Glazed Feelings
Part 50
Rizzoli and Isles are the property of TNT and Tess Gerritson. I am just borrowing them for your entertainment. Enjoy and please review your humble bard, Deanlu!
"Terry and Tony Jordan." Jane whispered as she studied the interviews Aine's department had done. They had been married just recently. Both were hardworking, well off, and passionate women. Jane shook her head letting stray thoughts grab her for a moment thinking of Maura and her. She quickly banished the thoughts flipping the page on the interview. Three of the interviews bothered her greatly. One was the statement taken from the father. It was clear to Jane in the statement he wasn't happy with his daughter's choice for gender reassignment, though he was attempting to have a balanced view. But two statements in particular that he made had Jane gritting her teeth. The first had been when Aine asked the father if he knew of anyone who would have something against his daughter. The father had stated "other than me and the argument we had about her gender reassignment, no one I can think of off-hand." Aine had followed up with good questions to try and see if there was more to it, but continued questioning had produced no more. Jane wasn't so sure and wrote down some questions to have Aine follow up with. The second had been further in the interview when the father had stated that he "could not call Antonia, Tony no matter what." He would rather rip out her heart than call her Tony because it was a mockery of everything her mother and he believed to be right. Jane worried that the father had taken the step to rip out his daughter's heart as she glanced up at the pictures of her wife.
"Damn." Jane groaned shifting trying to find a different position that would allow her more comfort while she read the interviews. Her morning physical therapy combined with pulmonary therapy had worn her out badly. Jane wanted to sleep, but had promised Aine some answers in a day or two. Maura was out getting lunch with Dr. Fontaine. Jane had been left to her own devices, in other words she was supposed to be resting. Jane closed the interview and opened the other that was bothering her. A former girlfriend with a list of previous charges for physical abuse against Terry Jordan before she was married. The former girlfriend had crashed the wedding where a major fight had occurred resulting in the woman being arrested and removed from the property. Strangely, Aine had gotten pictures of the fight from the sister to Terry. She had offered them in the hopes it would help the investigation. Jane shoved the file onto the table closing her eyes as a headache that had been threatening her started to throb harder. Jane stood and walked out onto the back patio. She looked down the beach toward the house that Aine had pointed out from the patio earlier when he had helped Maura and Jane home. She leaned on the railing looking into the distance. None of the doors or windows had been forced, but something seemed off when Jane looked at the front door. On top of it, it seemed to Jane the bodies had been positioned after they had been killed or posed for the benefit of those who found them. Jane saw one of the nearby neighbors who lived here year round on the beach so she decided to take a walk in the late morning sun. She moved down the beach taking her time as her body adjusted to the slower stride and strain of walking. The sand felt warm even as the breeze cooled her.
"Hello? Nice day for a walk." Jane called as she neared the older woman. The woman looked up cautiously and then reached out a hand in greeting.
"Yes, it is. I think we may have rain tonight or tomorrow." She said pointing toward the horizon where clouds were building. Jane looked and then nodded noticing the angry clouds on the horizon. "I'm Imogene Ford nice to meet you…?" Imogene question with her voice and eyes.
"Jane, Jane Rizzoli. My fiancée and I are vacationing over in 1543." Jane said as Imogene nodded. Imogene took a few moments to gauge Jane and then called toward her Irish setter down the beach.
"Harlow, leave the sea gull alone." Imogene yelled toward the setter. Jane watched as Harlow seemed to follow his mistress's words and saunter off in another direction. "You're the Boston Detective who is recuperating here for a few weeks, the one who saved the mayors grandson?" Imogene asked eyeing Jane steadily. Jane wrapped her arms around herself and nodded even as she blushed slightly.
"Yeah, that's me." Jane said not realizing how fast rumors spread in small towns.
"Come on, I have a cup of coffee on the lower patio and Harlow will follow us." Imogene said as Jane glanced back toward her vacation house. "You fiancé should be able to see us from there. She's keeping you on a short leash I noticed?" Imogene stated as Jane walked with her back to the lower beach patio.
"I seem to find myself in troubled situations to warrant it a lot of the time." Jane said as she took a seat in a comfortable Delta patio chair. Imogene poured coffee for them both and offered Jane a biscuit. Imogene snickered.
"I bet. You're job doesn't promote an easy life. She must be someone special to be able to love a detective." Imogene said as she took a sip of her coffee. Jane looked at the older women. She was in her late sixties, blonde grey hair that was kissed by the sun, Nordic features combined with a strong body for her age which suggested she kept herself in shape and actively involved in the community. Imogene's blue eyes though were like a hawk studying her, scrutinizing her movements and expressions much like Maura did when she was working with the facial recognition program. Jane felt somewhat cornered for a moment until Imogene turned toward Harlow's barking.
"She's very special. I…I would do anything for her." Jane said softly looking toward Harlow now as she saw a two figures walking down the beach. It was two young children picking seashells from the surf.
"That kind of love is unique, protect it aggressively Jane. It comes along for very few people in this life." Imogene articulated strongly to Jane, then she smiled. "Now I believe you came here for another reason." Jane nodded.
"The couple that were murdered down the beach here what can you tell me about it?" Jane asked as she watched a slight quiver take Imogene's hand and her face pale. "I didn't mean to upset you Imogene." Jane said as Harlow returned to Imogene's side noting her distress. Imogene took a deep breath and began petting Harlow. It was several minutes before Imogene spoke.
"They were a nice couple. I met them several times out here walking along the beach. They were very much in love Jane. I just couldn't believe someone would do this in our community. We just don't have these type of things happen here. Break in's, small thefts, and even some shoplifting, but this type of crime has never touched us like this before. It is pure evil." Imogene said as she took another sip of her coffee.
"Imogene, is there any way into the house without a key?" Jane asked now. Imogene shook her head.
"No, all the houses require them along here." Imogene said softly. Jane looked off into the distance thinking.
"Are there spare keys to the house the couple were killed in Imogene?" Jane asked again focusing on the older woman. Something about Imogene put her at ease, reminded her in ways of Maura. Maybe it was the intellect behind the eyes or maybe it was the way her eyes studied and digested everything it saw.
"Yes, there are spare keys. One is always left in a secret place near the front door of the beach house. The realtor would have one, the maid that cleans, and one for a conservator." Imogene said as she watched Jane focus on the Atlantic tide.
"Did the police know this when they were investigating?" Jane asked making a mental note that it hadn't been mentioned anywhere in the case notes. Imogene looked over at Jane pouring her another cup of coffee. Jane added some sugar this time with some cream. Her stomach wasn't tolerating the coffee quite as well as it normally would.
"Most of the officers know there are spare keys for each of the vacation rentals." Imogene said as she noticed a very beautiful woman moving toward the patio from the beach. "I believe your fiancée has come looking for you." Imogene said nodding toward the beach. Jane noticed Maura approaching with a worried, but leisurely pace.
"Imogene, could I talk with you tomorrow again?" Jane asked setting her coffee cup down. Imogene smiled warmly reaching across to take Jane's hand.
"I would love the company. I do not have enough visits to my home these days." Imogene said softly. Jane squeezed her hand and stood up scared she had angered Maura. She was pleasantly surprised when Maura wrapped her arms around Jane and kissed her softly on the cheek.
"I missed you. I was a little worried when I didn't find you home." Maura said softly in Jane's ear. Jane smiled as her heart warmed to Maura's words. Jane hugged Maura. They both turned to face Imogene.
"Imogene, this is my fiancée Maura Isles. Maura, this is Imogene Ford." Jane said introducing the two women to each other. The woman shook hands and Imogene was smiling widely.
"Your mother wouldn't be the famous artist and art history professor Constance Isles?" Imogene asked excitedly. Maura was momentarily stunned, but then smiled.
"Yes, she is Imogene. How do you know my mother?" Maura asked watching as Jane rolled her eyes a little. Imogene chuckled catching Jane's eye roll.
"I once caught a lecture on Baroque painting she offered to the public at University of Massachusetts Boston. She showed a series of paintings by Peter Paul Rubens at the Luxemburg Palace. I will never forget how she described the exaggerate lighting, intense emotions, and release from restraint the painters used to bring forth the counter-reformation to reaffirm that emotional and spiritual bond within the monarchy and church." Imogene said with a passion Jane had rarely seen in others. "She is truly an amazing woman. It must be the same with you as Jane has spoke of you the same." Imogene said with a twinkle of mischief in her eye. Maura again was caught off guard as she turned to find Jane blushing slightly. Jane looked around not meeting Maura's eyes. Suddenly, she knelt to pet Harlow.
"I believe Imogene you would find the same within Jane. I hate to end this interesting conversation, but Jane needs her lunch." Maura said smiling and shaking Imogene's hand. "I look forward to talking with you some more. Perhaps we could have lunch together in the coming days as we will be staying for another week and a half." Maura said as she released Imogene's hand and Jane rose from where she was petting Harlow.
"I look forward to it. Good Afternoon." Imogene said as she watched the couple walk away arm in arm. Imogene waited for a while watching them enter into their home. She called Harlow and carried in the dishes. She then went to a nearby phone and dialed a number. "Hello, I just wanted you to know the Boston detective is snooping around in the case." Imogene listened for a while to the response from the person on the other line. "I do not think you are taking this as seriously as you should. The detective may be recouperating, but she can still be an impediment." Imogene listened to the speaker on the line. She sighed and shook her head. "I don't agree with you, but I will keep an eye on her. I will let you know if you need to interfere as it were." Imogene nodded and then hung up. She looked down at Harlow. "Well Harlow, seems our good detective needs to be watched. I really hate when we need to do these things." Imogene rubbed Harlow's head and went down the hall to the study. She stepped behind the desk and pulled open a drawer. She pulled out the Glock hidden within the drawer. Carefully, but with a practiced hand she checked the magazine making sure it was fully loaded. "Jane, Jane. I hope you don't stick your nose in too deep. I would hate to see Maura lose her partner."
