So sorry for the long delay in updates. I had a 5-page single spaced report I had to do for a business writing class and it was horrid. I haven't had any time to type with scheduling next semester, studying for final etc. Hopefully the next week or so will be light on work so I will be able to type up chapter 5 (which I already have some content for). I'll try not to take two weeks but it all depends on school.

In any case thank you so much for reading and being patient with me. Please let me know what you think. Let me know your theories or whatever else! Sometimes your comments give me ideas for the direction of the story. And they always remind me why I continue to write fanfictions. Anyway. As always enjoy.

Chapter 4

Alex sat across from Detective Rizzoli. She waited for one of them to start asking her questions. It wasn't the first time Alex had found herself sitting in an interrogation room. Of course the last time the detectives had called it an interview room, she had been in New York and she had been the victim. There had been other times as well, but she had been neither a victim nor a suspect in any of those instances. But that had been another life. None of that mattered now as she sat there. Her past wouldn't change anything that was happening with Gracie's murder.

"So you going to start asking questions or are you just going to stare at me the rest of the day?" Alex asked as she leaned forward to rest her arms on the table. "Not that I mind but I've got a dog at home."

"I'm just trying to figure out why you lied to us," Jane shrugged. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Care to explain to us why your neighbor told us you went out again after you told us you never left."

"What are you talking about? I got home got Blue back inside and went to bed. That's it."

"Alex we know you left your apartment again an hour later. You aren't helping yourself by lying." Jane could clearly see Alex's growing annoyance. "So where did you go?"

Alex knew there was no way she could lie herself out of the situation. To be perfectly honest she didn't want to lie about it. However, Jane was really pushing her, trying to get her to admit to something she didn't so, and that made her less willing to be helpful. Knowing there was nothing she could say she gave Jane what she wanted.

"Alright. Yes, I went out again. But I wasn't heading back to the bars. I was taking Blue for a walk."

"At 2 in the morning, alone, on a Sunday after you had been drinking for several hours?" Jane's expression turned skeptical. No one went out alone in Boston that late at night. It was dangerous and downright stupid. It was probably what got Grace Harper killed. Hell Jane carried a gun and she never went out that late without someone with her.

"Yes at 2 in the morning I don't need him pissing on my carpet." Alex suddenly became extremely defensive. "Who in their right mind is going to jump a woman walking around with a dog-sized tank?"

"I can think of a few people." Talking to Alex was like talking to a brick wall. Jane was already regretting asking Korsak to let her do this alone. "So where did you go?"

"There's a park not far from my apartment. We stayed about an hour. Fresh air clears the head after all." She wanted to jump across the table and punch the detective. She could take Jane. Hell she could probably take Jane's partner too. The gun however would probably drop Alex in less than a second.

It was one of the worst excuses Jane had ever heard from a suspect but it was clear Alex would need a little push to get talking. Jane picked up the file she had next to her on the vacant chair. She pulled out a still of the killer Nina had gotten from the security video. She slid it across the table for Alex to look at.

Alex stared at the photo for a moment before taking it in her hands and examining it closer. It was a man- or a tall woman- in a hooded jacket. Their face was obscured not only by the dimness of the area but also because of the hood pulled over the person's head. She had no idea what she was supposed to make of the image. She looked at it again. The realization hit her hard. Gracie…

She glared at Jane, shoving the image roughly back towards the detective. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" Alex growled referring to the fact Jane had given her a picture of Gracie's dead body with the killer standing over her.

"Do you recognize that person in the picture?" Jane asked coolly, completely ignoring Alex's question.

"You talking about Gracie or the hooded guy?" Alex snapped. "Cause if its hoodie guy no. I don't."

"You sure?"

"Yes detective I'm sure."

"Because we have reason to believe that hooded person is you."

That did it.

Alex slammed her fists down on the table. Her face went red as her blood boiled with anger. Jane actually found herself leaning away from Alex because of the force of her anger. She hoped Korsak wouldn't come in. She was about get somewhere with Alex. It was something Jane had learned through years of dealing with bad guys. When they got angry they got stupid. And when they got stupid? Well that was when they got confessions.

"And how exactly do you figure that?" Alex's voice had dropped. Her words were full of rage. She was doing everything in her power not to completely lose it.

"Is there a reason you're getting so angry Alex?" Jane sat forward showing Alex she wasn't the least bit intimidated by her.

"You're accusing me of murder with absolutely no evidence please tell me why I shouldn't be angry."

"Who said we don't have any evidence?"

"For one you haven't arrested me, read me my rights or produced anything that would stand as physical evidence. Whatever you may have as of right now is circumstantial at best." Her anger was still there but she was slowly pushing it back. Forcing herself to calm down.

"You sound like you speak from experience."

Alex cocked an eyebrow at Jane. Suddenly her rage disappeared as she let out a roaring laugh. The surprise on Jane's face said it all- she had no idea what Alex found so funny.

"Did you not even look into my personal history detective?" Alex continued to laugh and add to Jane's growing confusion. "Of course you didn't because then you'd know I do speak from experience."

"I don't follow."

"I graduated from Law School. I passed my bar exam and interned with the D.A.'s office in New York. I was working on becoming a Prosecutor. I only moved here because of the assault and I found it too difficult to continue with law." Alex was finally able to stop laughing.

For someone who had made it her job to know enough about Alexis Eldsfield, Jane felt pretty damn stupid that she hadn't taken the time to read about her education and time working as a lawyer. It didn't matter that much in the long run. Alex was a site manager now, not a lawyer, she couldn't work as one in the state of Massachusetts. She still was the same height as the person in the security video and she still had multiple bruises that were consistent with ones left by someone struggling for their life.

"Fine," Jane sighed. She felt like she had never conducted an interrogation before. Somehow Alex gotten to her. Instead of making Alex sweat, Jane was getting flustered. "When the killer had Grace in a chokehold," Jane rose from her seat to come around the table and stand behind Alex. She wrapped her arm around Alex's neck just as the killer had to Grace. "Grace struggled. She tried to fight, using all the self-defense training she had."

Jane tightened her arm around Alex's neck. The pressure was only enough to make Alex uncomfortable not nearly enough to cause her any real harm. Jane moved down so she was at face level with Alex. "She hurt her attacker. Probably left some bruises but she had no chance. Her killer was stronger."

She felt Alex leaning back into the chair trying to get rid of some of the pressure. Jane didn't let her. Instead she continued to recount what she had seen the killer did to Grace. She leaned in, her lips near millimeters from Alex's ear. "Her killer leaned in probably speaking to her like I'm speaking to you now. Probably urging her to fight harder. Telling her how good it felt to feel the life drain out of her while she struggled. They left DNA behind Grace's ear."

"You trying to scare me detective?"

"I'm making a point." Jane released her hold on Alex.

Alex rubbed her neck glaring at Jane as she made her way back to her seat. "You'll need to explain because I'm lost. If I didn't know better, I'd say that was some weird ass foreplay."

"Don't flatter yourself. The bruises on your chest they're consistent with bruises that would be left from Grace struggling against you as you strangled her."

"You're kidding right?" Alex asked. "You did see me boxing today right? I don't wear any padding besides what's on my head. Bruises happen."

"If they happened today they would just be forming. That bruise," Jane pointed to the purple mark below Alex's collarbone. "That bruise is at least a day old."

"Suddenly a doctor?"

"Close friends with a medical examiner," Jane shrugged. "So unless you have another explanation for the bruises I'm going to assume you got them when you murdered Grace."

Alex shook her head, sighing. "I didn't get them from killing anyone." She took a deep breath. Alex had seen the bruise on her chest earlier that morning and yes, it did look like someone fought with her, but in reality it had been left by Marian. There were four more like it hidden by her shirt.

Keeping her eyes locked with Jane's, Alex rose and lifted up her shirt. She shivered slightly from the cold air of the interrogation room, but she kept her shirt up, making damn sure Jane saw each of the bruises and knew what they were from. "Last time I checked you don't get bite marks on your abdomen when you kill someone." Alex paused for a second. "Of course it's not often I get them at all. I usually leave marks on my partners not the other way around. Probably why they left them where I could hide them."

It would have been impossible for Jane to mistake the love bites as anything other than what they were. Jane glanced up at Alex's face then back to her toned abdomen. She couldn't imagine Alex allowing a man to bite her, let alone imagine a man who would want to sleep with a woman who could probably kill them. Stranger things had happened though.

"You can put your shirt down," Jane instructed Alex.

Alex did as Jane instructed. She sat back down in the metal chair a smug look crossed her face. If the detective wanted to play this game Alex would indulge her. As much as she wanted to aid in the investigation and be cooperative with the detectives she wasn't the type to allow herself to be stepped on. If Jane was going to attack her with everything she had and everything she didn't then Alex would act accordingly. She leaned forward, lacing her fingers together as she rested them on the table.

"Alright Detective I'll tell you what, because I like you so much, I'm going to humor you." Alex bit her lip as if considering something. Then she smiled, knowing it would bother the detective. "Hypothetically if you are right, what was my motive? Why would I kill my best friend? You tell me that I'll give you a DNA sample."

Jane had a thousand ideas for motive. Alex had a temper that was easily brought out. She also seemed like a jealous person and jealousy could make people do crazy things. But Jane didn't say any of the reasons that came to mind. She found it strange that Alex would rather hear what motives the detectives considered and then give her DNA instead of just giving a sample. If Alex was truly innocent like she maintained, then giving her DNA would only clear her. Jane found it difficult to fathom why Alex would want to reinforce suspicions on herself by not openly cooperating. She's trying to play you Jane.

Jane shook the thought from her head. Whatever Alex's reason was in asking Jane for her theories she didn't care. "You understand you're only making things more difficult for yourself?"

"Completely."

"After being so cooperative with us."

"As a courtesy I wanted to be. But honestly detective, since you're so dead set on pinning me for a murder I did not commit I feel the need to make you work. Even if it makes me more of a suspect."

"Why?"

"Because even though the lawyer in me is saying to exonerate myself the rest of me is saying to be the jackass you think I am." The corner of Alex's mouth pulled back into a snarl. "No matter what I do your mind won't change about me. I know the type so get on with it detective or I'm leaving."

Jane positioned herself so that she was mimicking Alex, with her arms resting on the table, hands together and eyes directly focused on one another. She loved when suspects played hardball and Alex was no exception, even if Jane didn't understand the reason behind it.

"Alright Alex we'll do this your way," she sighed.

"I appreciate it."

Rolling her eyes Jane began to run through her theories in her mind. Originally she had thought Alex had killed Grace out of rage. Unfortunately, with what Alex had shown Jane, it was evident that she had almost full control over her temper. Even so people could snap for no reason- even with the best control. She and Korsak had come up with another theory that fit better, however, they hadn't had the opportunity to talk with Cody again to see if the theory had and real standing.

"You're a hard person to figure out. We talked to Cody. He said you three were close. That you even went to Florida together last year."

"We did and we are," Alex confirmed. "We met in college and we stayed in touch ever since. We went to Florida to celebrate their engagement."

"Is that how all three of you ended up moving to Boston?" Jane asked genuinely curious.

"They moved down a couple years before I did employment opportunities and all," Alex explained. "Me? I was just running from my problems. Cody offered me a place to stay until I found an apartment then I stayed. No point in going back."

"So you could say you were closer to Cody than Grace?" Jane realized as she talked with Alex that if she spoke as if Alex wasn't a suspect Alex opened up more. She took note of that. Being confrontational with Alex would get them nowhere.

"I guess," she said with a shrug. "Before they started dating Cody and I usually went bar hopping together."

"And after?"

"Gracie started coming with us. She liked being with Cody, I liked drinking with friends."

Jane nodded, taking everything Alex told her to heart. The information she was getting from Alex would be useful later if she did prove to be the killer. What Jane was learning was actually strengthening her theory on the motive. She had wondered about Alex's relationship with Cody since first talking to Alex.

"So you didn't feel left out when it came to their relationship?" Jane was cautious with the question.

A look flashed across Alex's face, one that Jane couldn't quite understand. She didn't get a chance to decipher it because as soon as it had appeared it was gone.

Alex rose from her seat and stepped away from the table. Jane watched her closely but made no attempt to have Alex sit down. She let Alex move towards the window and look out. Jane could tell there was something on the woman's mind.

"I was happy for them," she said after another minute of silence. "But that isn't what you asked. Yes, sometimes I felt like a third-wheel with them. Did it matter? Not really. I had two good friends. Just because I was single and they weren't didn't make a difference to me."

Alex closed her eyes. Jane watched her stand at the window, unmoving, wrapped up in her own thoughts. Now or never Jane. She took a second to gather herself before she rose and joined Alex by the window. Alex didn't acknowledge Jane at first when she leaned against the wall.

When Alex opened her eyes again Jane noticed a sadness in them that hadn't been there before. Alex wasn't giving herself away. She remained focused on the window and the view beyond it. Her shoulders remained squared, back straight, expression neutral.

"And when they got engaged?" Jane asked.

"First to congratulate them…Took them to Florida." She glanced at Jane then back out the window. "What are you getting at?"

"I think you were jealous."

Alex laughed harshly: "Jealously? It's a great motive Detective- if there is something to be jealous of."

"You were close with Cody and when he got engaged you felt betrayed. He left you alone and you couldn't stand that." There was no going back now. As soon as the words left her mouth she saw Alex go ridged and her face twist with anger.

"You think I killed Gracie because she was marrying Cody?" Alex spoke in a low, threatening growl. "It wasn't changing anything we were still friends."

"I think you wanted to be more than friends with Cody, you wanted what Grace had and the only way you could have that was to kill Grace."

Jane suddenly wished she hadn't stood so close to Alex. She had seen what Alex was capable of. Even with Korsak standing on the other side of the one-way mirror, Jane was sure Alex could cause serious damage to her before Korsak could stop her. She didn't back away. Instead she chose to stand her ground, figuring it would be better to give Alex the impression she wasn't intimidated.

Alex turned to face her. Much to Jane's surprise Alex didn't appear angry, frustrated or even upset. Instead she just appeared distant towards Jane. Then she smiled. It wasn't the smile from before; the one full of confidence and cockiness. Jane wasn't even sure the smile was directed at her.

"So Gracie's death was a result of a lover scorned." It wasn't so much a question as much as a statement. "You talked to my neighbors right? Nancy and that snot-nose bastard Jason?"

"We did."

"I'm sure one of them mentioned my 'guests' as Nancy likes to put it?"

"They did."

"You have a good theory, but if you think I killed Grace your theory has one big hole in it."

"Enlighten me."

"Those 'guests' I have over? They aren't there for the company."

"And this makes my theory wrong somehow?"

"If you'd let me finish," Alex muttered. "All of them are women."

Jane cocked an eyebrow. She wasn't completely understanding what Alex was saying to her. Alex sighed while shaking her head. "What I'm trying to tell you Detective is your 'theory' aside from not being true since I didn't murder Grace is also wrong because I have never so much as kissed a man."

"You've lost me."

"I'm gay detective. All of my partners are women. In other words, there would be no reason for me to kill Grace because she was marrying Cody because I. Don't. Care." Alex made sure to emphasis the last three words. She was getting angry again.

Well Jane hadn't been completely wrong about Alex. No man had ever had the ability to sleep with Alex. It explained a lot about Alex. But it didn't completely rule out her theory. And she made sure Alex knew that.

"Alright. Maybe you killed her because she was leaving you behind."

Alex finally exploded. "Are you fucking kidding me Detective?! Get it through your head there was nothing between us! I loved Gracie! I cared about her! I looked out for her! I fucked up! I left her alone and now she's dead but I did not kill her!"

Jane suddenly felt her pent up frustration escape her as Alex screamed at her. She'd only ever lost her temper with a suspect on two occasions. This would make three. "You haven't done much to prove your innocence Alex!" Jane shoved a finger in Alex's chest. "You've lied to us and you've been less then forthcoming with us. So what makes you think that I would believe you now?"

"Everyone has something to hide Jane. I have my fair share of skeletons that I don't share." Alex pushed Jane's hand from her chest. "I have them, Grace had them, your partner has them. And you have them. So get out of my face."

Jane stood in stunned silence. To say she was at a loss was an understatement. What Alex had said implied she was hiding something else. It had no place in the conversation so it could mean absolutely nothing. Alex could have said it just to throw Jane off balance. Which had worked out perfectly if that was the intended effect.

By the time Jane got her bearings Alex had her duffle in hand and was moving towards the door. "We're done here. You want my DNA get yourself a warrant. Otherwise stay the hell away from me." And just like that Alex was gone, leaving Jane alone.

XXXXX

"That could have gone better," Korsak said as he came into the interrogation room.

Jane looked up at him before dropping her head to her hands. "There's something she isn't telling us." Her voice was muffled by her hands but she could have cared less.

"I agree but right now she isn't talking," Korsak said. "We'll get a warrant. Until then we'll do some good old-fashioned police work."

"I want evidence Vince," Jane said raising her head. "I want evidence that will prove beyond a doubt Alexis Eldsfield killed Grace Harper."

XXXXX

Alex couldn't get the elevator to arrive fast enough. No matter how hard she slammed the call button the seconds dragged on. She was moments away from kicking the unmoving metal doors when the tell-tale ding of the elevator met her ears.

She mumbled quietly to herself as the doors parted. She didn't bother to check to see if anyone was in the elevator before she stepped forward…and ran right into a woman. Multiple manila folders scattered on the floor.

"Shit!" Alex bent down to help gather the files, momentarily forgetting her frustration. "I'm so sorry."

"It's alright," the woman said, kneeling down to assist Alex. "Things happen."

Alex smiled and held up the stack she had gathered. Woah…Hello gorgeous. She thought when her eyes fell upon the woman she had collided with. Alex could tell just by what the woman was wearing that she wasn't a cop. Whatever she did she was out of place among all of the detectives and police dressed in slacks or uniforms. Alex caught herself staring at the woman, distracted by the golden brown hair and her hazel eyes.

It was only when the elevator door started to close that Alex remembered she was trying to leave. She reached past the woman to keep the doors from sliding shut. As much as she wanted to get the woman's name she wanted to get out of there more.

"Again I'm sorry I really need to pay more attention to where I'm going."

The woman only smiled as the doors began to slide shut again. Alex's hand shot out again to stop the door. "I'm Alex-" the door closed before she could finish her sentence. She sighed and collapsed against the wall.

To herself she finished: "Alexis Eldsfield… I'm Alexis Eldsfield and you are definitely the most attractive woman around here…"

XXXXX

Maura straightened her skirt as she went to meet Jane at her desk. She had recognized the woman who had just run into her as Jane's suspect; Alexis Eldsfield. Her picture hung on the detective's 'murder board'. Much to Maura's surprise Alexis was much more attractive in person. She had excellent bone structure and beautiful eyes.

"Having an exchange with our suspect?" Jane asked when Maura came up to her.

"Not exactly," Maura replied. "Here. I ran through everything again as you requested."

"Thank you. You find anything?"

"Kent found blood on the victims blouse it was a match to the saliva we found on her neck."

"So still nothing."

"Get me something to test it against and I'd have more."

"I know," Jane sighed. "We're working on it… Whoever killed Grace was smart enough not to leave anything behind. I don't get it."

"You still believe Alexis is good for it?"

"Very. But…"

"But…?"

"Something just isn't adding up. I don't know what it is but… it's there. Once I find it maybe it'll crack this entire case wide open."

Maura smiled. She hoped something would come up that would help her best friend. Maura was actually worried about Jane. She hadn't seen the detective so worked up over a case since Hoyt. This was completely different. It wasn't a serial murder and Jane had no personal connection to it. Jane was just focused. That scared Maura a lot. If Jane got too worked up with the case she could get hurt.

"Jane you mentioned Alexis has taken multiple mixed martial arts and boxing classes?"

"Yeah that's why we're looking at her. She would have learned a basic stranglehold in MMA."

"Is there any way to find any video of her using her MMA skills?"

"I don't know. Maybe. I'm sure we can find where she takes her classes. Why?"

"I have a theory that I want to test."

"Uh huh. You mean a hunch?"

"A theory."

"Care to explain to us?"

"Perhaps," Maura said. "Once you get me what I need."

"You're no fun."

"I simply like to have something to show you before I get your hopes up."

Jane chuckled: "Oh is that what it is?" Maura's lips parted in question which only made Jane laugh harder. "Is that what you were doing when we went undercover at that lesbian bar? Getting my 'hopes' up by showing me 'something'?" Jane emphasized the words 'hopes' and 'something' with air quotes.

"I was trying to be believable."

"Trust me Maura you didn't need to display your breasts to everyone to be believable."

"Excuse me?"

"Let me rephrase. I didn't need a face-full of your breasts for you to be believable."

Maura giggled: "You need to let that go."

"Never."

Maura rolled her eyes but she was smiling. It was always nice when Jane could forget a case that wasn't going well and smile. But her worry still nagged at the back of her mind. Hopefully the theory she had would shed some light on the murder… so long as Jane could get video of Alex fighting. Until then Maura was pretty useless as there was nothing for her to test or examine that hadn't already been gone over with a fine-toothed comb.

A/N: Long chapter again. I know it's a lot of Alex and Jane and it may seem a little rushed case wise but trust me. It's far from over. The next few chapters will bring the case and the relationship between Alex, Jane and Maura together. Hopefully in a way that makes sense. I'm really trying to make this good for you guys. It means so much to me when you actually enjoy and want to read more of my story. I don't like to disappoint. Thanks again for reading.