Chapter 3: The Departed Part One: Blue Blooded

Two Years Ago... That is where the story actually begins for me. I was a fresh green blood just out of the academy and had been with the Boston Police Department as nothing more than a foot soldier for seven months. My birthday fell on the tail end of the year, and so throughout much of my life I was always the youngest to achieve. It was my dream for the longest time to be a detective and that is why I joined the police force. Two years ago I was twenty one. Still a child in some ways. Naive to fault my ambition. I was incredibly ambitious, but I do not think I was fully ready for the task that was to be my life from that fateful day I tried to grasp for the proverbial golden ring.

"Rizzoli!" The order came barked out from a thin short little man who did not particularly seem intimidating but still I had snapped out of the plastic chair as if he was an army general in the heat of combat. It was a reflex still hanging over me from my cadet life. Something I did not think at that point I would ever lose. It made me orderly and focused. Respectful.

"Sir." I had responded with my shoulders back and squared. My face read no emotion, and I could sense this man's humor at my behavior.

He had mumured, "Fucking newbies." As he turned on his heel and motioned me to follow. I fell easily in step behind him despite his headstart and quick pace. My body was lean but still defined. My benefit from so much hard work to craft myself into tip top shape. I did not lack femininity even though I tried to hide it. My hair was always tied back. My gait had a swagger to it and I was always straight backed and my eyes bore forward, without distraction, to whereever I was headed. And so exactly that is how I was at that moment. My cap tucked under my arm. Free arm swung by my hip where my issued revolver was slung and I was grateful for its presence. It gave me a feeling of security although in my head I hardly felt I needed it. I knew I was well trained to fight without being armed.

A few eyes traveled to our passing forms as we navigated the bustle of the homicide's department bullpen. It was mainly male dominated which is why I hid my womanly curves. It did not prevent the older guys checking me out. I was not exactly flattered. Not only because they were not attractive but because I never really had the urge to date. I did not dislike it actually. There was an excitement knowing I was attractive to some standards and had a certain sensibility when it came to the opposite sex but I never felt anything beyond the first rush. Never felt anything deep which is why when I joined the police force I had declined any advances made toward me.

I did not chance to look at anyone's faces just then and even as I recall it in my head it all came back as an odd mash of vacant eyes and mouths. Save one a female detective that gazed at me for a moment longer than appropiate. I felt a rush then but only because she was beautiful. Dark hair, thin but curvy and lovely darker skin. I quickly snapped from that look but it still to this day was burned in my memory. Besides that really wasn't the most important thing regarding my recall of this day.

I remember the scent of stale coffee and toner. The stagnancy of an office setting that settled to cheap carpet and deodorant. The chatter and noise didnt really register as our swift pace moved in and out of the people wandering about to where I knew my old family friend Korsak's office was. The confidence I exude outwardly was hiding the nervousness within. I had been summoned by the Captain of Homicide, Narcotics and the Chief of Police Cavanaugh.

Nervous perhaps was not the proper discription. I was a mess of fear.

"Inside." The short officer whose badge I noticed to say Danby had said as we reached the far end of the room. He opened the door and I swallowed audibly and breathed out slow and heavy trying to control my nerves. Danby actually smiled when he saw the crack in the veneer of my calm. "You Know," he said stopping me from entering with his hand on my shoulder "Only those who are guilty need to be afraid of us." With that he patted my shoulder with a chuckle and strode past at his surprisingly fast pace. I watched him walk off and not realized I was standing in front of my superiors until I heard a familiar voice shake me back.

It was Captian Detective Vince Korsak, "Please come in Jane." I looked into the room as I took a slow step in. Korsak was sitting at his desk. The Captain of Narcotics Freshour was standing near the window next to a man slouched in an arm chair I had never seen before and behind Korsak was Chief Cavanaugh. I snapped the door shut behind me and quickly stood at attention in front of the men.

"Relax Rizzoli. You look like you are standing in front of a firing squad. Take a seat." I chanced a small smile at the Chief's attempt of relaxing the tension as I started to move. My limbs still were stiff and robotic in motion as I grabbed the empty chair in front of the Captian's desk. I sat and waited looking at each man in turn feeling like the time was stretching into an infinite unfathomable warp. I was hardly containing my excitement and it took all I could to not to let my nervous twitch of my leg shaking happen. Cavanaugh spoke again as he opened a file clearing his throat, "You are an impressive find officer," He began and without break, without me commenting he continued, "You were the top of your class. Tested spectacularly. Fitness assessments were immaculate." I chanced a small thank you as he continued. "And you have been a vice officer for..." He flipped a page and quickly scanned, "Seven months."

All eyes looked at me and I slowly nodded. The slouched man in the chair was the only one not paying attention to me and I actually appreciated that. His eyes were fixed to a spot in the floor and if it were possible it looked as if a hole would be bored and swallow him up. Maybe that was his wish.

"And recently your heroics have rescued two of your fellow officers. Actions like that would be awarded a medal of valor." He looked up at me closing what I knew now to be my file and smiled.

My excitement over took me at that point with the mention of such a high honor. "Are you saying you are giving me an award?"

Freshour and the Chief exchanged looks and Korsak looked at me with a grimace with which I could not place the context. "No Rizzoli we are not." It was Freshour this time speaking as he walked over and handed me a file of his own. "We are giving you an opportunity." I opened the file and was greeted with the mug shot of the most infamous man of the east coast.

Paddy Doyle

"I dont understand, sir." I said addressing no one man in particular but the room at large as my confused gaze met with each of theirs.

Cavanaugh cleared his throat, "As you know Rizzoli The Boston PD has recently been subject to a massive scandal involving Joseph Grant. In fact there isn't a person in Boston that didn't know about the corruption involving him. We need to act. We need a bust that will hopefully clear us from the damage he caused. Thats why we want to bring down the Doyle organization."

I was taken aback. I flipped through the file distractedly. "You want to bring down Paddy Doyle?" It was a disbelieving question. A nod was what I got in response. "You want to bring him down to save the reputation of the BPD." That wasn't a question I shook my head staring at Doyle forever frozen in black and white. "What about all the people he has killed sir? All the crimes he has commited and will commit. That should be the reason to bring him down." I knew then it was hot headed and defiant to speak in such a way to my superior and honestly it was a dumb thing to do but the reaction I got was not what I expected.

Cavanaugh laughed.

"You were absolutely right Korsak," he said addressing my mentor. "She has a good heart and stubborn."

I didnt appreciate being talked about as if I was not there and stood once again at attention, "Sir, I do not understand the meaning of this. Why bring me here to your office only to beat around the bush? What does any of this have to do with me? I am not being commended for my bravery but actually being talked down to... Sir..." I added the last bit with regret of speaking so abruptly and to my commanding officers as well. The nervousness overtook me again replacing my indignation that flared only a moment ago.

"She needs to watch her mouth if you want her to do this." It was finally the slouched man that had broke his silence. He looked at me still sitting in his relaxed position and noticed how exhausted he looked. He was a young man but not as young as me, african-american and looked from his state of dress that he was more of a perp than part of the police. "What we want you to do," he continued "Is to go undercover with me."

"And who are you exactly?" I said without disrespect but with genuine curiosity.

Korsak stood and so did the undercover cop. Korsak formally introduced us as I shook the stranger's hand, "Jane this is Detective Barry Frost. Your new partner."