Set during the year between The Surgeon and The Apprentice or See One, Do One, Teach One, with as little liberty taken with the chronology and characterization as possible with the exception of Frost being introduced after the The Surgeon, corrected for in the TV show. And of course, Thomas Moore doesn't exist on TNT.

If you want to check for chronology, you can read the first chapters of The Apprentice on Tess Gerritsen's website.

.com/books/rizzoli-isles-series/the-apprentice/the-apprentice/

All copyrighted/trademarked media is owned by their respective companies/creators. I earn no money from uploaded content.

Chapter 1

The words 'Boston Regional Intelligence Center' stared back at Barry Frost as he stood outside the glass doors in the hallway, gathering his nerve and focusing on the white lettering instead of what awaited him on the other side; ringing phones and raised voices, constant motion and plenty of coffee.

Taking one last, deep breath, Frost entered and approached the lieutenant's office. The blinds were pulled. Just as he raised his closed fist to knock, the door opened and a woman glided out. Frost stepped back, following her movement across the bullpen. She was a blonde, attractive, and dressed as if she just returned from a photo shoot, not a meeting with a police officer. What was a girl like that doing here? Maybe she was a witness to a homicide. But that wouldn't explain why she was giving a statement to the lieutenant behind closed doors.

Frost realized he was staring and moved through the open door. As he pulled it closed behind him, he caught one of the officers calling out a greeting, 'Good morning, Dr. Isles. How was the trial…'

'Frost, right?' The lieutenant's voice startled Frost into action, turning toward the older man and moving forward to shake his hand across the desk.

'Good morning, sir.'

'Welcome to Boston Homicide. I have your badge and papers right here. One of the detective's will show you around, and they'll issue you a firearm downstairs.'

'Thank you, sir,' Frost said, taking the badge and examining it, tiling it in the light to catch his name, embossed in brass.

'Also, your partner is Detective Jane Rizzoli. She's not in today, but Detective Korsak is around here somewhere. I'm sure he'd be willing to help you out. That will be all,' his focus was back on the clutter of paperwork slowly taking over his desktop.

Dismissed, Frost left the room and looked around. There was a nervous rush about the place that seemed off to him, at least, in comparison to his old job in vice.

He found Detective Korsak in the back of the room, sitting at a desk with a cup of coffee in his hand, addressing the woman from earlier, Dr. Isles. Korsak was older, with solidly grey hair, and post-middle aged waistband.

'I bet the DA's got a kick outta you, doc.'

'Indeed, one of the attorneys seemed increasingly frustrated and aggressive with his line of questioning, but I can assure you, I gave my testimony in a concise and logical manner.'

'Leaving little room for interpretation.'

'It's not my place to interpret evidence.'

Korsak laughed, 'Thanks, I really appreciate it, Doctor. Maybe now we can finally get this scumbag,' he lifted his gaze over Dr. Isles' shoulder, where Frost was standing in the background waiting to be acknowledged. 'Can I help you?'

'Barry Frost, sir. I was told I could shadow you until my new partner, a Detective Rizzoli, returns.'

The older man straightened, his expression guarded for a moment as he accessed his new team member. Frost glanced sideways at Dr. Isles, who smiled at him and pushed the length of her long hair over her shoulder.

Whatever internal test Korsak was subjecting him to, he must have passed, because he finally gave a tight smile and extended his hand. 'Vince Korsak, good to have you with us. This is Dr. Maura Isles. She works with Dr. Tierney in the medical examiner's office. '

'A pleasure, Detective,' her voice was soft, and she was still smiling that Mona Lisa smile that made him feel like he was missing something. Her eyes were a light brown, and glinted with a fierce purpose, an intelligence that was as intriguing and it was disconcerting.

'Jane's one of the finest detectives I've ever had the honor to have worked with, Frost. You're a lucky man. Just don't piss her off and you'll be fine,' he laughed, albeit a melancholy humor.

'If you don't mind me asking, when is she expected back? Is she on maternity leave or something?' A hush fell over the group, and everyone who happened to have overheard. Korsak was absolutely still and Frost found himself in an uncomfortable position without knowing his error. 'Look, I'm not sure what's going on, but I didn't mean anything-'

'You really don't know?' Korsak looked up at him, any and all vestiges of humor suddenly drained from his demeanor. He looked old, and his eyes were haunted with shadows Frost didn't understand.

Maura broke the silence, 'Excuse me, but exactly how long have you lived in Boston, Detective Frost?' Her eyebrows were drawn together in speculation. She lacked the emotional darkness Korsak exhibited, only objective curiosity apparent in her expression, but that didn't subtract from the severity of the atmosphere.

Feeling as if all the oxygen had been sucked out of the room and all eyes were suddenly on him, judging him, he answered, 'I moved into my apartment a couple blocks down about two weeks ago, ma'am,' he cleared his throat.

Korsak suddenly stood. 'I need coffee. Your desk is that one there,' he gestured to an empty space across from a desk covered in an excess of cards, gift baskets, and flower arrangements. 'I'll meet you back here in a bit and show you around.' He took his leave, heading for the café downstairs even though there was a half full Styrofoam cup sitting next to the computer keyboard.

Maura watched him go. 'I'm new here too. I started working for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts medical examiner's office one month, one week, and three days ago.' The corner of Frost's mouth lifted in a brief half smile at her precision. 'I haven't had the opportunity to actually meet Jane Rizzoli yet, but I've found that she has quite a reputation in this city. She's legendary, even, in this precinct.'

'That good?'

'That's part of it. But two months ago, there was an incident in which a serial killer she and her team were tracking targeted Detective Rizzoli, and she was captured without backup. I understand she sustained serious injuries before help arrived.'

Frost gave a low whistle. 'Why would she go in alone?'

'I can't answer that, but I do know that another woman, a hostage and potential victim, was involved. The story was published repeatedly by the media for several weeks.'

'I'm sorry. I didn't know.'

She smiled at him kindly. 'Don't worry. I'm sure Detective Korsak will understand. He was her partner when it happened.' Frost felt worse.

A door opened and closed. Everyone looked up as the lieutenant strolled out of his office. 'Good news, Frost,' he said in passing, 'I just got off the phone with Rizzoli. She's coming in tomorrow morning.' A hush fell over the room. Frost could see Korsak across the room, back from his coffee run, looking stricken and pale.

A phone rang, cutting through the silence like a knife. It was like coming up from a dive, a rush of sound after breaking through the water's surface. Everyone started talking at once, some in hushed whispers, some conversing loudly with relieved laughter. Frost suddenly recognized the nervous energy he had felt upon entering the room. This was a team overcoming a trauma. He could feel the excitement tinged with awe and not a little fear crackle through the bullpen like an open circuit. He glanced at Dr. Isles. She seemed slightly puzzled, but no less taken by the buzz surrounding them. Her strange, intense way of being confused would have been intriguing if he weren't party to the chill of a single collective thought hovering over the room.

Jane Rizzoli was returning to Boston Homicide.