From the coffee table, her cell buzzed into life, vibrating its way across the coffee table.

“Doctor Isles.” She whispered, careful not to wake Jane as she crawled out from under impossibly long legs. “I’m on my way.” She paused for a moment, to drink in her sleeping detective before stripping a page from the notebook by the phone and jotting down a message and leaving it on the coffee table.

Jane

I had to go into work but I’ve set up your new phone. I’ll call you as soon as I’m able. Answer my call…… please?

~ M

-/-

Pulling up to the crime scene, Maura pulled her identification from her purse and took a deep breath. She could tell from the dusting of officers and detectives that this involved the vice squad; a group of men who seemed to leave their manners and standards at the door and never really remembered to collect them again. Maura couldn’t decide if it was their line of work and the people they had to deal with on a daily basis that caused the vulgarity in them or if they moved to vice because of it.

Stepping from the car, she flashed her ID to the officer guarding the perimeter and slipped gracefully under the yellow tape.

“Mmmm, mmm!” Detective Benson eyed her hungrily as she passed. “When you gonna get tired of Rizzoli?” he asked, falling into step next to her as she approached the alley way. It was always alleys. She ignored him, the stale coffee and cigars wind that flew from his mouth made her stomach clench. “C’mon doc.” Another assault of breath. “You know she can’t do for you what I can.” He laughed heartily as though he’d made something close to a joke. Maura stopped sharply and stared at him, a playful glint dancing through her hazel eyes. “You’re correct Detective.” She admitted. It was times like this when she was glad she had a hard time lying. He beamed, his foul breath washing over her as his lips parted, revealing worse teeth. “Jane could never make me feel as ill as looking at you does!”

She smiled warmly before turning and heading towards Korsak who was already standing over the body, gesturing wildly. Benson was a pig, but he was pretty harmless, she’d learnt that when Jane had cornered him in the morgue after a comment had left Maura visibly shaken. Whatever she had said to the man had sent him running, in the very literal sense.