Friendly Fire Chapter 3
I don't own the characters of Rizzoli and Isles...wish I did.
Jane tried to concentrate on what Maura had written in the report but her attention was being pulled to the other side of the room where Melinda talked easily with Maura. The tall blond had managed to engage Maura into conversation and Jane found herself irritated by the way Maura smiled at Jeff's sister. She hadn't realized she was staring until Korsak called her on it.
"Who's the new addition?" Korsak sat on the edge of Jane's desk intentionally obstructing her view.
"Melinda McDaniels. NYPD." Jane's tone told Korsak she wasn't exactly a fan of their visitor.
"Maybe she can help. Seems pretty put together." Korsak tried to read the expression Jane tried to hide at his words. He glanced back toward Melinda and Maura. "She's seems friendly enough."
Jane returned her full attention to the file, ignoring Korsak. She really wanted to go over Maura's report with her and debated on whether to interrupt the casual conversation that continued between her and Melinda. Jane looked up as she sensed Maura approaching.
"Hey, Jane. Sorry, got caught up with Jeff McDaniel's sister." Maura smiled at Jane before turning back and smiling at Melinda just before she left the room.
"I saw that. Maura, she wants to be involved in the investigation." Jane wanted to ask what they talked about but decided against prying.
"Oh, well maybe she could help. She said she was a detective in NY." Maura was oblivious to Jane's opinion of Melinda.
"She's not to be involved. She's too close. Not her jurisdiction." Jane hated the way Maura didn't see anything wrong with Melinda wanting to be involved. "She thinks I won't investigate properly because Jeff and I didn't like each other."
"Well, you would never do that. Come on, Jane, give her a break. It must be so hard to lose a family member like this." Maura looked at the file Jane set down on the desk. "Did you want to go over my findings?"
"Are you ready now?" Jane was irritated and didn't care if it showed. "The sooner we solve this, the sooner Miss New York goes home."
Maura stepped back as Jane stood from her desk chair. She glanced at Frost who simply shrugged his shoulders. There was no denying the tension from Jane and only Korsak seemed not to notice anything was wrong. Maura followed Jane to the elevators and they rode in silence down to the morgue.
Jane tried to keep her mind on the task at hand. Her and Frost had a case to solve. A case that involved one of their own and all eyes were on them. Including the eyes of a New York Detective that Jane was sure would work to undermine everything she did. She didn't need the challenge, distraction and just plain aggravation she already knew Melinda would provide.
Frost had joined the women in the morgue and Jane was glad for that as she wanted to question Maura as to her conversation with Melinda. It was obvious they weren't talking about the case despite Melinda's insinuations. Jane thought it best to let it go despite hating the fact that Maura seemed to like the tall blonde.
Maura told the detectives the particulars about Jeff McDaniel's death. Nothing surprising either detective as they both had been around long enough and seen enough to be able to conclude much of what Maura did on first inspection. Still they listened until Maura was finished and it was only when Frost left that Jane even spoke to Maura.
"This is going to get ugly. I've got that feeling." Jane's comments weren't necessarily asking for a response despite the way she looked at Maura.
"Aren't all homicides ugly in their own way?"
"Yeah, Maura. They are." Jane ran her fingers through her hair before heading for the door. "Wanna get something to eat with me in a bit?"
"I think I may just head home tonight." Maura waited for a response from Jane, returning to her work when there was none. She watched the stressed detectives as she silently left the morgue without another word.
Jane forced herself into her apartment; she had decided against eating and wanted to just crash for the night. She figured Maura must be just as exhausted, neither of them getting much sleep over the last two days. Jane changed into some sweats and an old t-shirt and let her body fall into her couch. Frustration was immediate at the loud knocking at her front door. "Really?" Jane looked up at the clock.
"Hello, Detective." Jane opened her door to find Melinda McDaniels standing before her. "I know it's getting late, but shouldn't you be working on my brother's case?"
"How do you know I'm not?" Jane could feel her blood pressure rising as Melinda invited herself into Jane's home. "Sure, come on in."
"Well, isn't this just a...lovely place you have here." Melinda scanned the room, taking in the disarray it was in.
"I like it. It's home. What can I do for you?" Jane hadn't moved from the door, hoping to open it very soon for Jeff's annoying sister to leave.
"You do know that the first forty-eight hours of any homicide investigation is so very crucial. I'm just surprised to find you here is all." Melinda slowly strolled through Jane's living room as she spoke.
"How I handle my investigations are really none of your business." Jane didn't try to hide the irritation in her voice.
"My brother is my business. I've already been to see the Chief of Detectives, asking to have you removed from the case." Melinda made her way until she was standing face to face with Jane. "As expected you're dragging your feet on this."
"You have no business here. You want to be involved? Go see your mother, otherwise stay out of my way." Jane was angry and made sure Melinda knew it.
Melinda simply stared Jane down, refusing to let the tough Boston detective intimidate her. "So, tell me, Jane. You seem to be rather fond of your medical examiner friend."
Jane narrowed her eyes, trying to figure out what Melinda's angle was now. "Dr. Isles is the best there is. She is very valuable to our investigations on this case and every other."
"Oh, I'm sure she is very valuable. We have valuable medical examiners in New York as well." Melinda took a step closer to Jane, almost daring her to take a step back. "How valuable is she Jane? How important is the doctor to you, Detective Rizzoli?"
Jane stepped away from Melinda now, working hard to control her anger and frustration. "Did you come here to discuss Maura Isles or the case. No, never mind. I am not discussing the case with you." Jane opened the door, angrily suggesting it was way past time for Melinda to go.
Melinda hesitated before heading out of Jane's apartment. She turned just before Jane could shut the door. "I like Dr. Isles. She is very easy to talk to. I have a feeling she may make my stay here in Boston a little less painful."
Jane glared at Melinda, not trusting herself to speak. Melinda smiled at Jane in an obvious attempt to aggravate her. "Until you're removed from my brother's case, you have work to do, Detective. I am going to go see what Maura is up to tonight."
Jane watched as Melinda turned on her heels and walked away. It took every ounce of strength not to slam the door; she was determined not to give Melinda the satisfaction of getting to her. It was late, Jane was tired and she couldn't help but wonder if Melinda was heading over to Maura's. Jane picked up her phone only to set it down again. She wasn't sure if she needed to warn Maura and dissuade her from talking to Melinda again. Jane picked up the phone again, this time slamming it down on the table before beginning to dial. Maura was a grown woman and had a right to make her own decisions. They were friends, colleagues. They were not family. They were not lovers. Jane had no right to interfere.
Melinda was right. The first forty-eight hours were critical to any investigation. Jane knew where they were in the investigation. The leads her, Frost and Korsak had uncovered were all worth looking into and they had the plan in place. They weren't the only ones involved in the investigation as the entire Boston Homicide division was involved. Jane only found herself growing more and more angry as she justified to herself why she was home in her sweats, preparing for sleep. She also knew there wouldn't much sleeping tonight between the case and Melinda's visit.
Jane got dressed and headed back into the precinct. She would take the time and go over every detail of the case, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. She began by looking into Jeff's most recent cases. His undercover work in the past would make things that much harder but Jane was good at what she did. She knew all detective work wasn't done in the field alone. She would uncover something or she wouldn't, but Melinda was right. Until she was pulled from the case she was given the lead. She was determined to do right by Jeff; he was one of their own.
Jane worked through the night and into the next morning. It wasn't until she noticed Frost that she realized how late it was. "You been here all night?" Frost could tell she had been despite asking what was obvious.
"I just don't want to mess this up." Jane's voice was rough and the lack of sleep was evident in it.
"Jane, you won't. You know what you're doing. We'll break it and get to the bottom of it. You are no good if you don't sleep." Frost wasn't as experienced as Jane but they had been partnered long enough for him to know Jane wouldn't lie down on any case, let alone a fellow detective.
"Frost? What do you know about Melinda McDaniels?" Jane asked without looking up from one of Jeff's files. Jane knew Frost had pulled her information when she first made herself known to Jane.
"Is she a person of interest?" Frost wondered if Jane had found something, but also knew to follow her line of thought.
"Could be. You know the drill, eliminate the spouse, family first." Jane leaned back in her chair and finally looked Frost in the eyes. "She's got a huge problem with me and I want to know why."
"Are you looking too far into that, Jane? She's Jeff's sister, a homicide detective from New York, she knows how all this works plus she's got a personal interest in making sure we see it through." Frost hesitated before stating the obvious. "And she knew you had beef with Jeff."
"How I felt about the man is irrelevant. Or at least should be." Jane's voice held a hint of defeat. It was then that Frost noticed Maura entering the squad room.
Jane noticed as well and was quick to open up yet another file and bury her nose in it. Frost again shrugged at Maura when she shot him a questioning gaze.
"Jane? Morning." Maura could tell Jane hadn't slept all night and wondered if there was a break in the case.
"Yeah, morning. Frost, I think I know exactly where we need to be right now." Jane jumped up grabbing the file she was reading and her jacket.
Frost followed again shrugging at Maura. Jane was in a hurry and therefore so should he. He nearly ran into Jane as she stopped suddenly before exiting the squad room. Melinda McDaniel's walked in as if she had business to tend to.
"Can I help you, Miss McDaniels?" Jane refused to use Melinda's former title. Not here. Not in her house.
"Morning Detective Rizzoli. You look like you were up all night." Melinda looked over Jane's shoulder to where Maura was. She could read the look of concern on Maura's face for Jane and it only proved what Melinda had already realized.
"You look like you weren't. Done grieving your brother already, huh big sis?" Jane's tone was intended to anger Melinda and she was pleased to see it do just that.
Melinda turned to face Jane, her face barely an inch away from Jane's. "I will never be over losing my brother, Detective. Thanks for your concern and compassion. I am here to talk to Dr. Isles if you don't mind."
"Actually I do mind. She's busy working on our case. Your brother's case. You know how it is, officer, the first forty-eight." Jane's smile was a wicked grin that had Frost nervous as he watched the interaction between the two women.
"It's Detective..."
"Not in my house it isn't. Unless you have something I need to know about Jeff's childhood, his friends, his enemies, his parents or his pets, you have no business here, Detective." Jane was all business and Frost was loving it.
"I have no business with you...right now anyway." Melinda gave Jane a threatening glare before turning her attention to Maura. "Now there's somebody who doesn't look like she sleeps in her clothes."
Jane looked from over at Maura and caught her eye. Maura always looked professional. Professional and beautiful and for some reason today she looked even more so. Melinda cleared her throat, pulling Jane's attention back to her. "Good day, detectives." Jane watched Melinda smile and wink at Frost before making her way over to Maura. Maura smiled at Melinda as she approached looking even more beautiful as she did so. Jane noticed that as did Melinda.
Maura also noticed as Jane slammed out of the precinct.
Authors note: would love to know how I'm doing. Have read so many good stories on here and I'm sure I don't compare, but am trying to get better. Any feedback I use for that purpose and would love feedback.