Over the last couple of weeks Jane has been feeling out of sorts. The feelings that she has been experiencing she can't really explain. It's like she knows physically she is here, in this realm in which we call reality. Her mind feels like it's starting to drift off to some far off place. Feeling herself becoming distant with everyone around her, especially to those she loves and cares for.
Spending most of her time in the garage, all alone, thinking of all the shit that has happened and is happening to her. The fact that Hoyt is Back! No! No! No! She says to herself. Hoyt can't be back as I put a fucking scalpel through his cold black heart. Her thoughts are erratic and confusing only being temporarily interrupted by a knock on the door. Not even realising she is pacing back and forth, stopping she shouts "Yeah".
From the other side of the locked door she hears the voice of her wife. "Honey, you want something to eat?".
"No thanks, I'll have something to eat after I've worked out" Jane shouts back. All of it being a complete lie. She's not planning on working out anytime soon as her mind is racing with all these fractured thoughts and she's not really had much of an appetite since Cameron's funeral.
"Oh, Ok" she says disappointingly "I'm gonna drop Amelia off at day care then head to work, I'll see you later?" she says with hope in her voice. Even though deep down inside of her she knows Jane will either be out of the house or once again locked inside the garage. She's noticed the sudden change in her wife's demeanour. She saw the fear in Jane's eyes, as well as the resolute belief that maybe somehow Hoyt is back. Fearing she is losing her wife to a ghost.
Hearing the front door open and close and then the sound of a car pulling out of the drive. Jane leaves the garage and heads to what was once their marital bedroom. Now it feels like she is trespassing into someone else's room. Looking for her favourite Red Sox hoodie, she can't seem to find it anywhere. Randomly grabbing a fresh change of clothes and heading back down towards what has now become her own self isolation, the garage. Whilst changing her phone rings unexpectedly, making her jump. Picking up the mobile which is dancing around on top of a small table she answers, "Rizzoli-Isles".
"Janie, Janie, Janie, did you miss me"
Her lungs feel like they are shrinking, she can feel her throat starting to close, restricting how much air she can get in. "No...you're dead" she says panicky.
"Did you get my little present I left you?" Hoyt says excitedly.
"Fuck you, you son of a bitch" Jane shouts down the phone. "If I have to, I'll kill you again and again, I will".
"Janie, that hurts my feelingsā¦.and besides I'm already dead, you can't kill a ghost" and with that Hoyt ends the call.
Jane can't believe she has just had that conversation with a dead man. Her heart is racing so fast it feels like it's going to beat out of her chest. Her body feels like it's on fire. She just wants to rip every piece of clothing off of her sweaty body. Her legs feel like lead, like she's rooted to the spot but begin to shake, feeling weak. Her legs start moving before her brain has processed it and she is puking what very little contents in her stomach she has into a waste paper basket.
Going into the kitchen to get a glass of water, thinking better of it instead grabbing an ice cold beer instead. Unscrewing the cap off and taking a big long swig of it, nearly drinking half of it in one go. That definitely washed away the taste of vomit as well as settling her nerves a little bit. As the cold alcohol hits her empty stomach giving her an almost instant buzz from it.
The doorbell rings, making her look towards the door and then the clock. Shit, it's too early for drinking she thinks. Then she remembers the phone call Fuck it, continuing to down the rest of the bottle. Using her sleeve on her hoodie to wipe her mouth before opening the front door.
There are two well built men in nicely made suits standing on her front porch. They look like they are either cops or door to door salesmen.
"Hi Agent Rizzoli-Isles," he says, holding his hand out for the woman to shake, which she does. "We're from the Bureau, I'm Agent Dobson and this" he indicates with his hand "Is Agent Jackson". Both men proceed to get their credentials out to show Jane. Satisfied that everything is above board and in order he continues whilst the other agent remains silent. "We have discovered some new evidence pertaining to the murder of Agent Cameron, and we would like you to accompany us to Stanford Office so we can ask you some questions".
Jane wasn't overly excited about this 'new' evidence whatever it would be. As often or not it is something that doesn't actually get you anywhere closer to catching the killer. Instead it would be something like, he owns a dog, he likes orchards, and so on and so forth. "Can we not do this here?" she asks hoping to not sound too impatient. She really doesn't want to be spending an hour in the car with these two. Not today.
"I'm afraid not, you know what Bureau protocol is like, anything of this nature needs to be done on site" Agent Dobson said sounding genuinely sincere. He had heard many great things about this woman. Youngest woman ever in BPD history to make detective, in vice she had the biggest drugs bust ever in BPD history, and she single handed, managed to capture and then kill the serial killer Charles Hoyt. This woman is a living legend in police circles.
It pains him to see this prestigious woman looking dishevelled and smelling of alcohol. "Ok, fine" Jane says "But you'll have to drive me" she says.
Agent Dobson nods his head, knowing that if he can smell the booze on her then she shouldn't be driving either.
Jane is led down what feels like a very narrow hallway where she is led into an interrogation room. These rooms pretty much all look the same across any law enforcement. It's not the first time she has sat in the 'perps' chair but she still doesn't like it.
"Agent Rizzoli-Isles, I'm going to show you a piece of evidence which we managed to find hidden in the perimeter wall at Cameron Davies residence" Agent Dobson says, picking up an evidence bag and handing it to Jane.
Taking the plastic bag, Jane can already make out there is a bloody scalpel inside.
Agent Jackson finally speaks "We know you have history with similarities with this case and that of Charles Hoyt, so any insight or help you can give us is greatly appreciated" he says.
"Sure, of course" Jane says, still looking at the scalpel in the bag. It just looks like a normal blade to her until something catches her eye. Looking more closely her heart sinks. The look of shock on her face must have shown as Agent Dobson asks "What is it?".
Looking at the two agents then back to the bag she continues "These erm..scalpels belong to my wife" she says trying to steady her voice.
"How do you know?" One of the agents asks, looking puzzled.
Jane's not sure if she should continue talking or not. Not that she believes one second that Maura has done this. But whoever is, has broken into her lab and stolen a scalpel. What else have they taken? She thinks to herself. "My wife has all her scalpels engraved with her initials in them" she says handing the evidence bag back over to the agents.
Both agents proceed to look at the contents them-self, seeing through the plastic, hidden under dried blood the initials M.I.R at the tip of the handle. "Who has access to these scalpels?" Agent Jackson asks.
"Anyone at the pathologist's lab, it's not like she locks them up. Most nights they get left in the autoclave to be sterilised" Jane says looking flustered.
Before they can continue there is a knock on the interrogation room door. "Excuse me for one second" Agent Dobson says before standing up and leaving the room. He then returns holding a file. Placing it down in front of him he lets out a big sigh and looks directly into Jane's eyes.
"There were some partials left on the scalpel that we were able to lift" he says "We've ran them through C.O.D.I.S and we've got a hit" he then opens the file and slides the piece of paper over to Jane.
Not fully understanding what she is seeing, it's a print out of a fingerprint search and a match. It's not like she hasn't seen them before. It's just, it's saying its her prints on the murder weapon. And the picture staring back at her is the one currently used on her drivers licence.
"I'm really sorry Jane, I am" he says before getting up and walking around to her.
Letting out a big sigh knowing full well what's about to happen, Jane knows the law and she knows the protocols and procedures. But it still feels like she has just been kicked in the stomach. Now she understands how it feels to be on the receiving end of one of these.
"Jane Rizzoli-Isles, I'm arresting you for the murder's of Cameron Davies and Maddie Smith" Agent Gerald proceeds to handcuff Jane's hands behind her back. "You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during questioning now or in the future" leading Jane out of the room and towards where the cells are kept. "If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you before any questioning if you wish. If you decide to answer questions now without an attorney present, you will still have the right to stop answering at any time until you talk to an attorney." Within a couple of minutes he has walked Jane to one of the cells and gently pushes her inside.
Instinctively putting her back against the now closed and locked cell. Jane lets one of the agents take the handcuffs off of her. "Knowing and understanding your rights as I have explained them to you, are you willing to answer my questions without an attorney present?" Agent Dobson asks, looking at the woman now locked in the cell.
"I understand my rights..can you please call my wife?" Jane asks solemnly.
Agent Dobson nods his head and walks away to make that call to the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia. Again another woman he has heard so many wonderful things about. That's why as the phone rings he is hoping she doesn't pick up. Hearing the familiar click of a call being received his stomach sinks. "Hi this is Agent Dobson, I'm calling about your wife".
Maura has made her excuses at work and said she has a family emergency to attend to. Not feeling the need to elaborate on the circumstances at the moment until absolutely necessary. And after all she is the chief medical examiner, her staff respect her too much to question her authority.
When she had first received the phone call from Agent Dobson, she didn't quite understand what he was saying to her. She thought at first that Jane was needed to help arrest someone for the murders of Cameron and Maddie. It wasn't until he had repeated what he had said again to her she fully understood the situation. Luckily she was already sitting down otherwise her legs would have buckled underneath her.
Jane being arrested for murder was surely absurd. Unfortunately Agent Dobson wouldn't elaborate any further over the phone and has asked her to come to the FBI office in Stafford County, which depending on traffic would take her over an hour to drive to.
At first she was in denial that Jane would have never done anything like this, but as the time went on she got nearer to her destination. She has started to replay certain events over and over again in her head. Jane's recent behaviour has been concerning her, particularly the state of her wife's mental health. This talk of 'Hoyt' calling her and even though she said she knew it wasn't him. She could see in Jane's eyes that there was a part of her that believes he is back.
The drive to the FBI office didn't feel like it hadn't taken that long. But because she has been replaying things over and over again in her head it seemed to have made time speed up for her. Pulling into an empty visitor's space, parking her car and getting out, and then heading through the two double doors.
Making her way to the reception she sees an unassuming young lady sitting behind the counter. "Hello, my name is Dr Maura Isles-Rizzoli, I've come to see my wife and speak with an Agent Gerald" she says trying to keep her voice from shaking.
The young lady quickly types something into her computer, picking up a visitor's badge. "Please wear this at all times," she says, handing it to her. "Agent Dobson is expecting you in his office, he is on the third floor, room B12".
"Thank you" Maura says, taking the visitor's badge and heading towards the elevator. Stepping inside she was grateful that no one else entered when she did. Pressing the button for the third floor she releases the breath she was holding in. She can feel her heart starting to beat faster.
Grateful when the doors opened on her floor, it let in a cool breeze of cold air. She can feel herself getting warmer. Stepping out onto the brightly lit corridor she starts walking past the many offices. Each with floor to ceiling windows making the space feel bigger than it actually is. Finally she reaches Agent Dobson's door. All the blinds have been drawn, making it impossible to see who is inside. Raising her hand to knock she stops. Her hand is trembling, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She then proceeds to knock on the door. She can hear movement coming from inside. The door opens, and the man standing in front of her is not who she was expecting. He looks younger than she imagined and has incredible caring eyes. But sounded much, much older on the phone.
"Doctor Maura Isles-Rizzoli?" he asks.
Maura just nods her head, unable to get any words out.
Seeing the look of distress on the blonde's face. He doesn't want to make this any more difficult than it already is. "Please come in," he says softly.
Entering his office, Maura finds it surprisingly tastefully decorated. On the wall is a photo by Ansel Adams called Water and Foam, Yosemite Valley. But to the untrained eye it would look more like an abstract painting. Of course it's a reprint, as she has the original one at home, which she purchased for $5,500 at a charity auction 4 years ago.
But even so, this surprises her that someone of Agent Dobson's age would have something like this in his office. After all Ansel Adams died in 1984, she could only imagine that he either wasn't born or just a toddler. It's not the usual wall art you find in law agency's offices.
Also in the room are several potted plants of different species and sizes. It makes you feel calm and relaxed. Taking the seat that was offered, Maura finds it surprisingly comfortable. Making eye contact she asks. "Where is Jane? Can I see her?"
Hearing the anguish and urgency in the woman's voice he feels for her. But Agent Dobson needs to ask her some questions first. "All in good time, I need to ask you some questions first" he says.
"Anything if it will help you realise what a terrible mistake you have made" Maura says with defiance in her voice.
"How secure is your lab Dr Isles-Rizzoli?" Agent Dobson asks whilst leaning on the corner of his desk.
Maura is taken back by the question. "I'm sorry, I don't understand the question?" she asks, confused.
"Your lab at the Medical Examiner's Office, how secure is it?" he asks again. His tone never changed.
Why is he asking about my lab? She thinks to herself. "There are various security protocols in place. It is very secure. If you want details then you need to be very specific with your question. Otherwise we will be here all night" she says trying to hide the irritation in her voice.
"Ok, very well," he says. "Specifically the custom scalpels that you use, how are these stored?"
Feeling herself becoming more irritated and wishing he would just get to the point. "If I have used them they get stored in an autoclave to be sterilised overnight. And the spares are kept in a drawer". Predicting what Agent Dobson's next question is. "And the answers No, they aren't locked up, now are you going to tell me what all these questions are about?" she asks sternly.
Letting out a big sigh, he gets up off his desk and goes to his drawer, opening it and removing an evidence bag. Returning to his previous position, Agent Dobson leans forward giving the bag to Maura. "Do you recognise this?" he asks.
Taking the bag and looking at its contents intently, it just looks like a generic scalpel then she sees her initials. It's one of hers. "Where did you get this?" Maura asks, surprised.
"We found it wedged inside the perimeter wall at Cameron Davies residence" he says looking at the blonde. "We found two DNA results which matched Cameron Davies and Maddie Smith, and some partial fingerprints" he says.
Handing the evidence bag back to the agent. "I still don't understand why you have arrested Jane," Maura says.
"The fingerprint on the murder weapon belongs to Jane" he says not taking his eyes off of blonde woman sat before him.
Rushing to her feet "No, you're wrong, that's not possible" Maura says in disbelief.
"I'm sorry Doctor Isles-Rizzoli but the evidence doesn't lie" he says whilst getting to his feet. "I suggest you get Jane a good lawyer," he says solemnly. "Follow me and I'll take you to her," he says, leading the way out of his office. He's hoping to god that she's right, and that the decorated Jane Rizzoli-Isles hasn't turned into a killer.
Authors Note:
Thanks everyone for still following me on this journey. I hope everyone has been keeping safe.
I have some exciting news, I've recently just started a course on How to Write a Novel. So watch this space.
Just would like to say a massive thank you to all of you for encouraging me to keep continuing writing. And I can't believe that Trauma and 2.4 Children has had over 79,000 views. Thank you.
Peace and love
Paula
