A/N: Well, well, well. This is the last formal chapter to this story. I have an epilogue planned that'll hopefully be up in the next day or two. I'd like to thank every reader and reviewer. I may have a third and final installment in the works. It's funny because this all started from one chapter that was supposed to be a song-fic. Now I'm finishing up a sequel and planning to make it a trilogy. Funny how these stories have a mind of their own. Even though I already have the next one sort of planned out, I'd love to hear about where the readers would like our ladies to go. Please review and let me know what you think of this story and what you'd like to see next. And by "Our Ladies" I mean the wonderful characters that belong to TNT, Janet Tamaro, Terri Gerritsen, and all those amazingly talented people. Not me.
By binding to receptors on the heart and arteries, adrenaline increases heart rate and respiration. By binding to receptors on the pancreas, liver, muscles and fatty tissue, it inhibits the production of insulin and stimulates the synthesis of sugar and fat which the body can use as a fuel in fight-or-flight situations. Well, mostly fight situations when it comes to you, Jane.
Maura had given Jane the speech so many times she would be able to do a seventh grade science project on the subject. But every time she felt the blood course through her veins, icy cold fear grip her throat, and her heart beat faster than a hummingbird's wings...Jane heard her wife's words echo in her mind. The rush set her feet into an instant motion, Detective Connors a step behind.
"First, we need to find Rob. Along the way we'll look for Maura but we don't want to alert anyone else." Jane's focus didn't waver. She wouldn't let the panic she was feeling cloud her judgement. The duo made it through the crowded main room quickly and were searching several empty rooms off a long hallway. They stopped to collect their thoughts and form a plan. "He couldn't have gotten far. Connors, did he say anything else about his boat? A location? A dock? Anything?" Jane's voice was straining, her throat tight with anxiety.
"No. Nothing." Lindsay shifted on her feet nervously. The weight of the case and the gravity of a missing Maura was resting heavily on her shoulders. Emotions were forcing their way to the forefront of the blonde's mind fogging all rational thought. She imagined all the things that could happen, the way the shaking detective before her may not see her wife again. A fist of dread started to setting in her stomach, then it was gone all at once. All of a sudden Lindsay felt a wave of clarity wash over her as her years of training kicked in. It was as if her brain had been wiped clean and reprogrammed with images of everything she needed to see. "He showed me a picture. There were flags on the dock and they said something like brew or brewers."
Jane stared back at her partner before taking the phone from her pocket and dialing a familiar number. It rang twice before a voice came to life on the other end. This partner was good, but she knew one that was better.
"Frost! I need you to look something up for me." Panic was evident in her voice and Frost picked up on it immediately.
"What is it?" He didn't bother with pleasantries. There'd be time for that later.
"Boat yards or marinas in Connecticut. The name has something to do with brew or brewer." She heard her partners quick fingers typing in the search as she spoke, her eyes never leaving the calming blue across from her. The steady gaze and the sounds in her ear soothed Jane's frazzled nerves. She knew Frost would do his best to come through for her, and he did.
"Got it! Brewer Yacht Yards. There's eight locations in the state but judging by the GPS coordinates of your cell, the closest would be the one in Stratford. I'll send the other locations to you too. Just in case." Jane could hear his gentle smile appear in his voice. Her partner back home always knew how to silently encourage her.
"Thanks man, I owe you one." Jane hung up and turned her full attention back to Lindsay. "We have eight marinas to search." The blonde's face fell instantly. That was a lot of time to waste on foot if Rob had the ME. "I'm gonna call the lieutenant and have him send officers to four and we'll check four, but first we need to finish checking the house again. He could still be here."
"Yes ma'am."
The formal response caught Jane's attention immediately. She stepped into the younger woman's space and cradled her fresh face in her hands. The intimate gesture was out of character for Jane, but she needed to make sure they both felt the connection they shared, the mutual trust they built. "Connors. My gut is telling me that Rob is our guy and he may have Maura. My wife. She's everything to me. We need to keep our heads on straight and wrap this up tonight. Are you with me?"
"I'm right behind you." Lindsay shook her head and gathered the wits that were quickly scattering.
Jane didn't give the blonde another moment as she lowered her hands, walked past her and back into the main gathering room that now served as a dining hall. Each table was set and guests were beginning to eat the delicious offerings that had been teasing with their aroma all evening. Brown eyes fell on the two seats they left empty at the table in the far corner, then to one empty chair at the main table leaving Rob's wife alone. Every other chair was taken. As Jane turned to leave, that small yet significant detail hit her hard. EVERY other chair was taken. She re-entered the room with swift and sure movements, coming to a stop next to one of the head tables. She bent slightly and interrupted the quiet conversation that was taking place.
"I'm sorry to intrude, but I need to borrow Mrs. Rizzoli for a moment." No matter how hard Jane tried, the smile she wore looked strained yet radiantly endearing. Maura excused herself and gracefully rose from where she was seated and followed the tall woman into the dim hallway where her partner waited.
"Is there something I can help you with?" Maura asked carefully, keeping her cover intact. She expected an equally controlled answer, but what she got was a slight shimmer of tears in mahogany eyes and the press of quivering lips against her own. It was so easy to get lost in Jane's kiss. It had a hypnotic quality caused by the pressing and caressing of soft lips. Maura was about to be completely consumed by the kiss before she was distracted by someone clearing their throat. Both women turned to look at Lindsay.
"Sorry, but we have a killer to catch."
"Right." Jane griped. Her reluctance to let go of Maura was undisguised. She looked back into hazel eyes with a pleading expression all over her sharp features. "I think our host with the most, Rob, is our killer. He was telling Lindsay all about cleaning the holding tank in his yacht."
"That would explain the formaldehyde." Maura agreed.
"We're going to find him. Please go back to our townhouse and stay there. I'm calling for an officer to escort you."
"Jane, I drove here. My car is here. I can drive myself to your home." The look Jane gave could have broken even the most impenetrable of hearts. "Ok. I'll wait for the escort." The ME conceded.
"Thank you. Now, we have to go. As soon as I'm done I'll come and get you."
"Be careful." Maura wrapped her arms around Jane's waist and held her as tightly as her protruding stomach would allow. "I love you."
"I love you, too." Jane have her wife a quick kiss and let her hand rest on her unborn baby girl before she made her way to the front door. She turned back once to send a wink in Maura's direction, a silent promise that she'd see her soon.
After searching three empty boat yards, the Connecticut Police Force agreed to meet Jane and Lindsay at their fourth as soon as they completed their own fishing expedition. If Rob had gone to his yacht, the obnoxious water craft would be parked at this final location. If not, then Detective Connors' memory sent a number of officers on a wild goose chase. Jane was hoping, praying that it wasn't the latter.
"Rizzoli!" A masculine, deep voice thundered through the tranquil marina. Lieutenant Christopher Messina had been the head of Connecticut's homicide team for over a decade. It was his own personal request that brought Jane into this investigation. Many of the older man's mannerisms and work habits reminded the younger defective of her own lieutenant. His temper wasn't much different either.
"Sir." She stood at attention as the very tall, very slim man approached her. Every time Jane looked the man over she wondered how hard it was to find a suit that fit such a gangly figure. His short, black hair brought attention to the fact that even his skull was elongated. I wonder how many people call him "Stretch"?
"If you're suspect is not here somewhere on some expensive looking boat you're gonna have a lot of unhappy people to deal with! I'm one of them." He grumbled and huffed as he walked past the imported detective.
"Yes sir." She bit back. Jane focused on the task at hand as she walked from dock to dock. The salty scent of the sea filled her nostrils and clung to her skin. Her expensive suit felt damp and tight. It was a chilly evening in April, the water gave the air a certain bitterness that kept everyone's senses alive. Though she could feel, see and smell the ocean, Jane could only taste the freedom of home. She checked another slip and came up empty. Her dark head hung low. Perhaps she allowed herself to dream of Boston a little too early. Her disappointment was cut short by the excitement of someone calling her name.
"Jane! Get over here now!" Lindsay's voice took on a shrill quality as she tried to yell yet keep her voice low enough to avoid exposure.
Jane ran towards the last slip in the row and drew her weapon. Thankfully they had enough forethought to keep their firearms in the car. The lanky brunette took point as she led a line of officers, including her partner, up a plank to board the oversized boat. She swept her sight and pistol left and right once she was on deck. There were few lights around, making it hard to see the details of their surroundings. The experienced detective didn't need light to know where she was going, she followed the sound of movement coming from below the deck. The sounds brought her to a sealed door. No matter how badly Jane wanted to break down that door and apprehend their suspect, there was still a protocol in place she needed to follow.
"How are we doing with the warrant?" Her deep voice whispered back to her partner. They used their travel time to try and obtain all the necessary papers and permission they would need to bring the case to an end that night.
"By time we knock and find out whether Rob plans on cooperating we should have it." Detective Connors was still wearing her benefit ensemble, heels and all. Not one hair was out of place on the beautiful blonde. Jane couldn't help but think that this woman could give Maura a run for her money back in Boston.
Jane landed three firm knocks on the door that was large enough to appear out of place on a boat.
"Mr. Middleton! It's the Connecticut Police Department. Open the door." A few quiet moments passed. Just as Jane rose her fist a second time the door swung open. Rob Middleton stood in the doorway without a hint of surprise.
"Detective Rizzoli, how nice it is to have you aboard."
"Step outside." Jane had her weapon raised as she backed up to make room for the stocky man. She didn't allow her shock to show when he addressed her by name. "We're here to search the premises. We have a warrant." Officers flooded past her into the belly of the boat. She half expected him to call her bluff and ask to see it in writing.
"Go ahead, Jane." He turned his attention to the blonde. "Hello, Lindsay."
Detective Rizzoli felt dumb. She was played by this man. All the signs she normally saw in killers went undetected for months. Every nuance was present now and obvious enough to bite her. His cold stare. His stoic expression.
"How long have you known?" It didn't matter now, but Jane wanted to know how long she had played this character without it being necessary, how long she had been away from home for no reason.
"Are you kidding me? I knew who you were from the moment you stepped foot on Connecticut soil. I'm just surprised it took you so long to figure that I knew."
"So you played along? For what? What are you hiding, Rob?" Her tone was calm, almost gentle.
"Nothing. I'm just an upstanding citizen trying to keep out of police matters." He gave her a neutral gesture with his hands, appearing calm. Too calm.
Jane narrowed her gaze at the man across from her. He was still well put together, not a wrinkle in his clothing since his sudden departure from dinner.
"What brings you to your boat so late and during a charity dinner being held in your family's home?" Jane holstered her weapon to create a false sense of trust. She had worked alongside Lindsay long enough to know that the other woman would expect the unexpected.
"I needed to get away. I'm sure you know what it's like, Detective. The dinners, the stuffy benefits, and all the charities begging for that extra dime. You're married to an Isles, I'm sure you've seen your fair share." Rob lowered his balding head for a short moment before returning his vacant stare to meet Jane's. "It was nice meeting your wife tonight. Your real one, anyway." His gaze turned to Lindsay in one smooth motion. His broad, perfect smile making an appearance. "Not that your play wife was such a tough pill to swallow. Tell me, did you get to enjoy all the perks of married life with Ms. Connors?"
"So, you're not hiding anything on the boat? It's clean?" Lindsay questioned quickly, trying to keep the focus on the suspect not the investigators.
"Yacht." He corrected. "Of course it's clean." The burly man's cockiness made Jane ball her left hand into a fist and think about punching him in his square jaw when he finally looked back at her. He just stared her down, a tiny barely noticeable smirk pulled at the corner of his thin mouth.
"Not if you know what you're looking for." A voice called from the dock. Jane took a deep breath at the sound of the soft, unexpected voice. In that breath she caught a whiff of her favorite scent, one that now caused her blood to boil with annoyance.
"Maura, what the hell are you doing here?" There was no need to try to hide the exasperation from her voice. One officer stepped forward to help improve the momentum of the pregnant woman ascending the ramp up to the yacht. At the caramel blonde's sudden appearance Jane noticed a flicker of worry appear in Rob's eyes. Maura arrived well prepared with the medical bag that was ever present when she travelled. It was stocked with everything she would need to take samples, collect evidence, and detect blood. No matter how angry Jane wanted to be at her wife for being there, she was relieved to know someone competent would look over every surface and in every nook. There was a reason why they solved so many cases together.
"This was very last minute development, Jane. I knew you wouldn't have the equipment on hand to do a proper search until late in the evening or possibly in the morning. With the warrant secured it made no sense for me to sit in an empty townhouse when I could be of good use here." She stepped closer to the brunette to finish her statement. "Plus, the sooner we finish the sooner you come home." She playful tilted her head and continued into the heart of luxury boat.
Jane blinked slowly, surprised by Maura's casual demeanor. They could have a serial killer cornered right now and Maura was flirting? She shouldn't have been surprised, things don't change just because you're in another state. The detective returned her attention to the man at the stern of the boat. She approached him slowly, observing the way he clenched and unclenched his hands that were hanging at his sides. He was nervous. His eyes darted around the boat in a calculating gesture. Jane kept her own marked hands in her pockets as she came to stand in front of him. She spoke softly to him.
"You have nothing to hide, right? So you won't mind if Maura performs a search and pokes around with some of her toys from that bag of tricks of hers, would you?" Jane knew every person was unpredictable in certain situations, but being surrounded by police officers and fellow detectives gave her a sense of security. So when chubby hands moved quickly to grab the weapon from her holster, Jane's reaction was too slow to keep the next events from unravelling. Before the tall woman could process what was happening around her, there was a strong arm holding her tightly around the throat in a headlock and several guns were being pointed in her direction. Jane wasn't concerned about the firearms that were at a distance, it was the one pressing against her temple that held all her attention. Clear chocolate eyes surveyed their surroundings. Less than two feet to overboard and at least twenty feet between them and ten armed officers. Jane wasn't a mathematician, but she figured her odds were good. With a quick and severe bend of her knees she sprung and launched herself from the deck. She caught Rob off guard enough for him to loosen his grip. There was a split second between someone screaming her name and the sound of a gunshots.
"JANE!" Two different shades of blonde joined forces in an unnerving scream as one body crumpled to the wooden deck and the other met the water in a graceless plunge.