Matt Parkman had the undeniable feeling that somewhere, somehow, people are laughing at him. For some strange reason, he had a sense they were on the Internet, giggling over what had become of his life.
You might attribute that to a healthy dose of paranoia, which is naturally to be expected in a recently-endowed-with-telepathy, cuckolded ex-cop, but the feeling was more than even the normal amount. Someone thought he was funny.
In a normal situation, Matt might have forgiven this, being the genial sort of guy, but his life currently had taken a turn for the abnormal given: instead of being the sort of guy you took to a bar and watched a game with, he was now the go-to man for government conspiracies, vengeance plots, and mind games.
Matt missed peanuts. And his wife. Frankly, he wanted to go home and escape the mockery that had become his life.
A wish that was very hard to fulfill, even for a moment, when people were laughing at him.
Keeping one eye on Bennet and his scrambling through files, he stepped into the hallway for a good dose of air.
And found himself face to face with a very confused woman named Judy. Judy worked with files. Judy did not work with telepaths, conspirators, or homicidal maniacs (on Mondays, anyway).
Matt, very seriously and earnestly, said, "You need to walk away right now. Mr. Bennet and I are just doing some business."
He looked at her, straight in the eye when he said this. Of course, he expected some sort of serious response, marked by either immediate acknowledgment or possibly panic. Maybe even an alarm button.
He did not expect her to laugh at him, pinch his cheeks, and trill, "Of course, young man. I'll just let you boys get on with your business." Awww…I just love the new ones; they're just so cute! he heard her think.
Just the least bit astonished, he watched, mouth agape, as she continued on her business, happily humming "Sue-Sue-Sussudio."
Some people, he thought to himself, wondering what exactly inspired that particular piece of flippancy, just don't get it.
Bennet called for him and Matt, shaking off that unsettling feeling of not being taken seriously, went inside.