It takes place some time before "Nikki Heat" (since it's post-Natalie Rhodes), but somewhere before "Setup"/"Countdown" because if it wasn't I'd find myself compelled to explain why Agent Fallon resembled a dead senator.

As for life stopping it's torture of Beckett...that's an interesting way of wording it, given what I have planned for the role Johanna's case plays in this 'verse.

I'm actually pretty sure you're not going to like it...