CHAPTER ELEVEN
"Passed away, when?" Jane hissed, she couldn't hide her frustration. She had been so close and now it felt like the rug had been pulled from underneath her feet.
The elderly Detective spoke "Yes, about three months ago, holiday accident"
Jane couldn't believe it. She pulled out the file from her backpack and opened the file. The men looked towards one another then to Jane.
"This man…" Jane pointed at the man leading Maura away "Has passed away?"
The men looked at the photo; both gave a sharp nod of confirmation. Jane took a deep breath and sighed loudly as she slumped into her chair.
"Who identified the body?" Jane asked.
"His mother, if I remember correctly" The elderly man replied.
Detective Sargent William's mobile vibrated across the table. Picking it up, he looked to the screen. "Sorry, I need to take this.." he said as he stood, placing the phone to his ear.
Jane watched the man disappear out of the room.
The elderly Detective glanced over his shoulder at the closed door. He turned back to Jane " I spoke to Vince Korsak…or should I say Retired Detective Sargent Korsak"
Jane's eyes widened slightly. Oh shit the game was definitely up.
"Interesting story he told me.."
Jane clasped her hands to her head. "Okay let me explain.."
The man looked intently at Jane. "It's okay Jane, I've known Korsak for years; I use to work at Boston PD years ago. I won't say anything about you no longer being a Detective to my colleagues. I owe Vince a favour or two, myself. Told him the debt was being repaid. But I think you're going around this the wrong way.."
The look on Jane's face was priceless as she looked the man square in the eye.
"Huh?" Jane muttered.
"He told me about what you were convicted of doing and the reason why you are here. The woman in the photograph is your missing wife, no?"
"I just want to find her.." Jane's felt defeated.
The man nodded. "Come with me.." He said as he stood from the table and walked to the door. Jane followed quickly.
Jane stared at the computer screen. The photo licence of Doctor Mark Redbridge filled the screen. The word "DECEASED" written in big red letters under his photo. Next of kin details stood boldly in the bottom right hand corner of the screen.
"His mother lives about half hour away in Bloomingdale, she might be able to help you" he shrugged.
The Detective watched Jane as she scribbled down the address. She pushed back from the desk, picking up for backpack at the same time.
"Thank you so much for this, at least I have a place to start.."
The man nodded as Jane made her way out of the Detectives office. "Oh and Jane, Vince told me to take away your gun."
Jane stopped in her tracks, her head and shoulders slumped as she turned around to face the Detective. She started to raise the hem of the hoodie.
"I'm not going to though. Whatever you do, don't get caught.." The man winked.
Jane released the material and smoothed it back over her jeans. "thank you".
Jane struggled with the Sat Nav. She tapped it a couple of times before it finally locked into place on the dashboard. She glanced into the rear vision mirror as she pulled out the 'Rental Car' parking lot. She was in two minds, this could turn out to be a total waste of time or perhaps Dr Redbridge's Mother could in fact help Jane in her quest to find her wife. She just didn't know.
Half hour later, she turned into the street. She glanced at the houses on both side of the streets. She mentally counted the house numbers as the car crawled along the street. It was a typical suburban street, kids riding their bikes up and down the footpath. Street hockey goal nets lined up in some of the driveways.
She glanced at the sat nav as the automated voice announced that she'd reached her destination.
Pulling up to the curb, she glanced at the handwritten note of the address before looking over at the house. Pushing open the door, her long legs met with the sidewalk. She retrieved her backpack from the passenger seat before slamming the door shut.
Pushing open the small metal gate, she slowly strolled up the cement path. Glancing in the front window she noticed a silver haired elderly woman sitting in an armchair watching the television.
After knocking a couple of times, she stood back from the door and waited for it to be answered. A few minutes later the door opened. The silver haired woman looked Jane up and down before speaking "Can I help you?"
Jane smiled sweetly "Hello my name is Jane Rizzoli, can I come in and talk to you about your son?"
The woman held position at the door, her body language was defensive and this didn't go unnoticed by Jane. "I won't take much of your time" Jane answered quickly giving a hopeful smile.
The woman shuffled out the way, extending her arm for Jane to enter. Jane took the initial step inside the property as the woman led the way to the living room. Closing the door behind her, Jane followed the woman into the living room.
The silver haired woman grunted as she sat down in her armchair. Jane sat down opposite the woman and gave a well-rehearsed smile. One she used so many times before when she was a Detective.
"Mrs Redbridge, I am..." Jane paused slightly, should she continue the guise of a detective or not. Well it had worked for her so far so she decided to keep it up "I am a Detective and I'm following up on some details on a cold case. It's about your son Mark."
The woman looked quizzically towards Jane. She wondered why now after three months the police would be looking into her son's death.
"I'm afraid that there isn't much to say really. Mark was on holiday in the Caribbean. It really was a tragic accident. He was struck by a car and killed almost immediately.
Jane took in the details. "…and this was three months ago?"
The woman nodded "yes.."
"And his wife, I heard she was ill?"
The woman's gaze left Jane. They settled on a photograph of Mark and his wife on their wedding day. The pair smiling broadly in to the camera. Jane stood and picked up the framed photo from the mantelpiece . The woman in the photo wasn't Maura. Instead it was a mousey brown haired woman. Twenty something; Jane guessed.
"Simone was such a lovely woman" The woman commented.
"was?" Jane queried.
"Yes, Simone passed away two months previously to Mark's death. Such a tragic set of circumstances. The poor woman had been diagnosed with breast cancer. The doctors said it was too late. But she was a fighter; she battled right to the end." The woman's voice was full or sorrow.
Jane looked back to the woman. She nodded as she placed the photograph back in its resting place. Jane realised that this was a waste of time. "Well I thank you for your time Mrs Redbridge. Sorry to hear about your loss." Jane picked up her backpack. "I'm sorry to disturb you, I'll show myself out.." Jane said as she swung the backpack over her shoulder, knocking over another photograph from the sideboard. It landed face down on the carpet. Jane hadn't noticed that she'd knocked it over. As she reached the front door, she sighed to herself as she realised that she was no closer to finding Maura.
Mrs Redbridge heaved her body out of the armchair and picked the photo frame off the floor. She smiled to herself as she looked at the photograph of her other son, his honey blonde haired girlfriend and their six year old son.
Pulling the door to, Jane briskly walked to the car. Slamming the door shut, Jane thumped her palms against the steering wheel in dissatisfaction. Turning the key in the ignition, the car revved to life. Jane pulled away quickly.
A silver sedan pulled up outside Mrs Redbridge's house. Moments later the occupants of the car got out. The man stood beside his car watching the red vehicle that had just left the premises. Mrs Redbridge exited her house, her arms outstretched to her grandson. The little boy ran up the path towards her. She bent down enveloping him in a snuggly hug.
The man smiled briefly at the sight before asking "Who was that ma?"
Mrs Redbridge looked to her one surviving son " A detective, asking about Mark's death" she shrugged.
The man looked from his mother and back to the red tail-lights of the vehicle in the distance. "What was his name?" he asked out of curiosity.
"Her name was Jane Rizzoli" The silver haired woman replied, her tone uninterested in the subject.
The man shot a worried glance at his mother. Did she really say the name he'd hoped to never hear again? "Ah…Ma I've got to go, can you look after squirt for a few hours.." He didn't wait for a reply.
Before the woman could answer he was already in pursuit of the car he'd just seen.
His eyes scanned the parked cars that lined both sides of the road. He knew she'd come down here. Looking to his left, he noticed the shiny red Chevrolet parked up the street. There she was, the great Jane Rizzoli hastily walking away from the vehicle. He slowed the car and parked it in the only empty space further up the road. His turned around in the seat and watched the brunette cross the street cautiously. He momentarily lost a visual of the woman.
Pushing the door open, he jumped out the car and glanced back up the street. There she was briskly walking away from him. He followed her at a distance. His eyes peeled on the brunette as she climbed the stairs to the Hotel. He increased his pace to a jog. Stopping just out of sight, his gaze fixed on the brunette through the glass wall. He watched as she waited patiently for a lift to arrive. Seconds later the lift doors opened and she was gone. Taking a deep breath he then ran his fingers through his hair as he turned away from the hotel.
She was close, too close for comfort actually he thought to himself as he walked back to his car.