Chapter 10 - Deception

Two Weeks Later

'Okay, I'll meet you in Riley's at 8.00. See you later, Tim.' Lisbon hung up the phone and smiled.

Cho was standing at her desk as she looked up and said to him, 'Hey, what's up?'

He replied after a moment, 'The Cranmore suspect is ready to talk.'

'Great, let's go.'

'You think I didn't see through your little deception there?' Tim asked in the bar later.

Lisbon raised her eyes and replied, 'What deception? I have no idea what you're talking about.'

'Getting Kim to come here to drop off paperwork. Like it couldn't wait until the morning. You're trying to set us up.'

Lisbon smiled and replied, 'So what if I was. You obviously like her, I could tell. And I'm pretty sure the feeling's mutual.'

Tim grinned, taking a sip of his beer. 'And how would you know that? We barely said two words to each other.'

'Pupil dilation. People's pupils dilate when they see something they want.'

'Oh I see. I'm guessing this is another one of the tricks the jerk taught you.'

'You know his name now, you don't have to keep on calling him 'the jerk'. And stop changing the subject. Are you going to call her?'

Tim grinned. 'Well, I'd be a fool not to, wouldn't I? She seems pretty feisty not to mention hot as hell.'

'Good. I think you'd be good together. Just because my love life is a disaster it doesn't mean other people shouldn't give it a shot.' Lisbon took a sip of her wine, feeling sad suddenly.

Tim moved closer and said, 'Why don't you just call him Teresa. It's obvious you want to despite how badly he's treated you.'

Lisbon shook her head and pushed her shoulders back, taking another sip.

Jane lifted the money from the pool table before the last ball fell into the pocket.

'You're a lucky bastard, you know that, Patrick?' Miller said, taking a sip of his scotch.

Jane grinned, taking a slug of his own. 'I've told you before Hannigan, it's not luck. It's called skill.'

'You know my name's Miller, why do you insist on calling me that when you've had a few too many.'

Jane chuckled, almost falling into the stool at the bar and waving a note at the bartender. 'Private joke.'

Miller sat beside him and eyed him suspiciously. 'Good work today. You know I wasn't sure about you but you get results, even if you are hungover most of the time.'

Jane shrugged. 'Imagine me without a hangover. Then you would be amazed.'

'That's what I wanted to talk to you about. The mobster case has come back up. We've been approved to mount an operation to finally get him. Patrick, I know you've had your troubles since coming here but this is a big deal. We need to nail this bastard once and for all. I need you to lay off the sauce and get involved fully with the rest of the team. Look I know you came here because of personal reasons. I'm guessing it had something to do with a woman. Jesus, I have three ex wives, I know the feeling. I know how they can rip your heart out. No matter how great she was in the sack, it's time you moved on.'

Jane stared at him coldly, rage building up inside of him. 'Miller, I'd stop now before you say something I'll make you regret.'

Jane turned back to the bar, taking a sip of his new drink and added, 'Fine. I'll get involved more. Now leave me the hell alone.'

After Miller left, Jane sat there staring into his drink until he felt a light hand on his wrist. When he looked up a pretty blonde woman smiled at him. He noticed she was wearing too much make up and too much perfume.

'Do you mind if I sit here?' she asked, pouting.

Jane shrugged. It hadn't been the first time he had been approached in a bar. He couldn't understand the appeal in his current state.

'I'm Betsy, nice to meet you. I saw you at the pool table, you're really good' she said smiling, holding out her hand.

Jane nodded and replied wearily, 'Hi Betsy, nice to meet you.' He shook her hand, feeling the rapid pulse in her wrist as he did so.

He rolled his eyes. This was all he needed. He put some money on the bar and lifted his jacket to go.

She touched his arm and said, 'You're not leaving, are you? I don't even know your name.'

Jane moved her hand away. 'Believe me, Betsy, you're better off.'

As he walked into the air outside the bar he exhaled, trying to sober himself up. He leaned against the wall of the bar and dialled Cho's number. After a few rings he picked up, sounding annoyed.

'Jane, what the hell are you ringing me for at this time, it's gone 2am? I'm assuming you're drunk again so have forgotten about the time difference.'

Jane looked down at his watch. 'Sorry, Cho, I did. But you're awake now anyway so let's talk.'

He tried to sound happier and said, 'So, how are things?'

'By things you mean Lisbon.'

Jane sighed on the other end. 'Look I'm sorry for waking you, Kimball. I just needed to hear about her, okay?' He knew he sounded like a complete wimp.

'She knows you call me.'

Jane lifted his head and replied, 'You told her? What did she say? Was she mad?'

'What do you think?'

Jane smiled, imagining the exasperated tone in her voice and her green eyes blazing.

Cho added, 'I told her to call you but I'm guessing she didn't. Jane, you need to stop torturing yourself calling me. You need to move on too.'

Jane sighed then realised what Cho had just said, sobering him up fully. 'What do you mean by 'too'? Are you telling me she's met someone else, already?'

Cho replied, 'Yes. At least I think so. I heard her arranging a date with him earlier. She seemed happy.'

Jane's heart raced. She couldn't have met someone else so quickly. She was obviously throwing herself into another relationship to get over him. The thought of her in bed with someone else made him feel sick but he couldn't get the image out of his mind.

'Jane, are you still there?'

Jane answered angrily, 'Yes. I have to go Cho. Thanks for the info. I won't bother you again.'

Jane walked back into the bar and saw that Betsy was still there. She was talking to another man beside her but could tell she wasn't that interested.

He walked over to her. 'You want to get out of here?'

The other man interrupted. 'Hey, buddy, do you mind? We were talking.'

Jane ignored the man and kept his eyes on Betsy. 'My place isn't far.'

Betsy looked up at him and replied, 'Well, you've certainly got over your shyness. I still don't know your name. You think I'm the type of girl to just go home with someone I've just met?'

Jane looked her up and down. She was wearing a tight red dress and high heels, the top of a lacy black bra visible.

'Frankly, yes, I think you are. Why else would you come into a bar all alone at this time of night dressed like that? You haven't asked me for money so I assume you're not a hooker. But you're obviously in the mood for sex without any complications. I'm suddenly feeling in the same mood. But if it makes you more amenable then my name's Patrick.'

Betsy stared at him, unsure of how to respond. After a moment she smiled and got off the stool, leaving the other man gobsmacked. Jane smiled back and steered her out of the bar.

It turned out Betsy's place was even closer so they went there instead. When they walked in he grabbed her immediately and pinned her against the door without uttering a word. His tongue entered her mouth forcefully and she began to pant, clutching on to him and moving her body closer into him.

He released her and pushed her onto the bed instead, taking off his jacket quickly.

'Wow, you're certainly not bashful now, that's for sure, Patrick' she laughed.

He climbed onto the bed and began kissing her neck hungrily, his hand squeezing her breasts tightly. He kept his eyes closed, trying every trick he could muster to make him believe it was Lisbon. As she moved her fingers to his hair he moaned as he thought of how she had loved to do that and how sensual an experience he had found it too as her tiny hands gripped tightly on his curls as she was on the brink of ecstasy. Suddenly the smell of cheap perfume overwhelmed his senses and he recalled where he was and what he was about to do. He got off the bed quickly, coming to his senses finally. Even if Lisbon had bedded this new man he was not about to make the same mistake. He was a lot of things but not that.

'What's the matter, Patrick? What did I do?'

'You didn't do anything Betsy. I...I'm just not the type of person who does this. I thought I could be but it turns out I'm not.'

Betsy moved forward in the bed and sat on the end.

Jane put his jacket on. 'You know you should be more careful who you bring home. If you keep doing this you're going to end up getting hurt one day, or worse. Just because you have father issues you shouldn't undervalue your own self worth. Sleeping with random men will only make you feel worse in the long term.'

As he reached the street he knew what he had to do. Whether she liked it or not he had to see Lisbon, at least once more. He just had to figure a way to get out of L.A. in order to do that.