8 months. It had been 8 months since that damn detective had stuck her nose into their plans and things had gone wrong. 8 months of waiting in the shadows, biding time. 8 months to line up the next sinners. 8 months knowing there was more work to be done and not being able to do anything about it. But soon. Soon the world would know the wrath of God again. His source had told him that the trail had gone cold. The files laid untouched on someone's desk as the crime in Boston continued. Luckily these last 8 months had given them time to refine their methods and the path was now clear. It was time to come out of the shadows.
It had been too easy. They never even cast a glance in the direction of the shadow lurking in the alley. The door had already been tampered with so that when they entered the latch wouldn't catch. It made him sick watching them parade around in public. How a man could have sunk so low, he would never understand. It filled him with rage as he climbed the stairs slowly to their 4th floor apartment. His flexed his fingers into fists as anger coursed through him. He would make them pay, they would see.
He stopped at the landing making sure the hallway was clear as he slipped his gloves on. The elevator took 42 seconds to reach their floor, which meant they were already in their apartment.
He slipped down the hallway to the door. The tape over the knock out held and the door had not latched, but closed making it look secure. He paused and waited to see if he could hear them. With no noise coming from the apartment he slowly crept in. The lights were out except for the one coming from behind the bedroom door. He silently pulled out his gun and the silencer he'd made himself and quickly attached them together. He turned the handle and took a deep breath. He moved into the bedroom and quickly searched out the blond standing in the bathroom brushing his teeth. This was going to be easier then he thought he mused.
The blond glanced up, catching the intruders reflection in the mirror, a look of horror crossing his face a second before his life ended. The shattering glass alerted the man laying in bed, and as he stood to check on his partner, the intruder stood from his crouched position.
"Who are you?"
The intruder smirked and raised the gun. "I'm the angel of death. I'm here to send you to hell."
Maura stood in the kitchen looking out the bay window onto the street below. She'd been all to willing to move out of her Beacon Hill home after her and Laryssa had married. Angela had convinced her not to sell the home yet as she worried she would regret the move later on down the road and had offered to rent the home from Maura. Maura couldn't visit Angela for too long in her home. It brought too many memories of Jane. Maura shuttered as she thought of the bodies laying in her morgue. The killer who had taken Jane from her was active again. Her dreams had been filled with Jane. Maura felt immeasurable guilt over the happiness the dream brought her. Jane's laugh, her smile, her gorgeous long black hair, her incessant teasing. Maura had awoken that morning and felt a sudden layer of guilt blanket her as she'd awoken to see Laryssa sleeping peacefully next to her. Her guilt had lead her out of bed an hour earlier then normal and had landed her in the window seat with strong coffee and her thoughts. Maura knew she was happy. Laryssa listened to her, respected her, loved her and she even understood her. But it was a different relationship from the one she had shared with Jane and she worried Laryssa knew it. Another reason Maura felt a ting of guilt.
She couldn't stop the thoughts of Jane from intruding into her brain since the grizzly discovery of the two bodies the day before. The tell tall sign of their serial killer was painted on the wall above the victim. "Redemption" had been crudely written in the victims blood above the body. It had struck Maura as odd that only one victim was mutilated and the other victims blood had been used in the writing of the word. It was the progression in the killers technic and subsequent psyche that had gotten Laryssa involved and Maura was on edge. They would both be on the BPD task force constructed with the sole purpose of catching the redemption killer.
Laryssa awoke to find Maura already out of bed and the smell of coffee permeating the air. She knew the doctor hadn't slept well and had figured there would be an issue or two with the case they were working as it was the killer who had killed her best friend the year before. Laryssa also suspected Maura was not pleased with her accepting being apart of the task force. They had talked until late in the evening about the dangers. Laryssa laid back and let her mind drift to the day before.
She knew her day was going to be different when Jess had met her in the foyer of the building.
"Morning sis... We have a last minute appointment waiting in your office." Jess explained.
"Who?"
"I only got one card, she's with the FBI. The other is a detective with BPD." Jess shrugged as she dispensed what little info she had.
"Okay. Call my 8 o'clock and tell her that we are pushing back a half hour," Laryssa paused as the reached the elevator. They stood in silence as they rode up the four floors and exited the elevator. Laryssa turned as she reached her office door, "hold all my calls and if Maura calls, tell her I'll call her back as soon as I'm done."
Jess nodded and gave her a thumbs up as Laryssa entered her office. The two residing in her office, stood and turned to greet the Doctor. She'd recognized them both, one from news paper clippings and the other from Sunday dinners.
"Dr. White. Good morning." Korsak greeted his colleagues wife with a warm but guarded smile.
" Lieutenant Korsak, good morning. Always a pleasure to see you," Laryssa smiled as she reached out to shake his hand.
"Sorry to barge in on you this morning. This is Agent Ashley Black with the FBI. We've had a development in a case and we'd like to get your help on it." Korsak said as the Agent and Doctor shook hands.
"Of course, I'll answer any questions I can. Please sit down. Would you like some coffee?"
After getting the coffee orders and sending Jess to retrieve them, the door closed and everyone seated, Korsak cleared his throat and leaned forward slightly.
"Doctor White, we've come to contract you to work directly with our task force we are creating to capture a serial killer. We will need you to create a psychological profile for our UNSUB and work directly with our detectives and the FBI."
Laryssa nodded her head and reached for her pad of paper as she asked, "is this an established serial killer or someone who is just starting?"
Korsak and Agent Black exchanged looks and Korsak nodded slightly towards the agent.
"Doctor, the killer we are looking for is the same one who killed Detective Rizzoli eight months ago." The Agent paused and watched the Doctors face. Recognition passed across her face as well as an slight downward angling of her eyebrows. The Agent thought it odd that something akin to anger passed across the Doctors face. She logged it away as a reaction to the doctors wife's strong relationship with the deceased detective and watched as the doctor replaced any emotion with a calm façade and nodded.
"He's active again then?" Laryssa asked meeting the Agents eyes across the desk.
"As of last night, the Redemption killer has activated again, yes."
"Maura…." Laryssa whispered as she consciously placed her hand on her pocket over her cell phone, instinctively thinking of calling her wife to check on her.
"Doctor Isles is currently working on the autopsies and will have a preliminary with in the next few hours. She has been asked to be apart of the task force as well." Korsak stated in a reassuring tone, making eye contact with Laryssa. Laryssa nodded. Maura was safe at the precinct and She exhaled the breath she didn't realize she was holding.
"Doctor, we will be setting up a command center at BPD. I understand you have a thriving practice here, but we will need you fairly often to lend your professional assessments. We will have a space for you to come and work, and we've asked everyone to keep all copies of case files at the station in an effort to stay out in front of the media on this. We have a few trademarks to the killings that the public doesn't know and we'd like to keep it that way as long as possible as to avoid any copy cats."
"I understand. I still have clients I need to see, but majority of them we can work around my schedule as it is needed. I can even have my brother step in on a few and that way I can free up some more time if needs be."
"We appreciate that Doctor. We would like to have a joint meeting with everyone involved tomorrow morning at 9. We can have all the files copied and ready for you before the meeting if you'd like to start before. We don't want to take too much of your time this morning, but I'd like to have a sit down tomorrow after the meeting and get some initial thoughts." The agent stood and Korsak followed. Laryssa stood and ushered them towards the door as it opened.
"I apologize…. I…. Lyssa, here are your coffees and your 8 o'clock is waiting, not so patiently might I add…" Jessica stammered as she held out the tray of coffees, clearly having been startled by them at the door.
"We apologize, we were just leaving," the agent said as she took the tray of drinks. "Thank you."
The Agent handed Korsak his drink and took hers as they headed towards the front desk on their way out. She paused and turned to thank the doctor and shake hands.
"I'll be there at 8 to get a head start before the meeting." Laryssa stated as they shook hands.
"That will work. See you then. Thank you Doctor."
As the Detective and Agent passed the reception desk on their way to the elevator, the FBI agent paused at the desk, "Thanks again for the coffee," she smiled and nodded at Jess in passing. Jess smiled and shrugged her shoulders as if to say 'no problem' and gave a small laugh when the agents smile grew and she winked at the receptionist.
Laryssa smiled and rolled her eyes at her sister. She laughed as she turned to Ms. Roberts and apologized for the delay and that she would be ready for her in just a minute. Laryssa turned to Jess and motioned with her head towards her office. The grin Jess had sported for the Agent still plastered on her face as she stood and headed towards the office. She was a flirt and Laryssa had seen many a men and women fall prey to her sisters charm. As the door closed Laryssa chuckled as she turned to her little sister.
"Really?"
"What?" Jessica shrugged and smiled at her sister. "Seriously… What?!"
"You just can't help yourself can you?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Jess fringed innocence as she sat her sisters coffee down on the desk.
"You're helpless!"Laryssa laughed as she nudged her sisters shoulder.
They shared a small giggle and Jess was the first to sober as she turned to Laryssa and asked, "Everything okay?"
Laryssa nodded solemnly, "I've been asked to work on a special task force. We are going to have to do a lot of adjusting on my schedule later. Let's do lunch in the office and take care of the next few days. By then I'll have an idea as to how much I'll be needed at headquarters."
"I'll start going over it now and hopefully we won't have to stay too late tonight." Jess said as she moved towards the door.
"Thanks Jess. I appreciate all your help."
"That's what I'm here for sister!" Jess said as she gave a small salute and closed the office door.
The day progressed with her normal clients and she was all to happy when Maura texted and said she'd be meeting her at the office after her last appointment to take them all to dinner. It'd been a long day and Laryssa was feeling anxious to talk with Maura about the task force and how she was feeling about the latest developments in the case that had resulted in her best friend being killed.
Lunch proved to be fruitful and they managed to rearrange Laryssa schedule and pass off a few new clients to her brother. When Laryssa told Jess to expect Maura and that they would all be heading out to dinner together, Laryssa laughed out loud when Jess asked if perhaps Maura could bring the hot agent from earlier with her. Laryssa rolled her eyes and threw her napkin at her baby sister and teasingly told her she could accompany her in the morning to BPD if she was serious about seeing said agent again. Jess was all too eager to accept the offer and the two laughed. They enjoyed the rest of their lunch talking about Jess's many exploits and her antics with her latest failed attempt at a relationship.
The alarm sounding stirred Laryssa from her memory and she rolled over to flick the annoying sound off. She slowly got up and wrapped herself in her favorite robe and headed down the stairs. She turned the corner and stopped in her tracks as she noticed Maura sitting in the bay window lost in thought. It was moments like this that Laryssa knew she'd made the right decision, taking the leap that morning in the Caribbean and married Maura. Maura sat in sweats and a old t-shirt, back lit by the rising sun, the sun illuminating the red undertones in her hair. She looked to be glowing, but yet the creases in her forehead let on that she was deep in thought. Laryssa leaned against the door jam and enjoyed watching the doctor concentrate and slowly sip from her mug for a few minutes before approaching slowly and laying her hand on Maura's shoulder. Maura instinctively reached for the hand on her should and leaned her head to lightly kiss the palm.
"Morning love." Laryssa whisper behind Maura's ear as she leaned down and kissed Maura. Her lips were warm from the rising sun and Laryssa smiled as Maura kissed her again. Laryssa pulled back and met Maura's eyes. She saw regret flick across the ME's eyes as she broke eye contact and looked at her hands in her lap. Laryssa sat down next to Maura as she lifted Maura's chin up to meet her eyes.
"what's going through that beautiful head of yours?" Laryssa implored, silently searching Maura's eyes.
"Guilt."
Laryssa paused as she let the single word sink in. She told her mind not to run with the one worded answer and to hear Maura out.
Maura saw the concern flood her wife's face and immediately regretted not saying more. But where to start?
"Laryssa… I… I don't mean about us. You know I'm happy here with you and that I love you. But with the case bringing up the past, it's been hard for me to compartmentalize my feelings and not feel guilty for having those feelings when I was so deliriously happy just yesterday."
Laryssa signed and nodded her understanding. "Maura, Hun, you should never feel guilty for having feelings. She was your best friend and you loved her. She died and those feeling aren't going to go away any time soon. Don't feel guilty, and don't hide those feelings. Open communication is the only way we are going to work anything out and this isn't something you should feel guilt about." Laryssa smiled and pulled her wife towards her in a tight hug and she kissed her softly on the forehead.
Maura sighed and leaned her body against Laryssa. "I love you. I don't know what I would have done had I not bumped into you that day," she whispered as she gazed out the window.
Laryssa smiled as she kissed Maura's temple. "I love you Maura."
They stayed wrapped up in each others arms for longer then they should have and spent the rest of the morning rushing to get out the door together and off to work. They stopped and grabbed Jessica on their way to BPD. As Jess climbed into the car, Maura turned a questioning gaze towards their passenger.
"Hi Maur!" Jess exclaimed excitedly.
"Morning Jess…" Maura trailed off as she took in Jess's outfit. A black pencil skirt, matching black pumps, a salmon colored button up, only buttoned up half way, leaving way too much cleavage exposed, a black vest and a low hanging necklace, drawing even more attention to Jess's cleavage, finished off the outfit. Jess laughed as Maura finished looking her over and their eyes met.
"Maura… You do know you're married to my sister, don't you?" Jess teased, giving Maura a wink.
Laryssa laughed from the drivers seat and turned to see Maura flush slightly. She laughed harder when Maura turned and looked as if she'd been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
"…I….," Maura stammered.
Laryssa placed a hand on Maura's thigh. "Don't let her tease you babe. She's only dressed up to impress the FBI agent from yesterday. She's got her sights set on this months flavor."
Maura smiled and intertwined her hand into her wife's. "Well if it doesn't work out with the FBI agent, there will be a line of officers waiting for a chance after she walks through BPD wearing that!"
They all laughed as they made their way towards BPD.
A/N: sorry for the long pause… I got married and that required all my attention! Sorry, not sorry ;)
