Chapter 37
Maura went home, too restless to sleep but too tired to make sense of her thoughts. She tried to shake herself out of her slump. What is this I'm feeling? Why do I feel this way? It isn't like to me presume or play "what if?" Yes Jane is coming home. I know that. I love her, she loves me. Above all Jane is too strong to let go. And with that thought Maura curled up on the sofa and fell into a dreamless sleep.
Paddy stared down at the lifeless body of his daughter-in-law. He wanted to weep for Maura. She finally found her one true love and married her, only to lose her such a short time after the wedding.
"For a detective, Rizzoli, you weren't bad. You were probably the only cop I ever liked," he muttered. He reached down to grab under her arms. He wanted to move her body to a better location. This way Maura would have the closure of a funeral and the ceremony a beloved and respected homicide detective should have. After "relocating" Jane's body Paddy planned on calling in an anonymous call and Jane's partner should easily find her. He already knew the place to put her. He smiled.
"It isn't One Police Plaza, Jane, but it's the next best thing." Paddy started to hoist Jane up by her shoulders. He heard a movement up the hallway and froze.
He heard steps but didn't know who else might be here. The gunman was in the other room, dead by Paddy's hand. Other than a dead detective Paddy didn't realize anyone was in the place. He carefully placed Jane back on the ground. Receding into the background he kept an eye out. Quietly he kept stealing glances around the corner or down the other end of the hallway. After several minutes he was rewarded. Doyle's eyes widened as he recognized the wife of the head of the robbery division for the Boston police department. Dressed all in black with hair similar to Jane's she crept down the hallway with her firearm at the ready. Doyle heard her audibly gasp as she saw the body of her partner, dead in the other room. Doyle had dropped him after he and Jane fired simultaneously. Both detective and perp had taken direct hits.
Holding his breath he inched back out into the hallway. Standing over Jane's body, his own pistol at the ready, he waited. The chief's wife reappeared. Doyle didn't hesitate firing several shots in rapid succession. He made certain at least one shot was to her head in case she was wearing a bullet proof vest. He wanted no witnesses left, and certainly not a high profile wife who could plea bargain her way out of murder charges. Grabbing Jane and throwing her over his shoulder he practically ran for the stair case. Doyle kept his pistol handy but did not encounter anyone else. He took Jane to the spot he thought of earlier and very gently placed her on the ground. He took out his cell phone and dialed 911.
Maura heard pounding. She turned over in her sleep thinking it was her own head pounding due to a coming migraine. Only when she heard her name included with the pounding did she realize someone was at the door. Maura jumped up as quickly as she could, smoothing down her skirt.
Frost stood on the landing, his eyes somber. "We found Jane." Maura's breath caught in her throat.
"Which hospital are they taking her to?" Maura asked. She turned to grab her bag. Frost hesitated then shook his head without speaking.
Maura dropped to her knees, screaming "NO!"
"Frankie is picking up Angela and calling his father. We're looking for Tommy." Frost said. He didn't know what else to do. When dispatch received the call it went straight to Frost. He sent out a team and headed to get Maura.
Frost bent down and held Maura as she sobbed. He wondered how she would get through this. After being separated for so many years Maura finally won Jane back and married her in a beautiful candlelight ceremony on Christmas Eve. Now, only a few months later Jane was gone forever. Raising Jane's children with Angela and Frankie's assistance would be some consolation he knew, but also knew Maura's heart forever belonged to Jane.
"Come on, Maura, we need to go. I knew you'd want to see Jane one last time. Her body was taken to Mass Gen so she could be pronounced." Frost assisted Maura to her feet. Taking her by the hand he guided her to his car. Both so badly shaken by the turn of events and in shock at what had happened neither spoke en route to the hospital.
Korsak sat in the café, stunned. When he retired Jane was promoted and Korsak had been happy for her. When Joey died Jane had a change of heart and ended up back in the field as a homicide detective. He applauded her dedication and cautioned her on her recklessness. Now he wondered if that pattern of recklessness hadn't cost her her life. His heart wanted to break for Maura and the kids but it also broke for himself and Boston PD. One of their finest was gone. There would never be another Jane Rizzoli for any of them.
Frankie dried his tears as he climbed the front steps of his childhood home. He brushed aside the offers of assistance his fellow officers contributed when he knew his mother needed to be notified of Jane's death. He didn't want her hearing the bad news from anyone else. He also wanted to see her in person. News of this caliber shouldn't be delivered by telephone.
"Hi, Ma," Frankie said softly as he entered the house. Angela was sitting on the sofa watching a program and crocheting an afghan.
"Frankie what a surprise," Angela said then noted his face. She stood.
"What's wrong?"
"Jane's gone, Ma. The undercover assignment went bad. She was found in the park across the street from the precinct."
"What happened?" Angela whispered. The room started to spin behind her. She closed her eyes and grabbed Frankie's arm.
"We don't know yet. They're taking her to Mass Gen."
"Maura?"
"Frost went to notify her and take her to Mass Gen to see Jane one last time. I'm going next door to ask Carla to sit here with the children." Angela nodded. She grabbed her purse and waited by the door, her heart silently breaking. I always knew Jane wouldn't live to see her retirement. Those children are now without both parents. Maura, Frankie and I will raise them to honor their mother's memory. They'll never forget you Jane, Angela silently vowed as tears began coursing down her cheeks.
Maura silently followed Frost into the hospital. He stepped forward to speak to the triage nurse then returned to Maura, a puzzled look on his face.
"Where is she?" Maura managed to whisper.
"Oddly she's in the emergency room."
"Why there? I suspected she'd be—" Maura couldn't finish her sentence. Frost shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know, I guess we'll find out," and taking Maura by the elbow escorted her to the emergency area.
The hustle and bustle of the medical personnel reminded Maura of the day she was here with Angelo, when the other cop was brought in. Everybody had somewhere to be and they were all rushing around. She heard shouts coming from the emergency bay. She looked at Frost.
"Was there anyone else injured when Jane was killed?" she ask.
"No, dispatch forwarded an anonymous call who said Jane Rizzoli's body was in the park across from the precinct. All other officers are accounted for." Frost and Maura studied each other's face for a moment. "Let me ask someone," Frost said. He motioned to one of the clerical workers.
"Excuse me, but are they working on a cop?"
"Yeah some lady was brought in, they thought she was dead. The doctor went to pronounce her and found a faint, thready pulse. They're working on her now. Someone said her wife should be here soon."
"JANE!" Maura screamed. She bolted for the swinging doors and went through in a flash. She found the same frenzy as the other day, doctors and nurses yelling and grabbing supplies. The main ER doctor worked feverishly on Jane.
Maura saw Jane with an oxygen mask on her face, her shirt and bra pulled away. A gaping wound in the side of Jane's chest poured blood out as they tried to infuse more into her. Drugs were injected directly into Jane's body or into her IV as they tried to steady her pulse. Maura recognized the ER doctor as being the same one who treated Angelo as well as the other cop. He looked up and nodded briefly. No one took the time to make Maura leave.
She worked her way to the other side of the bed and clasped Jane's hand without moving it. Maura silently pleaded with Jane to fight, to stay with her and the children.
"Doctor, OR 2 is prepped and ready," a nurse said to the ER doctor. He looked at Maura briefly.
"We need to take her into surgery. You can accompany us to the OR doors." Maura ran to keep up with Jane's gurney. In the elevator she clasped Jane's hand once again. While the doctor monitored Jane's faint pulse and erratic heartbeat she leaned forward and kissed Jane's forehead.
"Come back to us, sweetie. We love you. It isn't your time yet."
TBC