10. Bloody Evidence
-Agent Lisbon, you're under arrest for the murder of Lorelai Martins.-
I can't formulate a sentence that makes sense, not even a word. I don't react as Darcy's hands snap a pair of handcuffs around my wrists. I turn toward the office door and I see Patrick staring at me with his mouth open, as well as Grace. I can't see Cho and Rigsby, but I'm sure that they are quite shaken too.
A few minutes later I am in a car with Agent Smith by my side, we're going to the FBI headquarters in Sacramento.
I'm lead in an interrogation room and made sit on the chair that's always taken when I interrogate suspects. I stay a couple of minutes alone, then I see Darcy and Schultz coming inside.
-So, Agent Lisbon...- Schultz begins. I don't feel intimidated by her at all.
-Look, I don't know why you brought me here. There must be a mistake.- I try to reason calmly, without getting too panicked.
-If you do not mind I'd like to talk for a while.- she tells me trying to be authoritarian.
I nod, letting the memory of Jane's expression to go away for a while.
-Did you knew the victim, Lorelai Martins, personally?- she asks.
-No. I had only done a couple of interviews.- I answer staring into her eyes.
-So you're not in any way related to Miss Martins personally?- she ask me and I know exactly where she's heading to.
-...no.- I answer with a moment of hesitation. Apparently, it doesn't escape the agent and she decides to pressure me.
-Is it true or is it not true that you have a relationship with Patrick Jane? The same Patrick Jane who was the lover of Miss Martins?- she asks with a satisfied smile, probably already knowing the answer.
-Yes.- I admit quietly.
-So, you're personally involved with Miss Martins, isn't that right?-
-Yes.-
-And I bet you killed her because of it. Because Lorelai Martins had an affair with Mr. Jane. Isn't it true?- she asks raising her voice slightly.
-Absolutely not!- I reply, angry even just because she might think such a thing.
-It's useless to deny it, we know it was you!- she yells against me. I feel helpless, what can I do to change her mind?
Darcy, who has been silent this whole time, interrupts Schultz.
-That's enough, Agent. I don't think that she'll speak anyway.-
What? She defends me now?! Ah, I see. The old trick of good cop and bad cop. I scoff a bit upset and I get dirty looks from both agents. I know they can keep me here up to 48 hours, even if they have no evidence, but what if they have it? Obviously I didn't kill Lorelai, but what if someone is trying to set me up?
Lost in my thoughts, I don't notice that I'm alone in the interrogation room. Two officers come back shortly after and take off the handcuffs, telling me to stay in town and be always available.
I'm a bit surprised and I realize that they have no evidence against me, they just wanted to try and get a confession.
While leaving I cross agent Schultz and she immediately approaches me.
-Agent Lisbon, I think they have already told you you must stay in town and always be available.- she says coldly and I nod.
-I warn you agent, at this time you're our mostly likely suspect.-
I watch her go talk to Darcy, Mancini and Smith before leaving the building and returning to the CBI. I really need to talk with Patrick and the team.
It's been an hour and a half since I left the office. I get to the CBI after half an hour, I wonder what they're thinking especially Jane, while I walk down the familiar path.
As soon as I get in Van Pelt, Cho and Rigsby come towards me.
-Boss! What happened?- Grace asks.
-What was Darcy talking about?- Rigsby questions instead.
Cho doesn't speak, but I know that he shares the concern and confusion of the other two agents.
-The FBI believes I'm the most likely suspect for the murder of Lorelai. I don't think they have evidence...- I explain calmly. I don't want to worry them any more than they already are.
Without saying anything, Cho looks at me and points to my office before speaking.
-He's been locked in there since they took you away.-
I thank him and open the door of my office to close it again after a few seconds. Patrick is sitting on the couch with his head in his hands and his elbows on his knees, I really hope that doesn't believe Darcy. I walk slowly towards him and I see him get up from the couch to stand in front of me. We spend a few seconds looking into each other eyes, but then Patrick wraps me in a hug that I gladly reciprocate. He must have heard the conversation with the team; we stay in this position for a minute and we part only to exchange a slow kiss.
-I never thought that you'd killed Lorelai.- Jane murmurs a few minutes later.
I nod and hug him again, losing myself in his warmth and his scent. We part and I realize I'm actually pretty hungry, it's past noon after all.
-Do you want to come to lunch with me?- I ask with a smile.
-Absolutely.- He answers with a quick kiss.
We get out of my office hand in hand and this seems to reassure my agents.
-Guys, if you want you can start your lunch break. But first I wanted to know if there's progress with the investigation.- I state approaching their desks.
-What investigation? The death of Red John or the murder of Lorelai?- Van Pelt asks.
-Both.- I reply as if it were obvious. They're closely related, a step forward in one can help the other.
-Nothing bo-
Grace's voice is interrupted by the ringing of the telephone on her desk; she looks at me with pleading eyes, but it could be important.
-Answer.-
Seconds pass and I'm slightly afraid that it's Darcy, almost immediately Van Pelt's eyes widen and she stares at Jane. She responds with a series of "Yes" and "Thank you." When she puts down the phone, we all look at her waiting.
-Who was that?- I ask alarmed.
-It was Darcy.- she answers still shocked. I take a deep breath and continue to ask questions.
-What did she want? Don't tell me they want me to go back to the FBI becau-
Grace stops me looking at me in the eyes.
-It wasn't about you.-
I frown confused, if Darcy didn't call for me then why did she?
-She said the surveillance cameras in the CBI have recorded a man while he poisons Lorelai. It could be John.-