Charles Dickens: "In the little world in which children have their existence, whosoever brings them up, there is nothing so finely perceived and so finely felt as injustice."
At 10am Jane's back at her desk showered, changed and looking a little fresher. The dark circles under her eyes are the only giveaway she's had little sleep. Korsack and Frost are surprised to see her back so soon. Jane takes in their expressions and knows what they're thinking. She reminds them that Sister MJ is due any moment and the boy's chuckle when she informs them she wouldn't miss questioning her for all the tea in China. At that moment her phone rings, it's Sister Winnie and she has Sister MJ waiting in the interview room.
As Jane takes her leave, Korsack walks with her to the lift. He mentions to Jane that Doctor Isles had been in earlier. He also lets Jane know she looked awful. Jane promises Korsack to call in on Maura when she's done with this interview.
When Jane walks into the interview room, Sister Winifred and Sister Mary Joseph are sitting opposite each other in complete silence. "Good morning Ladies" Jane greets them both politely.
"Good morning Detective Rizzoli" Sister Winifred acknowledges Jane's presence. Sister MJ says nothing.
Jane sits beside Sister Winnie. "Well Sister" Jane looks directly at Sister MJ. "I hope you have a good explanation for what's been going on at Sacred Heart's under your leadership."
"I had our IT resources go back over what records we still have despite the fire. I had them try to extrapolate the information you are after. I can advise that every child that has run away during my term as head of the Sacred Heart's has been managed exactly to the letter of the law. Each student was reported missing to Children's Services and they undertook the investigation to return them." Sister Mary Joseph slides a report across the table to Jane.
"In the thirty-eight years I've run the orphanage we've had eighty-seven children go missing. Our return rate for that time is close to fifty percent; detective" Sister MJ goes on to explain.
"Thank you" Jane says in earnest. "Sister the rate of returns is still well below average, do you have any idea why that might be the case?"
"I have reviewed the process. All reports were managed by my assistant and very dear friend; Mrs. Morecombe," Sister MJ Looks at the table. "She of course died in the fire" the nun fights to control her emotions.
"I'm sorry for your loss" Jane offers. The nun just looks at Jane with contempt. Jane's sympathy evaporates.
"I don't know why Eunice never told me about the statistics; but I do know she handed every incident to Children's Services and followed up on all missing children on a regular basis until Children's Services closed the cases."
"Sister, Cameron Darcy burnt the orphanage down because he believes your unreturned runaways are all dead. I interviewed Donna Craig and she says all the children in the orphanage believe if they run away they will die. Why would they think that?"
"Detective, children have very vivid imaginations. They will come up with all sorts of reasons for believing things. As for Mr. Darcy, he is an angry young man but I can assure you, nothing happened to him whilst in our care, to justify what he did."
"Sister Mary Joseph, I work in homicide because I believe there is very little in this world that justifies murder. However, Cameron Darcy has made allegations and I have to investigate them," Jane stares at the nun in front of her.
"What is he suggesting; that we have done something sinister to children missing from our institution?" Sister MJ is indignant.
"Basically; yes" Jane notices Sister Winnie flinch.
"Well I can assure you, you will not find anything that will call into question the way I have run the Sacred Heart's Orphanage."
"Hmm" Jane offers. "Sister, the Medical Examiner has come across information that identifies the mother of one of our victims."
"What!" Sister MJ stands and slaps her hands on the table. "The Medical Examiner has no right to be looking up information on the parentage of deceased orphans."
"I'm not aware of how she came across the information," Jane explains.
"Well she must not act on it." Sister MJ is quite animated.
"Who are the Rossi's and what happened to them Sister?" Jane clasps her hands in front of her and waits for the nun to process this information. Sister MJ has tightened up and is clearly uncomfortable with where the line of questioning has gone.
"I am not aware of anyone by that name!" She sits back down.
Sister Winifred joins the conversation for the first time. "Are you sure Mary?"
"Winifred I can't be expected to know every person that has ever had an association with the orphanage."
Jane continues although she knows she's in very dangerous territory. What she and Maura did last night; going to meet the Boycott's should not have been done without proper approvals. "Sister, if a parent contacts you and asks to be advised if their child ever comes back into the system, what is your process for ensuring that happens?"
"It's an extraordinarily rare occurrence Detective."
"I'm sure it is" Jane offers, "but it does happen doesn't it?"
"What are you getting at detective, I'm a busy woman. I have hundreds of children to manage and I am trying to complete assessments on rebuilding the orphanage. I have done what you asked me to do, why am I still here?"
Jane decides not to go any further. "You're right; you're free to go Sister. If you find a minute of time in your busy schedule I'd look back over Stephen Smith's file. He's one of the little boy's who died in the fire."
Sister Winifred gets up and escorts Sister Mary Joseph out of the room. As she leaves, Winifred looks back. "Can I have some of your time today Detective Rizzoli, I'd like to speak to you when you have a minute," she asks.
"Yes Sister Winifred, I'm around today," Jane responds.
Jane leaves the interview room and decides to go via the morgue. She walks in to find Maura over human remains. "Hey Maura" Jane opens.
"Hi Jane" comes Maura's lifeless reply.
"You've got Korsack worried, is everything OK?" Jane blunders in directly.
"What are you talking about Jane" Maura shakes her head.
"I'm sorry Maura I didn't mean to interrupt you in the middle of what you're doing; Korsack's concerned about you. Now that I see you I know why; you don't look well Maura. Are you sick?"
"Jane, not now please. You know this is a difficult case for me and you know why. I'm not in the mood for … for… oh I don't even know what I'm not in the mood for."
"Maura, it's OK. You're allowed to have feelings and they're allowed to bother you from time to time. Just know you don't have to go through this alone. "
"Jane… I'm doing my job like I always do. Please don't generalize or make assumptions about me. I'm just a little tired and judging by the periorbital hyper pigmentation, so are you."
Jane just looks at Maura confused. Maura adds. "The dark circles under your eyes."
Jane looks at this woman who comforted her through some of her darkest and deepest memories. "Maura, the other night you supported me through stuff I've never discussed with another human being. I guess I just want you to know I'm here for you and truth is I'm not really sure how to be."
Maura relaxes. "Thank you, you're a good friend Jane and I'm glad to have you around. But you know what this case is putting me through; I don't know what else I can say."
"Alright Maura, you know where I am if you need me. OK?"
"Let's have lunch Jane; I'll call you in an hour or so." Jane looks at Maura and is grateful for Maura's concession. She knows Maura struggles to communicate the things that upset her, even with Jane. She also knows when Maura is ready to talk; it's her she'll talk to. It hurts Jane to know she can't change her friends past. All she can do is try to assure Maura she's not alone any more. Maura's as important to Jane as family.
Jane walks back into the squad room. Korsack and Frost are waiting on news. Jane hands them the report from Sister MJ, She asks Frost to go through the report and look for anything out of the usual. She leaves them and heads down to the Café. She walks in to find Frankie and Angela having a coffee together. "Hey you two" Jane opens.
Angela and Frankie look up as Jane grabs a coffee and then joins them. "Still cold out there" Jane notices Frankie all rugged up.
"Yeah, at least it's not raining." Frankie has another sip of his coffee.
"Sweetie you look tired and it's not a good look on you Janey." Angela offers.
Frankie smirks and Jane leans back and looks at her mother with shock. "Gee thanks Ma. What are you working on today?" Jane turns to Frankie.
"Dr. Isles ordered the grounds of Sacred Heart's be scanned with GPR. I've been working that. I'm just on a break."
"Anything" Jane asks hopefully.
"No and Rumson's pissed" Frankie shakes his head. "He's already behind and so far this scan has wasted his time and blown his budget."
"I'm sure Maura wouldn't have asked for it unless she thought it was absolutely necessary." Jane knows Maura's on thin ice with this request.
"I think BPD is turning this into a witch hunt Jane. You have the person who lit the fire, why are you still digging into the orphanage." Angela's annoyance is evident.
"Ma there is a lot more to this case and we are obligated to investigate everything, you know that." Jane looks for some semblance of understanding and support from her mother. Angela nods, which gives Jane some satisfaction. Just then Jane sees Sister Winifred walk back into the building. Jane decides to head up stairs with her.
Jane sits at Sister Winnie's desk. Sister Winifred pours herself a coffee and comes back and joins Jane. "Sister Mary Joseph was an incredibly talented nun Jane" she opens. "She was only twenty-seven or eight when she was placed in charge of the Sacred Heart's."
Jane goes to respond and Winnie raises a hand to stop her. "I have long believed she's outstayed her usefulness in that role. As you know many of the children in her care attended my school and I had reason for concern back then. I did try to take some steps but Mary has strong and powerful connections in the Church Jane."
"What are you saying Sister?"
"It takes a lot for the fire to be extinguished in a child's eyes. They're full of hope, no matter how dark their circumstances. You know something evil has befallen them when they have lost hope."
Jane thinks of the sadness she always saw in Dougie's eyes; the sadness she sometimes sees flash through Maura's expressions.
"I started to see it in some of the children coming from the orphanage to our school," Sister Winnie adds.
"Do you have any proof that it was something going on at Sacred Hearts" Jane asks.
"No Jane I don't, but I raised my concerns with the Arch Bishop and was told I was out of line. Six months later I was removed as Principal from the school."
"Oh" Jane's surprised. She'd never liked Sister Winifred but the truth was she always respected her. In fact Jane had only lost respect for her when she'd turned up at the precinct as a grief counselor. She can kind of understand now why Sister Winifred was so bitter about where she found herself.
"Jane, if there is something going on there I will help in any way I can. However, you need to be very careful. Why is the Medical Examiner looking into the parentage of the victims?"
Jane's not sure how to answer, in the end she goes for a minimalist version of the truth. "She started out as an orphan. She's had her own challenges in life Sister. This case has been difficult for her."
"She needs to be careful, Mary is angry with us and she will be watching us for any conduct outside the law. She will go after anyone and everyone to protect her own sense of power Jane."
"Sister Winifred, why would Sister Mary Joseph not tell a parent that her child was back in the system, if the parent had said she wanted to be notified; that she wanted her child back in her life." Jane watches Sister Winnie as she considers this question. In the end Sister Winnie answers simply.
"Money Jane; if that has happened look at the finances of the institution. The Government provides funding based on the number of Children."
"Damn, of course" Jane sees the logic. She stands to leave.
"I'm sure I taught you a better way to express yourself," Sister Winnie chastise Jane.
"Oh sorry" Jane says. "I didn't…"
"Detective Rizzoli, please use me to navigate the issues with the church, as I said I'll help in any way I can."
When Frost sees Jane come out of the lift, he's out of his chair and over to her in a flash. "Jane I think we're on to something big. Korsack's just filling in Cavanaugh now."
"Well spit it out Frost, I could use some good news."
"Every case that went through Children's Services where the child was not found was investigated by a Harold Jones."
"What, this Harold Jones never found and returned a child" Jane asks in disbelief.
"Yeah he returned kids from time to time Jane, but every kid that's never been found was handled by him; everyone."
Jane has a bounce in her step. "This is big Frost, let's go get him."
Korsack joins them from Cavanaugh's office. "Go and bring him in Jane. Cavanaugh wants him questioned here."
"Let's go Frost" Jane turns and heads for her car, Frost in tow.
En route Jane's phone rings; it's Maura. Damn Jane thinks; she'd forgotten about having lunch with her. "Maura I'm sorry I can't do lunch, we've caught a break. Frost and I are on our way to bring in a Children's Services officer for questioning."
"Hi Dr Isles" Frost adds, Jane is speaking to Maura on hands free.
"Hi Detective Frost," Maura greets him. "That's OK Jane, I can't do lunch either." Maura sounds nervous and Jane's immediately concerned.
"Is everything OK Maura?"
"Jane can you pick up for a second please" Maura's plea has Jane picking up her phone instantly. She pulls to the side of the road.
"I've been summoned to the Governor's office Jane." Maura's voice shakes with emotion. "I've been asked to present justification on my request for the Ground Penetrating Radar and I have also been asked to explain why you and I called on the Boycott's. I'm in big trouble Jane."
Jane can't believe what she's hearing. When she looks at Frost, the horror and the fear are written all over her face.