It is the quiet flame that burns,
guiding you home through the darkest night.
Once Beni was sound asleep, Jane stood, exhaling softly. "I'm gonna head downstairs," she murmured to Maura.
Maura nodded, her eyes still on Beni. "I'll stay with him for a bit. Let me know if you need anything."
Jane gave her a small smile, her hand brushing Maura's shoulder briefly before she left the room.
Downstairs, Jane pulled out her phone, pacing the living room as she dialed Korsak. The call picked up after just a few rings.
"Jane," Korsak greeted, his voice tinged with curiosity. "What's going on?"
Jane didn't waste time. "We got something," she said, her voice low but urgent. "Beni remembered a name. Matthew. He kept saying, 'No, Matthew.' It set him off."
There was a pause on the line before Korsak's voice returned, sharper now. "Matthew? You think that's connected to Leah's murder?"
"I'm sure of it," Jane said, her free hand clenching into a fist. "He said Leah told him to hide, and then this guy—Matthew—hurt her. We need to find out who he is."
Korsak let out a heavy breath. "Alright. I'll run the name through the system and cross-reference it with anyone connected to Leah or Nana. If this guy's got a record, we'll find it."
"Thanks," Jane said, her voice tight. "And Korsak—be quick. If this guy's willing to kill for money, he's not going to stop."
"You got it," Korsak said firmly. "I'll call you as soon as I have something."
Jane ended the call, her hand dropping to her side as she stared out the window. The name Matthew echoed in her mind, fueling her determination.
Jane's phone buzzed in her hand, the notification lighting up with a text from
Frankie:"Just got off the phone with the trust fund manager. Call me when you can."
Jane immediately picked up her phone and hit Frankie's contact, her mind already spinning with questions. The call connected after two rings.
"Frankie," Jane said without preamble, her voice edged with urgency, "What'd you find out?"
Frankie exhaled on the other end, his tone serious. "Okay, so I spoke with the trust fund manager. Turns out Leah was absolutely aware of the trust. They reached out to her right after her parents passed and explained everything to her. But, according to him, she was still in shock. Leah had screamed at the manager about the money being the fruit of all the evil and continued to deny that it was hers."
Jane's brow furrowed as she leaned back in her chair, the wheels in her head turning. "And after that?"
"Things went downhill," Frankie continued. "He said that once Leah started using drugs, she came in one time to try to gain access to the trust, but it's a multi-step process, and she never followed through. They didn't just hand over the money, obviously. After that, they tried reaching out once a year to check in, but she never responded."
Jane sat forward, gripping the edge of her desk. "So the trust is just sitting there, untouched?"
"Pretty much," Frankie said. "The manager told me they keep investing and growing the agreed-upon percentage. Right now, the trust is worth $2.3 million. The original deposit was $1.9 million, so it's been growing steadily."
Jane let out a low whistle, her mind racing with the implications. "That's a lot of money. And it just sits there until someone claims it?"
"Yep," Frankie confirmed. "And here's the kicker—it's an ongoing income situation. The trust is tied to some kind of tech patent or technology sale. Every time another sale happens, 20% of the sale price gets deposited into the trust. So, this thing could keep growing indefinitely."
Jane rubbed her temples, the weight of the information sinking in. "So, Leah knew about this, but she never followed through because of the drugs… And now she's gone. Do we know if anyone else could legally claim it? Like next of kin?"
"Not yet," Frankie admitted. "But if Beni's her kid, he could be in line for it. That would explain why Leah might've been keeping him off the radar—to protect him from anyone who'd want to take advantage of the trust."
Jane's stomach twisted. "If that's true, we've got a whole new angle to investigate. That money could be a motive."
"Janie," Frankie greeted, his voice steady. "Something else on your mind?"
"Yeah," Jane replied, her tone sharp and focused. "When you talked to the trust fund manager, did anyone seem... curious? Like, did they ask questions about the trust? Maybe a little too much?"
Frankie paused, thinking. "Not directly, no," he said slowly. "The manager didn't mention anyone else asking about it. Why?"
Jane leaned back in her chair, staring at the birth certificate on her desk. "Because if this money is a motive, someone had to know it existed. Leah's been out of contact with the manager for years, right? But what if someone else got wind of it? A family member, someone from her past… maybe even someone she trusted?"
Frankie let out a low whistle. "That's a good point. The manager didn't bring it up, but I can call back and ask if anyone's ever tried to inquire about the trust. Could've been subtle—a weird question here, an email there."
"Good," Jane said.
"Thanks, Frankie," Jane said, her voice softening slightly. "This could be the thread we need to pull to figure out who had the most to gain from Leah's death."
"I'm on it," Frankie promised. "I'll let you know as soon as I have something."
The weight of the case, Beni's fragile state, and the new lead about "Matthew" all pressed heavily on her. She exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair, when she heard the soft sound of footsteps on the stairs.
She turned to see Maura, her silhouette illuminated by the faint glow of the hall light. Maura's expression was soft, her brows slightly furrowed with concern.
"Jane," Maura said gently as she stepped into the room. "Are you okay?"
Jane's lips twitched into a small, tired smile. "Define 'okay,' Maur," she replied, her voice laced with quiet humor.
Maura didn't respond right away. Instead, she crossed the room and, without hesitation, wrapped her arms around Jane in a firm, grounding hug. For a moment, Jane stiffened, surprised by the sudden contact, but the warmth of Maura's embrace quickly melted her defenses.
Jane let out a shaky breath, her hands moving to rest on Maura's back as she leaned into the hug. "Thanks, Maura," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Maura pulled back slightly, her hands resting on Jane's arms. Her hazel eyes searched Jane's face, filled with a mixture of empathy and something deeper. "You don't have to carry all of this alone, Jane," she said softly.
Jane looked down at her, the vulnerability in Maura's voice sending a ripple through her chest. "I know," Jane said quietly. "And I'm glad you're here, Maura. I don't know what I'd do without you."
The words hung in the air between them, and Jane noticed how close they were—how Maura's face was tilted just slightly upward toward hers. Before she could overthink it, Jane leaned in, her lips brushing Maura's in a hesitant, testing kiss.
Maura froze for a fraction of a second, her eyes fluttering closed as she leaned into the kiss, her hands sliding up to Jane's shoulders. The kiss was slow at first, cautious, as if they were both testing uncharted waters.
But then, as if a dam broke, the kiss deepened. Jane's hand moved to Maura's cheek, her thumb brushing softly against her skin, while Maura's fingers curled into the fabric of Jane's shirt, pulling her closer.
The world seemed to fade away, the weight of everything momentarily lifted as they lost themselves in the moment. Jane's heart raced, her mind silenced by the sheer intensity of Maura's closeness.
When they finally pulled back, both of them slightly breathless, Jane rested her forehead against Maura's, her voice low. "Maura… I—"
Maura's lips curved into a small, shy smile, her hands still resting on Jane's shoulders. "You don't have to say anything, Jane," she whispered. "Just… don't let this be the last time."
Jane chuckled softly, her voice steady. "Not a chance, Maur."
As Jane and Maura stood close, their breaths mingling in the charged space between them, the sudden buzz of Jane's phone cut through the moment like a knife. Both women froze, Maura stepping back slightly as Jane fumbled for her phone, her brows knitting in frustration at the interruption.
"Korsak," Jane muttered, her voice still tinged with the warmth of the moment they'd just shared. She cleared her throat and answered the call. "Yeah?"
"Jane, we've got a hit," Korsak's voice came through, laced with urgency. "We dug deeper into that name Beni mentioned—Matthew. Turns out, Matthew Walker was the previous owner and main shareholder of WalkerTech."
Jane's stomach dropped. "WalkerTech? Leah's dad's old company?"
"Exactly," Korsak confirmed. "When the patents went into the trust and the sale profits bypassed the company, Matthew lost everything. The company went under, and he was left with nothing. Records show he's been in and out of trouble ever since—assault charges, drug-related arrests. He's got a temper, Jane."
Jane's jaw tightened, her grip on the phone firm. "Where is he now?"
"We're heading to his last known address," Korsak said. "It's a rundown apartment complex on the west side. Frost is with me, and we'll call as soon as we've got eyes on him. But listen, Jane—stay on the alert. If this guy's desperate enough to go after Leah and Nana, he might not stop there."
Jane's chest tightened, her gaze flicking toward the stairs where Beni was sleeping. "Got it. Keep me updated."
"Will do," Korsak said before the call ended.
Jane lowered the phone, her mind already racing with possibilities. She turned to find Maura watching her intently, her arms crossed over her chest.
"What is it?" Maura asked, her voice steady but concerned.
"Matthew Walker," Jane said, her voice clipped. "He used to own WalkerTech. He lost everything when Leah's dad's patents took down the company."
Maura's eyes widened slightly. "So he had a motive. Do they know where he is?"
"They're checking his last known location," Jane replied. "But Korsak warned me to stay on the alert. If this guy's desperate enough, he might come looking for Beni."
Maura's hand instinctively moved to her chest, her expression tightening. "We need to make sure Beni stays safe."
Jane nodded, her resolve hardening. "We will, Maura. I'll make sure of it."
"I need to check the locks on the doors and windows," Jane said. "And I'll call in a patrol car to keep watch outside."
"I'll stay with Beni," Maura said firmly, her hazel eyes filled with quiet determination.
Jane had just reached the bottom of the stairs when the sharp, jarring sound of a car alarm shattered the stillness of the house. Her body tensed immediately, instincts kicking in as she turned back toward the front door.
Her hand moved to her hip, drawing her gun in one fluid motion. "Stay upstairs with Beni," she called to Maura, her voice calm but firm.
Maura appeared at the top of the stairs, clutching the banister, her eyes wide with concern. "Jane—"
"Don't argue," Jane interrupted, her tone leaving no room for discussion. "Stay with him. I'll check the cameras."
Maura hesitated for a moment, then nodded, retreating toward their room. Jane exhaled sharply, her mind racing as she moved toward the small control panel hidden inside the entryway cabinet. She opened the cabinet with one hand, her gun still at the ready, and tapped the touchscreen to pull up the live feed from the security cameras she'd installed years ago.
The screen flickered to life, displaying multiple angles of Maura's property. Jane scanned the feeds quickly, her sharp eyes searching for any movement. The front yard appeared empty except for Maura's car in the driveway. The backyard showed nothing unusual except for the faint swaying of a tree in the breeze.
Then she caught it—a shadow moving along the side of the house, near the kitchen window.
"Gotcha," Jane muttered under her breath, narrowing her eyes as the shadow disappeared from view.
She switched to the next camera angle, her heart pounding as she spotted a figure lingering near the back gate. The person was dressed in dark clothing, their features obscured by the dim light and the grainy image.
"Dammit," Jane hissed, her grip tightening on her gun.
She tapped her phone, quickly dialing Korsak.
"Jane?" Korsak answered immediately, his voice alert.
"We've got a situation," Jane said, her tone low and urgent. "There's someone outside Maura's house. I'm watching the cameras now—looks like they're near the back gate. I need backup."
"We're on our way," Korsak replied without hesitation. "Stay put and keep Maura and Beni safe."
"Copy that," Jane said, ending the call.
She turned her attention back to the screen, watching as the figure moved closer to the house. Her mind raced with possibilities. Was it Matthew Walker? Someone working for him? Or just some random prowler?
Jane moved toward the back door, her steps silent and deliberate. She positioned herself by the window, peeking out cautiously to get a better view. The figure was still by the gate, seemingly trying to open it.
"Not tonight," Jane muttered, her jaw tightening.
Jane moved swiftly but silently, her steps carefully measured as she slipped out the front door, her gun at the ready. The cold night air hit her skin, but she barely registered it, her focus entirely on the shadowed figure near the back gate.
She paused for a moment at the edge of the house, pressing her back against the wall as she steadied her breathing. Her gamble was risky, but every detail of the previous crimes suggested this guy favored blunt objects over firearms. That gave her a slim advantage—if she could get close enough without being spotted.
Her grip tightened on her gun as she peered around the corner. The figure was still fumbling with the gate, seemingly unaware of her presence. Jane took one more steadying breath, then moved, her footsteps deliberate and soundless on the grass.
As she closed the distance, her mind raced through her training. Control the situation. Stay sharp. Get the upper hand.
She was just a few feet away now, the dim glow of the porch light barely illuminating the intruder. He was dressed in dark clothes, a hood obscuring most of his face, and in his hand was a crowbar—scraping lightly against the lock on the gate.
"Drop it!" Jane's voice rang out, sharp and commanding, as she leveled her gun at him.
The figure froze, the crowbar clattering to the ground as he raised his hands. "Don't shoot!" he yelled, his voice trembling.
Jane took a step closer, her gun trained on him. "Turn around, slow and steady. Hands where I can see them."
The man complied, turning slowly to face her. The hood slipped back slightly, revealing a face she didn't recognize—middle-aged, unshaven, and wide-eyed with panic.
"Who are you?" Jane demanded, her voice cold and steady. "And what the hell are you doing on this property?"
"I—" he stammered, his hands shaking. "I didn't mean no harm, I swear. I was just looking for a place to crash."
Jane's eyes narrowed, her instincts screaming that there was more to this story. "Bull. People looking for a place to crash don't sneak around with a crowbar. Try again."
The man swallowed hard, his gaze darting around as if looking for an escape. "I—I heard about this place. Thought it might have something valuable, that's all. I swear!"
Before Jane could press him further, the sound of distant sirens cut through the night. Backup was on its way.
Jane stepped closer, her voice low and dangerous. "Let me make this clear—you're not going anywhere until those cops get here. So, you better start talking before they arrive."
The man's panic deepened, and for a brief moment, Jane thought he might bolt. But then his shoulders slumped, his gaze dropping to the ground.
"I wasn't gonna hurt nobody," he mumbled.
"We'll see about that," Jane said, her tone cold.
As the sirens grew louder, Jane's mind raced.