Sorry for the delay in update I had no time over break and when I got back to school I left my computer cord at home and had to order a new one so it set me back a couple days. But here it is chapter 3. I know its long but I figured you all wouldn't mind. Chapter 4 should be up in the next couple weeks. I have a large report to write so I need to focus on that first but don't fret I will not be gone for long! Things will pick up soon in this story!

Thank you for being so patient and sticking with me, it means a lot. So thank you for reading, please please please review for me so I know what you guys think. And, as always, please enjoy.

Chapter 3

All the muscles in her body screamed in protest as she tried to sit up. Her alarm continued to scream in her ear while she stretched. A yawn escaped her lips as she brought a hand down on the clock, effectively silencing it. She turned, letting her legs hang from the side of the bed, allowing her body to adjust to the cold. Marian hadn't stayed the night. She normally didn't. Alex didn't mind it. Not having another person with her in the morning allowed for her to go through her morning routine without interruption. Not that she was against the kind of interruption she normally received from her partners.

Blue greeted her with his normal enthusiasm when she shuffled into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. Alex smiled at Blue as he approached her. Thirty-six years old and the relationship she had with her dog was the longest of all of her relationships. Not including her friendship with Grace and Cody.

"Don't give me that look your breakfast is over there."

Thirty minutes later Alex had showered, eaten, gotten dressed and taken Blue out for his morning walk. She wasn't needed on site today so she was spending it at the gym. Amateur Night was coming up and she figured she would enter for once. She needed something to get her mind off of Gracie's murder.

She slung the strap of her bag over her shoulder, wincing when it put pressure on a bruise. She was covered in them. A few of them hurt but she had enjoyed receiving them last night. Marian was a biter. Alex scratched Blue's ear one last time before she exited the apartment. This time she made sure to lock the deadbolt.

She hadn't made it very far when her elderly neighbor opened her door and stopped Alex. She was a kind old woman and Alex enjoyed talking with her most of the time. The elderly woman loved to gossip. Which was fine. Until it involved the women Alex brought home on a semi-regular basis. Her partners weren't always the quietest in bed.

"Morning Nancy," Alex greeted the woman with a smile. "I hope my friend and I didn't bother you last night."

"Not at all dear," Nancy returned Alex's smile. "I just wanted to check and make sure you were alright. I saw on the news your friend Grace was murdered. Such a terrible thing to happen to such a nice girl."

Alex's smile faltered momentarily. She was touched the older woman was concerned about how she was handling the death but she also felt a pang of guilt. She wasn't about to let Nancy know she felt guilty. "I'm doing alright. Thank you for asking I appreciate it." When Nancy smiled again Alex knew it was fine to end the short conversation. "I need to get moving Nancy. You have a nice day."

"You too Alexis."

Out of all her neighbors Nancy was the only person who used her full first name. it always sounded strange to hear it from the woman but it was how things were. Sighing to herself she continued down the hall to the stairs hoping a day in the ring would help her get her mind off things.

XXXXX

Jane entered the kitchen still half asleep. The guest bed was a thousand times better than her own bed but it had left her stiff and sore. When she was finally able to open her eyes wide enough she saw Maura with a judgmental look on her face. Jane ignored her for the moment as she went to pour herself a cup of coffee. If she was going to function at all she needed caffeine. When she had the steaming cup of black liquid in her possession she turned her attention to Maura.

"What's with the look?" she asked, taking a cautious sip of her coffee.

"You look horrible," Maura said bluntly.

Jane looked down at herself. Maura wasn't exactly wrong. Her slacks were wrinkled, her blazer had a small stain on it and her shirt was half tucked in. At the time of getting dressed Jane had been too tired to have cared. It didn't mean that Maura had to be so blunt about it. Jane wanted to return to comment but, like every morning, Maura looked nearly flawless. The designer dress was in pristine condition, her heels complimented the dress and as a whole Maura looked like she was due to walk down a runway in Paris.

"Yeah well…" she paused unable to think of any good comebacks. "Not everyone can be as perky as you at eight in the morning."

"Perky? Really Jane?" Maura couldn't help but chuckle. "I wouldn't exactly describe myself as 'perky'"

"Bouncy?" Jane offered.

"Try again."

"Sprightly?"

"Do you even know what that word means?"

"Same thing as 'perky' and 'bouncy'" Jane made use of air quotes earning her a sigh from Maura. "Fine. Energetic."

"I'd hardly call it that," Maura said making her way over to Jane. "I simply take the time to make myself look presentable. I care about my appearance."

Maura tugged at Jane's shirt. The part of the shirt that had remained tucked in came loose. Maura allowed the free shirt to fall from her hands. She smiled at Jane in triumph. Jane rolled her eyes and gently pushed Maura away with an index finger to her shoulder. Sometimes Maura could be just as maddening as her mother.

"Alright cut it out we're going to be late," Jane started nudging Maura towards the door. "Nina has security footage from the 21st Amendment and the street where Grace Harper was found." Maura began to protest but Jane pushed her towards the door. "Now Maura. We've got a lot to do today and you need to get back to the morgue and find me something I can use."

"That isn't how things work Jane."

"You'll figure it out. I'm sure there is something you missed."

Jane was unable to dodge Maura when she slapped the detective across the chest. "Ow hey I was kidding."

Maura sauntered away from her clearly not listening to what the detective was saying to her. "Maura. Ugh come one Maura I was kidding." Jane moved to catch up with Maura. "Will you at least give me the keys?"

"Oh no I'm driving and that's final," Maura said firmly. "Now get in the car or we will be late."

Jane knew Maura wasn't truly mad at her. After years of being around the detective some of her personality must have rubbed off on Maura. Sometimes Jane hated that. Maura was no longer that awkward doctor with no people skills. She was now the awkward doctor with average people skills and a better understanding of joking or messing around. Grudgingly Jane climbed into the passenger seat. When Maura got into the driver's seat Jane caught her grinning.

"You're unbelievable Dr. Isles."

Maura only shrugged her grin widening at her friend.

XXXXX

"Eldsfield get your ass in the ring!" Bill was a big man. He wasn't fit by any means. What had once been a toned torso had become a beer belly. Muscular arms had turned into flab after being ignored for so long. But Bill was a good man and the owner of the gym Alex frequented.

"Take it easy big man I had to wrap up," Alex bent down to slid through the ropes of the ring that Bill help up for her. "You get me in for the next Amateur Night?"

"First match of the night kid."

"Thanks Bill."

"Don't mention it. You're my best fighter and I want people to know it."

"You know that isn't why I'm fighting."

"I know kid." Bill smiled his fatherly smile he always saved for his favorite regulars. "Speaking of the what's with the bruises? Rough night?"

"You could say that." Alex smirked as she pulled on her face guard. "You remember Marian right? She uh likes to bite. If I'm going to put it gently."

"That's putting it gently?" Bill asked acting as if he didn't want to hear the details but in truth he wanted them. Alex was one of the guys when it came to her place at the gym.

"Don't tell me you've never been with a woman who likes to get a little rough Billy."

"Not in my forty years." Bill bellowed. "Alright Finny get your skinny ass in here give the Butcher here a challenge."

"Gladly." Fin said hopping into the ring.

"Butcher?" Alex turned towards Bill as he moved away.

"Congrats kid it's your official boxing moniker."

Alex rolled her eyes and turned back to Fin who was way more excited about the fight then he should be. She slipped her mouth guard in using her tongue to adjust it. "Butcher? Really Bill?" Alex moved up to tap gloves with Fin before getting the go ahead from Bill. Alex made sure she landed the first hit of the match.

XXXXX

Nina paused the security video from 21st Amendment. "There. The victim and Eldsfield are in the corner. This is around the time the bartender said Eldsfield stepped out." She played the video from there. Together Korsak, Jane and Nina watched the events play out. Sure enough at 12:13AM Alexis Eldsfield excused herself from the table holding her phone in her hand. Nina changed to another camera angle so they could watch Alexis leave the bar.

Unfortunately, there were no camera's outside the bar but luckily Alexis stay just barely inside the frame of the camera. The pixilated version of Alexis only stayed outside less than a minute when she came back in. Nina followed her back to her booth with Grace Harper. They watched the two exchange a couple of words, hug, share a few more words before Alexis left again.

"Exactly as both Eldsfield and the bartender said," Korsak said. "She left around 12:15 without Ms. Harper."

"Was there anything else?" Jane asked.

"Grace stayed long enough to finish her drink and then she left. No one seemed to pay any attention to her." Nina let the video play at 4x the speed showing the detectives what she had just told them.

Jane ran her hands through her hair. She was frustrated. They had no idea where Grace Harper had gone between her time at the 21st Amendment to when she was murdered. The security tapes from the bar told them what they already knew. They needed something to point them in some direction. Otherwise they were just going to go after Alexis Eldsfield and go after her hard. It wasn't jumping the gun. What they lacked in physical evidence they had in circumstantial evidence. They couldn't make a case out of it but they may be able to get a confession with enough of it.

"What about the video from the street Grace was found on?" Jane asked.

"Glad you asked." Nina smiled up at the detective. She clicked on another video file changing the image on the computer from the bar to the street. "I went through a lot of video from but we lucked out. Your killer didn't know they were being filmed." She fast-forwarded the video until Grace struggling to get free from a hooded figure came into frame. She slowed it back down to regular speed and let the detectives look for themselves.

"Holy shit." Jane couldn't believe it. Even though the killers face was hidden the video gave them something to work with. "You couldn't start with this?"

"You wanted to start at the beginning."

Jane and Korsak continued to watch as the killer wrapped their arm around Grace's neck and strangle her. It lasted for what seemed like forever. Finally, Grace's body went limp and the killer let her drop to the ground. Nina stopped the video just as the killer stood up straight. Jane read the time stamp; 3:18:25AM.

"Now if only the killer had been dumb enough to look up." Korsak mumbled.

"It would be helpful." Jane agreed.

"Hey just because we can't get their face doesn't mean this video is completely unhelpful," Nina said.

Jane cocked an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I can run it through a software and get the killer's height. I won't help you ID anyone but it will rule out any suspects that don't fit the body type."

"God Nina you're the best." Jane grinned.

"Next you'll be telling me we can get a fingerprint from a video." Korsak couldn't help but express his disdain for technology.

"Well…"

Korsak stopped Nina before she could continue. "I don't want to know. I can barely understand my phone."

Jane and Nina both laughed. Korsak was almost completely technologically impaired. They poked fun at him a lot but they agreed. Sometimes technology just went too far.

"It will take me some time to run the program," Nina said. "I'll text you when I get something."

"Good." Jane turned to her partner and grinned. "Well partner how about we pay Eldsfield's neighbors a visit?"

"Lets." Korsak grinned back, just glad that they had something. Even if it wouldn't help their case much.

XXXXX

Jane knocked on the door marked 3B. They'd gotten the neighbors names from the super of the building. Jason Barnes lived in 3B and was most likely the person who had called Eldsfield the night of the murder. 3C belonged to an elderly woman by the name of Nancy Olsen. Jane assumed Nancy was the old woman Eldsfield had referred to the other day.

Korsak and Jane both agreed they would start with the least talkative of the two neighbors. It took a minute but finally the door opened and Jason Barnes stepped into the hall. He looked the two over without speaking. Once he was satisfied with whatever he was looking at he sighed scratching his chin.

"Something I can do for you uh…?" he paused searching the two for some kind of ID.

"Detectives," Jane finished for him holding up her badge. "I'm Detective Rizzoli this is my partner Detective Korsak. We were hoping you could answer a few questions about your neighbor, Alexis Eldsfield."

Barnes didn't look surprised that the two detectives were there to talk about his neighbor. He clicked his tongue. "What did she do this time? It that damn dog of hers? I mean look he's a good dog, but he's loud as fuck when he gets out."

Jane glanced at Korsak. Her partner shook his head seeming to be content on staring at his notepad. "We're not here about her dog. We're here because of the murder that took play the other night."

"Murder huh? Heard about that. So what about it?" Jason didn't appear to be too interested in helping the detectives but at least he wasn't slamming the door in their faces.

"You called Alexis that night around midnight when her dog got out did you see her get home?" Jane asked.

"Yeah Blue finally stopped barking around one-ish. Heard her door so figured she got back. I was just glad to have some quiet I work the morning shift you know?" Jason recounted the incident all the while chewing on his thumbnail.

"After that did you hear her leave again?" Jane figured he hadn't with the way was talking. He seemed more concerned with himself than anything else.

Jason scoffed at the question. For half a second his stopped chewing on his nail but he started right up again. "Yeah an hour later. She's never been very quiet."

"And you're sure it was her?"

"Why wouldn't I be? Three of us live on this floor and I'm pretty fucking sure Nancy wasn't going out that late. And I doubt Alex had one of her dates over otherwise I wouldn't have never gotten any sleep."

Jane was start to get the idea that Alex didn't do much to make her neighbors like her. of course Jane could understand why someone wouldn't be neighborly to Jason Barnes. He was dick.

"Thank you Mr. Barnes we appreciate it." Korsak said sensing his partner was about to lose her shit with Jason's nail biting.

"Yeah no problem." Jason couldn't have made his retreat any faster. His door slammed shut in their faces.

Jane took back what she had thought before about him not slamming the door in their faces. She had the urge to strangle him. Jane absolutely hated nail biters, which was hypocritical because she herself chewed on her nails when she was working. But God did every person they talked to have to be such a dick?

"I think I could play it off as justifiable homicide if you have my back." Jane said.

"Maybe save that for later because now its premeditated." Korsak chuckled. "Besides something good came out of that at our expense."

"We found a bigger asshole than Alexis Eldsfield?" Jane asked.

Korsak shook his head. "Barnes just blew her alibi."

A grin crossed Jane's face. "And her apartment is right there, how helpful." Jane led Korsak of too 3A. She banged on the door not bothering to be quiet about it. "Alexis Eldsfield open up we need to talk."

The two waited for a moment but all they heard was Eldsfield's dog pacing by the door growling. Korsak tried the second time. Banging the door just as loud as Jane had he shouted "Eldsfield open up."

"Excuse me if you're looking for Alexis I'm afraid she isn't home."

Together Jane and Korsak turned to see an elderly woman standing in the doorway of 3C. Korsak assumed that the woman was Nancy Olsen. He moved to introduce himself and Jane. Nancy was a very lively woman and she was very eager to help them.

"Do you know where Alex might be Nancy?" Korsak asked.

"I'm fairly certain she was going to spend the day at the gym. She spends most of her days off there. Always comes home sweaty and looking exhausted." Nancy was definitely a talker. "I don't understand why such a beautiful girl feels the need to get herself beaten up for fun."

"You two talk a lot?" Korsak figured Jane would lose her patience if she asked the questions so he let her stand quietly and take notes.

"Whenever I can catch her, she reminds me of my daughter. She is so polite, taking time to talk to a lonely old lady like me."

"How does she get along with your other neighbor?"

"They argue but Jason doesn't get along with anyone. Alex likes to keep to herself."

"Jason said she can be pretty loud."

"That she can. But it isn't that bad, it's only when she has a guest over."

"She have a lot of guests over?"

"Every few days. In fact, she had one over last night. The two were at it for hours." Nancy chuckled. "Even in my prime I wasn't that able."

The detectives suddenly felt uncomfortable. Korsak decided it was time to wrap the conversation up. "We appreciate you taking the time to talk with us. Do you know the name of the gym Alex frequents?"

"Bakers I believe," Nancy replied. "And it was my pleasure. I enjoy the company."

They said their goodbyes then the detectives made their way down the stairs. Jane wanted out of the complex as quickly as possible. Nancy hadn't been terribly bad to talk to but it had wasted a good amount of time. Barnes on the other hand had left Jane in a bad mood. She couldn't wait to get Eldsfield to the station so they could talk. Now that she knew Eldsfield had lied about her alibi she was looking even better for the murder. Jane just needed Nina to text her with the height of the killer she got from video. That would even make Eldsfield their prime suspect or it would rule her out. Either way they were finally getting somewhere.

XXXXX

Maura looked up from the article of clothing she was re-examining. She was vaguely aware of a person standing very closely behind her. If she had chosen to stand straight up she was sure she would have bumped into the person. Sighing she glanced over her shoulder to see who the person invading her personal space was. She wasn't really surprised to see Kent standing there. He was watching her closely.

"Kent we've talked about this," she said. "Or do we need to discuss person space again?"

"Right sorry about that Dr. Isles." His Scottish accent was fairly thick but understandable. He took a step back giving Maura enough room to turn around and straighten her back. "Taking another look at the victims clothing?"

"Yes. I find it odd that there is hardly any trace from the killer on the victim," Maura shook her head.

"I agree. After watching the video of the attack you would think the killer would have left something." When Kent stepped forward this time he came up to Maura's side and made sure to give her some space. "So what are we looking for?"

"Unsure," Maura turned back to the skirt on the table. "Jane is breathing down my neck for me to find some kind of evidence she can use."

"What about the saliva you found?"

"We have nothing to compare it too, when we do it will be extremely useful," Maura reminded him.

Kent was a smart man, a good man, his wide range of experience gave him a different view of the cases he assisted on. Maura was grateful for him. even though he hadn't arrived at the morgue under the greatest of circumstances. After Susie, one of Maura's lab techs, was murdered Kent had ended up being a replacement. He took it all in stride.

"So we're looking for something that leads us to the killer and not something that will nail or clear the bastard after we get them," he thought out loud as he took another look at the skirt. "Do you have the blouse she was wearing?"

Maura moved around the table to the box of evidence containing all of Grace Harper's belongings. She removed the plastic evidence bag from it and handed it to Kent. She wasn't sure what he was hoping to find. The lab techs had gone over everything with a fine toothed comb. Maura doubted they had missed anything. The techs in her morgue were some of the best. Still mistakes did happen. Sometimes evidence was overlooked.

Kent laid the blouse out on the table after pulling on a pair of latex gloves with a snap. He leaned down to examine the article closely. Maura watched him this time, giving him a reasonable amount of space to do his work. She couldn't help but admire him as he focused on his task. He was attractive, built like a man who had spent time in the military, which he had. His short black hair fading into his facial hair.

"Would you look at that." He smiled and looked up at Maura. "Take a look at this Dr. Isles."

"What is it?" Maura asked moving back to stand next to him.

He pointed to a stain on the sleeve of the blouse. It was dark red and nearly undistinguishable from the color pattern of the blouse. "It appears the lab techs missed something. It appears to be blood."

Maura took a closer look. Kent was right it did appear to be blood but she would run a test to make sure that was what it was. She was slightly upset the techs had missed such an important piece of possible evidence, but she couldn't fault them for it. She hadn't seen it either until Kent pointed it out. If you hadn't known what you were looking for you'd definitely glance right over it.

"Take a sample make sure it is blood and then run it," Maura told him.

"Pretty lucky break wouldn't you say?" Kent asked taking a swab of the stain.

"I don't believe in luck, Kent." Maura dismissed his question eyeing the swab as it turned pink. They had blood. Perhaps this time they would get a hit when they ran it.

"I'll go run the sample from CODIS then." Kent raised his eyebrows as he spoke, slightly offended Maura had dismissed him so easily.

When Kent didn't immediately leave Maura sighed again. "Kent you're crowding again."

"Sorry. I don't mean to I promise you."

"Go run the sample," Maura pointed towards the door, not dismissing him outright but urging him to move. "And if you get the chance will you take a look at the AC?"

"I'll do it while the computer does its work."

"Thank you Kent."

"Happy to do it."

When Kent was gone Maura pulled out her phone and opened her text history with Jane. She knew the detectives were out talking to Alexis Eldsfield's neighbors. Jane would want to know about the discovery as soon as possible, but Maura hesitated. They hadn't even run it through CODIS yet. She locked her phone and put it back on the table. She would inform Jane and Korsak of the find when they had some results. That way she wouldn't be wasting anyone's time with useless information.

Maura glanced through the glass doors of the lab and caught sight of Kent, busy at work. She really wished the AC was working.

Suddenly she remembered the last time Kent had offered to fix the AC and had wired the vents to the wrong place. Maura had never been that high in her life. She had never been high in her life. Then when Jane found them, rambling nonsense and believing they were hysterical. That had not been one of her finest moments. I looove glazed donuts… Maura shivered at the memory.

"Kent perhaps we should just call maintenance. Another week without air-conditioning won't hurt anyone."

XXXXX

Jane took a cursory survey of the building that was Baker's Gym. It was a large open space littered with punching bags, speed bag, weights and areas where trainers could work with their clients. In the middle of the building was a boxing ring. Two people were currently engaged in a boxing match. Some people had stopped their workouts to observe the fight. She couldn't see either of their faces but she could tell it was a man and a woman.

"Impressive aren't they?" A man in his early fifties came up to them. He was a portly man with a receding hairline. "I'm Bill proud owner of the Baker's Gym. You two don't look like you're here for the entertainment."

"We're actually looking for someone," Jane said. Her focus was still mainly on the two fighters who were ducking and weaving from each other's punches. She pulled her badge out and showed it to Bill. "Detective's Jane Rizzoli and Vince Korsak."

Bill studied her ID for a second before nodded apparently satisfied that the two were who they said they were. "Who is it you're looking for?"

"Alexis Eldsfield," Korsak said. "We heard she frequents your gym."

"She's one of my best fighters," Bill said proudly. "Is she in some kind of trouble?"

"We just want to ask her some questions." Jane finally turned away from the fight to address Bill directly. "Is she here?"

"You'll need to wait a couple minutes to talk to her," Bill nodded towards the ring. "One thing you don't do is pull Alex out of a fight even if it's just practice."

"Do you always let women box against men?" Korsak asked.

"Only Alex," he paused considering the question for a moment. "Sometimes during Amateur Night but usually not."

"Is there a reason she's so special?" Jane watched as Alex threw a right hook and caught her opponent square in the jaw.

Bill pointed to Alex as she followed up with a left upper-cut that landed on the other fighters chin. "That right there. Alex hasn't been fighting long but she takes pretty much everyone down who is dumb enough to get in the ring with her." He smiled obviously proud of Alex's skills. "I put her in with the guys because they have strength and give her a challenge. She has speed which is good for the guys to practice with. She's in with Fin now. This is their fourth match today. Alex won the first and third. Fin won the second."

Jane couldn't deny she was impressed with Alexis. Her abilities were remarkable. But as Jane and Korsak continued to watch her fight Fin their suspicion of the woman grew. She looked better for the murder every minute.

Fin fell back after a particularly hard blow to the chest. Alex let out a cry of triumph. She was breathing heavily. Fin stayed on the mat glaring up at her, obviously angry he lost to her again.

"Next match you're going down Eldsfield."

"You keep telling yourself that Fin." Alex grinned, her lips pulling back over a blue mouth guard. She pulled of her face guard and spit out her mouth guard as she left Fin where he was.

She had just grabbed her water bottle when she noticed Bill watching her. He wasn't alone. Next to him stood the detectives from the other day. Jane Rizzoli looked all too happy to see her. Alex frowned as the two detectives made their way up to the ring. She could tell this wasn't just a social visit.

Jane looked up at Alex with a smirk. She would take immense pleasure in hauling Eldsfield to the station. Thanks to Nina they were able to get an estimate on the killer's height, and Alex just happened to be in the vicinity of 5'9".

There was something else too. Jane and Korsak both noticed it. Just above the collar of Alex's sleeveless shirt was a fading bruise. It could have easily been caused by Grace Harper when she struggled to escape her killer.

"There a reason you two are here?" Alex asked not even trying to hide her annoyance.

"A few actually," Jane smiled. "You should come with us. There are some things we need to ask you about."

"You can't just ask me here?"

"I think you might want to talk to us without an audience Alex."

"You're unbelievable detective. You suspect me or something?"

"Should we have a reason to?"

"No but I'm sure you'll come up with something on your own." Alex sighed shaking her head. "Alright I'll cooperate."

"We appreciate it." The comment earned a scoff from Alex. "Just out of curiosity Alex, how tall are you?"

"5'9". What size shoe do you wear?"

Jane ignored the sarcastic question and glanced at Korsak. The look he gave her told Jane all she needed to know. They had her. All they needed was a DNA sample and they would nail her for Grace Harper's murder.