Armed with a name and a rough sketch, Rizzoli and Frost hit the streets to look for Ashanti. After some digging, they had gained knowledge that Ashanti was a street worker, she'd dance for money or perform oral sex acts. She was well known for being the only street worker who wouldn't sleep with a 'client'.
As the moon climbed higher in the night's sky, the clouds ran from the shadows. The night was clear as clear as the sky itself, a cool breeze swept around the streets but it didn't stop or deter the young girls from coming out. Wearing short skirts, revealing shirts and stilettos, the night workers clung to the street corners in their numbers.
Frost stopped the car every so often and asked the girls if they had seen Ashanti lately, no one co-operated. Two hours in to their search, Frost parked up and went for coffee, he got to the small coffee shop just as the rain began spitting on the grey roads.
Jane sat watching the wind shield spatter and dribble as the rain came down harder; memorised by the night, she jumped as the back door of the car opened. An African American woman got in and slid across the seat until she sat in the middle. "The hell!" Jane spat as she turned to face the woman.
"I'm not looking for tricks. You're the cop looking for Ash right?".
Jane turned fully in her seat to see the face of her potential informant; "I might be. You know where she is?".
"You mean he. Ash got found out to be a guy a few days ago".
"How?" Jane asked, her full attention on the woman in her car.
"He got a beat down. One of his regulars got bored of hand jobs, he tried to go all the way, he see Ash's junk and freaked. Beat him so bad he could hardly breath".
"Where is he now?" Jane watched the woman shrug, "Do you know where he sleeps or his pick up spot is?".
Crystal spoke clearly, her voice crisp and cool, "Look lady, I'm not his minder. We stayed in a motel called the '24' but after his beat down, ain't no one seen him" Crystal looked at Jane, "Ain't no one want to see him after he be lying to us for years".
"Can I give you my card? If you see him, call me straight away".
"Yeah, he ain't showin' his face around here no more" Crystal took the card and finished her sentence, "Jane".
Frost ran through the ran, getting to the car he juggled the coffees in his hands and opened the door. As he sat down, the back door slammed shut. "Who was that?" he asked handing Jane her coffee.
"I didn't get a name; she told me Ashley is out of the transgender closet. He got beaten up and hasn't been seen since".
Frost opened his mouth to speak, but before any words made their way from his brain to his mouth shots rang out, loud and hard hitting shattering the back window of the car.
"DOWN" Frost shouted as the firing refused to cease.
Jane called for back up, both her and Frost couched down in their seats; then a silence washed over them, the street was cold and glittering with broken glass. The shooting had stopped.
"Play dead" Jane instructed Frost, he listened to her, both of them slumped further in their seat. Holding their breath, Jane's door suddenly swung open, whoever was standing behind her had pulled it with such force, the cold breeze hit Jane's back moving her hair as the wind tangled and fought between her skin and the outside world.
A warmth was suddenly against Jane's neck, her hair was being moved. Someone kissed her neck, their lips warm, but rough and weathered from the nights air.
One last shot finished the job. Jane slumped into the footwell as the gunman dropped his gun, Frost swung up in full glory and took his shot.
/
Jane's phone rang, an unfamiliar number flashed on the screen, it rang right through to voice mail.
An hour later, Jane listened to her messages, one from her Mom, she'd missed a family dinner, and was getting the wrath of the Rizzoli Mamma, a second from Korsak, and the third, a message filled with unimaginable pain and terror. She heard as the woman's words trembled out her mouth.
Jane ran to the morgue, she found Maura sitting at her desk; "Maura, I need you, Ashley's struck again, bring your kit".
Thirty minutes later, Jane and Maura were sitting in a small dark living room, a kitchen area in desperate need of a clean stood to the left of the room. Two chairs planted in a dirty brown carpet became occupied by Jane and Crystal. Jane leant forward and put her hand on Crystal's knee, "Crystal, what happened?".
Crystal looked at Jane, she had green contacts lenses in, but they couldn't hide the pain that was coursing through every fibre of her being. "My name's Leah" her breathing was shallow, she tried to recall what had happened without breaking. "Ashanti saw me talking to you, he saw me get out the car. He hit me with a gun, he over powered me. Then he, y'know".
"Leah, did he rape you?" Jane asked, her tone filled with a regret, a regret she hadn't caught him yet. She retracted her hand looking at the now small scared woman.
Leah nodded, "Yes" she whispered.
"Leah, my friend Maura is a medical examiner, we need a DNA sample to prove it was Ashanti who raped you".
"I'm already in the system detective. I got arrested a few months back for soliciting" Leah was clearly misunderstood, then it clicked.
Maura stepped forward, "She means an internal DNA swab. To prosecute Ashanti, the police need DNA evidence to backup witness statements".
Leah looked horrified, her mouth went dry. She thought for a moment and nodded again; "Okay".
Leah went in to the dank bedroom, followed by Maura and Jane, she laid down whilst Maura took everything she needed.
/
"Ashley Beaterman" Jane said standing in the door way of his guarded hospital room. A predatory, triumphant smile spread across her lips.
"My name is Ashanti".
Jane walked in to the to room and stood at the foot of Ashley's bed, the happiness from her smile, reading in her eyes, "Give it up Ashley, we have your DNA and dental records".
The female looking male shrugged; "Sorry sweetheart, can't help you".
A smugness took hold of Jane, her graces and her face, "Ashley Beaterman, I'm arresting you for the rape of Nadine Cameron, Melissa Brackwell, Amber Maria O'Donnell and Leah Clarkson. I am further arresting you for the murders of Melissa Brackwell and Amber Marie O'Donnell and the attempted murder of Nadine Cameron". Jane was interrupted as Ashley spoke.
"I get it. I'm under arrest".
"Good, so you know you're under arrest for the attempted murder of two Boston cops".
He rolled his eyes, "You got me, can you at least loosen the cuffs, they're cutting in".
"Oh, they hurt? Okay, hold up" Jane walked to Ashley's side and leant in, "Being a criminal sucks". Jane walked towards to the door and turned to face him with the same smile she was wearing before; "If you get lonely, there are some lovely officers out here. They love a good story if you feel like sharing your explanation".
Jane left Ashley alone in his temporary cell cuffed to the hospital bed.
/
Greeted by Maura, Jane smiled as she saw her best friend. It had been a long day and not one Jane wanted a repeat of. Ever. Maura was cooking, the smells sent waves or hunger into Jane's stomach, perfect, just what Jane needed, a home cooked meal.
"How did it go?" Maura asked.
"He tried to deny he knew himself. Ashley that is".
"Did you expect anything else?" Maura stirred a saucepan as she spoke.
Jane opened a beer she had got from the refrigerator and took a well deserved mouthful; "We've got him nailed to the wall by his balls. Or tits. Whatever" Jane said waving an arm trying to ease the image from her mind, "We've got him banged to rights".
Maura smiled at her friend, "Taste this" she held the wooden spoon out in front of Jane.
"What is it?".
"Just taste it...".
Jane leant in and smelt the thick substance on the spoon; "What is that?" she said moving back, "I think you've just killed my sense of smell".
"Jane don't be silly, try it" Maura pressed, her smile half appealing, half creeping Jane out.
"It is people food right?".
"Yes, just tell me what you think" Maura said moving the spoon closer to Jane's mouth.
Jane stepped forward again and slurped the thick soup from the spoon, she swallowed hard, and almost gagged. "My God what is that?".
"It's sprout and chicken" Maura couldn't help but smile at Jane's reaction, "You think Nadine will like it?".
"Not if she has any taste buds" Jane replied. "Where is Nadine anyway?".
"She's in the bathroom, she wanted a bath. Give her knock, she should be out soon".
Jane got up and went for the bathroom, she knocked. Nothing. She knocked again. Still nothing. She called out for Nadine. No answer. Jane shouted, "Nadine, I'm going to open the door okay". She wasn't there.
All Jane saw was Maura's perfectly cleaned bathroom, with one difference. Four visible spots of blood decorated the walls.
