Chapter 4
Jane woke in the morning and was stretching when she realized she was alone in the bed. She was surprised by how much it hurt, she'd woken up in this bed alone many times but never had it ever bothered her as much as it did this morning. "This is not a good sign Rizzoli."
"What's not a good sign?" Maura stood in the doorway with a tray off food in her hands. She walked over to the bed and placed it in front of Jane. "What does it say about the two of us when we keep catching each other talking to ourselves?" Maura took a piece of toast off the tray and sat back with her cup of coffee. She watched as Jane attacked her plate with gusto. "How is it you can eat like that and still stay so thin?"
Jane reached over and took a drink of then coffee to wash down the eggs before she spoke. Noting the coffee was just the way she liked it. She smiled her thanks to Maura. "I chase after bad guys remember, its good exercise." She went back to her meal until she realized Maura wasn't eating. "Why aren't you eating?"
"I'm not really hungry this morning. This toast is plenty." She raised her toast to show Jane.
Jane scooped up some eggs and held them out for Maura and without thinking Maura ate them then she watched Jane eat from the same fork. There was something oddly intimate about sharing a fork. Jane fed her another mouthful and didn't seem in the least bit phased by the gesture. She acted as if it were the most natural thing to do. Jane wasn't as calm as she looked on the outside, she had decided last night that she may not be able to tell Maura how she felt but she could certainly show her in small gestures. Friends do this kind of thing right? It's only natural right? Well tough shit if it wasn't, as long as Mura didn't seem to mind she was going to do this more often. Together they finished the meal and as Jane was getting ready to stand Maura grabbed the tray and started towards the door. "I already showered the bathroom is all yours. Come downstairs when you're ready." She turned and walked out the door.
"I'll come wherever you want me to." Jane whispered with a devilish grin on her face.
"Did you say something Jane?" Maura called from halfway down the stairs.
"Nope you must be hearing things." Jane hurried into the bathroom to shower and was dressed and ready to go in no time. She went down to the kitchen and was greeted by the sight of a beautifully dressed Maura. She had to stop herself from walking over and taking her in her arms and kissing her stupid. What would it be like to wake up to this every day? The two of them sharing breakfast before heading out to work, kissing good bye at the door and hello at the same place in the evening. All of the sudden Jane wanted that, she wanted it all, she wanted this scene every day, and she wanted it with Maura.
"Jane are you ok? What's the matter?" Maura reached up and wiped a tear from Jane's cheek. "Why are you crying?"
Jane reached up and hastily wiped the tears away as she walked away from Maura. "Just thinking about something that's all. Don't worry about it." Jane walked away from her to the sink to rinse her coffee cup.
Maura was hurt by the brush off and she hurried out of the room. She grabbed her coat and yelled to Jane. "Do you want to ride together or in separate cars?"
Jane knew she had hurt Maura and maybe it was better that way, keep her at arm's length and it will be easier to handle these new found feelings. But she couldn't bear the thought of hurting her anymore than she has to. "Let's take my car, then when we're done we can run by my place and I can pick up more than one change of clothes and we can do some grocery shopping. If I am going to be staying at your place I am not going to be eating tofu burgers. I want real meat! Besides we do need laundry soap right?" She smiled at Maura and Maura smiled back.
"Ok let's go get this over with." She gave Jane the address of the first woman. "How do you think we should approach this? I think we should approach her from the medical side before we mention the police side of things. What do you think?"
"I think it makes sense. That would make her a little more comfortable. We can gradually introduce her to The Surgeon. I'll let you do the talking and I'll interject something here and there."
They both buckled into Jane's car and as they pulled out Maura turned to Jane and smiled. "When was the last time you ever sat back quietly and let someone else take the lead?" She looked at Jane's sheepish smile. "Didn't think so. Let's just wing it ok?"
"Did you just say 'wing it'? When was the last time you ever winged anything, if ever?" She looked at Maura and had to laugh. "Do you even know what it means to wing it?"
"I know what it means I just don't know if I can do it but I would like to try." Maura sat back with a satisfied sigh.
"Why the change? You have always been a by the book person why change that now?" Jane really was curious as to why she would change things at this point.
"In my job there is protocol, a right way and a wrong way to do things. There is no gray area, it is all black and white. But in your world there are so many gray areas and you have to be able to change tactics and switch gears in a split second. I just thought that as long as I am working in your world I should be ready and willing to make the necessary adjustments. I know we made up a list last night but this woman doesn't need us sitting there reading questions off a piece of paper. She needs compassion and understanding and someone willing to listen."
"Well then why am I going along?" Jane smiled to let Maura know she was only joking.
"Jane when you want to you are a very caring and understanding person and I think that you will be very good for this woman." She reached over and patted Jane's arm.
"Yeah, just what they need, some tough as nails bitch cop coming in and giving them the evil eye."
"You are that, but every once in awhile I think you surprise even yourself and say something profound."
Jane reached over and playfully slapped Maura's arm. "You weren't supposed to agree with me."
"Why not, you are a tough as nails cop and sometimes you even scare me."
"You can't say it can you?" Jane looked over at her.
"Say what?" Maura pretended that she didn't know what Jane was talking about.
"You can't say bitch can you?" Jane threw her head back and laughed. "Maura Isles can't swear. Come to think of it I've never heard you say anything worse that 'gosh darn' at a time when I would have been swearing a blue streak. Do you ever lose your cool Dr. Isles? Is there anything that would make you swear Maura?"
"I've never been in a situation in which I felt the need to use profanity. And I don't see that happening in the near future." Maura could only shake her head.
Jane pulled into the driveway of the woman watched Maura take a deep breath as she reached for the door handle. "What about when you are having sex? Do you let your guard down then?" Jane opened her door with a big smile on her face and headed for the house. When she got to the front door she turned for Maura only to see that she was still sitting in the car with a dumbfounded look on her face. "Well that gave her something to think about." Jane muttered as she walked back to the passenger side of the car. She opened the door and leaned down so she was eye level with Maura. She gave her a big smile. "It's going to be hard for me to not say anything if you are going to be sitting out here in the car. Besides you have the list of questions. Come on I think I saw someone at the window and she might start getting paranoid if we don't go in." Jane reached down and took Maura's hand and pulled her out of the car.
Maura couldn't stop thinking about what Jane had said. She never had completely lost it. Especially during lovemaking. She never really enjoyed the act of lovemaking so it was hard to let herself go when she wasn't enjoying herself. Maybe she was just a cold fish and will never enjoy making love. But maybe it would be different if it was with Jane. Oh no don't start thinking about that, you've got work to do. Shake it off and go to work. She mentally shook herself and put on her work face and lifted her chin and walked past Jane to the front door.
"That's my girl lets go take care of this." Maura wondered what Jane was up to his morning. She was being more solicitous this morning. Not that Maura was complaining, she liked the attention.
"Yes Jane let's take care of this." Maura placed her hand on Jane's back as they stood at the front door of their first victim. Jane rang the bell and the door was answered by a petite blonde. Maura stepped forward. "My name is Dr. Maura Isles and this is Detective Jane Rizzoli. May we come in and talk to you for a minute?"
"What is this about? Is there a problem? Can I see some identification please?" Jane noticed the three deadbolts on her door and didn't blame her for being cautious. Jane pulled out her shield and handed it to the woman. She handed the shield back to Jane. "I still don't understand why you are here."
"If we could come in we could explain." Jane spoke softly so as not to frighten this already fragile woman.
"Ok come on in." She backed away so Jane and Maura could enter then led them into the living room. "Would you like coffee or anything?"
Maura took the lead. "Only if it's not a problem. We just want to talk to you."
"Let me get coffee then we can talk. Please sit down and I will be right back." She headed off in the direction of the kitchen and Jane and Maura sat down on the couch.
"Am I doing ok so far?" Jane smiled over at Maura.
"Yes you are doing fine. Just follow my lead."
Jane stood up when Susan Kendall returned with a tray laden with a coffee pot, cups, cream, sugar and some cookies. She watched as the woman sat down in a chair across from the two of them then pulled her feet up and wrapped her arms around her knees in a defensive gesture. "What do you want?"
"We came to talk about your rape." Jane's head whipped around to face Maura. She was surprised by Maura's bluntness and wondered about her abrupt approach.
Susan focused all of her attention on Maura. "Did you catch the guy?"
"No we haven't and that is why we are here. Have you been getting any phone calls where someone hangs up?"
Susan sat up a little straighter. "How did you know? It happens about three times a night and all I hear is someone breathing. Oh my god! Are you saying this is my rapist calling me?" This time she turned to Jane. "What are you doing about it?"
"That's why we are here to talk to you." Jane said carefully then turned to Maura for help. "Susan we are going to have a police car patrolling your neighborhood more frequently than usual. We feel your rapist is following you and he will step up the harassment. Right now he is trying to figure out your routines, so the big thing now is to not fall into a routine. Go to work but do something different after work every night, go somewhere other than the norm. If you go to the gym on Monday, go on Wednesday. If you go out to dinner on Tuesday, go out on Thursday. The important thing is to vary your routine so he cannot get ahead of you and anticipate where you are going to be. He has probably already figured out your normal routine so it's time to change it up starting now." Jane turned to Maura. "Sorry I know this was supposed to be your show. Go ahead." Jane smiled sheepishly at Maura.
"No actually you're doing fine. Great even."
"Well you don't have to sound so surprised. I do have a softer side you know." Jane smiled at Maura.
For the first time since they entered her house Susan smiled. "How long have you two been working together?"
"Actually this is the first time we've done something like this together. You see I'm the Chief Medical Examiner for the city of Boston and I usually do not get to talk to people like this."
Susan was somewhat taken aback when Maura said she was the ME but she recovered quickly and smiled at Maura. "No, I don't suppose you do. You two just seem so comfortable together and that usually comes from years of working together."
"Well I guess it helps that we also happen to be friends away from the office." Maura added to try to make Susan relax even more.
"Ah that must be it. So what are we trying to accomplish today with this conversation? And why are we even having this conversation? And how did you know I was getting phone calls? And how do we know it's my rapist, better yet how did you even know I had been raped I never filed a report. Ah ha, this is where you being a doctor comes into play isn't it?" Susan dropped her legs to the floor and her whole attitude changed as she asked each question.
Jane decided she liked this woman, she was a fighter and maybe she'll be the one to bring this nightmare to an end. "So Maura how much do we tell her?"
"Tell me everything. Do not leave anything out, I want to know what we are dealing with and then we can discuss what we can do. This monster has controlled my life for the past months and I am tired of it, I want my life back." Susan looked between the two of them and waited. She then pointed to Jane. "I want you to tell me because I think she would sugar coat it." She pointed to Maura. "And I don't want it sugar coated."
Jane gave Maura a look before they both started laughing. When they stopped Jane turned toward Susan. "First things first, my name is Jane and she's Maura, since we are going to be working close together we may as well be on a first name basis. Do you mind if we call you Susan?" Susan shook her head and smiled. Jane turned to Maura. "And you thought going gangbusters was the wrong approach."
"Ok Rizzoli we'll do it your way. Gangbusters it is." Maura looked between the two ladies, she wasn't sure she liked the way Susan was looking at Jane.
"Thank you Maura, I appreciate that." Jane looked at Maura and saw that her demeanor had changed and she wondered if she was mad that Susan was listening to her. "Susan will you excuse us a minute?" Jane reached down and gently took Maura's hand and led her out of the room. She stopped in the kitchen and swung her around to face her. Maura wouldn't make eye contact so Jane put one finger under her chin and lifted her face so she could look her in the eye. "Are you ok?" She asked gently. "Are you mad at me?"
Maura's eyes opened wide in shock. "Oh Jane of course not. You've done nothing wrong."
"Well then why did it feel like the temperature just dropped 30 degrees in the living room?" Jane asked sincerely.
"It's just me Jane don't worry about it. I'll deal with it."
"Deal with what Maura?" Jane was worried. "Please don't shut me out."
Maura couldn't handle the hurt look on Jane's face. "It's the way she's looking at you. Like you're a piece of meat on display. Like guys who know you're not looking look at you behind your back. You're more than that and I hate it when people do that."
"You think she's flirting with me?" Jane could hardly believe this is what Maura was mad about.
"Not yet but I'm sure by the time we are done she will be."
"And that bothers you?" Jane was trying hard not to smile because she knew this was serious.
"Yes it does, it does when anyone objectifies you. You're not a piece of meat there for their pleasure."
"I have an idea, why don't we pretend we are together and then maybe she'll back off? Want to try?" She smiled hopefully at Maura.
Maura smiled up at her friend. How could she refuse her anything? Her smiled brightened. "Sure what are we going to do to convey that we are together?"
"We touch each other, maybe make goo goo eyes or something." Jane was enjoying herself too much.
"What are goo goo eyes Jane?" Jane batted her eyes at Maura and looked at her like a puppy dog.
"Oh no Jane I am not going to be doing that in public. I'll save that for the privacy of my own home thank you very much." She took Jane's hand and started out of the kitchen. "Let's get back to Susan before she thinks we left her." When Maura tried to drop her hand Jane held on to it until she was sure Susan had seen it. Then she brought it to her lips and kissed it before she dropped it and sat back down on the couch.
"So where were we Susan?" Jane watched Susan for any sign of what Maura was talking about and saw the barely perceptible look she gave Maura. Now Susan was the jealous one. Oh this is fun..
Susan smiled at Jane then at Maura. "You were going to go gangbusters on me and tell me what this visit is all about."
Jane turned to Maura and placed her hand on her knee and watched the shiver go through Maura's body at the contact. "Do you want to bring out the list of questions or should we just wing it?"
"Let's wing it for now and see where things go ok?" She looked down at Jane's hand that was still on her knee. Why did it look so right there?
"Ok babe we'll wing it." Jane turned back towards Susan. "So here goes. There's this guy out there who we think is your rapist or someone who is very familiar with your case. There have been three recent murders and all three of the women had been seen in the emergency room at Mass General." She watched the dawning cross Susan's face. "All three had rape kits done but like you none of them reported the rape to the police. The only thing that ties you together with the three of them is that you were all raped by the same man. The rape kit proved that, so now it seems that he or someone who is intimately familiar with your case is now following you around, figuring out your routine so that he will know when you are most vulnerable and that is when he will grab you and take you to wherever he takes them. He'll keep you there for a few days then with skillful precision he will cut out your uterus then shortly thereafter slit your throat from ear to ear then leave your body where we will find it." Jane turned to Maura. "Did leave anything out?"
"Only one little detail." When Jane looked at her questioningly Maura sighed. "The pajamas Jane?"
"Oh shit how could I have forgotten that detail? He leaves your pajamas neatly folded on the top of your dresser." Jane watched as fear now crossed Susan's face.
"Are you telling me he abducts them from their home?" Jane just nodded. "I have made my home into a veritable fortress as you can see. There is no way he can get in here once I shut myself in."
"I think the other three women felt the same thing but somehow he was able to get in and out with no one seeing him. There homes were set up much the same as yours, double and triple locks, state of the art security. One lived in a secured apartment building, we think he may have actually moved into the complex to gain access to her. I've gotten approval for police protection for you. There will be someone undercover following you everywhere, you will be fine."
"Is that what the other women thought? That they would be fine, right up to the point when he took their lives. I have money so I will hire someone to protect me, you don't have to send any cops. Unless you want to protect me." She turned and smiled at Jane.
"Sorry I will have other things to work on."
"But you're a cop, aren't you supposed to protect and serve?" Susan leaned forward, which gave both Maura and Jane a perfect view of her ample breasts.
Jane felt Maura's leg muscles tighten beneath her hand so she gave her leg a small squeeze. "Well you see I'm going to be busy protecting Maura here."
"What or who does she need protection from?"
"Whom." Corrected Maura.
Jane had to stop herself from laughing out loud. "My team decided that by getting involved in this case, she was putting herself at risk and whoever was doing this may not take kindly to her getting involved. She performed the autopsies on all three women, and was the one to determine that whoever is doing this is a skilled with a blade. That alone is enough to piss him off." Jane looked back at Maura lovingly and Maura wished it could have been real instead of an act for Susan. "So until he is caught I will be keeping a close eye on Maura."
Jane looked into Susan's eyes and saw her get serious then look at Maura. "So do you think you're in danger?"
"If Jane and her team say so then I have to go along with them. Jane says the best thing would be for her to move into my house and protect me…how did Frost put it Jane? 24/7?
"Yeah babe, side by side 24/7." Jane turned back to Susan. "We will still have to have someone following you because it may be our only chance to catch this guy. We'll be discrete and not interfere with your daily routine. We have to be so that he will not suspect that we are trailing you to get to him."
"So you are going to use me as bait?" Susan asked a bit testily.
"No you will not be bait. He's probably already following you and has been for a few weeks. We'll just be following him following you." Jane stood up and reached down for Maura's hand then headed for the door. She turned back at the door and reached in her pocket. "If anything comes up give me a call."
Susan turned the card over to check the back. "Is this your private number?"
"Nope I'm the only one that has that one." Maura said as she turned and walked out the door.
"She's right. That's the front desk at work and they'll contact me. Gotta go." Jane left and ran to catch up to Maura and when she did she put her arm around her shoulders and walked her to the passenger side of the car. She turned and kissed Maura on the cheek then whispered. "Good parting shot Maura."
Maura turned and smiled up at Jane. "Thank you I thought so myself."
They got to the car and Jane opened her door for her. "You're proud of yourself aren't you? Maura Isles I do believe you are enjoying this far too much. I almost choked when you corrected her grammar." She reached up and pulled Maura's seatbelt down and clicked it in place. When she turned her head their lips were only millimeters apart and Jane had to stop herself from closing the distance. She cleared her throat and moved out of the car and around to the driver's side. "She's still watching so smile."