CHAPTER 13
The bell on the phone ones once, twice and Jane doesn't realize she is holding her breath. She doesn't wait for the line to go dead. Her hands are already curling around the car keys in her pocket and her feet are already over the threshold of Maura's house. She backs out into the lane and pauses. She doesn't know where she is supposed to look and the kind of helplessness she has grown all too familiar with floods the inside of her rib cage. She punches the wheel and swears.
She pulls out her phone again. Still no answer. She dials a different number that picks up on the third bell. "Nina, I know it's your day off, but can you run a trace for me?"
"Detective Rizzoli, of course."
Jane can hear the giggling of another woman on Nina's end of the line. "Sorry for interrupting," but as much as she feels bad for it she would do it again.
"No worries. Just my girlfriend."
Jane's face folds into surprise.
"Okay I'm at my laptop."
"I need a trace on Maura's phone."
"Everything alright?" The change in Nina's tone is stark. Jane can almost imagine her sit straighter. She knows this is serious because she has received this same phone call once before.
"I don't know."
"Her cell places her at her office."
Jane is already turning towards the BPD offices. "Thank you, Nina. Sorry about cutting into your day."
"Glad to be of help. Let me know when you find her."
"Will do."
Jane arrives at Maura's office out of breath to find her just picking up a burgundy purse that rounds off her ensemble perfectly off the desk.
"Jane!" She looks up in surprise. "I thought you closed the case and headed home early?"
Jane lets out a breath at the sight of Maura in a figure hugging skirt and blouse. She could look for ages without tearing her eyes away.
"Why didn't you pick up your phone?"
Maura checks her purse for her phone, her forehead creased in a frown. "I must have missed it. I was in a meeting with the Mayor."
"I don't care if you were in a meeting with the fucking President, Maura you need to pick your damn phone."
Maura flinches at the tone and only then Jane realizes that perhaps her tone is a pitch higher than she intended it to be.
"Sorry." Her eyes fall to the ground, "I was just worried."
Maura studies the lines on Jane's face. She has been doing a lot of worrying as of late, but the look etched there right now isn't just worry or concern, it is sheer terror. And Maura feels instantly ashamed for not knowing what a simple missed phone call would do to her.
"I'm sorry, Jane. I didn't think."
"I'm just glad you're okay."
"Jane?"
She raises her eyebrows in response.
"I know you are concerned for my safety, but I would appreciate it if you didn't take it out on me."
Jane's cheeks flood with a mixture of embarrassment and shame. "I got carried away. Sorry."
"I love you, Jane."
Jane's feet freeze mid step and her heart follows suit.
"For always being there, I mean. For looking out for me."
Jane nods slowly and swallows the lump in her throat.
"Anything for you, Maur" and she means it.