Chapter Twenty One
Jackson parked his BMW in the station parking garage. His internship had given him access to the police parking garage. That was definitely going to work out in his favor for what he was about to do. He was going to need the access if he was going to fix his failure and get Charles to like him again.
He could do this. It would be simple. He would just get Dr. Isles and then take her to Charles. They could then escape from the jail together. They would have Dr. Isles and that would make Charles happy. Then he would be forgiven and they could head to their hideout. It was all prepared and ready for them. It would be perfect.
Things would go back to normal. Things would continue as planned and as they were meant to be. All he had to do was to get Dr. Isles to Charles. He could do that. He would do that. He wouldn't fail a second time. No way. Not a second time.
He got out of the car and made sure that his shirt covered the gun. He was going to use the freight elevator and enter into the morgue through the ambulance bay. They were both unguarded and he was sure he could get in and out undetected. He headed over to the elevator and waited for it to arrive. He was remarkably calm considering what he was about to do. To him it was a sign that he was doing what he should be doing. What was right.
He got into the elevator and rode down to the morgue. He went unnoticed. So far so good. The elevator stopped in the basement and Jackson got out. He walked around and headed for the ambulance bay. He looked around and didn't see anyone so he continued and headed into the lab. To his disappointment, the lab was empty. He was hoping he would find Dr. Isles right away.
Her office. He needed to check for her in her office. He casually walked across the hall and was optimistic when he saw her door open and the light on. That was a good sign. That meant she was at least in the building. He approached the door and couldn't help the smile on his face. She was in her office. At her desk. This was perfect.
He took one last deep breath and then entered Maura's office without knocking.
R&I
"Dr. Isles?" Jackson announced.
Maura was a little surprised the intern entered without knocking. "Mr. Allister," she said. "It's customary to knock before entering someone's office."
"Under normal circumstances I would agree with you," he said rather politely.
Maura couldn't help but notice the odd tone to his voice. It unsettled her. She looked up and really took a look at the young man. He seemed fixated on her. "And what exactly makes this an unusual circumstance?" she asked.
To answer that question Jackson pulled the gun from the small of his back and pointed it at Maura. Her eyes grew big but that was her only overt reaction. "I'm sorry Dr. Isles. But I need you to come with me." He delivered the demand in a smooth, solid tone.
Maura forced herself to stay calm even though her mind was racing. She knew that for the moment the situation and the threat was contained to her office. She didn't want any sudden reactions or movements to startle the man and cause him to just open fire. There were people in the lab across the hall. People she didn't want to put in danger. As calmly as she could Maura spoke. "Where are we going?"
She had been sitting at her desk with one hand resting on her knee when Jackson had entered her office. She realized quickly that from where he was standing he was unable to see what her hidden hand was doing. She also understood she could move her hand around without drawing attention to any movements if she moved slow enough. So Maura slowly started to move her hand into her lab coat pocket without making any exaggerated movements. Her cell phone was in the pocket she was trying to reach.
"We need to leave here," he answered staying focused on her.
Maura tried to lock his eyes in with hers so he wouldn't notice her fishing around for her phone. "I understand that you want us to leave here but I was asking where we would be going," she asked still trying to keep him talking and looking at her as she worked for her phone.
Her hand found her phone. She let her fingers run across the phone to get a feel for the keypad she was now visualizing in her mind. The last call she had made was to Jane. That would be perfect. If she could manage to hit the correct sequence of buttons on the phone she would be able to redial Jane. She used one finger to tap what she hoped was the right buttons to make that call.
"I'll explain everything on the way," he said. "We really need to go now otherwise someone might see us and I don't want to have to hurt anyone." He took a step towards Maura and she quickly pushed back her chair removing her hand from her pocket. She hadn't wanted to call any attention to her lab coat pocket and she had to hope she had dialed the right sequence that a call was ringing through to Jane.
"I'll come," she said in a steady voice. "No one needs to get hurt here. You need to put that gun away." She doubted he would but it was worth a shot.
"Sorry Dr. Isles but this is the only way I know for sure I can get you to where we need to go," he said and he approached her desk.
Maura had no choice so she slowly stood up and moved to the front side of her desk. "I will come with you Jackson. I'd prefer it if you put down the gun. I don't want anyone to accidentally get hurt." She didn't want to go but she didn't want anyone on her staff to get hurt either. So she had to hope she had reached Jane and Jane could hear what was going on.
With the gun hidden but pointed at Maura, they both headed out of her office and towards the parking garage.
R&I
Jane had just walked away from Karen when she pieced together what must have happened. It was either walk away or get thrown in jail for killing her father's girlfriend. Her head was spinning and she couldn't seem to focus on anything. She wasn't sure how she found her car but she had. She wasn't even sure how she managed to start driving but she had.
She was vaguely aware that she was due at the courthouse to testify. The reality of what she pieced together about her father and Tommy was more than she could completely process in that moment. She felt her mind starting to shut down and block out things she didn't want to be thinking about. Somewhere on the walk back to her car pure instinct kicked in and took over. She didn't fight any of her body movements as they seemed to know what to do and where to go.
Before she knew it she had pulled into the parking lot at the courthouse reserved for law enforcement and city officials. And then the car was parked and she was turning off the ignition. It took the sound of her phone ringing to fully snap her out of her haze. Looking down to see it was Maura she was relieved and had never needed to hear the sound of a voice so badly in her life. She answered.
"Maura, you aren't going to..." but she didn't finish her sentence. She heard something and stopped to listen. It was fuzzy and sounded barely audible. Jane suddenly wondered if Maura had accidently pocket dialed her.
Until she heard Maura talk.
"Jackson, where exactly are you taking me?"
What? Jackson? Jackson Allister? Why would Maura be going anywhere with an intern? She listened harder turning up the volume on the phone as loud as she could.
"I've told you. I'll explain as we drive."
"I'm coming with you. I've told you that. So I am going to ask you again. Please put the gun away."
Gun?
Oh God!
R&I
Jane's cop instincts kicked in immediately. She threw the phone on speaker and muted the line so she could hear what was going on without worrying about extra noise being heard on Maura's end. Jane was sure Maura had managed to dial out to Jane's phone without Allister knowing her phone line was open. She wasn't going to do anything to lose the only connection she now had with Maura.
She took off in a full sprint into the courthouse. She needed another phone. She needed to call Frost to trace Maura's cell phone signal. Maybe Maura was still at the station and Frost could get help to her. She knew Korsak was inside the courthouse. She needed to find him and they would work this together. Jane was in the building flashing her badge at security in a matter of seconds, hollering about a police emergency and sprinting to the second floor waiting area reserved for officers.
She spotted Vince in seconds.
"Vince!" she shouted getting his attention.
He snapped to attention knowing something was terribly wrong simply by Jane's demeanor. "Jane?"
"Allister has Maura. He's kidnapping her at gunpoint." She didn't stop running until she was within inches of Vince. When she finally stopped she extended the phone out like it would magically explain everything that was going on.
"What?" he asked completely confused.
"Listen!" Jane exclaimed still extending the phone in her hand out like that explained everything. "I need your phone! I need Frost to trace Maura's cell phone. It's an open connection. Please just listen," she said.
By now the entire room of officers and detectives was looking Jane. As Jane pleaded with Vince for his phone and to listen, the room went dead silent. Everyone in that room tried to listen to the phone in the detective's hand.
"I need to take you to him."
"Who? Take me to whom?"
"Charles. I need to take you to Charles. If I get you to Charles he will forgive me."
"Charles? Charles who?"
When there wasn't an immediate answer Jane looked at Korsak who had already pulled out his cell and was dialing Frost.
"Frost we have an emergency. I need you to trace Maura's cell phone. She's on an active call with Jane. Frost, Someone has her. At gunpoint." Vince didn't understand everything that was happening but he understood enough to know Maura was in trouble.
"What?" Frost exclaimed as he was swiftly opening up applications and trying to start tracing software. "She was just downstairs fifteen minutes ago. Who the hell took her?"
Korsak turned to Jane. "Who has her?" he asked. She had said Allister earlier but Vince had no idea who that was.
"Jackson Allister," Jane said to Vince.
"Jackson Allister," Vince repeated to Frost.
"Oh God. He's an intern here. Has he said where they are going?"
"Not yet. That's why we need the trace. And I need you to let Cavanaugh know. He will notify and coordinate with SWAT if we can get a location."
"Jackson, can you please tell me where we are going? I won't be as frightened if I know where you are taking me."
"I've told you. We are going to Charles."
"Who the hell is Charles?" a detective shouted out from across the room.
But Frost heard it. "Korsak?"
"Yeah?"
"Did Jackson just say Charles?"
"Yeah..."
"Shit."
"What?!"
"Hoyt. He's taking her to Hoyt. Vince, Jackson Allister has visited Hoyt in jail. Just three days ago."
Korsak turned to look at Jane. "Frost says Allister visited Hoyt in jail three days ago. The Charles he keeps saying could be Charles Hoyt."
Jane took Korsak's phone from him to speak to Frost. "Frost, trace her cell! I need to know where she is. We have to find her."
"I'm on it Jane. I need thirty more seconds to lock in on her signal," he said and then she heard him shout out for Cavanaugh. In fact he screamed for Cavanaugh. Jane hadn't heard him sound so authoritative before.
"I've got her Jane. She's moving. Looks like she's heading north on Tremont Street towards Government Center. They could be heading to the courthouse for Hoyt."
"Frost, Vince and I are at the courthouse now. She could be heading right to us. Stay on her! Don't lose that trace."
"Charles? Do you mean Charles Hoyt?"
"You are as smart as Charles thinks you are. He likes you. He really likes you. You're my gift to him. He will forgive me now that I'm bringing you to him."
Jane spoke into the phone. "Ok, she got confirmation. It is Charles Hoyt. Frost, where is Cavanaugh on SWAT?"
"He's mobilizing them Jane but it's going to take some time."
"Get unmarked units on that car! I want eyes on that vehicle Frost but no uniform is to get close. I can't have Allister get nervous and start shooting. He doesn't know we are tracking him. Do not tip our hand."
"Jane," came Cavanaugh, "SWAT is mobilizing but we are twenty minutes out."
"Sir," Jane started, "they're headed here. We may not have twenty minutes to wait for SWAT."
Jane felt utterly helpless in that moment. She wanted to get to Maura. She was fighting her desire to go run for her car to chase down Allister herself. But she understood that they possessed a tactical advantage in knowing Allister's finally destination.
"What are you thinking Jane?" Cavanaugh asked.
"He doesn't know we are tracking them. He doesn't know we know he is coming." She took a breath. "Sir, we can't wait for SWAT. Send them. We may need them if there is a stand-off. But I'd like your permission to run point from here."
"Jane..." Cavanaugh started.
"Sir, there are enough officers here to start an emergency evacuation of the courthouse. I'm asking permission to attempt to evacuate the building, ensure we lockdown Hoyt and I'm asking for permission to try to stop Allister before he can get Maura into the courthouse."
She knew it was a lot to ask from Cavanaugh. But they were out of time and out of reasonable options. Allister was coming. He was armed and he wanted to get to Hoyt. Jane wanted to save Maura. She needed to stop Allister before he entered the courthouse.
"Do it," was all Cavanaugh said. "SWAT is heading out. We have eyes on Allister's car. I'll keep the uniforms away from the vehicle. Jane, get everyone out of that building. Don't let Allister inside and we will back you up as quickly as we can."
"I need to talk to Frost," Jane said. Within a few seconds she heard Frost's voice. "Where is she?"
"Still heading north on Tremont. They are just passing Stuart. They are getting closer."
"Frost, stay on her. I need you to stay on her signal. I have to know if they make a move that looks like they aren't coming here. Can you do that for me?"
"I won't let her out of my sight Jane."
R&I
Jane pulled the phone away and turned to address the room full of law enforcement officers. All of whom were standing up and ready to receive any directions needed to help with the situation.
Jane spoke to the officers in the room. "Alright, we have a potentially dangerous situation here. Our suspect is Jackson Allister. He is armed and has taken our Chief Medical Examiner hostage. Allister appears to be seeking out Charles Hoyt who is in this building in courtroom 3B. We believe Allister is headed there.
"Until SWAT arrives, it will be up to all of us to try to keep this situation from escalating. Very, very quietly I need you all to start emergency evacuation procedures for this courthouse. We need to get people out of this building in case Allister makes it inside. Also, I need at least two of you to get Hoyt secured. As of right now we have no idea if Hoyt knows Allister is headed here. They could easily be working together. We need Hoyt locked down and out of play ASAP.
"I also need four volunteers to help myself and Detective Korsak outside. I want to stop Allister from entering this building and get Dr. Isles out of harms way. I will need several people to help with the perimeter outside."
Without more than that. Without debate. Without hesitation a room full of Boston's finest all sprung into action. Jane instantly had four volunteers for the parking lot assignment. Three detectives offered to personally detain and secure Hoyt. And the rest of the officers, detectives, bailiffs and several lawyers went about an attempt to quietly evacuate the courthouse.
R&I
Jane divided up the four volunteers into teams of two. She and Korsak were staying together. "We are heading outside. I want you all out of sight. Do not let him see you. We can triangulate our positions when we get outside."
The four detectives and Korsak just nodded. All six turned and headed for the parking lot. Jane turned her attention back to Frost who was still on Korsak's phone.
"Frost?" Jane said.
"I've got her Jane. They are just passing Winter Street."
The six quickened their pace wanting to get outside and in position as quickly as possible. Within a few seconds they were out in front of the courthouse. A detective came jogging up to Jane. He handed her three radios.
"Hoyt is secure. He's being removed from the building and is being guarded by four men. We are going room by room on each floor clearing what we can. Everyone is being escorted out through the back exits and taken over to the Saltonstall Building until the situation is resolved."
"Why does Hoyt want me?"
"You are the first person he has ever found who is as brilliant as he is. He said he finally found an equal in you. He thinks you will be able to appreciate the gifts he is trying to provide for the world with his medical genius."
Maura was doing an excellent job trying to keep Allister talking. If nothing else Jane was getting a chance to hear Maura's voice and that made her feel at least like she had some idea that Maura was still ok.
Jane handed each team a radio. "No one shoots unless I give the go ahead," Jane insisted.
"What medical genius?"
"He's done all of these experiments. All of these tests. You should see him work. He's truly gifted."
Jane looked at each detective standing in front of her. She only had one thing to add. "That lady he has is the woman I love. No shots unless there is absolutely no other choice. Please. She's everything to me."
Each detective nodded. No further explanation was needed. The teams headed out into the lot to get into position but stay out of sight.
"Jackson, why are you doing this?"
"He's mad at me. I have to get him to forgive me."
"Why is he mad at you?"
"I failed him."
Jane and Korsak moved into their spot and stared towards the direction Allister's car would appear. Jane deliberately took the spot she thought would give the first and best shot at Allister. She found a good vantage point for what she needed to do. She wasn't going to shoot to go after Allister. She was going to shoot to save Maura.
"Frost?"
"Any second now Jane. He's turning onto Beacon."
"Stay on her. I don't want any surprises," she said.
They were all in position in the parking lot when Jackson Allister's BMW turned into the courthouse lot.
R&I
The three teams had triangulated their positions but Jane really was going to be the one in the best position to take a shot. Plus, she was sure neither of the other two teams would shot before Jane fired or asked them to take a shot.
"Frost?"
"Any second now Jane. They look to be pulling in right now. SWAT is six minutes out. Cavanaugh and more backup is three minutes out."
Jane and Korsak saw the BMW enter the lot. Frost had been right. He hadn't been driving erratically or with haste. He seemed to very casually pull into a parking place.
"We are going to walk into the entrance together. You will stay just in front of me. If you run I will shoot you."
"There are metal detectors at the front doors."
"Let me worry about that. Do not run. Do not ask for help. Do not call attention to yourself. Understood?"
"I understand."
Jane and Korsak watched as the car was turned off and both car doors opened. Jane pulled out her gun and took aim at Allister but the distance was too great for her to be confident the bullet would hit its target. She wasn't going to shoot unless she was certain she could hit Allister and not endanger Maura.
"I don't have a shot yet," she told Korsak. Of the two, Jane was the better shot. Hands down. Korsak fully understood if the shot was coming from their team it was coming from Jane's gun.
"Patience Jane. We have surprise on our side here. He doesn't know that we know what's going on. Don't waste that. Let him get closer or even parallel. We may get a decent shot from behind which would help take Maura out of the line of fire."
"Frost."
"Yeah?"
"Everyone...and I mean everyone rolls silent!" They weren't going to lose their surprise because of flashing lights and sirens.
"Got it! Consider it done."
R&I
Jane nodded to Korsak and then tuned everything out. Frost. Korsak. The phone. The radio. The traffic. The birds chirping. Even the wind. She tuned it all out and gave all of her focus to training her gun on Jackson Allister. She was determined to end this before they got to the front entrance. She just needed the shot.
Slow breath in. Slow breath out. Slow breath in. Slow breath out. In. Out. In. Out.
Maura walked a calm, slow pace. Jackson was about ten inches behind Maura and staggered slightly to her right. Slowly they were making their way towards the front entrance.
Not one member of the detective teams could be seen. It was an impressive feat.
Jane concentrated on the task in front of her. She trained her gun on the man walking towards them and she waited. Seconds ticked slowly. She couldn't look at Maura. She couldn't if she was going to do what she knew she was about to do. She was aware of Maura's presence but that was all she would allow herself to register. She needed to concentrate on Jackson Allister.
Slow breath in. Slow breath out. Slow breath in. Slow breath out. In. Out. In. Out.
And then finally. An opening. A chance.
Jane released one final breath and squeezed the trigger.