Oops, I Did It Again – Chapter 20

During the time that Maura had been working with BPD she was being observed by multiple people without her knowledge. The Governor, Philip Butler was looking for a new Chief Medical Examiner. The Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. William Hatcher, had become critically ill and announced his pending retirement. Governor Butler was not comfortable with any of the current medical examiners taking his place.

He was conducting a search for a qualified replacement. Dr. Hatcher said he would work as long as he could however, his illness progressed quicker than he thought and he had to retire within two weeks. So, the position was currently vacant.

He had put out feelers for several medical examiners in other states. However, with a phone call from Lt. Cavanaugh he did some checking into Dr. Maura Isles. He liked what he heard and saw. He wanted to come observe Dr. Isles for himself without her knowing it. He arranged a visit with Lt. Cavanaugh. Lt. Cavanaugh hated keeping that information from Maura but he also wanted Maura to be a serious contender for the position, so, he would do whatever he needed to do to make sure that happened.

Maura had not met the Governor as it was not required for her contract position with the FBI. She was under the jurisdiction of the FBI. The Governor had already spoke with the Chief Medical Examiner for the FBI and she gave Maura high praise. She would hate to lose Maura as one of her contract Medical Examiners but this would be a full-time opportunity for Maura as well as a Chief position. Maura was more than qualified and if she was appointed to the position, she would be in charge of all of the Medical Examiners for the State of Massachusetts.

Jane and Maura arrived at work at 8 AM. When Maura arrived at the morgue, she found out that Dr. Pike had been called away from the morning's crime scene and he had to report to another city to work for the remainder of the day possibly longer. She thought it was strange but she did what she was told.

She sent Jane a text to let her know that she was BPD's ME for the day because Dr. Pike was called away. Jane secretly did an 'air' fist pump. This news made her happy she hated working with Dr. Pike. Maura could hear the excitement in Jane's voice when Jane called her and they spoke for a few minutes while Maura changed into her black scrubs.

The body had just been brought in and she would have to perform the autopsy and she would be her responsible for all activities in the morgue for the day. Susie started on the preliminary evidence findings as Maura, who was talking to Jane on the phone, went into the private bathroom to change.

When the Governor arrived Lt. Cavanaugh met him downstairs and escorted him to the morgue. By 8:10 AM Maura was making the Y-incision and starting the autopsy. She heard the door open and without stopping on the Y-incision she said, "I will be right with you. I am not in a position to stop what I am doing." She knew it wasn't Jane because she knew what her footsteps sounded like and she had just gotten off the phone with her.

"Thank you, Dr. Isles." Lt. Cavanaugh said.

"Ah, Lieutenant, I will be right with you. Give me about 50 more seconds to finish the Y-incision." Maura informed him.

"That's fine Dr. Isles. I didn't come down here to disturb you but rather to watch the autopsy." Lt. Cavanaugh didn't normally watch autopsies, she thought that this is another strange occurrence. Two in the last twenty minutes. She wondered how the rest of her day was going to go.

Maura finished the Y-incision and turned around to greet the Lieutenant properly. "Hello, Lieutenant Cavanaugh."

"Hello, Dr. Isles. This is Philip Butler, the Governor of Massachusetts. He has requested to observe an autopsy. Would you be okay with him observing this autopsy?" Cavanaugh asked hoping that Dr. Isles would accommodate the Governor.

"I would be happy to have you observe the autopsy, Governor. Would you like for me to explain my actions as I am performing them?" Maura asked not sure how much the Governor knew about what took place during autopsies.

"Governor Butler, I am going to go back up to the bullpen, if you need anything please have Dr. Isles call me and let me know." Cavanaugh shook the Governor's hand that was promptly offered and left the morgue.

The Governor then turned back to Dr. Isles and asked, "Would that slow down your work? I do not want to impede your work."

"No sir, the entire autopsy takes about two hours. I would be happy to talk you through what I actions I am performing as I perform them. Would you like to change into scrubs so that nothing happens to your nice suit? The protective gowns don't catch everything sometimes and I would hate for you to get your nice suit dirty."

The Governor thought about it and then responded, "Thank you Dr. Isles, I think I would like that. I would feel like part of the team." He said as he smiled at Maura.

Maura returned the smile and then said, "Please call me Maura." The Governor nodded. Maura then asked, "Susie, can you please cover up the body and have another chair brought in?"

"Yes, Dr. Isles." Susie said as she reached over and picked up a sheet to cover up the body. She then immediately left to retrieve another chair.

"Please follow me and I will show you where you can change. We will start as soon as you are ready." Maura led the Governor into the private bathroom in the office and provided him with a pair of scrubs to change into and some booties for his shoes. "You can hang your suit up here and just come back to the autopsy room when you are ready."

"Thank you, Dr. Isles, I mean Maura. While we are 'working together' please call me Philip. I know your background and I know you will know when to revert back to calling me Governor Butler as I know when to revert to calling you Dr. Isles."

"You are welcome, Philip. I will see you in a few minutes when you are ready." Maura stated as she retreated to the autopsy room. A few minutes later the Governor came out all dressed in black scrubs ready to work. Maura provided him with protective goggles and latex gloves.

The autopsy took two hours to complete. It didn't drag out the autopsy, while Maura explained everything as she was use to talking while performing such activities. It was part of her advance classes in Forensics.

The Governor was impressed with her procedures and methodical she completed all of the procedures. He didn't realize how much was involved in performing an autopsy. His sources had told him that she was quite knowledgeable and methodical. He told himself 'I have found my next Chief Medical Examiner.'

"Thank you, Maura for your time. I appreciate you taking the time to explain everything to me."

"You are welcome, Philip. You are more than welcome to take a shower in the private bathroom to help remove all the smells associated with the autopsy. I will stay out here and begin writing up my initial findings report."

The Governor took her up on the shower offer as he could smell the decomp on himself. She had Susie take the Governor up to Lt. Cavanaugh's office after she had called him to let him know that the Governor was finished watching the autopsy.

"Sean, I am pretty sure I just found our new Chief Medical Examiner. What do you think about me offering Dr. Isles the position?"

"I would be very appreciative of that. Can you get rid of Dr. Pike? My detectives have nothing nice to say about him. They love Dr. Isles."

"Well, if Dr. Isles accepts my offer Dr. Pike will no longer be working at BPD. Dr. Isles would be."

"Well, my all means please offer her the position."

"I have to go talk to my HR department and see what kind of package I can put together for her and then I can offer her the position. How is it possible that she is not working as a medical examiner already?"

"We have been trying to figure that out also. I thought you were in need of medical examiners but yet she hasn't been able to find a medical examiner position."

"We do need medical examiners. I am hoping that her classes will offer us to potential MEs. Well, let me get back to my office so I can get this process started. Please don't say anything to her. I will inform her once I have my offer ready for her. Thank you for your assistance today, Sean."

"You are welcome, have a great day, Governor." Sean walked the Governor down to the front entrance and then returned to his office. He was hopeful that the Governor came back with an offer quickly.

Maura sent Jane a text telling her, "The Governor was here to witness the autopsy this morning."

Jane immediately texted her back, "I will be right down."

Jane walked into the autopsy room, spotting no one she went to the office. Maura was sitting at the desk typing up the initial autopsy report. "Knock, knock" Jane said as she approached the open door.

"Hello Jane, come in." Maura said as she rose to walk over and give Jane a hug. Her hair was still wet from her shower. She liked to take a shower as soon as she completed an autopsy. That was hard to do when Dr. Pike was there as he wouldn't let her use the private bathroom, so she would have to go to the ladies' locker room in the gym if she wanted to shower.

"So, why was the Governor here?" Jane asked after she greeted Maura with a quick kiss. They had promised not to show too much affection at work as they didn't want to broadcast their relationship. A few select people knew at work and that was Korsak, Frost and now Frankie. Jane did have to let Lt. Cavanaugh know and as a precautionary measure HR, even though Maura was not technically an employee of BPD. Cavanaugh just didn't want any fallback from their relationship. Non-disclosure could cause some fallback so he would rather be safe than sorry.

"I'm not quite sure. I have had several visitors to my classes in the last two weeks also. HR at BCU also has asked some questions. I almost feel as though I am being vetted for something."

"Do you think they might be looking to hire you as a medical examiner?" Jane asked with a huge smile.

"That might be a possibility. I guess time will tell. I'm just happy Dr. Pike is not here. I like working as the medical examiner here so I can be close to you. Maura walked over and closed the blinds and then the door. She promptly locked it. She wanted to give her girlfriend a proper kiss. Jane was all for that. Just as their make-out session was heating up both of their phones rang.

"Rizzoli"

"Isles"