A/N: Firstly, I completely forgot to mention this is set in the future, probably about 8 - 9 months away. Rigsby and Van Pelt are still together, but trying to persuade the authorities they're not. Lisbon is still uncomfortable around Hightower and has been suspended and (briefly) reassigned to another team by her. I've also made an assumption about the season finale (ie people's lives end up in danger). Of course that means this might all end up being completely AU too.
Thank you to: macisgate, lisbon69, Koezh, mtm, JisbonvsCaskett, yaba, Frogster, dogeatdog, Divinia Serit, anthropologist, Famous4it, forthecoast, boutondor, Viktorija, Chiisana Minako and ch19777 for reviewing. Especially so to dogeatdog who signed in anonymously and ch19777 for giving me such marvellous prompts which consequently have gone completely out of control. Also to twin who beta'd this for me. You do realise we have 17 more chapters to go providing I stick to my plan, right?
x tromana
Part Two
The door clanged open with an almighty bang and a klaxon followed shortly before it was shut again. Jane jumped at the noises, briefly wondering if they were really all that necessary. Of course he'd been in prison before, experienced it all as an inmate and though it had been easier for him than most people, especially Lisbon, had expected, it wasn't exactly something he wanted to re-live. Though, if he achieved what he'd been working towards for all these years, it was one of the two probable outcomes. He'd lost focus on avenging his family's death a little, especially after the Bosco incident and placing several people's lives in jeopardy after that. Besides, contrary to popular opinion, he'd also cleaned up his act a little because he didn't want Lisbon to be fired. They'd had a couple of close shaves on that front and he sincerely didn't want it to get to the point where Hightower genuinely had enough and got rid of the pair of them.
But he also really needed to find Red John. That was technically why he was in the job at all, why he was still working with the CBI. And why he was currently following a dour guard into the visitor's room in order to meet Andrew Carling.
He sat on the plastic formed seat and slung the brown paper bag he'd brought with him carelessly on the table in front of him. The man who had led him to this soulless room opened it, briefly glanced inside and with a nod, placed it back down in front of Jane. With a sigh, he allowed his fingers to drum a mindless tune against the hard surface in front of him. Though he had the patience to allow a plan to run its course, some things, like waiting to meet up with somebody just annoyed him. If somebody specified a time and date, he liked them to be punctual too. Then again, he could hardly blame Carling for what time the guards dragged him down for their meeting.
Jane smiled slightly when a thin, balding man was roughly shoved down in front of him. He nodded gently at the bag and stick-like fingers grabbed at it, tearing it open. Quizzically, Carling glanced back at Jane, wondering how the hell the blond had known that his stocks of nicotine gum were running low, but he didn't bother asking. This man was known for being a genius and was responsible for sending a number of them to the prison where he currently existed. Besides, he knew enough about Jane to know that he would either deflect the question or give some nonsensical answer that would leave his mind reeling. Instead, he just chose to fish out one of the sticks of gum and stare at the man he'd summoned. He didn't have much to say, all he wanted to know was how long it was going to take for Jane to get him out of this hell hole.
And the sooner he did, the more he would be willing to tell Jane. Maybe. It would also depend on his mood too, which frankly, was not all that good considering how long he'd already been locked up.
"So," he said, leaning back, latticing his fingers and resting the back of his head in his hands. "You came."
"You have information on Red John."
"And you trust me to actually give it to you?" Carling retorted with a pop of his jaw. "I heard about Renfrew. Tough break."
"These things happen," he answered with a shrug.
It was Carling's turn to give Jane a scrutinizing glare. The man had, after all, just flippantly disregarded the murder of another man as being something that meant next to nothing. Most 'normal' people held a higher regard for life than that and that intrigued the murderer. But from what Carling had heard, Jane was hardly normal. He chased any clue that could lead to Red John's eventual capture with the intensity of a bloodhound having caught the scent of its subject. It had hardly surprised him that Jane had agreed to meet him so soon; he knew of people who had seen him work first hand and his style was unconventional and no doubt drove his bosses up the wall. If anybody could get him out of here, even on a technicality, it was Patrick Jane.
"So?"
"So?"
"When am I getting out of here?"
"That depends," Jane replied, narrowing his eyes. "What do you have to tell me?"
"I said," Carling started, slamming his fist on the table and briefly drawing the attention of a guard. "You get me out of here first."
"But how do I know you're telling the truth about having information at all?"
"His first known murder, July 19th 1999. A redheaded woman, she worked in a bar, but had been hoping to hit the big time as so many do."
"Meh, you could have found that out in half an hour's search on the internet."
"She wore a red ribbon on her left wrist, given to her by her niece."
"Okay," Jane answered tentatively, finally convinced. "How do I know you won't run out on me like Renfrew?"
"And look what happened to him," he snarled, almost blaming Jane for his death. "It'd be safer for me to hang around with you."
"Touché."
"Fine. Tell me everything you remember and I'll see what I can do."
000
"I've just heard from a reliable contact that Jane is currently visiting an inmate in Pelican Bay. Care to explain, Lisbon?"
Lisbon glanced up from her paperwork the moment that she heard Special Agent Madeleine Hightower address her. She couldn't keep the shock off her face when the woman delivered the news and didn't even have a response. When she'd asked Jane what the hell Carling had wanted with him, he'd just brushed her off, stating that the man had spouted off a load of nonsense that he had no interest in. Naturally, Lisbon hadn't believed him, he had been too blasé, too flippant about it. However, she hadn't for a second thought that he'd actually skip work to go and visit the criminal. When she failed to respond, Hightower merely raised an enquiring eyebrow and shot Lisbon a pointed look until she managed to come up with some sort of an answer.
"I'm sorry, I had no-"
"You know, this is another one of those situations," Hightower spoke, cutting her off while tapping her bottom lip with her forefinger. "I should fire you - the threat is beginning to wear a little thin"
Lisbon's eyes widened in shock as she shrank back into her seat, feeling rather small. Hightower still had that affect on her, despite having worked underneath her for a good eight or nine months.
"Boss, you can't mean that."
"You're right, I don't," the older woman acknowledged, a sly grin tracing across her features. "Let's not let out golden boy know that though, shall we?"
She breathed an audible sigh of relief and the expression on Hightower's face only grew wickeder. Lisbon remembered all too well the time when she ended up suspended because of Jane. Though, that wasn't as bad when she was transferred to petty crimes temporarily to cover for Matson's paternity leave. It had been relatively quiet for Lisbon personally, but the whole of the CBI landed up in a disarray because of Jane's reckless behavior. It was then that Hightower realized she had little choice but to place Lisbon back with the SCU. It was around that time when the working relationship of both women shifted from grudging respect to something somewhat more comfortable.
"I'll let you get on with your work," Hightower continued and Lisbon nodded slightly in response. "I do however, want to know why Jane isn't here."
"Oh I can answer that," Lisbon growled in response.
"And?"
"He thinks Andrew Carling has information on Red John."
"Ah."
"I can handle it."
"Are you sure about that?"
Remaining mute, she simply nodded in response and her boss, accepting her decision, turned on her heels and headed out of Lisbon's private office. Lisbon, however, allowed her head to sink into her hands due to the ridiculousness of the situation. She could never accuse Jane of allowing her life to grow boring, but sometimes she found herself craving the easy life, even if it was just another temporary reprieve. He was talking to yet another convict about Red John. After what happened last time, she'd genuinely hoped that he'd avoid going down such a route again, but having any sort of faith in Jane was probably her downfall. Besides, Carling could easily have fabricated a story, simply to try and win Jane over. The man was so blinded when it came to the serial killer despite the fact he was so perceptive when it came to everything else. And yet again, she was being thrown head first into whatever mess he'd gotten embroiled in and partially by choice. The look on Hightower's face had suggested the woman was willing to step in already, but Lisbon being Lisbon hadn't been willing to let down one of her own. Sometimes, she wondered if she would ever receive that kind of support in return, but put it down to wishful thinking. If it got completely out of hand, however, she decided that she would definitely rethink that decision.
Cho startled her when he entered her office and she narrowed her eyes slightly in response. It was beginning to feel like she had some kind of revolving door in place. All she wanted was time to think, to work out what was going on before delegating. Obviously she had no such luck, but at least it meant she could get moving and get stuff done without Jane's prying eyes gazing over her shoulder. Waving a hand, Lisbon indicated that Cho should take a seat opposite her and he did so, watching her curiously. They'd worked together long enough for them both to know whenever the other was particularly stressed. Cho placed the report he'd finished compiling in front of her and Lisbon smiled gently in response. He'd played a pivotal role in that case, carrying out the interrogation with ease. Sometimes, she wondered what it would be like without having Cho to support her and didn't like the thoughts she came up with.
"Did you know that Jane went to Pelican Bay today?"
"No."
"Good," she stated, relieved that her second in command hadn't been keeping that kind of information from her. "I want you guys to find as much information on Andrew Carling. See if you can find a direct link to Red John."
Cho's eyes widened slightly and she could tell exactly what he was thinking: haven't we done this before? She didn't like the sense of déjà vu either, but Jane had forced her hand. It was better for them to be prepared for the outcome by the time he made his 'spectacular' re-entry rather than trailing ten steps behind him as she usually felt she did. If they could prove Carling's relationship to Red John either way, at least it would be a start. It would better than not knowing anything at all and relying on Jane filtering down information to them as and when he thought it was necessary. Besides, the unit was surprisingly quiet and were only tying up a couple of older cases, it would provide them something to work on instead of growing bored and having to find other ways to entertain themselves.
That was always a dangerous thought, especially as it was still blindingly obvious that Rigsby and Van Pelt were attracted to one another and potentially acting on those feelings. And if she, Teresa Lisbon, completely romantically naïve and hopeless at working out that kind of thing, had realized, that meant that others most certainly had too.
000
Jane furrowed his brow as he climbed back into his beloved Citroen DS. He hadn't been able to find out everything he needed from Carling, he hadn't had the time. The guard had quickly decided they had spent far too long talking and decided to kick him out. The insight he'd provided had been useful for helping him try to work out what needed to be done. He still couldn't quite believe what he had agreed to do, but this was Red John they were talking about. The serial killer was still running rings around them, they needed to try and tighten the proverbial net somehow because it was beginning to grow ridiculous.
It was either going to be a technicality, or possibly something Lisbon knew. She was already working at the CBI during Carling's arrest and may have known something about it. Word traveled like bushfire within the walls of that institute even though strictly speaking, it shouldn't have. She probably didn't know the case as well as he did, from his countless hours of studying it, but she would certainly be able to provide some sort of an insight into it. Especially the consultant that they had hired for a short period of time, the man who had worked on this case. Apparently, he left under dubious circumstances and of course, that intrigued him. He hadn't had the time to ask about Bill Jefferson before now.
Regardless, he knew that Lisbon was going to be stubborn when it came to this. She was convinced of Carling's guilt and therefore, would absolutely refuse to give Jane a helping hand, regardless of what information the criminal held. He was going to be persuading her that Red John was important enough to let a murderer have his own way. And that was going to be near on impossible.
TBC…