I own nothing Rizzoli and Isles

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LET SLEEPING BLOOD LIE

Chapter 27 - Target acquired

Shannon smiled at her warmly, "I have a something, just for you."

"First..the ground rules." he adds

Jane nods, John Doe had told her briefly about the rules. These men, and sometimes women, put themselves and their families at huge risk to gather and expose information they believed the public deserved to know. They hid within the very agencies they exposed, watching and waiting, and they did what they could to help those that needed help without being discovered themselves. They used groups like wikileaks to help reveal materials without revealing themselves or their sources. They were what the world called whistleblowers. No matter the cost they would not stop, the world deserved the truth, but they did try to stay as hidden as possible otherwise they would be persecuted and unable to do more. The costs were almost unspeakable and legislation changes had made it increasingly dangerous for them.

"No real name's, no camera's, no recording devices, no phones"

"None" Jane replies

"No posting on blogs, webpages, social media. No locations or details or documents."

"Definitely not"

"You do not come back here. This location...ever...unless it's with me."

"Ok"

"Don't kill her"

Jane frowns, she didn't imagine it would ever go that far anyway

"You do not go public...for your own sake..." His blue eye's transfix hers, the bright blue radiating like orbs in the semi-darkness. His face is warm and he doesn't stop smiling softly, it was like he might have cared.

Jane nods in agreement.

"Why don't you just expose them?" Jane asked John Doe, "Wouldn't that be easier. I mean you have proof"

John smiled, and shook his head slowly, he had thought about doing just that a million times. "Thomas Drake who worked for the NSA, tried to warn the public about the dangers of NSA surveillance programs. For this he was fired from the NSA, illegally arrested at dawn at gun-point by the FBI, stripped of his security clearance, charged with crimes that would send him to prison for life, evidence was with-held or destroyed after he was indicted, he was investigated for half a decade. He was all but ruined professionally and financially. Today Drake works in an Apple store in Washington and his warnings were largely ignored. His story sent an unmistakable message: Raising concerns within the system promised doom."

Jane shook her head frowning, "There are laws though, that protect people who try to stop crimes."

"Name one whistleblower from the intelligence community whose disclosures led to real change – overturning laws, ending policies – who didn't face retaliation as a result." John Doe's frown becomes a smile as he continues, "Ironically, the pentagon, in their zeal to punish Drake, taught Edward Snowden how to evade their clutches. The problem is the government claims the people who come forward and made their charges are lying, are paranoid, 'we're not doing those things.' they say. And the whistleblowers couldn't prove their case because the government had classified all the evidence. Snowden however took the evidence with him, so when the government issued its usual denials, he could produce document after document showing that they were lying.
A UN whistle-blower Povl Bang-Jensen, a senior Danish diplomat, tried to expose sabotage of the committee by powerful forces. The entire machinery of the UN set out to crush him in sham "hearings" and "tribunals," even attempting to paint him as mentally ill. Eventually, after warning multiple people that he was being targeted and that he would never commit suicide under any circumstances, Bang-Jensen "committed suicide." Virtually every credible analyst realized the "suicide" happened under extremely suspicious circumstances." John waves his fingers as he makes air quotations around the words suicide, his face showing complete derision.

"Ok, so you have to have evidence and if you do expose it you are a criminal, a traitor." Jane summarises

"Exactly"

"And what about you?" Shannon asks eyeing her up carefully

Jane frowned, confused, "What about me?"

"Are you safe? I mean...do they know where you live and all that?"

Jane looked at the ground, she knew she wasn't safe, but there wasn't a lot she could do about it, "They know everything about me" she whispers faintly. "And about my friends and my family."

Lying on the soft grass staring out into the distant beautiful surroundings, birds chirping, water running over rocks nearby, the peaceful pond at their feet. Maura lying back on Jane, both relaxing and enjoying the peacefulness. It had been a picnic lunch, something they had both wanted but never managed the time.

"She is fierce and first to defend me in my moment of trouble or need, her wit and laughter sustain me and never come at my expense, and when we part there's no sadness because our bond is always there. You are not just my friend, you are a gift, both precious and rare." Maura quotes the poem she wrote about Jane, written at a different time in a different place but still meaning as much today.

Jane squeezes Maura tighter in her arms, "It's beautiful Maura, you're beautiful. I remember when Kent read that, I never got to thank you properly."

"I meant every word Jane"

"Maura, I promise you that I will always always be here for you, please know that."

Maura reaches above her and pulls Jane down for a long kiss.

"A picnic might just have been your most genius idea ever" Jane huskily purrs when the kiss breaks causing Maura to laugh softly

"I doubt that Jane. And you should not use the word genius as an adjective either"

"Picky" Jane jokes scooting even closer, nibbling Maura's shoulder enjoying the sensations, the taste and smell, "This is beautiful. Thank you for today" she whispers in Maura's ear.

"Jane, what did you do with the evidence bag that had the note in it?"

Jane sits up quickly, "Why?"

"It was in my rubbish bin last week. Did you put it there?"

Jane swallows the growing lump in her throat, "I need you to be extra careful Maur. Really careful...For me ok. Really vigilant. OK? Promise me?"

Maura smiles, "Of course Jane, anything for you."

Maura had cuddled back into Jane, but she couldn't accept the comfort, or enjoy it. She suddenly felt numb.

The fear rises back up into her throat and she clenches her jaw until it hurts. She had destroyed the note and thrown the bag in her own trash a month ago. How did it get to Maura's.

It scared her, it reminded her they were watching, that they wouldn't stop.

Someone had put a square white cloth into her mail-slot a few weeks earlier as well, she had run to the bathroom and dry retched for five minutes after she had seen it. She had added extra deadbolts to her door and hadn't checked her mail since. She hoped pretending it hadn't happened would minimize it's importance. She could ignore it in her own life...but she couldn't ignore the threat to others... For whatever reason it wasn't over.

Jane rubbed her eye quickly before it could become wet and cleared her throat. She rubbed the back of her neck. Now was not the time to break down emotionally, now was the time to do something pre-active about it...that's why she was here...in the rain, with a stranger

"Right, we will have to take care of that problem then," he grinned, he would enjoy this task immensely, "Let's get what you need, yeah?"

"Who the hell are you, Shannon?" Jane asked, her voice faltering

He chuckled, beaming, "I am their worst nightmare."

"She arrived at my place with bruised ribs and covered in scrapes and bruises the following day." Maura pointed at the date on the bottom of the picture, "That was one of the first times I knew something had changed, in her. Her humour sort of...faded, like she was more detached from it." Maura stated sadly, "What happened after that, Dan?"

Dan sighed in dismay, "Her and that fella went north and by the time I got into position to see where they went...they were gone. I was at the south end and the area they had been in was surrounded by fencing and barbed wire, I had to go the long way around. They went on foot and so I just walked around a bit hoping to figure it out...but I didn't find them again. Detective Rizzoli didn't go home that night either."

Maura sighed and dropped the photo onto the growing pile. She put her head in her hands and rubbed her temples with her palms.

"What is she doing Dan?"

"If I had to guess Maura, I'd say she if looking for something...or someone..."

Shannon stood somewhere in the distance, keeping a watchful eye. They had agreed on a plan and it was up to Jane to take the lead. It was her agenda, her fight and they would let her do whatever she wanted or needed to do. He was there only if she needed him.

The semi-familiar click clack of heels echoed around the underground carpark, it sounded like a dozen people walking as the sound ricocheted of the concrete floor walls and ceilings until it faded into the distance. The sound itself causing an anger to rise up inside her she didn't know was there. The second clack in the loop was always a little delayed almost as if there was more weight on the leg. It wasn't Maura's walk, it was a different tune. It took several long moments before the woman that matched the sound appeared into her view. Jane stayed hidden watching her approach, like a predator watches it's unsuspecting prey. She bit her tongue to keep from just screaming in anger and frustration. Jane was overwhelmed by a sense of betrayal and at the same time as the woman finally noticed her presence.

She jumped slightly and stopped at the dark human shaped shadow which moved only a few meters from her and reached her hand to her heart clasping her top as if to hold her heart physically still.

Jane stepped slowly forward out of the shadows and stopped when the light has fully illuminated her face.

"You found me" the woman states slowly trying to hide all emotion, the flicker of fear obvious and not missed as she faced Jane, now clutching her bag tightly.

Jane nods and smiles coyly, "I did"

The woman tries to discreetly scan the area behind Jane, to see if she is alone. Satisfied they are alone she puts down her doctor style black bag on the ground and pushes it further away from her with her foot.

She had been halfway from the building to her car and she hadn't parked in the secure coded park with cctv cameras today, she regretted this immensely.

Jane stared at her sternly, angrily, she remembered her every feature, the soft face and rounded cheekbones, the slightly dimpled chin, the sandy blonde hair still pulled back into a loose bun, the piercing blue eyes behind gold-rimmed glasses. She was still rather stunning in looks. But Jane only still saw red looking at her. She realized immediately this deep anger would be counter-productive and thought not about revenge...but about Maura being safe. It grounded her.

"What are you? A doctor?"

The woman nodded, "Yes."

"Or a mad scientist...A psychopathic torturer?

"Are you trying to get yourself killed, Jane?"

Jane gulped, she could still walk away from this, she was seconds away from being all in, past the point of turning back. Once she was in everyone she knew including herself could be in immediate danger. But...she could still walk away...

...to be continued...