Rescue

"you clean up real nice, partner." Frost handed Jane a drink as she scanned the teeming ballroom.

"Back at ya, Frost."

It was – thankfully – no more than once a year that detectives had to break out their dress blacks. Jane sometimes thought that she'd take a ten-percent pay cut if she could be sure she never had to wear them again.

But, since she and Maura had come together, there were occasional benefits.

The good doctor, it seems, had a thing for the military look. So this was actually the second time this year that Jane had worn full dress.

Unlike herself ( who always felt awkward in the outfit, despite recreational considerations), Frost actually did look good, his slim, compact body fitting the uniform as if it were a tailored suit. How he remained single was a mystery Jane had chosen not to try and solve.

She continued scanning the room.

It was odd, circulating among all these beautiful people, the cream of Boston's social and financial elite, gathered to see and be seen on behalf of the Police and Fire Children's Foundation. She'd been proud to arrive with Maura on her arm, the doctor brilliant in a thin-strapped, slinky maroon gown, her hair glowing honey highlights. For a working class stiff from Revere, it was all a little odd. Maura's dress, the town car she'd hired for the occasion, the high-class booze, the gourmet food; there was clearly an upside to wealth and position. But the kind of people you had to associate with – well, pretentious didn't even begin to cover it. The conversation at dinner had been almost enough to spoil her appetite.

Almost, but not quite. The food was amazing.

Maura was amazing, too. Despite her tendency to run on about obscure topics, she was far more interesting than the stuffed tuxes and glitzy bimbos at the table. Ten-to-one more than half of them weren't wives.

Maura was exceptional in so many ways.

So where had she got to?

After dinner they'd been accosted by a fire captain and a woman whom Maura seemed to know, and they had immediately engaged in a conversation that meant nothing to Jane. Jane had excused herself to go to the bar, and when she turned back Maura wasn't in sight.

All right, detective; where is she?

Where would the most beautiful woman in the room be?

Right there.

At one side of the ballroom there was a tight gaggle of men, the backs of their tuxes a wall of black, all facing the same person who was, from this distance, invisible. Jane was quite sure who was the focus of attention for that cluster of roosters.

She got out her phone, sent a text.

You need to be rescued, don't you?

It took about a minute for a reply.

Yes, please. How did you know?

I have my methods

Do you know where I am?

Queen bee in a bunch of drones?

Exactly

Be right there

Jane worked her way around the flank, and sure enough there was Maura. She put her hands on Maura's bare shoulders, and warmed as the doctor leaned into her body. "I'd like to dance with you."

Maura smiled up at Jane. "My pleasure, detective. To the assembled group, she smiled even more brilliantly. "If you'll excuse me, gentlemen."

Jane wanted to stay and watch the expressions, but Maura was clearly in a hurry to go.

The band had just begun a slow dance tune, and Maura nestled close to Jane, her cheek on Jane's shoulder. She could feel Jane's heart beating.

"Thank you."

"I couldn't leave you with those sharks. It looked pretty claustrophobic."

"Actually, it would be closer to agoraphobia, fear of crowds. It comes from the Greek agora or marketplace..."

Jane tipped Maura's jaw up, kissed her in mid-sentence. "I love you, googlemouth."

"I know. I love you, too, gumshoe."

Jane was becoming less rational, more feral, the longer she held Maura this close. The music, the people around them, faded. Only Maura, her softness, her scent, her energy, remained.

She whispered hoarsely, "I want to be alone with you. Let's go home."

Maura smiled into the fabric of Jane's uniform. "We could do that."

"Hmmm. You sound like you have other plans."

Maura stepped away as the dance ended, slipped her hand into her clutch purse, and slipped a card into Jane's hand.

A room key. Jane took in Maura's sly grin.

"This is a hotel. I engaged a room for the night. Just in case."

"Just in case what?"

"This." Maura kissed her, and tugged gently on the knot of Jane's tie.

######

Bargain

"…it's a lovely piece, and from the photograph you've shown me it seems rubies would be most suitable. May I ask if there is a special occasion?"

"It's an engagement ring."

Old Mr. Jacoby paused, polished his glasses. "You are really a very lucky woman - your intended is quite attractive."

"She is. Y'know, I think she'll like that ring. Okay…how much?"

Mr. Jacoby quoted a price and Jane cringed. "Well…thanks anyway."

"Is there a problem? I assure you everything is negotiable."

"You'd have to negotiate quite a lot for this. It's almost twice what I have to spend. It's my savings." Jane put her hands on her hips and pushed back her jacket, unintentionally exposing her badge.

Mr. Jacoby asked, "Are you a police officer?"

Jane said "Detective."

"Well, detective, this is a coincidence. You see, starting Friday – tomorrow – we're offering a half-price sale to municipal safety service and military members. The sale hasn't officially started yet but I'm sure I could offer you…"

"Sir, I can't accept favors from merchants."

"It's not like that. We do this every year."

"I've never noticed it before."

"Have you bought fine jewelry for this lovely lady before?"

"Ahhh…no."

"Well isn't it time you did?"

"I…suppose. Half price, you said?"

"Yes. Should I wrap it?"

"Mmmmm..sure. I'll take it."

######

Friday

Jane gaped while trying to be subtle and cool. "Wow. This is a nice place. I've never been here."

Maura put her hand gently on Jane's back. Jane was wearing a black suit, much dressier than her everyday work clothes, cut more carefully to her figure, and under it a plain white satin top, with a deep vee neck that made her look feminine, sexy, and strong, all at once. Maura couldn't take her eyes off the detective. "You made the reservation, Jane. Thank you for choosing it."

"I suppose you've been here before."

"Yes, but only once. It has excellent food. It was sweet of you to take me out."

" I love you. Why shouldn't I take you out?"

"Well…it's…just unusual for you, that's all. I know you think restaurants like this are pretentious."

"But you like them, Maura. And I like you. Makes sense."

"You like me?"

"You love someone because they make you feel good. That's liking."

"You sound like me."

"That's scary. There's only one Maura Isles."

They ordered wine and dinner, and Jane's nerves began to come unstrung. Maura noticed her lover fidget and asked, "Are you all right?"

Jane muttered, "Uh, yes…no. I'm nervous as hell."

"Nervous? For heaven's sake why?"

Instead of answering, Jane took the small, flat jeweler's case out of her inside pocket. She put it on the table in front of Maura. Maura looked at the box, and then at Jane, with surprise. Then she laughed, a full, round, mirthful laugh that frightened Jane out of her wits.

"What are you laughing at? What's so funny?"

"Not you. And not what you intend with that. But…" Maura reached into her purse and took out a white satin jeweler's box, almost the same size as the one Jane had placed in front of her. With a brilliant smile she placed it in front of Jane. And Jane laughed, too.

"Aren't we a pair?"

"We must be joined at the brain, or something. How did you know?"

"I was ready, and I was hoping you were. Are you?"

"Yes. Very much. More than ready."

"Open it."

"You open yours first. I was first."

"I swear you are still six years old."

They ended up opening them together. Maura had given Jane a single diamond in a simple, elegant gold setting, which looked beautiful on her hand. Maura was pleased to have rubies for an engagement ring, not finding diamonds attractive on her. But that single diamond looked great on Jane.

Jane cleared her throat.

"Well...I might as well make this formal." Jane's voice shook, a little. "Dr. Maura Isles, will you marry me?"

Maura beamed. "Yes. Yes. Detective Jane Rizzoli, will you marry me?"

"I asked you. You know the answer."

"I want to hear it."

Jane held Maura's cheek in her palm. "Yes. Yes, Doctor, I will marry you."

######

Gifts

"Were you expecting a package?"

Maura shook out her umbrella before closing the door, placed it in the stand in the foyer.

"No, why?" Jane kissed her, took the grocery bag, and looked at the small box Maura held in her hands. It was wrapped in brown paper, and had the names "Maura and Jane" printed in block letters directly on the wrapping. It hadn't been on the stoop very long; it was barely wet. There was no postage on the package.

No postage.

"Maura, you'd better put that down. Outside. Here. Let me." Jane gingerly took the box, and set it out on the sidewalk.

"Jane, it'll get soaked What..."

"No postage, hon. Anonymously delivered. Who have you pissed off lately? Or me? Or your dear old dad?"

Not anyone that I...oh."

"Yeah. Oh." Jane keyed her phone. Maura asked, "Who are you calling?"

"Bomb squad. I want 'em to take a look."

"Do you really think someone would send us a bomb?"

"Who knows? We've both got enough enemies that it's a real possibility. To say nothing of Paddy's enemies."

The bomb squad came in short order, carefully put the package in the blastproof carrier. Several marked cruisers also showed up, cordoned off the block and evacuated the homes in the vicinity. Maura was horrified; "My neighbors will never speak to me again." Jane said she should remind them of the extra security they enjoyed with a cop living on the block; the inconvenience was a small price to pay. A portable fluoroscope revealed that the package contained no parts that could be recognized as an explosive device; in fact, the only opaque objects in the box appeared to be..

"Jewelry."

"What?" Jane and Maura were looking at the x-ray in the back of the bomb truck parked outside the house. The neighbors had all been let back into their homes, none more resentful than Jane's mother, who had ruined a batch of zeppoli when the homes on the block had been evacuated. The package had been x-rayed, vapor-analyzed, and sniffed by a bomb dog, and appeared to be completely harmless. The wet brown paper had been removed, and an inner plastic bag as well. Nothing dangerous.

The X-ray image showed the clear shadows of a ring, with a setting, and what could be a bracelet or necklace.

Jane asked the EOD chief, "is it safe to open?"

"It's not likely to blow up. But some of the damndest stuff arrives in anonymous packages. Your call, Detective."

"Maura, you should be out of here. In the house."

"No."

Jane knew better by now than to argue. That sweet feminine exterior covered a will of pure steel.

Deep breath. Cut the tape with the chief's clasp knife. Lift the flap.

Envelopes.

Altogether there were five envelopes. One addressed to "Detective Rizzoli"; the other simply "Maura". The other three were blank.

The EOD team judged everything safe, so Jane and Maura took the package and its contents back into the house as the bomb squad left. They sat at the dining table to examine the peculiar delivery.

Two of the envelopes did indeed contain jewelry. One item was a ring; a simple, small diamond in an ornate, old-fashioned setting. The ring wasn't pure gold, because it showed signs of tarnish; it wasn't an expensive ring. The other item was a necklace, also very of a very old design, made of silver; the tarnish on the piece was quite pronounced. The woven-knot pattern suggested Ireland.

The other unlabeled envelope held a photograph. It was small, about five by six, and pitted with age. It showed a young man and woman, posed formally, facing the camera; he was dressed in a dark suit which Maura recognized as late 1920's style, and she was in a wedding dress, her veil drawn away. It was clearly this couple's wedding portrait. On the back, in script written in faded ink, was

"Walter Doyle and Maureen O'Bannon Doyle, Cobh, April 1932. May God bless this union."

"Paddy's ancestors. My ancestors." Maura was tense, tight-lipped; Jane could sense anger, and perhaps some fear. She put her hand over Maura's, said "He can't hurt you."

"It's not that. It's just stirring up...unpleasant memories."

Paddy Doyle was now doing six consecutive life sentences in a maximum-security federal prison in Colorado. The murders for which he'd been convicted, as well as a murder-conspiracy charge, had all fallen under Federal jurisdiction one way or another. The Feds had had little incentive to offer Paddy any kind of deal in hopes of catching bigger fish; he was the big fish.

Jane understood; she didn't want to live that nightmare over, either. She and Maura had come too close to tearing themselves apart over that. Now, on the eve of their wedding, a reminder of that awful time just had to show up.

Thanks, Paddy. You miserable fuck.

"We don't have to do this. Not if you don't..."

"No." Maura leaned into Jane, kissed her tenderly. "That's past. I can do this. I love you, and the past isn't going to change that. There's probably some explanation in these other envelopes."

They opened the envelopes. They each read the note addressed to them, and then exchanged them.

Both notes were short. They were written in a cultured script that surprised Jane, considering Paddy wasn't a formally educated man.

Dear Maura,

I hear that you and the detective are getting married. That's legal in Massachusetts now. I'm not happy with it but times change. If you have to marry a woman, Jane Rizzoli is a good choice for you. I know she loves you.

You should know that I would have killed her if she hadn't taken me down. At the time I hated her for what I thought was corrupting you. I don't think that anymore.

The ring is my grandmother's wedding ring, your great-grandmother. The necklace was her wedding present from her husband, your great grandfather. That's them in the picture, at their wedding. They were married in Ireland and came over here a year later. He was on the run from the cops in Ireland. I don't know for what.

I wanted you to have these. You ought to know where the blood in your veins comes from, even if you never acknowledge it.

I'm proud of you. You've made so much of yourself. I'm sorry I won't be there to give you away.

Forgive me the life I've lived. I never wanted to bring any harm to you.

I love you.

Doyle.

And, to Jane, he'd written:

Detective,

I suppose you had the bomb squad check the package. I'm glad they didn't blow it up. Forget about prints. You won't find any but mine.

Pardon me if I don't call you Jane. We're not really on a first name basis. I know you hate me and everything I represent, but there are some things you should know before you marry Maura. Marry my daughter.

I know Maura makes her own choices. I don't want her marrying another woman, but if that's what she wants she'll have it and I can't change it. I gave up all those rights when she was born. I'm glad she chose you. I dislike what you do, but I respect that you can watch over her. She loves you, and that's what matters.

Take care of her. She's smart, but maybe not so street smart. There's people out there who'd hurt her if they could. You know all about those kind of people. Keep her safe.

If you decide you want kids, you don't have to tell them about me. Maybe Maura would rather forget about me. But she shouldn't. I'm her family whether she, or you, like it or not.

I trust you to be good to her, protect her. That's your job now. I can't do that for her any more. She's yours. She was never really mine. I think that was for the best.

You won't hear from me again.

Doyle

Maura wiped the tears from her eyes. Not so much of sadness, but of frustration, anger.

Jane comforted her, held her with a gentle rocking motion. "We don't have to keep any of it. We could donate it to a museum, or...something."

"I want to keep it. All of it. I'll never wear those things. But I just want to remember how lucky I am, how close I came to having to try and live in Paddy's world."

"You wouldn't have lived in Paddy's world. You'd have been killed."

"That, too. I need to stay aware of how precious this life is. You are. Mother and Father. Your family. All of it. I have you, not him."

"And we have you."

She kissed Maura, was kissed right back.

"That, too", Maura said.