When the Levee Breaks
A Rizzoli & Isles fanfiction by Ragnaar
Chapter I
Jane parked her car onto the large driveway of the Isles estate and stared up at the daunting Victorian home. The shadow it cast as the sun set in the background engulfed her vehicle in an embrace far too cold for a summer evening. She frowned. Perhaps the chill she felt was from the anticipation of the unknown. The uncertainty of what lay ahead in this place. Her gaze flickered to the rearview mirror and onto the boxes occupying the backseat. Yes, that was definitely it.
Get yourself together. She was really doing this. She had rented out her small and comfortable cabin in Sunderland and reluctantly accepted a job just outside of Boston. This place– she looked up at the home once more –was unknown territory to her. The monstrous home stood isolated at the end of the wealthy town of Weston, the vast property protected by tall brick walls and a security gate. She was really going to live here on a one-year contract in exchange for her services. What else am I going to do, if not this?
Her fingers clutched the keys that were still in the ignition. Maybe if she turned back now – she frantically shook her head – no, she desperately needed the money. The early retirement funds she had gotten from the Boston police department was running low. Even with the cash flow coming in from the cabin and the occasional job as a consultant to small police stations near the cabin – it still wouldn't be enough for her in the long run. She had to think about her future. Being thirty-five and retired was not going to provide much stability when she reached the age where getting a job was no longer an option.
Not trusting herself in the car, she stepped out and paced back and forth to clear her mind of the temptation to run. Sean had called her a month ago asking for a favor. One of his closest friends needed someone trustworthy to watch over his visually impaired daughter while her husband was in New Zealand on business. Jane stopped pacing and leaned against her car, thinking back on the conversation that brought her here in the first place.
ONE MONTH AGO
Jane hit the talk button without looking at the display. Tucking the phone between her shoulder and ear, she continued with repairing the pipes under the sink. "Rizzoli."
There was a chuckle, "Some things never change, do they Jane?"
Her movements ceased at the familiar voice. "Old habits. How are you, Sean?" She extracted herself from under the sink and sat up against the cabinet. She had not talked to this man in over a year, considering he had been her boss at one point and was now her stepfather. Now that the initial shock had worn off, the discomfort she felt when talking to him was no longer there. Which was surprising since she was known to bear grudges for extended periods of time. Maybe it was because he made her mother so much happier ever since her and Pop got divorced.
"I'm good. Still getting my balls ripped off by the Governor from time to time and steadily gaining weight from your mother's cooking."
Jane snickered, "No one can deny my mother's delicious food. Look at Frankie."
"I know." He paused then said quietly, "Don't you miss it? Her food? Your family?"
She bit her lip. "Of course. But I can't come back. Not yet at least." She gulped, "I can't."
"That man is behind bars, Jane. And he will be for the rest of his life thanks to you." His tone was the softest she'd ever heard. "Your family misses you."
"Don't try to guilt-trip me back there. Ma has been doing it for a few months now. So what do you have to say to me? I know you didn't call just for small talk."
"It was worth a shot…" He sighed. Jane heard the ruffling of papers before he continued. "I hate to be this person but your mom insisted…"
"Insisted what?"
There was silence on the other line for a few minutes.
"For me to look over your financials and talk to you about it." He said finally.
Upon hearing this, she gripped the phone tightly in her hand. She grit her teeth, "You had no right." God, what was her mother thinking prying into her life like this? And what was Sean thinking going along with it? One word to the BPD service board and she'd have him fired in no time. But they knew she wouldn't do that and that made her even angrier.
"She's only worried. We all are. The allotted time for retirement with the police service is fifteen years in order for you to receive the pension. You retired at eleven and was only given a fixed amount. Most of which you spent on that cabin you're living in."
"And that is my fucking business, Sean."
"You're right. But it turns into my business when your mother comes to me crying, worrying about you and asking me to do something." She could hear the frustration in his voice.
Her throat suddenly felt dry, "She what?"
"Yeah. You may think she's been joking about wanting you to move back here with us but in reality, she's been worried sick out of her mind. She wants you to have your normal life back here in Boston. With us. She knows after what happened with Hoyt that you needed the time and space from Boston to recuperate, so she put up with it all this time."
The mention of Hoyt's name sent a jolt of ghost pain to the healed wounds on her hands. Her voice shook as images of Hoyt's grinning face hovering over her flashed in her mind. "Just let me handle things, all right? Tell her I'll be okay and that she doesn't need to worry."
She heard a fist slam into a table. "For Christ's sake, Jane! It's been three years and that sick fuck is behind bars. You can come back to the department and work with us again."
Jane rubbed at her temples, "What else could I possibly do there, Sean? I'd be useless if I come out of retirement. Having to see dead bodies, dealing with devastated friends and family… I don't think I could handle it. I'd finally have a mental breakdown. I can't come back."
"So isolating yourself in that cabin of yours is the answer?"
Her lips went into a thin line.
Hearing only silence, Sean went on. "This is the main reason I called. Now, I have an offer for you. One which you shouldn't ignore. For all our sakes."
"I'm listening." Her voice cracked. "You have five minutes."
"That's all I need."
Sean had given her a week to come up with an answer. She had spent most of the days pondering on her sunken-in sofa in the cluttered main room of the cabin. Finally getting a good look at what Hoyt had turned her into, she texted Cavanaugh at the very last minute of the final day with a simple: okay. Minutes later, she was given instructions on what to do next. Now, here she was, at the Isles estate in Weston about to take on a huge role in someone else's life. Whether or not she was ready to take on this task, she'd find out soon enough.
Taking a deep breath, she walked to the front door and rang the doorbell.
The powerful chime was muffled through the large double doors. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, an elderly woman peeked through the small crack eyeing her warily. "Yes?"
Jane stood awkwardly, hands in her pockets. "Good evening. I'm Jane Rizzoli…"
The woman's weathered face broke into a huge smile. She opened the door wider and motioned her to come in. "Ah! We've been expecting you. Please, follow me." She looked at the car past Jane's shoulder and turned to a maid who was dusting nearby. "Beth, arrange for Ms. Rizzoli's stuff to be sent to her room." The maid nodded to them and was on her way. "I'm Magda. I've been serving the Isles family for many years."
They shook hands. Jane visibly relaxed. She couldn't help but smile at the elderly woman that reminded her so much of her mother. "It's a pleasure to meet you Magda."
"Likewise. Now, if you could follow me, I can give you the grand tour of the estate before we meet up with Madam Isles."
"Lead the way."
It took half an hour for Magda to show her every possible room of the Victorian home, as well as the vast grounds surrounding it. Jane made a mental note of areas she thought to be important. It would take her a few days at most to familiarize herself with the place. Magda led her back up the grand staircase and to the music parlor.
"Madam Isles spends most of her time in here." She knocked on the door, "I've got Ms. Rizzoli here with me."
"Come in." Came a gentle voice.
Magda pushed open the ornate door and gently nudged Jane into the rich velvet room. Paintings from the Renaissance era were hanging on the walls. On one side of the room was a row of instrument cases. Violins no doubt. Thought Jane. Cavanaugh had mentioned that Maura Isles was a world-class violinist who had exceptional talent. She was never one to listen to classical music so she knew nothing of the woman. There was the option to look her up online but knowing that the woman was blind, it felt as if she'd be intruding on her privacy. In the center of the room, directly in front of the massive bow window that overlooked the backyard was a grand piano.
And what Jane saw elegantly sitting in front of it took her breath away. The soft glow of the setting sun behind the woman made her look angelic. Flowing blond hair, beautiful hazel eyes, and flawless pale skin encased in a simple evening gown had Jane staring in awe.
"Thank you Magda, that would be all." The blond nodded in the general direction they were in.
When they were left alone, Jane finally found her voice. "You must be Maura. I'm Jane." In a few strides she was standing by the piano. "I'm here as…" She wasn't sure what she would describe herself as. "…Your personal assistant?"
Maura nodded stiffly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Jane." She held out a hand and Jane gave the delicate fingers a polite squeeze. "Tell me about yourself since my father has kept me in the dark about my new reliable aid."
Jane raised a brow. Had her father not told her anything about the person that would be taking care of her? "What would you like to know?"
"I'm curious as to where you were working before agreeing to my father's contract."
"Well…" she scratched the back of her head. "I've been retired for the past three years. I was living out in a cabin down in Sunderland before my old boss recommended this job."
Unseeing eyes searched her face sending a chill down Jane's spine. How was she doing that? "You certainly sound much younger for someone who is retired."
"You're right. I'm thirty-five."
"But you're retired?"
"I had an early retirement."
"From what profession?"
They were really going to go into her work history. Unwanted images bombarded her mind and she willed them away desperately. It took a few seconds for Jane to compose herself into the controlled façade she wore day to day. "I was a detective at Boston PD, Ma'am."
Her brows shot up. "This is quite a step from that."
"I'm well aware of that. But I can show that I can be of some use to you if you give me a chance. I heard I'm you're fifth aid that has come in since your husbands departure last week."
"And who told you this tidbit of information?"
"My former boss."
She frowned, "And how would he come by such information?"
"He's old friends with your father. Detective Lieutenant Sean Cavanaugh ring any bells?"
"I'm afraid I don't know him. He must be a friend of my father's from when he used to live here. I was born in France and spent most of my life in New York." She looked at the display of violin cases sadly. "And around the world."
Jane's question got caught in her throat. Was she actually going to ask what changed? How insensitive could she be? From now on she had to be careful with the words that sometimes came out of her mouth without her permission. "That must have been exciting to play your music internationally."
"Yes." Maura stood up abruptly with an irritated expression. Jane knew that her musical career had fallen into a hiatus after losing her vision. It was a touchy subject and was clearly upsetting to the blond. "If you'll excuse me, I'd like to prepare myself for bed. Have a good night, Jane." With practiced ease, she made her way out of the room, leaving Jane alone to stare after her. Had she offended her boss's daughter already? As she made her own way out, she made a permanent mental note to refrain from talking about Maura Isles's music career
When she reached her room full of boxes, that was when Jane realized she still had to unpack all of her belongings. She sighed and tied up her hair. It was going to be a long night.
A/N: Maura is still a tad untrustworthy of the hired help her father had been sending over. Jane will win her over in time.
