Author's Note: Well, I don't know if I replaced it correctly. I think I recovered the majority of the pages I lost. So here is the new material.

Chapter 12: The Longer Weekend

The good sister didn't know what the girls wanted from her. It looked to her like they had a pretty good handle on the situation. Jane was trying her best to convince the younger teen that the course in life she was choosing would be difficult and dangerous. While Maura was doing her best not hurt the delicate young hood that was Jane Rizzoli.

The quiet nun checked the clock and saw they still have forty minutes until the first bell. However, she decided it would be best if she reminded the pair of the time. So she announced, "Girls, we need to hurry this up a bit. It's forty minutes to first bell."

Jane responded, "Sister, you'll see why this is important when I'm finished. So the tall brunette continued the story."

***SE***

After lunch Jane drove them to see Tony J. Alarm bells were ringing in her head. What the Hernandez brothers did; didn't make sense, unless the Spanish were making some sort of move. They knew that Mother's Bar and Restaurant was protected and there would be severe consequence for their intrusion. And they had over a hundred dollars in their pockets.

The wily street kid's instincts were on overdrive as she pressed her car through the traffic infested streets of downtown New Orleans. Every fiber of her body was telling her she had to get to Bevenito's. Something was up and her Spider senses were screaming.

As Jane turned onto St. Roche, her suspicions were confirmed. Several guards were outside the store and the compound. Additionally, the store was closed. To her recollection, the only time that store was closed was for Christmas and Easter. Mr. B knew the importance of his store to the neighborhood. It was the only place they had to shop without going several blocks to the Piggly Wiggly, which charged higher prices. Mr. B didn't really make much of a profit from his store, though as far as the government was concerned, it was the most profitable neighbor grocery in the Deep South if that store was closed, something happened; something really big.

The tough warrior pulled into the driveway of the compound and was confronted by Vincenio Marcus Bevenito or as he better known Markie. He was the nephew of Tony J. and one of Mr. B's grandsons. For family to be on the gate was terrible omen. Someone has been hit. The seasoned Catholic crossed herself, looked to heaven and prayed it wasn't Mr. B.

Jane rolled down her window and asked, "Who got hit, Markie?"

Markie Bevenito was twenty-six years old and ran the book for the Fair Grounds and Evangeline Downs. He had worked his way up the ranks and had once been the leader of the Warlords. The curly haired brunette knew the man well. He stood only 5'5", but weighed close to 220 lbs, but not an ounce of fat on him. His biceps bulged from his daily workouts with the weights in the compound. If there was a tougher man in a scrap, Jane had never met him. So, when the young Italian saw the red eyes and tears forming in his eyes, she knew his answer, "Grandpa was shot in his store about an hour ago. Two hoods tried to hold him up and he wouldn't have any of it. So they shot him. Kenny was on the crapper at the time or it would never have happened."

"Where's Kenny and Mr. Bev," asked the now angry hoodlum.

The gatekeeper was taken by the venom in the teenager's voice. He knew that voice and it meant someone was going to be hurt. So he was reluctant to answer, "My uncle is on the secure phone to the Brothers and Kenny is in my Grandpa's kitchen. What's going on Janie?"

The wily veteran of too much too soon sighed, "I don't know for sure, but I can tell you. It weren't no robbery."

***SE***

Maura had sat quietly through the entire drive. The sweet blonde knew something was going on in her friend's head and didn't want to disturb the lovely brunette. So, the young girl sat quietly listening to WTIX on the radio. The honey blonde was developing a new sense of music. For years, the young teen had only listened to classical music, preferring Tchaikovsky to the Beatles, but Jane had introduced her to the Doors and now the young girl was hooked. There was something very classical about the Doors.

But now, Maura had sensed a deep change in her heroine. Certainty had replaced doubt and the young student knew that her friend was now totally motivated to something. The honey blonde just wished she knew what that something was.

As the gate opened, Jane drove her car quickly into the compound. The Bel Air had barely stopped, when the angry teen jumped out of the vehicle. The purposeful Italian was greeted by Tony J, who was coming out of the back of the grocery store, where they kept the secure phone.

Tony J had red eyes with dark bags, similar to the ones she had seen on Markie. The Italian Boss just strode up to the girl he loved like a daughter and hugged her tightly. Jane hugged the man back and whispered, "How is he?"

Tony J released the young teen and kissed both her cheeks gently and with reverence before he responded, "He's resting comfortably at Oshner's. He just got out of surgery."

Jane asked her second question, "Who's on him?"

The wily crime boss sensed purpose behind the question and turned to his second and ordered, "Put the Pinaro brothers on my father's room."

The man didn't hesitate and went immediately to find a phone. The now worried mobster answered, "I just had Victor on his room and giving me updates. But you know something; don't you?"

The tall brunette's only response was, "Let's go see Kenny."

As she passed her Bel Air, the young gang leader took her 45 from the glove box. Maura had been standing by the car door and looked scared. Jane met those lovely hazel eyes and touched her face, as she said softly, "Don't worry. But stay here. I don't want you getting hurt."

As the forceful brunette walked briskly toward the backdoor of the main house, she felt her friend follow. The angry Italian strode into the kitchen and pulled her pistol. Kenny was sitting drinking coffee and looking nervous. The tough gang leader pointed the gun at the suddenly terrified Kenny, who never screamed as the cool metal pressed against his forehead.

"My first shot is your left ball, then you're right, then your dick, then I start getting serious. You know me and you know I am serious. Who paid you to set up Mr. B," Jane asked?

The man lifted his hands in a sign of surrender and answered, "Janie, I don't know watcha talking about?"

The very upset brunette punched the trembling man in the nose with her left fist and blood spurted from the obviously broken nose. The no nonsense gang boss stated, "I know you set him up, because I just came from Mother's. The Hernandez brothers were partying there and making Mr. P pick up the tab. Now I had a talk with them and they changed their ways. But I knew something was up, because those toadies had no balls for bucking me. So they must of thought I would be busy elsewhere. So I know you're dirty. So you are going to die. The question is, 'Do you die clean or do you die slowly over the next mother or so?"

The man wet his pants. His terror was total and complete. Everyone knew this girl had no heart, she had no mercy, she had no remorse. They called her Il Finitore, The Finisher, because she always finished what was started. So, the man knew the pain and agony that awaited him, if he didn't answer. So he mumbled, "Valdez."

The crafty teen looked to her mentor and he just nodded to his men. They took the begging coward out of the kitchen. He turned to his sister, Laverne, and said, "Get one of the maids to clean this mess up. I don't want any Bevenito hands to tough his mess."

The weary mob boss walked outside followed by two teenage girls. He looked to Jane and said with grief in his voice, "I knew Kenny since grade school. He was the toughest kid in the Channel then. I don't know where I went wrong with him."

It was Maura who came forward to hug the betrayed friend. The innocent girl pulled away from the hug and said, "You can never be responsible for the evil of others. We all free will. It is God's gift to man. Some men misuse the gift for so many reasons. You cannot protect people from themselves. You can only hope to guide them through life by example.

The tough crime lord pulled the young honey blonde into his arms and whispered, "Thank you, but know this I love Janie like a daughter. She has had a tough life. If you hurt her, no one will be able to protect you from me. She deserves some happiness in her life. And I can see that she finds it in you. Be her friend, if nothing else."

The young honey blonde whispered back, "I love her."

He released the young teen and looked deeply into her eyes and saw only truth, the truth he needed to hear. He gently kissed the innocent teen's forehead and said, "I can see that."

Tony J looked to the daughter of his heart and put the younger girl's hand into her own and said, "You know there is more to this than a hit on the Old Man."

"Yep, I think it's a play on Doyle. I think I have a big fat bullseye on me," replied the embarrassed teen, who didn't release the hand.

The wily crime boss thought for a moment and queried, "I think you're right. So, what're you going to do?"

The tall brunette's eyes flashed with fire as she answered quoting her religious teachings, "Kill them all and let God sort them out."

***SE***

Jane and Maura left the compound and went straight to St. Roche safe house. She was greeted by Mr. Laserva and Lou. They had obviously heard what was happening, but were hoping for further information. Jane simply said, "The Spanish."

The two didn't need any more information. So they looked expectantly to their leader for orders. She didn't disappoint them, when she commanded, "Mr. L, call Muldoon and tell him there is a bomb threat at Jesuit. Lou, there is going to a fire at Fortier."

With their individual missions, the two ran off in different directions. Jane took Maura's hand and led her into the living room. The dark teen strode to the desk in the corner of the room and unlocked the drawers. In the middle drawer she removed a small notebook and handed it to Maura and asked, "Could you go into the kitchen and start calling every number on that list? If you get a busy signal or no answer, keep calling every ten minutes until you get them. Tell the name associated with the number that this is a fire drill. Nothing more. It's vital you say nothing else. It would also be helpful, if you could round up some food from the cabinets. We are going to be here all night and most of tomorrow."

Maura looked questioningly at her tall friend, who answered the unspoken question, "Mr. L is going to call a friend of mine in the police. He will call Jesuit with a phony bomb scare, which is a prearranged signal for my guys who go to Jesuit to come here. The same for the fire alarm at Fortier, Lou will pull a fire alarm and the guys will come here. The list is my guys with jobs."

The young blonde nodded her acceptance of the assignment and her eyes were warm with gratitude that her friend was asking her for help. The innocent teen almost skipped to the rear of the house.

Jane knew there was no getting rid of her beautiful charge. The bright girl was going to follow her to a premature death. The tough, but smart, gang leader knew that was her fate, but she would be damned if was going to Maura's. After the young blonde was safely in the rear of the house, Jane opened another drawer from which the gang boss removed a set of keys.

The tall teen got up from her desk chair and walked to and into the hall closet. The savvy teen pulled a long cord which opened a trapdoor in the ceiling. The athletic brunette leaped up and caught the edges of the ceiling opening and pulled herself threw. Pulling the cord had also activated the lights in the upstairs rooms. Once through the opening, she encountered two doors, one on the left and one on the right of the floor opening.

Jane unlocked both doors and entered the room on the left. Behind the door was a 12x40 foot room complete with an all wood floor. The room was almost barren except for a large dining room table from a junkyard in Metairie. At the moment the table was barren. The tall dark haired teen turned on the attic fan for circulation and ventilation.

The room had another door to the right. The smart street boss strode to that door and unlocked it. She opened it to find a large walk-in closet. But right up front were two file cabinets. Jane unlocked them and removed several files; then walked up to the table and placed them there.

The seasoned leader lowered a rope ladder and climbed down. The dark Italian strode confidently into the kitchen and found Maura talking on the phone and making bologna and cheese sandwiches. There were several bowls filled with chips, nuts and pretzels. Taking out the peanut butter and jelly and another loaf of bread, the gangly gang leader sat beside her friend and start making more sandwiches. It was going to be a long night and day tomorrow.

When the young blonde hung up the phone, she said, "I made contact with all of the numbers on the list and I called my mother to tell her I was staying with you at your mother's house tonight. I am not sure my mother believed me. I am not a very good liar. I think she thinks we are engaging in sexual activity. Additionally, I am not sure whether or not she approves."

The tall brunette swallowed hard; she could not deny that she was very attracted to the young blonde. As a matter of fact they still had to discuss a certain kiss, but that was a topic for another day. The kiss had been special; it had set waves of heat throughout Jane's body. As the warmth began to spread and threaten the teenager's hormonal level, the dark Italian shook her head and asked, "Do you want me to fix it with your mom?"

The innocent teen thought for a moment and answered, "Would you? If I am going to have her think I am making love to you, I want it to be a fact and not conjecture."

The blushing brunette was frustrated almost beyond tolerance. If this kept up, she was going to need a change of underwear. So to change the topic, she picked up the telephone and dialed her mother. Thankfully her mother answered the phone, "Hello."

Jane said, "Hey mom, I thought I'd call. I guess you heard about Mr. B,"

The older woman answered, "Yeah, it's all over the neighborhood. Is the Old Man going to be alright?"

The young daughter replied, "It's okay for now. Look, Ma I need you to call Mrs. Isles. We have a situation here because of the hit on the Old Man. I have to stay at the safe house and Maura won't leave me. She told her Mom that she and I are staying with you tonight. I was hoping you could square it and I promise we will stay one night soon to make up for it."

Jane could hear her mother beaming over the phone, as she said, "Sure, baby, I'll call her when we hang up. You going to be okay?"

With total sincerity the Italian daughter told her mother, "I'll handle it."

With that her mother knew it was over. When her daughter said it was handle, then it was finished.

***SE***

The ten top people in the Warlords stood around the big table examining maps and list of members in the Tiburones de tigre. After some minor questioning and discussion, Jane called everyone to order. Then she made six x's on the street map of the Palmetto St. Projects. Then the confident leader said, "We are going to split into six four man teams. Each team will enter at the spot marked on the map. Little Tucky will lead team two. Big Joe will lead team three. Marcus will lead team four. Kix will take team five and Trickster will lead team six. Of course, I will lead team one. Big Tucky, Lou and Three will be in reserve. Are there any questions?"

Lou spoke up, "Why are we doing this Jane? There is nothing to prove it was a hit. It might have just been a robbery. I don't like splitting up. I don't like it at all. I think you are thinking with the wrong head. I think that you playing house with your girlfriend over-there has damaged your brain, because I think you're doing this to protect her, not us."

The look in Jane's eyes made the small Italian take two tentative steps backwards. The tall Italian asked quietly, "Lou, you want your old job back? Is that it? Do you want to lead again? Because if you do, just say the word and I will resign in your favor, I never wanted the job to begin with. But Lou, you ever talk about Maura like that again and I will make you sing soprano for the rest of your life."

Lou realized he had gone too far, but he was taken aback of how far the dark girl had fallen. Jane Rizzoli was completely whipped. Lou liked all his parts in their present positions, so he apologized, "I'm sorry, Janie. I just don't think this is a good idea. I wish you would think it through."

"I have thought it through. I have considered every angle and this is the only answer. Look, even if it wasn't a hit, the Hernandez brothers felt like we're weak enough that they'd hurt one of our friends. We can't let them get away with it. We've got to answer the challenge or the other gangs'll take it as a sign we're vulnerable," implored the dark gang leader, "If we let this go, then we'll have every gang in the area invading our turf."

The former gang leader had to agree, Jane's reasoning was sound. A lot of the gang's success was based on reputation and if their reputation was damaged, then the gang was damaged. So Lou, reluctantly asked, "Okay, but why am I not leading a group? Why are three of your best fighters in reserve?"

Jane took a breath and replied, "I want to discuss that with you three after the meeting. So, are there any other questions?"

After answer several minor questions about tactics and signals, the dark Italian called the meeting and said, "Okay, I want each team leader to take a walkie with them. Remember no wise cracking or unnecessary talking on the walkies they are for emergencies only. Also remember the codes, one long click for in position and four short clicks for start the mission.

And remember keep your heads out there. This is just a beat down. No one dies. We really don't need the cops snooping around. They'll ignore a bunch of head bashing, but one death means homicide detectives and we don't need that kind of heat. Got it?"

All the others filed out of the small war room, leaving the three reservists and Jane alone. Before the others could ask any questions, the commanding presence ordered, "You three will guard Maura. I can't get her to stay behind. Believe me I have tried. I am making you responsible for her safety, Lou. You know what that means. If you screw this up, run. I don't know if I could ever forgive you.

I want to be honest with you guys. I love the girl. I love her with all my heart and soul. You guys know me and you know I've been trying hard not to let anybody ever get close to me. Hell, I've been distancing my own mother for three years, but this girl…this girl has captured me.

Lou, this is going to be my last hurrah. I'm going to college and then law school. The Isles have given me some money to go to school and I'm going to take advantage of it. I thought you guys should know. I'm also going to tell Big Joe tonight."

The three tough hoodlums didn't know what to say. Jane Rizzoli never made explanations. For the dark teen to open up to anybody was rare, if not unique. Two of the boys had been there when they found the batter and beaten young girl, so they had a lot of sympathy for her; Lou most of all, because he always felt guilty about not better protecting her that night.

Lou responded, "Janie, we'll keep her safe. I wish you all the luck in the world, but you know as well as I do very few of us ever get to walk away. Fewer still get to go into the legit world. I hope you get away with it, but you know you're gonna haveto talk to Tony J. He'll have to give the okay."

Jane knew the score, but that was for another day. The tall Italian wasn't looking forward to that conversation, but for Maura, she would do anything.

***SE***

Big Joe led his team to the designated position, then hit the send key on his walkie talkie and held it for a two count. Then he waited. It was a warm and sultry night. The afternoon rain had made the road and ground wet. However the night was clear and a few stars were in the sky.

Joe loved the stars. When they were kids, he and Jane would go on camping trips down to Grande Isle and watch the stars at night. Janie knew all the constellations and would tell him stories about how the Greek and Roman Gods would send heroes into the sky and make them constellations.

His best friend had always promised when he died he would get his own constellation. The constellation Big Joe sounded so nice. He absent mindedly patted the watch pocket of his blue jean pants. He still carried it there. The big fighter always carried the small silver ring; he had intended to give Janie that night…The night that changed everything for both of them.

The young man knew the toll it had taken on his best friend. The once bright cheerful girl had turned dark and brooding. Other things had changed as well. Jane had turned to other girls for comfort. Joe knew them all. The big boy had seen girl after girl kiss and hug his friend and then run off crying when the tall Italian called it off.

It wasn't that the tough hood used the girls, Janie was always right upfront. The gorgeous brunette would smile and warn the girls that she wasn't looking for a girl friend or a love interest. The Catholic Italian would warn them that the church and society hated homosexuals and that if they should have sex, it would be frowned upon by almost everyone. But they still chased the beautiful and allusive brunette.

Joe was equally in her snare, though it was all one-sided. Jane had no interest in men. So, Joe watched and protected the only person he had ever loved. Every day he would watch and wait for the old Jane to come back.

Joe was suddenly awakened from his memories by four short clicks coming over the walkie. He signaled his men to move toward the three floor apartment building across Palmetto Avenue. Slowly his team made their way to the building and then through the only entrance to the building.

He had four targets; two on the first floor and one on each of the others. He was making his way to the first apartment on his list when he felt it. Something was wrong. Something was not right. Then it hit him. The apartment building was silent; no television, no radio and no talking. The place was deserted.

The tall warrior pulled his walkie and shouted, "It's a trap. I repeat. It's a trap."

Then out of one of the middle apartments, ten guys carrying weapons appeared and they weren't Spanish. So Joe did the only thing that made sense, he charged the other gang. The opposing gang was caught short and failed to react properly.

Joe and his team quickly engaged the fighters. They had expected the outnumbered Italians to run for it, not to charge. As a result the opposition had two men down and had been forced to the back of the long corridor. By keeping the fight in a confined space, the numbers of the enemies could not be utilized.

Big Joe knew his team couldn't win this fight, but if they could hold out long enough, they could get some help. But team three was not the only ones in trouble.