Miranda Priestly's Townhouse
Lunch with Miranda Priestly was minus squirting fish or soup to slurp for Jane Rizzoli. Cassidy and Caroline Priestly were fascinated by Dr Isles' unending facts about multiples. Miranda realised Constance Isles' daughter was like a human library.
Jane studied photographs of the twins and their mother, stopping on one. Didn't like this man's eyes in one snap, his grasping Runway's Editor around the waist was possessive. Had to be a husband.
Felt a nudge and something wet lick her hand.
''Patricia.''
Jane Rizzoli thought Bass the turtle to her, African spurred tortoise to Maura, was a quite a pet, but this dog's size, whoa a St Bernard. Would never have equated such a warm sloppy animal with Miranda Priestly. Patted the bibbed canine, scratching behind its ears. Vicuna and cashmere not dog drool proof. Jane's allergies hadn't kicked in.
Miranda's voice scolded. ''My apologies detective.''
Jane didn't mind drool, hell she'd lived with two little brothers. Patricia was less gross.
Jane quietly mumbled should have tagged along with Sachs. Cassidy and Caroline blue eyes widened. ''Dt. Rizzoli did you say Sachs, Andy Sachs?'' Shrugging Jane nodded. ''Yeah Detective Sachs NYPD. Investigating your friend Claudia Davenport's homicide.''
Mom's former assistant, the Harry Potter one was with the NYPD. Relieved Mom hadn't heard, Andy's name was never mentioned. Every other assistant from Andy leaving was Emily. Only now Mom called her one assistant Saffron, she'd been working for their Mom for three years.
Jane hid a small smile as both twins asked her for a favour. Finally things were getting interesting around here. Jane agreed as soon as she was asked.
Maura was charmed by Ms Priestly whose menu selection was stellar and delicious, observed her Hostess, very guarded, an icy facade not at all dissimilar to her Queen of the Dead moniker.
Reading how her twins made Miranda's eyes crinkle and her composure less frosty. ''Tell me. Detective Sachs and yourself are acquainted in what way?''
Miranda's vivid eyes narrowed, her mouth pursed with distaste. ''Sachs was for a time my assistant, nothing more, nothing less.'' Her blue eyes were stormy stating their history together.
Maura watched the subconscious swallow, Miranda Priestly was afraid of Detective Sachs. Why?
''This time together, this tenure ended badly?'' Reading it, Miranda's lips firmed, weighing her words carefully. ''Detective Sachs, Andréa.'' Chewing the name like ground glass. ''Left my employ very immaturely during Paris Fashion Week, couldn't handle my business approach. I do not care why she just left, she was just a lowly assistant. A nobody to concern myself with.''
Rizzoli frowned. Priestly was cold as ice. The fuzzy gentle giant dog and the 'bobbsey twins' didn't fool her, the woman had something to hide and frankly she didn't really care for the Queen of Fashion. Maura could be so naïve.
Maura without hesitation asked. ''Yet, by your body language, you'd desperately want to decipher as to why? Why she left you?''
Meeting Maura's gentle hazel eyes, Miranda's cheeks were pink tinged at the Dr Isles' next words. ''Miranda you could just ask her?''
Miranda blanched. ''Andrea Sachs does not concern me in anyway.''
Maura doubted this, she read Andrea Sachs was of great concern to Miranda Priestly no matter how much she hid it or denied it.
Beginning to question the twins about Claudia Davenport.
Dr Isles thanked them for a lovely lunch.
Rizzoli grumbled outside, they had nothing. The twins had answered all Jane and Maura's questions. Claudia was in their class. Both didn't knew her well, had invited her to come and stay for a week at their townhouse and she never showed up. Cassidy assured Jane they rang her phone four times that evening. Claudia hadn't answered. When Claudia didn't show up here at the townhouse by 10pm, their Mom called the police. Jane would have Andy pull Claudia's phone records.
Lunch had been a waste of time and Jane was starving she couldn't eat any of that rabbit food.
Jane spotted they were being followed in a reflection of a parked car, pointing out a pair of potted hydrangeas Ma might like to Maura, drawing her Glock.
''Easy Rizzoli.''
Lowering her weapon at Andy Sachs.
''We've got a 187 in the Fashion District.''
Crime Scene
''Thought it was a mannequin or a doll left in the middle of the street. I called 911.'' The shaky pedestrian who called it in told Andy.
The body posed sent a shiver along Andy Sachs spine, it was no mannequin, the poor victim was posed like an elaborate painting or a window display in broad daylight and no one saw a thing. Manipulated like a doll, she'd been sewn post mortem into her gown. Her very priceless vintage couture gown.
Strangest part it was exactly made to look like one of Runway's older issues. Andy remembered because one afternoon she'd had to study every issue of Runway ever printed in archives for Miranda for a Givenchy dress she wanted to see. There were 1000s of Issues.
It had been during Andy's first week, Miranda had suggested in a tone of voice that indicated I'm being perfectly logical to Andy totally illogical who almost fell asleep in the 'Archive', a storage room that evening. It didn't have air conditioning or anywhere to sit down. The couture gown Miranda wanted to study was in the last issue.
Even her homocide's hair and makeup was done with precision. Every detail meticulous, the killer had taken time and consideration. Like an artist.
Dr Isles with gloved hands inspected the victim carefully. ''Dt. Sachs hand me tweezers please.'' Andy did so.
Wedged in her mouth was a small black tulip and a folded note addressed to Miranda Priestly.
''It's a cipher.''
''In blood.'' Andy stared. ''What's with all the threads and the glued pair of scissors in her hand?'' The victim's hand was holding scissors as if snipping.
For the first time, Dr Maura Isles had no idea.
Runway Offices
Miranda Priestly thought she was having a trying day, the run through was an eyesore disaster, Nigel's choices for the next two shoots were bordering on hideous and both her assistants were nowhere to be found. Saffron was running errands and Beatrice ''Emily'' was fetching coffee. Could her day be more terrible? Saw someone who made it be so.
Icy blue met determined brown. ''Andréa.''
''I need to see Nigel?''
Miranda crossed her arms. ''Good Afternoon to you to Andréa. Nigel is not here. Leave.''
Andy balked. ''Now just a minute Priestly I need Nigel's help.''
Miranda sniffed, with what? If it was for advice on dressing, it was a hopeless endeavour Nigel could not salvage. Sachs dressed in plainclothes. Raking over Andrea's holstered gun and ribbed tank top with boot cut jeans. Abysmal.
''Please Andrea, Nigel is very busy, you see he works for me, you however are no longer in my employ and do not belong at Runway. As I said before. Leave.''
Andy Sachs stared at Miranda, why was it The Dragon Lady, La Priestly, The Ice Queen had a chip on her shoulder the size of Texas when it came to anything to do with Andy? Counting to ten backwards, her former Boss made her crazy, tense on edge. Acid tongued Priestly really got under her skin.
Even the way Miranda enunciated Ahn-dre-ah pissed Andy off.
''Miranda I just need Nigel to look at these for me.''
Clicking her IPhone.
Miranda went very pale, paler then her usual ivory complexion. Saw the note directed to her. Was that written in blood? ''That person's dead.''
'' Yes that is the case.'' Andy agreed matter of fact, scrolling through the crime photos.
Miranda went limp, fainting. Andy caught Miranda. Holding her crumpled form.
Well this was one way of holding Runway's Editor in her arms. She had a feeling Miranda would claw out her eyes the second she woke. So this was what it felt like to hold a dangerous still sleeping dragon. Tiger lady, Miranda.
A lot softer and curvier then Andy imagined she'd be. Smelled good to, fresh morning roses.
Damp coolness was pressing to her, Miranda moaned, her glossy painted lips parting. Felt refreshing, long fingertips circled her neck. Arching into the touch.
''Easy. Take it easy Miranda.''
Blue eyes opened wide to Andrea Sachs bent over her. All feelings of wellbeing and pleasure leaving her.
Concerned brown eyes staring into hers. Her silk blouse's top three buttons were undone, she was lying here on her small settee. With Andrea so close. Too close. Needed distance between them.
Andy softly spoke the warmth of her hip against Miranda's waist. ''You fainted. You passed out Miranda. How are you feeling?'' Her hand sliding up her back.
''Fine. Once you release me Sachs.'' She shoved her away.
Andy's hand retracted from the small of Miranda's back
''Sachs! How dare you manhandle me.'' Trying to get up to fast. Feeling woozy.
Andy's tone more of a growl. '' Well I could have let you fall on your face, but I had this wild thought that I should help you.''
Miranda snorted, almost pushing Andy onto the floor. ''Next time don't.''
Andy frowned so much for being chivalrous. Should have let Priestly just keel over, would have served her arrogant smug narcissistic derrière right.
Curtly waved away a sip of chilled Pellegrino in a glass offered by Andy who remembered little things in Miranda's sleek office.
Stiffening at Andrea's closeness. Clutching the modern settee's arm, unsteady trying to get to her feet. Stocking bare feet. Where were her heels? Had Sachs taken her Blahniks off?
''Stop trying to get up Miranda. You'll hurt yourself.'' Andy grumbled at Miranda's dogged perseverance at being far away from her. '' Miranda. Let me help you.''
Was held up and supported by Andy Sachs. Miranda clutched her head, she'd fainted? Pulling away. Showed weakness in front of her of all people.
Miranda touched her brow, frowning ''that picture you showed me….''
Andy was behind her dropping her hands from supporting Miranda, ruefully ''Yeah, maybe I should have warned you what it was.''
Miranda practically swatted her away. Laser blue eyes penetrating hers agreeing ''Yes you should have. But I might be of more help than Nigel with that photo.''
Andrea Sachs stared at Miranda, was Miranda Priestly offering her help?