the riddles sent another warning to the precinct the next day. The letter was found on a table in the cafeteria.
"There are no fingerprints on the letter." Frankie stated to the tired crowd in the squad room.
This is our last warning! Stop looking for us or you will die like you re colleague.
"I've received more convincing love letters like this one." Korsak stated sarcastically and snorted after reading the letter.
The fact that they didn't knew that Maura was still alive showed for the first time how much the whole situation was getting out of their enemies' hand. It led them to the assumption that whoever had protected the riddles from the government no longer supplied information to the them.
But the warning was clear so Jane and Korsak decided to move to Angela's place, where they had an alarm system in addition to the police protection. The agent felt like an intruder to Maura's privacy when packing up her stuff as she still hurt and couldn't do it herself. It reminded her how fresh this relationship still was.
Angela was glad to help and insisted on staying with them when Frankie told her to go and visit an aunt in California. Her kids tried to convince her that she would be saver at another place, but she wouldn't have it.
"I'm never going to leave my family when it needs me." The matriarch stated and ended all discussion with a dismissive wave. "Moreover, Maura will need help when coming home and you all have to work." The older woman argued.
"So, can I have a gun now?" Maura nudged Jane who had come to visit.
"How many times have we talked about this?" the agent replied, rolling her eyes and feeling a bit tense, even though it had only been a joke.
"Exactly. And I still have o gun to protect me if necessary." The blonde pointed out, far more serious now..
"That's because uhm…." You have an officer in front of your door who will protect you.
"I know how to use a gun." Maura stated and appeared to be offended.
"I know Maur", Jane finally sighed, "but I can't just give you a gun. You have to pass tests before you get to be allowed to carry one. It's the law."
Jane stroke over Maura's hand while they sat in silence for a while.
Thank god, Maura healed well, and she would soon be back at home with her she thought. Only one or two more days the doctors said. the agent wondered if the riddles had already found out that Maura was still alive. She prayed to god that they hadn't. and she hoped that their relationship wouldn't be damaged as she felt the sudden uneasiness between them.
When lying in bed later she turned to Maura's side, like she did every evening. It was as empty as she felt without Maura. They exchanged some texts, but the usual fire was missing. Jane tried to distract herself from all the worries by watching a funny Meryl Streep movie, feeling completely soar and drained.
Her phone started to ring towards the end of the film.
"Hey Frankie", she greeted her brother.
"Jane, we have another incident. I'll send you a message with the address. Hurry!"
Stunned the agent stared at her phone. She couldn't believe the address. Her stunning turned into shock, when her assumption was proofed that the incident had happened at Frankie's. Or better said in front of his house.
The firefighters were just busy putting out the fire on the cross when she slammed the door of the old Ford and ran to her brother.
"So, can I swear now?" She muttered under her breath, hugging Frankie.
"Janie, you know that you can always swear with me." He answered, giving her a dry smile.
"How are you?" She asked her brother who appeared to be very composed for the fact that a woman was burning on a cross right in front of his house.
"I'm fine. I sent Michelle to her Parents who live in Ohio. If it was me, I would have sent her too moon because Ohio wouldn't be far enough."
Frankie nodded. "I tried. But Michelle meant that I was ridiculous."
"Why didn't you come to stay at ma's house?"
"I was about to pack some stuff and come over afterwards. But then the cross was already burning…."
Unfortunately, he hadn't seen much.
"I was up in the bedroom, packing a duffle bag…." He stated at her question.
And he hadn't really heard something alarming.
Just the neighbors dogs barking. But they are barking all the time so that wouldn't have given me a clue.
Jane sighed. It would be a long night again and she wasn't really looking forward to it. She sent Maura a message when alone in the car, telling her about what had happened. but Maura didn't reply. Maybe she's still mad somehow or sleeping, Jane thought. Or … She sighed changing the direction of her thoughts and quickly texted Frankie, that they would meet at the precinct later. Better check on her she thought. If she's just mad or asleep its fine. As long as she's fine.
Jane was relieved when she found Maura sound asleep in her bed. She greeted officer Paulson when leaving the room and headed for the precinct.
They are really getting on my nerves. Korsak grunted as she entered the room. Can't they just stop doing shit for one day?
Jane agreed and rubbed her eyes. She took a cup of coffee from the old detective and sipped in silence while Korsak summarized what they had. Same game as a few days ago. Finding out who the dead woman was, searching for evidence….
Her brother was sitting at the end of the table. Was he shaking a little bit? Jane wondered. He must be shocked after all.
Jane crept into bed when the sun was rising outside. Feeling exhausted and guilty. Maura needed rest to recover, but her message from the previous evening wouldn't help. She wouldn't be surprised if her girlfriend would even want to perform the autopsy. Before Jane knew it she fell into a restless sleep dreaming of burning crosses.