Chapter 1
A/N: This is my first fanfiction story. I am really excited. Here is chapter one!
Disclaimer: I do not own The Mentalist.
Lisbon woke slowly from a dream, a very intimate dream. She looked around her bedroom, shades of soothing blue mixed with the freshness of yellow. She wonders for a brief moment if she is alone.
The dream seemed all too real, felt all too real. Yes, she says to herself, "I am alone, I am always alone". Lisbon can't believe she is dreaming about Jane. Again.
Jane greets the morning with his usual enthusiasm. Nighttime is the still the hardest. The loneliest. Mornings mean a very hot cup of peppermint tea and the Sacramento Bee.
Jane has found the newspaper a welcome distraction in his daily routine. He simply can't understand how people now prefer burnt coffee and the Internet.
The spring morning was crisp and cool and clear. Rigsby and VanPelt are the first to arrive at the office. They are always careful to arrive at slightly different times. In their own cars. A new case was already waiting.
Three residents of a nursing home in Rocklin had vanished overnight. Relatives were frantic, the staff was shocked. They had no time to wait for the Boss. The Governor's Mother-in-law was one of the missing patients. They climbed into the black SUV and set the GPS for Rocklin.
Cho arrived at headquarters shortly before 9am. He felt good today. He had added 10 extra minutes to his workout routine this morning. He had stopped on the way in at Starbucks for a grande bold coffee of the day.
Cho was called immediately into the Chief's office. Lisbon and Jane were already there. He wondered about the others. Jane looked perky and perfect. Like usual. Lisbon looked worried and anxious. Also, like usual.
The Chief filled the team in quickly on what they knew so far. The nursing home in Rocklin was not your typical smelly, dreary hospital. Tearose Manor was a modern, beautiful skilled nursing facility catering to relatives of the rich and famous. Actually, some of the residents were the rich and famous.
Three patients had disappeared overnight, each from their private rooms. None of the nighttime staff or caregivers claim to have seen or heard anything unusual. A search of the facility by local police turned up little or no evidence. Calls were being placed to terrified relatives. The Governor and his wife were the first to be called.
Governor Douglas, a former movie star, ordered the CBI to handle the case.