“Nothing in the room.” He told her plainly.

Maura stepped closer, studying the face. “I know her.” She spluttered, feeling her heart rise in her chest. How could someone so smart, so vibrant and full of life end up like this? “Her name is Louise Steinman.”

“Oh no, Maura.” Jane was at her side immediately, her long fingers caressing her back softly.

“It’s ok.” Maura whispered. “We met only once in a café.”

Jane felt the sadness as it coursed through the doctor’s body. “She….” Maura couldn’t finish the sentence without opening a door she wouldn’t be able to ever close again, and a crime scene was not a place for that conversation. “Never mind.” Maura finalised her comment, making it clear she wasn’t going to discuss it any further, at least here.

“So.” Jane pulled back, regarding the scene. “Someone covered the body, no sign of a struggle. I think she knew her killer.”

Maura glanced up at her. “There’s no obvious sign of injury, other than blunt force trauma to the back of the head.” She noted. “There isn’t enough blood loss to be fatal.” Maura looked around the room, searching for something that could have been the weapon. “I’ll know more after my autopsy.” She told no one in particular.

“She checked in alone under the name Sasha Jenkins.” Frost appeared in the doorway, “Paid in cash for one night.”

“Check her out under the name Louise Steinman.” Jane told him. Frost frowned but didn’t ask as to how she knew this information. He could feel the tension in the room and smiled. It calmed him to be around Jane and Maura, they worked so effortlessly together and yet the gentle rumble of sexual tension that filled any space they were in made him feel so alive, even in the presence of death.

“There appears to be something under her fingernails.” Maua announced suddenly, reaching into her bag and wrapping Louise’s hands in evidence bags.

“Let’s get her back to the morgue.” Jane said, her experienced eye telling her there was nothing left for them there, “We’ll check her out!”

-/-

Maura stretched. Her autopsy so far had provided no information at all other than a time of death which she had conveyed to Jane. All of Louise’s organs had proved normal; there was nothing at all to indicate her cause of death. Pulling her mask over her face, she reached for the stryker saw to open Louise’s skull.