When they arrived at Zoey Salvador's house, Teresa wasn't the least bit surprised to see that the criminal turned real estate agent had managed to get the best deal finding herself a nice spot. Glancing at her consultant who was staring out at the fancy estate she commented, "Anything look or feel familiar?"
"Doesn't work that way. If I don't train myself to pay attention to some detail it will pass me by." "I thought you always noticed everything. Getting rusty in your old age?" Lisbon asked with a smirk.
"I told you already, I was inhibited," Jane countered and added, "I don't see why this is so funny." "It's pretty rare for the great Patrick Jane to be flustered, you know; I think I should make a record of it happening for future generations," she stated and then added seriously, "You already had your blood tested for alcohol content, you're clean Jane."
"You're assuming that the murder happened less than six hours ago, what if it happened last night?" he countered to which he replied; "I told you already I can't discuss details of the investigation with you. The less you know the better," Teresa countered with a sigh to which her consultant replied, "The last thing I remember is driving north toward the coast, probably Sacremento, if I recall the sun was toward the west so it was probably around four thirty or so. I don't know why, but I stopped. Judging by the distance between the hotel and the gas station it probably took me an hour to walk, landing me there around six or so."
"You know that inconvenient little trick could bite you in the butt," Teresa countered as she stepped out of the car and added, "Can I trust you to stay here?" The blonde haired consultant nodded and replied, "Scout's honor."
Lisbon did her best not to roll her eyes as she got out of the car and then strolled down the marble path to the fancy beach home. Upon reaching the front door, she reached into her coat pocket to take out her badge and then rang the doorbell patiently waiting for a response. A middle aged man about thirty or so with red curly hair and green eyes opened the door without a shirt on and then muttered, "Yes? Can I help you?" "Mark Salvador?" Teresa asked to which the man groggily nodded and then she explained, "Agent Lisbon, California Bureau of Investigation. I need to ask you a few questions."
"I'm sorry.. What is this about?" Mark asked in confusion opening the door a bit wider causing her to see that he appeared to be genuinely befuddled by her arrival.
"Can we talk inside sir?" she asked and he nodded allowing her into the dimly lit entranceway. Stepping down into a modest living room, Lisbon glanced about at all of the decor realizing that by all accounts Zoey was leading a normal life. Reaching into the couch Mark pulled out the remote and turned his TV before commenting, "Just give it to me straight. Is this about Charlie?"
"Mister Salvador your wife was found murdered last night at the Sea and Sky Motel on Route 83," Lisbon said deciding for now to not worry about Charlie, whoever that was. The red haired man sank down onto his sofa and remarked, "No... That is not possible."
"I'm sorry," Teresa began to which the man shot up and declared, "No you don't understand it simply isn't possible. And I can prove it." Lisbon looked at the man in confusion as he raced to the bathroom and then quickly followed him declaring, "Mister Salvador please calm down." Knocking on the door Mark declared, "I don't know what kind of scam Charlie is running but you are hearing from my lawyer."
Before she got a chance to reply a blonde haired woman opened the bathroom door, her blue eyes looking at Lisbon in confusion and then muttering, "Mark, what is going on?"
"Dear this is Agent Lisbon or so she claims. They found you dead last night," Mister Salvador sending an icy glare to her an remarking, "So what is this really about?" "Umm... I'm sorry, you're Zoey Salvador?" Teresa asked.
The shower drenched wife stepped out wrapping the towel around her body and then nodded saying, "Yes that's right... Who are you?" "That is what I would like to know," Mark agreed. Teresa placed a hand on her head and muttered, "I'm sorry I'm a little confused. Could you please get dressed Miss Salvador and then I can ask you a couple of questions?"
"Not until I see some identification," her husband stated, walking in between the two women. Sighing she was about to reach into her pocket for her badge again when a familiar voice declared, "Miss Salvador you're not from Florida originally are you?" Lisbon turned about looking at Jane in surprise and snapped, "I told you to wait in the car!" "Sorry only thing on the radio was Christmas music, it was giving me a headache," Patrick answered and then added, "I am right though. This woman has never been to Florida."
Zoey looked at her husband in confusion and remarked, "Of course not, both of us were raised in Washington state, Seattle area." "And neither of you recognize me?" Jane asked to which Lisbon growled, "What do you think you are doing?" "Establishing ground work. Am I right? Neither of you have ever heard of the name Patrick Jane?" the blonde haired consultant inquired to which Mark replied, "Of course not! Now please tell me what this is all about?"
"I think it's safe to say that your wife is the victim of identity theft." Lisbon looked at her friend in surprise and then back toward the couple before remarking, "Can you both please come back to the living room. And you, go back to the car and listen to Feliz Navidad until your brain boils." Patrick raised his hands defensively walking out as Lisbon sighed again and then waited for the Salvador's in their living room. Taking a second look at the decor, and the photos in the room Teresa immediately realized Jane had been right. Not one picture displayed Zoey on a beach or anywhere else near to Florida.
So if this is Miss Salvador, then how did the body down town get misidentified? she wondered as Mark and Zoey entered the room. "Agent Lisbon I apologize for my outburst. It's just... Well your colleague is right, we've been hit by insurance agents, bank accountants tax auditors and the like recently. We didn't know who you were and what you were after," Mark explained.
"It's all right, um to start over with my questioning I want to know who Charlie is?" Lisbon declared causing Miss Salvador's eyes to widen and remark, "He's my brother. He's been missing for a couple of days now. We thought whoever was doing this was taking things to the next level."
Gesturing with his left hand toward her, the husband explained, "I called a private investigator yesterday. I thought maybe you were from the service." "Can I get a name for them?" Lisbon asked and added, "Also Miss Salvador we would be grateful if you would come down to headquarters and have a few tests taken. Just so we can confirm who you are and maybe sort out who our victim is."
"Agent Lisbon do you suppose the killer intended to target me or the imposter?" Zoey wondered. Teresa thought about their primary suspect and remarked, "It's too soon to say. But you can come with me for those tests." Looking at her husband, Mark nodded in agreement and said, "Whatever we can do to make this go away."
"Do you have the info on that investigator handy?" Lisbon asked as she stood up to which the red headed man nodded and went to the fireplace lifting a bookend off the edge and taking the business card out from under it. Passing it to the senior agent, Teresa glanced at the business and remarked, "All right, lets go." As the wife went to get dressed, Lisbon walked out of the house preparing to call Rigsby about the strange mishap when she looked at the van and realized Jane was missing.
"What now?" she asked irritably walking faster and looking about the courtyard frantically. If I can't get find him quick I'll have to put an APB on him, Teresa thought sourly as she rounded the back of the house to the double car garage and sighed both frustrated and relieved to find the blonde haired consultant standing in the garage. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" she asked. "Hey Lisbon, check this out," Patrick said kneeling down near one of the tires and Lisbon sighed stating, "Jane you're trespassing we don't have a warrant to do this."
"Their tires are fairly new, no traction on them yet. I'd bet recently bought. These people haven't been here for very long," the consultant remarked standing back up and remarking, "It looks like we're dealing with two imposters here." Lisbon sighed wondering if the former psychic was right and then muttered, "Either way we'll know when we get them down to headquarters." Jane flashed his usual smile and remarked, "Will the real Zoey Salvador please stand up?"
