Hi,
I noticed to late that I had posted the overnext chapter instead of this one. I've been pondering the question whether to post this or not for a while.
Then live got in the way and work exploded at the office, leaving me no time to update the story.
Anyways, I decided to post this chapter now. I hope that it won't create too much confusion.
Dinner had passed quickly. Some of the participants had decided to leave and it wasn't very probable that the lectures would continue the next day. I pulled the cover up to my chest, feeling a bit cold despite the hot temperatures.
It was obvious that some of the officers and ME's were frightened to be the next. I mused that we should probably take a closer look at them especially because they must have a reason to be afraid. Hence, I had mailed the list to Frost earlier. Right now, there was nothing we could do.
Tomorrow would be the last day of the conference. Half of the participants had decided to stay and live the good life on the LAPD departments cost. I had seen them move to the bar of the hotel or go out after dinner.
Maura and I had decided to call it an early night. My flight was supposed to leave tomorrow afternoon, but Cavanaugh had told me that I wasn't really missed and that I could stay at least two more days. The department was going to move me to a cheaper hotel though.
The spray of water in the adjoining bathroom was still running while I pondered whether to take Mauras offer to stay at her place. Sophie was not due to come home until the end of the upcoming week. Was I really up for it?
I decided to wait and see how this night would go. If the good doc was really sleeping in the nude, it could become a hard night, despite me being exhausted.
When I heard the door of the bathroom open, I closed my eyes – the gentlewoman that I was I didn't want to peek although I was really curious if the good doc was naked. Maura chuckled as she walked through the darkened room. There was only the moonlight and a small soft light coming from her nightstand. Enough for me to see if I wanted to, but I didn't dare.
My brain popped up some pictures of naked Maura anyways and in my imagination the doc was very sexy. Holding back a groan I shifted to find a more comfortable position. Then I heard the covers rustle next to me and the shifting mattress told me that Maura had arrived in bed.
There was a clicking noise from the light and more rustling. "You can open your eyes now, detective." Maura said with a soft chuckle and when I did the room was dark. The bed was big enough for us to leave some space between us, but we shared one cover. Her scent tickled my nose, and I would have turned my back to her, hadn't I considered it impolite. Not yet I thought and lay still, listening to our breathing.
"So, are you naked?" I asked cautiously and she chuckled some more.
"Yes, like I told you, I always sleep in the nude. I hate sleeping with cloths on." She replied and I rolled my eyes. I'm just doing this for her safety I reminded myself and ignored more pictures of naked Maura that my brain brought up without permission. It seemed as if my brain had an endless supply of these. I pulled the cover up to my chin and turned my head to measure the space that was in between us. It seemed to be safe, but I couldn't promise what I was going to do in my sleep.
I usually tell people that I'm not a cuddler, but my exes all had told me that it was a lie. Obviously, I went looking for them once I was asleep.
Maura on the other hand seemed to be totally unaffected. Her breath was even and calm and it sounded a lot like she was already falling asleep. I cursed myself for letting her talk me into sharing a bed. I wouldn't have had a problem with the couch, but she had insisted that I needed a good nights' rest. Was this woman even aware of my feelings for her?
Obviously not, I mused as I said my good night and turned to face the door. Her good night came delayed which confirmed my suspicion that she was already on her way to the land of dreams. The thought made me wonder, what Dr. Isles was dreaming about.
R&I
Sleep eluded me for a long time, and I had tried all sorts of techniques to make me fall asleep. I was just about to literally count sheeps when I felt the mattress shift and Maura move. Judging by the sound of her breathing she had turned to face my back.
I took a deep breath refocusing on my sheeps (all black, because I loved black sheeps). "One, two, three.." I mumbled to stay focused when Maura made a growling sound. I interrupted my counting to listen into the dark, but she remained silent. So, I continued "One, two, …"
Maura moved slightly and gave another growling sound. Maybe I should wake her if she had a bad dream? I turned around to find her closer than anticipated. Sweet Jesus on a cracker! I thought as I distanced myself a little bit. I lifted my hand to nudge her when she moaned.
Sheeps forgotten I stared at her in the dark. That woman was driving me literally crazy, and my libido acted as a traitor, flaming up when she moaned again. Not wanting to wake her because it could have caused an awkward scene, I closed my eyes and waited until Mauras dream was over.
I finally fell asleep in the early morning hours and awoke when Maura stood to use the bathroom. The digits on my phones screen told me that it was almost seven. I groaned and pulled the blanket over my head. It didn't take me long to fall back into a blissful sleep.
Later, I don't know how much later, I felt a touch to my shoulder. "Five more minutes." I mumbled automatically and kept my eyes close.
"We have to get up, Jane." Mauras voice immediately woke me. I had forgotten that we were sharing a room and in my dream I was still a teenager and her touching my shoulder had reminded me of my ma.
I sat up and blinked. We were still in her hotel room and oh thank god, she had put on some clothe by now.
"Are you okay?" she asked with a chuckle and I realized that I must wear a stupid expression on my face.
"Yeah. Totally okay." I said and tried a reassuring smile which she took with a doubtful face.
At least I had survived the night I mused as I stood to use the bathroom and brush my teeth.
Breakfast turned out to be a silent affair. Most of the participants were presumably still asleep after a long night of partying. We made good use of the time to discuss our further proceedings.
After breakfast we would go over our notes because we both had the feeling that we had overseen something. I had scheduled a telephone conference with Frost for later in the day. But beforehand we would interview some of the remaining participants.
R&I
"Just like I thought." Maura stated as we were driving to her home. She had just gotten off the phone with the lab that had confirmed a cyanide poisoning. We had managed to collect all envelopes and messages before the lots had left the hotel and an officer was on the way to the lab for them to get tested.
We had to let the people go home, because they were needed at the various departments. But we also had all of their contact information. Our current working theory was that the predator was an outsider anyways. Probably someone who held a grudge against the law enforcement in general or someone specific who was seeking for revenge.
If so though, the case would be hard to crack, because with 200 people working in law enforcement – and each arresting a great number of predators each year – the number of cases to sift through would be astronomical high.
Another question that had yet to be solved was as to how the poison was contracted by the victims.
"Nothing but chaos." I mouthed my frustration and Maura agreed. "This is such a mess!" she confirmed, while focusing on the street. I couldn't wait to get to her home and have a shower. After last night I needed a bit of alone time.
It was only five minutes later, when Maura stirred the Prius into the driveway of a nice two-story home. Good, that meant that I would have my own room tonight I thought when Maura told me that we would have to share a room again because the house was undergoing a renovation process after Belinda had moved out.
I wasn't sure if I was going to survive this, but I simply expressed my understanding and silently prayed for a good nights' sleep and for Maura not having a sex dream tonight.