Chapter Twenty-Seven
Maura was released the next day with promises to rest for another day or two. Jane looked at Maura, grinned, and told her she had to behave herself for awhile longer. The doctor just finished going over Maura's discharge instructions. Maura blushed. She knew the doctor saw them sleeping together in her hospital bed. Frost brought the car around, Korsak held open the door and Jane pushed Maura's wheelchair through the front door of the hospital. Settling into the passenger seat Jane climbed behind the wheel.
"Jane, Frost and I are going back to work. There are a couple of leads we want to follow up on," Korsak said.
"Okay. Keep me posted," Jane said. Maura watched Jane's jaw work as she drove Maura home. As they pulled into the driveway Maura put her hand on Jane's leg.
"This isn't your fault, Jane. I don't ever want you to think for a minute that I blame you for anything," she said. Jane continued to tightly grasp the steering wheel, staring straight ahead.
"I know, Maura. It's just that I feel so stupid. Joey is at the very top of one of the Irish mobs and I didn't know that. I am a cop and I was married to him for eight years. What kind of stupid am I to know this stuff went on behind my back?"
"He probably did things when you weren't home, Jane. Besides he couldn't have done anything behind your back."
"It's an expression, Maura. Yes, I feel bad because this is the second time you've been injured because of me. I hate that, Maura. I'm usually the one who gets hurt, not you. I can't stand this. We're going to put Joey away for a very long time, Maura, I promise you."
"You just make sure you come home each night, Jane. I just got you back. I don't want to lose you again." Maura held Jane's hand, rubbing her thumb against the back of the detective's hand.
"Come on, we need to get you inside."
"Are you going to work?"
"No, I'm staying home to take care of you," Jane answered.
"Do you think you should?" Maura asked in a low voice. "You know, Joey might have someone watching the house. I don't want to cause any additional trouble for you in the divorce, Jane."
"Then let him get a good picture, Maura," Jane replied. She turned Maura around to face her, put her hand on the back of Maura's head and brought their lips together. Maura slipped her arms around Jane's waist. The kiss extended for several minutes until the two women broke apart to breathe. Angela opened the front door and smiled.
"Okay, you two. Enough of a show for the neighbors. Let's get you inside."
Jane stretched out on the bed next to Maura. They were taking a post-lunch nap. Maura found herself a little more tired than she thought and enjoyed the idea of falling asleep in Jane's arms again. As they settled in together Jane wrapped her arms around Maura. Maura leaned back into Jane.
"I missed this," Maura said without thinking. She stiffened for a moment waiting for Jane's comment.
"Me too," was the only response. Maura relaxed and the two fell asleep.
Two hours later Jane was awakened by her phone buzzing. "Yeah, Frost what do you have?" she said.
"Jane, we couldn't find anything in the garbage bags, most everything of a sensitive nature was probably shredded."
"You didn't get anything at all?" Jane was dismayed.
"Well, we did get something. I don't think anyone intended to throw this away, I think it was an accident," Frost was trying to contain his excitement.
"Yeah, Frost? What is it?"
"A USB port. I plugged it into our system and all of their most recent files came up. We have a membership list, list of officers, and a few items relating to Maura's assault."
"Frost that's great! Have some of the uniforms take the membership list and run background checks for bench warrants and the like. What are the items relating to Maura's assault?"
"Notes from Joey to someone named Alton Diamond. Joey asked Diamond to set up a hit on Maura, made to look like an interrupted robbery. It's nasty, Jane. Everything is spelled out. If Maura ended up dead the guy got extra money."
Jane closed her eyes and groaned. "Please forward a copy of that to my desk as well as the district attorney's office. I know Joey's already faced charges for that but I want them to see if they can reopen the case, add new charges due to new evidence. Thanks, Frost."
"Hey, no problem. Korsak's looking for Mr. Diamond. I think he said something about dropping his head on the sidewalk with each step back to the precinct."
"Tell Korsak I said thanks." Jane ended the call and turned over. She saw Maura staring back at her.
"I heard my name. Anything going on?" Maura asked. Jane relayed Frost's news.
"I'm glad for you, Jane. Now maybe this case against Joey will get taken care of faster and we can be happy."
Jane pulled Maura into her arms. "You know that if Joey is arrested my divorce will go through quickly and I'll probably get full custody, right?"
"Yes. I'm hoping that happens for you."
Jane studied Maura for a moment. "That's actually good news for us, Maura. It means I'll be able to probably court you for real. The four of us can be a family. You've thought about this, haven't you?"
"Yes, I have Jane. I want children and I'll be happy to have Angelo and Caitlyn in my family. I feel they already are. But are you ready for this? You said you wish to court me, Detective. I'm glad, I'm a very old-fashioned girl," Maura said with a smile. Jane looked into her twinkling eyes.
"I should probably just tickle you now, you're making fun of me," Jane laughed.
"You're the one who said you wanted to 'court me'," Maura said, using air quotes.
"I'm trying to let you know I respect you," Jane yelled.
"Is that why you told me to behave myself in front of the doctor this afternoon?" Maura asked then laughed.
"He wasn't paying any attention to us!"
"I don't know, Detective. The doctor walked in earlier, when you were still asleep in my hospital bed. I think you have to make an honest woman of me."
"We haven't done anything," Jane said.
"Oh, but my reputation is sullied, Ms. Rizzoli. Plenty of people have already thought we've done plenty," Maura said in a sultry tone. She ran her finger down the front of Jane's shirt.
Jane felt the fire start wherever Maura's finger touched. "We can make up for lost time," she whispered, kissing Maura.
"That's a start," Maura whispered back.
The next morning Jane woke early intending to go to work. She heard her mother in the kitchen making breakfast for everyone.
"Hi, Ma," she said. Jane reached for a cup of coffee before running into the bathroom to take a shower.
"Good morning, Jane. How are you?" Angela asked. Jane wanted to groan. As much as she loved her mother she knew Angela's tone of voice was intended to ask a question without actually asking it.
"Nothing happened, Ma. We just kissed and cuddled for awhile so you can get your mind out of the gutter."
"What, Jane? Can't a mother want the best for her daughter? And Dr. Isles has always been the best choice for you but you were too stubborn to see that."
"I know. I've regretted that decision for years. All except for the children."
"Go to work. Catch the bastard in the act, if you can. I never liked him for a son-in-law anyway. I'll take care of the kids and Maura."
"Thanks, Ma. And thanks for being there for us."
Jane was seated in her office one hour later, going through the paperwork on her desk and the stack of phone messages. She pushed the paper off to the side and disposed of the unimportant phone messages. She wanted to concentrate solely on their progress with the Shannon Clan.
"What's up, Korsak?" Jane greeted Vince.
"We've been watching the house Angelo identified, Jane. We think it's actually their headquarters. We thought at first it was only a safe house used to move their members around if they had any trouble with the other mobs."
"What made you change your mind?"
"There's too much activity with too many higher ups to be just a safe house. Usually a safe house is managed by a lower flunky trying to earn his stripes and no one else around. I've seen most of the officers on that list Frost found go in and out. At any one time at least ten or twenty members are there."
"Any idea what they might be doing?"
"Yeah. If I didn't know any better, Jane, I'd say they're getting ready to move."
"Let's get on it, Vince. I want to catch all of them if I can, especially Joey. Don't let them disappear."
"I'm on it, Jane." Korsak left her office. Jane turned her chair around and swore at the wall behind her. She didn't like this development. If Joey moved the Clan out of that house they'd be back at square one with their investigation.
She sat there for several minutes, thinking, until her cell phone rang. Thinking it was Maura she answered, "Hey Babe, how are you?"
"I can help you," came the voice of Paddy Doyle.
"How the hell did you do that? You used Maura's ringtone."
Doyle laughed. "At least you answered it correctly. If you two were fighting and you said something else, Detective, I'd have had to bust your head for you."
"You said you can help."
"Meet me in the park by the swings in an hour. Just you and me, no one else."
"I'll be there. This better not be a setup or anything."
"Don't worry, do you think I'd harm the woman my daughter is in love with?" Doyle replied and the phone went dead.
"Korsak, it's me. I just received a phone call and I need to meet someone in the park in an hour."
"Someone, Jane? You're pretty vague and not making any sense."
"I'm to come alone."
"I see," Korsak responded. "Doyle called. Do you want me to go with you?"
"He wants me to come alone but I'd like you to be across the street, in case he brings his goons and relocates the meeting. I'd like to trust him but I don't."
"I'll be there. Jane, please be careful. I don't relish the thought of having to tell the doc something happened to you."
"I'll be careful, I promise. I made her the same promise last night."
"Somehow I don't want the details," Korsak sighed.
"We didn't do anything! Why am I defending us all the time?" Jane practically yelled.
"Jane, calm down. I'm just kidding. I'll be across the street from the park in half an hour. Keep me posted."
TBC