A/N: Love Cho to pieces. Love him. So this was fun to write. Thanks to Tracie, Viktorija, TexannaRose, lisbon69, Laura, Yana, Susan, Geilie, Jen and lgmtreader. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I disclaim that I own absolutely nothing...
Part VI
Present day…
Lisbon reaches for her mug.
Empty.
She groans.
Stands up.
Stretches her legs.
Notices the office is now still.
Dark.
Just rows of empty desks to greet her.
Except for one.
Light from a dim lamp.
Cho.
At his computer.
Deep in thought.
She watches him a moment.
Then ambles over.
Perches on an unoccupied corner.
"What are you still doing here?"
He doesn't meet her gaze.
"I could ask you the same question."
He leans back in his seat.
Sighs.
"It's my fault."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"I gave Jane the tip."
The gravity of his voice confuses her.
Only for a brief moment.
His admission explains a lot.
Truthfully, she had a hunch.
A Jane hunch.
She suppresses a smile.
Cho notices.
"Did Jane tell you what happened?"
She frowns.
Shakes her head.
"Probably told Minelli."
He offers a noncommittal shrug.
Points at the screen.
A mug shot.
Light brown hair.
Matching eyes.
Ordinary.
"Our jumper, Roland Jaimesson. Small time criminal. Mainly B&E's."
A pause.
"Hicks said that he was a rather reliable snitch. Helped catch bigger fish. Not sure what Bosco got from him or what he gave to Bosco. There wasn't anything in either's possession that the coroner found."
"And Red John?"
Another sigh.
A few clicks of his mouse.
The ordinary face is replaced.
Another ordinary face.
Autopsy photo.
Darker brown hair.
"Prints aren't in the system. We'll probably never know who he really was, let alone if he actually was Red John."
He sounds tired.
Looks it too.
She feels the same way.
Though she doesn't have doubts as to the mystery man's identity.
She trusts Jane's instincts.
He believes the man is Red John.
She believes it too.
She fights the impulse to gaze at the still empty leather couch.
"You miss him."
Not a question.
A statement.
Fact.
Truth.
She will never admit it aloud.
Simply reaches out.
Pats his shoulder.
"It's not your fault."
She slides off his desk.
Heads towards the break room.
Only then realizing she does not have her mug.
TBC
