Bottle of Red
I hope you like it. It's a little different from how they do it on The Mentalist - but the idea has been going around in my mind for a while. This is also my first ff of The Mentalist, so please bear with me and go easy on me if I mess up on the details. But I do love the show!
None of the characters from The Mentalist are mine… I'm just borrowing them. I'll put them back on the shelf when I'm done!
Prologue:
The teenager made her way down the hall to the front door, where someone was knocking loudly on it. She peeked through the window and recognised who it was.
She opened the door a bit.
"He's not here. I don't know where he is."
"He was suppose to meet me here now. Are you sure he's not here?"
"I'm sure. I'm sorry but I have to get supper ready. Can you leave now please? I'll let my father know you're looking for him."
"Did he leave anything for me?"
"I told you …..No! Now please! Leave!" She caught the smell of beer from his breath.
The door flew open with a kick. A hand grabbed her wrist and violently twisted her arm back. She screamed in pain.
"Now. I'm going to ask you again - where is he?"
"I don't know," she sobbed. "Try one of the bars."
"I want what I came for…." and twisted her arm so hard that bones could be heard breaking.
She collapsed in a heap, whimpering. "I don't know what that is. He didn't tell me."
He picked her up and slammed her against the wall. She slowly sunk to the floor.
"Where is it?"
"I don't know…" she screamed.
He turned around and grabbed an empty, glass brandy bottle. Then started to beat her with it.
"No more! Please!"
He pulled her up and forced a kiss on her. "Maybe you can give me something else in return."
Leslie spat on his face, and it trickled down his cheek.
"Go to HELL!"
"I think you should go first," and he wiped the saliva off with his sleeve. He beat her a few more times with the bottle. Once it broke, he slashed her neck and ran out of the house, taking the broken bottle with him.
Present (Tuesday):
It was 4:17 pm as Lisbon drove up to the severely run down house in one of the lower income areas of Santa Cruz. The neighbourhood looked run down, certain suspicious people gathered on some of the corners. She took a few more turns through garbage strewn streets and parked behind Jane's baby blue Citroën DS 21. She exited her car slowly - she was not looking forward to this case. Rigsby came down the battered steps and met her at the end of the broken path.
"Hi boss - We've got a female, age 15, named Leslie Adams. She was brought to the hospital with severe bruising, several broken bones and a slashed neck. They're operating on her now, but they're not sure she'll make it. The father, Jonathon Adams, isn't around at the moment - kids haven't seen him since this morning. We've got a BOLO out for him." The smell of the place assaulted Lisbon as she stepped into the hallway.
"We're still waiting on Social Services to pick up her siblings - they're running behind. There's Ian, he's 6 - Tara's 4 and David is 12. They're in the kitchen with Jane," Van Pelt explained from her corner in the hall.
Lisbon quietly approached the doorway of the kitchen and watched Jane. He had fixed them a snack and given them a glass of milk, trying to set them at ease while asking them questions.
"Leslie always looked after us. She fed us, bought us clothes and protected us from Dad and his friends. I don't know who it was at the door - but she looked kinda worried," David said quietly.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Jane asked gently.
Jeff shrugged his shoulders.
"Not really, she heard someone at the door, and told me to bring the two little ones upstairs. At first I heard shouting, then I heard her screaming in pain. I put the two in the closet, then came downstairs and found her bleeding. That's when I called 911 and tried to stop the bleeding," his voice broke, and a tear ran down his face.
"It's ok David - you did the right thing. You got your sister help."
"I should have helped her more….."
Jane bent down so he was eye level with him. "Hey, you did good. You protected your brother and sister like she told you too. Don't worry, I'm sure she'll be okay."
David just nodded his head.
"One more question - do you guys have anyone you can stay with for a few days?"
"Um, there's Becky Tritt and her husband next door." He pointed to the right. "They've babysat us a few times - they might be able to take us in."
"Thanks David, I appreciate your help," and he tousled the hair of all three kids before exiting the room with Lisbon.
"You heard all that?" Jane asked.
"Yes, I did. Thanks. Good job." She walked over to Van Pelt - "Go next door and explain what happened. See if they're willing to take the kids in for a few days."
"Sure boss - no problem," and left the house.
"Where's the mother?" Lisbon asked.
"The mother was hit by a car 3 years ago. She died instantly," Cho volunteered.
They made their way to the living room, and Lisbon was astonished at the scene. She paled a bit when she noticed pieces of a broken liquor bottle, and the floor covered with blood. She glanced around the room, seeing the empty liquor bottles scattered on the floor. There was a half bottle of some cheap brandy sitting on the coffee table, it was the same one her father had drank.
Flashback:
"Look what you made me do? Can't you do anything right?"
"Daddy! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to! Honest!"
Sounds of a bottle hitting the wall, and a slap hitting skin could be heard - then a body hitting the wall, hard!
"No more…please….no more! I'm sorry!"
Lisbon felt a hand on her arm and saw that Rigsby was trying to talk to her, but her mind was still stuck in the flashback. Cho and Jane stopped what they were doing and stared.
"Boss? You okay?" he repeated.
"Oh what? Yeah, I'm fine." She shook her head back to the present.
"Keep working here, see what you and Cho can come up with. Then take Van Pelt and go door to door, see if the neighbours saw anything. Also get her to book us some rooms at a local hotel?"
"Sure boss, no problem."
Jane was discreetly watching Lisbon as he snooped around the living room. He noticed the photographs (or lack thereof) and at the father's habitual living spot on the couch, in front of the television set. He also noticed the cracked paint, broken windows, and the holes in the drywall.
"This seems like a case for the local cops. Exactly why were we called to this?" Lisbon queried.
"Actually they are the ones who asked us to take it on - they need the help. They're short of manpower due to budget cuts, and are carrying a full caseload right now. They're also doing patrol at the Santa Cruz County fair. They're setting up their boardroom for us to work from as we speak," Cho replied.
"Let's hurry up and get it off the books then. I'll be at the station."
"Uh, I'm going to go with you - I'm done here," Jane stated.
Lisbon rolled her eyes as she left the room and started walking towards her car with Jane in tow.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine Jane."
"Teresa….I know this must bother you."
"I said I'm fine can we just leave it please!" as she slammed the driver's side door.
"You should really talk about it," as he closed his door.
"Do you want to walk?"
"Ah, no - not really."
"Then please, stop."
"But…"
She slammed on the brakes.
"Okay, okay. Shutting up now."
"Thank you," in a loud voice.
The drive continued in silence til Lisbon's phone rang.
"Hey Van Pelt," she greeted as she touched the hands free button.
"Boss - I got us rooms at The Front Bay Inn on Pacific Avenue. It's a 15 minute walk to the police station."
"Thanks."
"Social Services called, they're not able to come right now. They're running about 3 days behind on cases. They had no issues with the kids staying with the neighbours - they've been placed there temporarily before. And the neighbours were more than happy to take in the kids, they can stay as long as necessary. Also, I did the background check. All the kids are clean, but the father, Jonathon, has a prior record. He's had 3 D.U.I's, 5 drunk and disorderly, and 2 assaults. I have an appointment to talk with their social worker tomorrow morning." Lisbon just shook her head.
"Well, someone knows how to attract trouble," Jane smirked.
"I managed to find the father's sister, and the mother's two brothers and sister. Do you want me to call them to update them on the situation or wait to see if the father is guilty?"
"How could he not be guilty…he's a drunk! He has to be…" she quickly corrected herself.
Jane looked at her in surprise at her sudden judgement of guilt. He noticed the car pick up a bit of speed then.
"I mean, why don't we wait for a bit to see what happens when we find the father."
"Okay boss."
"Let me know if you find out anything else."
"Will do."
Ten minutes later they pulled up to the police station. Lisbon introduced herself and Jane and was shown to their work area. Jane looked around and eyed a couch in the corner. The room also came complete with a small kitchenette. Jane plugged in the kettle, while keeping an eye on Lisbon, he was worried. He could tell that this case was already getting to her. He took two mugs out of the cabinet and waited for the water to boil.
The tea kettle whistled and Jane made two cups of tea. He crossed the room to Lisbon and place one in front of her.
"What's this?"
"It's a hug in a cup."
She gave him one of her looks.
"You looked like you could use it."
"Thanks."
"Why are you separating yourself from everyone?"
Lisbon glared at him quizzically.
"What do you mean?"
"You're refusing to make conversation. You're making snap judgements and you've picked a desk on the other side of the room away from everyone."
"I don't let my personal life affect my work!"
"I'm not saying you do. But with this case it's hard not to….and it's perfectly understandable. In fact you remembered something when you first saw the crime scene, didn't you?"
"No, I didn't," she said a little too fast.
"You were a little to quick to deny that. I saw the look on your face, I know that look. I have it every time I encounter Red John at a crime scene."
"I didn't! Just leave it alone Jane!"
"Teresa. Really, are you going to lie to me?"
"I don't have time for this - I've got work to do."
She got up and sat down at one of the computers.
"Lisbon, you need to…."
"Jane, not now. I'm searching for the places where Adams got arrested."
Jane sat and sipped his tea, just watching her.
"Let's see - he got arrested twice at home, three times at Moe's Tavern and once at The Nash. The rest was while he was driving his car."
Cho and Rigsby walk into the office, with Van Pelt following behind them.
"I'm glad you guys are here. I want you to go and check out Moe's Tavern and The Nash. They're Mr. Adams favourite places to frequent. See if he's there."
"Will do Boss," replied Cho.
"Jane and I are going to talk to Allen Jenkins. He was arrested twice with Adams. Van Pelt, I want you to continue to look for other acquaintances or friends of Jonathon."
"Jane, let's go!"
"Coming Lisbon."
Allen Jenkins lived in the south part of Santa Cruz, in one of it's low-income sections. His house, or rather shack, was a three room bungalow strewn with junk auto parts in the front yard. Lisbon knocked on the screened front door, trying to avoid the grease spots.
"YEAH! Hold your horses - I'm coming!"
A man about 45 years old appeared, wearing tattered jeans and a stained shirt, using a cane in his right hand and holding a beer can in his left.
"Whattya want?"
"I'm Teresa Lisbon, this is Patrick Jane - we're with the CBI. We want to ask you a few questions?"
"CBI eh? You gonna arrest me?"
"No sir. We just want to ask you a few questions, that's it."
"Okay then. Just don't call me sir - makes me feel old."
Lisbon and Jane smirked, then entered the shack.
The place was a mess, and the smell was almost unbearable. Dirty dishes piled high in the sink, tools and car parts strewn across the table and the floor, and beer cans could be found everywhere.
Jenkins went back to his Lazy-boy chair and sat down.
"So what can I do for you folks?"
"Do you know a Jonathon Adams?"
"As a matter-of-fact I do! He owes me money and he's also my drinkin' buddy."
"Have you seen him recently?"
"Not since Monday. Told me he was under a lot of stress this week. Apparently, Social Services were going to come by next week for a home visit, and he wanted to get stuff ready."
"Are you aware that Leslie Adams was assaulted earlier today?"
"No. I didn't. Gee that's a shame. Then again, he didn't talk much about his kids. And I don't care for them much myself." His eyes shifted nervously.
"Where were you earlier between 3pm to 4pm today?"
"Here…drinking, by myself."
"When did you start drinking?" Patrick queried.
"As soon as I got up this morning. What's it to you?"
"No, I mean, at what age did you start drinking."
"I started sneaking beers out the fridge when I was 10."
"Was that before or after your father started beating you?"
"It was after…not that it's any of your business!"
"And when did your wife leave you?"
"What the hell does that have to do with anything?"
"Well, you have very few personal effects. The few you do have are pictures dating 5 years ago, and let's face it - this place lacks a woman's touch."
"You son-of-a-bitch! Get out! GET OUT!" Jenkins stood up and started ushering them to the front door. Patrick held up his hands and walked backwards. Lisbon followed him. Jenkins slammed the main, wooden door as they stood on the walk. They turned and started walking towards the car.
"Why did you do that? You've killed our only lead in this case!"
"Actually, he just proved he had something to do with it?"
"What? How"
"He looked guilty when you told him about Leslie. And something the kids said. Leslie saw who was knocking at the door, and told them that no matter what, they were to stay upstairs. Apparently the father wasn't home yet."
"You mean you think the father didn't do it, don't you? So you believe a drunk and a bunch of kids who are probably too scared to go against their father?"
"Lisbon I…"
"No. I don't want to hear it Jane."
"But…."
"Enough already."
He walked to the driver's side of the car. Jane held up his hands. "Alright, fine. Not another word." He made a zipper motion across his lips, then got in.
"Are you hungry? I could use some eggs. Did you want to stop for a bite somewhere along the way?"
"No thanks, I'm not hungry. Let's just get back to the police station, I want to solve this case and get back to Sacramento as fast as possible."
"If you say so."
Jane and Lisbon pulled into the police station. While Lisbon went to update the Chief of Police, Jane went back to the boardroom. Grace was still there, slaving over the computer.
"Any word on the girl Grace?"
"She's still in surgery. Which is a good sign right? Means she's a fighter."
"Yes, it does."
He plugged in the kettle, then searched the mini fridge, and found it fully stocked with sandwiches. He choose a ham and cheese, tore off the wrapping, and starting eating. He passed by Van Pelt's desk and saw the Jonathon Adams file and scooped it up to read.
Van Pelt stopped what she was doing and paused for a minute.
"Jane…does Lisbon seem off to you?"
"Yes, she does Grace. I think this case has already gotten to her."
"Yeah, me too. I'm worried."
"I am too. I think it's going to get worse."
"How?"
"I'm not sure. But I don't think she's going to like how it ends."