"All secrets are deep. All secrets become dark. That's in the nature of secrets."

Cory Doctorow

Andrew Taylor was one of those men who made your skin crawl. People tend to overlook someone like Taylor. He's not particularly handsome or charming, ambitious or intelligent. But there was always something just slightly off about the man. Smile to your face and happily stab you in the back next time you turn around, that was the type of guy Susie Chang though Taylor was. Turns out, she had been right. He had found himself an easy way of getting extra cash in exchange for butchering their hard work reputation. Taylor sold his soul for a couple of bucks. That was what made this entire situation so sickening. Chang knew that dispersed throughout every department there had to be more men and women like Taylor, sliding just under the radar, lurking in the shadows, waiting to seize their opportunities. It made her uneasy. Just reflecting on the corruption that was occurring around them was enough to leave a sickened, hollow sensation in the very pit of her stomach.

That was why she was all too happy to aid in this unorthodox and potentially dangerous investigation. So everyone else worked for their designated pay and did their jobs properly and thoroughly just for a little shit like Taylor, and by extension Newman, to come along and completely eradicate all the good their dedication did? She wasn't about to roll over and let that happen.

Now that she was aware of exactly what had been going on, Susie had done a little research of her own. Sure, she didn't have access to the wealth of information that Detective Frost could source at the click of a button. But, what she did have was a friend who worked for the Boston Globe. That same friend had also noticed some strange things going on in her place of work, and she did not like it one bit. For events to go undocumented and major crimes receiving minimal coverage, if any, was unheard of.

When Susie asked for advice, her friend was all too happy to oblige. For a price, of course. In return, she wanted in. Chang had promised to point her in the right direction as soon as she could. Cassie Fields had taught her a few things over the years. Finding out things that should remain secret was central in her job description, and she had passed on some of her knowledge to Susie. So she had looked into previous cases and discovered some interesting things.

What became apparent is that Newman needs his eyes and ears on the streets, that's why the little guys escape jail time. The larger arrests are reported but with many key details missing. The unreported deaths mean that the public see improvements; they see Boston becoming, less prone to violent crime. Refusing to allow the smaller, more insignificant cases to reach trial meant a decrease in sentencing. Newman needs the public to see him as a hero, and that his policies are working.

And that is where people like Taylor come in. People who are willing to leave all integrity behind.

Susie had been watching Taylor for almost two weeks now. She felt like she knew the bastard better than she knew her own family for chrissakes. She knew everything from what shifts he worked right down to what he put in his coffee.

Hell, maybe in another life she would have been a damned good cop.

Maybe.

Except that today had been different. She had sent a cheery 'good morning' his way and received no reply. Usually, the smarmy sonuvabitch would be all smiles and false pleasantries. Instantly, her instincts told her that something big was happening.

Well, it would be happening if she didn't know about it. As it stood, she would rather allow Jane Rizzoli to stay with her in her apartment until the end of time than let Taylor do even more damage.

In an instantaneous decision, she decided to follow him into the locker room. In hindsight, her hiding place behind a bunch of lab coats may not have been the greatest idea, but it worked well enough. She overheard a one-sided conversation that consisted of someone stressing, in no uncertain terms it appeared, the importance of this piece of evidence that will be in the lab today. This report, pertaining to a drug bust, is Taylor's responsibility. He was to ensure that the chain of evidence is broken, to make it difficult to admit in court or indeed, by the sounds of it, try and get the thing to disappear entirely.

She could only think of one such case that had just recently been closed. At a residence owned by a Mr. Jonathon Martinez, over five kilos of cocaine were found.

Here is where things get a little odd.

Officers from Narcotics and Vice said that upon entering the home, Martinez opened fire on them.

However, standing here with the Toxicology Report that Taylor had been so pleased about labeling incorrectly and signing off with the name of another technician, Susie was convinced that there was no way in hell that was the way things had happened.

The tox reports from the victim that show he was definitely sedated before he died, and that would have made it impossible for him to fire at the Officers. He would have been at the very least asleep, but probably unconscious.

Susie could only assume that the Officers had planted the gun found in his hand. The large quantities of drugs found at the scene were also most likely placed there to make this arrest look good for the department and for Newman.

She decided that the only thing she could do right now was fix his error. She signed off the report with her own name, making sure to label it as a priority before handing it to Doctor Isles, who was absolutely oblivious to what was happening. But Susie knew that if anyone could be relied upon to ensure that the information contained in the report was treated with care and attention, even though it was in reference to a suspected drug dealer, it was Doctor Maura Isles. She felt safe in the knowledge that the report would be copied and land safely with the correct personnel and also the prosecution as soon as Doctor Isles had finished with it.

'James Bond? More like Susie Chang.' She thought to herself with a satisfied smirk as she politely held the door open for Taylor on her way out to lunch.

'You're going down my friend.'


"Guys! Guys, here we go, this could be it this could be it!" Frost shouted excitedly, summoning the three other members of their crew to him with his tone and encouraging hand gestures. Susie and Frankie shared a look before gathering around the coffee table. Jane slid along the floor on her knees and focused her attention intently on the lap top, as if she could get Taylor to confess his sins through sheer force of will alone. The foursome stared in anticipation at the screen as the distinct shrill of Taylor's phone ringing played out softly into the room. Frankie broke into a grin when Taylor's voice was the next thing to be heard;

"Listen, Boss… I dunno how it happened, seriously, like I did just as you said…" Taylor could be heard saying nervously, the words coming out slow, deliberate, edged with fear. Frost thought he could hear the distant sound of a foot tapping. Clearly the bastard was terrified.

"Taylor, are you telling me that the report went through?" The voice said, low and gravelly, threatening.

Frost's eyes grew wide in immediate recognition. He turned to Jane, who was returning his wide eyed gaze, fury etched on her face as they shared a moment. Frankie opened his mouth to ask who it was but Frost shook his head frantically at the questioning looks being directed his way, holding a finger to his lips to keep them silent.

"I did what you said! Someone must've noticed the mistake and fixed it… Either that or someone's onto us." Taylor retorted, his voice rising in pitch as his panic increased.

"I don't really give a fuck about any of that Taylor. You let me down. But this isn't about me. When this gets back… You're on your own son." The other voice uttered coldly.

"But Al…!" Taylor all but squealed.

"I warned you kid. You knew the risks. When he finds out, this is on you." The voice said in a matter of fact tone, casually stating that Taylor was to be fed to the wolves.

The line went dead and all that could be heard for a long moment was Taylor's wheezy breaths followed by a string of muttered curse words before he too ended the call.

Frost rocked back into the couch, running a hand over his face and growling into his palm. Frankie shook his knee gently, desperate to know if his own suspicions matched what had rattled his partner so badly, noting the expression of complete incomprehension Jane was wearing. "You know who it is, don't you?" Frankie said breathlessly, "I think I do too…"

Numbly, Frost looked up and said, "Sergeant Alan Nichols. Narcotics and Vice."

Susie swore under her breath, "That's why they planned that drug bust. To make them look good. Newman must have promised Nichols that his department was going to receive a lot of positive media attention… Shit." The Doctor shook her head in disbelief.

"That sonuvabitch! I worked with him for a year!" Jane snarled through gritted teeth, her eyes glittering with fury as Frankie laid a comforting hand on her arm.

Frankie suddenly announced a while later, ceasing the restless drumming of his fingers on the table at a pointed look from Frost, "We need to start tailing Nichols. See who he meets up with and speaks to. We need to have one of us on him at all times. Maybe you could help with that…" His voice tapered off as he looked to his older sister, whose face had brightened considerably.

Frost shot him a withering glare before directing the same glare to Jane, "Hell no. That's way too risky. Think about what'd happen if he spotted you."

Jane rolled her eyes, "I've been doing this job a long time Frosty, I think I know how to tail a suspect by now." She said impatiently.

Frankie's face blanched and he nodded slowly, realizing that his suggestion was probably not the safest option.

Deciding to avoid this debate for now, Frost tapped his cheek, thinking, "We can take it in shifts during the day and at night. Do you think…? Yeah, we'll tell Korsak. It's time to tell Korsak." Frankie nodded enthusiastically, a smile creeping onto his face. Keeping his mentor in the dark had not been something he particularly enjoyed. The smile felt rather alien actually.

He hadn't smiled properly in a long time.

Susie coughed before adding, "I'll speak to one of my friends who works at the Boston Herald, she can keep an eye out there." Frost raised an eyebrow, his distrust of the press apparent in that singular, wordless communication. Susie continued, undeterred, "She's noticed things have been going unreported for quite a while, and if there's anyone that can sniff out who's feeding her colleagues instructions it's Cassie," She said firmly, her eyes almost daring anyone to challenge her.

Frost seemed to mull that over for a moment before he glanced at his partner. Frankie bit his lip and shrugged almost imperceptibly in a 'What could it hurt' kind of manner. The older Detective sighed in defeat as he commanded the Doctor sternly, "Keep her in the dark about the details. We don't want to put her in any unnecessary danger. Just say we suspect we have a leak in the department and it would be good to know who is a little too friendly with any of her colleagues."

Susie nodded her acquiescence, making a mental note to refrain from giving Cassie any details that could put her in harm's way. She couldn't have that on her conscience.

She then looked at Jane, "I believe we had a deal Detective."

The Detective swallowed thickly, avoiding eye contact with her three companions. "I know, but where am I supposed to talk to her? I can't just march over to her house, what if someone sees me? What if I bump into my Ma? What if…" Jane stopped, breathing heavily.

Susie felt herself soften slightly at the sight of the complete and utter panic manifesting itself in Rizzoli's face. She reached out and squeezed the Detective's arm, earning a surprised look, "I'll go and stay with Cassie." Susie offered gently, "We need a catch up anyway. And I have to fill her in on what she's looking for at work… So, I'll think of a way to get Doctor Isles over here, and then it's up to you Detective."

Jane nodded slowly, her eyes bright and glassy, before covering the young Doctor's hand with her own.

"Thanks Susie. I'd appreciate that."