Jane and Frost walked into the cool sterility of the morgue and Frost immediately took up a position on the wall furthest from the "slab" where the body was lying. Jane stepped up to the table, looking down into a gaping chest and abdominal cavity.

Maura launched into her report, eyes trained on her task, removing organs and weighing them. "The incisions and lacerations were all done post-mortem," she stated.

"Seriously? What killed her?" Jane furrowed her brow in disbelief as she leaned over, inspecting it herself.

"Asphyxiation." She turned back to the table and pointed to various things on the body. "See this hematoma near the throat incisions? Indicative of some sort of cinching object, a scarf, or a belt perhaps."

"What about a rope?" Frost asked helpfully from his corner near the sink, arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against the counter.

Maura shook her head, taking notes on her pad. "Rope would leave very specific patterns of contusions, regardless of the material and weave pattern. Considering the lack of a leather grain as well, I'd say we're looking at a scarf, and as soon as the fibers come back, I'll know for certain. In the meantime, the cuts on her face, throat and abdomen were all made by the same weapon, a long knife, serrated, possibly about nine inches long."

Jane nodded. "Like a bread knife?" She poked at the neck wound, something felt off about it.

"Like an amputation knife." Maura walked to a cabinet, removing an instrument and crossed back, holding it out to Jane. "See? It's designed for cutting through bone. And there's something else, as well." She stepped around the table and picked up the trail of intestines from the pan it sat in. "Completely intact. All of the organs are. With such a deep, seemingly careless incision, you'd expect slices in the organs in its path, but there isn't so much as a scratch."

Frost stood up, hands still in his armpits. "You're saying our perp knows what he's doing?"

Maura nodded. "Advanced knowledge of anatomy and technique. A doctor. Perhaps a medical student." She replaced the organs in their place and moved to the trashcan, stripping off the nitrile gloves down into it.

Jane sighed, backing away from the table. "Alright, thanks. Lunch later?" She turned, slowly following Frost to the door.

"I'll come upstairs."

Maura walked into the bullpen later that afternoon, laying a file folder on Jane's desk. "The fibers are back. It's a polyester cotton blend, with a very low cotton thread count. I would imagine it could be found virtually anywhere."

Jane groaned, scanning the reports. "Of course it can." She leaned back in her chair, looking up at Maura who had positioned herself against Jane's desk, just barely touching it. "Tell me what you noticed about the vic's throat. Something seemed off about it…"

Maura nodded. "You're referring to the fact that it was, in fact, a double incision." She smiled, happy to impart her knowledge.

"A double incision? Jane reached for her nearly empty cup of coffee, gulping down the cold liquid. She pulled a photo off the desk of the neck wound and stared at it. "Show me."

Maura turned slightly, leaning over Jane's shoulder and drawing a line with her fingernail. "See? You can clearly distinguish two paths the blade took."

Jane did see, and she tried to focus, ignoring the waft of lavender from Maura's perfume. "They're left-handed." She looked up at Maura. "Takes one to know one."

"Well, both incisions are clearly from right to left, Jane. Naturally that would indicate…"

Jane held up a finger near Maura's lips, a ghost of a smile on her features. "I know." She looked over at Frost. "So a left-handed medical professional with a scarf. This gets better and better."

Frost grinned. "And terrible fashion sense." He dodged to the side as a binder clip flew past his head. "Watch it!"

"You deserved it." She tapped her foot nervously and chewed her thumbnail. "There's something I'm missing." She pulled her phone out of its holster as it rang a moment later. "Hi, Ma."

"Janie, what time will you and Maura be here for dinner?"

"Ma, I don't think dinner's happening tonight, I'm on a case." She winced as she braced for her mother's reaction.

"Janie, you still hafta eat. An hour won't kill you. I'll see you both at eight."

Jane sighed as she heard the click. "Ma said she'll see us at eight." She sat up, stretching slowly, grinning as she heard each vertebrae pop.

Maura raised an eyebrow, but nodded. "I have some further work to do, I'll see you later." She straightened up and turned, heading for the door.

"Maura, what…" She trailed off as the door closed. "Right."