Chapter 21

Jane walked into the station the next day determined to start tackling the 89 other cold case files she needed to review. She got gotten behind in her pace for the review due to the Anderson file. She had decided to close the cartons and put Anderson's case aside but not reshelf the case yet. She had confidence in Frost and Cooper but she needed to move on with the rest of the cold case review. She had resigned herself that the Anderson case may never be officially solved.

It felt good to be able to walk into the station that morning without crutches. The PT guy was right. She was limping and was very mindful of putting too much weight on the ankle but it still felt good to be without the crutches. Jane made her way up to her desk and wasn't surprised to see Frost and Riley both already at their desks looking through reports. From the looks on their faces, she knew they were on to something.

"Looks like you both are on a mission," she said as she limped over to their desks.

"Hey! You graduated to just the boot," Riley commented with a smile. The entire precinct knew Jane hated the crutches.

"Yeah, yesterday. Finally. A bit limpy still but I'm getting there. What are you both working on?"

"We have a pretty good suspect for Harris and Miller. And maybe Anderson too," Frost said. "Looks like Harris was blackmailing our suspect. Harris was banking $10K every three months for the last ten years."

"That's over $400K. That's some serious money. Who was he blackmailing and why?"

Cooper handed over the photos she had found in Harris' home. Jane flipped through one of the photo albums and looked up at both Frost and Riley. She was shocked. "Really?"

"Really," answered Frost. "I just got the bank records from US Bank. The money was wire transferred every three months. And I can trace it back to his," and he pointed to the man in the photos, "account. He paid off Harris for years."

"Why? And why kill him now? After 10 years?"

"We think Harris found out he was getting involved with female students and agreed to keep it quiet as long as he was paid off. I checked through some on-line Newman yearbooks. It looks like from these photos that our Casanova took to a new female student each year."

"Jane, we think Kimberly Anderson may have been his first affair. We also think he killed her. I'm not sure if Harris figured out he was responsible for her death but it's clear Harris knew he was involved with her. The blackmail started right after Kimberly was killed," Frost showed Jane Harris' bank records. Jane had missed this. She had looked at some of his financials but she didn't know this. She wasn't aware of this account.

"And, we definitely know he was involved with Allison," Riley said. She handed Jane over a stack of text message print outs. "We recovered a second cell phone Allison had. She had stashed it in a friend's locker just before she left the school for the last time. Read the last message."

Jane flipped to the end and read

AL: Miss you

BL: I want to see you. Lot in 10?

AL: Have class

BL: I'll cover for you

AL: In 10 then 3 XOX

"We have video of Allison walking towards a Toyota Camry at 8:17 am. That last message was sent at 8:06 am. Guess who owns a 2003 Toyota Camry?" Frost asked.

Jane was flipping through the other text messages. They made her sick. Allison Miller was 16 years old. This was statutory rape. If that photo album was to be believed. There were several more victims. Their suspect wasn't just a murderer he was a child molester too.

"You clearly have enough for an arrest warrant for statutory rape and child endangerment. The bank records and vehicle registration help with possible murder charges against him too. What is the plan?"

"We are waiting for the warrant right now. Korsak signed off on it to go to a judge this morning. The DA signed off on murder, statutory rape, sexual battery and child endangerment. He will be compelled to supply a DNA sample. We are moving in on him as soon as the warrant is signed."

"Keep me posted. Looks like this will come to a head today," Jane was about to walk away when both Riley and Frost's desk phones rang. Each answered. Frost was quick. He said yes twice and hung up. Jane looked at him. "Warrant?"

He nodded, "Signed, sealed and about to be delivered." Then they both looked at Riley. She looked like she had a dilemma.

She put her hand over the receiver. "It's the desk Sergeant. He says there's a young lady downstairs who has information about the Miller case and wants to talk to someone."

Jane looked at them both. "Have her sent up. I'll speak with her. You two go execute the arrest warrant. I want this guy in custody."

Cooper nodded and told the desk Sergeant to send the girl up to the bullpen. Then she prepared to leave with Frost.

"Take a unit with you. This guy has killed maybe three times that we know of. No chances," Jane instructed. Both nodded.

Jane then went and waited for the elevator to come up from the lobby. When it arrived a young woman stepped nervously out and was looking around. Jane quickly approached.

"Hi, I'm Sergeant Detective Jane Rizzoli-Isles. I didn't get your name from downstairs," she tried to smile as reassuringly as she could. It was clear the girl was nervous.

"I'm Katy Thompson. I need to….can we….can we talk somewhere in private?"

Jane nodded, "Sure, let's go to an interview room." She directed Thompson and walked slowly beside her.

"What happened?" Katy asked looking down at Jane's leg.

"Just an accident. Here, have a seat," and she sat across from her. "Would you like something to drink?"

"No thank you."

"So Katy, what's going on?"

Katy dropped her eyes and started playing with her fingers. She was really nervous. Jane reached across the table and took her hands into her own. "Hey, whatever it is we can just talk about it, ok?"

Jane had a way of making people feel more comfortable. Katy responded to Jane's reassurance and released a sigh. "I think I know who might have killed Allison Miller."

"Ok, did you know her?"

Katy shook her head. "No, I'm a few years older than her. But I'm pretty sure I know what happened. I think she was involved with someone at Newman Prep. An….an adult."

"Why do you think that?" Jane still trying to be as reassuring as she could be.

"Because, because she was his type," with some anger behind the emphasis on the word his.

"Whose type?" Jane was patient. She wasn't going to rush the questioning.

"Principal Livingston's type. I think Allison was involved with him. I think she was this year's sophomore."

Jane nodded and had already known Bryce Livingston was their chief suspect. He was in dozens and dozens of photos with young girls. Several photos were clearly intimate. And Jane had read the text messages from Livingston to Allison. Those were completely inappropriate. So Jane was completely aware of Livingston. Frost and Cooper were en route to arrest the slimy bastard.

"Katy, what do you mean by 'this year's sophomore'?"

Maybe because Jane didn't look surprised. Or maybe because she simply had said the name out loud. But suddenly Katy was less nervous and more confident. More relaxed. "Principal Livingston selects one girl a year to get close to. Usually a sophomore but I have heard he went for a freshman once. He turns on the charm and manages to convince them that he is in love with them. The affair lasts the year and then he drops them for someone new."

Jane watched Katy as she explained herself. She had to ask the next question and she felt like she already knew what the answer was going to be. "Katy, how do you know any of this? Is it just rumor?"

Katy shook her head. She lowered her head again and didn't answer for a minute. Finally, she spoke. In almost a whisper. "I know because….because I was his sophomore 3 years ago." She was clearly scared and ashamed and embarrassed.

Jane again took Katy's hands in hers. "Hey, look at me." She waited for Katy to lift her eyes. "You didn't do anything wrong ok? This is all his fault. He was in a position of trust and authority and he took advantage. I'm sorry. Nothing that happened to you was your fault."

A single tear streaked down Katy's cheek. She nodded. Hearing what Jane said helped. But only a little. "I'm not here for me. I'm here for Allison. I don't have proof. But I think he killed her. I think he's killed before. He told me once." And she stopped talking for a second. Jane instinctively knew not to fill the silence. So they both just sat there. "He told me once that he's had to deal with girls wanting to leave him before and he'd do it again if he had to. He never said he killed anyone but that was what he was hinting at. And I knew another Newman girl had disappeared a long time ago."

Jane nodded. She was looking into the eyes was one of Livingston's many victims and it was tragic. She was just a kid. But there was so much pain behind her eyes. Jane, however, couldn't help but admire the girl sitting in front of her a bit. How brave. How absolutely brave of her to come forward with everything she herself had already been through. And for someone she didn't even know.

Jane sat and talked with Katy for over an hour. The simple fact that Jane was clearly not judging her made Katy feel better about coming forward. Jane didn't push for details and let Katy tell her as much or as little as she wanted about her relationship with Livingston. Jane didn't push much about her willingness to go on record and file any charges against Livingston. Katy wasn't sure what she wanted to do about that and Jane insisted that nothing needed to be decided right away.

She then walked Katy all the way out of the building when they were done talking. Jane had given her information for a counselor Jane knew who specialized in sexual assault cases. She was a good friend of Jane's and could really help Katy if she was willing. The girl was strong and brave and had survived a lot. She had been willing to tell a painful story to help someone she never knew. That, Jane thought as she headed back into the station, was a real hero.

She sat in the Café until she saw Frost and Riley return with Livingston in custody. He looked bad. Pale and shaky. Good. Jane smirked as she realized that he would look worse if and when he was released into general population in jail if he couldn't make bail. Even criminals had standards. Child molesters didn't go over well in prison. Jane really hoped he couldn't make bail. He had it coming to him.

She assumed he would immediately lawyer up so she didn't follow the crowd up to the interrogation room. Instead, she took the elevator down to the morgue. She needed to see Maura for a few minutes. The world was so full of evil it scared Jane sometimes. They had already brought Christopher into this world and they were now preparing to bring in a second child. Jane could lose sleep over worrying about keeping her children safe if she allowed herself. Sometimes she just wanted to take Maura and Chris and shield them from all of the awful things in the world.

Realistically she knew she couldn't do that. That wasn't the life she wanted for them. For Chris. For baby #2. Jane secretly hoped for a girl. But she feared for her family's safety. Regularly. Too much evil. She made her way towards Maura's office and spotted her wife in the lab. She was talking with a tech. Jane couldn't help but smile simply at the sight of her.

For as much evil as there was in the world there was good too. There were people who put others ahead of themselves. Others who worked to bring justice to those who no longer had a voice. Others who just had hearts free from malice. Others layered in generosity down to their souls. She should know. She happened to be married to one of those good ones.

Maura looked up and noticed Jane in her office. She motioned to Jane that she would be just a second and Jane nodded. When Maura did enter her office she was met by an immediate embrace from Jane. A little confused, but certainly not complaining, she didn't resist the sudden contact. They held each other for a moment and Jane muttered. "Have I told you today how much I love you?"

"You did, this morning. But a girl never gets tired of hearing it. Everything ok?"

Jane simply nodded. She would fill Maura in on the case details later. For now, she just wanted to have a moment with her wife and their future new baby. Before breaking the embrace, she whispered into Maura's ear. "Solum cum partier sum totum."

When Jane eventually made her way back up to the bullpen she was surprised when she didn't see Frost and Riley at their desks. She went into Korsak's office.

"Where are Frost and Cooper?" she asked.

"Interrogation room 1," he answered.

That surprised Jane. "Really? I figured Livingston would lawyer up immediately."

"I thought that too. Apparently he's ready to spill. He waived his right to counsel. He's been talking for an hour now. Details. To everything. The girls. Harris. Allison Miller. And Jane," he paused and looked at her. Jane knew that look. He didn't have to finish the sentence.

Two days later Jane pulled her car up to the house. She put the car in park and turned it off. She got out and slowly walked to the door. It had only been three days but she was walking better and better each day. She could tell her leg muscles were starting to respond to the increase exertion. When she finally approached the door she released a deep breath and knocked. She waited. Finally there was an answer.

"Detective Rizzoli?" asked the confused woman.

"Vicky, how are you?" Jane asked and didn't even think about correcting Vicky Anderson on either her rank or correct last name. This trip wasn't about Jane.

"I'm good. But, I'm not sure why you are here."

Jane nodded. "Is Larry home?"

"Yes, he's in the living room. What's going on Detective?"

"Can I come in? There's something I need to talk with you and Larry about," Jane asked and waited for an answer

"Sure. Come on in. Larry?" she called out. A few minutes later Jane was sitting in the kitchen of Larry and Vicky Anderson. She had been in this position before. Too many times before with news she hadn't wanted to give. But this time. This time it was different.

"I'm sorry to come over unannounced but I needed to speak with you both. There has been a development in your daughter's case. We have arrested and charged someone with her murder."

Both people in front of her were too shocked to speak. So Jane continued. "He has made a full confession. Unfortunately Kimberly wasn't his only victim. There are two other murder charges. And, I'm sorry to report, over a dozen statutory rape and child endangerment charges are pending. It was Principal Bryce Livingston."

Jane was quiet while the Andersons processed the information. This was the conversation Jane had wanted to have for ten years. Even though it wasn't easy to say. Even though it wasn't easy to watch their reactions. Even though it wouldn't bring back their daughter. Even though it wouldn't change the past. But because it could change their future. Because it could help them start to heal from the pain. Because it could bring them the closure they richly deserved. These were the moments Jane felt the phrase 'Better late than Never' was meant for. Watching the reaction from the Andersons made Jane a definite believer in that sentiment.

A/N One more chapter for this story and it will be complete.