I probably should have put the beginning of this chapter at the end of the last one but it is just going to be here for now.
I Got the Blues
/
Jane sat hunched over at her desk, staring down at a photograph. It was late, very late. She was the only person left in the offices with Korsak having puttered home long ago, half asleep. Her lamp was now the only light source, casting a yellow glow about the room that did not reach the fuzzy, dark corners. Her hands wound a familiar path through her hair as she tugged on it in frustration. She lifted the picture up and leaned back in her chair. Her back cracked in protest at the movement. The detective grimaced but she could not tell if it was from the sensation or the paper in her hand.
"You should go home Jane."
The brunette whipped around to find Dr. Isles standing there prettily in her navy pea coat and a ridiculously large bag slung over her shoulder, "Maura, what are you still doing here?"
Jane looked up at the clock on the wall. Damn, it was nearly midnight.
"I found some mold spores in Carrie Horn's hair during a secondary exam. I lost track of time when I was identifying them."
"And?"
"Common black mold that can be found in any number of warm, moist environments, primarily basements."
"So he took her to a basement and put her on a mattress." Jane recalled from earlier in the day that the fibers under the victim's nails were consistent with the nylon covering of a mattress, "Great that only includes the majority of Boston."
"Unfortunately, it did not narrow it down much." Maura conceded.
"Did you find anything on the paper?"
"No, no prints and no DNA besides the victim's. It's a standard sheet of 2-ply computer paper available at any number of stores."
"I can't imagine someone cramming that into my side." Jane shuddered.
"Based on the lack of coagulation, I have determined the note was inserted post mortem. Carrie was spared the added pain."
"Well, that's one mercy." Jane said tartly.
Maura did not respond. She only released a big yawn, swaying slightly, "Excuse me."
"You're dead on your feet." Jane observed. "You should go home too."
"The darkening of the nasojugal fold indicates fatigue and vitamin deficiencies."
"Huh?"
"You have dark circles."
"I also have this message from a serial killer. Do you think the two are related?" Jane held up the picture in her grasp. The paper in the photo was turning brown with the blood staining it but the words were legible, written in long, scratchy letters.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Maura walked over and sat primly on the edge of her desk. Jane was momentarily distracted at the sight of the blonde's smooth, toned calves that hovered so close to her. She leaned forward and closed her eyes tired, trying to drive out the alluring sight.
"I don't even know what to say about it." Jane sighed.
"Just let it out." Maura said softly.
Jane took a deep breath before expelling it harshly, "Why me? Why not Korsak or the both of us? And what is the point of targeting me? What is he playing at?"
"I know it's frustrating," Maura said in an understanding way, opposed to how her other colleagues had been tiptoeing around her all day and sending her pitiful looks. She was glad for the lack of empty platitudes that it would be all right or it probably meant nothing. Mostly Jane was grateful for someone to treat her like the competent homicide detective that she was. Maura went on talking, "But there is nothing else you can do tonight. Go get some sleep, Jane."
"Okay," Jane looked up at the doctor whose eyes were literally beginning to droop, "But I'm taking you home. You are not in any state to drive."
"Wouldn't that be like the blind leading the blind?" Maura raised one elegant brow but was too exhausted to really protest.
"More like the one with cataracts leading the blind."
Maura laughed in delight despite her worn mental state, "I understood your joke."
"Congratulations." Jane smiled and stood up. "Come on Sleeping Beauty."
Jane stopped for a moment in front of a large bulletin board. She looked at the faces of the victims begging her for justice. She pinned the message up underneath them. The evidence was scarce but it was a start.
They ambled out of the station and got into Jane's car. The detective drove them carefully to Maura's house along the vacant streets. Comfortable silence pervaded the air until Jane pulled into the blonde's driveway, "Maura, we're here."
"Oh thank you Jane." Maura's eyes fluttered open from the brief rest she had.
"No problem." Jane fiddled with the keys hanging from the ignition, "Do you want me to pick you up tomorrow?"
"That's alright. I can take a cab."
"Okay." Jane looked solidly out the window, trying to keep her disappointment at bay.
"Unless you would like to try morning yoga with me?"
"At five?" Jane did not mean to sound so appalled.
"Perhaps for your first time we could go at 8. I need the extra rest anyway."
"Yeah, that sounds great."
"Wonderful." Maura gave her a sleepy grin, "Be here at 7:30?"
"Yeah, see you then." Jane agreed while Maura got out of her car.
"Good night Jane."
"Night." Jane waited until Maura was safely in her house until she drove off to her own apartment.
/
Two Months Later
"Did you get any witnesses?" Jane asked Korsak as she flopped down at her desk.
"Nobody saw nothing. You?"
"No one is talking." Jane shook her head in aggravation.
Today the body of a young man was discovered in a playground of a run down apartment complex in Roxbury. He had lain there for almost 12 hours before someone had finally called it in. He had been shot execution style in the back of the head with the word 'SNITCH' carved into his chest. They ran his prints and found out his name was Christopher Williams better known on the street as Crisp. He had gang affiliations with the Harrow Street Boys, arrested for possession and intent to sell. The young man was only 20 years old but was rapidly climbing up the hierarchy within the gang. Apparently someone had not taken too kindly to that.
"Looks like an inner-gang hit." Korsak mumbled.
"Looks that way." Jane studied the crime scene photos. Unfortunately there was no way to decipher what had happened; not with the stonewalling they were experiencing. Everyone was too afraid to say something. Jane tried to focus on the task at hand but it was difficult with the serial killer case looming behind her. The evidence board had not changed much over the last two months. It was incredibly difficult to let the case go for the time being but the trail had run cold and cases with hot clues took priority. Still the lack of progress with the case gnawed at her insides. Not that they were getting anywhere with this one either, Jane glowered.
"This is Big Sean's MO." Korsak rifled through some papers, looking into the gang leader, "This kid could have double-crossed him."
"Yeah, but there is no documentation anywhere that Chris Williams was working with the police."
"Could have been an under the table deal."
"Then why has no one in Narc stepped up and said they lost their confidential informant?" Jane had gone down there herself and grilled all of them much to their displeasure.
"Detective Rizzoli?"
Jane turned to find a young black man, probably in his early twenties, shuffling nervously in the doorway. Jane recognized that she had tried to speak with him at the crime scene but he resolutely said that he did not know anything. She knew that she was not going to get anything out of him there so she pushed her card on him and hoped that he would come around. Her effort was not in vain as she watched him nervously fidget in the station. He stood out amongst the suits of the other officers milling around, his baggy red varsity-style jacket drawing unwanted attention to himself.
"Yeah?"
"I got to talk to you." His voice was deep but timid.
"Great." She shot up, "You want to go to an interview room?"
She wanted him to be as comfortable as possible, not wanting to scare off their only possible lead. He nodded and shifted his eyes around like he was looking for something dangerous lurking behind the water cooler.
"This way." She gave Korsak a hopeful look and took him to a quiet room down the hall. Jane pulled a pad of paper towards her and found a pen in her shirt pocket.
"Can I get you something to drink?"
"Naw." He said briefly.
"Alright, how about we start with your name?"
"Jo-Jo."
"How about the name on your birth certificate." Jane looked pointedly at him.
He clenched his jaw, "Jordan Robbins."
"Thank you. Okay Jo-Jo, you know Christopher Williams?"
"Yeah, Crisp and I were tight."
"What was he involved in?"
"Same as everybody. Selling dope." he shrugged.
"Was he doing any side business?"
"Naw, Crisp was straight. He would never betray Big Sean like that."
"Do you know anyone in the gang who had something against him?"
"No way. Everybody loved Crisp. He always had your back; you know what I am saying? He was a true Harrow Boy."
"So Chris was not talking to the police?" Jane said doubtfully.
Jordan shook his head vehemently, "He wouldn't do that. He lost his parents when he was 13 and the gang became like his family. Big Sean was like a father to him."
"That is not what this looks like Jo-Jo. It looks like someone in the Harrow Street Boys took him out for being a snitch." Jane said intently.
"There's no way!" Jordan was getting worked up and being to yell, "The only reason I'm here is because Crisp was like a brother to me! I don't know who did this but I guarantee that it ain't no Harrow Boy."
"Alright, alright. Just calm down."
Jordan slumped in his seat and Jane could see tears pricking his eyes. She spoke softer with sympathy lacing her tone, "If you had to guess, who do you think would want Chris dead?"
"The BC's. The Black Cobras have been our rivals for as long as anyone can remember. Boss Jones would do anything to hurt Big Sean."
"Boss Jones?"
"Thomas Jones."
"You have been a big help." Jane flipped the notebook shut, "We will do everything we can to find out who killed your friend."
"Yeah," He stood his chair scraped sharply against the tile, "You better, or Jones' head will end up on the five-o's doorstep."
With that he walked out leaving Jane alone in the room. She waited a moment for him to clear out. Undoubtedly he was done talking to her and was not meant to be followed. The detective scratched the back of her neck. Her gut told her that Jordan was telling the truth and that the Harrow Street Boys were being set up. She went back out to talk to Korsak but promptly ran into him in the hall as he made his way to her.
"Hey, what did he say?"
"He says that it was no one in the Harrow Boys that killed him."
"You believe him?"
"I do actually."
Korsak nodded, "Alright, but now we've got to prove that. All of the fingers are pointing at the Harrow Street boys."
"I know. To make matters worse we are on a deadline." Jane whispered, "He said he thinks it was the Cobras. If we don't take care it, then they will."
"Damn," Korsak swore, "We don't need a gang war on our hands."
"No we don't." Jane agreed.
"I'm going to go kick up some dirt with some CI's. See what settles."
"Alright, I'm going to see what Maura has for us." Jane felt involuntarily elated at the thought of going to see the doctor.
"Let me know if there's anything good."
Korsak left and Jane headed to the morgue, feeling pleased in spite of herself. Her relationship with Maura had grown exponentially over the last couple months and so had her feelings. They spent most of their free time together and everything that she learned about Maura just endeared her more to the woman. Like the way she had to wipe the table every time Jane dragged her out to the Dirty Robber. Or how she had the bar's peanuts sent to the lab to get a culture done to see if the bacteria content fell in acceptable limits. And all of the meals that she cooked for Jane with the names she could not pronounce and how she was a never-ending fountain of facts. Jane knew that these tendencies of the doctor's would turn most people away but she just appreciated them for being a part of the amazing woman that made up Maura, because Maura was kind, and funny, and honest, and beautiful.
God was she beautiful. Jane was aware that her attraction to Maura was getting out of control. She often found herself wantonly staring at the shorter woman or subconsciously placing her hand on the small of her back when they stood close. She would have to be more careful for as much as she wanted Maura, she could not lose her friendship.
Jane peeked in the autopsy room but found it empty. She walked down the hallway to the ME's office and rapped on the door frame, "Hey Maura."
"Good afternoon Jane." Maura set down her pen and gave Jane a brilliant smile. All thoughts of restraint went out the window and Jane wanted to kiss the blonde then and there.
"Any good news on the Williams' autopsy?" She managed.
"The bullet was sent to ballistics. They are backed up so the results will not be ready until tomorrow. No DNA was left unfortunately." Maura got up and walked around her desk with the file to stand in front of Jane. The detective nearly swooned as the doctor's French perfume invaded her senses.
"God Maur, I said good news. Can't you just lie to me?"
"I cannot lie Jane." Maura sounded honestly alarmed. "I go Vasovagal."
"Vase-gaggle what now?"
"Vasovagal. I hyperventilate and pass out."
"You faint?"
"Yes, the last time I lied I was in the third grade and I was trying to say that I had done my homework. I ended up on the floor of my foyer." Maura stated. Jane felt herself fall a little bit more.
"I got to see this." Jane crossed her arms, "Tell me a lie."
"I don't think so Jane."
"Tell me you like my shoes."
"No, I-"
"Come on Maur. Do you like my shoes?" Jane teased. Maura looked everywhere but Jane's old work boots that clearly put function over form. They contrasted heavily with the purple satin pumps that Maura had chosen to wear that day. Jane noticed they complimented nicely with the gray skirt and blazer Maura had worn as well. Jane laughed at herself for thinking it. She had been hanging around the doctor too much.
"I like- I- I like your…" Maura began to tilt forward and her eyes fought to stay open. Her breath started to come out in shallow pants.
Jane felt a surge of alarm and rushed forward as the smaller woman's knees buckled. She easily slipped her arms under Maura's and caught her before she could completely lose her balance.
"Careful there." Jane pulled her closer into her own body, holding her upright. The ME hung onto her shoulders as she adjusted. Maura took a few deep breaths and her bright hazel eyes turned up to look into Jane's. Now the detective felt weak in the knees.
"I'm sorry." Maura let out a breathy laugh and a faint blush rose up her neck.
"It's alright. I pressured you. I'm sorry." Jane reveled in the feeling of Maura in her arms. She was warm and soft. Jane could feel the supple curve of her hip under her hands and her full chest pressing pleasantly into her own. Maura shivered. Jane felt like she was holding onto a rare bird, delicate and almost weightless. She was too beautiful to capture and too breathtaking to let go. Jane's eyes traveled to her mouth and lingered there. She thought if she could just dip her head down a few inches then she could kiss those glorious lips.
"Are you okay?" Jane pulled herself out of her unadulterated staring before she could act on her desires. Jane hoped that Maura would not notice how her voice dropped a couple octaves.
"Yes," Maura pulled back slightly taking on most of her own weight again, "I just needed a moment. Thank you Jane."
The blonde's voice seemed huskier, almost seductive. The detective unwillingly released the doctor and she pulled back completely. She gave a throaty laugh, "You really do faint."
"I told you I couldn't lie."
Jane cleared her voice, "Hey, ah, there is not much else we can do today, you want to come back to my apartment for dinner?"
"I would like to very much." Maura said. Her voice seemed overly controlled now.
"Great. You want to meet me over there?"
"Yes, I have to finish a few things here and run home. I will be about an hour."
"Alright. See you then." Jane darted out of the office like a skittish colt, her body still humming from the contact with Maura.
/
Maura climbed the steps to Jane's apartment with her heart beating a bit faster than normal. The blonde tried to calm herself with some meditative breathing. She just did not understand the physical reaction the Jane evoked from her. Adrenaline was released causing her vessels to constrict and the blood flow in her stomach to move outward to her extremities. Maura knew that Jane would call it something else, something like ants in her stomach or maybe butterflies in her pants. What her stomach had to do with arthropods, she would never know.
The sensation happened almost every time that she was around Jane, which was a lot. Whenever Jane sauntered into the morgue, or appeared on her doorstep with a six-pack of beer, Maura would feel it. She did not understand why this particular feeling had not dissipated yet, despite the familiarity that she felt with the taller woman. She realized that she spent the majority of her time with the detective, more than she ever had with anyone without chasing them away with her quirks. But Maura was so glad that she stuck around, she adored Jane. Quite simply she had never encountered anyone like Jane. The brunette was understanding and patient, well patient with her most of the time. She did get frustrated when Maura would not venture to make a guess about the state of a body but she was never serious when she snapped. Maura could see the way her dark eyes would gleam with jest, showing her that she was not truly irritated. Maura loved Jane's eyes. They were expressive and warm like the woman they belonged to.
Jane made her feel something she had never felt before, though she could not put her finger on it just yet. It was nothing the scientific method could not figure out. She just had to keep with her rigorous testing by dedicating her time to the detective, something she was more than willing to do.
Maura took one more calming breath before knocking politely underneath the '12'. There was a slight rustle of movement and the door flung open revealing Jane who was already in sweatpants.
"You look comfy." Jane smiled. Maura had become accustomed to Jane's casual dress and sought to match her, though with much more style. The doctor had run home to change into her yoga pants and a pink athletic halter-top.
"I am." Maura dropped her purse at the entrance and followed Jane to the kitchen, "What should we order tonight?"
"Nothing," Jane grinned mischievously.
"Oh? You're going to make something?" Maura was surprised. Jane had not shown a lot of interest in cooking. When they were at her apartment, they usually ordered Chinese or pizza.
"Yeah." Jane said simply pushing forward a blue box. Maura picked it up.
"Macaroni and cheese?"
"Mhm, it's un-American to not have had it once in your life."
"What does pasta have to do with my patriotism?"
"It- never mind. Just go with me on this."
"I don't know Jane…" Maura looked suspiciously at the neon orange noodles and cartoon dinosaur on the box.
"I'm not trying to poison you Maur. And if you don't like it I picked up that apple-Gorgonzola salad that you like from the fancy grocery store."
"You did?" Maura brightened up.
"Yes, now get over here and watch me make this. It's part of your learning process." Maura went with Jane over to the stove and realized that the elbow pasta had already been boiled and strained.
"Where's the cheese?" Maura looked around confused.
"Here." Jane held out a white packet for Maura to peer inside.
"That is the cheese?" Maura was aghast, as it resembled nothing similar to cheese.
"Hey, I ate your stuffed squash whatever last week." Jane dumped the threatening orange powder in with the noodles.
"But I thought you liked the squash."
"I did but that is besides the point." Jane said, "Now simmer down peanut gallery, we have to add the milk and butter."
Jane took the milk out pouring some in and stirring in a pad of butter until everything was evenly distributed, "Presto. Macaroni and cheese."
"So explain to me how any of this constitutes as cheese?"
"Go sit down." Jane just chuckled and pulled out some plates and serving up the food. She also grabbed a large bowl with her favorite salad in it from the refrigerator. The brunette detective had not failed to notice Maura looking longingly at it while she set the unappetizing noodles in front of her.
"You can have some salad after you at least try it," she said already digging in. Maura cautiously picked up her fork and slowly speared a couple of pieces. She brought it doubtfully to her lips then ventured her first bite.
"That's not too bad." Maura conceded as she let the unique taste dissolve in her mouth.
"I told you." Jane smiled smugly.
"It is good." Maura continued to eat, trying to make out the different ingredients in her mind, "I bet the sodium content is much too high."
She reached for the packaging but Jane snatched it away from her, "You aren't reading the nutritional value. It's not a part of the experience."
Maura pouted as Jane tossed it into her recycling, "Have some salad. You earned it."
Jane appeased her and Maura happily helped herself to the leafy greens. Dinner was brief as they quietly discussed their day. Jane complained about a confrontation she had with Stanley, the man who ran the coffee shop. They were constantly at odds like a comedy routine. Maura giggled at her friend dramatic retelling of the story in which Stanley had charged her for extra sugar and Jane retaliated by mixing together the different colored sweetener packets then watching the ill-tempered man go about fixing it for almost an hour.
"You should have seen him Maur. He was literally sweating." Jane was clearly pleased with herself.
"I don't know why you cannot get along with that poor man." Maura smiled amused.
"Because he is the spawn of Satan." Jane gathered their empty plates and began to wash them in the sink. Maura joined her taking the dishes Jane cleaned and drying them with the towel that had been hanging from the stove.
"I got a new assistant today." Maura chirped.
"Another? Isn't that like your 5th new assistant or something?"
"Third." Maura corrected, "I can't help that none of the others were satisfactory."
"What was wrong with the last one?"
"He dropped his gum into my DNA samples. I had to redo the whole process. Besides that he was constantly late and would leave files all over the lab."
"That is bad." Jane admitted. "Didn't you let the other go because she talked too much?"
"Her droning was insufferable." Maura defended, "And I didn't let her go, I simply redistributed her."
"Well, I hope this one works out."
"He shows great promise." Maura said enthusiastically as she dried the last plate, "He is very organized and efficient from what I have seen."
"Sounds like a perfect match." Jane dried off her hands and turned to Maura, "It's your night to pick the movie. What did you bring?"
Jane sounded like she was dreading the answer but Maura happily gushed, "Singing in the Rain. It is a wonderful musical with Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds. It's one of my absolute favorites."
"A musical huh?"
Now it was Maura's turn to do the convincing, "Please Jane. I watched your Facial Scar movie last time."
"Scarface, Maura, Scarface." Jane rolled her eyes. "And I never said I would not watch it.
Maura clapped her hands excitedly as she scurried over to her bag to retrieve the movie. She hand it to Jane who inspected the back, "Do you mind if we watch it in my room. I moved the DVD player in there yesterday."
"That's fine." Maura nodded and they headed back to Jane's bedroom to set up. Maura climbed onto the big, squishy bed while the other woman inserted the disc. Maura had been in Jane's room before but had never gotten into her bed. It was nice and cozy to be surrounded by the scent of Jane, lavender and a hint of sandalwood. The brunette joined her and hit the play button on the remote. The three lead actors came singing onto the screen decked out in raincoats and umbrellas. Maura instantly smiled.
As the movie progress, Jane seemed to be enjoying it as much as Maura. They laughed along and Maura pointed out her favorite parts. When Don Lockwood was romantically singing to Kathy Seldon on a dreamy movie set, the air conditioner kicked on sending goose bumps down Maura's arms. Jane noticed her shiver, "You cold?"
"A little."
"Here." Jane took off her gray sweater and slipped it around the blonde's shoulders. Her heart skipped a beat as fingers brushed against her skin there. Maura pulled her arms through the sleeves, appreciating how the soft, worn fabric still gave off some of Jane's residual heat.
"Thank you."
Jane just smiled and directed her attention at the movie again. Maura did as well, trying to put her focus back on the dancing duo but was distracted by the fluttering in her stomach once again. Suddenly Maura began to understand the feeling as the characters visualized their love for each other on screen.
She glanced at Jane from the corner of her eye to be sure. She recognized the dopamine and serotonin flooding her brain. She was certain if she looked at her face in the mirror her cheeks would be flushed and her pupils would be dilated. Now panic began to set in and she tried desperately to get her thoughts under control.
Everything was beginning to make sense. She recalled early when Jane had caught her before her fainting spell really took hold. She had attributed her light-headedness and pounding heart to her near spill but now she was not very sure. Maura remembered the way Jane's strong arms encircled her and how pleasantly solid she was as she leaned against her. For perhaps the first time in Maura's life, she had no idea what to do. Maura Isles was romantically attracted to Jane Rizzoli.
/
Jane woke up with the sun streaming into her eyes. She growled in frustration and threw her arm violently over her face to block out the light. She was startled when she heard a dainty groan come from the other side of the bed. Jane rapidly blinked her eyes open and found Maura stirring next to her, "What are you doing here?"
Jane blurted in her sleep-addled state. Maura woke up fully in surprise, "Oh Jane, I must have fallen asleep. What time is it?"
"8:30" Jane read her alarm clock.
Jane looked to the television that was on a blue screen, the movie having ended long ago. She busied herself turning everything off to try and forget how cute Maura looked swaddled in her sweatshirt or how much she liked waking up next to the blonde.
"Do you mind if I use your bathroom?" Maura was stretching on her bed, folding her legs into a yoga position.
"Help yourself." Jane rolled her neck, "I am going to put on some coffee."
During Maura's brief stay in the morning they moved around each other like repelling magnets. Maura came from the bathroom to get coffee; Jane sat at the breakfast bar. Jane got a second cup; Maura went to rinse her cup in the sink. Jane was not sure why she felt like she needed to keep a distance between them but it was not uncomfortable. She enjoyed Maura looking out her kitchen window with the white sun making her glow, reflecting off the honeyed-curls that framed her face, the few strands not having made it into the low braid Maura had done to tidy her hair.
"You want some breakfast?"
"Hm?" Maura asked pulled out of her thoughts.
"Do you want something to eat? I probably have stuff for eggs and toast."
"That's alright. I should get home to shower."
"Alright, well I'll see you at work then." Jane said as the shorter woman moved to the door.
She nodded, "Yes, thank you for the lovely evening Jane."
It was formal and intimate all in the same instance. Jane gulped her coffee.
"Uh-huh." She uttered ungracefully. Maura gave her a sweet smile and disappeared out the door.
/
The next time Jane saw Maura was later that day as she came sashaying into homicide with the tell tale click of her stiletto heels. She looked very different in her floral dress than from when she had left Jane's apartment. The detective decided that she pulled off both looks flawlessly. She forced her eyes up from the doctor's swinging hips as she stopped in front of her. She noticed there was something in her face that told Jane she had found something. Though her expression was mostly neutral Jane could tell in the way her hazel eyes glittered and the corners of her mouth turned up ever so slightly. Jane leaned forward in her seat, "What do you have?"
"I studied the lacerations on his chest. There was something about the marking that seemed unique. I did some comparison and found it consistent with those made by a Bowie knife." Maura handed her the first file in her hands.
"A Bowie knife?" Jane went through the catalogue in her memory, "All of the Cobras carry those around, don't they?"
Korsak flipped through some papers and confirmed, "Yeah, it is part of a gang initiation. They are presented with the knife after they make it into the gang."
"How much you want to bet we find Christopher Williams blood on Boss Jones' knife?" Jane looked at Korsak.
"But we need more than that." Korsak reminded her, "Bowie knives are too common."
Jane swiveled back to Maura, "Did ballistics get back to you?"
Maura handed her second file, "The victim was killed with a .45 caliber bullet to the back of his head."
Jane deflated a little, "Harrow Boys use .45's. I don't suppose Mr. Jones wrote his name on the bullet, did he?"
"Almost." Maura gave Jane her final file, "I pulled a partial print from the bottom of the bullet. I ran it through IAFIS and got a 89.3% match to one Thomas Jones."
"Hot damn Maura. Why couldn't you lead with that?" Jane practically yelled but was smiling at the ME.
"Because it would take all of the fun out of it."
Jane guffawed at her. "You have been hanging out with me too much."
"This is definitely enough for an arrest warrant and a conviction." Jane slapped her desk happily, "You are a genius Maura."
"Yes I am." Maura cheerfully agreed.
"Yes, well, we'll discuss that more at the Dirty Robber tonight for celebratory drinks." Jane smirked at her as she slung her blazer on.
"I look forward to it." Maura said as she watched Jane and Korsak blaze out of there.
The two detectives pushed the paperwork through and the ADA procured the warrants they needed to go after Thomas Jones.
"You ready Rizzoli?" Korsak asked as her finished strapping on his Kevlar vest.
"Always." Jane tied up her hair into a ponytail.
"Thomas Jones is most likely armed and dangerous." Korsak spoke to the uniforms that had gathered in front of an apartment building to be back up, "So watch out."
They nodded solemnly.
"Let's get this scumbag." Jane said curtly as they entered quietly except for their shoes scuffing against tile. They went to the 6th floor and crowded around a door that had the ghost image of where 6D would have been. Jane made eye contact with Korsak, he motioned for the go ahead.
Jane knocked abruptly. There was no reply. She knocked again, "Thomas Jones, open up this is the police."
Still nothing. Jane shouted, "This is the BPD. We are coming in."
She pulled a rookie cop forward, "Break the door."
The muscled young man made quick work of kicking down the door. Jane entered in first on point with Korsak close behind. She pointed her drawn gun around as she searched. The living area was a cluttered mess but no one was there. Jane noticed a cigarette still smoldering in an ashtray. Korsak pointed to it. She nodded in acknowledgement as she determinedly began to move to the back bedroom area.
"Thomas Jones, come out now." She tapped the first door with her foot and stepped inside, looking at the unmade bed and dirty clothes littered about.
She barely had time to react when a man came barreling at her with a Bowie knife swinging. She did her best to try and dodge it but she still felt the searing pain of the cold blade as it sliced her skin.