A hug in a cup
"Jane, I beg you! No insulting, no inappropriate behaviour this time! The deputy AG complained again about your methods."
Senior special agent Teresa Lisbon stopped the dark SUV in front of a small house.
"But we solve more cases than any other unit, don't we?" The blonde consultant answered with a smile on his face.
He was about to leave the car, as Lisbon grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
"I mean it, Jane! This woman just lost her husband and child."
The smile on Patrick Jane's face vanished.
" I know." He replied then and got off the vehicle.
About a minute later, a woman opened the door. Crying and with grieve on her face she looked like an old lady, although she was only in her mid-thirties.
"Hello, Mrs Adler. I am Agent Teresa Lisbon, this is Patrick Jane. We're with the California Bureau of Investigation. May we come in?" She showed her badge and Mrs Adler agreed.
"Have a seat." she offered as they reached the living room and Teresa sat down.
"We are very sorry for your loss." She started. Her eyes met Jane's, telling him to be a good boy and sit down eventually. As he ignored it, she continued.
"We totally understand, if you're not ready, yet, but we need to ask you some questions."
"No, it's all right. You have to find the one who did this!" The grieving widow answered with a weak voice. Lisbon's reply was an encouraging smile.
"Do you have some tea?" Patrick suddenly asked.
He noticed Teresa's 'That's-exactly-what-I-meant' glance, ignored it though.
"Oh my! I am so sorry! I didn't offer you anything. And yes, sure I do." Mrs Adler was about to rise but Jane held her off.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of it. Anyone like a cup?"
"No, thank you." The widow replied, Lisbon answered with an annoyed expression on her face.
While they started the interview, Jane made his way through the house to find the kitchen. Even though it looked small from the outside, on the inside it appeared to be a maze of rooms.
Anyway, the tea-pot was found and filled quickly. After he put the water on the top plate, he took two cups and a bag of ginger-lemon tea out of the cupboard.
Teresa was questioning the victims' wife and mother as the well-known whistle of boiling water sounded from the kitchen. And a few minutes later, Patrick came back with two steaming cups. One of them he handed over to Mrs Adler, then he finally sat down.
"I know, you didn't want one in the first place." The consultant said as he saw the irritation on her face.
"But you really should try it. It helps." He continued with a soft voice and a warm smile.
"You know, tea, it's like a hug in a cup."