It can't all be plain sailing – that would be dull!
Chapter Seven
Angela thought she had done extremely well to not say anything. She'd hurried around tidying, commenting on the food, Maura's stay at the hotel, she twittered and twittered.
"Angela! Please stop." Maura sat on the couch with her head in her hands. "I've had a quite monumental piece of information which I'm struggling to process. I feel quiet may assist."
"Sorry." The older woman sat down next to Maura, without saying anything she put an arm around her. The weary doctor gratefully fell into the embrace. "Time for bed I think. Everything always seems clearer after a sleep."
"Maybe." Maura was unconvinced by the suggestion but did agree that it was probably time for bed.
"Why don't you go and get ready. I'll bring you some peppermint tea and then leave you to it."
Maura had taken comfort from her regular routine. She had cleansed, toned and moisturised, applied hand cream and was in the process of hanging her new dress up when there was a tap on the door.
"Here you go."
"Thank you, Angela…" Mrs Rizzoli paused as she stood at the door. "I wish I knew what to say."
"I know sweetie but you know I only want you to be happy. You and Jane. If that happiness means the two of you can be together then fine, but your individual happiness come first. I'm happy to listen if you want to talk. Goodnight Maura." Angela closed the door quietly behind her. Maura slipped under the cool covers, her mind whirring trying to comprehend the information she had received. Trying to make sense of it and crucially trying to decide what she wanted. How did she truly feel about the brave, brown-eyed detective she'd always known as her best friend?
A few days had passed which had continued to be uncharacteristically quiet but those at BPD knew it wouldn't last. A 'normal' busy day for the homicide department and the ME finally came along. Maura for one was glad to be busy, god rest the souls of those who had been lost but being back at a crime scene allowed her to centre herself a little. The second murder of the day occurred outside a restaurant in one of the popular tourist spots in the city. An apparent mugging gone wrong. A tourist enjoying a break in the city had gone outside for a cigarette and then was found on the sidewalk with a head injury, minus his wallet and watch. Pretty straightforward though of course Maura was refusing to speculate. She looked up from her crouched position by the body of the victim to see Vince Korsak talking to a man.
"Who's that Detective Frost?" Barry paused from his note taking,
"Er the restaurant manager I think – he's confirming who the vic was eating with and the time of the reservation. Pretty cut and dry though, what happened." Maura smiled wryly,
"When we get the body back to the morgue I'll be able to tell you more detective." The man talking to Korsak turned briefly towards them running a hand across a clean shaven, tanned face. He made eye contact with Maura and smiled briefly before turning and heading back inside the building. Korsak sauntered over,
"We've got all we need. Good to see you haven't lost your lunch Frost!"
"Hilarious, Doctor Isles was just finishing up I think." Maura nodded while snapping of her gloves.
"Yes all done. If you'll excuse me detectives I'll see you back at the department. I'm just going to trouble the restaurant for some water." Maura rose, picked up her case and headed towards the restaurants door.
Maura's heels sounded loudly on the tiled floor as she headed straight for the circular bar which was at the centre of the room. She both knew and didn't know what she was doing. Maura knew an interested smile when she saw one, she also knew a handsome man when she one. A few nights ago she had discovered that Jane loved her, that part of her was screaming at her to turn around, walk away and text or call Jane. She'd only said thank you for the brooch by a brief text. In fact their communication had been restricted to a handful of texts. Maura knew in all honesty she had avoided truly engaging with Jane as she grappled with the new information. It was all so hard and confusing Maura felt deeply the absence of her best friend. Even if Jane had been with her though it wouldn't have helped.
"Hey." Handsome man appeared from behind the bar. "Can I help you?" He was wearing dark blue jeans and a white polo shirt. He had very white teeth and closely cropped hair which although brown had flecks of grey in it.
"I'm sorry to trouble you but would I be able to get a glass of water?"
"Sure, nice to be doing my job rather than talking to cops. Oh sorry, you're..." Maura waved her hand to stop him,
"Maura Isles, Medical Examiner. I'm not a policewoman."
"Well then, water. Ice and lemon?"
"Please." He put together a tall glass and placed it in front of her then came around and perched on the next stool.
"Paul Bennett." He extended a hand. Maura drank, chatted briefly (as she had autopsies to do) and flirted. When Paul asked her if she'd like drinks that evening she accepted. As Maura drove back to the police department she tried to think about why she had done it. Mainly because it was what she would have normally done. She was on auto-pilot. Paul was attractive, unattached why wouldn't or couldn't she? Because of Jane – a small yet loud voice in her head would not be silenced.