What you Didn't See – Chapter 4
Sympathy for the Devil
Jane rolled her eyes as her mom handed her a flowery dress.
"Seriously Ma?"
"What it looks nice."
"Yeah if you're a farmer's wife."
Jane rolled her eyes again thankful that her phone beeped.
"We aren't leaving here until we find you a LBD….every girl needs one."
Jane grabbed her phone as her mom wondered off in search of another dress.
"Hey beautiful where are you," the text from Joe read?
Jane turned her back to her mom and smiled rereading the message before quickly typing a response.
"In my own personal hell…shopping with ma…I apparently need a LBD."
"LBD? Is that something I would like?"
"Little black dress and you need some major points to see me in it…gotta go ma is back with more dresses."
"Here just do me a favor and try this one on," Angela begged her daughter.
"Ugh fine."
Jane closed the door and slipped the dress on. Before leaving the dressing room she looked in the small mirror and couldn't help but liking what she saw. She had to admit, only to herself, that she looked good in the dress.
"Come out here let me see it."
Jane rolled her eyes and walked out to let her mom see the dress.
"Oh Jane it is perfect."
"Ma when am I ever going to wear this….a murder at the Boston Pops?"
Just then her phone started ringing.
"Maybe that's my pops murder now," Jane joked grabbing her phone.
Angela admired her daughter in that dress. She knew their mother daughter time was coming to an end as she saw her daughter quickly disrobe and change back into her work clothes.
"I gotta go ma here," she said tossing her the black dress.
Jane arrived at the scene and was disturbed at how young their victim was. She was already in a poor mood after shopping this morning with her mom and then seeing this young kid and Grant talking to the press about it.
"God does Grant do any work," Jane mumbled.
"Well he has a lot of pulp," Maura added.
"Juice….he has a lot of juice."
"Yeah and you're going to be drinking yours out of a sippy cup if you don't keep your voice down," Maura advised as Grant made his was over to the crime scene.
Jane rolled her eyes as Grant looked around.
"Don't you want to wait for the media before you start playing cop?"
Joe looked at Jane wishing she would just give him a break every now and then when they were out on a call.
"I don't need the media around to do my job," Joe said bending over to look at something.
"Don't touch my crime scene," Jane said marking her territory.
"As to not contaminate it," Maura added hoping to save her friend some.
"Well then you might want to look under there."
Jane looked at him and wanted to wash the smug look right off his face. Sadly she knew that look and it meant he had the upper hand and she was going to be eating crow shortly. Giving him one last stare down she bent down and looked under the dumpster to see a skate board.
"I'm not done processing the scene yet."
"You might want to get that back to the lab….I would do it but you know I wouldn't want to contaminate the scene," Joe said putting his sunglasses back on and leaving the scene.
Jane wanted to scream as he walked away and extra little bounce in his step.
"That went well," Maura said.
"Just fine something," Jane demanded wanting something to go back to the station with.
The afternoon did not prove to be any easier. Jane didn't have any run ins with Joey the rest of the day but it was never easy having a parent come to identify their child's body. She swore she was never having children for this very reason. She saw firsthand almost on a daily basis the evil that existed in the world and bringing a child into that was not something that appealed to her.
After interviewing the mother and coming up with a game plan with Frost she had to go to autopsy to see if Maura had found anything. The doctor was in full Maura mode which drove her nuts when all she wanted were answer or at least a theory on what happened to this poor kid. Then to top it off she came out of left field calling Lt. Grant sexy….sexy seriously! At first Jane felt a slight panic thinking that she did something to give away that her and Joey were together but after a brief mental review of all her work encounters with Joey she knew that wasn't the case. Then she felt something she wasn't really prepared for…jealousy. What the heck was she jealous for? Yes her and Joey were dating but it wasn't serious…so what if someone else thought he was cute…..sexy.
After the disturbing realization in autopsy Jane was certain this day couldn't get any worse…boy was she ever wrong.
Jane was back in the office going over the files with Frost trying to find any possible lead that might help them break this case.
"Jane," she heard a harsh whisper come from across the room
"Hey ma," Jane said turning confused at what her mom was doing at the station.
"Look who I found downstairs," Maura said walking in with her.
"Well you weren't at your desk and the brand new officer O'Connell wouldn't let me in."
"All right I will talk to him…what are you doing here?"
"I came to drop off the dress I bought you that you are going to wear tomorrow to dinner."
"It's just the Sallerno's ma."
"And what you cant look nice….and here I brought this for you because I know you sometimes forget to eat."
"Thanks ma I gotta get back to work," she said taking the container and dress from her.
"Ok see you tonight love you."
"What's that," Maura asked she herself not having eaten yet either.
"Here have some."
"What is that white substance?"
"Fluff," Jane said almost unable to believe Maura had never eaten fluff before but then remembered they came from two different worlds.
"Like from a down pillow," Maura asked confused why Jane would eat that?
"It's marshmallow."
Jane laughed slightly and walked off to get back to work. She loved Maura to death however she found her naivety comical sometimes. What wasn't funny was the day was fading to night and still there were no leads on how this kid died. Jane and Frost had hit up a skate park to try and get some answers but it was another dead end. Knowing they weren't going to get any further tonight Jane was packing it in for the day.
"Maura you leaving," Jane asked?
"Yeah in a few."
"All right I'll wait for you."
"Thanks."
Jane and Maura left the office building and headed down to the parking garage.
"God this is so frustrating….I just want to know what happened to this poor kid."
"I'm running another set of tox screens but Jane there are a millions things it could be….I could run tests for the next 100 years and never get a cause of death."
"Well that is encouraging."
As Jane approached her car she heard a strange noise.
"Maura what's that?"
"What's what?"
"Wait," Jane said stopping her friend from proceeding.
Jane cautiously approached her car and opened the door only to jump back.
"God I hate snakes."
"Snakes," Maura asked?
"Someone put snakes in my car," she said pulling out her phone to call frost.
A couple minutes later Frost was in the parking garage followed shortly by the crime scene unit and Joe Grant.
"You can't take me off this case."
'I am not taking you off the case but you can't ignore a threat like that."
"Oh it wasn't a threat it was just some garden snakes."
"And what you need a bomb counting down to take things seriously."
"No that isn't what I meant ….it's just ….
Before Jane could get another jab in Frost interrupted.
"Hey Jane whoever did this spray painted the camera."
Jane turned back to Joey with an I told you so look.
"Do exorcism priests tag?"
"Hey heyy no joke this is a very dicey political situation. We can't be seen persecuting the church or a priest."
"What if he did it is all you care about is what it will do to your career. God just when I think you're not that guy…."
"What I care about is you going about this in a smart way so it sticks."
"So you believe me?"
"Yes…Jane this isn't just about you getting him. I don't like it when you ignore direct threats."
"And what am I supposed to do run every time one comes my way."
"I am not saying that."
"This…this right here is why relationships don't work," Jane said more to herself than anyone else.
Grant looked around and pulled Jane off to a more secluded corner.
"Jane don't say that….stop over thinking things here. I am just saying I am concerned about you….I feel like I have a right to be concerned about someone I care about. I didn't say you had to quit…I am not taking you off the case….I am just asking you to be more careful. I don't want to get that phone call."
Jane sighed and took a deep breath knowing he was right.
"God I hate it when you're right."
"Excuse me I am what," Grant said almost not believe what he heard.
"I hope you got that on tape because you might never hear it again," she said with a slight smile.
"I better go write up my report on this and document it and have it notarized and signed by you," he joked.
"Call me tomorrow," she requested knowing she still had a case to work.
"Be careful," he smiled and walked off.
Grant passed Maura on his way out and smiled at her before leaving. Maura looked over at Jane who seemed surprisingly relaxed after having an encounter with snakes and maybe even worse her childhood friend Joe Grant. Not being one to guess the wheels in Maura's brain did start to turn and wonder. Maybe she would have to put on her detective hat for a little and figure out what was going on at BPD.
The next day did nothing to help Jane's case and keep grant off her back about being safe. Jane needed an in and might have stretched the truth a little to get inside the walls of the church without a warrant. Of course it was during their slightly illegal visit that a smoke bomb was tossed through the window. Without a doubt Jane would be hearing about this one, probably with an official write up. While her and grant were dating she knew he had to do a job and he couldn't break the rules just for her….although she wished he could have. To top everything off Jane had a family dinner to go to. She wasn't do upset about that because she did get to wear her little black dress but really she had little energy for this tonight.
"Hey ma' where is everyone," Jane asked looking around?
"Frankie and dad went out to get ice cream," Angela said quickly getting back to her food preparation.
"You're lying…who is in there ma?"
"Just take this and go entertain," she said handing her daughter a bottle of wine and shove her through the swinging door into the dining room.
Janie couldn't even respond before the door slammed in her face. She took a deep breath and prepared for the worst.
"Joey," she said in disbelief.
"Surprise I guess is in order," he said standing up. "Wow you look…you look great."
"Thanks," Jane said still a little confused. "What are you doing here?"
"I think your mom is trying to set us up."
"If she only knew," Jane mumbled.
"Did I mention how gorgeous you look right now," he asked kissing her cheek.
Jane wasn't used to all the attention and praise she was receiving right now.
"Hey well Johnny hot pants you better cool it before ma walks in here and thinks she is a successful matchmaker."
"Jane…you can't deflect me or brush me off….you are beautiful," he said he said taking her hands in his. "And you better get used to me telling you that because I will until you start believing it."
"I will…you know get used to it eventually," Jane said nodding.
"No rush I am a patient guy…willing to wait for something worth it."
"How about we sit and pop open this wine….something tells me I might my fair share of it tonight with ma playing match maker."
"That sounds like a good plan…there is something I wanted you to know….you know so history doesn't repeat itself," he said handing Jane a glass of wine.
"What's up?"
"I put in for another job."
"Wow you weren't kidding when you said you were just breezing through this office."
"I wasn't kidding when I said I was all in with you Jane…and us working together would seriously hinder us from giving it a real go at a relationship…who knows if I will get it but I would be a liaison for Boston PD with homeland security."
"Wow…damn you need some serious juice for that job."
Joey sighed
"Ok Ill make you a deal…Ill stop calling you Janie if you stop saying I get jobs because I have juice."
"Hmmm I guess that is a fair trade."
"Besides just because I like to play nice and pick and choose my battles rather than going after every fight like some people doesn't mean I am getting jobs because of it….I do actually work hard thank you."
Suddenly Jane felt a little bad about giving Joey such a hard time. She knew he worked hard even before she discovered her hidden feelings for her long time friend she knew Joey was a good cop and great detective.
"I know you are Joey and I am sorry if I gave you the impression I thought otherwise."
"Quick what time is it," Joey said almost in a panic.
"Umm 7:05pm why?"
"Mark this date and time on a calendar Jane apologizes we might never hear it again."
Jane punch Joey playfully on the harm
"Shut up….I take it back."
"Nope you can't it is already mark on the calendar."
"Is it also marked on the calendar the day you will be getting out of the dog house."
Joey couldn't help but chuckle.
"Oh come on your know you can't stay mad at me," he said standing up to walk behind her. "Not when you love my back massages so much," he said rubbing her shoulders and leaning down to give her neck a gentle kiss.
"Hmm you don't play fair."
"Hey when going up against a force of nature you have to pull out all the stops," he said kissing the other side of her neck.
"Ok Casanova I give…now quit before ma walks in here and starts planning our wedding."
"To be continued," he asked.
"Oh yeah to be continued," she said with as smile.