Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me and I make no profit from their use. I just like playin' with 'em.
A/N: My thanks to Captain Stone for recommending part of this story line.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Maura stared at the stack of boxes in the floor of her now former office at the Isles Family Foundation. As she feared her mother removed her from the board of directors that morning. Maura was now unemployed.
She pulled personal items from the desk drawers and the credenza behind her desk. Pictures taken at foundation functions, fundraisers and pictures of her and Jane lined the boxes. She put files in their correct order and went through her hard drive. All items concerning the foundation, Maura noted. She left a note for her successor, picked up the one box she wanted and left.
Jane walked into her still empty apartment, putting her gun and badge away and peeling off her shirt. She had just enough time to shower and change before picking up the kids. She decided to take them to a movie. She was also planning on allowing them all the soda, candy and popcorn they could handle. If she was limited to seeing her children one afternoon a week she was going to spoil them rotten.
"Hello, Detective," a voice said. Jane jumped and started to run for her gun.
"It's okay, Detective, you won't need your firearm," the voice said and a face emerged from her kitchen.
"Doyle! What the hell are you doing here?" Jane practically screamed. She wrapped her shirt back around her.
"Just paying a friendly visit to my favorite detective," Paddy Doyle said sarcastically.
"Yeah, I'll bet. Look, if you're here about Maura, she knows how I feel. Nothing has happened yet and I don't intend to hurt her," Jane became defensive.
"This is about you, Detective, you and your divorce from Joey Grant."
"No offense, Doyle, but why are you interested in my divorce, aside from Maura's feelings?"
"Joey Grant is not as innocent as he seems."
"No shit. I could have told you that, Doyle."
"Why do you say that, Jane? What do you know about Grant?"
"He's a self-service little prick that wants everything he can get his hands on."
"Oh, is that all?"
"Isn't that enough, Doyle? I've put up with him for eight years now. He can be a good man, especially where his children are concerned, but I've recently seen a different side of him."
"Tell me something, Jane, if Maura hadn't returned to Boston, would you have asked for the divorce?"
Jane sighed. She ran her hand through her hair and thought for a moment.
"Probably not. I got in a rut with Joey but it was a comfortable one, you know? But Maura's return made me see what I was missing, what I have missed these years. I should never have freaked out on her like that."
"I always knew my daughter loved you and probably was destined to be alone if she wasn't with you. I briefly considered breaking your kneecaps but I knew if I did Maura would hunt me down and find some creative way of killing me," Doyle offered a brief smile. Jane found herself smiling back.
"So if you aren't here to bust my chops about Maura, Doyle, what are you doing here? Why are you so interested in my divorce?"
"I'm sure you're aware that Joey Grant plans to take everything away from you, your home, your children, your livelihood, and Maura."
Jane jumped up from the sofa. "Has something happened to Maura, Doyle?" she practically screamed. "If he's done something else to hurt her, I'll-" Jane didn't get to finish her sentence. Doyle put up both hands to stop the detective's tirade.
"No, other than she lost her job today. Constance removed her from the foundation so she's at loose ends for awhile."
"My bastard ex-husband is at the heart of this, you know."
"Yes, I know, Jane and that's why I'm here. I think I know something about your ex-husband you don't know."
Jane eyed Doyle warily. "What's that?"
"He's a high-ranking lieutenant in the Shannon Clan," Doyle told her, naming a dangerous rival Irish gang.
"What? Why would Joey have anything to do with the Shannon Clan, Doyle?"
"His mother's maiden name is Shannon, Jane. He was recruited at a young age. Rumors are that he's next in line to run the mob when the old man kicks off."
Jane wanted to laugh. Joey Grant run an Irish mob?
"Doyle, Joey might run an Irish mop, but not a mob," Jane couldn't keep from chuckling.
"Let me show you some pictures, Jane."
Doyle moved to sit down on the sofa next to Jane and pulled out a small portfolio. Jane saw pictures of Joey at various stages of his life, dressed in a white long-sleeved dress shirt, wearing a sash with the Shannon Clan name and colors emblazoned across it. Jane wordlessly turned page after page of pictures. One in particular caught her eye. Doyle saw her pause and nodded.
"Yes, the Thompson file on your desk as we speak. Joey had a hand in making sure Thompson died a gruesome death. He ordered it but made sure everyone that could be suspected of any involvement had an airtight alibi. The gunman hasn't been seen since so he's probably out of the country."
"No wonder my file kept getting lost. I brought it home for safe-keeping," Jane thought of the irony of having the file accessible to the one man who would most benefit from its access.
"Wait a minute, Doyle. Joey Grant's ex-wife is in love with your daughter, no wonder he's so upset about the divorce."
"We're expecting a mob war to start up anytime soon. Too many factions want more power and we can't seem to agree on anything any more. I don't want you and my daughter caught up in this."
"What are you telling me, Doyle?" Jane eyed Doyle warily.
"I think you know," he said. Jane put her head against the back of the sofa.
"I can't walk away from her, Doyle. I love her too much. Besides, it would hurt her. I promised her I would never do that to her again."
"Even to keep her safe?"
"Maura would argue that she's safe with me." Doyle sighed.
"You'll do as you think best, Detective, but I just wanted you to know the truth about your husband."
"Hopefully soon to be ex-husband. Does anyone else have this information?"
"Your attorney, Allen Mason, and Maura's attorney, Jerry Masters know. In fact Jerry is in Maura's office right now, telling her."
"At least Allen's in my corner."
"Enjoy your visit with your kids, Jane. Take care, I know you'll do what's best for all concerned. I'll keep in touch," Doyle said and left.
Jane grabbed her keys and ran down to her car. She was ten minutes late picking up her kids and she desperately wanted to see them.
Maura sat on her own sofa, her mouth wide open, speechless as she stared at her attorney.
"Jerry, you've got to be kidding. Joey Grant is to head up the Shannon Clan? Wait, does Jane know?"
"Probably by now she does. We never believed she knew or she wouldn't have married Joey to begin with. We coordinated telling you so both of you would know at the same time. We felt it was safer to tell both of you at roughly the same time."
"We?" Maura asked.
"Jane, her attorney Allen Mason, myself, and now you. And Paddy Doyle." Maura cringed when she heard her biological father's name mentioned.
"What do we do with this information?"
"Doyle is suggesting that Jane keep her distance from you, at least for the time being," Jerry said. He watched as Maura's face fell and her shoulders slumped. Not again, Maura thought. Joey sure has a way of keeping us apart.
Suddenly Maura stood and picked up her purse. "No, Jerry, that's not possible, unless it's what Jane wants. I need to see her." Maura left her home. Jerry picked up his briefcase and left behind Maura. He wanted to talk to Doyle.
Jane took the kids to the park for an impromptu picnic. She absent-mindedly pushed Caitlyn on the swings and helped Angelo climb the jungle gym. She listened to them chatter on about their day, their schoolwork, and who got who into trouble in the classroom.
"Mommy are you okay?" Caitlyn looked at her.
"Hmm? Yeah, baby, I'm fine. I was thinking about a case."
"Dad says you work too much," Angelo contributed. He was hanging upside down, having spent the past month perfecting this move. He grinned. Jane smiled at her son and realized with a jolt that as Joey's son Angelo could be recruited into the Irish mob his father was in. Jane felt a surge of hatred roll through her body.
"I thought I might find you here," Maura said, interrupting Jane's thoughts. Maura spoke with a lightness she did not feel. "Jane, may we sit for a minute?"
"Sure, Maura." The two women moved to the bench where they could easily watch the children play.
"I didn't know, Maura. If you're here to ask me about Joey's mob affiliation, I was never aware. I knew his mother's maiden name was Shannon, but I didn't know it was that Shannon."
"You must have spoken with my sperm donor."
"I just left him. He was in my apartment when I came home."
Maura was silent for a moment. "Jane, I want to say something and I want you to listen very carefully. Please don't interrupt until I'm done. I know your children are important to you, as they should be. When we become parents children take the highest precedent in our lives, or should. I love you, Jane, I always have. I will love you for the rest of my life, whether or not we're together. If you feel the need to put some distance between us I understand and I accept your decision."
Maura looked at Jane but couldn't read the expression on the detective's face. She picked up her purse and started to walk away. Jane put out her hand and stopped Maura from leaving.
"Please stay, Maura. We need to talk this out. I don't want to leave you. Let me ask you, do you need to be away from me until all this blows over? Do you feel safer?"
Maura looked into Jane's eyes. "No, Jane, I've always felt safe with you. I've never been safer anywhere else but right beside you."
Jane reached out and grabbed Maura's hand. "Good. Because I don't want to lose you again. Joey's had enough fun playing with our lives. I think it's time we pushed back."
TBC