Lost Cause: A Rizzoli And Isles Series Book Six

Chapter 2

Jane's POV

     I arrived at work a little earlier than usual, because I needed to get out of the house. Ellen was driving me insane. These past couple years she went from one of the sweetest girls I knew, to the most badly behaved. She drank and smoked constantly and had the mouth of a sailor.
     "You're here earlier than usual." Tony Dinozzo said as he threw a peanut at me. I sighed.
     "Ellen is driving me crazy. I caught her smoking again this morning." I shook my head, thinking about how disappointed I was with Ellen. What did Maura and I do wrong for our daughter to turn out like this? I put my hair in a ponytail and sat at my desk.
     "I'm guessing you, me, and Gibbs are the only ones here right now?" I asked the other Italian.
He nodded.
     "Well, Kate obviously isn't here. She went with Maura and Leah as you know and McGeek is at some comic book convention all week." He laughed at his own humor, and I cracked a smile. He was pretty funny. He then gestured toward the elevator.
     "And Ziva is here now, so it's just the four of us. Not counting Ducky and Abby." I nodded.
     "Hey Jane." Ziva greeted me and I smiled back at her.
     "Gear up." Gibbs came in, and we grabbed our guns and badges.
     "Where are we headed, boss?" Dinozzo asked. Gibbs replied, "There's a Marine dead a few blocks down. We got called in. Ducky is already on his way." We piled in the truck and I got the driver's seat.
     "Uh, boss? She drives just as crazy as Ziva. Are you sure?" Tony gestured to me, looking at the silvered-haired man. Gibbs just stared back with his ice cold eyes. I glanced at Ziva and we shared a small laugh before I started to drive. On the way there my phone started to ring.
     "Special Agent Jane Rizzoli."
     "Jane, it's Maura." I heard my wife's gentle voice.
     "Hey, what's up?"
     "I just wanted to know how you and Ellen were doing."
     "I caught her smoking again, Maura. And it's not helpful that Melony had to be just like her instead of setting a better influence." I sighed and Maura did as well.
     "We'll figure it out." My wife sighed again.
     "Maura, I'll call you later, we are about to go investigate a crime scene."
     "Okay Tootsie, I'll talk to you later. I love you."
     "I love you too."I said. We hung up and Gibbs glanced at me when got to the crime scene.
     "Ellen was smoking again?" He came over to me.
     "Yeah. And she is just not the girl she used to be." I sighed as we went to see the victim. There was a bullet in the man's head which seemed to be cause of death.
     "Is anything stolen? He seems to have a pretty expensive watch on." Tony looked at Ducky.
     "His wallet and credit cards are all still here." Ziva stated, looking at the license in the wallet.
     "Robert Jones." She showed Gibbs the license and he nodded. My phone started to ring again.
     "Hello?"
     "Hi, is this Ellen Rizzoli-Isles' mother?"
     "Yeah. I am Jane Rizzoli, is this her school?"
     "Yes. Ellen got into a fight and knocked a child out from punching him repeatedly. She has been punished with of out of school suspension. We need you to come get her." I can't believe that she did that.
     "I'm on my way. Is the child okay?" I asked nervously 
     "He could be better." I hung up.
     "Boss." I went up to Gibbs. "Ellen knocked some kid out and got suspended. Can I take a few days off?" He nodded. I went over to Ducky and asked to borrow his car back to the office so I could get mine. He agreed and I got in and drove back to headquarters. I parked Ducky's car in his usual spot and got in mine. I was furious at Ellen. I rushed over to the school.
     I went in the office to sign her out and she was sitting with her arms crossed, a smug look on her face. "Wipe that look off your face." I glared at her sternly. "Tell this boy's parents that I send them my deepest apologies and hope he gets better soon." The Secretary nodded, and I took Ellen's arm and held it tight as I basically dragged her out of the building.
     "Ma you are hurting me." She whined, but I wasn't hearing any of it.
     "Shut up." I snapped. Before we got into the car, I jerked her body so it was facing me. She glared at me. "This is completely unacceptable!" I yelled at her. Ellen rolled her eyes at me and crossed her arms again. Without thinking I slapped her across the face. Her mouth dropped open. "You need to clean your act up. I'm so done with all of this bullshit you pull. What did your Mom and I do wrong for you to act like this!?" I sternly yelled at my daughter while she stood there silently. "Answer me, dammit!" I put my hands on her shoulders. "Where is the sweet little girl that you used to be!?"
She was still silent. "Ellen! Answer me!" I was almost screaming at her now.
     "I don't know." She said, still staring back into my eyes. I inhaled angrily.
     "That's not good enough. Get in the car." I let her go and she opened the door and got in and took out a cigarette. "Fuck! Ellen!" I screamed at her now. I took the lit cigarette and threw it out of the window. "Give me the package."
     "Leave me alone Ma."
     "Give me the package." I repeated, and she hesitantly handed it over before crossing her arms and slumping in her seat.