Innocence

Part 10

Tom Burk rolled over and looked at his clock on the nightstand. Blue glow numbers read 5:19am. He jumped slightly as his cell phone vibrated again, indicating a call coming in.

The lawyer hit the answer button as he threw back the covers and headed for the hallway. When he stepped across the threshold, he glanced back to make sure his husband was still sleeping.

After he pulled the door closed, he spoke.

"Hello?"Tom burred into the phone.

"Tom, this is Elise Watson, I'm with…" Elise started.

"Elise, I know who you're with, now I'm just curious as to why you are calling me at this hour?"

"Tom, my apologies for the early hour, but I think we need to meet. I have something you will want, once you see it."

Tom was intrigued.

"Just what is this concerning, Elise?"

"You are representing Dr. Maura Isles, correct?"

"Maybe?" Tom had learned long ago how to side step.

"Tom, I'm going to be in your office at seven, my caseload is just too heavy right now to meet any other time, but believe me, you will want to see me." Elise stated confidently.

"Okay, Elise. I see you then." Tom sighed as hit end. He had to get moving if he wanted to be on time.

As Tom walked back over to the bed, he couldn't help but fall in love all over again with his husband. He plugged his cell back in and reluctantly headed for the shower.

Jane stood in front of her full length mirror. Today was Maura's day in court. Unfortunately, she and her team could not find one shred of exonerating evidence. On the other hand, no other damning evidence was found either.

Casting a glance at her appearance overall, Jane thought that she looked good. She wanted to do something special to show Maura that she was thinking of her. Since she could not be seen speaking with the defendant, Jane carefully dressed in the pantsuit Maura had bought for her. At first, she wasn't too sure about the suede pants, but after she had the ensemble on, it worked. Right down to the snake skin ankle boots. With one last once over, she attached her kit and left. First BPD, then court.

Maura ran her hand over her clothes. The refined stitching felt absolutely sinful after three weeks of a second rate cotton/poly blend scraping across her body. To say she had missed her wardrobe would be an understatement. She did find it curious that Tom's assistant brought her court outfit to her and not Tom himself. Nonetheless, Maura was happy today was her day in court; maybe just maybe Jane had found evidence to free her. Only when she had her time in court would she know.

Lt. Mezzler stood in his office at BPD. He divided his attention between the rising sun and the picture clutched in his hand. Looking out over the landscape the officer took in the streets of Boston coming alive with people on their way to work or going home from the night shift. His little sister should have been part of that force in some form or another. Judith. Mezzler closed his eyes against the echo of laughter that flitted through his mind from a distant memory. He still missed her presence as if it were just yesterday that they had buried her. He had failed her in so many ways. First he failed to realize the predator that Constance Isles was. All rich and refined, that practice smile that reeked of sincerity. If he had only just known the darkness Judith would suffer at the hands of that monster. Their parents were what really made him the angriest. How they were all hot for arresting the bitch, string her from the tallest tree with the shortest rope they demanded. Then suddenly they went quite. Telling him it might be best to let Judith heal in peace than her going before the court and have to declare what happened between Constance and herself. He even told them to go to hell, they were nothing but cowards. He built his case little by little until the governor stepped in. The look of betrayal that Judith gave him when he finally had to tell her the governor had personally halted the investigation; he would never forget it.

It wasn't until the next day that they knew she was missing. He went everywhere. First place he looked was the Isles' mansion. All he found there though was a handful of servants closing up the residence. Constance was nowhere to be found. She had already left for Europe.

A part of him prayed that Judith had somehow twisted some sort of bond out of the horrendous situation and on a teenager's whim left with the elder Isles. At least she would be alive. That was not to be.

The image of his sister's lifeless body blasted his mind's eye.

A knock on Mezzler's office door brought him back to the present.

"Sir, it's almost court time, will you be driving or do you want me to call a car?" His secretary asked.

"I think I'll drive today. I may not be back in the office today, Carol. You can forward anything urgent to my inbox. Other than that, I'll see you tomorrow." With a nod, Carol slipped out of his office and closed the door.

Mezzler placed Judith's picture back on his desk. He smiled at her face. Today was the day for retribution.

Maura looked around the courtroom and was amazed at the amount of people that were here to watch the proceedings. A glimmer of a smile graced her face as her eyes landed on the stylishly dressed Detective Rizzoli. She really missed Jane and their quiet time.

Moving on, her eye's encountered a man whose cold stare chilled her right down to her bones. Her attention was caught by a motion of someone sitting down in the chair beside her. Finally, Tom was here. As soon as Tom had sat, they were standing as the presiding judge made his way to his bench.

"Hear ye, hear ye, The Honorable Judge Lyster presiding, court is now in session!"

With a loud bang of his gavel, Judge Lyster brought the court to order.

"Please be seated. Good morning all. Bailiff, what is on today's docket?"

The Bailiff walked over to the bench and handed Judge Lyster a file.

"Your Honor, case #19360, the People versus Dr. Maura Isles, for criminal sexual misconduct with a minor."

Maura closed her eyes against the accusation. Tom squeezed her hand in comfort and support.

Judge Lyster looked Maura over and then looked to the press that had swelled his courtroom to standing room only. He hoped that this case would not turn into a circus.