“We were and are, Maura? Can I call you Maura?” JJ smiled as
she tried to take the medical examiner’s focus and frustration off Jane. “He
insulted us and when she asked him to leave he punched her first.”

Looking from one to the other, “should I ask what was said?

Emily had sat quietly throughout the exchange and had felt
JJ tense as she mentioned the insults.
Reaching across to pat Maura’s hand, “maybe we should leave it alone…”

Looking at Jane, Maura saw how troubled her eyes were and
felt badly about chastising her.  Their
intimate relationship was still so new, that sometimes she didn’t know if to be
her friend or her girlfriend.

Nodding Maura sat back and watched the two agents across
from her.  Their familiarity with each
other evident in their body language, much as she and Jane were.

“I’m sorry Jane, it’s just…” at a loss Maura looked at Jane
for help.

“S’ok Maur, today has certainly been a heck of a day, hasn’t
it?” smiling at her Jane let her know all was forgiven.  Maura’s eyes twinkled as she smiled back and
the comfortable silence that enveloped them was a welcome relief from the
trials of the day.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Korsak left the interview room and went to get a cup of
coffee.  Neither man was willing to speak
to them about Detective Rodriguez.

“Anything?”  Hotch had
just come back in from speaking with Rossi on the phone.  According to Rossi, the family had been
unable to confirm if she had an actual date, only that she was planning on
stopping by a club that night. So still, they had nothing.

“No” sipping his coffee, he looked at Hotch, “Wanna take a
crack at them? They certainly don’t want to speak with us.”

“Maybe not, but we need some answers” pulling out his cell,
he dialed Emily’s number.

“Prentiss? We need you back here…No they’re not saying
anything…Are JJ and Detective…yes…fine I’ll see you all then.” Turning to
Korsak “They’re all heading back, Rizzoli just finished interviewing the
waitress they were waiting for.”

“Good, how about the rest of your team?”

“Morgan and Reid are on their way back, so is Rossi.  We’ll gather up any new information we have
and see if we can’t start pinpointing who our unsub might be and why he’s after
these women.  Something must have
triggered this.”

“Sounds like a plan,” taking another sip, he watched Frost
as he took a seat at the computer again and directed his attention back to
Hotch.