Full disclaimers on Chapter 1.
Stop NOW if DRAMA/TRAGEDY is NOT something you are interested into reading, or if it is a bad trigger for you.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Rizzoli & Isles nor any of the characters from the show. I am writing this purely for entertainment, not profit. Rizzoli and Isles are property of Tess Gerritsen and TNT.
I am not a native English speaker, and I don't have a beta. So all mistakes are 100% mine.
Enough of disclaimers and warnings – read at your own risk. Reviews are always welcome!
Chapter 100
"You look absolutely stunning!" Angela said, surprised to see Maura in all her well-dressed glory for the first time in more than two years.
Tonight was the official launch date of Maura's first novel, the signing event was going to be a massive endeavor, and the entire Rizzoli clan was dressed to the nine's to attend.
Six months had passed since Jane's death.
Maura was wearing a black dress, that had straps leaving from the base of her throat to the back, leaving her beautiful shoulders completely exposed. The dress had a fishnet right in the middle of the chest that extended to the empire waist. The skirt of the dress began on the empire waistband then flowed to her feet, with a slash up to her left thigh that would only be perceptible depending on how she positioned her foot or leg.
Her hair, still short but carefully styled, framed her beautiful face, that had gained her traditional light make up to cover her freckles and highlight her hazel eyes.
The only jewelry she was using was a long pendant pair of earrings, made of three tear drop pieces interconnected, each teardrop in white gold, and with a cut diamond in each teardrop.
"Thank you." Maura was grateful for the comment. It was the first big function she was attending in more than two years, and she knew it was supposed to be one of the most important days of her life.
"Shall we go?"
Maura had hired a driver, since after the signing there would be an after-launch party, and she wanted to make sure she and the others could enjoy it.
As they entered the foyer of the Institute of Contemporary Art, that was hosting the event, she said her so longs to the Rizzoli's, since she needed to go through the back to be introduced to the stage. She would be interviewed, answer a few of the audience's questions, sign books, and then the editors were hosting the party. She would sit with them again in the party, but until then she was on her own.
The host conducted her backstage, and they proceed to wire her with the discreet microphone. It reminded her of a long time in the past, when Jane had wired her for an undercover operation, Maura teasing Jane, excited for her first undercover, and Jane tense, afraid for Maura's safety. It had ended up with the Paddy Doyle getting shot and a rift that lasted a few months between Jane and Maura. But the memory of Jane's deft fingers ghosting her skin was all too present.
"Here, you are all set. There will be water by the table in front of you. You received the questions we will be asking in advance, but then we will open the microphone for the audience to ask questions. Is that okay?"
"That is fine, thank you."
The host nodded at her, and moved to the stage. It was time.
"Ladies and gentlemen, good evening! We are here tonight for the signing event of 'Out of Time', a crime novel by our own Boston forensic pathologist turned writer. The book has been in shelves for five days, and it is already on the list of top ten best-selling fiction of The New York times. Tonight, you will have a chance to hear from the author herself, ask her a few questions, and get her autograph on your copy of the book. Please join me in welcoming to the stage Dr. Maura Isles."
Maura inhaled deeply, and stepped into the limelight. It was a full crowd sitting, and people were cheering and clapping for her. She smiled gently and nodded regally, signaling her gratitude, before approaching the siating arrangement and sitting in her most proper pose.
"Good evening, Dr. Isles, it is great to have you with us tonight."
"It is a pleasure to be here, and thank you all for coming." She turned to politely address the crowd, that clapped again.
"Can you tell us a bit more about how you came to turn from forensic pathologist to writer?"
"I always liked words. After a traumatic event a few years back, I began a Creative Writing course to try to exercise some of my daemons, and found out a passion for writing. The novels are crime and mystery novels, so in that sense not too much of a deviation of my line of work, forensic pathology." She said with easy humor, to which the crowd concurred, smiling.
So far, so good.
"Tell us about 'Out of Time'."
"Over the years, I have seen, investigated and consulted on all kinds of crimes. Perpetrators and victims, motives and methods. Also, as a woman, I have always been very attuned to fashion. Those two worlds collapsed in the inception of Out of Time. And being it a crime and mystery novel, anything else I could say would be a spoiler, and I don't think you would like that, would you?" Maura teased, and the crowd went wild.
"What about the dynamic investigation duo, the heroes of the story?"
Maura smiled gently, with a longing recognizable on her face for those who knew her well. "Oh, that is an easy one. The inspiration for the dynamic duo of investigation is based on my own experience working as the Chief Medical Examiner of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in partnership with late Detective Jane Rizzoli, my best friend, with whom I worked together for 8 years. Different personalities, styles, backgrounds, professions, and experiences, that partnered together to solve crimes. Obviously, this is fictional, so any mistakes are 100% mine." She added.
While she spoke, she had focused on the very the first row, where she had made sure the host had reserved special seating for the Rizzoli's, who were looking adoringly at her, knowing perfectly well what Maura was talking about.
"You have an interesting history yourself. Daughter of the Irish Mob Boss of Boston and all... How does that influence your thinking and your writing?"
Maura was glad they had provided her the questions in advance. She might have asked to veto it, but she knew if they didn't ask, someone in the audience might. So she was glad she had a chance to prepare her reply.
"I only found out who my biological father was at age 34, and who my biological mother was at age 37. Except for any genetical influence, they have no influence on how I think or on what I write. I was adopted when I was a few days old by two Harvard Professors, so the influence on my thinking and writing comes more from the environment I was raised at since I was a baby."
"There are negotiations ongoing for making the book into a movie or tv series. What do you think about that?"
"So I was told, I am not yet aware of any firm agreements, but I certainly would be curious to see the story exposed in a different media."
"Can we expect more adventures for the dynamic duo?"
"Who knows? I have a few ideas in my head, and depending on how 'Out of Time' is received, I might feel tempted to write another one." Maura answered, leaving the possibility hanging in the air. The crowd cheered.
They opened the microphone, and Maura took a few questions from the audience. The people who had already read the book were all praises, so it was very exciting.
"Thank you. We now invite you all to move to the salon, where Dr. Isles will be autographing copies of the book. The book will also be available for purchase."
She stood to the cheering ovation, bowed humbly to thank them, and left the stage. It had been a complete success.
The host guided her backstage to the signing salon.
"There will be multiple pens for you to use, and the photographers will be capturing candid photos, so you can focus only on the autographs."
"Thank you."
As Maura entered the salon, she saw the line was formed, and they clapped and cheered for her.
She sat, and began the autographs session.
Opening the line, came the Rizzoli's.
"Maura! You are a rockstar!"
She smiled, shaking her head.
Their copies, she dedicated not on the cover page as she would do for all other people, but on the printed Dedication page of the book. The reason being simple. Maura had explicitly made the editor diagram the Dedication page to hold a full-page picture on the left of Maura and Jane, standing back-to-back, as if posing. It was a picture Frost had taken from them years ago, for fun, but that looked awesome. Maura had her medical bag, Jane showing her service Glock on her belt. And on the right, she had in print, for every copy of the book the world would see: "To my partner in solving crimes and my best friend forever, Jane Clementine Rizzoli. Always in my heart and in the pages of every story I will ever write." That was the page where Maura wrote a special dedication to each one of the Rizzoli's as well, and signed their copies.
The same picture of the dedication had been ampliated and mounted on a stand discreetly to Maura's side on the signing table. Maura was fulfilling Jane's last wish. She was, in a way, attending Maura's book signing. And Jane would be in every book ever sold, not only in the character inspired in her, but in the picture and dedication page.
Maura moved to sign the copies hearing a lot of praise and interesting stories or requests for the dedication.
After the line was completed and the last copy autographed, the crowd disbanded and only the VIP invitees remained for the after signing party.
The host conducted Maura to the table where the Rizzoli's stood to receive her with their signature hugs, clapping, cheering and whistling. Hope and Caitlin and Vince and Kiki and Kent and Sean were also there. Constance and Arthur were planned to attend the launch events that were scheduled to happen in London and Paris in the following month, after Maura had completed the ones in US (New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco were in the agenda).
"How are you feeling?" Angela asked, after all have hugged Maura and finally allowed her to sit.
Maura smiled, gently, at all of them. "After this round of hugs? I feel extremely loved."
"No, we mean about the event…"
"Oh, yeah… That was thrilling. But there was nothing earlier tonight that beats this… Thank you all for being here for me!"
Champagne was served, and they all cheered to Maura's success. Then came dinner. And more champagne. Maura spent a bit of time with each one of the other VIP tables along dinner, before coming back to have dessert with the Rizzoli's. And then the DJ took over, with more champagne. They all danced and cheered together, with the other VIP invitees, and had a fabulous time.
The driver took Angela and Maura back home in the wee hours of the morning. Angela entered with Maura on the main house.
"Did you enjoy yourself, honey?" Angela asked proudly of her.
"I did, Angela, I had a wonderful time…"
"You deserve it…" Angela kissed her temple. "I am very proud of you, Maura. And you looked incredible… The crowd went wild."
"Your opinion is likely too biased for me to trust." Maura chuckled. "But thank you."
"I better get to bed, these heels are killing me after all the drinking and dancing…" Angela approached Maura, to hug her tightly, whispering in her year. "I am sure there is someone else very, very proud of you, Maura, wherever she is…" Angela's voice broke as she spoke, and she kissed Maura's temple gently before turning to leave.
Maura just nodded at her, tears in her eyes.
"I hope so, Angela, I really hope so…"