Disclaimer: Neither Rizzoli & Isles nor Scott & Bailey belong to me. I am merely borrowing the characters.
The hotel was small, cosy, and family run, it was based in an old vicarage.
Jane and Frost checked in and went to their rooms.
Frost deposited his luggage and went back down to find Rachel so he could go back to the station.
Jane rang Korzak. "Korzak" The phone had been answered after 3 rings.
"Vince! I'm at the hotel now so I can talk properly."
"Good! Hi Jane. What are the people like there?"
"Scary! They've got an equivalent of somewhere around Superintendent who has a Ph'D in criminal psychology and consults for the FBI, an equivalent of somewhere between Captain and Superintendent in charge of the investigation who I wouldn't want to cross. She was interviewing me about Maura, she wanted to know everything! She's got a load of multi-agency crap but no-body seems to think it matters cos everyone will obey her, and I believe them. This woman could intimidate Jimmy Hoffer!"
"Hey Jane, they treating you OK? We can pull you out if they're not..."
"No Vince, they're polite and all that, it is just a shock being part of such a large team with such high-powered people. They've got MI5 on call!"
"Wow that is heavy, have you heard any reference to the 'Hereford Headbangers'?"
"No, who the heck are they?"
"That's Police slang for the SAS"
"Shit, that's that special forces outfit the Brits are way too proud of."
"Well they are justified in that Jane, these guys make the Rangers look like boy scouts."
"What?"
"Look up 'Iranian Embassy siege' somewhere. Also Scharzkopf likes them! Anyway what yer doing now?"
"Resting up, going out for a drink with one of the locals, Detective Constable Rachel Bailey, tonight."
"Good, enjoy yourself! Oh and what is the name of that 'equivalent of somewhere around Superintendent'?"
"Karen Zalinski, and I will."
Vince let out an audible breath. "Paddy Doyle will come back, and he'll be alive, but he might not be sane."
"UHH? I thought the Brits were really anti waterboarding and all that."
"They are, but not because they are squeamish, they think they have better techniques... Gotta go Jane."
The line went dead.
XXxXX
Boston USA
Korzak put the phone down because Cavanaugh had come in and told him to.
"Dr Isles' phone has been found at a roadside diner near Providence, Rhode Island. Owner doesn't recall anyone matching her description."
"That doesn't make any sense, where would Maura be going to round there?"
XXxXX
Somewhere near Lake Ontario on the US side.
Maura was trying to sleep. She'd been told she'd be getting a boat across the lake after dark. Beyond that the goonish guy who was looking after her knew nothing.
XXxXX
Manchester UK
It was now about 9pm and Rachel had got to Jane's hotel. She phoned Jane's room and Jane had came down to meet her.
"First things first, your mobile." Rachel gave Jane her mobile phone. "So what do you fancy, quiet, noisy, or gay?"
"Gay! What do you mean by gay?" Jane was taken aback by what she thought was Rachel's forwardness.
"You know, the Gay village, Manchester has one of the best if you're that way inclined." said Rachel.
"No offence, but I think 'noisy' might be best." said Jane.
"None taken" and then Rachel laughed, "I wasn't propositioning you or anything, I just thought since you're unmarried, you've only mentioned a female best mate and not a boy friend you might... well anyway that attempt to make someone feel comfortable didn't work!" Rachel laughed Jane laughed too.
"And you, boyfriend? girlfriend?" asked Jane as they got into a taxi.
"No, been married though, divorced."
"The job does that. Our Sergeant? Been married three times."
"Yeah well this wasn't the job. I rushed it."
After a time the taxi dropped them outside a lively sounding pub in Manchester. Rachel paid the driver and they went inside.
"Fancy sharing a bottle of red?" asked Rachel.
"You're like Maura. I had to educate her about beer! Have they got any 'Blue Moon?" Just then a man ask for a pint of bitter from the barmaid.
Rachel looked at the fridge behind the bar. "Never heard of it and can't see it but I'll ask."
"It's OK I'll try a pint of bitter."
"Well you're adventurous, it's an aquired taste."
"Yeah? I'll risk it."
Just then Rachel heard a familiar voice behind her. "Look over my shoulder, is there a very drunk small, slim woman with short blond hair?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah, very drunk" There was a loud cheer from some men.
"She's just flashed her charlies hasn't she?"
"If charlies means tits yes, no bra either. Who is she?"
"Mi Mother." Rachel turned and walked up to Sharon, and gently removed her from the pub and got her into a taxi.
"There's fifteen quid, she'll probably ask to keep it and pay with a blow job. Don't let her" Rachel told the driver who smirked. Rachel showed him her warrant card. "I'm a Police Officer, I'll know." The driver's expression changed.
"OK not going back in there." Rachel said after the cab had drawn away.
"I thought my mom was bad!" said Jane.
They walked along for a bit. Then Rachel led them into another pub.
"You sure you want a pint of bitter? It's not called 'bitter' for nothing, maybe try a half and see if you like it?" said Rachel.
"OK I take your advice." said Jane.
Rachel spoke to the barmaid. "My friend's American, could she just have a taster of the bitter." The barmaid draw a small amount of beer into a half-pint glass. Rachel gave it to Jane.
"Warning: it's warm, that's how it is supposed to be."
Jane cautiously took a sip, then another.
"Hey that's good! Thanks for warning me that it'd be warm though."
On Rachel's instructions Jane went to find a table. Rachel ordered a pint and a large glass of red, as well as some crisps.
Then she looked around and found Jane. Once she had sat down, Rachel took a sip of her wine.
"So you got any brothers or sisters?" Jane's opening gambit caused Rachel to choke a little on the last of her sip.
She coughed a little before answering "Yeah an older sister Alison, we call her Ali and a younger brother Dominic, Dom. You?" Rachel didn't want to continue this line but saw no option.
"Yeah an older brother, Tommy, and a younger one, Frankie." Jane realised she'd opened an awkward conversation when she mentioned Tommy's name.
"So, tell me about Maura, I know she's the medical examiner, that a pathologist right? I can't imagine being friends with Scary Mary!" Rachel was trying to change the subject.
Jane laughed "Who's 'Scary Mary'?"
"Professor Jackson, our pathologist. Honestly the way she throws bodies around! Like they're bits of meat in a butcher's."
"Sounds completely different to Maura. Maura has been known to talk to the bodies like they are still alive."
"Weird! Scary Mary has no discernible humanity that we know of!" Jane laughed.
"Maura's very human, at times too human, she once harboured a fugitive wanted in several countries. Mind you his 'crime' was risking his life to get medical supplies to people who needed them. And he was, I have to admit, very good looking!" She took a big gulp of her beer.
Rachel laughed "Don't think Scary Mary would have done that!"
They chatted on. Talking about other members of their respective teams for an hour and a half, getting easier in each others company as they did. Then a bell went "last orders ladies and gentlemen please."
Rachel turned to Jane "What do you want to do? Go on somewhere else or if wine isn't too far beneath you I've got a couple of bottles at home."
"That's very kind but I think I'll go back to the hotel. I'd like to get onto UK time." said Jane.
Rachel made a sad face. "OK if you're sure"
"You are more like your mom than you care to admit."
"Whaaaaatt? I'm nothing like her!" Jane smiled and went to get a cab back to the hotel.
Rachel went home. Jane found Frost in the hotel lobby.
"You just finished?" she asked. "No I've been waiting for you Jane. Wanted to make sure you got back OK."
"Hey you my mom?"
"Bailey's got a rep for alcohol."
"Yeah I noticed she drank." Jane smiled as she said this. They said goodnight and went to their rooms.