Slipping into her white lab coat, Maura checked her report for the final time. Cause of death; acute subdural hematoma and brain herniation. She sighed sadly as she closed the file, knowing Jane wouldn’t be happy. The cause of death didn’t help them very much. With no other signs of injury, there was no real reason to classify it as a murder and yet, with the matter under her fingernails, it wasn’t possible to completely rule it out. The indecisive nature of the case, as well as the victim had put Maura on edge. She didn’t like things that didn’t – wouldn’t –fit. That was why she had become a medical examiner, to find the why’s of a case, to see it in black and white. Now here she was, about to go up to the bullpen with nothing but shades of grey.

Pushing open her office door, those shades of grey got an immediate and much welcomed colour boost as Jane pushed the door open and strode in.

“Got anything?” she asked hopefully when she saw Maura in her ‘casual’ office attire.

Maura retreated into her office, taking a seat and waiting patiently for Jane. Once the detective had settled herself into a chair, she slid the file towards her, watching her exquisitely long fingers as they opened the file and flicked carefully through the pages.

“Maur?” Jane looked up her, the confusion evident in her face. “Is it murder or not?”

Maura closed her eyes, she knew this had been coming and yet it wasn’t any easier to hear. “I can’t say conclusively either way.” She admitted.

Jane closed the file and set it back down on the desk before running her fingers through her hair and sighing loudly.

“So, how did you know her?” she asked eventually.

“We met in a café a few weeks back.” Maura’s response was unusually guarded and, uncharacteristically, she didn’t elaborate on the reply.

“And?” Jane pressed her, there was something that she wasn’t saying and it gave her an unpleasant twang of jealously.

Maura looked into dark eyes, eyes that always gave Jane away. She smiled softly, mischief playing in her eyes. “What Jane?” she asked, the faux innocence in her tone made Jane shift in her chair.