I know it's a new story but I've been working on it for a while and with Mordant almost complete I thought I would start posting. I hope you enjoy it.

"Cho come with me. Grace put a trace on Jane's phone."

"What's wrong boss.?"

"The man's missing again."

"I thought he was with Rigsby?"

"Yes, well Rigsby popped into a store and left Jane in the car and when he came out there was no Jane. He's spent the past hour looking for him. if they weren't in such a remote place I would order Rigsby back and leave Jane where ever he is."

VanPelt looks up from the computer.

"Nothing from his phone boss."

"Nothing.?!"

"How can that be?"

"It must be turned off or the battery's been removed."

"Why on earth would Jane do that? Try again and keep trying."

"Will do boss and I'll call you as soon as I get anything. Good luck."

"It's Jane that's going to need luck when I get my hands on him."

The look on Lisbon's face has VanPelt almost feeling sorry for Jane.

Lisbon climbs into the driver's seat. She hands Cho the address and Cho inputs it into the sat nav and they turn out of the parking lot heading to the highway that will take them to the mountains. Lisbon is talking but not expecting Cho to answer, she's letting off steam.

"There's three hundred and fifty inhabitants in that town, how can Rigsby lose him. I should have sent you instead, but, I got tired of him waxing lyrical about the redwood trees. How old they are, how tall they are. He was all set to tell me their history from the year dot. This is probably payback for sending him, even though he wanted to go. He doesn't like it there and as somehow blamed me. He'll be sorry he ever mentioned a redwood tree when I get my hands on him."

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Jane's tired of sitting in the car so he gets out and leans against it facing the mountains. His feet crossed at the ankles and his arms folded against his chest. He takes deep breaths enjoying the fresher air away from Sacramento. A few minutes pass and his eyes move away from the mountains and sweep the neighbourhood. It sure is a pleasant place. There's just a couple of stores and a bar. There are a few houses dotted here and there, a very small school, with a park next to it. All of it seemingly, nestled within the trees although the highway isn't too far away. He eyes follow the movements of and old man leaving the store with two bags of groceries in his arms. He watches his progress as one of the bags doesn't look safe. Sure enough the bag in his left arm begins to topple. Jane gives a shout of warning, much too late, and the bag and it's contents hit the ground. Jane rushes over to help pick up the groceries. He approvingly notices the flavour of tea purchased. After they're all back in the bag Jane offers to carry the bag to the car.

"I don't have a car Sonny, I just walk. The towns not big enough to need one. The last one just rotted away in the front yard."

"Okay show the way."

They pass the outskirts of town and take the last left turn. The trees are denser here and the homes more private. Jane finds out the man's name is Jack, they chat amiably about the joys of living in this remote place. The more Jane hears the less he fancies it. Snow's not his favourite thing, great to visit, but not to live in. Apparently they end up being snowed in from Christmas until it thaws in March.

"Not your cup of tea then Sonny?"

Jane shakes his head.

"Growing up we always stayed away from the snow, bad for business. I prefer to feel the warmth of the sun on my face."

"Bah sun's overrated. It's a killer, where as snow keeps you fit. All that shovelling, and chopping of wood, keeps the muscles and your heart strong. The sun encourages laziness, sitting around because it's too hot to work, playing at the beach or the river. Sun worshippers, the only thing strong about them is their skin that turns to leather.

Jane laughs.

"That's true."

He'd already told the man how he grew up travelling with a carnival.

"How does a carny kid become a consultant with the CBI. You're not one of those charlatan psychics are you?"

Jane shakes his head and tells him:

"Just observant."

They come to a stop in front of a small house, set back among the trees.

"This is my place. Thank you Sonny for your help."

Jane's taken aback by its appearance. It has a female air about it, he'd figured that he man lived alone. The are frilly floral curtains in the window, the door's painted yellow and there are flower baskets in full bloom. Jane expected a rugged, sparse feel to the place.

"No problem, your place is lovely,"

"All my wife's doing. This was her world."

"Was?"

A wistful look crosses the man's face."

"Yes, she was brutally murdered six months ago. I came home to find her mutilated body in the kitchen. People told me I should pack up and leave. They don't understand how I can stay here..."

Jack stares at the house, when he turns towards Jane, his eyes are brimming, tears threaten to fall, but he doesn't seem to notice.

"... she loved this place. This is where we spent our entire married life. If I leave here, I lose her all over again. I haven't changed a thing since she left and I don't intend to. She worked hard to get it how she wanted it and it's the way I honour her memory.

"Any tea going. I noticed you have my favourite flavour."

"Didn't you say you were waiting for someone?"

Jane waves his hand dismissively.

"I'll send him a text and let him know where I am."

"Then come on in Sonny, it's the least I can do."

Jane takes out his phone but there's no service. He shrugs and puts it back in his pocket. He follows the Jack in to the kitchen, it's light oak cabinets, blue and white colour scheme, with floral highlights hide any hint of the violence that took part in this friendly, welcoming room. Jane puts the kettle on and readies the cups while Jack puts away his shopping. Jane spies a photo of Jack dressed in uniform and a they talk about his exploits in the war over their steaming cups. Each one of them is taken by surprise when the door bangs open.

Rigsby is waiting for Lisbon and Cho as they pull to a stop in the parking lot. They alight from the vehicle and Rigsby looks at Lisbon sheepishly.

"Sorry boss, I was only in the store a few minutes. I've searched the whole town and there's no sign of him, and no-one has seen him. I tried and tried his phone but there was an engaged signal and now nothing."

Cho looks around.

"He must be somewhere in the trees. It sounds like his phone has lost signal and the trees are the more likely culprit."

"Good idea Cho. Rigsby you check out the grocery store and ask who was in the store around the same time as you. It's a small enough town they may just remember. Find out if they live in the trees, there too much ground to cover, we need to narrow it down some. Cho and I will check the stores next door."

"Okay boss."

They meet up again by the car. Rigsby has a possibility, Jack Bowen, who lives past the edge of town among the trees. He left the store just a couple of minutes before Rigsby did. They climb into the car and follow the directions the store clerk gave them. They pull up in front of the house. They get out and knock on the front door. There's no answer so Lisbon sends Rigsby around the back. He's not gone long before they hear him shout with some urgency. Lisbon and Cho run to the back as Rigsby emerges with his gun drawn but pointing down. As they get to the doorway they see that the door is off its hinges. Someone opened that with some force. It's the only sign of disturbance in the room. Lisbon scans the room, which is empty except two cups opposite each other on the table in the middle of the room.

"Oh no."

She says with resignation as laying next to one of the cups is Jane's phone.