The Puzzle
Chapter 7
Wylon Merton liked setting fires.
It was one way to kill people without having to do it face to face.
Unlike people who usually started fires for insurance money purposes or to cover up crimes, Merton did it because he liked feeling in control. Goosebumps run down his spine at the possibility of knowing he held someone's devastation in his hands.
In other words, it was a turn -on for him.
Due to his ingenious method for starting the fire, firefighters were always baffled by the cause of it. More than likely they eventually deemed the cause 'unknown' or 'inconclusive'. That was because Merton was very careful to not leave any fingerprints or other incriminating evidence behind.
But now a wrench was thrown in the pile.
All because of Lisbon and Jane.
Little did they know, however, that they would be the cause of more killings, Merton sneered.
.
Lisbon always considered herself professional in all aspects of her life. She didn't get to be a top CBI agent by acting like a lovesick teenager. But at times she felt she was acting that way with Patrick Jane. At times she hated his charm, his sense of humor, his attractiveness.
And yet those were the things that drew him to her.
Sitting at her desk, she groaned at the memory of how she had acted with him when checking out Marco Bellini's bedroom. How she bounced on Marco's mattress enticingly and then invited Jane to do the same. She told herself she had acted very silly, but if given the chance, she would have done it all over again. It was fun...and even sensual.
But why with Patrick? Not Patrick -don't address him by his first name.
It's Jane. JANE.
Jane, with the tousled just-tumbled-out-of-bed hair. Jane, with his boyish outlook on the world. And of course, Jane, with his winning smile. STOP IT.
But still...for a space of a moment she longed to look at him like a woman looks at a man, instead of viewing him as she often did: as a thorn in her side.
R-r-ring!
Good. A distraction.
She picked up the phone and automatically said, "Lisbon."
"Hey Lisbon, where are you?"
She'd know Jane's voice anywhere.
"Where am I?" Her forehead furrowed, "I'm in my office. Where else should I be?"
"You're late. The bank?" he reminded her, "You told me you would meet me at Bellini's bank late morning at 11."
Oh hell.
Lisbon eyes widened at the realization. He's right. She looked at her watch. Here she was daydreaming about him when in reality, she was working with him.
She noisily began shuffling some papers about.
"Sorry," she apologized, above the noise of the crinkling papers, "I've been really bogged down in paperwork here. I'll be right over."
.
When Lisbon at last arrived at the bank, the manager, Alvin Henderson, and Jane were there, waiting for her. Henderson held Marco Bellini's file in his hands. Introductions were made all around. He obviously did not appreciate the fact that Lisbon was late.
"You must realize, Agent Lisbon, that, as a bank manager, I have other matters to attend to besides waiting for the CBI to make a grand entrance," Henderson brusquely said. Fortunately for Lisbon, she was used to dealing with entitled office managers.
"I apologize for being late, Mr. Henderson, so I will get right to the point," she pulled out some folded papers, "I have a court order allowing us to see all of Marco Bellini's bank records, including contents in his safe-deposit box."
Henderson was all business.
"Alright, if you two will follow me, then," he stiffly them.
Henderson took them inside the safe deposit room and then left them alone.
Inside Marco Bellini's safe deposit box, they found the usual papers: mortgage documents, deeds and insurance policies, as well as $50,000 in cash and half a dozen passports for Marco under a half a dozen different names and nationalities.
Strangely, at the bottom of the safe deposit box was a lone bookmark. Lisbon reached in and removed it.
She stared at the artwork of the bookmark. The frontside displayed a picture of the Mona Lisa, the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci. That was it, except at the very bottom, in small italics, was the company that printed the bookmark, Line Imaging.
She pondered why a simple bookmark was left with all the important papers.
"Jane, take a look at this."
He had been looking at the other contents of the safe deposit box but stopped to lean over.
"Ah, yeeesssss! The woman with the most enigmatic smile in the world!" Jane enthused at the recognition of the picture, "the painting of Mona Lisa is arguably the best known and most cherished work in all of the art world."
"So what 's it doing among Bellini's paperwork?" Lisbon pondered.
She then flipped it over and the mystery only heightened.
On the other side, handwritten with a black felt pen, was the following:
Shrapnel Vest Too
Scam Lost Inn
see Tom Lang
Lisbon read the words three times to herself, but nothing made sense.
"I don't get it," she commented.
"Of course you don't," Jane said.
"Why? Do the words mean anything to you?" she asked, hoping he would once again surprise her with his cleverness.
"Of course not, the words are as mysterious as Mona Lisa's smile..." he said, "and I think that's the point. It's in code. And I have a feeling it's a very important code. Might even help explain why Bellini was murdered."
"Oh, great," Lisbon said sarcastically," so in order to solve a murder, we need to solve an undecipherable code first."
Jane was about to comment when he heard noise from the outside of the room. He put his index finger in front of his mouth, like a 'shush' sound.
His voice was low as he explained, "Someone's coming. Better idehay icklyquay the bookmark."
Lisbon didn't understand.
"What?" she asked, a furrow on her brow.
He looked at her as though she was the only person in the world who didn't know Pig Latin.
"Hide it quickly!" Jane translated in a fast whisper as he pointed to the bookmark.
Oh.
Shoving the bookmark in the inside pocket of her jacket, Lisbon then began putting the other papers back in the safe deposit box when Alvin Henderson, the bank manager walked back in.
"Are you done looking through the papers, Agent Lisbon?" Henderson asked impatiently.
"I do have a few questions to ask you, Mr. Henderson, if you don't mind," her tone sounded more like a command.
He thinned his lips, "I really have a full schedule today."
Lisbon overlooked his rudeness as she made her point for him to cooperate, "We could talk here, or downtown. It's your call."
He gave a frustrated groan, "What is it you want to know?" he asked, disinterest in his tone.
"What was your impression of Marco Bellini?" she asked.
Henderson shrugged, "As far as I know, Mr. Bellini was a dependable, hardworking accountant who he started out with nothing and rose to become a pillar of the community."
"A pillar?" Jane repeated, "I've always had a different meaning for that word... so in your world, what does it take to become a pillar?"
Henderson had a frown and chose to ignore Jane as he looked at Lisbon, "Anything else, Agent Lisbon?"
"As far as you know, did Mr. Bellini have any nefarious dealings?" she asked.
"No," Henderson answered succinctly, " Mr. Bellini was a valued customer who took an interest in the community. He gave money to charities, donated services, promoted small businesses and was a member in good standing of the Chamber of Commerce."
"So he basically bought his way through the community," Jane surmised.
Henderson showed his dislike of Jane on his face.
"That's not what I'm saying at all!" the bank manager claimed.
"Truthfully, Mr. Henderson," Lisbon stated, "I don't believe the salary of an accountant is enough to make him rich, so how could he afford to be so generous with his money?"
"He had investments."
"Really," Lisbon said, sounding intrigued, "and what do you know about these investments?"
Henderson scowled.
"If you want to know more about that, you need to take that up with his accountant!" he blustered, "I am quite done discussing Mr. Bellini's character!"
"Don't you mean characters, Mr. Henderson?" Jane held up a number of the passports he had found in the safe deposit box, "according to the half-dozen passports he possessed, he had plenty of that!"
Henderson looked extremely annoyed at Jane and had the same expression when he faced Lisbon.
"I don't appreciate being interrogated like this, Agent Lisbon!" he snapped., "I believe our business is complete!"
Although Jane was antagonizing Henderson, Lisbon had to admit that the bank manager was a jerk.
"Mr. Henderson, we're not done talking yet until I, as an agent for the CBI, say it's over," Lisbon informed him.
Henderson had to force himself not to roll his eyes, "You'll have two more minutes of my time."
"Fine," she nodded, quickly responding before Jane could say anything, "Was there any evidence of Mr. Bellini moving his funds around?"
Henderson checked the file in his hand, "The account shows that for the first year or so, Mr. Bellini received regular transfers of roughly five thousand dollars every month."
Jane gave a low whistle to which Henderson gave him a look of disdain.
"From where?" she asked diverting Henderson's attention to her.
He shrugged, "Various local banks, plus one particular bank abroad."
"Don't tell me," Jane said, "the one bank abroad wouldn't happen to be in the Cayman Islands, would it?"
Henderson gave a reluctant, "Yes."
Lisbon inquired, "And as a bank manager, that didn't raise any alarm bells with you?"
"Agent Lisbon," he spoke slowly as if Lisbon were a child, "if I became alarmed every time we received a transfer from a Cayman Islands, I wouldn't have time to do anything else! Besides it's not uncommon for people with money to deposit money there to avoid excessive taxation."
"So, as a bank manager, you don't make sure things are on the up and up when huge deposits are made or withdrawn?" she questioned.
"I don't know anything about his previous business endeavors beyond the fact that no red flags showed up when we checked his credit." he stood firm.
He then looked at his watch a third time, "and I believe our two minutes are up. Please be sure to note in your records that I have been most cooperative."
"Wait," Jane interrupted, "I have just one question for you, Mr. Henderson."
Henderson looked beyond irritated, even before hearing the question, "I can't guarantee that I will answer it."
Jane ignored Henderson's hostility, "Have you ever done business with anyone named Tom Lang?" he asked, referring to the name on the bookmark.
Henderson answered immediately, "No."
"So you've never heard of Tom Lang...he may have been a seller of protective vests?" Jane eyed the bank manager carefully.
"That's two questions," Mr. Henderson responded and didn't answer, "and I told you that I have never heard of this Lang character, so your other question sounds ridiculous!"
Jane gave Lisbon a look which told her that Henderson didn't know anything more.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Henderson," Lisbon said, trying to keep the sarcasm out of her tone. She pretended to be leaving, but instead she turned back around, "Oh, and I'll be taking that file on Marco Bellini that you have there," she told him.
Henderson scowled as he held the file tighter, "You'll need a court order for that."
Lisbon produced a paper from her pocket and unfolded it, "I'm sure you see that everything is in order, Mr. Henderson" she told him.
He grabbed the paper and read it with disgust. Meanwhile, Jane smiled brightly at Lisbon for thinking ahead. She was one remarkable woman.
Later, Lisbon and Jane felt good as they left the bank into the bright sunshine.
"Well," Lisbon said, as they walked to the car "I would say we were quite successful-in fact, maybe too much. I feel overwhelmed by all these new facts and we haven't even delved in detail into Bellini's financial records yet."
"That sounds right down your alley, Lisbon," Jane told her, "but for me, looking through paperwork bores me. So we'll just go our separate ways here."
Lisbon didn't know what was wrong with her. She usually loved working on her own. A partner usually got in the way of her plans. Until now. She took a deep breath.
"How about some coffee, Jane?" she asked as she let the last of her breath out.
.
.
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(A/N: Yes, now there is a secret code for you to solve, alongside Lisbon and Jane! As the chapters go on with more clues and you think you've solved it, please PM me as to not spoil it for other readers!)
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