one.

Jane had spent her entire life trying to protect the world, or at least her little piece of it, from the evils of people like Carlos Montoya. She had almost lost her life several times in that noble pursuit. Was she really looking at a situation in which she was now going to have to protect that same piece of the world from her father of all people?

Breaking her silence Jane looked at Nixon. "I need some time."

Nixon nodded. "I understand. Take the file home with you. Read it. I only ask that you not share that information with anyone at this time. There are some extremely case sensitive details in that file."

Jane nodded. "Trust me. I don't want this information getting out."

Nixon pushed himself back from the table and stood up. "Detective, I understand you need to really go through all of this and I will give you the time to do just that. But, I am functioning under a deadline here. I'm set to fly back to Miami tomorrow night. I'd like you to join me. I will need the file returned to me by 3:00 PM tomorrow. And I will need your answer at that time."

Jane was quiet but nodded her understanding of what Nixon was trying to say.

"Detective, I will understand your decision. Either way. Once again, it may sound a bit hollow but I am truly sorry we had to meet under these circumstances. Gabe has always spoken very highly of you. I had hoped to meet you when we both would be able to enjoy the circumstances."

He again extended his hand to her. And again, she did not take it. She did however stand up. "Agent Nixon, I wish I could say it has been a pleasure but under the circumstances I believe you will understand why I can't."

Nixon nodded and withdrew his hand. "3:00 tomorrow. I'm staying at the Marriot on State Street. I will be there until I have to head to the airfield. I hope that is sufficient time for you to read through everything and decide what you are or aren't willing to do." He pulled out his business card and handed it over to Jane. "If you have any questions that can't be answered from what is in that file, please don't hesitate to call me. I will be as truthful with you as I can be." And with that, Special Agent Mark Nixon walked out of the café leaving behind a very confused Boston homicide detective.

R&I

Jane stayed at the café for a few more minutes primarily to compose herself. She finished her coffee but found she couldn't open the file to read through everything. She didn't want to be in public to do that. She needed to go home and be in an environment that felt safe before she could go through the file in its entirety. So she finished the coffee, grabbed the file and headed back to the station. She needed to get one thing from her desk and she would then head home.

With her mind still racing she absently walked back to the station and into the lobby. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't hear the voice off to her right shouting her name.

"Jane?"

In fact, she never would have heard it if it hadn't been for Officer Reynolds.

"Excuse me Detective, but I do believe your mother is calling for you," was the first thing Jane really heard. She looked up confused at the lobby desk officer who was pointing over to the café. Jane turned her head and Angela was attempting to get her attention from behind the counter.

"Oh….thanks," she said and walked over to the café. I should have taken the service entrance! Jane chastised herself for just walking in the front door. She didn't want to see her mother right now. She put a death grip on the FBI file in her hand and headed over to see what her mother needed.

"Janie! I was shouting at you. Didn't you hear me?" asked the Rizzoli matriarch.

"No Ma, I guess I didn't. Sorry. Did you need something?" Jane was doing everything she could to avoid eye contact and a long conversation with her mother.

"Not really. It's just that you usually stop by first thing in the morning for coffee and I didn't see you."

"I had an early meeting with Cavanaugh. Sorry Ma. I have to get something upstairs. I'll catch up with you later, ok?"

"Sure," Angela said but paused before releasing her daughter's attention. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, why?" Jane tried to be as nonchalant as possible.

"You look a little pale. Are you feeling alright?" Angela was already stepping forward with her hand extended to feel Jane's forehead. It was a simple gesture. So motherly. So Angela. It almost broke Jane.

She struggled to keep her composure. "I'm fine Ma." But she stepped back from her as she said it. "I'm sorry but I am in a bit of a rush. I'll talk with you later."

Angela nodded and wasn't at all convinced that there wasn't an issue. But she knew better than to push Jane, especially at work. "Alright. Call me later tonight."

Jane simply nodded knowing full well that she would not be making a call to her mother tonight. She headed back to the elevators and hoped she wouldn't encounter anyone else before she could get out of the station.

Her hopes were not meant to be answered on this day of days. For as soon as she stepped off the elevator on her floor she saw that both Frost and Korsak were at their desks. She was batting a thousand so far. She slowly made the walk up to her desk silently cursing herself for not just taking a cab back to her apartment to avoid everyone.

"Jane, what is going on?" Korsak asked first seeing her a split second before Frost did.

"Cavanaugh just told us you are temporarily being reassigned to a FBI investigation. What gives?" This coming from Frost.

"It's nothing guys," she tried to deflect but even she knew that wasn't going to be sufficient for either of her partners.

"Jane…"

"Sorry guys but it's a confidential matter. I've been asked not to discuss it. With anyone. So please, do me a favor and don't ask me what I can't answer."

Both Frost and Korsak were a little taken aback. Normally Jane ignored confidentiality requests with them. But both were also struck by the look on Jane's face. Neither could miss the fact that something was troubling their partner and friend.

"Uhh, sure Jane. We won't push. If you need any help all you need to do it ask though," Korsak offered. The sincerity behind his words touched Jane. She looked from Korsak to Frost and knew Frost felt the exact same. The three of them were really all partners. Each willing to do anything the other would need. But she couldn't bring them into this.

"Thanks, both of you." She really didn't know what else to say.

She approached her desk and riffled through a drawer for a faded, used notebook. It was shoved all the way in the back of her desk and she knew Frost noticed how deep into her desk she was digging. But Frost being Frost didn't say anything. Jane took the notebook and the FBI folder and turned to leave.

"You want to get a drink tonight Jane? We won't talk about the investigation," asked Frost.

"Thanks, but I don't think so. Another time. I have to go," she said and was a little surprised at the sadness she heard in her own voice. She knew they both would pick up on it. She really needed to get out of the building. She had already run into her mother and her partners. She couldn't handle seeing her brother or Maura.

"Any idea how long you will be designated for assignment?" asked Korsak.

"Not long. I'm not needed for anything major. I'll wrap this up as fast as I can," she said and forced a smile. Both Frost and Korsak nodded back. And with that she headed for the elevators and went straight down to the garage. She needed to get out of the building.

R&I

Jane made it all the way home before getting a text from Maura. She wondered who cracked first: Korsak or Frost. Her bet was Vince. He no doubt knew something was off and his instinct would be to find out if Maura knew what was going on. Frost undoubtedly wouldn't have asked Maura until the following morning.

Where are you? M

She knew Maura was expecting her to stop by the morgue after the Cavanaugh meeting. She failed to do that and if Korsak was asking questions Maura would start to piece things together.

Home at the moment. J

It was easier to not tell Angela, Korsak and Frost about what had happened this morning. It was going to be harder to not tell Maura.

Are you ok? M

Really hard not to tell Maura.

I'm fine. I've been designated for a federal assignment. Lt is letting me work from home. J

That was probably telling her too much because Maura wouldn't stop asking questions about the meeting until she had answers that satisfied her natural curiosity.

Your mother said she thought you were getting sick. M

So it was Angela. Jane probably should have known Angela would have asked Maura if she had been feeling alright

I'm fine. J

It was too short of an answer and she regretted sending it as soon as she hit send.

What's going on Jane? M

Damn it! Jane cursed at her phone the minute the phone beeped Maura's message. This was what she was trying to avoid. She was terrible at keeping things from Maura. She needed to end this chat before she slipped up and tipped off Maura any further.

I was on my way out. I'll talk to you later. Sorry. J

She always felt guilty when she gave Maura any kind of brush off. But she just wasn't ready to bring her into all of this. Not yet. Jane held her breath waiting to see if Maura would let her off the hook.

Later then. M

Jane released the breath she was holding. That was as good as she could ask for considering the circumstances. In a matter of a few interactions with people she managed to alert four people that there was something going on. She was going to have to do better than that if she was going to keep this from everyone.

She walked to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. Part of her wanted something stronger but she didn't want to start down that road. She needed a clear mind. She needed to be able to fully concentrate on the details that were packed into the file Nixon let her have for the night. She knew she would read the file cover to cover. Even if it was the last thing she wanted to do.