Jane and Maura exited the correctional facility. It was pouring with rain. A rapid change from the fairly dry weather when they had entered nearly two hours ago.
"Dinner?" asked Jane, quirking an eyebrow.
Maura happily agreed quickly "yes, it would be good to digest the information of the afternoon"
Jane smiled, then realised no pun had necessarily been intended.
"Where are you parked?" Jane asked, quickly following with "Can I run, grab my car and drop you to yours?"
"that won't be necessary"
"ah but neither of us have an umbrella or coat, no need for both of us to get wet, and I think I can run faster in these than you can in those". Jane smiled broadly, whilst gesturing towards her boots and Maura's four inch heels. Maura stood a moment and mused, then beamed at Jane. "Okay, I'll be right here"
Jane ran across the entrance way to the parking area. Wondering why they decided a "park-like setting" was such a good idea. Well, obviously it was, just not when it was pouring with rain. She fumbled with the door handle whilst trying to leap in to her car. Eventually she was in the drivers seat. Feeling much more wet than she imagined possible in a short run. She drove out of the parking lot, through the U shaped drive out the front of the facility and reached over and opened her passenger door to encourage Maura to leap in. Jane was surprised to be directed to a pale blue Prius. She had imagined something more in fitting with the lawyer's taste for sleek, groegous clothes. As if sensing this, Maura quickly began with a comment on the car's fuel efficiency and environmental credentials, before Jane smiled and interrupted
"look, I have heard a place nearby does a mean all grain bun tofu burger, if you don't mind going somewhere casual…"
"that sounds delicious" Maura remarked "but I had never picked you for the tofu type"
"ah no, I didn't say I had tried the burger. I just heard from some health nut, I mean, someone who takes pride in taking care of themselves, this was the best no-guilt burger in the city. I also heard, it does a rather mean cheeseburger, which I was thinking I should probably try, so we appraise both ends of the menu"
Maura chuckled. "you'd best give me the address then doctor, and I will meet you there"
….
They managed to find parks for their cars not too far away, and having ordered, not having changed their mind having perused the full menu, Maura sat back
"so, what do you think?"
"well Maura, I am still thinking much the same. I am still far from convinced he did it. I think the new information offers plenty of motive. I mean I am pretty much taking it as him saying he thinks he might be gay, that he feels terribly uncomfortable with his Father endlessly berating him for anything that isn't hyper-masculine. That he finds living with his family near intolerable. That his Father has probably beat him for years, and he might imagine more beatings if his father comes any closer to confirming his sexual orientation. And yet, I thought his questions about "how did I wish him dead, then come home and find him dead?" pretty convincing. I reckon a psychiatrist for the prosecution could argue dissociation – that the trauma was so much he became unaware of his own actions and did it, then came to in a state of horror. Or that he did it in a fit of rage and then was so horrified by what he has done that he has repressed (or not encoded, depending on your theoretical orientation on trauma) any memories of it, and now appears genuinely bewildered by it. But equally, it could be he wished him dead, came home found him dead, and initially took the blame as he felt he deserved it, but now can't work it out"
"how do you explain the blood on him"
"you wish your tyrant of a father dead, you come home, find him and your Mother stabbed, you're not going to pick up the weapon, touch the body?"
"No. I am well aware of the chain of evidence"
"okay, let me rephrase; you are a traumatised teenager who doesn't spend their time hanging around courts thinking about chains of evidence, and ways you can find disruptions in them that might help out your client…."
"ah. Point taken" agreed Maura. "but how do we work out which of your theories has credence?"
"I think we need to go back through his day with Nathaniel, and see how his timetable fits with any other information we can find. And I guess the police have looked for any other evidence of any one else being involved, and decided they didn't find anything but….you know one thing I have been wondering is whether anyone else knew about the argument the night before. Because, theoretically, if I had a grudge against Andrew and wanted to harm him, it would be perfect timing t do it then when the neighbors know that something has gone down between Nathaniel and his Dad the day before"
"That's an interesting idea Jane. So we should maybe think about the neighbors?"
"yeah, but I would also wonder if Nathaniel knows if his Dad told anyone about the argument. Maybe a shot in the dark but…."
"Not a shot Jane, a stab!"
Jane looked up in surprise.
"His father was stabbed not shot. Oh and Jane, you have ketchup on your face. No, just there, to the left a bit, up a bit, oh look" and Maura reached out with her napkin and wiped the left side of Jane's chin gently, a few warm fingers behind the paper napkin gently sliding over Jane's skin. Jane quickly pulled back.
"I'm sorry Jane, you told me you are not comfortable with touch. What a forward presumption of me"
"ah no problem Maura, just, ah surprised me I guess" Jane said. Just made my heart run like 100 miles an hour, made me wish you were brushing my face for some other reason than I am a messy eater, Jane thought.
"Jane, I think I have something to be going on with now. I will talk some more to Nathaniel about who might know about the argument, and try and chart his movements for the day. You know, this tofu burger has been as good as your source suggested, but I feel a bit like indulging in some dessert. Would you be interested in coming to a place I know around the corner for some dessert and a glass of wine. I'll cut out the work talk"
"sounds too good an offer to refuse" Jane replied, before managing to apply her brain. What was she doing? What was Maura doing? Regardless of Maura's intentions, was this a good idea?