Chapter 7 (The Devil's Mark)
Red John's last words to Jane had been those of a threat. When Jane asked Red John to see Lisbon, his nemesis let out a chuckle before he turned off the camera.
"What are you gonna do ?" Grace asked to Jane in shock
"I will do exactly what he wants me to do" Jane said looking at her straight in the eye than shifting his look to the rest of the team "I have no choice" he adds
"What about the files ?" Cho asked
"I will take care of that myself…in the meantime I want you all to find anything you can where she was and if anyone saw her" he said seriously "oh and before I forget, I did not have an affair with Vanessa Reid." he said
They gave him a stunned look
"Well Red John seems to think otherwise" Rigsby said while escaping a nervous chuckle
"well he is wrong. Ten years ago Vanessa Reid had serious problems and I helped her with her drinking problem, nothing more. As for the night that my familly had been murdered I told you the truth. But what I did not tell you is that Vanessa came to me that night and was seriously relapsing so I gave her a ride home and stayed for a while. When she fell asleep I went back to my house….and you know the rest" Jane trailed off while waving his hands up in the air as a sign of promise
"we believe you" Cho said looking at Jane "did you find anything Grace ?" Cho asked the red-hair women as he notice the paper note in her hands
"yeah I found a note from Lisbon's office. It says she went to have lunch with someone but it doesn't say where. I will try to talk to someone in the office if they have seen her" she said with hope and wrinkling her nose
Before Van Pelt left Jane's voice stopped her from going. He gathered all of his strengh to say to them what he had meant for a long time.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for leaving and let you worried, sorry for the things I made you do and most importantly I'm sorry for lying to you guys. I should have told you about this a long time ago" he said
He was looking at a very emotional Grace in the end.
"it's okay Jane we're glad you're back" she said now he was looking at her before turning her back and leave
"yeah thanks for you're honestly man" Rigsby said with a sad smile
Jane them left the bullpen and took the elevator. He was determined to burn all of the Red John files, a part of his past. He owed it to his the team. But most importantly he owed it to the one women who believed in him all those years, the one who hold his heart, Teresa Lisbon. He knew he would probably not get out alive of his journey with Red John but at least she would be safe and that's all that mattered to him now. Nothing more.
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Despite all of the exhaustion and all of her weakness due to lack of food and proper hydration, Lisbon was fully determined to find a way out. If only she had something that could help her get out of her ropes. It was the hardest thing to loosen up such perfect knots. As she was trying to think of her escape, the door of her cell suddenly oppened once more. It was Red John again. He had brought the same rusty cart. On it lay a plate with a really modest ham sandwich and a bottle of water. When she finally saw a huge knife next to the plate she swallowed immensly with anticipation. This was probably her last meal…
Red John approached and she buckled in her chair. She swallowed. This was it. She then saw his hands wondered at her back and he cutted the ropes with the knife he was holding. He sensed her fear when she became frantic under his grip
"don't worry I'm not gonna kill you" he said as he whispered in her ear "not for now" he added
Lisbon had stopped squirming and looked away
"it's not poisoned" Red John said with a smile "eat. You'll need to keep all of you strengh" he said motioning his hand towards her
He then left as quickly as he had arrived. Lisbon had noticed immeditely Red John had left the knife on the table next to her. She had try not look at it to scared he would cath her doing so. She then took greedily her sandwich and emptied her water bottle. She then tried to reach for the knife but unfortunatly it was too far and her arm was stretched to the maximum. She almost fell with her chair. She would use this tool with great verve but she would have to act fast and now before Red John would come back. She definitly needed a better strategy…
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Red John was smiling to himself as he looked at Teresa Lisbon on his video camera. She had trusted him innocently and still she had thought he hadn't seen the lightning in her eyes when he purposely left the knife on the kitchen table next to her. Such a fool little girl he thought to himself. Maybe this game would be funnier then he had expected after all…things would definitely get interresting he just needed to have patience something which was the greatest of his vertue. He then took a sip of his tea and swifted slightly in his chair while listening to his favorite classic music…
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Burning all the CBI files had been so easy for Patrick Jane. No one had questionned him when he had asked to see for the Red John files. The FBI was only to pleased that he was willing to give his help on the matter. He was only hoping that his actions would be worth it. That Red John would honor his deal with him : he also feared his nemesis was not to kind of men to ever make compromise, especially when it comes to killing. Jane was walking back slowly to his office looking everywhere around him in suspicion. Even thought he was pretty sure no one from the building had seen him break into the filing room and burn all of the files, the doubts still ran into his mind. When he took the elevator, he ran into Rigsby who arrived only seconds afer him.
"hey" Rigsby said nonchalentely "thanks for holding that up men"
"no problem" Jane said with a ligth smile
The two men didn't know what to say when Rigsby violently pushed the off button of the elevator causing it to jam. The tall dark-haired agent then stared at Jane with a serious look and hands on his hips.
"we need to talk" Rigsby said eyebrows lift
"yeah I guess so" Jane said with a soft smile that betrayed his discomfort
"look I know you regret what you have done in the past and you probably feel guilty about it. But there's nothing you can do about it" Rigsby said pausing
"I know that" Jane said with a smile
"and I know maybe you're mad because you think we don't understand you" he said "but the truth is we can't…and you're not the only one who's mad. Red John had made each of our lives a living hell for the past ten years" he said
"what is it you're trying to say ?" Jane asks knowing what Rigsby intentions were
"I hate to say it but I think Red John has a point" Rigsby said quickly "I think this is your chance to prove him wrong, that you're willing to sacrifice yourself for someone else's life" he said in relief
"so basically you're scared that I will let Red John take her life away and then clear out like nothing even happened ?" he asked
"yeah something like that" Rigsby said dissapointed that Jane had seen in him
"you don't have to worry" Jane said while starting back to elevator
"great" Rigsby said reassured
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Jane and Rigsby made their way to the CBI offices. Cho looked incredule and Grace looked scared. Jane immediately knew something was going on.
"what is it ?" Jane asked
Grace looked at him but didn't dare to talk then she looked back at Cho.
"she has five hours left" Cho said
"what ?" Jane asked as if he hadn't understand correctly
"Red John is gonna kill Lisbon if you don't do as he says in time" Cho adds
"what else does he wants ?" Jane asks
"he wants you to burn you house and take off you wedding ring" Cho says
"okay that's not a problem" Jane lied
Of course it was a huge step forward for Jane to get rid of the last memories of his wife and child he had but he also knew it was the only possible way to save Lisbon and finally catch Red John. He was willing to do those things if only it would work out as he planed. The rest was just collateral damages ; old pieces of furniture nithing else he told himself as a sweet and comforting lullaby.
"he's not telling you were he is…he says you have to find out" Cho said
"he's a freak" Rigsby said nervously "he didn't even give us any clue" he adss ironically
"yes he did" Jane said calmly
Every gaze was turned out to him now
"explain yourself" Cho said a bit offended
"last time he contacted me, Red John said he had left a gift for me. Something personal and destined for my view only" then he paused not sure if the team was ready to ear the rest
"do you have it ?" Cho asked
"not exactly" Jane said shyly
"Jane you have to tell us for the sake of Lisbon's life" Grace said lips pursed and hands trembling
"well I'm not sure yet" Jane said lifting one hand up in defense "but I think he might have left something on Vanessa Reid's body. He delivered it at the morgue this morning and said it was a gift" Jane finished
"and you didn't checked out ?" Rigsby asked
"no" Jane said bowing down his face shamelessly
"great" Cho said anger visible on his traits
"I-I did't think there could be something there" Jane stuttered in defense "plus I got to say I find it a little creepy" Jane adds
"what did you expect ? it's Red John for christ's sake" Rigsby said with disappointment in his voice
"I will look it up" Jane said "in the meantime I want you all to stay here and call me if he contacts you again" Jane said as he left the bullpen
Jane was a little bit frustrated with himself for beeing pawned like that so easily. What was going on with him ? Was he loosing his skills ? Or was he only a fool when it camed to Red John ? He regreted that Lisbon wasn't there. She was the only one to reason him in those situations, stoping him from doing crazy things. Maybe except for this one time when he shot a men whom he thought to be Red John. He could only imagined her pain and her dissappointment for him at this moment and the fear or what might happen to him. Poor Teresa, what had she done to deserve someone like him ?
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When Jane arrived at the morgue, he showed his badge to the security guard. The tall men gave him a suspicious look then let Jane enter and told him he had only fifteen minuts. When he entered the morgue, Jane felt the cold breeze of the freezer ran down his spine. As long as his memory could go he didn't remember this place to be so chilly. Maybe there was something wrong with the ventilators. He claped his hands together looking for warmth. He didn't know where Vanessa Reid was but he looked into the victim's file. Even thought Red John could have her put her anywhere, Jane thought it was worth a try. According to the files, the victim was stored in the drawer 306. Jane opened it cautiously then lifted the silky white sheet that covered her body. What he saw twisted his guts inside out. What was he expecting ? The victim had been decapitated, eviscerated and her body was covered with deep scars. Contrary to what Red John thought, Jane didn't know Vanessa so well, but he couldn't help but feel guilt for her tragic end. He had only tried to help her and his nemesis had took her life away for that thinking that Jane had an affair with her. Jane prefered not to think about what he would have to do to find what Red John had left to him. At this very moment something caught his attention. On her leftside lower back something like a draw or a symbol seemed to have been paint in red. At first he hadn't notice but now that he looked closer he saw that it was a tatoo ; it was a red key surrounded by flames with a serial number on it. From Jane's guess the tatoo was the work of Red John, it was his mark the one of the devil.
The numbers were barely visible but Jane had been able to caught the first six numbers, the four others were imperceptible.
"What are you doing ?" called the security guard
Jane was so caught up in his quest that he didn't ear the men coming inside the morgue
"I was looking for evidence" Jane said forcing a smile
"did you find what you wanted ?" the guard asked
"not really" Jane lied
"your time is up" the tall men said
"yeah thank you" Jane said before he got out of the morgue
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When Jane got back to the office the others were waiting after him impatiently. Rigsby was biting off his nails, Grace was claping her foot and Cho had his arms crossed like usual. When Jane entered the bullpen they all stood at the same time.
"nine, one, six, five, eigh, four" Jane said "it was tattooed on her back inside a key there's at least four other numbers or letters I could catch up but that's a start" Jane says when he saw the look of confusion on three other agents's face.
"I don't know" Grace said "there could at least a thousand possibilities" she said
"how many letters there were ?" Cho asked
"I don't know maybe ten" Jane said
"could be a phone number" Rigsby said quickly
"no it's too easy" Jane says "it was written inside a key so it's something more specific" he adds
"we don't have time for this" Cho said sighing which showed that he might loose his patience
"a little patience" Jane said
"we need to work on where was Lisbon before she dissapeared and who was the last person to see her" Cho said "Grace ?" Cho asked for information
"I don't where she went, I know it was at a restaurant but I don't know which one" she said "it's not like her to go somewhere and not tell us where" she says sighing and angry with herself
"it's not your fault" Jane said trying to comfort her
"yeah easy for you to say" Grace said looking at Jane with disdain
"I'm sorry" Jane said "I know you're angry with me but we need your help" Jane said looking at her honestly
"who else knows where she went ?" Cho asked to Grace
"I don't know maybe Sam saw her…he's the one who discovered Lorelai's body this morning" she said hypothetically
"I thought it was the genitor who saw her first" Cho said
"yeah but he was there too" she said
"who's Sam ?" Jane asked
"he's the guardian prison cell at the CBI he's the one who contacts us about our convicts" Rigsby says to inform Jane
"I'll go see him" Jane said "maybe he saw someone or something" Jane said
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The guardian prinson cell was middle-aged men probably in his late fifties with a moustache and salt-and-pepper hair. When he turned his face, Jane could see the deep scar on the men's face something he must have got in his youth.
"what can I do for you ?" the men asked when he saw Jane arrive
"Hi I'm Patrick Jane nice to meet you" Jane said with a smile and shaking the other men's hand
"nice to meet you Patrick I'm Sam" the men said "what can I do for you ?"
"I think you might have seen a friend of mine this morning her name is Teresa Lisbon" Jane said
"yep I know Teresa right I told her the FBI wanted to see her this morning. No wonder after what happened to that women…I don't remember her name"
"Lorelai" Jane said
"yep that's it Lorelai" the men said "miss Lisbon is a very nice girl you know she offered her help to the FBI and didn't even complained when they removed her and her team from the Red John case…she's a real gem" the men said
"yes she is" Jane said with a sad smile "she had been kidnapped this morning her life is in very danger" Jane said trying to hold up the tears that wanted to come down his face
"oh that's terrible" the men said disconcerted "if there's anything I can do to help…" he starts twitching his moustache but Jane interrupted him
"I need to know if you saw anyone coming or getting out of Lisbon's office or coming close to her…anyone out of ordinary" Jane said with hope in his eyes
"actually Mr. Jane I did" the men said with enthusiasm
"who was it ?" Jane asked gulping
"well I don't know his name" the men said dissapointed "but I can give you a full description if you want" he said
"yes that would help very much" Jane said with a smile
He saw from the men's expression that he was glad he could help. Aside from the clue Red John gave them, they were fianally having a more potential evidence that could lead them to Lisbon. Jane only hoped this new turn of events wouldn't be a dead end. Maybe eventually they would be able pick up all the pieces of the puzzle and put them together. There were so little time left for Lisbon, but Jane knew he would outsmart Red John in the end. He had too. After all his nemesis hadn't choose him as his principal opponent for nothing ?
Author's note : sorry for the little change of game, but I promise at the very beginning of the next chapter we will finally know who is Red John. Maybe some of you had already find out ? :D anyways there will be maybe two or three chapters more so keep up reading the rest is going to be epic ! ;) thanks for reading and a big hug to the one person who supports me with this writing hope you enjoyed this sweetie xDD don't forget to comment and let me know what you think see ya all :P
