Going Once…Going Twice…
CH 1: On The Block
"I cannot believe I agreed to this," Jane grumbled, rolling her eyes as Maura continued to primp in the hotel lobby bathroom.
"It's for a good cause," Maura flashed her a smile before reapplying her lipstick, blotting it on a single square of tissue and then finishing with a clear gloss. "Have you been to the memorial?"
Jane's face grew somber as she recollected the curved grey marble walls, block after block, top to bottom, engraved with names. So many names. Too many. She could remember how the weight of the atmosphere struck her on approaching the park. The still water of the rectangular pool. The life in the bronze lion statues' eyes, ever vigilant. How green the row of trees behind the walls must look when fully out from under the lingering spring chill and how inviting the grass must be for the business folk around lunchtime. That day, a breeze rustled through the park, catching the ribbons and loose petals on the thousands of arrangements that adorned the marble.
"Once," Jane looked down at the charity auction program in her hand. "I went down to National Police Week a couple of years after I joined the force. BPD's lucky, you know, we haven't had to put an in the line of duty name on that wall since 1994. In valor, there is hope," she recalled one of the inscriptions, "I…Hoyt, Marino, my name could have been on there next."
"Don't say that," Maura reached for her hand and squeezed it. "It's a very serious cause, but tonight is meant to be fun."
Jane allowed herself to be dragged from the bathroom, "It would be a lot more fun if I didn't feel like some kind of seedy escort. 'Dollars for Detectives'!? I mean, really, Maura!? They couldn't have come up with a better name for a date auction?"
"Don't worry Jane, no one is going to take you for an escort. An escort would have at least worn a dress," Maura didn't need to look back to feel the burn of Jane's scowl.
"I can't believe you agreed to this," Frankie laughed, snorting into his beer bottle as Jane and Maura approached. He eyed his sister's suit, the same one she'd been in all day at work, the faded blue cotton shirt underneath, the black boots with the worn scuffs on the toes. "Janie, maybe you should have worn a dress…"
"I told you…" Maura began to interject.
"Stop," Jane pointed at her and then flashed a death stare at her brother. "I agreed to be auctioned off on some random date to God knows who, nowhere did it say I had to wear a dress."
"Oh," Maura leaned a little to her right in order to see past Jane, "it would be appear Rafael dressed for the evening." She eyed the Lieutenant Detective as he walked towards the bar in his perfectly tailored suit, flashing her a wink and a smile much to her delight before he turned to order.
"Raf…Do not call him that," Jane grumbled.
"Why?" Maura questioned, "that's his name. Rafael…" She made sure to accent and roll the 'R' as she said it. "A very alluring name at that."
"Maura!" Jane snapped towards her, "You're planning to bid on him aren't you?" Voice ratcheting up in pitch; her brow furrowed as she stared at her friend.
"I brought a little cash…" her voice trailed off as she diverted her eyes to her glass of wine.
"A little…" Jane arched an eyebrow, "how much?"
"It's for a good cause, remember," Maura attempted to remind her.
"How much, Maura!?" Jane folded her arms as Frankie chuckled under his breath.
"One thousand…Jane!" Maura called out to her as Jane spun and walked away, leaving her and Frankie behind. She looked at her best friend's brother hoping for some enlightenment, "I fear I may be missing a critical social cue. Is…is Jane still attracted to Rafael, such that my going on a date with him would make her angry with me?"
"First of all," Frankie tilted his beer bottle towards her as he gestured, "Jane is not allowed to date my boss. Putting my foot down on that one. Second of all, no, I really don't think she's still attracted to Martinez. I think she gets jealous…" he stopped himself.
"Jealous? Of what?" Maura waited expectantly for an answer.
"I don't know, I mean…I…" Frankie stammered, "It's nothing, really. You know how she can be," he deflected. "We should grab some of the food before all the patrol officers here clear the buffet. Trust me, I know how those guys eat."
Maura noticed Jane get more and more restless in her seat as the evening slipped by through the dinner portion and as the silent auction winners were announced. The live music struck up again, the final interlude before the date auction was scheduled to begin. Singles and couples began to crowd the ballroom's dance floor; Maura smiled, wishing she could join them.
"You seem like you would like to be out there."
She felt his fingers drag lightly across her shoulder and looked up to see Rafael standing next to her, his hand outstretched. "Would you care to dance?" He asked.
Maura bit down on her lip and glanced over at Jane who was purposefully avoiding eye contact. "Thank you for the offer…Lieutenant, but I'm afraid I didn't wear shoes tonight conducive to dancing." He shrugged and walked away.
"You don't seem like you've had much trouble getting around in those shoes tonight, did Dr. Isles just tell a little white lie?" Jane prodded, glancing back towards her friend with a smirk.
"I find these shoes to lack appropriate traction on smooth surfaces," Maura qualified, "Thus, not making them ideal for dancing. But, it might be that at this particular moment I'm happy just sitting here with you."
Several minutes passed in silence between them as a waiter delivered another round of drinks and the dancing began to peter out with officers and guests returning to their tables. Jane glanced at her watch and sighed, "I think Stuart Morris is going to bid on me," she finally admitted.
Maura scrunched up her nose, "Officer Morris from the Hack Unit?"
"The very one," Jane begrudgingly looked several tables over where the balding man in his early forties was sitting, smiling creepily back at her before giving a little wave.
"Oh Jane," Maura reached over and patted her friend's shoulder reassuringly, "I'm sure many others will bid as well. You're an accomplished, attractive woman, there's not a person here who wouldn't be lucky to have the pleasure of your company for an evening."
Jane smiled, a slight blush tinting her cheeks pink. "Thanks," she said quietly under her breath as Frankie, Frost, and Korsak returned to the table. Her eyes flitted towards Maura, who watched intently as Lieutenant Cavanaugh strode across the stage to start the proceedings, a smile playing at the corner of her mouth as she stole the quick glimpse at her friend.
Cavanaugh tapped on the mic sending a reverberating shriek through the room. He flinched and then chuckled, "Sorry about that. I'd like to welcome everyone to the Boston Police Department charity auction, hosted by the Homicide Unit. It's been a great turnout and thanks to your generosity so far our silent auction earlier in the evening has raised close to five thousand dollars to assist with college tuition for Caroline Mulhaney, who is starting at BCU in the fall and is the daughter of Detective Mike Mulhaney who passed away earlier this year from cancer. On behalf of the Homicide Unit and the Boston Police Department, Caroline, we wish you a prosperous freshman year at BCU."
Applause echoed through the ballroom as the young woman stood and waved at her father's colleagues.
"Now," Cavanaugh began again, "the moment you've all been waiting for! Dollars for Detectives! Detectives from around the department have shamelessly put themselves up for auction with all proceeds going towards the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. All of our date packages have been graciously donated and we have paired them up with our brave detectives for you to bid on. So, without further ado, let the good times roll!"
The raucous crowd fell silent as the first detective took the stage. No doubt whoever had planned the order of the auction knew how to kick things off. Detective Kim Sanders walked with confidence across the stage to stand next to the podium and Lieutenant Cavanaugh.
"You guys are pigs," Jane laughed as her brother and partner struggled to pick their tongues up off the floor.
"She's worth coming up with something to get jammed up for," Frankie laughed, taking a swig of his beer.
"Bro," Frost reached out and offered a fist bump to his buddy, "she can investigate my internal affairs anytime!"
A few turns later the room had settled into entertained joviality. Waiters floated with ease amongst the tables filling drink orders as officers and guests hooted and laughed with and at their friends on stage. Frankie stood, straightened his tie and headed towards the stage for his turn.
"Go get 'em tiger!" Frost encouraged, socking his buddy playfully in the arm.
Cavanaugh waved him onto the stage, "Let's give a round of applause for the newly promoted Detective Frankie Rizzoli!"
Jane whistled as her brother took a little bow, "Way to go little brother!"
Frankie removed his suit jacket, tossing it in his best model imitation over his shoulder as he spun around for the crowd. Cavanaugh let out a little chuckle as he shook his head, "Enjoy a fun-filled evening Boston-style with Detective Frankie Rizzoli next Friday night. You'll have dinner at Eastern Standard before the game and then head to Fenway where you'll watch in luxury from the EMC club section with access to the VIP clubhouse. Let's start the bidding!"
Frost shot up out of his seat waving a $100 bill in the air, "One hundred!" he shouted as the room erupted in screams of laughter. Frankie pointed his finger at him and blew a kiss as more laughter rolled through the audience. "Those are amazing seats!" Frost chuckled, tucking the bill back in his pocket as the women in the room began driving the bid higher.
"You'd go on a date with Jane's brother for baseball tickets?" Maura asked with a confused smile.
"Maura," Jane butted in, "I'd go on a date with my brother for those tickets! Those tickets are like four hundred bucks a piece!"
Jane began to tap nervously on the table as Frankie stepped down from the stage. One more auction and then she would be up.
"It's just one night, Jane. Everyone knows that it's for the memorial. It's not a real date," Maura could sense her friend's growing unease.
"What if…" Jane turned towards her, "what if no one bids? And…everyone laughs and makes fun of me?"
The vast majority of the time Jane Rizzoli was the picture of confidence. But, every once in a while she allowed those close to her to see a glimpse of vulnerability. In that moment, dressed in that drab grey suit and those old scuffed boots, Maura felt Jane's femininity heavy in her words: the insecurity of being a woman and being judged and not wanted. And the motive behind Jane's refusal to wear a dress for the evening was suddenly very clear, that it would provide an excuse for why no one had bid on her rather than putting forth the effort only to be ridiculed by rejection.
Maura found herself speechless and before she could regain her wits to speak, the tall detective had stood, squared her shoulders and was stoicly making her way to the stage.
