My apologies for the long absence. The holidays were just so busy and so much fun, the writing sort of got left behind. I hope that you are still out there reading. I also hope that you holidays were as great as mine.
Here is the next chapter. Sort of going out on a limb here, let me know what you think.
Disclaimer: I don't own Rizzoli and Isles.
"Doyle? What do you know?"
"I know that she was taken. I have my people looking for her right now. I want you to tell me if you find anything I can act on that you can't."
"Why would I do that?"
"Because you are the one person that cares as much about my daughter as I do."
Jane closed her eyes as the statement sank in. He was right. She would align with the devil himself if it would get Maura back safely. "You have a deal."
"Thank you detective." The line went dead.
As she set the phone back on the desk, it occurred to her that making a deal with an underworld necromancer might be worse than any deal she could ever cut with Satan.
"Doyle? What did he say?" Vince asked.
"He doesn't have Maura, but he knows she is missing. He has people looking for her. He wants us to tell him if we find information that we can't act on."
Jane collapsed into a chair. She hadn't realized how badly she was hoping it would be Maura until she heard Doyle's voice.
The following hours were filled with alerting the chain of command and pulling in extra help. She was on the phone with members of the missing person's group when Korsak approached her desk. As she hung up the phone she looked up at the senior detective.
"Find her?" Jane did her best to hide the panic on her face.
"The Chief has decided to keep this quiet." Korsak took a step back to avoid some of the explosive temper that he was sure to come his way.
"WHAT!?" Jane launched herself from the chair. "Keep it quiet? The Chief Medical Examiner of the state has been kidnapped and they want to keep it quiet? What the hell, Korsak?"
"If this goes public we lose control of the situation." He began calmly.
"What control? Maura is missing, taken by God knows who. We don't have any control."
"Jane." Korsak tried again. "She was taken, not killed. Had they wanted to kill her, we would have found a body in the morgue. If we play this wrong, we could cost her her life. Right now, we wait for whoever this is to make their next move."
"Dammit!" Jane stormed from the bullpen.
"Where are you going?" Korsak shouted after her.
"The gym. To hit something." She yelled back as the elevator door closed.
"That went better than expected." The senior detective said to no one in particular as he headed to his desk.
Half an hour later, Jane still had not showed back up to her desk. He considered going to look for her, but didn't really feel like getting yelled at anymore. Instead, he walked over to the breakroom to refill his coffee cup.
"Vince!"
Korsak turned from the coffee machine to see who had called out.
"Sean. What are you…"
"Long time no see. You still play poker?"
Korsak immediately stopped talking. He had just seen the Homicide Captain at their weekly poker game two nights ago. He wasn't sure what was going on, but would let Cavanaugh take the lead.
"Yeah. Now and again." He answered.
"Give me a call some time. Group of us guys have a weekly game. Be nice to have you come."
As soon as Korsak reached out to shake the offered hand he felt paper scrape against his palm. He was instantly concerned by any information the Captain of the Homicide unit didn't feel comfortable sharing in the precinct. "I'll do that."
"Good to see you Vince." With that Cavanaugh left as quickly as he came.
Korsak waited till he had returned to his desk before opening the note in the palm of his hand.
Diner on corner. Forty minutes. Bring Detective Frost and Officer Frank Rizzoli. Don't tell Detective Rizzoli.
He balled the note in his fist. The bad feeling that receiving the note had caused in the pit of his stomach only worsened. He picked up the phone. He had to find Jane's brother.
Thirty five minutes later, Korsak and Frost entered the diner one block down from BPD. They found Captain Cavanaugh in a back booth staring at a full cup of coffee.
As they seated themselves, Sean spoke. "Where is Rizzoli?"
"He's on patrol. He's on his way."
As if on cue, Officer Rizzoli entered the door of the diner and made his way to the small group. As he seated himself next to the Captain, Vince voiced the thought on everyone's mind.
"What's going on Sean? What couldn't you talk about whatever this is at the station?"
"I want to be very clear here. This conversation never happened. I never talked to any of you. If it comes out we did talk, I will deny it, under oath if necessary. Understand?" he looked each man in the eye.
The three men nodded in agreement.
"My brother-in-law works for the governor's office. This morning, everyone working for or with that office was hit with a federal gag order." Seeing the perplexed look on the faces around him, he continued. "The reason for the gag order is because the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Massachusetts is being investigated for evidence tampering, evidence destruction, perjury, and criminal conspiracy."
"What?" Frost blurted out.
"She is currently being held on a material witness warrant by the FBI." The Captain paused waiting for questions.
"The FBI has her?" Frankie asked.
Cavanaugh nodded his head. "Some Special Agent named Dean. He claims that she has been helping her father hide his crimes from inside. The gag order also names Detective Rizzoli as being a target of the investigation. That's why the gag order is in place so nothing leaks to the BPD."
"How they hell did they get a warrant?" Vince almost shouted.
"Six months back, a member of the Irish mob walked on a murder charge because of some shoddy work done in the corners office. The FBI used that as an example." The captain explained.
"Yeah." Frost answered. "Some tech cross contaminated blood samples from the scene. Cast doubt on the entire case. But, Dr. Isles fired the guy. Ran him completely out of the state. Crushed his entire career."
"Yeah, well, the victim in that case was the Goddaughter of one Judge John G. Spicer. He signed the warrant and the gag order. This Agent Dean has convinced him there was a cover-up."
"Son of a bitch." Vince cursed.
"Now, Detective Rizzoli is under investigation. She is most certainly being surveilled, hence the reason for the secret meeting." Cavanaugh looked around the table. "You guys have to make sure she doesn't do anything to get herself in trouble."
"Like what?" Frankie asked.
Vince covered his face with his hands. "Like have a phone call with Paddy Doyle about looking for the Doc and telling him she would keep him updated on the case."
"What!" Cavanaugh almost yelled.
Vince continued. "He called last night after we realized what had happened. Told Jane that he didn't do it, but he was looking into it. Offered to keep her informed of what he found out if she did the same."
"That is exactly the sort of thing that is going to play right into the FBI's hands. Phone calls like that make her look guilty." Cavanaugh needless pointed out.
"I knew the Agent Dean was an ass, but this seems a little excessive for revenge, even for him." Frost pointed out.
"I think revenge is just a bonus." Vince explained. "I think his real goal is Paddy. With the son being murdered, that brings him out of hiding. Now having the Doc, he can lure Paddy where he wants him to be so he can swoop in and arrest him. That would put him back in the win column with the FBI after the whole mess with Hoyt. Getting Paddy is the goal. Ruining Dr. Isles and Jane is just a bonus."
"Well you guys have to stop her from doing anything careless or rash." Cavanaugh motioned for Frankie to let him out. As he stood he turned to the three men again. "Remember. This conversation never happened."
"Right." They all replied and watched the Homicide Captain leave the diner.
Frankie slid back into the booth and looked at the two detectives across from him. "Alright. Who's going to tell Jane?"
All three men simply stared at one another each waiting to the other to volunteer.
As the men entered the bullpen, they found Jane back at her desk.
"You two go to the second conference room. I'll get Jane." Korsak pointed toward the empty room as he headed for the Jane's desk.
"Jane, can you come with me." Vince didn't even stop, simply turned on his heel and headed toward the conference room.
"Where have you been? Maura is missing and you vanish…"
"Jane! Just come with me, please."
Jane's anger didn't leave her voice. "Yeah, sure." She responded to the detectives retreating back.
Korsak stopped to let Jane enter the room before he did.
"Vince's what's up? You are starting to freak me out a little…." That's when Jane saw both Frost and Frankie in the conference room. "Oh God!"
It was the utter despair in Jane's voice that made Korsak realize the mistake they had just made. With Maura missing and a murderer at large, bringing Jane into an empty room with three of her closest friends would lead her to only one conclusion. He took a quick step forward, grabbing her elbow and helping her to a seat. "No Jane. Maura isn't dead. As far as we know she's perfectly healthy."
"What the hell Vince? You scared the crap out of me, I thought for certain…" She turned to look around the room. "What do you mean as far as 'we' know? What do 'we' know?" When each man simply exchanged glances with each other without speaking, Jane snapped. "Someone better start telling me what the hell is going on?"
"Maura wasn't taken by the person who killed her half-brother." Frost was the first to speak.
"Who…" She didn't even get to finish the question.
"Gabriel Dean. Gabriel Dean is holding her on a material witness warrant. He has convinced a federal judge that she is in league with Doyle and helping to cover up crimes committed by the Irish Mob. He used the example of the murder of that night club waitress as an example. The one where the tech contaminated the blood evidence." Vince filled in the blank spaces. "The real target is Doyle, but smearing the Doc and you is a pretty big bonus."
"Smear us?" Jane wasn't use to playing catch up.
"Yes." Frankie answered. "Apparently, the whole thing with Hoyt really hurt is career and ego. Nabbing Doyle puts him back on top at the agency and trashing you and Maura makes up for the perceived slight against him."
"Where is she?"
"We don't know. We aren't even supposed to know this much. The governor's office has been hit with a federal gag order. That's why the brass is keeping this quiet. They've been told it's a sensitive matter by the governor." Korsak completed.
Jane stood from her chair. "Then I will find Dean and beat her location out of him."
Frost jumped from his chair, beating her to the door, effectively blocking her exit. "You can't do that."
"The hell I can't."
Frost continued. "You are being watched. You phones are most definitely tapped. An action like that plays directly into Deans hands. She isn't being held hostage. Her life isn't in danger. This is, like it or not, a legal detainment of a witness in relation to a criminal investigation."
"More to the point," Frankie added. "With an unidentified killer on the loose, Maura is safer surrounded by Feds than she is out in the open."
"So we just let him hold her against her will? Are you out of you mind?" Jane was really starting to lose control of her temper. She couldn't believe what she was hearing from her friends. "He's using her as bait."
"To draw out Doyle, not the killer." Korsak pointed out. "He expects to come out of hiding to find his daughter, whom he believes to be held by a killer seeking revenge against him."
"Jane. Listen to reason." Frankie pleaded. "The best move for you is to find the killer. Work the case like you normally would. Find the person stalking Doyle and everything else will filter out."
Maura had come to in a non-descript apartment somewhere in Boston. She could see certain landmarks out the window, so she was still in the city. She didn't know how she had gotten here. The last thing she remembered was a bag being thrown over her head and a sharp pain in her neck. She could only assume that she had been injected with something.
When she had finally gotten her bearings, she discovered that she was lying in a bed in a rather comfortable looking bedroom. The shock she received by finding the bedroom door unlocked was quickly exceeded when she found FBI Agent Dean and two U.S. Marshals sitting in the living room of the apartment.
Her immediate anger at the situation she found herself in was tempered when one of the Marshals forcibly stopped her from leaving. It was at that time that Agent Dean sat her down, explaining why she was being held and the plan he had going forward.
Agent Dean's long winded, rather ridiculous explanation of her situation, caused so many questions to occur to her, she didn't know which one to ask first. Between the accusation that she was somehow helping her murdering criminal father and the idea she was being used as bait to not only catch him but somehow frame Jane for wrong doing, made her mind reel.
"Have I actually rendered the great Dr. Isles speechless?" Dean looked down at her sitting in the chair.
She ignored the taunt. "Do you really think this will work?"
"Why wouldn't it?" Dean leaned back the chair he had been sitting in. "We know that he came to BPD to see his deceased son. He even gave you a sample of his blood to test. If he was willing to do that for his deceased son, imagine what he would do for his missing, living daughter."
"How did you find out I was his daughter?"
"We have hooks into the BPD because of the joint task force. I've been keeping tabs on all your cases. Not attaching your little DNA test to the case made it stand out all the more. Imagine my curiosity at seeing a DNA test done by the Chief Medical Examiner, who is so thorough in everything she does, not having a single piece of documentation." Maura was disturbed by the smile that crossed his face as he made the statement.
Maura looked him straight in the eye as she made her next statement. "You are very much mistaken if you think Jane will break the law to get me."
Dean leaned forward in his seat. "You sure about that?"
Later, sitting in the bedroom of the apartment, Maura had to admit to herself that she wasn't sure that Jane wouldn't do something rash to try and free her. She could only imagine how the brunette was dealing with her disappearance.
She had spent the better part of the past hour trying to think of a way to contact Jane, or anyone for that matter, to let them know that she was alright. The apartment didn't have phone or internet and her cell phone was at the office.
With nothing else to do, she laid down on the bed. "Jane, please don't do anything rash." She said to the ceiling.
Jane hadn't done anything rash, but it wasn't because she didn't want to. Since giving her the news of what had happened to Maura, one of the three stooges, as she had begun referring to Vince, Frost, and her brother in her mind, was always right next to her.
At this moment, Vince had babysitting duties, while they went over the victim's car in the BPD impound.
"I don't even know what we are looking for, Vince." Jane's frustration was evident in her voice.
Korsak looked at the detective. "We will know it when we see it." What he wanted to say was, he really didn't care if they found anything at all. His main goal was to keep Jane busy and out of trouble. If that meant they wasted hours poring over the car without finding anything, so be it.
Jane crawled out of the backseat and climbed into the driver's seat. She looked through the center console, glove box, and cup holders. Out of habit she pulled down the sun visor.
"Vince! Look at this."
"What you got?" Vince exited the back seat has well, climbing into the passenger's seat.
"It's an aftermarket road assist." She looked at Korsak. "This car rolled into the car in front of it, right? Supposedly it happened at the time of death?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Then let's see if there is a recording of the accident." Jane pressed the button.
A voice instantly filled the car. "American Road Assistance Network. How may I help you?"
"Yes. This is Detective Jane Rizzoli with Boston Police Department. Do you have a record of a collision for this vehicle from two nights ago?"
"One moment please." The voice disappeared for a moment. "Yes. A collision was registered two nights ago, but the driver said it was a mistake."
"The driver? Do you have a recording of that conversation?"
"Yes we do, but policy states we must have a warrant to turn over recordings."
"Thanks you." Jane growled.
Korsak began getting out of the car. "I know just the judge to go to for that warrant." He began walking for the stairs when he turned back to see Jane still sitting in the car. "Come on!"
"I'm good." Jane responded.
"I know you aren't stupid, Jane. You have noticed you are being baby sat. Now, get your butt out of the car and come on."
Jane got out and slammed the door. "I don't know what you think I'm going to do."
"Specifically? Go to Doyle and tell him that his daughter is being held by the FBI in order to lure him out. Or worse, actually help the man spring Maura. It has even occurred to me that you might talk to your werewolf friend. The last thing we need are the wolves getting involved in this."
Jane had the decency to look contrite at Korsak's accusations. She had considered all of those options.
The senior detective rubbed in face with both hands. When next he spoke, his voice was much softer. "Look, the only way to fix this is to work the case. We find the killer. Finding the killer sends Doyle back underground. Once that's done, we clear the Doc of these ridiculous allegations, then you can punch Dean in the face."
A smile crossed Jane's face. "You promise I get to punch Dean?"
"Scout's honor." Korsak held up his hand.
Several hours later, Korsak sat on a stool in a bar in the South Boston neighborhood he grew up in. He didn't even look when the stool beside him was occupied.
"Took you long enough." Korsak grunted into his mug.
"Well, being a one of the F.B.I.'s most wanted, tends to make a person careful, especially when invited to a meeting with a member of Boston's Special Projects. This better be good." The visitor looked straight ahead as he spoke.
"Didn't seem to stop you from entering BPD. Pretty ballsy for FBI's most wanted."
"I didn't have anybody looking for me then. Besides I had to see my boy."
"And Maura?"
"And Maura." The man ordered a beer from the bartender. "So, why am I here? What is so important to risk this?"
"First things first. I tell you this on one condition. You don't contact Jane again. Period. She's under investigation by the Feds."
"For what?"
"Helping your criminal ass."
"Fine. I stay away from the detective."
"The FBI has Maura. They are holding her as a material witness. In reality they are accusing her of covering up your crimes as Chief Medical Examiner. An agent with a grudge against Jane is using her to pull you out of hiding."
"Who?"
"So you can kill him? Not hardly. Lay low. We are handling the Feds."
"What about the person who killed my son?"
"We have some leads we are running down."
"I won't let my daughter end up like my boy."
Korsak stood from his stool. "If we can't handle it, I'll will let you know." The detective turned and left the building without ever looking back.