Chapter Eleven
She couldn't move. She wasn't even sure she was breathing. She didn't even know how long her had been standing there. Her father and that woman had long since left the store. But Jane stood in the same spot staring straight ahead. Her mind was racing trying to process the images she had seen. Desperately trying to rearrange those images in a manner that didn't add up to what she knew they ultimately added up to. Her father was having an affair.
Her father.
Her hero.
"Ma'am?"
"Excuse me, Ma'am?"
It took hearing the voice a second time for Jane to finally flinch. She blinked her eyes a few times and finally felt her head turning towards the voice she heard.
"Did you need any help finding anything?" the voice came again.
Jane looked finally registering a person to the voice. It was a young store clerk who was looking at her with a great deal of concern on her face.
"Ma'am? Can I help you?" she tried again.
Help? The only help Jane needed in that moment was help forgetting what she had just witnessed. "Um...no thank you," Jane finally managed to say. She started to look around trying to re-orientate herself to her surroundings.
"Ok," the girl said but didn't walk away. "Ma'am, are you alright?"
Jane could tell the girl was worried. She probably thought Jane may be having some sort of medical incident. "Yes," she answered softly. For what the girl was asking she was alright. Everything else was none of her business.
Jane recovered enough to start walking. She was almost to the front of the store when she realized she was still holding store items in her hands. Functioning more on instinct than on conscious thought she moved over to a checkout lane and stood in line. She noticed the clerk had finally stopped watching her probably relieved that she wasn't going to have to apprehend her for shoplifting.
Somehow Jane managed to get through the checkout line, give correct currency the the cashier and head out of the store with purchased items. Somehow she even managed to find her car. She had held it together pretty well considering. She had kept the tears from falling, she hadn't turned into a shoplifter and she had managed to get herself to the safety and privacy of her vehicle before the first tears trickled down her cheeks.
R&I
"The trial starts in three weeks," the lawyer informed his client.
Hoyt contemplated that for a moment. He was calculating whether three weeks was enough time for him to see to all of his plans. He had already gone to great lengths to arrange things and the last thing he wanted was to be foiled by something as simple as time. Three weeks may not quite be enough time.
"That's too soon," he finally said to the lawyer. "Push it back further."
The lawyer shook his head. Like he had some magic control over the Court calendar. "Charles, I don't see how that is going to be possible right now. We are on the docket. Three weeks."
The lawyer was starting to try his patience. For the last few weeks he had not been a very reliable resource for information or for even simple task completion. He looked at the lawyer with disdain. "You are an experienced attorney. Find a way."
"I've exhausted all of the pre-trial motions I can think of to this point. Charles, there's nothing left."
Hoyt found that answer to be entirely unacceptable. Without batting an eye he responded. "Either find a way to push my trial date or I will find another lawyer to do it for me."
It wasn't the first time Hoyt had threatened to fire the lawyer. That seemed to happen about once a week. If he was smart he would request to be removed as Hoyt's attorney. Up until that point he hadn't pursued that course. Quite simply because of money. Hoyt was paying him a small fortune to defend him and due to some 'unfortunate' financial miscalculations the lawyer was in need of the funds. But he may have reached a point where he wasn't that in need of the money.
He looked at Hoyt. There was one more thing they could try. Something he had been sure Hoyt would never allow prior to that moment. But it was probably the only option still available. "There may be one more motion I can try," he offered up.
"I'm listening," Hoyt replied.
"I can enter a motion requesting a complete psychological examination," the lawyer said. He held his breath not quite sure how Hoyt would react to that piece of information.
"How much time would that give me?" asked Hoyt.
The lawyer was surprised that Hoyt may even be considering it. The one and only time he had suggested to Hoyt that they explore the options of an insanity defense Hoyt had almost violently objected and it was quickly understood that his mental status was going to remain a path not explored.
"I can drag it out and get us another two maybe three weeks," he offered up. He could play around with selection and approvals of psychiatrists enough to manage a couple of more weeks.
Hoyt sat quietly considering the option. He again ran through the status of the projects he had going. Calculating the exact amount of time each objective required. He needed to extra two weeks. Needed them if he wanted everything to go as planned before the start of the trial.
"And that's our last avenue in terms of legal motions?" he asked after a time.
"That's our last option. Otherwise the opening statements are scheduled to start in three weeks." As it was his office was already working on scheduling jury selection with the Court. If Hoyt wanted the delay his would need to file the motion before the end of the day.
"Do it."
He needed the extra two weeks.
R&I
Maura made her way across the bullpen carrying with her several preliminary autopsy reports for Jane. As she approached Jane's desk she was surprised not to see Jane at it. She turned towards Detective Korsak and smiled as she greeted him. "Hello Detective," she said. She had spent plenty of time out of work with the older detective but still didn't have the initial instinct to address him as Vince.
"Dr. Isles," he said looking up and smiling his greeting too. "Are those the preliminaries?" he asked motioning towards the files in her hand.
"Yes," she answered. "I was going to give them to Jane but I give them to you just as easily." She handed over the files to the detective. "Where is she anyway?" she asked curious. If Vince was back from lunch Jane should be in the building somewhere.
"You know, I'm not sure. She had to run a few errands after our lunch but I was expecting her back by now." He wasn't too worried. And it wasn't like Jane didn't deserve to take an extended lunch from time to time. The woman worked more hours than anyone else in the department.
Maura nodded but didn't have much to add. "Let me know if you have any questions with those reports. There was a DNA match to one of your suspects."
Korsak opened the file and glances through the report. "If I have any questions I'll let you know."
Maura made her way to the elevators and headed back down to the lab. She got wrapped up in several file reviews and before she knew it the clock on the wall read 5:20. It was then that it dawned on her that Jane hadn't come down to see her since lunch nor had she received any text about the details for dinner with Frankie later that night.
She called up to the bullpen trying to reach Jane's extension. After the fifth ring someone picked up but it wasn't Jane. "Detective Korsak," he announced.
"Detective, is Jane up there?" Maura asked.
"No she isn't Doc. She took the rest of the day off," he answered.
"What?" She was surprised by that. Since she met Jane she had never seen Jane take any extra time off.
"She sent me a text that something came up and she was going to take a half day," he replied. He, too, found it rather odd for Jane. First, the woman never took time off that wasn't a scheduled day off. Second, she usually called him. He wasn't big on text messages and Jane knew that. So why she sent a text instead of just calling had him a little worried.
"Ok, thanks Detective," Maura said hanging up the phone. Now she was growing concerned about Jane. She reached for her phone with the intent of call her when it beeped a message alert.
Change in plans for tonight. Can you come over after work? J
Maura looked at the message and typed her reply.
I'm just finishing up and can head over. Is everything alright? M
The reply seemed delayed. Jane usually replied instantly.
No. I'll explain when I see you. J
There was something wrong. Maura typed a reply.
Is there anything you need? M
The answer came instantly.
You. J
Her reply was immediate.
I'm leaving right now. M
It took her less than a minute to pack up her belongings and head for the door.
R&I
Can't make dinner. Sorry. J
Frankie looked at the message on his phone. He was surprised. Jane rarely, if ever, cancelled on him. He felt himself shrug his shoulders and assumed she had caught a new case. They would see each other at dinner on Sunday. He knew they would reschedule a new time then.
No problem. See ya Sunday. F
R&I
Her eyes.
That was what struck Maura the minute Jane opened the door to her apartment. Just from looking into Jane's eyes Maura knew something was really wrong. There was such pain and sadness behind her eyes.
Jane hadn't said a word to Maura yet. She had simply opened the door and stepped aside allowing Maura to enter the apartment. They both walked into the living room and each took a seat on the couch. Maura tried to shift as close to Jane as she could. The silence was deafening.
"Can you tell me?" was her first question to Jane finally breaking the silence. She had no idea what was wrong and by her nature she didn't guess. So she would wait for Jane to explain as she chose.
Jane turned towards Maura and saw nothing but concern and compassion staring back at her. "Can I ask you something?" Jane started.
"Anything."
"Are your parents happy? I mean happily married?"
That was the last question Maura expected to hear coming from Jane. She wasn't prepared for that. She thought for a moment and then answered. "To be honest with you, I'm not sure. From outside appearances I would say yes. But whether that translates into actual happiness I can't tell you. I don't spend enough time with either one of them to be in a position to answer that." It was a frank and honest answer.
Maura believed her parents cared for each other. They spent time together. They traveled together. Maura had never witnessed a fight or disagreement between the two. But they spent significant amounts of time apart from each other. Just as Maura spent significant amounts of time away from them both. She was not privy to the day to day status of their relationship.
They were outwardly loving and happy. But Maura understood that image and appearance mattered greatly to both her parents. So she was not sure if the happiness she witnessed on the rare occasions they were all together was real or part of an illusion meant to convince those around them that they lived the 'perfect life'.
"I'm sorry that you aren't close with them," Jane said in a sad tone.
"My relationship with my parents is complicated Jane. But it's certainly not at the heart of whatever is wrong. Talk to me," she said and reached over to take Jane's hand.
"I...I saw," she said trying to figure out a way to get it out without it becoming more real that it already was.
"You saw what?" Maura tried to encourage Jane.
"I was at the store. I needed to get a few things for Ma and after my lunch with Vince I thought I could just go grab everything real quick since we were going to have dinner with Frankie. I was almost done. I was in the last place I needed to stop," Jane was now rambling on. Maura knew enough to just let Jane continue to talk. She sensed Jane would get there in her own time. "I was heading to check out and I just happened to look up. And I saw," her voice cracked and she took a deep breath.
"It's ok," Maura tried to sooth. "Take your time. I'm not going anywhere."
"God Maura! How could he?!" Jane's expression flashed the first traces of anger.
"How could who do what Jane?" Maura asked patiently.
"Thirty four years. They've been married thirty four years and he's just out in public kissing some woman like it's not a big deal," she finally got out.
In an instant Maura understood what Jane had seen. That, however, didn't give her any clue as to what to do or say to make Jane feel better. "Oh Jane," she sighed. "I'm so sorry." She almost asked if Jane was sure but didn't. The look on Jane's face made her believe that Jane knew exactly what she had seen. This was not a mistake.
"How could he?" Jane repeated.
Maura had no answer for Jane. She let her mind run through what statistics and information on infidelity and marriages she could remember but what she could recall didn't seem to be of any help in this situation. Instead she squeezed Jane's hand again trying to comfort her as best she could.
"Did you confront him?" she asked.
Jane shook her head. "He was gone before I recovered from the initial shock of seeing him.
"Did you recognize the woman?"
Jane again shook her head. "No. I haven't seen her before."
There was silence between the two for a few minutes before Jane spoke again. "Maura, what am I going to do? I mean, do I tell my mother? Do I confront my father? Do I try to pretend I never saw them kissing today? I don't know what it is I'm supposed to do here."
The lost, hurt and confused look on Jane's face just broke Maura's heart. Not knowing what else to really do for her Maura pulled Jane into an embrace. She felt Jane tighten the embrace as she started to gently run her hand over Jane's back in small, soothing circles. "I don't know if there is a right answer to that question. I think you need to do what you feel is the best thing."
"And if I don't know what that is?"
"Then I think that just means you aren't ready to decide that right now. Jane, this has been a shock for you. And it just happened. I don't think you have to know what the right thing to do is this exact second."
"What would you do?" she asked as she slowly extracted herself from Maura's embrace.
"That's hard to answer Jane. This isn't my family that's involved. I can tell you what I think I would do but I'd remind you that it's an answer that comes without any of the emotional ties that have ahold of you right now."
"Tell me anyway," Jane replied. She understood what Maura was trying to say and if the situation was reversed she probably would be feeling the same way but she really wanted someone else's opinion. Maura's opinion.
Maura looked at Jane. She hated talking about 'what ifs' but she couldn't help but sense that Jane really needed to hear her opinion. "If this was me, I would speak to my father first. Get his explanation and then insist that he tell my mother. If he didn't, or wouldn't, then I would." As she thought about she was fairly certain she would not be able to live with that kind of secret. She would insist her father tell her mother.
Jane nodded her understanding of what Maura was saying. "Thank you," she said wanting to acknowledge that it went against Maura's nature to speculate or guess about a situation. "And you are right, I don't have to have an answer right this second."
Maura gently placed her free hand upon Jane's cheek. "I really am sorry Jane," she said and leaned in for a light kiss. Pulling back she readjusted herself on the couch and pulled Jane into her so she got rest into her side.
They stayed that way for a while not talking. Maura hoped Jane found at least a small level of comfort in her arms.
"This is going to devastate her," she said in almost a whisper. It was the last thing Jane said on the subject that night.
