Chapter Eight
Jo licked Mauras' face in greeting, who immediately liked the little dog. While she waited, Maura looked around the small, cluttered room. Liking what she saw, she noticed that while the furniture was old, it was all of excellent quality. It was a little untidy, but not messy as was no rubbish or unwashed dishes laying around. The thing that surprised her most was the upright piano in one corner, until she remembered that Jane had played the piano as a child. One wall was covered in a series of framed certificated so, still holding Jo, Maura went over to take a look. As she looked more closely she could see that all the earlier ones were for various sports, softball, volleyball, netball. None that involved direct physical contact. Then there was Janes' high school and junior college graduation certificates. Above them were several more. One was her Police Academy graduation certificate with a citation for excellent marksmanship. Next to that was her detectives' certificate as well as commendations for bravery and meritorious service. There were also one or two newspaper clippings about her capture of criminals. Maura smiled as she looked at them. She had a similar wall in her home office with all her academic qualifications. It took only a small leap of imagination to see them all side by side. This thought made her smile.
"They're not much!" Jane said from behind her, making Maura jump.
"You should be very proud Jane! Top of your class at the Academy, service awards, public recognition! You have achieved a great deal in your chosen profession." Maura protested.
"Well thanks. But it is all stuff I'm good at!" Jane replied quietly, not wanting to make a big thing about it.
Maura turned and looked at Jane. She was again wearing a pair of black trousers, a plane button down shirt – though this time in red – and a black blazer. They were smarter that the ones she had been wearing the previous day, they fit better and they were of better quality. But they were still trousers.
"Is that what you're wearing?" Maura asked, echoing her question of the evening before.
Jane looked down at her clothes.
"What is wrong with them? These are the smartest clothes I own that are not formal evening wear." Jane queried.
"There is nothing wrong with them." Maura replied, pausing before she continued. "It's just that, to attend the Council, they expect women to wear a dress, or at least a skirt!" She finished.
"Well hard cheese! I don't own any skirts and the three dresses I do own are all for the aforementioned formal evening wear!" Jane replied.
"You don't own any skirts!" Maura was incredulous. "Why not? You have a gorgeous figure, what's wrong with them?" She asked, having never met another woman who did not at least own a few skirts, even if she rarely wore them.
"For one thing they are totally impractical for my job! And I do not find them at all comfortable to wear!" Jane replied.
"Oh!" Maura replied, not sure what to say as she found skirts incredibly comfortable. "Well, ok. If you're ready, we'd better go. Have you called in to let Lieutenant Kavanagh know where we'll be?" She asked softly, not wanting to push the subject.
"Yeah I called. Turns out I needn't have bothered. Ma has apparently been telling everyone that we are going to the Council hall today. Kavanagh told me that we're both on standby and we'll be called if we are needed, which is unlikely." Jane replied. "Anyway, I hope you know where we're going as I have no idea!" She added.
"We'll be going in the front door Jane." Maura replied.
Jane looked back at Maura with her eyebrows raised.
"Right then, well you're navigating." She took Jo from Maura and put her on the floor. She then clipped the lead onto Jo's collar and they all headed back down the stairs and into Jane's car.
With Jo curled up on the back seat they pulled away and under Maura's direction, they soon pulled up outside gothic style building. They parked and leaving Jo in the car with the window cracked, Maura and Jane made their way up to the door.
"Y'know I'm not sure what was expecting the Council hall to look like, but this was certainly not it!" Jane remarked as they walked up the steps and in hand.
"Oh this isn't the Council hall, this is just one of the entrances." Maura replied as they entered through the massive doors.
Once they were inside, Maura headed over to what looked like a reception desk almost towing Jane behind her.
"Excuse me. Can you tell me who the duty official is please?" She asked the man behind the desk.
"Under Secretary Ibanez is on duty this morning. Do you have an appointment?" He asked, looking down his nose and over his glasses at the two women.
"No we don't. But it is a matter of urgency that we speak to her." Maura said, looking back at the man with a steady gaze.
"Very well. If I can have your names, I will see if she is available." He replied, dropping his gaze.
"Dr Maura Isles and Detective Jane Rizzoli." Maura responded, making sure to emphasize the titles.
"Oh excuse me Doctor, Detective. You are expected. Please take the 2nd elevator and someone will meet you at the bottom." He said, his tone now more formal.
"Thank you." Maura replied, before leading the way again over to the bank of elevators.
"I guess Auntie Rosa must have called ahead." Jane remarked as they headed to the 2nd elevator.
They entered the elevator and Jane immediately recognised it as a magical cute, not a real elevator. There was a slight rushing feeling before the doors opened, revealing an older man in robes who was obviously waiting for them. Maura immediately recognised him as the President of the Magi Council.