Chapter 14
There were approximately ten detectives gathered around the bullpen as Agent Dean addressed the group.
"Thanks to the investigative work of Sgt. Korsak and his team, we have two suspects in the disappearance of Dr. Maura Isles. Let me say that there will be no lone wolves on this search. I repeat: No lone wolves." His eyes stopped on Jane for a moment. "Everyone must stay in groups of three or more at all times. Understood?"
The detectives, including Jane, all nodded in agreement.
"We will have two teams - one group will be run by Sgt. Korsak and the other will be run by myself. You have your assignments regarding who you'll be reporting to during this operation. Korsak's team will be going to Frank Conte's location while my team will be headed to Dr. Harris's house. Both of these locations are in South Boston within several blocks of D Street, so be on the lookout for anything suspicious in the area."
"Agent Dean," Jane began. "I don't believe Dr. Isles is at Harris' home."
"Why is that detective?"
Jane seemed unsure what to say. Finally, she muttered, "Let's just a little birdie told me."
Korzak, Frankie and Nina looked everywhere except at their fellow detectives or each other. Boris sat alone in the corner, expressionless. Jane watched him and made a mental note to never play poker with the man.
"Alright," Dean replied, "we still have a warrant to search his property so we'll check everything up and down to see if there is any trace of her at all. Perhaps your... Birdie... missed a juicy worm. Agreed?"
Reluctantly, Jane nodded.
"Suit up," he told the group. "We rollout in five minutes."
As the detectives moved about, putting on bulletproof vests and checking their firearms, Nina took Jane aside.
"Be careful," she told the detective. "We know she's not at Harris's house, so I'm going to keep looking for other possible angles."
"I appreciate all your help," Jane told her. "I realize you didn't have to stay here all these hours."
"You're right, I didn't. I wanted to stay. When I first came to Boston PD, Dr. Isles was actually the first person who took a sincere interest in me."
"I'm sorry," Jane replied. "I know I'm not the most welcoming person and-."
Nina smiled. "It's okay. I just meant that I know she's important to our work, but she's also important to me."
Jane didn't ask permission. She pulled Nina into a hug and stayed in the embrace for a few moments before she pulled away. Even as they stepped back their forearms were still locked.
"Find her," was Nina's only on response as she squeezed Jane's arms. The plea wasn't lost on the detective.
Jane's eyes were glassy. Not trusting her voice, she simply nodded her head in an unspoken promise. Nina released her and walked back to her desk. Jane made her way to Frankie and turned him around. She tightened his bullet proof vest and watched a far off look in his eyes.
"You're gonna be fine," she told him.
"I was just thinking about another vest and a cracked rib that nearly killed me...I would have died that day if it wasn't for her..." He seemed to be holding back tears. "We gotta find her, Jane. She's gotta be with Conte."
Jane nodded. "You make sure you get her out first. If Conte runs, and you see her, you let him run, okay? Let someone else get him. You get her out of there before anything else, alright?"
He firmly nodded and added empathetically, "I know you want to go with me and Korsak."
"I do, but..." she said as she started to shake her head. "I know I can't. Chances are she's there. I might endanger her if I'm there too...and I know how absolutely ridiculous that sounds."
"It's foretold. Believe me," Frankie said with a slight chuckle. "This is just so surreal... Like there's some higher power's guidin' us, ya know?"
"Yeah, I do," she replied with a slight grin.
"After this is over, I might start going back to St. Mary's more often. I mean, it couldn't hurt to do a few hail Mary's or prayers to St. Michael now and then, right?"
Jane smiled. She reached up and patted her brother's cheek. "Be careful out there."
"You too," he said as he turned his head slightly and gave her a kiss on her palm.
"Team one," Korsak ordered. "Assemble out front! Move it!"
Jane walked over to him. Once the last man was gone from the room, he waved her closer. He pulled her into an embrace. "She'll be home soon," he whispered into her hair.
"Promise?" she begged on the verge of tears. She started to chuckle in nervousness. "God, I sound like a baby," she said. "Why is this getting to me NOW?"
"We'll find her and if she's not there, we're not stopping until we do," he told her firmly. "Just make sure you keep Agent Dean in line," he told her with wink.
That lightened the mood for her and she chuckled. "Always."
Without another word, he marched from the room to his waiting men. Jane then watched as Dean walked toward her in one direction and Boris approached from the other.
"He is not a member of this investigation," Dean told Jane, while focusing on Boris. "I'm afraid he won't be coming with us."
"This is a free country," Boris countered, "and I am allowed to go on any city street of my choosing. If I just happen to be on a street where Det. Rizzoli is, so be it."
"You know-," Agent Dean began. Before he could say another word, Jane stopped him.
"Let's not argue okay, fellas?" She offered diplomatically. "Besides, it wouldn't hurt to have a set of eyes outside the house in case Harris comes in unexpectedly. Okay? Okay." She waved for both men to follow her.
"After you, Agent," Boris said with a wave of his hand.
"You're so gallant," Dean muttered in annoyance.
Boris smiled.
Several minutes later the teams were in place. Dean, Jane and Detective Crowe had already made their way inside Harris's house by the time Korsak's team arrived at Frank Conte's house and began to do their recon of the area.
Outside of Harris home, in his car, Boris was getting bored. He knew he couldn't go in with the team, but he did like Jane's idea of keeping watch. If Harris tried to get the jump on them, he could call Jane and give her a heads-up. For the moment, he sat watching the street and sipping his coffee.
Inside the home was a different story.
"There's nothing here," Jane sighed in frustration as she closed another drawer in the kitchen with her latex gloved hand.
"There has to be something," Crowe countered. "You and Korsak didn't just pull this idea out of your asses, did you, Rizzoli?"
"Shut the hell up, Crowe," she countered.
"Kids," Agent Dean pipped in, "Let's keep it civil."
Jane's phone vibrated and she jumped slightly. Pulling it out, she looked at the name.
"It's Nina," she told them as she answered. "Hey...Yeah, let me put you on speaker...Go ahead."
"Johnson's Shoe Store, the location printed on LeeAnn Sampson's balloons, was owned by a Robert Johnson prior to his death nine years ago. He's got two step-sons and one of which inherited the building. His name? Steve Conte. Care to guess his brothers' name?" she said.
"Frank?" Jane offered.
"Yep, the same Frank Conte who works for the BPD."
"Nina you're a genius!" Jane exclaimed.
Her laugh on the other end was audible. "Why thank you," she replied. "Now, I haven't heard from Sgt. Korsak's team yet, but someone might want to get to that shoe store ASAP. I just texted you the address and map."
"We're on it," Jane told her. "Thanks, Nina!"
"You got it!"
"Come on!" Jane said as she waved them out of the house and took off in a run that forced Dean and Crowe to keep up.