Disclaimer: Nope, still not mine. If they were…
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Joey Grant stepped inside the Shannon house and went straight to his office. Several of the rooms had already been stripped bare of their possessions as the Clan prepared to move the headquarters out of state. Only Joey's office was still intact.
"Hello, Joey. Or shall I call you Padraig Shannon?" Joey froze at the voice. He knew who it was. He just wanted to know how the hell Paddy Doyle got inside the Shannon house.
"Don't worry about that now, Joey. Worry about your future, it's getting awfully short."
"Hello, Doyle. How did you get in here?"
"You're stupider than I thought. I told you not to worry about that. I paid your wife a little visit yesterday."
"Jane must be slipping at her job if she let you get away."
"Not at all. We have an understanding since she's my future daughter in law."
"Yes, your daughter the dyke," Joey sneered. Doyle backhanded him across the face.
"My daughter is a wonderful woman Joey, too bad she'll only see you on the autopsy table. Or maybe we'll just cut you up into little pieces and feed you to the fishes. I like that idea. Hmm, let me run it by my boys."
"By the time you do that I'll be out of here."
"Yes I've heard you're moving the Clan's headquarters to Idaho. Small potatoes after Boston, Joey."
"Big fish in small pond, Doyle. You might consider it. Although your boys are too stupid to figure things out so staying closer to home might be better." Joey smirked. He carefully reached into his top desk drawer while keeping Doyle's attention on the conversation. As he grabbed the pistol Doyle drew his firearm and aimed it straight at Joey's face.
"No, no, Joey. Be a good boy and put the weapon down. I will not hesitate to pull the trigger right now."
"And alert the Boston PD's gunshot warning system? They'll be here in about two minutes Doyle."
"You'll be dead."
"Think so? Try again." Joey raised his pistol, fired one shot past Doyle and dropped to the floor. Doyle flinched automatically and did not see Joey disappear through the doorway behind him. Doyle dropped his weapon and ran out the back as he heard sirens growing closer.
Jane rubbed her neck as she left the precinct. She was worried about Maura and the kids, about Joey's next move and whether he might try to kidnap Angelo and Caitlyn, and last but not least her own safety. Jane knew she was prepared to sacrifice herself if needed to save her family but she hoped it didn't come to that. She and Maura were slowly healing their severed relationship and if all went well they could move forward. Jane didn't want to miss any of that precious life she knew she could happily share with Maura.
"Jane!" she turned at the sound of Frankie's voice.
"Yeah, Frankie, what's up?"
"I was heading over to Maura's house when the gun shot tracker went off. A shot was fired at the Shannon Clan house. Cruisers are already en route, want to go?"
"Is that where you're headed?"
"Yeah, Cavanaugh ordered me there."
"Then I need to get home, Frankie. I want to protect my family from Joey and if shots have been fired things must be heating up."
"One shot noted, Jane, by the system. I'll keep you posted."
"Thanks, Frankie. Take care."
Jane started her car and headed out of the precinct. Normally a fast driver she drove a little faster than normal with Frankie's news in mind. Using her Bluetooth she called Maura to see if everything was okay.
"Hi, Maura, everything all right at home?"
"Sure, Jane. Your mother is making dinner and I'm helping Angelo with his math homework. Caitlyn's in her room drawing me a new picture. Where are you?"
"Heading home, babe. Please don't do Angelo's homework for him, he needs to learn it himself." Jane could hear the smile in Maura's voice.
"No, no, I made him some flashcards to help him study. The wording in the workbook and the layout of the page seems to add to his confusion. This way he understands the concepts better."
"Thank you, Google. Listen Maura I need to give you a heads up. Frankie just told me the gunshot tracker noted a shot fired at the Shannon Clan house. We don't know who might be involved yet but the unis protecting the house have probably been notified. Just keep an eye out until I get there."
"You're not heading over there? You're coming home?"
"Yes. You're too important to me. Besides Frankie is over there in addition to several other officers. We'll be kept well-informed. I'll see you soon."
Joey grabbed the small Prius at the back of the lot. It belonged to one of the other members' wives but it was convenient, quiet and quick for the getaway he planned. Trying to stay under any traffic officer's radar Joey watched his speed but drove a little over the limit. He also kept his eye peeled for any additional officers or black and whites in the area. He didn't want one of them to inadvertently see him and pull him over.
Ah, perfect, he thought as he entered the alley behind Maura's home. No other cars were in the alleyway so he had a clear shot at parking behind her property. Quietly he pulled up at her back gate, stopped the engine and pulled on the latch. He crept over to the side of the house, not wanting to be seen. He picked the side where Angelo's bedroom was and headed for the window.
A uniformed officer leaned against a patrol car parked at the front curb. Joey ducked down even further. He crept up to the window, listened for a moment then slowly raised his head so he could see inside the room. Empty. Perfect, he thought, and grinned.
Raising the window as quietly as he could Joey put one leg over the window sill, then the other and dropped to the floor. He froze so he could hear if anyone noticed any movement. No one seemed to head to the bedroom so he stood up and tiptoed to the doorway.
He saw Maura sitting on the sofa, her head bent down. He heard Angelo's voice and realized they were both on the sofa.
"Hi, Daddy," Caitlyn said and came flying out of her room. Joey caught her midair and hugged her tight.
"Joey!" Maura screamed. Angelo jerked his head up and he too flew over to Joey, hugging his father's pant leg. "Dad! What are you doing here?"
Maura got off the sofa and headed toward the front door.
"Uh uh, Maura, sit back down on the sofa," Joey said quietly. She turned to face him.
"If you don't I'll have to use something in my pocket but I didn't want to bring it out just now," Joey said. Maura could see the handle of a pistol jutting out of Joey's pants pocket. Not wanting to scare the children she sat on the edge of the sofa never taking her eyes off of the children.
"There are officers outside, Joey."
Joey snickered. "Not too good at their jobs, are they, Maura?"
"Dad, did you come for dinner?"
"Not this time, sweetheart. I came to pick up you and your brother so we can go on a trip together," Joey replied.
"Cool!" Angelo said. "Can we go to the zoo, Daddy?"
"Sure, son, we'll see all the animals."
Africa, Maura thought. He intends to kidnap the children and take them to Africa. She filed this information away if she needed it, although she prayed she didn't.
"Kids, go to your room and pick out a favorite toy to take with you," Joey said, putting Caitlyn down and patting Angelo. "I want to talk to Dr. Isles here in private."
As the children scampered in the rooms talking excitedly about a trip Joey closed their bedroom doors and went into the living room. Keeping his back to the children's rooms he pulled out his pistol and aimed it at Maura.
"You're lucky the children are here and this has gone as smoothly as it has, Maura, otherwise I'd pull the trigger now."
"Why do this, Joey? Why not just disappear by yourself?"
"I can't leave my children behind, Maura, certainly not to be raised by two lesbians."
"Jane and I were in love with each other before you came back, Joey, and she has chosen to return to me. She asked for the divorce after she uncovered your deceitfulness."
"Isn't that too bad, Dr. Isles?" Joey sneered.
The front door opened and Jane entered. Joey raised his pistol and aimed it at Jane.
"Hello, darling, welcome home. Come have a seat here next to Dr. Isles," Joey's voice was cold. Jane tried to grab her service weapon but Joey advanced toward Maura and placed the pistol next to her head.
"Nope, don't do that. I can kill her faster than you can shoot me, Jane, besides I know you won't shoot to kill me, at least not here. I'm just picking up the children so please come have a seat on the sofa. When we're ready to leave you can have one last hug goodbye and then we'll disappear forever."
Jane carefully crossed the room and took her place next to Maura. She reached out and took Maura's hand and sent a questioning look to Maura. Maura gave her a small smile and squeezed her hand.
"Jane, is that you?" Angela's voice came from the kitchen. Joey looked startled and that gave Jane a chance to lunge for his weapon.
"Duck Maura!" she yelled. Maura dropped to the floor next to the sofa. Angela appeared in the kitchen doorway with a ladle full of spaghetti sauce.
"What are you yelling about?" she said before understanding the situation.
"Joey, you shouldn't be here!" Raising her voice she screamed for the officers out front. Hearing the scream they both ran for the front door.
Joey managed to step back just as Jane lunged. Angelo and Caitlyn had opened their bedroom doors and stood in the hallway in confusion. Raising his pistol Joey stopped Jane from coming any closer.
"Let's go kids, out back. Call off the officers, Janie or I'll shoot to kill."
Jane yelled at the uniforms as they burst through the front door. Both stopped immediately their hands resting on the butt of their firearms. Joey swept his arm around the living room and backed away.
"Out the back door kids, let's go." Angelo's eyes were wide. He looked at Jane who nodded. He turned and ran. Caitlyn started to cry.
"It's okay, Caitie bug, go with your dad," Jane choked out. She looked at Joey.
"So help me God if you harm either or both of them, Joey I'll hunt you down and kill you in the most creative way," Jane threatened.
Me too, Maura thought. I can make it look accidental, she wanted to tell Jane but stayed silent. Joey backed away, following his children, until he felt he had enough of a lead, then turned and ran. All three disappeared out the back door.
Jane leaped up to run after them. "I love you, Maura," she called. Maura felt tears coursing down her cheeks.
Be safe, Jane, I'll be here for you, she prayed.
TBC