Tempus Fugit, Memento Mori
Who: Jane, Lisbon, Cho, Rigsby, Van Pelt, Danny Ruskin, Ally Turner (invented character)
What: Events with the CBI and Jane and Lisbon after the death of Red John and exposure of Blake
When: Approximately 1 year after Red John's demise (after end of season 5)
Where: Sacramento, other areas in California
Why: AU: The CBI survives after exposure of the corrupt Blake Association law-enforcement network. Bertram has fled, Red John is dead, and Lisbon is the new CBI Director. Why do RJ and BA files go missing? Who's after Jane and why? What's next for Jane and Lisbon?
Chapter 1: Life Reset; Death Unchanged
Exposed as a member of the corrupt Blake Association, former CBI Director Gale Bertram had fled just over a year ago, only to be captured soon after through a nationwide FBI manhunt. Then Red John was eliminated by Lisbon's team in a righteous kill shortly after Bertram's departure. After months of indecision by the AG and governor, Lisbon was appointed Director of the CBI with a six-month probationary period.
Lisbon now was well along with successfully overhauling the CBI. As part of his work in cleaning up the multi-state Blake Association, FBI Supervising Agent Dennis Abbott had ID'd about ten percent of the CBI's detectives as BA members. With Lisbon's enthusiastic approval, Abbott indicted and removed them from their positions, scrubbing the bureau of the corruption and enabling Lisbon to start fresh. Lisbon had filled many vacancies, implemented a program to coach new team leaders, and identified agents with specialized talents to make them available to help all CBI teams. The nascent programs had already improved the closure rates and conviction stats for the CBI. Lisbon was finally secure in her position. The workload was gradually easing with the new hires and more effective team leadership.
Cho's Team
Cho's Special Crimes Unit had closed its case yesterday. With no new case, Cho, Van Pelt, Jane and Rigsby were enjoying a little well-deserved down time. Still short one agent, Lisbon promised Cho the chance to fill the vacancy soon, which would further ease the workload.
The group was on its way to O'Malley's for lunch. Cho and Van Pelt had already crossed the busy street, trailed by Jane with Rigsby bringing up the rear. Jane was about to step into the crosswalk.
"Jane!" Rigsby called as a car turned the corner heading toward Jane. Jane looked back as he stepped onto the street. Rigsby took two impossibly long strides. He yanked Jane back by his shoulder. The car came within inches, a wash of air and squeal of tires highlighting the near miss. Startled, Jane exhaled in relief.
"Geez, Jane. Watch where the hell you're going."
Suddenly pale, he gulped and muttered, "Yeah. Uh, thanks Rigs."
Cho and Van Pelt had turned at Rigsby's call and saw the car. The car didn't stop and the license plate was obscured by mud. No follow-up was possible on Jane's near miss. Once everyone was safely on the other side, they entered O'Malley's and had an enjoyable lunch. With the new call forwarding feature, no one had to stay behind to man phones anymore. They were lucky to have a relaxed lunch because all hell broke loose when they were back in the office.
Lisbon
Lisbon tossed her leather folder on the polished, walnut desk in disgust. Her one-on-one budget meeting with her boss was an exercise in frustration. The CBI remained understaffed from years of budget cuts and the decimation of Abbott's BA indictments. Without the needed funds, the CBI would never be fully staffed. Of course, that fact wouldn't be mentioned the next time a grisly case hit the news and officials and pundits wondered why the perp wasn't arrested sooner.
Her aide Melinda stuck her head into the office. "Mass shooting at a high school. Want me to turn on the news?" She opened the cabinet doors and clicked on the TV.
"...Bringing you the latest update on the Brownsville Central Valley High School shooting which began at about 12:30. The school is on lock-down. Police are working to evacuate the students. It appears a sniper has killed or wounded 14 students. No additional shots have been fired since about 12:45 this afternoon. But the police are taking every precaution since it is not certain whether the shooter is still out there. Names of the students injured or killed will not be released until relatives..."
Lisbon muted the TV and leaned back in her chair. Unless this is a slam dunk, we're gonna get this case. Cho's free, so I guess they're up. Lots of air time for mass shootings. And a high school. God. Wrap it up as fast as possible before we get copycats. Sure enough, the AG called within minutes. He had offered the Brownsville mayor every assistance and the police chief was taking him up on it. Lisbon called Cho and Forensics.
Lisbon left the office at about 8:00 p.m., briefcase full of the evening's work. Cho's team had taken a flight to Brownsville that afternoon, so Jane was long gone by the time Lisbon opened the apartment door. Their apartment felt empty without him, but she could put the uninterrupted time to good use. She had moved into Jane's apartment eight months ago and neither advertised that fact nor denied it. Jane now reported to Cho. Blessedly, the swell of gossip had died down once the novelty of their new living arrangements wore off. Despite regular suggestions by Jane, Lisbon literally didn't have time to get married as CBI director was an all-consuming job. At least so far.
The phone rang at about 10 p.m., just as Lisbon was wrapping up her work. She was too tired to do more. She could work on the next task tonight for another three hours. Or, she could get it done in one after a good night's sleep.
"Hi, Jane. ... Just wrapping up. ... Yes, I had dinner. ... For heaven's sake, stop nagging. I'll eat before I shower, okay? ... How's the case?" She grimaced at the thought of 14 deaths. And the impact those deaths would have on Jane, whose daughter would have been about high school age. "Huh. So you don't think it was a student? ... Well, Cho will brief me tomorrow first thing. Then I'll have to give something to the press. ... Yeah. ... Jane, I know this is hard. Get some sleep? ... Miss you, too. Love you. ... G'night."
The job was hard and demanding. Jane was ... Jane. But she had never been happier. This was her shot at fixing things in the CBI that had gnawed at her for years. And she and Jane were finally together, minus one evil serial killer.