Dr. Maura Isles (drmauraisles) wrote in omega_reality, @ 2012-12-18 20:04:00 |
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Entry tags: | *complete, 2012 12, character: derek reese, character: g callen, character: maura isles, character: sam hanna, character: sean hanna |
RP: Maura Isles Arrives
Who: Maura Isles
Where: Boston, MA
When: Tuesday, December 18, 2012 - night
Summary: Maura finds herself in a very strange predicament without BPD riding to the rescue.
Maura had just sat down with a glass of Château d'Yquem and the latest edition of the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology when the phone rang. It appeared a body discovered at the Design Center Plaza was going to interrupt her plans to finish the article on extramuscular subcutaneous fibrolipoma containing foci of striated muscle cells. Driving into South Boston at night wasn't her favorite thing to do. But, it didn't surprise her to get the call. There was a power vacuum ever since Paddy Doyle was taken into custody. Bodies were a given in such circumstances.
Strangely, when she got down there, Maura couldn't find the crime scenes. There was no police presence, no crime tape, no reporters. Checking with security only yielded strange looks and one very apologetic "No, I'm sorry, Mrs. Fairfield."
Mrs. Fairfield?
The name made Maura pause. The young man, whose appeared to be suffering from idiopathic cranio-facial erytherma, clearly seemed to have confused her with someone else. But, what were the odds of confusing her with another woman bearing that particular name?
Taking her phone out of her purse, Maura dialed Jane's number as she walked back to her car. But, she couldn't seem to get a connection. That was odd. Her carrier had the most comprehensive coverage of any carrier in Boston and she had never had any problems in this part of the city before. Strange.
Well, she would just drive back to the office and speak with operations directly. If the call was a mistake, she could return home and enjoy the rest of her evening.
Maura had driven only a few blocks before flashing red and blue lights appeared in the rear-view mirror and the short blare of a siren sounded behind her. Oh, this would be much easier. She could just ask the officer in that car to put a call into Headquarters for her. With that in mind, she pulled right over.
"Please step out of the car, ma'am."
"Is there a problem?" Maura asked, frowning at the stern tone of voice.
"Yes, ma'am. I'd call counterfeit plates a pro-" The officer's words trailed off as Maura closed the driver-side door and turned to look at him. "I'm sorry Mrs. Fairfield. I didn't realize it was you. My apologies for the inconvenience."
"Wait." Maura stopped the officer as he turned to get back into his car. This was making no sense at all. "You know who I am?"
"Of course, ma'am. Everyone in Southie knows Paddy Doyle's daughter. Don't worry. No one else will be giving you any trouble."
He knew she was Doyle's daughter...and that was why he was letting her go? Maura knew there was nothing wrong with her license plates or her registration. She also knew if this officer suspected there was, he should be doing more than apologizing for the inconvenience. Whether her father's or one of the others trying to take over now and afraid of Paddy Doyle's retribution even from prison, there was no question he was in someone's employ.
The officer got into his car and drove off while Maura was still trying to put the pieces together. Other than being convinced she was dealing with a dirty cop, there wasn't enough evidence to reach a conclusion about what was going on. But, as she got into her Prius and kept driving, she paid attention to other cars on the road. None of their license plates looked like hers. Not a one. They weren't even the same size.
These strange observations continued as she made her way Downtown toward the Boston Police Department's Headquarters. Businesses that should be there weren't. Familiar landmarks were missing, replaced with strange statues and signs. By the time she got to the office, Maura was almost surprised to find it completely unchanged on the outside. The only thing missing was Jane's car parked out front and that would make sense if she was called to a crime scene. Maura was happy to take her spot, just this once, while she went inside to find out just what was going on.
That effort was fruitless. Security didn't recognize her badge. No one she knew seemed to recognize her as anything other than Mrs. Fairfield. After awhile, she was informed that since it was the holidays they'd let her off with a warning, but any further attempts to impersonate the Chief Medical Examiner would result in her arrest. They seemed so certain she was faking it, Maura had no choice but to back down.
And when she went back outside, her car had been towed.
From there the night continued to get stranger and stranger. The cab driver wouldn't take her money when he dropped her off at her house. But, was perfectly happy to let her go without a word, as 'a favor to Paddy'. It wasn't until he'd driven away that she'd realized the house he'd taken her to wasn't actually hers. There wasn't another cab in sight, however, and it was a short walk to Beacon Hill from where she was.
Unfortunately, the house that stood where hers should have been wasn't her house, either. Nor did her phone work any better here than it had in South Boston.
A crime scene had disappeared. Her job had disappeared. Her house wasn't there. Her car was gone. Her name wasn't even hers.
At a loss for anything else to do, Maura kept walking while she thought of what she had to do.
And that was how she came to be walking alone on the street when she lost consciousness.
When she regained consciousness, Maura's first thought was to wonder if some of her father's enemies had come for her after all. She was showing signs of xerostomia and vasovagal syncope, the combination of which could suggest half a dozen conditions, plus several drugs. The fact she woke up in what was obviously a plane surrounded by men with rifles was a good indication she was experiencing the side effects of being drugged than symptoms of any adverse health condition.
How had they gotten her car out of the impound yard? Better, still, why had they gotten it and put it on the plane?
Then they started talking. When they finished, Maura remained silent, thinking.
"Alternate dimensions. Alan Guth's Inflationary Theory of Cosmology does suggest that an infinite number of worlds based upon the same laws of physics but with every possibly combination of matter and anti-matter particles is possible," she mused, unaware of the glazing over in some of her listeners' eyes. She was so used to things like that, it never registered. "That would explain the differences between this Boston and the Boston I expect to see. And if there are other dimensions with different sets of experiences for each person, it would seem quite likely there should be at least one dimension in which I was married and openly recognized as Doyle's daughter. It certainly makes more logical sense than any other hypothesis. I wonder if the transference of one version of a person with another is indicative of a regulatory quantum law."
"There are people working on those questions." The one who seemed to be in charge interrupted her train of thought. "Which brings us to second part of what we need to discuss, that being the part where we offer you a choice."
"Alright, I'm listening."
The choice he presented was simple: take their money and try to live on her own without any of the things she was used to, or go with them and possibly find a way back home to her family and friends.
If she went out on her own, she would run the risk of always being confused with this world's Mrs. Fairfield. The version of Maura in this world was clearly more connected to her biological father's business. She would have to stay in parts of the country where Paddy Doyle's reach could not touch. And she didn't know how to be anything other than what she was. None of the degrees or experience she had gained would be able to help her here.
On the other hand, she was putting a great deal of trust in men whose names she didn't even know. They said they were offering protection and training. But, once she left with them, anything could happen. And she wouldn't have the homicide unit to come to her rescue here as they had in the past. Her judgement had been so off with Dennis. Yet, if they were to be believed, they were really her best chance at surviving in a hostile world or getting back to her own.
In the end, Maura did something she had only done once before: went with her gut.
"I agree to your terms. I'll go with you."