"Maura, I didn't know you were in court today," Nina said as she slid over allowing her sister-in-law to sit next to her. Nina was happy to see her. She genuinely missed her. Maura Isles was one of her favorite people in the world as were the other Rizzolis but Maura was special. Maybe it was the sister-in-law bond. Maybe it was because she was the first person Nina told about her life in Chicago and why she had come to Boston. She didn't know exactly but she did enjoy spending time with her. This pregnancy had limited their shopping and spa days and Nina had begun to crave some one on one time on Newbury Street with Maura Isles.
"I wasn't scheduled but I was informed by Dr. Kizer she would be testifying this morning," she replied. "I need to do her performance review." Nina nodded.
"How are you feeling?" Maura asked. Nina rubbed her belly. As much as she enjoyed being pregnant, she was at the end of her nine months and more than ready for this to be over.
"Tired." Maura nodded. It had been the same with Aiden. She thought it was her age but it would seem age had little to do with it. Nina was younger than she was. She smiled as she remembered Jane explaining it to her so she would feel better.
"Maura, come on. Be serious."
"I am seriously tired and feel very old, Jane."
"You aren't old and you should be tired, Maura. You have a human growing inside you. A human, Maur. A human with a head, feet, hands. The works.. You can't help but be tired. Comes with the territory, sweetie."
"Jane…"
"Not old. Human," she interjected as she kissed her head and walked away.
"You're due next week?" Maura asked flipping through the file she held in her hand.
"Yes. And I know Frankie is tired of me saying it but that is not soon enough."
"You should bring Abigail over this week. She can stay with us for a few days."
"I think you've had her more than she has been home lately. I am not going to impose."
"Stop. It isn't an imposition. We love her. And when Jane was pregnant, you and Frankie would scoop Aiden up as would Tommy. It was extremely helpful for all of us. Especially Aiden. It made him feel special."
"Are you sure?" Nina asked concerned that Maura was simply being polite.
Maura looked up. "Yes of course," she answered.
"Thank you. Tommy stopped by with Lauren," Nina said changing the subject and smiling.
"Did he?" Maura asked surprised. They had left him no choice when Jane invited Lauren over for pizza and basically dared them to defy her by not coming but Maura thought Tommy would prolong introducing her to anyone else.
"Yes, he did. He was all casual with it. Like it was just another thing. Like she was just some other girl he had just met on the street. You realize we haven't met any of the other girls since icky Veronica." Nina made a face. Although they tried to include her, something about Veronica hadn't felt right with Nina then the situation with TJ solidified her dislike.
"True," Maura replied. "It has been a while. I was beginning to worry about him. He and I would talk about him finding someone. He really wanted that. He wanted to create a more nuclear family for TJ. I liked Lauren. I believe he could have what he is looking for with her."
"Me too. Frankie came in being protective big brother. I'm like man these two have been dating for months. You can't come up here acting like you have something to say about it and that it matters." Maura laughed. Protective Frankie was a lot like protective Jane only a bit kinder.
"How was Jane with Lauren?"
"She was actually well behaved," Maura replied.
"Really?" Nina asked shocked. She had not expected that.
"Surprisingly. She had them figured out at Aiden's soccer game. She didn't have her normal attitude during the interrogation though." Nina chuckled. She had over the years seen Jane in interrogation mode. She could be quite frightening.
"Yeah, I heard there was an interrogation. It might not have been normal but Lauren was scared. So was Tommy," Nina said chuckling.
"She wouldn't have been if Tommy hadn't hidden her although I can understand why – the Rizzolis are a formidable group." Nina nodded. Yes they were.
"There is going to be hell to pay when Angela finds out about her and that we all knew," Nina said cringing thinking about it.
"I am not looking forward to that discussion." Maura had experienced it firsthand. Angela didn't do well when she was left out of the loop.
"We talked about it and concluded you should tell her," Nina said biting her bottom lip. Maura looked up from the file and frowned at her sister-in-law.
"Why me?" she asked not understanding why she had been nominated.
"Because as food chains go, you are at the top of the daughter-in-law food chain. You are the queen of the DILs."
"DILs?"
"Daughter-in-laws."
"How? You married into this family first," she countered.
"Seriously? You and Jane may not have been legally married but you were definitely the first daughter-in-law. You and Jane were you and Jane before you had the common sense to know it. Besides you are the de facto matriarch. All of the Rizzolis including Angela and my own husband listen to you." Maura laughed. She would remember this. It would seem she should also have rights of delegation as a result of being the queen of the DILs which was definitely better than queen of the dead.
"When does your mother get here?" Maura asked.
"In a few days. She is so excited about another grandchild and Abigail can't wait until she gets here. Do you ever think of living somewhere other than Boston?" Nina asked. Maura thought for a moment.
"Paris." Leave it to Maura to travel outside of the United States to answer her question.
"Would Jane go?" Maura chuckled at the thought. After the failed experiment of living away from Boston in Virginia, it was doubtful.
"To visit, yes."
"Sounds like Frankie."
"It would be hard now with children and family to move away. I thought years ago about moving to Maine but I couldn't take the boys away from Boston now. Boston is home. Everyone they know and love is here. They would hate being away from Abigail and TJ. Why the question?"
"I feel guilty," she answered. "My mother is far from my children and Chicago is her home. I would never ask her to leave there to come here. It wouldn't be fair to the rest of the family. I chose to come to Boston because I was running away from pain. I never thought coming here I would fall in love, have a family. This family." Maura nodded.
"Falling in love and having a family does change things. I was ready to leave Boston behind when I went to Paris. I even bought an apartment. But…"
"You fell in love," Nina finished.
"I realized I was in love and that love was in Boston. I can't imagine loving any one person other than my children more than I love Jane Rizzoli so staying in Boston is where we will be. But I was lucky. My parents were able to buy a home and Angela was already here."
"I want them to really know my mom like they will know Angela." Maura could understand that. Having her parents around her boys meant more to her than she ever dreamed it possibly could. The love they shared with her children still humbled her. To see them with the boys, making them a priority, creating memories with them, showing them unconditional love. She wouldn't have it any other way.
"Technology is wonderful, Nina. Every day my parents are able to FaceTime with the boys whether they are in Boston or elsewhere. My father even read to them one evening from South America because Nicolas refused to let anyone else read the story that papa reads."
"I want that for my mom."
"Chicago isn't that far. 982.5 miles." Nina smiled. Not 982 or 983 but 982.5 miles exactly. She loved Maura.
Maura continued, "Make Frankie take his vacation days and go see your mother when she can't come here. Before you two got together, he rarely took time off. His sister wasn't much better. He and Jane were ridiculous with saving their time for no reason other than to have it. Now there is a reason to use it."
An uneasy quietness had settled in the courtroom. Maura paused to survey the room. Something wasn't right. She knew Jane would say it had something to do with her gut but she didn't listen to her intestines. She never had and wasn't going to start now. Nina saw Maura's face. She had sensed it too.
"Nina give me your badge and police ID."
"Why?" she asked. Maura couldn't explain.
"Nina."
"No," she objected. "I work for BPD Maura. I have a duty. I will not."
"Nina now," Maura demanded her voice tight. "You are pregnant and your duty is to that child so please. Trust me."
Nina reluctantly handed over her badge and ID. Maura quickly placed them in a makeup pouch at the bottom of her purse and pushed the bag under the bench. She made sure she had her phone and her own identification which would eliminate any reason to retrieve the purse.
She berated herself for not being more aware. She had been reviewing Dr. Kizer's case and talking to Nina. She had not paid attention to her surroundings. Both she and Nina looked around the room trying to take in as many details as they could because it was too late for them to leave. Nina cataloged what she could see. Maura did the same. She was doubtful anyone else in the courtroom was aware of what was happening around them at this moment.
They watched as three individuals with hockey masks on took their places around the courtroom – the leader also with a mask directing them in silence. They observed the stunned look on the faces in the room when the court officer was relieved of his gun and his hands zip tied. Panic crossed their faces as the doors to the courtroom were locked, secured and what appeared to be an explosive device was attached to the doors to ensure there wouldn't be forced entry without damaging those inside this room. Maura clutched Nina's hand as they watched a vest of explosives placed on the court officer and he was seated in front of the door leading to the jury room.
"We don't want to hurt anyone. Please get your phones out, turn them off and we will collect them." The gunman motioned for one of his accomplices who was in the green mask to collect the phones, which he did.
Maura was thankful there weren't many people in this particular courtroom today. Maybe it had been too early in the day. Maybe it was the way it was planned. Maura shouldn't have been here. She was here unexpectedly because she was told her assistant medical examiner had been called in ahead of schedule to testify. Thankfully, the AME was not in the courtroom nor was the jury.
"What is the meaning of this?" the prosecuting attorney asked.
"The meaning of this is you are finally going to listen," the man in the black mask who appeared to be the leader answered pulling the ADA from his chair and pushing him into the jury box. The lady helping him placed a vest of explosives over the man and zip tied him. The public defender began to whimper as he and the judge were forced to join the ADA. Both were outfitted with a vest and zip ties. All were scared for their lives.
Six people were moved into seats directly in front of the doors. Their legs and hands zip tied. If there were to be a rescue, the innocent would be the first line of protection for those who had taken them hostage.
Maura still held Nina's hand. She checked her pulse. Her sister-in-law was in stress and that wasn't good for the baby. She rubbed her hand to calm her. She covertly practiced her breathing with her before they were moved with the remaining people into the front row. Maura helped Nina get situated. The man in the orange mask motioned for Nina to hold her hands out. Maura pushed hers in front of her sister-in-law.
"Surely, you are not planning on tying up a pregnant woman?" she asked her focus razor sharp on the leader. "Do you anticipate she is going to try to overpower the four of you and put her life and the life of her unborn child in danger for people she doesn't even know?" The man looked at the leader who shook his head.
"Not her. Just the mouthy one," he said pointing at Maura.
