When I saw all the reviews/alerts/favourites I had in my mail box, I just thought /homework go to hell/ and started typing happily in the garden. Again XD
So people, here's the third chapter.
Thanks to Chiisana Minako; Iloveplotbunnies (x2); Just Mosie; mwalter1; Purple Piggie; dogeatdog (héhé thanks!); Ebony10; Helvetica Bold and chocolatefan for their reviews!!
Thanks for the alerts and favourites too!
Same warnings:
Warning 1: you don't like AU and Mentalist together? give it a try, younever know ;)
Warning 2: my English grammar isn't the best. I voice it better than I write it. Hope you'll still enjoy (won't blame you if you don't :))
Slave
3.
Jane didn't hesitate one more second, and decided to follow his domestic's subtle hint.
"How much does she cost?"
--
Riddle stared at the man in shock. Even the young woman, caught by surprise by his words, stopped struggling and gawked at him with equal surprise. She must have been wondering what was going through his head, since she was a fugitive slave and had just knocked him down on the ground. Then, he saw Riddle's merchant instincts take the upper hand.
"She was put at five hundred, sir. But since you have helped us, I can lower her to four fifty. Even if she's a little stubborn, she's young, beautiful and healthy. And she has some education."
Jane shook his head. Not a convincing discourse at all. It sounded more like a repeated dialogue he had learned by heart after hearing someone else –his employer certainly- saying it once.
"No way I'm paying this much" he paused, studying the man; wondering how much he was willing to get rid of the young woman. His face twisted worryingly, anticipating the beginning of a bargain he wasn't sure to handle. Jane secretly smirked –this was going to be so easy.
"One hundred fifty."
Riddle's expression was priceless. Behind him, the guard blinked in astonishment and the young woman pouted. Jane thought in amusement that she might have expected a higher price. No matter how much she hated being a slave, it must be somehow insulting not being valued more. But he wasn't evaluating her worth right now. He just wanted to get her out of this situation and piss off a slave merchant by the way. Two birds with one single stone; life was so good sometimes.
"Sir, you're the one trying to con me…"
"One hundred fifty and I take her right now."
"Three hundred" the merchant tried to bargain.
"When Mr Jane says one hundred fifty" Rigsby intervened, "its one fifty. Not a penny more or less."
The merchant sighed dramatically, as if thinking. But Jane knew better. He saw the glint in his eyes. Just one single argument and he had him nailed. Riddle didn't specially want her around and his offer –even ridiculously low- was a real opportunity.
"She escaped your guards in the middle of the day" he clarified. "A lot of people saw her running away, and they know she won't be…'domesticated' easily. No one wants a rebellious slave, but neither do one's want one who has been mistreated. People still have a reputation to hold, and a neglected slave isn't the best advertisement, don't you think?" A wrinkle on Riddle's forehead grew deeper. He was considering the man's words. "My offer is the best you'll have for a long time, and I think she already caused you enough troubles."
"All right" the man cut, resigning himself. "Give me the money and she's yours."
Jane smirked. He wasn't done yet.
"Now, aren't you going to make me sign a contract? What guarantee do I have you won't try to charge me afterwards?"
Riddle grumbled and took out a paper from the bag he wore across his shoulder. He wrote a few words, agreeing that the slave number –"I think she has a name" Jane interrupted, reading over the man's shoulder- Teresa Lisbon was sold for one hundred fifty dollars to Mr Patrick Jane. He apposed the seal of the Elias firm and wrote a copy for himself. On his side, Jane took out one hundred fifty in bills and handed them to the merchant.
The soldier handed back the young woman to Rigsby. The tall man bent over her and whispered in her ear:
"If you promise you won't run, I will untie you now."
If she hadn't heard the small begging in his voice, she would have tried to escape as soon as the ropes loosened around her wrists. The blond man put away the contract in a pocket and sighed dramatically.
"Seems like I'm not going to see our favourite inspector today. I'll send him a letter this afternoon."
"I'm sure he will get over it, sir" Rigsby muttered. Jane smirked at his domestic's statement.
They turned heels and headed back to the carriage, still waiting for them.
--
Teresa couldn't believe her luck –or lack of luck. The very moment she thought she had managed to lose Riddle and the stupid guard; she had to run into a man, get caught by his domestic, and ended tied up again. Then, the same man bought her for –she was certain- the lowest price the Elias firm ever accepted since its creation. Now, she was sitting in a carriage for a new destination with a new master. Great; just what she needed. And to make things worse, blondie seemed to be exactly the type of guy she couldn't bear. Speaking about him…
"What's your name?" Jane asked. "I didn't really catch it when Mr Riddle wrote it down."
She glared at him and snapped:
"None of your business. You're going to give me a new one anyway."
The two men exchanged a glance, surprised by her reaction. Some other time, she would have felt guilty for being so harsh. Not now.
"What's your name?" he repeated more softly. "I promise I won't change it."
She didn't trust his words, but answered anyway:
"Teresa. Teresa Lisbon."
The blond man smiled. That made her fist twist. He had the unnerving smile of people who always get what they want. Mind her; he did have a handsome face. She cursed herself for thinking so.
"See? That wasn't that hard. So, Lisbon, please listen to me now" she recognized the business tone of his voice. "I don't really know what I'm going to do with you, and I obviously can't set you free right away. You have no money, and I'd feel guilty to leave you alone. Moreover, now I have a loss of one hundred fifty dollars I'll have to explain to my dear financial controller."
She glared at him furiously. How dare he talk about her like that! He chucked at the anger in her eyes.
"Sorry if you dislike the terms; it's the second time I buy a slave in my life, and Cho doesn't allow me too much dispenses. Nevertheless, even if you may have every reason to be angry, it still doesn't solve out problem. I have a compromise, though."
She didn't say a word, but listened to what he had to say. A businessman always had plans, and if his solution was interesting for them both…
"Lately, I had a few troubles with a housemaid and I had to fire her. I can offer you her job, until your time of work equivoques the amount I bought you for. I pay my servants one a day, so at worse you're stuck with us for…around five, six months? When your total will reach one hundred fifty, I promise I won't hold you back if you want to leave."
Teresa kept silence for a while. She looked out of the window, through a slim opening of the curtains. Parts of the city were running fast under her eye, and she let herself thinking. The Jane man didn't act hypocrite towards her yet, and nothing in his words suggested something uncalled-for. She wondered if it wasn't indeed a good solution. After all, even if she wrote to her family for help, she wasn't sure they would send one hundred fifty dollars by letter or come for themselves to pick her up. During her time with Elias, she had been bought twice, and both her previous owners had gotten rid of her pretty quickly. She didn't know in what part of the country she was right now, didn't know how much it would cost her to go back home. She was still a woman, an easy prey for a lot of people. Teresa bit her lower lip when she realized she didn't have much choice. Either the man kept her and let her work for him, or she tried to run away with no resources.
When she dared glimpse at her new owner, he had his eyes closed and was apparently sleeping, arms crossed and hat falling on his eyes. The other man's gaze hadn't left her thought, and soon she felt uncomfortable.
"What?" she snapped. "You want me to agree?"
"That would be the best for you, regarding your situation" the taller one said. "By the way, I'm Rigsby. Wayne Rigsby. And honest, you better put your pride aside and accept. It could be worse."
Teresa waited a few seconds and looked at the sleeping man. She could try to gather a little information, while he was dozing off, to make up her mind.
"How long have you worked for him?"
Rigsby smirked and chuckled.
"Four years, in a few weeks. We're just a bunch of people; there's Cho –the head butler and financial controller- he'd been there for six or seven years. Otherwise there are two housemaids, and a few guys for the handwork. Be careful with Van Pelt though. She's the housekeeper, and has worked for him ten years. He has rubbed off on her a little. You'll see, sometimes she can be a bit bitch…"
"Careful to what you're going to say, Rigsby" Jane's voice made them both jump. "I might report to Van Pelt you haven't been all compliments on her."
Teresa blinked. The taller man has basically…insinuated something negative on his master, just right next to him, and the said master was threatening to denounce him to the housekeeper? What was with this man? Jane half-opened one eye and stared tiredly at her.
"I swear. Those domestics have no respect towards each other, don't you think?" he closed his lid and added: "And Rigsby, please, don't be ashamed to say I'm a bit 'bitchy' on boards, that's so true. But leave Grace out of it, thank you."
The taller man muttered a 'sorry'. Nothing was said for a few minutes. Suddenly, the blond man straightened and yarned behind his hand.
"My, my, isn't this a busy day. So, Miss Lisbon, have you accepted my offer? Good. We'll take you to Van Pelt; she'll know what to make you do."
"I haven't said I accepted yet" she felt the need to point out. What she got in response was a huge grin.
"I know my dear, but I had the answer written on your face. And further more, why would you want to run away from such a handsome master?"
He chuckled again at her stunned wide-eyes. Teresa suddenly felt the urge to hit him.
Jackass, she thought, crossing her arms and looking away. The five next months were going to be so long.
Next chapter Teresa is introduced to the household and the terrible housekeeper (x. -Ow, and for those who read Wanderer, next chapter should be updated soon.
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Thanks for reading so far
