A/N: Brookyln79 back again! Thanks again for all the lovely reviews, favs and follows for this story. Your positive words help motivate us all as we progress with this little light hearted romp.
Mayzee is up again next chapter.
Chapter 9 - Spa Treatment
Lisbon vigorously flicked through the glossy magazine as they sat quietly waiting in the luxury Niagara Niagara spa reception area. She hadn't said much after leaving Fischer's room and Jane knew better than to try push her when she was in one of her moods. He would wait until she had experienced the luxury spa treatments, hoping they would relax her before he broached the whole Fischer issue again.
The walls of the reception area were painted shades of dark red complimented with large soft beige furnishings. A few lit candles and incense sticks were dotted around the reception as calming whale music played softly over the tannoy system. It was your typical fancy spa atmosphere.
'Well, this is nice,' Jane said cheerfully trying to make small talk between them.
'I guess. If you like this sort of thing,' Lisbon mumbled grumpily, totally unimpressed by her surroundings.
'Everyone likes a bit of romantic luxury,' he remarked in a more seductive tone moving himself closer as they sat alone on the comfy couch.
'Why don't we just stay focused on the case for now,' Lisbon said a little sharply not taking her eyes off of the Vogue magazine she held in her hands. 'In fact I think it's best if we put us aside for the time being, at least until we have solved this case and the killer is caught. A little less touching and more investigating so to speak.'
'Are you serious?' Jane asked when he heard the seriousness in her voice, hurt by the fact that all it took to derail things between them was one word from Fischer.
'Yes,' Lisbon replied softening her tone when she saw the insecurity flashing up in his eyes. 'I just think we should be more focused on catching the killer. It's not professional for us to be suddenly acting like a couple of randy teenagers. I don't even understand why we-'
'Because we are in love Teresa,' Jane stated firmly, cutting her off mid rant. Only fifteen minutes before there had been seconds away from making love for the first time until Fischer had shown up and ruined their moment. 'And we have both been waiting a very long time for this...'
Jane gently laced his fingers with hers. He wasn't about to let her start pushing him way especially as they had made such big strides in their personal relationship, even if it hadn't been in the physical sense, as of yet.
'Look, about what Fischer said upstairs-'
Before Jane could finish explaining, the door of the main spa swung open, making them both focus on the well dressed woman standing to greet them.
'Hello, welcome to Niagara Niagara spa. I am Heather Newell, manageress of this luxury little piece of heaven.'
Heather Newell stepped forward shaking both Lisbon and Jane's hands giving Lisbon's casual blouse and jeans look a quick disapproving once over. Heather was of slim build, strawberry blonde shoulder length hair, mid to late forties, immaculately dressed in an expensive Chanel suit with a decidedly upper class upbringing about her. Lisbon glanced out the corner of her eye to see Jane grinning mischievously as she introduced herself. Heather Newell had been listed as one of the potential suspects and Lisbon felt relieved that they may at least be able to do some proper investigating while they were having these unfamiliar luxury spa treatments together.
Heather swiped a golden key card down a lock slot that unleashed two frosted glass doors allowing them entry into the main spa.
'It's Mr and Mrs Jane. Correct?' Heather asked, checking the diary.
'Yes, my lovely wife and I have a few treatments booked. We are on our honeymoon so I booked the couple's package for us.'
'Oh. That's... lovely,' Heather replied a little less enthusiastically at the mention of the word honeymoon. 'Congratulations to you both. You should know we have won awards for some of our spa treatments so you are in safe hands.' Heather smiled widely nodding towards the award winning plaques behind her on the wall for all the visitors to see.
'Really? Safe hands? Because wasn't there just a murder up on the seventh floor only yesterday and we heard there was once a very gruesome murder down here at the spa also,' Jane said confidently but with an air of amusement to his voice, knowing full well his remark would wipe the fake smile of her snooty face. As if on cue Heather's cheesy fake smile fell suddenly making her open mouthed and all of fluster at Jane's directness.
'Uh...ah...I...Well we have the FBI handling that matter. As for that awful event here at the spa, that was a very very long time ago. I can assure you Mr Jane that nothing like that has ever happened in my spa again since. We've made strong changes to our security measures. Hence why the entrance doors of the spa are can only be opened with a swipe of special spa key card that only a few senior members of staff have access to. You and your lovely wife are perfectly safe here, I can promise you...'
Jane's grin widened as the woman nervously dropped the diary she was holding, sending several loose papers scattering across the floor behind her. Heather bent down to retrieve them, mumbling small curses under her breath at being so thrown by his remarks.
'Well, that explains why the killer never came back to the spa to kill again,' Lisbon whispered nodding her head towards the special key lock whilst Heather was still distracted on the floor.
There had to be a reason why the killer hadn't returned to the original crime scene and the new security access was clearly the answer.
'So...' Heather Newell said, straightening back up and looking more flustered and trying in vain to gain some self control. 'I see you have a couples massage first, followed by a private sauna and then a luxury champagne Jacuzzi.'
Lisbon rolled her eyes at Jane's very intimate choice of treatments for them both. Last thing she needed was to be locked naked in a hot steamy room with him especially if their morning activities in the shower were anything to go by. After nearly been caught having sex by Fischer she had made a firm promise that they would focus solely on the solving the case from now on and that's what she was planning to do. They may be a couple in love but she could control her sexual urges for now. Couldn't she?
'We won't be needing the sauna or the Jacuzzi today,' Lisbon said, ignoring the disappointed frown that was crossing Jane's Face. 'Just the massage. My husband has unfortunately pulled a muscle in his back so he needs that treatment more.'
'Oh, okay. Well that's fine. We can just extend the massage time for you. Donna your masseuse will be out to show you and Mr Jane to your private treatment room. I hope you both enjoy you time here at Niagara spa and I hope that you will return for more luxury treatments before your trip is over. Twenty five percent off for returning guests. That includes hair and makeovers too,' Heather said, aiming her little her dig towards Lisbon in an over patronising voice. Then she nodded her goodbyes before walking through her office door leaving them alone again.
'So what do think? Lisbon asked, as Jane groaned in agony lowering himself stiffly down into a nearby armchair as Lisbon sat beside him.
'Well I think the sauna would have been a nice-'
'Not that! Heather Newell. Did you get a good read on her?' Lisbon asked, sighing in frustration.
'Hmm, I would guess she is definitely hiding something related to the murders.'
'Really? You think she is involved somehow?'
'Maybe. When I brought the original murders up she became even more flustered and wouldn't maintain any eye contact. A sure sign of guilt,' Jane replied, rubbing his back.
'Yes, but do you think she is our killer?' Lisbon asked curiously, not sure if she got a vibe of psychopathic killer from the stuck-up business woman.
'Well she's a bit of snob and a ruthless career woman,' Jane said swivelling his head around looking around the fancy surroundings. 'But a psychopathic killer? I'm not sure.'
Jane lightly tapped his finger against his lips as he considered Heather Newell for a few moments. While she didn't come across as the serial killer type on face value Jane had learned a long time ago never to rule anyone out completely right away. He would have to push a few more of the woman's buttons to see her true colours. As Jane was pondering on Heather, Lisbon picked up the complete list of treatments offered in the spa from the table beside her. After perusing it she said, 'I don't see daisies being used in any of the treatments offered here. Or at least they're not specifically mentioned as being used.'
'Interesting. Then it would appear the killer brings them from outside the complex to lay at the scene of the murders.'
'But why?' Lisbon prodded.
'Well that's the sixty four thousand dollar question, isn't it, my dear?'
'Mr and Mrs Jane?'
Lisbon and Jane looked around to be greeted by an attractive brunette dressed in a smart black spa uniform.
'Yes, that's us,' Jane said cheerfully pushing against the armrests of the chair to lever himself up but stopped by Lisbon hand's as it forcefully pulled him back down again, eliciting a moan from him as the muscle in his back strained once more.
'Hang on, what about Heather Newell?' Lisbon whispered ignoring the pain he was in.
Wincing and shooting her a dirty look he replied, 'Relax Lisbon, we have plenty of time. We will speak to her again before we leave, first let's have this glorious massage. Ahhhh!' Jane cried out in agony as he attempted to stand up again not getting very far as his back protested yet again.
Ten minutes later Lisbon exited the ensuite shower room dressed only in a luxury soft white towel. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms self consciously as she wasn't used to being so naked in public.
Jane was leaning against one of the massage beds dressed in a fluffy white Niagara dressing gown looking even sexier than he normally did. His face and the low V of chest looked extremely tanned in comparison to the bright white gown. Lisbon pulled her own towel upwards when she caught him slyly checking out her cleavage. She was determined to keep things more professional between them whilst working this case even if she could feel her blood pressure rising at the sight of a very sexy half naked Patrick Jane.
'Where's Donna?' Lisbon enquired leaning against the massage bed opposite his. Jane knew Lisbon wasn't used to this sort of luxury spa activity. Working as cop didn't afford her much spare time to do little extravagant treats like this and any available free time she did have, he knew she would rather spend down at the shooting range.
'Lisbon. Try to relax, please. This is supposed to be a very enjoyable experience. There's nothing to be embarrassed about, these people are professionals. All you need to do is lie down on the bed and let them do their job. By the end of this session I can guarantee you will be feeling so much better for it.'
Lisbon raised a doubtful eyebrow, not at all convinced she would feel that way after having a total stranger rubbing their hands all over her half naked body. The door of the treatment room opened revealing Donna the masseuse carrying several different bottles of expensive oils in her arms.
'So, Mr and Mrs Jane, we have sweet almond, lavender, peppermint or tea tree oil as a choice for your full body massage. Would you like to choose one? Or are you happy for us to do so?'
'Ah, lovely. I will have the sweet almond oil,' Jane said excitably taking the half filled bottle out of the woman's hands to examine and smell it.
'I don't mind which, you can choose,' Lisbon replied awkwardly, feeling this luxury massage was a little bit pretentious for her liking. 'So what happens now? You give a massage to my husband, then me?'
'Oh no, in couples' massage there are two of us applying the treatment. You and your husband will lie down on the beds and our aim is to give you both a relaxing sensual massage. By the time you leave here you will hopefully feel stress free and fully relaxed. My colleague Lesley will be here soon. In fact Lesley is most popular among our hotel guests so you're in very good hands I assure you, Mrs Jane.'
'See Teresa? I am sure Donna and her lovely colleague will do a great job, all you have to do is lie down and...Who are you!' Jane asked sharply, dropping his happy carefree demeanour as the infamous Lesley entered into the treatment room.
Leslie turned out to be a very tall, very good looking, well tanned muscled beefcake of a man and it was blatantly obvious to everyone why he was such a popular hit with the clients of the spa.
'Hi, I'm Les,' the younger man said, holding his hand out politely for Jane to shake. Jane reluctantly shook the man's hand, seeing how large Les's were compared to his own. He had imaged this Lesley to be a young woman like Donna, not some tall good looking athletic muscle bound model about to rub his large manly hands over Teresa's naked body.
'Hi, I am Teresa,' Lisbon said warmly, ignoring Jane's annoyed glances at the young man. Lisbon glanced her head away unable to stop a small satisfied grin appear when she saw how unimpressed Jane was with the sight of her personal masseur.
Using this knowledge and Les' attractive attributes to her advantage she allowed the beefcake to help her lie down on the massage bed before discreetly slipping her towel down her torso slightly once she was securely lying on her front.
'Do you know what? I think you're right, Patrick. I think I will feel so much better after this,' she said chuckling seeing the flash of horror on Jane's face as Les helped lower her towel down her body further.
Twenty minutes later after having had to listen to Lisbon's small satisfied moans as Les worked his magic on her tense muscles, Jane decided he needed to put an end to it. Jane wasn't normally a jealous type of guy but watching this man touch Lisbon in places he hadn't even had the pleasure of doing so yet was riling him up.
'Right, well I think we are both done,' Jane said, sitting up as he watched Leslie's giant man hands run down the sleek contours of Lisbon's well oiled back. Unfortunately he had spent most of his own massage trying to catch glimpses of Lisbon and the beefcake rather than relaxing or reaping the benefits of his own massage that Donna was giving him. Although he supposed she had done him some good. He could at least sit up now without moaning.
'My wife and I have a very romantic afternoon planned and we need to get on,' he said firmly wrapping his fluffy dressing gown back around him, practically jumping off the bed. Eventually Lisbon sleepily lifted her head up from the hole in the massage table as she felt the warmth of Les's masculine hands leave her back. 'Oh, is our sixty minutes up already? That went so quickly. But I do feel so much better and more relaxed. Thank you Les.'
Jane waited for the two spa employees to leave the room before speaking again. 'Well I have had better massages in my time,' Jane snipped a little bitterly.
'Well, Les definitely seems to have the magic touch,' Lisbon said smoothly as she stretched her arms upwards knowing full well why Jane had cut their spa treatment short.
'Hmm, well if I was a mentalist I would think you were trying to make me jealous Agent Lisbon,' Jane grinned at her, knowing that was what she was actually doing and succeeding. Pulling lightly on the towel wrapped around her he moved her slowly into his arms.
'Well my back is feeling a little better I guess. Anyway, I bet I can do a better job than that meat head, you just need to let me prove it,' Jane whispered, placing a long soft kiss to her lips becoming very aware of how naked they both were under the plush cotton of their robe and towel. He was grateful to discover that the beefcake's magic massage had certainly relaxed Lisbon so much that she had seemed to have momentarily forgotten about the no touching rules she wanted them to follow.
'Jane, what happened between you and Fischer on the island?' Lisbon asked softly as he began placing kisses along her jaw.
Jane sighed, hoping that she had somehow forgotten about that part too. 'It was nothing Teresa.'
'Well it can't have been nothing. She said you two got...close?'
'It's not in the way you are imagining.'
'No?'
'No,' Jane stated firmly, taking a step backwards gripping her shoulders so she could look him directly in the eye to see he was telling the truth.
'So what did happen then?'
'Well...we had dinner together and then we went dancing and-'
'You went on a date?' Lisbon asked, a little taken back by his answer. Thinking something and actually knowing it was two completely different things. She knew she had no right to say anything about what he did with his life back then. He had been a free man and Fischer was free woman but now knowing he and Fischer had been on a date made her feel somewhat uneasy.
'Well...I don't think I'd call it a date,' Jane said, trying to play it down after seeing her initial shock to his honest confession.
'Dinner and dancing is a date, Jane. I know you have been out the game for a while but trust me that type of thing is still classed as a date even these days,' Lisbon said, a little put out.
Before Jane could explain any more there was a short loud rap on the outside of door. The next thing Heather Newell eagerly popped her head inside. 'Hello again, not interrupting am I? Donna and Les said you had cut the massage time short, is everything alright?'
'Well-' Jane started to say.
'It was fine,' Lisbon interrupted, seeing Jane was going to say something to get Les into trouble or even worse, fired. 'Both staff were very professional and very good. We have no complaints. Something else has unfortunately come up and we needed to cut it short. That's all.'
'Oh, oh well that's good to hear,' Heather said obviously relieved, replacing her false customer service smile back on her face. 'You can rebook at the reception desk and have the rest of your massage another time, if you would like.'
'We will, thank you,' Lisbon said, heading into the ensuite shower room to get redressed.
'Heather, what are you hiding?' Jane asked directly, biting into a complimentary apple from the nearby fruit basket.
'Excuse me?' Heather replied, making both her and Lisbon pause in the doorway, Heather's eyes widening in shock at his statement.
'Earlier when I asked you about the murders you showed clear signs of guilt. Now, whilst it's true that most psychopathic killers don't show signs of guilt for their actions I am still curious to your frantic reaction to my questioning. It tells me you know more than you are letting on. So now I am wondering if you are an accomplice in these murders at the Niagara resort.'
'What! No! I know nothing... How dare you? Who are you?'
'You're lying Heather,' Jane stated, tilting his head at the panicked stricken woman and casually crunching into the delicious apple again.
'I swear. I know nothing,' Heather replied sweating profusely, her face suddenly becoming blotchy red with embarrassment and shame.
'Okay, well my wife here has a close friend at the FBI and we have a vested interest in this new murder case as we were acquaintances of the recent victims. But I think we will ask the Feds to come down here to the spa again and reinvestigate the original murders. I mean if you have nothing hide...?'
'Jane...' Lisbon mumbled quietly, afraid he was giving away too much about their operation.
'No, please. I beg you. It won't look good for business if the spa has the Feds running all over this place too,' Heather said, closing the door behind her in defeat. 'I knew this would happen one day. I told him we should have told the truth years ago. But we both knew we would lose our jobs. It's all my fault-'
'Tell the truth about what?' Lisbon asked, forgetting she wasn't supposed be acting like a cop and wondering if they were about to get a real confession and wrapping the case up so easily.
'The day of the murders, the first murders I mean ... I wasn't at the reception desk like I told the police officers I was. I was... I was...in the kitchen store room with Eugene.' Heather squeaked tearfully into a tissue. 'That's how the killer got into the spa unseen, I wasn't at the reception desk like I should have been. I lied. In fact I was with Eugene when most of all the murders happened here.'
'Eugene? Eugene Smith? The chef?' Lisbon asked, a little stunned by Heather's secret confession.
'Yes,' Heather replied, wiping her nose, confused to how Mrs Jane knew her lover. 'We meet up most weeks, when the kitchen is closed or empty.'
'I'm assuming it's not for a stock take,' Jane said wiggling his eyes playfully at both Lisbon and Heather.
'Oh. You mean...' Lisbon trailed off as the image of that unlikely pairing suddenly entered her mind.
'Yes. It's just a sexual arrangement. I am not proud of it or myself,' Heather stated, anxiously fiddling with her large diamond wedding ring on her finger. 'But...but-'
'But he's a bad boy with a dangerous rep and you get an excited thrill from sneaking around. Plus he satisfies you sexually, unlike your husband does. Am I right?' Jane said calmly throwing the rest of apple core into a trash can and placing both his hands in his dressing gown's pockets watching Heather's reactions closely.
'Please, I beg you both; you won't say anything to FBI? I mean if my husband John found out I would lose everything. My marriage. The spa. I have worked so hard to get this spa to where it is after that horrible murder.'
'Who is your husband?' Lisbon asked, not fully understanding Heather's fear or worries.
'John Sheridan. The Niagara Niagara hotel and resort manager.'
Both Jane and Lisbon glanced towards each other remembering that he too was named on the FBI suspect list. Could he be the serial killer? Seeking revenge on innocent couples for his wife's wrong doing?
'We have been married for seventeen years but John gave up on me and our sex life years ago. Eugene he is...he is different, despite his large scary looks he is actually very sweet...and a real man,' Heather said ending her statement with real conviction dabbing her eyes dry.
'Well, I am sure he is. I mean what well bred woman doesn't want to be taken roughly in the condiments' cupboard,' Jane quipped, enjoying taking the snotty nosed woman down a peg or two.
Lisbon bit her bottom trying her hardest to suppress her own laughter.
Heather Newell eyed Jane angrily, not impressed at being the butt of the joke. Jane moved a step nearer to the sobbing woman who was still slumped up against the treatment room door.
'I tell you what Heather, if you give my wife and I free spa treatments during our stay we won't grass you up to the Feds about lying and giving false alibis. What do you say?'
'Are you blackmailing me, Mr Jane?' Heather asked.
'Well blackmail is such a nasty word. I like to see it as more of coming to a personal arrangement.'
Heather looked anxiously between the couple, unsure if she should take the strange man's word but realised she had no choice in the matter. 'Fine. Just let my reception girl know what you want and when.' With that Heather Newell stormed out of the massage treatment room.
'What? Jane said innocently. 'Oh, don't look like at me that, I just got us a free luxury spa week,' Jane said as Lisbon shook her head in annoyance at his underhanded antics.
'She has been giving false alibis to the police, Jane, just to hide her sordid little affair. Her lies probably jeopardised the first murder investigation.'
'Meh, so she told a few lies. Local cops should have picked up on it back then. Beside this proves that she isn't the killer and eliminates her and Eugene off the suspect list too. That's practically two for the price of one!'
'Come on, let's get dressed and head upstairs to inform Wylie,' Lisbon replied, secretly impressed they had at least managed to cross two suspects off the list since being here. 'We definitely need to speak to this John Sheridan, the hotel manager. Heather Newell might not be the Niagara killer but her husband might just be.'
After bringing Wylie up to date with their progress, Jane and Lisbon made their way into the hotel lounge to grab a cup of tea and coffee. As Lisbon headed over to the coffee counter to pour herself a large black coffee Jane ran into Fischer and Cho exiting the room. Making sure there weren't many guests or staff members to witness their meet, he quickly wrapped his arms Fischer pulling her into another tight bear hug, totally unaware he was actually slipping her key card back into her jacket pocket.
'Good to see you again Kim,' Jane said a little mockingly, finally releasing her from his grip before swiftly moving around the pair towards the tea refreshment area to make himself a cup.
Fischer stood a little bewildered by Jane's actions whilst Cho just gave a slight shake of his head to show he also had no idea what Jane's game was. She was feeling very confused by his sudden physical embraces towards her. That was twice he had hugged her now. She had thought that he was still angry at her deceiving him back on the island but maybe he had decided to let that matter finally drop and was taking a different route to try and build bridges in their new relationship.
She could openly admit she had been attracted to Jane on the island. She certainly would have taken their relationship a lot further that night if he had wanted to. Sneakily she glanced back at Jane across the room whilst he made himself a cup of tea. The thought that, maybe if he was ready to forgive and forget and they could possibly pick up where they left off on the island entered her mind but she quickly dismissed that, pushing that idea aside. She was here to solve a case, not start up a romantic relationship with her new FBI consultant. She knew she held some feelings for him, but it was just a crush, nothing she couldn't handle.
Acknowledging she was probably reading far too much into Jane's motives she focused back on Cho who was now talking on his cell phone chatting to Wylie about and Jane and Lisbon's recent encounter with Heather Newell.
