Chapter eight

Maura must have waited for at least half an hour before there was a weak knock on the bedroom door. It creaked open and Jane slipped silently inside, looking worn and defeated. Maura remained sat on the edge of the bed, Danny sleeping against her, without knowing what to expect. She had seen the edge of violence in Jane's eyes, the anger that surrounded her like a black cape. The Detective was a quiet woman yet scary none the less. Briefly, Maura considered packing her things back in Danny's carry-on bag and leaving.

Yet all the anger had left Jane's body now, leaving her looking just tired and empty. She didn't approach the bed, but remained standing in front of the door.

''I apologise.'' She said evenly. ''I was abrupt to you before, I should not have been. I hope you can forgive me, Dr Isles.''

Maura did not miss the formality that had creeped back into her tone but she was thankful for the peace it brought. ''I am the one who should apologise, Detective.'' She sighed looking down at Danny. ''I tend to get clumsy when I'm around people.''

Jane stared at the floor, the muscles of her neck working feverishly, before she gestured gently towards the bed. ''May I?'' She asked.

Maura's eyebrows rose. ''It's your bed...'' she muttered as Jane sat gently next to her, elbows resting on her knees as her body stood hunched. She seemed to consider something, breathing slowly in an out before she finally looked up at Maura, holding up the picture she had extracted from the shattered glass. A thumb trailed over a smiling face and when she spoke she was rather speaking to herself than Maura.

''This is Jaz.'' The Detective's voice thickened. She spread the fingers she had been clenching into a fist, exposing the ring still hugging her finger. ''She was my wife.'' A scarred hand hovered over the child's face. ''And this was Emma, our daughter.''

Danny gave a small sound and the look in Jane's eyes as she turned to him, the sadness with which her eyes considered him was all the explanation Maura needed.

''What happened?'' She asked.

Jane swallowed before answering. ''They both died.'' She didn't offer any more information, instead she waved the picture. ''This is the last picture I took of them... the day it happened.'' She set the photograph down on her lap and dropped her hands down to her sides. ''When it fell down I panicked. I did not mean to snap at you.''

''I'm really sorry.'' Maura whispered. She held her own son, looking into his brilliant blue eyes an she could not even begin to grasp the idea of ever losing him.

''Thank you.'' Jane replied, smiling weakly. Her eyebrows knitted together. ''Love opens the door for unbelievable sadness to enter your life. But the absence of love is death in itself.'' She stood slowly, as if to not startled the already edgy doctor and she shrugged. ''I'm going to get us some breakfast, Doctor. You're welcome to stay here as long as you need to, I give you my word something like this will not happen again.''

''Thank you, Jane.'' Maura bit her lip just as the words slipped past her lips. Were they on a first name basis or not? She wasn't sure but Jane didn't seem to mind. ''Although it wont be needed, Dennis texted me, he moved into a hotel last night. I can go home while the divorce papers are being prepared.''

''Really good news, Doctor.'' Jane said carefully. She found it hard to believe the man would back off that easily. ''Still, allow me to prepare something for you before you leave. Would you like something specific?''

''I suppose it would be good.'' Maura replied, equally careful. ''I would really like another cup of the tea you offered me last night. What was it?''

''Jasmine...'' Jane muttered, exiting quickly.

So that was her name, Maura thought. Jasmine. Then she realised she had slept in a dead woman's bed, the bed she had shared with Jane. Maura had caught only briefly Jane's eyes as she spoke but it was enough to see something she would never find in Dennis' eyes. The way Jane had looked at that picture she knew Maura would never find Denni's looking at her that way. Had she been confused of the difference between lust and soul crashing love now she knew it, just by that short glance. And suddenly Maura felt envy for that woman who, even for a brief period of time, had it all. Because somehow Maura knew that Jane was the type of spouse who would provide it all. And beneath the envy, Maura felt sadness. She had lost her chance, marrying Dennis, who would never love her beyond the point of just sexual release, she had a son with a man who did not love her and she would most likely never be this happy as this smiling woman had been.

When she walked out of the bedroom, following the smell of breakfast being cooked, she had already dried her eyes and fed Danny. She felt awkward in the sudden domestic environment she had walked in but Jane looked in the right place, with her black jeans and white tank top, the dark mane of hair freely cascading down her shoulders as she turned pancakes and sizzling eggs. And again she felt longing and sadness because she had never seen Dennis like that, because, actually, nobody had cooked breakfast for her since she was a small child.

Her tea was already poured, its smell fresh and crisp like spring in a cup amidst the cold winter. She climbed the stool, setting Danny down in his hand carrier. Jane served her breakfast and climbed on the stool opposite her, a cup of coffee settling between her hands. Maura picked up her spoon but set it back down.

''Can I see your hands?'' She asked instead.

''What...?''

''You hurt yourself...'' Maura explained. ''On the glass, can I see?''

''It's nothing...'' Jane waved her off but Maura insisted.

''Doctors obsessions, humour me.'' She offered a pleasant smile but Jane squirmed before pushing her own plate to the side and holding her hands out across the island. Maura's eyebrows rose in surprise. The cuts she had seen less than an hour before looked a lot worse, yet now the cuts were barely scratches, already scabbed over. Instead she turned her eyes to the fine scars in the center of Jane's palm.

''Amazing...'' She muttered and she heart Jane hum questioningly. ''Your hands...'' Maura explained. ''The injury must have been devastating yet you seem to have complete function of your fingers, its a small miracle.'' Jane withdrew her hands, clenching them into fists again and Maura pulled away, ''I'm sorry.''

Suddenly that cup of coffee had turned into the most interesting thing in the world for Jane and the Detective kept staring, as if inside she would find answers to all the mysteries in the world.

''Can I ask you something?'' Maura spoke up after playing around in her plate for a few minutes.

''What is it?'' Jane never stopped considering that untouched cup. Maura followed her gaze and she saw that next to it stood yet another cup, this one half full, as if Jane had served coffee for a third person, which would be odd, since Danny was too young to drink coffee and she didn't seem to be expecting anybody else.

''Emma, how old was she?''

It was an odd question and the minute she saw Jane's eyes go cold Maura regretted it.

''She was three.'' Came the laconic answer and it cut Maura's mood for any further conversation. She finished her breakfast, changed into her own clothes which had dried the night ago and drove home after exchanging a polite goodbye with the Detective.

When she opened her car door she saw a huge black dog sleeping by her front porch.

Tadah, part of the mystery uncovered. But this is definitely not the end of it, or all of it. Be kind and leave a word or two for this writer
LK