A Necklace of Red Diamonds
I Own Nothing
All Rights Reserved
Chapter 1
It was one of those social gatherings between the heads of Law Enforcement and Politicians, the kind where both sides, with visibly sweet smiles and unseen cramping stomachs, tried to suck up to the other to garner future favors.
Exactly who decided to invite Patrick Jane remained a mystery, but it was certainly nobody from the CBI. They all knew Jane had no respect for authority, particularly the wealthy and political kind, and they all were secretly terrified of what insults he might heap upon such people. But Jane thus far had behaved as nicely as any man, though he seemed rather bored by the whole event. CBI Director Virgil Minnelli just prayed that he was not playing nice to lure them into a false sense of security.
The rest of Jane's team was also present. As one of the CBI's most celebrated and successful teams their presence had been deemed a necessity. And like Jane, they were pretty bored with the whole thing. Cho was his usual dry, distant, and stoic self and Rigsby looked awkward being around the famous and well connected.
The lovely ladies Lisbon and Van Pelt could probably have had all the men in attendance eating out of their hands, and earning the everlasting enmity of the socialite women, but neither showed any inclination to do so. They were sociable to any who came up to them, but they seldom initiated any conversations. Lisbon spent most of her time sitting with Jane, prompting the politicians to speculate the two were dating and the CBI heads to speculate she was watching him like a mother watches a naughty child. Van Pelt spent most of her time around Cho and Rigsby, at the next table over, prompting similar speculations.
First at the event were a few speeches about the importance of America, of Law Enforcement, and how the people there had the power to achieve all kinds of greatness, and would everyone kindly make out a check to so-and-so's favorite charity?
"I think I've discovered the cure for insomnia," Jane yawned.
"I'm tired too, but we've got to stay awake." Lisbon told him firmly, "remember our deal. You play nice tonight and—"
"Yes, I play nice and you'll let me drive for the next five work days," Jane smiled, "I was very impressed when you said that. How could I have refused such generosity?"
"By saying 'no',"
"Touché,"
"I just hope I don't end up regretting making the offer,"
Jane's smile widened.
Lisbon eyed him warily and adjusted her dress. It was deep green and left her shoulders bare, and in the opinion of every single (and a few who were not single) heterosexual male in the room, she looked absolutely beautiful. Jane looked a bit drab in comparison, for he was only wearing his typical three piece suit. Van Pelt, in a deep magenta, strapless dress was receiving acclaim similar to Lisbon for her appearance, and her close proximity to Rigsby made him even more tongue-tied than usual. Jane's gaze caught this and his smile widened even further.
"What?" Lisbon asked suspiciously.
"Oh, just trying to make it look like I'm enjoying myself," he replied airily.
"Right," she stood up, "I'm going to go get something to eat."
"Be sure to take a few extra crackers. If you see someone approaching, stuff one in your mouth so you can't talk to them."
"I'll keep that in mind."
After making it past a few flirtatious senators, she managed to get some hors d'oeuvres. Minnelli came over to her, bring several women with him.
"Agent Lisbon, this is Mrs. Fletcher, wife of Representative John Fletcher, Senator Agatha Redding, and Miss Lucille Guerin. Ladies, this is Agent Teresa Lisbon, our best agent at the CBI,"
Blushing with embarrassment, Lisbon shook hands with them.
"Great to meet you, Agent Lisbon," said Lucille Guerin, a woman with blond hair that had probably taken hours to arrange, a low cut scarlet dress, and a large red necklace around her neck which she touched proudly with her pristine fingers.
"That's a very nice necklace," Lisbon said, taking the hint.
"Oh thank you. I only recently acquired it. Cost me quite a bit of money, I can tell you. Oh! There's Congressman Grear, I must speak with him about the new bill! Excuse me!" and she ran off, the other women following her.
"Speak with him," Minnelli said once he was alone with her, "Knowing Grear, they're more likely going to yell at each other."
"Who's Lucille Guerin?"
"Only one of the richest women in Pennsylvania and a die-hard political activist," he replied, "some say she's funded half the congressional campaigns in the country. If we play nice with her we might get her to fund a few of our politicians, and they in turn…" he had no need to finish. Lisbon got the point.
"She sure liked that necklace of hers,"
"I know. She's been showing it off to everybody else. It's made of red diamonds."
Lisbon whistled. When she told this to Jane he whistled too.
"Red diamonds. That's one of the rarest diamonds colors in existence. That necklace must be worth more than all the rest of the jewelry here put together,"
Lisbon looked around uneasily. "And according to Minnelli she's been bringing it up to everyone she's talked to. Sheesh, is she insane?"
"Meh. I doubt we have much to worry about," Jane said dismissively. "Nobody's going to steal it if she never takes it off, and besides, who's going to steal something when they know there are half a dozen cops within fifteen feet of them?"
Lisbon decided he was right and relaxed as dance music began blaring from the sound speakers.
Over at the other table, Rigsby was gobbling down the large pile of crackers and cheeses on his plate. Van Pelt was checking her phone, and pretending to be on it from time to time so people did not ask her to dance with them. Cho was gazing around the large room, examining it with a security agent's eye. It was an old habit and something to do to pass the time.
"What do you guys say after this we go out and get a drink? A real drink, not this sprite posing as champagne," he suddenly asked.
"Fine with me," Rigsby said after swallowing.
Van Pelt shook her head. "I'm gonna have to pass. I need to get up early for my yoga class tomorrow morning."
Only Cho noticed the look of disappointment on Rigsby's face. As soon as Van Pelt got up to get a beverage refill he said, "Are you going to keep dancing around like this?"
Rigsby dropped the cracker he was holding. "What?"
"You heard me, and you know what I'm talking about."
"No I don't,"
Cho smiled slightly, "Keep telling yourself that,"
"I don't! But assuming I did, do you really think this is the kind of place for that kind of thing?"
"If you mean, is this the place to talk about being in love with Grace Van Pelt, then no, it's not," Jane said as he joined them. "Aside from the fashionable outfits this is hardly the place for anything romantic or personal."
"Too bad the others don't think that way," Rigsby said bitterly, "Four guys have come over here trying to get her to dance with them,"
Jane grinned. "Any you've got a particular grudge against? Say the word, Rigsby, and I'll forfeit my five days of driving and humiliate them for you!"
"Please don't," Cho said.
"Oh come on, it'll make the evening more entertaining!"
"He's got a point," Rigsby agreed.
"Of course I do! About the only entertaining thing here tonight has been Lucille Guerin and her diamond necklace."
"Those are diamonds?" Cho said, slightly surprised, "I thought they were rubies."
"Nope. Red diamonds, easily worth millions."
Cho and Rigsby both whistled.
"I hope she's taking extra good care of them," Rigsby said, "the AG would be furious if they got stolen right here under our noses. And they'd blame Minnelli—"
"Who'd blame us," Cho added.
"And we'd blame Lucille for being careless and she'd take offense and threaten lawsuits," Jane finished. "Ever get tired of being on the bottom of this hierarchy?"
"Yes we do," Van Pelt rejoined them.
Jane brightened up with an idea. "Let's have a game of riddles. Where can everybody but you sit?"
"Next to you?" Van Pelt said.
"On your lap," Cho said.
"On your head," Rigsby said.
"I was going for Grace's answer, but you're all right! All right, Grace, let's hear one from you!"
She was stuck. "What have I got in my pocket?" she asked at last.
"Not fair! Not fair asking us what it's got in its nasty pocketsesss!" To everyone's astonishment it was Rigsby who said it.
"Nice going, Gollum," Van Pelt sniggered.
"Do you even have any pockets?" Cho asked.
"You got the quote wrong," Jane said to Rigsby, "he said—"
Suddenly a woman shrieked loud enough to overpower the music.
"What's that?" Rigsby asked, and he was not the only one.
Lucille Guerin was clutching her purse and looked ready to faint or have a heart attack. "MY NECKLACE IS GONE!"