The sun was just beginning to set on the horizon and Patrick Jane dug his feet further into the cool sand beneath him. The entire Pacific ocean, the entire world, was staring at him. Red John was gone. His nightmare was over. So, why didn't things seem right. Something wasn't slotting into place and it was making Jane uneasy.
Subconsciously, Jane knew that something was his beautiful, spitfire best friend. His best friend who somewhere along the way had become much more than that, but he wouldn't allow himself to admit it. Lisbon wanted nothing to do with him anymore. The last time they actually spoke, face to face, he was sitting behind a glass pane in jail speaking to her through a phone. Her arm was in a sling and she would barely even look him in the eye. There was no point in returning to the CBI. Lisbon didn't want him there or in any aspect of her life, and he had got what he wanted anyway, to murder the man who killed his family.
A big shaggy dog barked happily and ran down the beach followed by a young couple who were laughing freely and happily, blissfully unaware of what truly went on in the world. Jane envied them in a way.
He glanced down at his empty ring finger. He finally felt at peace the month before when he had taken it off. It felt right which, he never though it would. That part of his life was over, not that he'd ever forget his wife and daughter. He would love them forever but he knew he had to move on, he just didn't know how.
Jane had bought a new place right on the beach, he had painted over the gruesome smiley face in his old home and put new wallpaper up before putting the house on the market. It sold quickly. He was trying really hard, almost desperately, to move forward, but he was stuck.
Taking a final sip of his tea, Jane turned around and walked up the steps that led to the large glass back doors of his condo. He opened the doors and stepped into his new home, placing the empty tea mug on his desk. He made his way over the couch and fell down on it, trying, but failing to get comfortable.
...
Jane woke with a start. For once is wasn't caused by one of the many nightmares that used to plague him in the past. He took a look out of the window and it was now dark. He must have dozed off for a while. Jane sat up and rubbed the back of his neck, trying to work out the kinks in it. He wasn't sure if he would ever get used to this couch. He looked around the dark living room, his slightly sleep fogged mind trying to figure out what had jolted him awake.
It was a noise, a loud banging noise against the back doors.
At first, Jane figured it must have just been some poor bird that flew into the glass, it wouldn't have been the first time, but something told him to get up and take a look. Jane went over to the two large doors and looked out onto his deck, he saw nothing. He pulled the handle down and opened one of the doors. As Jane moved to step out into the cold night his bare foot collided with something. Looking down Jane saw that it was a package.
He picked it up and turned it over in his hands a few times. It was small and unmarked. It definitely peaked his curiosity, that was for sure. At the same time however, part of him wondered if it was simply some prank being pulled by a few of the kids who lived further down the beach. Jane held the package close to his ear and lightly shook it. Something that sounded like a disc rattled around, which Jane had to admit intrigued him even further.
Jane tore open the package and a DVD disc and a folded white piece of paper fell out. He brought both the disc and piece of paper back over to the couch and set the disc down on the coffee table. He held onto the piece of paper and slowly unfolded it.
Dear Mr. Jane,
It's rather unfortunate that we didn't have the chance to meet, but you looked so peaceful sleeping. I am writing you this letter because we both have something in common. Mr. Jane, you took someone away from me, someone who I admired and respected greatly, my idol. I never met him, but we had an unspeakable connection. You shot him dead, Mr. Jane. I cannot even begin to describe how this made me feel, still makes me feel. In the end though, I decided revenge was the best way to go, after all you know all about revenge, don't you, Mr. Jane. An eye for an eye as the saying goes. You took someone I greatly cared about away from me, you ripped them right out of my life and now I shall do the same to you. Unfortunately for the beautiful Agent Lisbon her death won't be quick like my idol's. It's not that I want her to suffer, I want you to suffer. Why don't you take a look at the little home video I sent you? It is only a brief preview. There will be more to come. I'll be in touch soon. Sweet dreams, Mr. Jane.
Sincerely, Red John's greatest admirer
Jane's entire body was numb. His skin was pale and clammy and his hand shook violently as it reached for the DVD. His mind was screaming that this wasn't happening, this couldn't be happening. This had to be some unbelievably sick joke or a nightmare, but as Jane swallowed the hard lump in his throat and felt his heart pounding inside his chest ,he knew he was wide awake.
He crouched down in front of his television and switched it on, trying to keep his hand steady as he put the DVD into the player. The blue screen suddenly switched to a scene of a dimly lit room.
Lisbon sat on a filthy floor, looking dirty, battered, and exhausted. She was futilely struggling with the chains wrapped around her wrists and ankles. Off camera came the sound of a heavy door creaking open. A tall man walked into the frame, his back facing the camera so his face could not be seen. A switch blade flipped open in his hand and Lisbon began struggling even harder with the chains as he walked closer. The video cut off and went to static.
Jane felt as though he was hovering outside of his own body. He had not just witnessed this. It wasn't happening. The nightmare was over god dammit!
Jane fell backwards, crashing hard into the side of the coffee table. "Lisbon?" He whispered out her name.
TBC
