Innocence
Part 18
Dark forces lurk in this story from now on. Child abuse triggers, child molestation triggers. This work is not for the faint of heart. Tears, anger, sex and beatings will be referenced. Child abuse is a part of every society, it should not be, but it is.
Death is nigh!
I declare no rights or ownership to Rizzoli and Isles. I do, however; claim to have the most awesome readers.
Jane sat hunched over a strong cup of coffee, feeling grateful as the dark brew warmed her insides. The crumbs from a ham and cheese sandwich littered the plate in front of her. The tall, brown eyed woman passively looked around the English coast guard's kitchen. It probably looked identical to an American station, except for the huge assortment of teas and, of course, the prominent display of Old Blood and Guts.
She watched Richard negotiate transportation to his English estate. Like it or not, they were in store for more travel. It did not bother her too much, what bothered Jane the most was that she was still not at Maura's side.
Thinking about her beautiful friend caused an ache in her heart. She hoped that whatever was happening, Maura was being brave. Jane prayed that nothing was up; maybe Maura was just walking about the estate casually identifying all the plants, but by all accounts from Richard, Maura was in trouble.
Richard sat down at Jane's table with a sigh. He was tired, very tired, but by the grace of God everything was arranged. All he and Jane had to do was wait for a transport to the nearby small airstrip and they would be off to the estate.
"Have you heard anything about the plane crew, Jane?" Richard asked as he poured a fresh cup of coffee for them both.
Jane waited for the older man to finish pouring before she answered. After she retrieved her cup she answered as she doctored it with cream and sugar.
"Charles called in to the Coast Guard post and left word that they were all going to be fine. All three have been admitted for their injuries, the pilot was the worst with his head injuries. Charles has a mild concussion and Chuck has had his dislocated shoulder reset. Other than that there is not much to tell."
Richard sipped his coffee and marveled at the strength in Jane. Any other person would have been reduced to a simpering heap, but not Jane Rizzoli. Good, that was the kind of person a father wanted for his only angel.
"I'll see to it that their bills are taken care of. As for us, we should be at the estate by evening. Even though we are near, I think it is best that we get there as quickly as possible."
Jane studied the older man in front of her. She could clearly see the signs of stress along the lines of his face. She was sure stress was leaving its mark on her as well. At this point she had just given herself over to this journey; a journey that in the end would hopefully have Maura in her arms and safe.
"And quickly as possible means?" Jane half hoped that means of transport had four wheels.
Mr. Isles smiled. "It means by way of a helicopter."
Jane groaned.
"I have a car coming for us. The helicopter is at a small airport not far from here." Richard stirred his coffee as he gave time to Jane to say something. When it remained silent, he settled himself and waited for the arrival of the car service.
Maura studied her image in her full length mirror. The dove gray suit she wore fit in with a semi-formal dinner with her mother. She closed her eyes and wished for an intervention, but as of right now, there were none to be had. With one last tug on the already straight silk jacket, Maura left her room.
On the way Maura was surprised when Annabelle met her in the front hallway that led to the dining room and directed her to the study that was located in the back of the manor overlooking the rear of the vast estate.
Her heart hammered in her chest at the elegant, almost intimate dinner set out on the small two person table on the right side of the study, opposite of the door way.
Constance turned form the window at the sound of Maura entering. The elder Isles dismissed the cook with a twitch of her hand. Annabelle quickly ducked her head and left, terrified for Maura.
In the study, Constance looked over her daughter with a predators' eye. The once girl turned into a voluptuous woman. Memories of that voluptuous woman's once younger skin filled Constance's mind. She smiled triumphantly as she took in the here and now. Maura was here once again. And she would do with her as she pleased, anything she pleased at all. Motioning, she led the way to the table and sat.
Maura took a breath and joined her mother. Taking a napkin, the younger woman flicked it open and expertly settled the white linen across her lap. Looking at the wonderful smelling food in her plate only left her taste buds feeling like they were laden with saw dust.
"How are you feeling, Maura? I do hope that the fall you took did not damage you in any way permanently?" Constance feigned concern as she gathered some food with her knife and fork.
Maura took a sip of her iced water and carefully blotted her lips as she prepared to speak.
When she looked up, but a lump bulged in her throat as tears threatened to spring out of her eyes.
"Please mother… don't." The words escaped her mouth as a terrified plea.
Constance dropped her utensils onto her plate and looked aghast.
"What on earth are you talking about, Maura?" came the viper's response.
Maura jumped up and turned away from the table. She walked half way over to the window and stood between the small loveseat and coffee table.
"You know… you know what I'm talking about!" Courage that once failed her burned hot fueled by her anger. "You and your perverted ways of how you sexualize young girls, I will not LET YOU TOUCH ME EVER AGAIN!"
Constance studied her daughter. Well if tugging heart strings would not work, harshness it would be.
"Maura, Maura, Maura, did you think you are special? Take it from a woman who knows you, you're not." The older Isles stood and came up behind Maura.
"Did you think I wouldn't want to receive recompense?"
Maura was confused.
"Recompense for what mother?"
"Why darling dear, having that young girl plant the text that was supposedly from her friend. You know the one you screwed. Really dear, you are just like me and we are not related by blood at least." Constance knew she had found her mark by the swift intake of Maura's breath.
"What? You really thought you were hiding your proclivities from me? You know the ones you have for your teenage female students." Constance stepped closer to Maura's back.
"Oh, Maura, I know how it is; that wonderfully innocent taste of a young woman." Mistress Isles wrapped her arms around Maura from behind and almost purred her next statement.
"After all, I remember how sweet your taste was." Constance's eyes were alight with the darkest of desire; the kind of desire that made monsters real.
Maura felt her mother's hands begin to roam. Her mind felt like it was tearing in two while a heavy imaginary weight pressed against her chest and arms almost robbing her of her strength.
Her mind screamed at her, her heart lit up with Jane's love. She was not a kid. She was loved by Jane. She does have power over her own body.
That power forced one word up from the depths of her soul and out of her mouth with unimaginable strength.
"NO!"
With all her strength, Maura shrugged away from her mother.
Constance, not expecting this move, quickly stepped back to regain her footing.
Instead, she tumbled.
Her core stiffened, shot through with confusion as she flipped over the coffee table.
Glancing over her shoulder, she pin wheeled her arms as she realized where she was headed.
Fear flooded her body.
The older woman knew her death was near.
She closed her eyes and accepted her fate.
A sharp brittle sound filled her head as the hearth of the fireplace cracked her skull open; shredding her brain stem, killing her instantly.
Almost at that same instance, Jane and Richard entered the room. The intimate, semi-romantic over tones of the simple dinner was off putting to the new comers.
Jane went to Maura and wrapped her up in her arms and turned her away from her still mother. When Richard knelt at his wife's side he confirmed with a nod of his head that Constance was indeed dead.
With a jerk of his head towards the door, he motioned for Jane to get Maura out of the room.
After they left, he looked the slack, death face of his wife for the last 37 years and whispered into her left ear.
"Good riddance, you fucking bitch. The only injustice in this is that I didn't get to take your life and that my angel has to live with the fact that she killed you."
He schooled his face appropriately before he faced the staff that was now piling up in the doorway. He had an accident story to sell and by God he would.