Stepping away from the bus terminal as the traffic cleared the red headed CBI agent entered the corner cafe, the bell above the door jingling as she did. Grace felt her heart skip a beat as she caught sight of the person she'd come to meet, briefly glancing back outside to see if she had been followed and then walking over to the booth near the back of the restaurant.
Slowly she sank into her seat as the older gentleman smiled at her and then commented, "You can relax, Grace. I'm not a cobra, I don't bite."
"Thank you for meeting me Mister Stiles," she began to which the white haired man raised a palm and scoffed saying, "This isn't a business luncheon my dear. Be yourself, I can tell something is troubling you." Grace sighed with a nod and muttered, "It's about Jane, he's in trouble again and I thought maybe you could help."
Stiles smiled slightly and nodded proclaiming; "I'd be more than happy to when it comes to my dear friend Patrick. What sort of trouble is he in now?"
"There's a guy from internal affairs snooping around Jane's investigation of Lorelei Martins, the woman who had ties to Red John; he seems convinced that Jane had help getting Lorelei out of prison," Van Pelt said.
"The implication here is this agent obviously thinks my religion was involve in some way?" Bret asked to which she nodded and explained, "This really started because of everything that happened surrounding the Salvador case. Visualize has been on our radar for a while now." "Well I must admit that troubles me greatly, especially since we've been so forthcoming since the Ellis ranch incident," Stiles muttered rubbing his chin and stating, "Patrick has always had a fixation on trouble. And his belief that this... Salvador woman was connected to Visualize is what landed him nearly behind bars a few weeks ago if I recall."
"So you're saying there is nothing to tie you to her?" Grace asked. "Of course not, and had I known Patrick would go to these lengths I would never have agreed to assist him with talking to Miss Martin," Bret said. Van Pelt paused for a moment and asked, "So wait... Jane did get in contact with Lorelei?"
"Well clearly, she broke out of jail didn't she?" Stiles countered. "But what role did you play?" she wondered to which the older man explained, "As always the gentle guide, I told Patrick there might be a way for him to talk with Lorelei if he pulled the proper strings with the FBI. Clearly he did that." "Why didn't you inform us about this after she escaped custody?" Grace asked in confusion.
"Technically I had no part in it; and I didn't want Patrick to be put in some bad light on my account. I assumed the matter ended because he chose to stop searching for her after she escaped," Bret stated.
"This is just what I need," Van Pelt realized rising from her chair. "Hold on a moment; Grace. I'm a bit confused. Are you doing this for Patrick or for yourself?" "Why can't it be both?" she asked him.
"The world doesn't work that way I'm afraid. And I would suggest you be very careful crossing Patrick Jane. I wouldn't want to make an enemy out of him," Bret answered to which she said, "The investigation will drop if Patrick comes clean about assisting Lorelei. I'm sure he will only get suspended for something like that."
The older man shrugged and then said, "I just hope you're doing the right thing." "I am, and thank you again," Grace said to which Stiles answered, "It's always a pleasure." Nodding and smiling at him, the junior agent left the cafe and raced back to the terminal. Maybe now, Waves can focus on more important matters, she thought. I just hope Jane isn't too upset with me for what I'm going to do.