Chapter 9: Sincere
Amy heads to her car after night shift. She clicks the auto door locks as she approaches. Then she sees a shuffle from the shadows. She freezes, ready to hit the horn button when she hears it - the voice. He comes so close to her back that she can feel his breath. "Amy, I see Rizzoli is in town. Watch them." She doesn't turn around rather lets out an angry sigh.
"I didn't sign up for this. This is beyond our agreement." She hisses.
She feels him move close enough that their bodies touch. In a low growl he whispers in her ear, "Amy you didn't mind the money, now do the job." She doesn't turn around. "This is a sedative. Tell me anything Rizzoli brings with her, take pictures and call on this." He hands her a bag and a burn phone. She takes neither. He slams them on the roof of the car. "I'd hate to see mama on the street." She sighs and dejectedly takes both. "Good girl," the voice rasps. She feels the presence leave. She turns around slowly and looks at the objects in her hand. Mom, when did this get so nuts?
Amy had finished a double shift after the avalanche. The weight of the day and her personal situation took its toll. That's when she first encountered the man with the voice. The man approached her from out of the shadows, offering her $100,000 for her help. All she had to do was be a personal nurse to some Jane Doe. She was to tell him any information. She rationalized it and accepted it. She needed the money. Her mother was in an institute specializing in alzheimer patients. Her mother seemed content there, but it was expensive. She had missed two payments already and they were threatening to kick her mother out. She couldn't afford to quit her job and look after her mom full time. She had grabbed all the overtime and extra shifts she could to make ends meet, and still came up short. In retrospect, she figures the vice knew how desperate she was and still is. She has already spent most of the money to keep her mother happy at the Institute. She has no choices anymore. She opens her car door, throws all her stuff, including her new acquisition on the seat behind her. Tomorrow she is assigned to go see Dr Isles. She is now dreading that visit.
Korsak and Frost catch the elevator to the morgue. Frost questions on the descent, "Did you get in touch with Jane yet?"
"No, I don't think her phone is on, I've left several messages." He looks up from his cell as they reach their destination.
As they enter the morgue, Dr Pike is hovering over the third body, without looking up, he addresses them. "Detectives, I thought I was quite clear when I said I will contact you with my report."
Korsak, miffed, invades the taller man's personal bubble. "Jane may have patience for your antics, I do not!" he huffs. Pike straightens up and clears his throat.
"What do you want to know, Detectives?" Korsak gives Pike some space and starts to talk as he walks to the end of the autopsy table beside Frost. Frost is trying to look anywhere but at the splayed face and skull of the latest victim.
Pike turns back to his perusal of the open nasal cavity. "The first ice pick was used on the first two victims. I found blood from Haas near the hilt of the ice pick. This Floyd boy was tasered first before an ice pick was hammered up his nose." He points to the cadaver's shoulder.
"Hammered ?" Frost comments as he looks away, a little green around the gills.
Pike looks up to comment. "Yes, there are signs of blunt force trauma to the end of the wooden handle on the pick." He points so both gentlemen can see. "The picture I found in his pocket had no prints."
"What picture?" queries Korsak.
Pike turns and finds the picture in question in a plastic bag. "Here Detectives."
Both Korsak and Frost look at the photo with dropped jaws. "This just got a whole lot nastier," Korsak comments to his young partner.
Jane guides Maura to the couch and both friends flop down without separating. Maura has calmed but Jane keeps her tucked tight against her. "I'm scared," a weak whisper from Maura's lips. "I know, but we'll get through this, we will." Jane reassures. Jane switches position so that Maura is closer to her and her head tucked under Jane's chin.
"Okay, Maur, talk to me." Jane whispers quietly.
"I'm not sure where to start," whispers Maura.
"At the beginning would be nice."
"Jane, you already know I'm adopted."
"Ok doctor smartypants, not that far back!" Both women smile despite the situation. They enjoyed being in each other's presence.
"I don't understand what happened. I went to Aspen after the conference and stayed in my parents chalet. I skied the next day until supper. The skiing was pristine and the scenery breathtaking. I even met up with some old friends and stayed to have drinks and hórderves. The next day I went skiing and then I was in the Medical Centre." Maura sighs, wipes her eyes and continues." There's more I didn't tell them Jane. I see that girl in my dreams, at first I thought she was you. The picture Inspector Morrison showed me looks a lot like you, curly long brunette hair, olive skin, but she had blue eyes. My mind put your face to it, but I know now, they are very separate. The memories of you that surfaced were warm and secure. The ones of her are garbled and painful." Maura snaps up and grabs her head in her hands. Jane reacts and rubs her back, feeling for the pain emanating from her friend. "Jane, I must be blocking the trauma, it's in there, I just can't get it out. It comes in flashbacks and dreams. I'm working on piecing it together." She goes to the bedroom, Jane follows. Maura retrieves a bunch of napkins with writing on them, she hands them to Jane.
Jane takes the pseudo paper and looks at Maura, "Gee Maur, could they maybe just give you some paper?" As she goes through the treasures in her hands.
"No Jane, no one knows about these." She grabs Jane's hands, "I didn't know who to trust." Maura's eyes were wild, Jane looks back at her with a furrowed brow.
"Maura its alright, we'll work this together." Jane put the napkins on the bed and takes Maura by the hand and leads her back to the couch. They both sit down.
Maura's eyes suddenly turn toward her friend. "I have been a terrible host, I didn't show you your room, let you freshen up after a long flight, I'm sorry, here let me make some coffee, maybe after you see your room, yes?" Jane was stunned by the switch in the conversation. Maura grabs her hand and whisks her off the couch toward the spare bedroom. Jane become aware of her surroundings for the first time since she arrived. The suite was immense and the room Maura took her reminded her of pictures she's seen of these upscale hotels. The room was large, all white, and had a breathtaking view of the mountains. Maura was watching her expression as she looked around, never once releasing her hand. "Do you like it?" Maura questions with a large smile on her face.
"Uh, ya, its great," as Jane looks around at the view. She feels Maura's hand in hers and looks at her friend. She turns to Maura and takes her other hand in her's as well. "Maur, this is great. It is, but I need to talk to you before I lose my nerve, please." Jane looks at her with pleading eyes. Hand in hand Jane leads her back to the couch and seats them both. Jane takes Maura's hand in hers and looks down at their intertwined fingers.
"Jane, what's wrong?" Maura asked with a furrowed brow of concern.
Jane lets out a nervous chuckle as she looks into Maura's eyes. "There's nothing wrong Maura, I just suck at this stuff." Jane looks down at their hands once more, makes a deep sigh, closes her eyes, squeezes Maura's hands and starts talking." I'm scared too, but not about this part, I know we can make it through together. The part that scared me was losing you. I was angry at everyone, I couldn't focus, Maur." She looks into her friends eyes, "I was so lost. I need you in my life. This made me realize how important you are to me and that I..." Jane drops her eyes to their hands again.
"Jane?" Maura tries to make eye contact with her friend.
"No, no, Maura, let me finish or I won't," Jane meets Maura's gaze. A tear rolls down Jane's left cheek, Maura lifts a hand to wipe it away. Jane sees confusion and worry in her friend's eyes, as Maura brings her hand back into Jane's with a reassuring squeeze. "Uh, to hell with it, I'm more of an action girl anyway." Jane releases Maura's hand and cups her face gently, closing her eyes as she closes the gap between the two of them. Jane captures Maura's lips in a soft slow, sincere kiss. Jane separates and goes forehead to forehead with Maura and lets out a shattered breath. She doesn't open her eyes to see Maura's eyes trained on her. They sit there, without moving a muscle, then Maura speaks in a low whisper.
"Jane."
"No Maur, please don't say anything." Jane opens her eyes and sees what she reads as confusion on her friend's face. Jane gets up from the couch and heads to the door to retrieve her bag. Maura too gets up and tries again to get her friend's attention.
"Jane, we have to talk, please come sit," Maura approaches Jane.
Jane picks up her bag and turns to face Maura, she briefly makes eye contact as she breezes by, "I'll go freshen up, while you make coffee." Jane comments as she rushes toward the guest room. She goes inside and shuts the door. Maura is left standing in the suite living room, reeling from what happened, with more questions than answers.
Frost and Korsak enter Cavanaugh's office. "Sir, can we talk to you?" Korsak says as he closes the door behind them." Barry, show him the picture." Frost passes it, still in the evidence bag, to Cavenaugh. He looks at it as he rises from his seat. There in his hand was a picture of Detective Rizzoli and Dr Isles. A nice picture of them standing by each other obviously in deep discussion, if it were not for the markings. The photo had a dark "X" through Maura and a hen scratched name, "Doyle", beside her. A smaller "x" was over the female Detective. All three men knew this was an explicit threat.
"Shit," Cavanagh looks up at the men. "It's time to call in a favor from Walpole. We need to see what Doyle knows." Both men nod at their boss.