Chapter 10: Surprise, Surprise!

Patrick also was still awake, but he lost no thought on the possibility that Levine might have an accomplice who made it possible for the villain to get in here somehow. The single cell in the isolation block of the prison was so small that everyone must get claustrophobia within one, or at least two hours – there was only place for a small bed, and a toilet right next to it, a very, very small wash basin and a little table opposite the bed, where one could eat the meals that were also served in this little cell. The table could be folded away so that it lay flat on the wall, otherwise it would be impossible to move in here – one had to sit at the side of the bed to use the table, there was no room for a chair. All the walls were flat and covered with a layer of noise-muffling wall garment, on the inside they felt like old, slightly sticky, grayish leather. There was only a hand sized window in the outer wall behind the toilet to let some daylight in, in the door there was one flap for the food and a small door spy which could be used from the outside, but from the inside there was no looking out. There were lights-off hours and lights-on hours and for one did not have an own lamp in here, the outside had all the power. It must be really hard to be isolated her for penalty, maybe one, two, or three weeks, with only one half hour of exercise in the outdoor area of the isolation block per day. That could break minds, in time…

But not Jane, he had almost forgotten the small room within an instant, and instead of feeling like being kept in a coffin, he lay on the bed, still smiling.

»Jane, It´s yours.« Teresa´s words echoed in his mind, and made him smile a little more. How unbelievable! It was a wonder, really… Yes, of course he remembered that they spent the night together and that they let them get carried away to a place where they never had been before… And yes, they were reasonable adults and should have taken care, but… but… how unlikely is it anyway that they met the right time? It was a surprise, that child was a wonder. A small, little, great wonder.

He turned around once. Of course he would be there for her and the baby whenever they needed him, but he had decided that before. He had made this decision the very moment she had told him that she was pregnant. It had been not important, not even worth a single thought, that the baby was not his. He did not care for that; Teresa was his best friend, he trusted her like no one else and… yes, he loved her somehow. He loved her in a different way than his wife Angela, that was clear, but he needed her so much that he would never ever let her go. And now? She told him that it was in fact his child, he could not be happier, and now, thinking about it, it made a difference... But he did not know if she really wanted him to be so close to her like husband and wife, maybe she preferred the situation to be like it ever was; that he was her best friend and that they would simply hold together without asking. Some day they would surely talk about that, but it had time.

And… he almost yelled out a loud: »Yuppie!« but clenched his teeth at the right time. She would be happy, and so would he. He was definitely sure that she did not lie to him. She could not do that. One single moment he had thought about the visitor she had the night before they had come together but… She would never be able to play such a trick on him; never. She must know what it meant to him, when she told him that it was his child, that he´d get the chance to be a father again; and he knew how difficult it must be for her. He wanted to talk to her but maybe all this needed a little time, and… there was enough time when this case was solved. Uh, this case… as soon as he would get out of the isolation block he would try to provoke Levine into something stupid, by making him nervous and hotheaded. They needed the proof that he was behind this to stop his doing. And after that Levine could not be a threat anymore. What if he somehow managed to escape here or delay the execution of the death penalty for another couple of years? What if Levine somehow got to know about the baby and… let his mercenaries go for it as a last beat of revenge? What a thought! His heart suddenly beat hard. Never!

Patrick sat up. He would never allow Levine or anyone else to lay hand on his family or friends again, and Teresa was his family, and also the rest of the team, and… this must end now. But therefore a good plan was in need…

:-:

»And that is, how we will do it.« Levine said to the man who was with him in the Mensa of the Sac County Jail. Lazar Levine was the only one who came to eat so early in the morning, only five minutes after the lights were on again. The man from the kitchen service nodded. They had agreed on the plan how Levine would get the chance to get to the isolation block that evening. The fortyeight year old man from the kitchen service was well paid; and although he had been working for the Jail for fifteen years, and resisted many offers and seductions, this time he could not resist, because he had had only two choices.

The first choice was to get a good pay that would help him into an immediate, good retirement state, in addition to that a house in Mexico just outside Tijuana, a new identity and a fine car, and that he would never be bothered again.

The second choice was that his whole life would be destroyed; the children he had with his divorced wife would die, and also all the rest of his family, his still living mother and his sister; and their children. And after that, he himself would meet death.

So what choice did he have? He agreed on the deal and promised to help Levine. At first of course they did not know for sure where Jane would be kept, whether in the isolation or the common detention block. The kitchen man had the keys to all the section doors, because some prisoners took food or tablets with them to their cells and he had to get them back ere they had the chance to make some mischief with these things. It was also easy for him to get to the isolation block; because he was one of the men who carried the food there and put it into the cells, also he collected back the tablets. He was the perfect assistant.

»Today afternoon when I come back for my night shift I will give you the new keys in your soup.« he said to Levine, when he collected the remaining of the breakfast. They had agreed that the kitchen worker would go to a key-maker today and let reproduce the corridor door key as well as the prison cell keys for the isolation block. To get the cell door keys he had distracted the guard with a happy surprise morning meal, and took the shape of the three different keys with pieces of plasticine, which were hidden in old cigarette boxes.

Levine answered: »Good work. If it works and the keys fit, I will order my friends to pay you another ten thousand dollars extra, in Mexico this is one year of good living. As soon as I had my revenge you can go.«

They had to stop talking, because other prisoners came to the Mensa now. But the plan was set and thanks to good preparation Levine had everything he needed for his little revenge game already well hidden in his own cell. This was a nice day and it only could become better now. He was really looking forward to a night full of pleasures. And of course the silly odd job man here would die, some day – not so far away, his really fine new car would blow up while he was driving. What a pity.

:-:

Van Pelt and Rigsby were waiting in front of the office of Mr. Vincent Delanor. The fat lawyer had agreed to meet them this day, but everyone in the CBI could hear from his voice on the telephone that Delanor was very confident that he could get his head out of this again. He had sounded so very happy that they could hardly believe that everything was still all right with him; and of course he offered them a visiting term in the early afternoon, between his lunch at noon and the coffee-and-cake-break at two. But now it was already past three p.m. and the secretary said again and again, that Mr. Delanor was still out.

Rigsby joked, but his voice was some kind of uneasy: »Maybe he suffocated on a piece of his lunch.«

Grace growled: »Don´t say that, if we lose him we might never reveal the connection between Levine and the outside of the prison. And if we miss that link, we cannot prove that he is behind all the attacks and killings. Let us hope that Delanor is safe and sound… and that he feels so safe that he gives away some secrets by chance – or just to provoke us.«

Wayne nodded. »Yes… I hope he´s coming soon. I can´t wait to see this man myself. Your description was…so um… I expect someone like an evil Marsh-Mallow-Man walking through that door.«

Van Pelt sighed: »But it is very unfriendly that he lets us wait so long. It clearly shows how un-important we seem to be for him. And what I hate most of all is that our cellulars are so quiet… Cho, Prices team and the boss are working like mad in the HQ, but they still don´t have anything, as it seems.«

»No.« Rigsby took a deep breath. »It is like fighting against concrete walls with bare fists. We must get a chance to cut off the head of the snake, until we do not do this, it still can bite, so to say.«

Grace replied: »But one good thing is in that we have not been called yet. Jane seems to be ok. They surely would have informed us if something had…« she interrupted her words, because the muffled "Ping" of the elevator was audible through the door. »Maybe it is finally him.« she said, and looked at her watch. It was close to half past three, more than two hours had passed since the original term.

And then the door opened.

Rigsby and Van Pelt both startled and looked at the incoming persons without being able to find words.

There was the attorney Vincent Delanor, the fat man who filled the door frame almost full with his own body, and he was accompanied by… Lazar Levine.

Levine looked smart, had an expensive, well fitting suit, and a very good hair cut. In direct compare with his attorney Levine seemed to be very handsome, but the suppressed expression on his face was like staring in the eye of a rabies-sick wild boar. »Hello, Agents.« he said, smiling and with friendly voice. »I think you are surprised to meet me, are you?«

Rigsby gulped and found his voice: »Mr. Levine? You are out of… jail? How comes… this? I… um… cannot believe…«

The fat attorney Delanor grinned widely, a face movement that looked like as if one had cut a slit into a heap of jelly pudding: »He is free, on bail, I must say, but some amazing new evidence was found that proved beyond doubt that my trustworthy client, Mr. Levine, was only tricked out and lured into a well planned trap. In a trap, that was set by the police! It is as good as proved that he is not guilty in all things that he was falsely accused with. But you, all of the CBI and all of the policemen who were involved in this tragic, disgusting story will have to be prepared. We will strike back with all our might! My client deserves full repayment of all his suffering in the jail – almost three years in the death sentence block! – and he deserves full compensation of all the drama and humiliation he had to go through at the court. I will make you pay.«

Levine said nothing, but there was still something glittering in his eyes.

The lawyer Vincent Delanor carried on his pathetic speech: »Yes, you will pay, and a few of your pack I will get to court personally, because they falsely accused my client, they lied and they insulted him deeply. They ruined his life, and therefore it will hail revenge on them. Their carriers are doomed. And you can do nothing against it, because I think… yes, ehm, Mister Rigsby and Miss… who are you – whatever, you are two of the people we will meet at court, for a very long questioning. And you´d now better go. Yes?« He made a very condescending hush-hush movement with his hands.

Turning to his client, he asked with a voice as friendly as a honey covered piece of cream fudge: »And what do you want to do now, Mister Levine? I am deeply, deeply sorry that I could not insist on giving you totally free travel permission, but you can still travel all around the State of California. Of course, I will pay all your expends until you are totally freed of all charges, and have access to your own bank accounts again…«

Those were the last words Rigsby and Van Pelt heard, ere the secretary had guided them out of the room to the elevator. While the elevator was travelling down, they were both still too much shocked to discuss the matter, but in the car they burst into an angry talk about all this mess.

»How could this be, I cannot understand this!« Grace yelled. »He is accused in murder, and modern slave trade, bribing, and prostitution, drug dealing business and … hell, there is enough! Torture, and… humiliating minds of people, and…«

Rigsby also was furious: »Have you seen the look in his eyes? He knew that he´s won! He´s out and he´s gonna ruin our lives with every might he has. Sooner or later he´ll be so deep inside his business again that we won´t be safe… anywhere! How could they ever let him go, what kind of proof was that! I can´t believe it!«

Van Pelt tried to calm down a little bit: »We have to inform the others, also Agent Price and Hollyman. Surely Levine also has his eye on them. They must find everyone who ever testified against Levine and warn them. As soon as he can he will be after us.«

Wayne replied: »But I don´t think that he´d ever risk his new won freedom in a short-circuit reaction. He´s got all the time in the world now. And we are… the bait.« He was not driving, so he called the HQ immediately and told them the bad news.

It was a shock for all of them, right up to Wainwright, and also Bertram. The heads of the CBI were also in charge when the whole case turned out to be a fake, just a made up thing, and when it came out that they had wrongly accused an innocent man.

They were still in a very upset state when Rigsby and Van Pelt finally arrived back; and there were even more bad news, that came with an official call at six pm. Wainwright himself went down to the big bureau to tell Agent Lisbon´s team about it, and he also handed over a copy of the new matter of concern. The FBI had found a document this morning that definitely seemed to prove that Timothy Carter had nothing to do with a man called Red John. An anonymous sent this document to the FBI-Building in Sacramento; with it there was the legally certified confession of a man who claimed to know Timothy Carter since more than fifteen years, and this person definitely said that Carter was out of the State, yes, even out of the US, when most of the Red John murders were done. So the FBI had more and more evidence against Jane and could keep him in detention for an even longer time; they wanted to recapitulate every single RJ murder and compare this to Jane´s statements, to the whereabouts of Timothy Carter and to the results the CBI had on those cases. It was easy to see that they would need a much longer time.

»The only thing…« Lisbon said, exhausted, to her teammates when it was getting evening again: »Is that Jane is safe now.«

»How comes that?« Cho asked.

»He´s behind bars, still in his isolation cell, as they told me, and Levine is out of jail. From the telephone call we could hear that he wanted to deal with Patrick personally, and he won´t let anybody else kill him while he´s absent. And surely he won´t go back to prison to murder Jane there… now that he´s free.«

Rigsby nodded: »The game has totally turned round now… Jane is in kind of a safe box, while we are… some kind of outlawed bait for them.«

»Yes we are.« Lisbon confirmed. »But, as you thought before, he won´t be after us immediately. I think he´ll try to recreate his network first, and punish us by all the might the law can give him. The final strike will be coming later.« She sighed, and carried on her thoughts in mind. And maybe so late, that he´ll be going after my child.

:-:

It was already dark outside when Teresa heard her land-line phone ringing. She had agreed to the proposal to go home this night, only to get out of the bureau for a time. They all knew that it was hardly possible that they would find some sleep this night, but only to be outside of the CBI Headquarter should make some difference, maybe seduce them to watch TV or read a book; just do something else than staring into the office computers or in paper files, and... well, maybe only sitting in the dark, like she did until now.

She took the call and noticed within an instant that it was Red John – or his alias; Jon Herd. He asked: »Happy now, Teresa?«

She shook her head and was instinctively sure that he noticed that movement right though the telephone, then she said: »How could I be happy, with Levine freed again and Jane behind bars? They told me that they´ve found even more proof against him. It´s getting worse. What if Levine really proves that he is not guilty and we lose Patrick instead?«

»Is it, really?« Red John wanted to know, his tone being a little bit offended.

Teresa replied, also upset: »Yes! Of course! It is very likely that Jane is really accused in perjury and then further on in the cold-hearted killing of an innocent man he met by chance in the mall. That could mean life-long or even death sentence.«

Red John said: »It could mean it, yes… but, Teresa, you miss one important detail. And, to be honest, I´m really a little bit disappointed about that. I thought that you´d be… more… let´s say, aware of all things.« he laughed.

»Aware of what?« she was suspicious.

He answered: »Aware of that I promised to help you.«

She was silent for a moment, then a thought came to her: »You? You took care that Levine is no longer in prison? To protect Jane from his revenge?«

»That was the plan.« Red John replied. »Jane is safe, isn´t he? He´s safer than anyone else of you, right now. You asked me for help, and I helped, didn´t I?«

Teresa was speechless. How could Red John be so powerful that he could find such a good proof that Levine was not guilty, so that they released him immediately? Thinking about it, it was a good idea, maybe the best that one could do in this situation. Jane was kept so far away from Levine now that he had no chance to get him. But…

She asked: »How comes that you have a proof that Levine is not guilty, I mean, in reality he is guilty in all the accusations. He was correctly sentenced… where do you have that faked proof for innocence from? And who helped you?«

Red John laughed out loud. His laugh was not unpleasant, he was just deeply amused. He seemed to like the game. Then he told her: »It was you, Teresa. You told me the name of his attorney, this disgusting Mister Vincent Delanor. And counting one and one together it was clear that this lawyer only needed a little additional push into the direction he was already going to. Delanor tried to prove from the beginning on that Levine is not guilty. I only, let´s say, had gave him another piece of "proof" to hang on. And then Delanor started to make such a vicious and loud fight against the court and the jail that they let Levine off on bail immediately. So see… it was just a little act from me; the main work did Delanor.« He laughed again. »This fat guy was so happy, as if it all was grown on his own manure heap.«

Lisbon told him: »The idea is great. And you did this all for Jane?«

»Not only for him.« Red John answered, and now his voice was kind of vicious, full of anticipation: »Mostly for me, to be honest. How should I ever get my hands on Levine if he was in jail? He must be outside, free bait, so to say. And Delanor too.«

»Oh.« Teresa said, stunned. »Well this is… I could have seen that…«

The man explained: »Yes you could have thought about this. Remember, I told you that I want revenge on all of them, up to the head. I had to get Levine out of his safe place somehow. He is dead meat already… the only thing is, that he does not know this by now.« He laughed again. »And, what is the best of it all: Mister Levine and Mister Delanor will be the ones that get Jane out of the jail.«

»What?« Lisbon felt like hit with a big baseball bat. A shock, maybe. »What did you say? Levine and Delanor will get Jane out?«

»Of course.« Red John was amused, and his voice was joyful. »They have to.«

»But why, by all means?« she stuttered.

»Oh, Teresa it is just because…« The undertone in his voice still happy, and his amusement slowly seemed also to catch Lisbon; her spirits also started to rise slowly. She listened to Red Johns words with high interest.

He told her: »…because they need him out. Remember, Levine wants Jane dead, he wants to do it himself… and how could he if Jane was behind bars?« He laughed. »They have to proof that the "Red-John" attacks were faked, that "Red John" is dead, shot by Jane, and that someone only tried to copy his work. All accusations against Jane will be dropped, because surely someone will be delivered who confesses that he or they did it… that they did the murder on the CBI Agents Mallory and Ramirez. More sooner than later the police will find those impostor-persons. And most likely those will be the mercenaries that really did it. So Levine hits two flies with one strike. He gets lost of his mercenaries, and Jane is free… and, how he thinks, free bait for him. But in fact, it is all my plan. Nice, isn´t it?«

Teresa was really surprised: »You really are brilliant.«

»I know, but thank you anyway. And so to say… this little game starts to amuse me.«

Lisbon said: »What can I, I mean, we… the CBI do now?«

»Help Levine to proof that I was not the killer of Agent Mallory and Ramirez.« he answered. »For me, in fact, it is the last evidence I need to be sure that Levine really gave the order to let the murders look like my doing. If he now does, behind the scenes, everything to proof that this was all a fake, I can be sure that this was his plan from the beginning on – to get Jane to jail with him. And I am only waiting for that.«

»Thank you.« Lisbon replied, there were no more words needed.

He answered: »There is no need to thank me. If you see it from my point of view, I only did everything to have free access to the persons who abused my work. You are only on the "lucky side" to benefit from my plans.« He laughed again. »Bye now, and try to sleep. You need it.« He ended the call.

Now Lisbon did not know anymore whether she could be happy, or if she should be worried. Red John had worked out a very detailed plan – and everyone else seemed to be only a chess pawn in his major game. But… if he kept his promise, all would be back to normal in a short time… meh, not all, she´d still be a mum, but… she shook her head. Maybe sometimes it was better just to run with the pack.

:-:

The next morning she sent Cho and Rigsby to the FBI-branch-bureau in Sacramento. They had to look at the original of the new proof that the FBI Agents had found against Jane, but the same time they brought some counter evidence with them. They both knew of course, that Timothy Carter had nothing to do with Red John, but they had collected everything that was doubtful on this character; everything that proved that there really was a missing link or a hidden identity in Timothy Carter´s life. The FBI Agents that worked that case also demanded all case files about Red John for copy reasons; and told Lisbon to send them over with Cho and Rigsby. Of course they took everything to the car, guarded and watched by the Secretary who was responsible for the stored files. They wanted to start off with the car after they had everything in the trunk, when another phone call arrived.

Lisbon took the call; she was a little bit astonished to hear from the FBI so soon again; only one hour ago they had phoned to let them know that Rigsby and Cho would come to the meeting with all the files and that it was not problem that they´d copy the files; they had the official permission from the CBI directory.

But now Agent Percly told her with a solemn voice: »Agent Lisbon, it happens rarely enough that the FBI makes a mistake, but this time it seemed as if we have been too eager in our work. You remember, that we told you only yesterday, that we have received a letter from a person who claimed to know Timothy Carter for fifteen years? When we first called today, in the early morning, this "so called" evidence was still an important matter we wanted to discuss with your Agents, um… Rigsby and Cho, whom we are expecting.«

The FBI Agent cleared his throat. It was obvious that he had something to confess that he did not like: »We… are deeply sorry. We should have taken more time to look at this "so called" evidence. Today, only two hours ago, we got an e-mail; also from an anonymous, who also claimed to know this Mr. Timothy Carter very well. And this time the person who wrote it, said, that Carter was a vicious man who once told something about a great, big Red-Thing he always does when he is bored. This was of course suspicious to us! So we phoned the lawyer, whos signature was at the "so called" legally certified confession that came with the first letter.« He gulped again. »And what this lawyer said, really surprised us. He said he never ever had anyone at his office that claimed to know Timothy Carter. His signature must be faked! The lawyer was almost outrageous that someone abused his name!«

»A faked lawyer´s signature.« Lisbon recalled the most important thing. »So the confession is wrong? Your "oh so important" anonymous lied? The concrete-hard evidence, that Carter was definitely not Red John may be a fake or worse, maybe even a try to trick you out? Could it be, that you got that letter on purpose, to lure you into a wrong direction?« Inside she was smiling. She was poking round in the already existing crack of doubt, making it wider with every word. »So Jane could be falsely accused?«

FBI-Agent Percly confessed: »Yes, ehm… that could be possible. But, whatever, you told me that your Agents will bring more evidence that Timothy Carter has no alibi for the times of the Red John murders? We are eager to see it… if it all fits, we might… um, be able to set a bail on Mr. Jane, so he could… um… leave the detention in jail, and… um, maybe go also back to work, and so on.«

»Is that so?« Lisbon tried to keep her voice stern and not too amused.

Percly answered: »Yes, but we still need to work on that case, maybe… with Mr. Janes help, when he is able to go back to the CBI. At least he is an expert for Red John, he proved that beyond doubt in our talks yesterday and the day before. There is still the open question who killed your Agents Ramirez and Mallory… if it was not Red John. If Red John alias Timothy Carter is really dead, we have to deal with a very good impostor, and that is bad.«

»I understand.« Lisbon said. »I will hold back my Agents and give them a copy of the Mallory/Ramirez case too, so that they can show you that there are in fact differences between the real Red John killings and this… cruel murders of our Colleagues.«

»Fine. We will meet as soon as possible.«

They ended the call and Lisbon immediately stopped Rigsby and Cho, and told them the news. So they also took the Mallory/Ramirez file with them.

:-:

Teresa leant back in her seat. She was surprised and a little bit overwhelmed too, how fast this all seemed to run now; like the wheel of a spinning-machine that produced the string from which the net of Red Johns plan was woven. Levine seemed to lose no time, even if there was the risk that it could be suspicious to somebody, that – all for a sudden, there were so many new evidences about the Red John case. Everybody who knew the RJ murder series well, knew also that this serial killer hardly ever left any track or evidence on the crime scene; therefore the police had groped in the dark for such a long time.

It was really kind of surprising why this fact should change right now, but the FBI men who were not so used to the storyline of Red Johns doings took every piece of that paper-hunt like a big treasure. Therefore they had taken the first letter – that of course also Levine had written, to get Jane to jail – for the absolute truth; and now they were almost out of their minds for shock, because this evidence seemed to be a fake.

Lisbon was not entirely sure if Red John – the real Red John – had sent this e-mail today to the FBI, in order to plant the seed of doubt; or if this was already the new move of Levine and Delanor, because they needed to get Jane out of prison. Maybe she would never know that, but nevertheless it was good for Patrick… every piece of doubt on the character of Timothy Carter made it more possible that he "really was" Red John, and reduced the chance that the accusation of perjury would be discussed at court.

So she should be happy, shouldn´t she? But still… there was some bitter taste with this all. As soon as Jane would be out of prison, the hunt would be on again; and the vague safety they were currently in, would be gone. For the moment they could only wait… and being damned to only wait… was a situation Lisbon really disliked.