Sheriff Of RedRock

A/N: Thank you to everyone who read or reviewed the last chapter. I really do appreciate it. Please enjoy the next chapter.

Chapter ten

Lisbon put the note down on the desk and glanced around. Grace was white, and clung to Rigsby for support. Jane looked pensive, and Cho just stared at the dead body on the floor. He bent down and examined the body, and found a bullet hole in the man's chest. That was quite obviously how he had died. Grace turned away, and Rigsby looked at Lisbon. Lisbon nodded. "Grace," she said. "We need you to tell Bosco what is going on here, and to tell him that, if we don't work together, he won't have a town left by the end of next week."

Grace nodded, and turned to go. Rigsby went with her, to ensure that she made it back without fainting. Cho, Jane, and Lisbon all sat down in the sheriff's office. "Sheriff," said Cho. "What do we do now?"

Lisbon frowned, and looked at the dead body. "Firstly, please get him out of here. It's seriously creeping me out. Secondly, I suggest we spend the next week going over every inch of the town and look where we can put security if we need it."

Cho nodded and stood up. Jane remained seated. Cho looked at the sheriff. "I will start to look around now, and report back."

Lisbon nodded. "When Rigsby gets back, tell him to join you."

Cho nodded and left quickly, shutting the door behind him. Jane turned to the sheriff. "Sheriff, how do you plan on stopping Red John? He could quite easily kill you."

Lisbon nodded. "We will be vigilant, and be undercover in the celebration."

Jane tilted his head. "That's why you have the dress. So that you will blend in, and can get close to the gang."

Lisbon nodded. She stood up, and Jane followed suit. "Mr Jane, we need to prepare for the celebration. And we need your help."

Jane followed Lisbon to the door. "What do you need, Sheriff?"

Lisbon looked at the shop keeper. "How well can you shoot, Mr Jane?"

Jane smiled, and followed the sheriff out onto the street.

XxxxxxxxxxxX

Lisbon was amazed. Jane had taken to shooting a revolver. He hit the target almost every time. "Mr Jane," said Lisbon, re-holstering her revolver. "Where did you learn to shoot like that?"

Jane smiled. "We used to practice at the carnival shooting games. There, you learnt everything there was to know about shooting."

Lisbon smiled, and headed back towards the town. Jane followed her. It was three days to the celebration, and Lisbon had been working feverishly to get everything in order before the people arrived. She had moved out of the boarding house to make room for any visitors, and was living in the small room at the back of Jane's shop. There was a tiny bed, and a washstand in the small space.

Lisbon and Jane walked to the bar, and went inside. Even though it was still relatively early in the afternoon, the bar was bustling. The visitors had begun to arrive, and Bertram had his hands full catering to the increase in business. The local men were used to the sheriff frequenting the bar, but the visitors all stopped and stared in shock as the woman entered and walked straight to the bar counter.

Jane followed her, and ordered a sarsaparilla. He still didn't care much for the image of drinking whiskey, and didn't bend to the coarse remarks about his manhood from some of the other patrons. Lisbon ordered a whiskey, and took a sip. She ignored the stares, and turned to Jane. "Would you be willing to accompany me to the celebrations? It would make the undercover effect more complete."

Jane raised an eyebrow. "How would my presence help you?"

Lisbon leant closer, and had to force herself to focus against the spicy smell of Jane's aftershave. She might have been a sheriff, but she was still a woman, and Jane was an attractive man. "Red John's Gang are looking for a woman dressed in men's clothing who is obviously the sheriff. I will be in a dress, with a man as company. Red John will have to call me out first before killing me."

Jane shut his eyes and thought for a moment. Of course, the plan made sense, but he didn't like the idea of Lisbon facing Red John alone. But, after all, this was her fight.

Rigsby sat down on Lisbon's other side. "Bosco is looking for you, Sheriff. He has some concerns."

Lisbon rolled her eyes and downed her whiskey. "That man always has 'concerns'. He just can't accept that maybe, for once, I might be right."

Jane smiled wryly. "Would you like me to come along for support?"

Lisbon shook her head. "You just get back to your shop, and I will stop by when I am done with the mayor."

She stood up and vanished out the door, leaving Rigsby and Jane in the bar together. Jane turned to Rigsby. "Wayne, when do you plan on asking Grace to the celebrations?"

Rigsby choked on the drink he had just taken a sip of. "What?"

Jane smiled. "You heard me, when do you plan to ask her?"

Rigsby looked around. "I'm not going to ask her."

Jane picked up his glass and took a sip, before tossing the entire contents into Rigsby's face. "Wake up, Wayne. You obviously are attracted to her. Why not ask her to be your partner?"

Rigsby looked away, his face dripping with the remains of Jane's drink. He tried to ignore the bemused glances from the other patrons at the bar. "Patrick, it's honestly not that easy."

Jane laughed. "You say that because you have been over thinking this for the last five years. Just bite the bullet and ask her."

Rigsby looked back at Jane. "And you think she will say yes?"

Jane nodded. "Grace may be many things, but I know she is attracted to you and would love you to ask her."

Rigsby sat for a moment, before turning to go. Jane pulled out a monogrammed handkerchief and handed it to him. "You still have sarsaparilla on your face."

Rigsby frowned and took the handkerchief. He glanced at the dark blue "PJ" on the corner before wiping his face with it. He handed it back to Jane before hurrying from the bar.

XxxxxxxxxxxX

Lisbon sat across the desk from Bosco. He had a map of the town on his desk, and had the town mapped out for the celebrations. Lisbon was trying to convince him to call in reinforcements, but he wouldn't budge. "Teresa, I just cannot see the need for calling in reinforcements, when it is clearly not necessary."

Lisbon scowled. "Samuel, it will be necessary to protect the town from Red John's men. You saw the note delivered with Walter Mashburn. He will destroy the town."

Bosco looked up at the sheriff. "Sheriff, for all I know, you faked that note in order to scare me into listening to you."

Lisbon rose abruptly to her feet with a loud curse. "Why would I do that?" she yelled. "What purpose would it serve to murder Walter Mashburn in order to get my way?"

She cursed again before turning and heading for the door. "Teresa Lisbon," said Bosco, standing up. "You stop walking this instant or you lose your position as sheriff."

Lisbon stopped walking and turned. She faced the mayor. "If you stop me walking away, I swear I will pull out this gun and shoot you where you stand."

Bosco looked at the sheriff as she stood, hands at her sides. He reached forwards and put his hands onto his desk. "Teresa, I hope you know what you are getting yourself into."

Lisbon didn't move. "Bosco, if you will not support me, I cannot protect your town."

Bosco sat back down. "Do what you need, but if this doesn't happen, you will be on the next train back to San Francisco."

Lisbon nodded. She knew she needed to gather her men and begin her final preparations for the celebrations.

XxxxxxxxxxxX

Elsewhere in California, Red John was beginning to gather his men together for the journey to RedRock. Bob Kirkland was still unable to ride for any distance comfortably, and he still couldn't move his shoulder. The bullet appeared to be lodged in the joint, and Dr Volker couldn't remove it without causing serious damage. His right arm was strapped securely against his body to prevent any sharp jolting. Red John surveyed his men while they prepare to leave their camp sixty miles outside of Kilroy, the closest town to RedRock.

He noted Michael worried about his brother, and about the pain. Pike and Carter were almost ready, both working with cold efficiency. "Pike, Carter, I want you two to ride with Bob and Michael. You guys will move ahead of us and make sure nothing happens to any of you."

The four men nodded, and Michael helped Bob onto the horse. They rode off, leaving LaRoche and Volker both looking at Red John incredulously. "Splitting up the gang?" asked LaRoche. He had no fear in voicing his opinion to Red John.

Red John looked at LaRoche. "JJ, when you have seen a man in as much pain as Bob, you will realise that sending him on ahead will stop him slowing us down."

Volker nodded and pulled himself onto his horse. The three of them rode out, Red John feeling the vengeance growing with every yard they drew closer to his final target.

A/N2: Thank you all for reading this chapter. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. Thank you.