See Ch 1 for disclaimers…


"Okay let's pin it up and walk it through." Korsak plucked the photo of the latest victim from Frost's fingers and placed it next to the other two. Frost was reclining in his office chair studying the images. Jane was staring someplace on the wall behind him. He shared a look with Frost while they waited but Jane remained fixated elsewhere.

Taking careful aim Frost launched his pen across his desk "Jane!"

She looked up when the pen hit her keyboard and realized the photos were up. "What?" Korsak was standing there with an expression not unlike her high school history teacher. She sighed. "I'm sorry."

Korsak half groaned. "I heard the Doc invite you along at the scene. I heard you decline." He pointed to the board. "So there is this thing called murder. We get paid to find killers."

Jane flicked a hand at him. "Don't mock me." With a snap of her wrist she tapped her chest. "I'm trying to be a grownup." Jane tossed the pen back at Frost's head, smiling when he missed it and it connected with the side of his head. "Bull's-eye"

Rubbing the side of his head Frost glared at her. "Yeah, that's working. Real mature Jane."

"You threw it first."

"Are both of you serious?" Korsak closed his eyes for a moment. "Jane, Maura is going to drop Ian off at the airport and come back to you. So whatever is running through your head you need to let go. What do you think she is going to do, buy a ticket and go with him?"

"No. Yes." Rubbing her forehead Jane groaned. "It's been a long fucking day."

Frost shook his head. "I understand. Maura matters. But just so we're clear you know what you're feeling is ridiculous right?"

Jane nodded. "I know and I wanted her to have a chance to talk to him. With the double case load this was the only opportunity. I can't stop my imagination though. What if she kisses him goodbye? What if she regrets having to end it when it comes down to actually sending him on his way? How am I going to survive if she comes back here to break it off?" She rolled her eyes at herself. "Logically I know all of that shit isn't going to happen, but still."

"What if she comes back here and drags us all early to choir practice? How will we survive?" Korsak pulled at his pants and perched on the edge of his desk. "For that matter, what if she thinks I was serious about wanting the rest of the Santa suit to match that hat?"

That made them all laugh and the tension dissipated.

Jane shrugged. "If you lay off the donuts that wouldn't be such a perfect suggestion, she did look excited."

"Well like you said, that shit isn't going to happen in any place but your imagination." Korsak walked over and rapped his knuckles on the murder board. "This however is real. What are you thinking?"

Frost had the end of the pen in his teeth. "There is a clear MO. The women are alone and somehow the perp knows it. This last one Maura thinks was killed over 24 hours ago. This time it was the kid coming back from college that found his mother. Father died last year of a heart attack." They shared a look and a sigh pausing, the humanity of the case reminding them of its existence for a moment. "He was able to be careful again. Minimal trace and the body was under the Christmas tree so I would think it's safe to say that particular detail is pivotal."

Jane leaned forward, elbows on her desk, foot bouncing against her desk drawer. "So three body dumps near a Christmas tree. Three strangulations during sexual assault and DNA that hasn't come up in any of our databases as a match. The women don't look alike. Different ages, this third victim was a different race profile. Best guess the victim is less about physical type and more about opportunity." The drumming of her foot picked up in pace. "The positioning of the body by the Christmas tree is the clear focus. He was willing to risk a mistake with the second victim rather than leave the body in the place of the assault and he knew in every case he'd have time to clean up. He knew they expected to be home alone. None of the houses showed signs of forced entry so the women were familiar with their attacker."

Jane's phone buzzed on her desk and then beeped. She checked her message and smiled. "Maura is apparently back already and working on Brown's frozen stiff from this morning but she needs to see me downstairs. She needs to show me something in relation to this case but I need to go to her."

The guys shared a look but Korsak waived her off. She'd be useless until she went downstairs anyhow.


Jane paused long enough for the autopsy door to slide open. "You wanted me?"

Maura had the shield down and her saw in hand. She pointed to the scrubs and goggles. "Yes. No paper, full gear please and give me a minute." She waited until Jane was covered before turning the saw back on.

Watching the way Maura removed the breast plate Jane noted she was moving quickly. Glancing at the wall clock, Jane suppressed a smile. Maura was worried about being late for choir practice and she would never admit it. She knew how long each autopsy took and completing this one would cut it close. When the saw shut down and the breast plate was wiggled free of the cavity Jane moved up to the table. "This one Brown's frozen stiff from this morning?"

Maura nodded, pulling off her face mask and stripping her gloves for a moment. She hit the computer and brought up several images on the screen. "Partially frozen to be precise. I actually called you down because on the external examination we found this pattern on Brown's victim here. The impressions became more obvious as the body started to thaw." Snapping on a fresh pair of gloves she turned the corpse's face. "The shape was found here by the left ear and again on the back of the neck."

"Holy shit, that looks like the impression from our first victim. What do you know so far on this one?" Jane studied the image and the area of skin on the corpse. She glanced at the gaping wound on the back of the skull, the dura mater ragged like a smashed grape. "Axe?"

Maura was smiling, eyes shining. "Well done Detective. He was found by Charles Daniel, owner and operator of a Christmas tree lot called City Trees. It was on our list to visit. Last time Mr. Daniel had contact with my victim, Kyle Lester, was approximately 16 hours ago. He was supposed to be doing a late delivery of Christmas trees but never made the run. Mr. Daniels thought it was because of the storm but when he couldn't get in touch and angry customers were calling, he came down to the lot the minute the snow slowed down to try to dig out what he could and make the deliveries himself. Mr. Lester was partially buried from the storm and the owner found him when he was digging out the Christmas tree bailer. The body was partially frozen despite the insulation of the snow so I would approximate that time of death was early last night."

Jane looked at the diamond impressions again. "I'll go up and talk to Brown but do you know what he is thinking so far?"

Maura shrugged. "I don't have to ask him. In this case the axe was found near the body and when Brown went to inform the victim's girlfriend she was sitting at her kitchen table waiting for him to arrive. He has her in Interrogation 2 right now."

"Lucky bastard, he gets an open and close case during the holidays, while I manage to dabble in my specialty, serial killings." Jane studied the corpse again. Now it made sense why the meticulous Dr. Isles was willing to be efficient. This autopsy was to verify a confession. "Where was the body found exactly? Any thoughts on what made the impressions?"

"You should go look with Frost. The body was on top of some tree bailing netting, which I believe made the impressions on the body. I sampled the skin in both areas but the techs won't be able to process until tomorrow. The delay is my fault. I had the evidence bags with me when I left with the body to make it to your scene had because it was linked to the other two ongoing cases. This scene was complicated by the weather so I know the techs are still holding it. Processing is ongoing. I heard from the techs that the owner of the lot is highly upset this close to Christmas. There were several lovely trees." Maura started to visually observe the organ placement and overall impressions, using her foot to start and stop the recording.

Jane waited until Maura's voice paused, shaking her head as the bigger picture came together. "Lovely trees?"

Maura nodded. "One in particular was on display at the entrance of the lot. The owner was given clearance to continue with his established deliveries outside the marked crime scene and the lot has to remain closed. It was a compromise."

Jane snorted and crossed her arms over her chest. "It's just coincidence that you think I need to go observe the scene instead of ask for access to the photos and reports isn't it? It has nothing to do with the fact that you saw a beautiful tree at a freaking crime scene?"

Maura carefully excised the sternopericardial ligaments before placing her hand inside the chest cavity to push through the transverse sinus. "I don't believe in coincidences Jane." She glanced and evaluated Jane's expression. At the very least she was considering the request. "I simply am considering our lives over the past few days and it is my opinion that the only chance we'll have to find a tree is at a crime scene. Where else have we been except for work? I also have empathy for the owner who needs the business. I remind you that he delivers."

Jane sighed and dropped her arms. "You don't say?" The smile they shared made Jane feel ready to ask. "Ian get off okay?"

"He did." Maura placed the heart on the scale, staring at it sitting there, excised, her fingers bloody. A metaphor if she were feeling capricious. She took a deep breath. "Thank you for understanding." Looking back to Jane she watched her nod slightly. Sensing this was time enough to end this conversation she smiled at her. "I love you."

"I love you too." Jane walked over to the hamper and stripped out of her scrubs. "Now I'm going to grab the guys and go look at Brown's scene that apparently has a tree at the entrance that needs a home."


With Frost at her side Jane rapped on the window of Interrogation 2. It was smaller, less austere, and Brown had left the blinds open. He met them outside the door. "If it isn't Rizzoli and Frost. You two kids bored upstairs or what? I have a prime case of batteries-not-included if you catch my drift sitting in there." Rapping his knuckles on his head he pointed at the window. "Either of you are welcome to spend some quality time trying to get her to turn the Christmas lights on upstairs if you are looking for something to do. Woman decided to ax her old man because he asked her to marry him. How is that for an answer? God."

They all turned to stare at the woman who started sobbing again.

Brown shook his head "This is what she has been like all morning. Chick was waiting for us at her place with a fresh pot of coffee on, literally answered the door asking what had taken us so long. We're trying to figure out her real name but she either doesn't remember or isn't going to tell us. We don't know the victim's real name either. The two of them work for the traveling carnival rides for the state fairs. Hell, most of the people working the tree lots are off-season Carnies. You can imagine what trying to sort out where they came from is like." He groaned. "I'd have a better chance tracking fucking Santa. Doc said the victim has prison tats and the old lady thinks they were in South Carolina when he was enjoying some state sponsored vacation time. But it also could have been Texas. All she knows is there might have been an Olive Garden and a Target near the prison, which is so unique here in the ol' USA."

Jane laughed into her fist and studied the woman sitting at the table. The blonde had red rimmed eyes and had a can of Diet Coke clutched in one hand. The other hand was flat against the table and she seemed intent on staring at the engagement ring on it. "Frost and I wanted to know if you'd mind if we went to look at your scene. Your vic had a skin impression that seems similar to one on that serial rapist case we're working on and it happened at a tree lot. All three of our bodies were left like presents under the Christmas tree. Too many connections to ignore and since I don't think Santa has gone homicidal, I'd like to get this one off the street before he leaves us any more gifts."

Brown waived them off. "Have fun. Good luck with the owner. He is not a fan of the BPD this morning."

They were walking through the lobby towards the Cafe to grab Korsak when Frost grabbed Jane's elbow and stopped.

"Jane maybe I just have engagement rings on the brain but I know what you just paid for Maura's ring. Didn't that woman's ring seem rather generous for a couple of Carnies?" Frost watched her eyes light up thinking.

"Might have been a fake."

He nodded. "Might have been."

A slow smile spread across her face. "Might have been real."

He smiled back. "Possibly."

"Oh come on." Jane threw her hands up. "Stuff like this does not happen."

"No it doesn't." Frost shrugged. "Unless you work our jobs or maybe unless you happen to be you. Come on, weirder shit has happened. Your girlfriend is the daughter of a famous mobster. Both of you attract every serial killer in New England and need I remind you, baby on your doorstep. Jane." He shook his head. "Seriously. Baby on your doorstep."

They laughed together and Jane didn't care about the looks Murphy was giving them from the front desk when they tipped into the hysterical. This was too unbelievable. It was like something off a TV show. "You don't really believe it's going to be that easy?"

Frost's shoulders where still shaking slightly. "I don't know. I've been a good boy all year putting up with your shit, keeping your ass out of the fire with Maura. I'm due a present or two. This wraps up and I'll be able to spend Christmas with my Mom and Robin after all." He swept both his hands towards the hallway. "Back to Brown?"

Jane nodded. "I'm going to go ask Brown's new friend a few questions."


Jane settled down across from the blonde. "I'm Detective Rizzoli."

The woman looked at her with tired, red rimmed eyes. "I'm Tracy."

"I thought you told Detective Brown your name was Lisa."

"He's wrong. I was clear with him. I'm Tracy."

Jane watched anger tightening the other woman's face. She sat back slightly, tried to relax her arms. Trying to project calm and unassuming. "Okay Tracy. I'm new to the case, I am so sorry." The other woman's features softened slightly. Jane reached a hand partway across the table and tapped one finger towards the woman's engagement ring. "I saw your ring from outside. It's beautiful. Detective Brown mentioned you are newly engaged."

The blonde rubbed her hand over the ring rapidly before she leaned across the table towards Jane. "He finally asked. He asked but he didn't want me. He was cheating on me you know."

Jane raised an eyebrow. "The nerve."

"He thinks I didn't know but I followed him. I saw him with the other woman." The blonde was breathing hard. "That woman in her pretty house, in her fancy neighborhood, had nothing better to do than flaunt herself at my boyfriend. I saw her. Bitches like that always get everything."

Jane felt excitement pour through her, tingling. She tried to remember everything Maura had ever told her about offering open body language, inviting trust and controlling her breathing. "He shouldn't have done that."

The tears started to run down the woman's cheeks. "He made love to her." She ran her hand under her eyes. "He wouldn't touch me anymore. He pretended he wanted me but his body always told the truth, he didn't want me anymore. But I saw him. He could touch her." She started sobbing harder.

Jane tried to keep her expression free of disgust and pushed a box of tissues across the table. "That must have been difficult to see."

She nodded into a tissue. "Do you know what he did when I confronted him?"

Jane shook her head.

"He proposed, he went into his van and came out with this ring and finally proposed. He said it was supposed to be my Christmas surprise. That he only wanted me, that I was wrong about any other woman. He told me all he did was deliver a Christmas tree to that woman and that he forgot his tools at her house so he had to go back." The blonde's attention was focused on the ring on her finger and her voice was a whisper. "He was on his knee like in a movie. He said that he picked it out special." Her shoulders were shaking now. "It was another lie. He didn't buy this ring."

She pried the diamond off her finger. "There is somebody else's wedding date inscribed on the inside." The ring hit the table with a ping. "He didn't go pick this out for me. The asshole probably stole it from one of those beautiful women with their beautiful houses that he tells me about every night. He delivers their trees and he tells me about how they flirt with him. How they want him." She pushed the ring towards Jane, the metal making a scraping noise on the table. "I took care of him. He'll think carefully before he cheats on me again."

Jane nodded and took a deep breath, pushing her feelings aside until her voice could come out calm and smooth. "Tracy you know that he can't cheat on you anymore. Remember? You told Detective Brown that you killed your boyfriend."

The statement seemed to catch the woman off guard and her face fell as she sobbed. "Who is Tracy? Why can't any of you get my name right? I keep trying to tell you people that I made a mistake tonight. I didn't mean to do it, but I think I killed Richie. I'm supposed to marry Richie but he's dead and nobody is listening."

Jane glanced over her shoulder and saw Frost standing next to Brown outside, both of them shaking their heads slightly. With a sigh she stood up and slipped out the door. "I take it Frost filled you in?"

Nodding Brown still seemed shocked. "What are the odds that the two cases were connected?"

"I don't know. We could ask Maura." Jane looked back into the room at the woman who was tracing her empty ring finger. "Did you call social services?"

Brown nodded. "Called that friend of yours because intake was busy and they wanted to keep her here overnight but we're out of accommodations downstairs. Minnie says Merry Christmas by the way. She said she make sure someone from DMH made it over." He paused for a moment before sliding a look at Jane. "Rizzoli is Minnie single?"

"Maybe." Jane gave him a slow smile. "I'll put in a good word for you. I owe you a favor or two."

"If you can get my ugly puss a date with a beautiful woman like that you can consider us even for handing you a few boring old sketches."

"Deal." Jane pushed away from the wall. "Okay now I have to go trample your scene, see if the tree bailing netting perhaps had a diamond pattern."

She was silent all the way down the hall before she nudged Frost. "That was a hell of a call on the ring. Impressive really."

He shrugged. "All I can say is thanks to you I have engagement rings on the brain. Did you make up your mind?"

"I did."She tried to ignore the pleading look before she let out an exasperated sigh. "Okay fine. I'm not going to ask her for Christmas." Jane rushed her next words when she could see the argument forming on Frost's face. "Trust me. The perfect gift came to me this morning when I was talking to my mother." She pointed to the Café across the lobby and then held the finger up to her lips. "I'll explain in the car. You can even help me pick it up tonight. Believe me it's the right gift. Maura is going to be happy. I'm still going to get us that weekend away and if the timing fits, I'm going to ask her to marry me there."

"Jane." He could see her stiffen, ready to fight it out and Frost cut her off with a wave. "Don't bother we can discuss it later. I wanted to let you know that I already checked and the DNA evidence from the second victim was in the system. I set up as many searches as I could to see if it matches any inmate DNA, but here is your reminder that if he was housed in a state that doesn't collect DNA you're shit out of luck."

"Well that was efficient on the DNA. I'm going to head over to Brown's scene and see the netting, make sure the techs process the van." Jane glanced at him. "How busy are you right now"

Frost gave her a suspicious look. "We work together Jane. You know how busy I am."

"Too busy to help me tie a tree to the hood of my car and then drag it into Maura's?" Jane looked over her shoulder, back towards the hall leading to the interrogation rooms. "Call me crazy but I think I'll skip delivery service this year."


A/N – Merry Christmas :) My present to everyone is a solved case... tried to keep it to about the level we see on the show and well… perhaps try to make it have a lining of humor with a little "campy" tossed on top.

More clues to the song…. Still haven't figured it out yet…BUT kudos to j. m. pak … you nailed the killer – EXTRA COOKIES FOR YOU :) I might even share my gingerbread cookies with you.

Now… who can figure out that song ;)?