"A handprint fossilized in wet cement,

the small act of staying."

Jane woke up to the sight of Beni sprawled out between her and Maura, his small body somehow managing to lie upside down with his feet resting on Jane's stomach. She blinked groggily, running a hand through her hair as she adjusted to the morning light filtering in through the curtains.

Maura stirred beside her, leaning over to press a soft kiss to Jane's lips. "Good morning," she murmured, her voice still laced with sleep.

"Morning," Jane replied, smiling faintly. "How do kids even sleep like this?"

Maura chuckled quietly, glancing at Beni. "I suppose it's a skill you only have when you're little." She sat up, smoothing the sheets as she prepared to get out of bed. "I need to head to the precinct, but don't forget the meeting with the social worker this afternoon."

Jane nodded, her expression turning serious. "I'll be there. Promise."

Maura kissed her again, lingering for a moment before slipping out of bed. "I'll see you later," she said softly, grabbing her jacket and heading out.

After Maura left, Jane turned her attention to Beni, who was still sound asleep. "Alright, kiddo," she whispered with a smirk. "Time to start the day."

In the kitchen, Jane flipped pancakes onto a plate, the smell of butter and syrup filling the air. Beni sat at the table in his pajamas, his hair sticking up in all directions as he eagerly awaited breakfast.

"Pancakes!" he cheered when Jane set the plate in front of him.

"Eat up, buddy," Jane said, ruffling his hair. "You've got a big day ahead."

Just as Beni began digging into his breakfast, Angela walked in carrying her ever-present tote bag. "Morning!" she greets cheerfully. "Smells good in here."

"Hey, Ma," Jane said, pouring a cup of coffee. "Perfect timing. I was going to call you."

Angela kissed the top of Beni's head before sitting at the table. "What's up?"

"We've got a meeting with the social worker this afternoon," Jane said, leaning against the counter. "She's coming by to discuss Beni's placement."

Angela's expression softened, and she nodded. "You two are doing such a great job with him. I'll take care of him today so you can focus on the meeting."

"Thanks, Ma," Jane said, her voice sincere.

Angela waved her off with a smile. "It's my pleasure. Beni's my little buddy."

Beni looked up from his pancakes, syrup on his face, and grinned. "Nonna!"

Angela laughed, wiping his face with a napkin. "That's right, sweetheart. Nonna's here."

Jane walked into the bullpen, her expression focused as she scanned the room. Frost was typing away at his computer, while Frankie and Korsak stood nearby, reviewing a file.

"Alright, where are we on this stalemate of a case?" Jane asked, setting her coffee on the desk and crossing her arms.

Frost looked up, a hint of excitement in his eyes. "I think I've identified the girl who's been using Travis's card. Her name's Rebecca Hill. She's got a record—mostly forgery charges from over a decade ago. But since then, she's stayed off law enforcement's radar."

Jane's brow furrowed. "So what's she been up to for the past ten years? What's her connection to Travis?"

Frankie chimed in, flipping through a folder. "We're still digging, but her last known address is out of state. We're working on tracking down where she might be staying now. If she's running with Travis, she's keeping a low profile."

Korsak leaned back against a desk, his arms crossed. "And speaking of Travis, the patrol car hasn't spotted him at the apartment yet. Either he's laying low, or he knows we're onto him."

Jane sighed, running a hand through her hair. "This case has to be solvable. We've got too many threads to pull for it not to come together."

Frost nodded. "Agreed. But it's like every time we find a lead, it just raises more questions."

"We'll figure it out," Korsak said confidently. "It's just a matter of time."

Jane clenched her fists, her determination solidifying. "Let's keep pushing. Frankie, keep working on tracking Rebecca. Frost, see if you can find any financial connections between her and Travis. And Korsak, stay in the patrol car. If Travis slips up, I want to know about it immediately."

Nina walked briskly into the bullpen, a stack of papers in one hand and her tablet in the other. "I've got something," she announced, catching everyone's attention.

Jane, who was still poring over Rebecca Hill's sparse records, glanced up. "Please tell me it's good news."

Nina nodded, placing the papers on Frost's desk. "It's about the offshore account. With Derrick's name tied to it and the questionable transfers from his account, I can put a hold on the funds. That'll freeze any activity until we get clarity on who's really behind it."

Jane leaned back in her chair, a grin forming on her face. "If you stop the money, it might flush Travis and Rebecca out of hiding. No cash flow means no escape plan."

Frankie tilted his head, considering. "If they're running a scheme, they've gotta be relying on that money. Cutting them off could force them to make a move."

Korsak rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "But it's risky. If they catch wind that we're onto the account, they might ditch everything and disappear for good."

"We don't have much of a choice," Jane said, standing. "They're playing us right now, staying a step ahead. If we stop the money, we take control of the game."

Frost nodded, his focus shifting to Nina. "How long will it take to freeze the account?"

"Not long," Nina replied confidently. "I've already drafted the request. As soon as I get final approval, the hold will be in place."

Jane glanced at her watch. "Do it. Let me know the second it's done."

Nina gave a quick nod and headed out of the bullpen.

Frankie turned to Jane. "So what's the plan once they're out in the open?"

Jane smirked. "We catch them. And this time, we don't let them slip through our fingers."

"Jane! Korsak!" Frost called out from his desk, his voice tinged with urgency.

Jane and Korsak exchanged a glance before hurrying over. Frost's computer screen was filled with profile pictures and bio snippets from various dating sites.

"What've you got?" Jane asked, leaning over his shoulder.

Frost pointed to the screen. "Rebecca Hill's got dating profiles—multiple profiles—on the same sites Derrick used. Different names, same pictures. It's almost an identical setup."

Jane frowned, staring at the screen. "So she's running the same scheme? What is it with these people needing to date half the city?"

Korsak smirked. "Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. If she's working with Travis, it makes sense they'd use the same playbook."

"It's not just the number of profiles," Frost added. "She's using aliases just like Derrick and Travis do. That could mean they've been running this scheme together for a long time."

Jane tapped her fingers on the desk, her mind racing. "Alright, Frost, you keep digging into these profiles. Let's see if any of her 'dates' overlap with Derrick's or Travis's schemes. Korsak, let's work on tying these aliases to real-world accounts or addresses."

As they split up to continue the work, Jane couldn't help but shake her head. "Dating twelve people wasn't enough for Derrick, huh? Now Rebecca's in on it too. What's next—a scam for couples' retreats?"

Korsak chuckled. "You've got to admit, Jane, they've got persistence. Just not a lot of morality."

"Yeah, well," Jane muttered, her jaw tightening. "Let's make sure their persistence lands them behind bars."

Nina walked into the bullpen with her tablet in hand, her expression focused. "I've got something else new," she announced, catching Jane, Korsak, and Frost's attention.

Jane looked up from Frost's desk, her brows knitting together. "Please tell me it's good."

Nina nodded, holding up the tablet. "Rebecca's financial accounts show the same pattern as Derrick's—small deposits coming in from various sources, with a few larger ones mixed in. And just like Derrick, the money is being transferred into the same offshore account almost as soon as it hits her account."

"Let me guess," Jane said dryly. "The account that we just froze?"

"Exactly," Nina confirmed. "They're operating on a tight schedule. It's like clockwork—the deposits come in, and within days, they're sent offshore."

Korsak rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So, they've been working together this whole time. It's not just a copycat scheme—it's a joint operation."

Frost leaned back in his chair, whistling low. "Makes sense why they've been so hard to pin down. They're moving money faster than we can track it."

Jane stared at the screen, her jaw tightening. "Well, they're not going to be moving anything now. That offshore account is frozen, which means they're going to start feeling the heat."

Nina nodded. "It's only a matter of time before they realize they're cut off. And when that happens, they'll have to make a move."

Korsak crossed his arms. "Question is, do they go on the run, or do they try to salvage the operation?"

Jane smirked, a glint of determination in her eyes. "Doesn't matter. Either way, we'll be ready for them."

She turned to Frost. "Keep digging into those profiles. If we can figure out where Rebecca's been staying or who she's been meeting, we'll have a better shot at catching her."

"And what about Travis?" Korsak asked.

Jane's expression darkened. "If he's half as smart as he thinks he is, he's probably already planning his next move. Let's make sure it's his last."

The bullpen was abuzz with the usual chatter and clatter of a busy day when Maura appeared, a folder clutched in her hand. Her heels clicked softly against the floor as she approached Jane's desk, her expression calm but with an undertone of urgency.

"Jane," Maura began, setting the folder down. "Have you been looking into a woman named Rebecca Hill?"

Jane glanced up, startled by the mention. "Yeah, we've been trying to track her down. She's tied up in this whole scheme with Travis and Derrick. Why? What's up?"

Maura tilted her head, her hazel eyes locking onto Jane's. "You don't need to look for her anymore."

Jane's brow furrowed, confusion spreading across her face. "What do you mean?"

Maura exhaled softly. "Rebecca's body was brought into the morgue this morning. She was found at a crime scene with a gunshot wound to the chest."

The bullpen seemed to go silent for a moment as Jane processed the information. "Wait—what?" she finally said, leaning forward. "Rebecca's dead? Are you sure it's her?"

Maura nodded solemnly. "Positive. Her fingerprints confirmed her identity."

Jane leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. "This doesn't make any sense. Who would kill her? And why?"

"Those are questions you'll need to answer," Maura said gently. "But you don't have much time to start looking into it. Remember, we have the meeting with the social worker in an hour."

Jane groaned, feeling the pressure mount. "Yeah, yeah, I know. But this changes everything." She turned to Frankie, who was standing nearby, already listening intently. "Frankie, I need you to go down to the morgue. Watch the autopsy. See if Kent finds anything—anything—that gives us a lead."

Frankie nodded. "Got it."

As Maura prepared to leave, she placed a reassuring hand on Jane's shoulder. "We'll figure this out. Focus on what you can right now, and the rest will come together."

Jane nodded, but her mind was spinning. A major player in their case was dead, and it only raised more questions than it answered.

The hour flew by in a blur of reports and half-formed theories. Jane barely looked up from her desk when Maura appeared again, her coat in hand and a calm but firm expression on her face.

"Jane," Maura said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's time to go."

Jane glanced at her watch and sighed. "Already? Feels like I just sat down."

Maura gave her a knowing look. "You've been running yourself ragged. Let's focus on one thing at a time, and right now, that's the meeting with the social worker."

Reluctantly, Jane stood and grabbed her jacket, sparing a glance toward Korsak. "You'll hold down the fort while I'm gone?"

Korsak waved her off with a reassuring grin. "Don't worry about us. We'll handle everything here and check in later if there's anything urgent."

Jane nodded, feeling a small weight lift from her shoulders. "Thanks, Korsak."

As she followed Maura out of the bullpen, she cast one last look at Frost, who was still buried in files. "Keep digging," she called. "If anything breaks, let me know."

"You got it," Frost replied without looking up.

Maura linked her arm through Jane's as they walked toward the elevator. "You're allowed to take a breath, you know," she said gently.

Jane smirked, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "I'll breathe after the social worker tells us what's next for Beni."