Chapter 10: Changes
Jane and Lisbon
Hand in hand, Jane and Lisbon retraced their steps out of the park. Street lamps began to glow as night fell. In sheer exhilaration, Jane took two graceful strides and launched himself off the concrete lamp base to swing around the pole. Jumping down he grabbed both her hands and swung her around several times.
Laughing and breathless, "Jane, stop, stop! I'm dizzy."
His smile put all earlier ones to shame. The smile was no longer a mask, but open joy. Happy at last, she thought with a lump in her throat and realized a second later she was too.
Back to walking, he observed, "I never got my closed case pizza. Call Cho and tell him we're bringing it."
"What? And how will we find a pizza place?"
"Saw it in the local guide at the hotel. This way, a few blocks."
Jane, Lisbon, and Cho
A half hour later Lisbon and Jane opened the door to the suite. Cho set aside his book. They put the pizza on the small round table while Cho distributed napkins and chilled bottles of beer. Jane shed his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves, ready to dig in.
Cho. "Why pizza?" as they rapidly made it vanish.
"Closed case pizza two years late," Jane informed him. "We closed Red John. We even finished with Blake when the FBI took over."
"Could say that."
"Look," Jane glanced at his friends and former colleagues. "I realize it cost all of you. But the SCU accomplished the extraordinary. Let the cop in you take some satisfaction."
Impassively, "Okay."
"Don't get so carried away, Cho." God I miss the team. Pizza with Jane and Cho. Like old times. "Huh?" she asked, realizing she'd missed a question.
Cho repeated, "You're gonna work for the FBI then," more statement than question.
She glanced at Jane, "If the offer comes through. –How'd you know?"
He snorted softly, glancing from one to the other. "You haven't stopped smiling. Jane may spontaneously combust." Hell, happiness is rolling off him in waves. Never seen him so happy – for real, not just a front.
Jane finished chewing and washed down the bite. "Cho, my friend, you have decisions to make too." Lisbon watched curiously but kept silent, knowing this was Jane's case to make.
Cho set his beer down. Wary, "Like?"
"I upped the ante. My original terms plus two. Abbott has to offer you the choice of working with me – us. And no Fischer."
Impassively, "Why?"
Jane leaned back, patting a visibly fuller stomach in satisfaction. His face grew serious. "So far, Austin isn't working out for you. After six months Abbott doesn't trust you, you don't trust him. You respect Fischer as an agent–" Jane's eyes narrowed as Cho's minute reactions suggested that opinion had changed, "–but don't want to work under her. And ..." he studied Cho closely, "you wanted to work on ... Blake?" He continued confidently as Cho's tells confirmed his guess, "but haven't had the chance. Anything I'm missing?"
Cho thought for a minute. "What's in it for you?"
"I owe you."
"You do."
"I do," Jane echoed, sharp tone leaving no doubt about his sincerity.
"What else?"
Jane leaned back, tapping his lower lip with a forefinger. Cho and Lisbon exchanged glances. Jane continued, "I've recently had a lot of time to think," his cheeky grin flashed and faded. "Abbott's been working Blake for two years. All the easy ones are behind bars. Which leaves the hard ones, the big fish. If it was as easy as checking for red dot tattoos, it would be wrapped up. He was away–"
"–Chicago," Cho supplied.
"–over a month. Unplanned judging by Fischer's fumbling. Not going well. So long as the leaders are out there, Blake isn't over." He paused.
"True." He looked hard at Jane. "That's not why you're interested."
Jane swallowed. "Anyone I care about is in law enforcement. You. Lisbon. Rigsby and Van Pelt?"
"Private detective agency now," Lisbon clarified.
"No matter. You're vulnerable to corrupt cops. Some may target you for exposing the conspiracy."
Lisbon injected, "Why now? Wouldn't threats have surfaced by now?"
"Abbot's kept Blake on the run. Once he wraps up the small fish, the bosses will recreate their network, take the initiative."
Back to Cho, "How does that affect my decision?"
Jane leaned forward. "l have to work for the FBI for five years. Why not tackle something important to us?"
"How do we convince Abbott?" Lisbon asked, snorting in disdain.
"By making ourselves useful. I know what we can do. Abbott's about to find out."
Cho closed his eyes, inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. "Maybe. Let you know after I talk to Abbott."
Jane grinned widely. Cho's almost convinced. Lisbon, Cho. Like coming home.
Jane pulled the deck of cards they bought at a drug store from his vest. "How about a little fun?"
"Hah! We know better," Lisbon protested.
"Um, how 'bout this? I'll prop up that giant, pretentious hotel service guide so I can't see your faces, just the cards. Should even the odds."
"Sure," Cho agreed with a hint of a smile.
Lisbon added, "Cho and I shuffle and deal. You just cut."
Jane grinned, "Hey! I spent two years on a tropical isle rusting away."
"Since when do I look like Rigsby?" Cho grunted. Rigsby had always been a sucker for Jane's games and schemes.
"What do we play for?"
Jane reached back and grabbed the bag from the pizza parlor. "M & M's." He glanced at Lisbon. "You've spent a bundle on flights because of me. I need to repay you. –Cho, any casino gambling in Aus–"
"No!" they answered in unison. Cho continued, "Jane, you are technically my prisoner. No gambling on my watch."
Jane grimaced as he divided the candy bits equally. "No matter. I'll have your money soon, Lisbon." Jane fetched the guide and set it across two boxes of boutique tissue.
"I'll collect in person," she smiled.
Their game broke up a couple of hours later, Jane having won most of the candy. When prodded, he reluctantly told them their breathing changed depending on how good their cards were. Cho called it a night after thanking Jane for the reminder since he'd be working with him again.
Lisbon and Jane straightened the mess, then sank onto the couch with sighs.
"You feeling okay?" she asked, searching his features for signs of the drugs and maybe exhaustion.
"You're here. Of course." He patted the couch, encouraging her to move closer. They spent another couple of hours talking about everything and nothing. Lisbon talked about Cannon Falls and filled him in on Rigsby and Van Pelt. Jane answered questions about the island and people he had written about. When Jane stopped talking, Lisbon looked around to find he had fallen asleep. She thought about getting up, but put it off, too comfortable nestled against his side to move.
Cho
Cho found them sleeping on the couch Saturday morning. Jane semi-reclined against the corner of the couch with Lisbon leaning against him, arms loosely clasped around the arm Jane draped around her waist. It reminded him how much he missed the CBI, missed the team. This made his decision as much as Jane's pitch. Now he only needed some facts from Abbott.
He returned to his room and read for awhile. Later he was surprised to get a text from Abbott directing him to meet at the FBI at 10 a.m. Abbott was in town for his daughter's graduation and Cho wondered what why he'd want to meet. Cho was glad to have a chance to get his questions answered – especially before Lisbon had to return to Washington on Sunday.
Cho and Abbott
Abbott waved Cho in through the glass panel. "Yes, Sir?"
Abbott motioned for Cho to sit. "Where's Jane?"
"Conference room."
Slightly frowning, "He'll stick around?"
"With Lisbon. And I have his word."
Abbott leaned back with a slight smile. With an edge, "Well, then. Guess that's all you need." Cho nodded tightly but didn't say anything. "You know I'm forming a new team with Jane on it."
"Fischer's team?"
"And that is why you're here. Fischer's going to work Blake. I'm offering you the team leader position."
Though his face was expressionless, Cho straightened and exhaled sharply. "Why, Sir?"
"Agent Fischer can be better utilized elsewhere. You have extensive experience and well-documented leadership potential. You declined several promotions at the CBI."
"What would the team look like?"
"You get Jane. And Lisbon if she'll work for the FBI. Your pick of the unassigned data analysts. Plus one more agent next budget year."
"Types of cases? Expectations?"
"The powers that be think Jane is God's gift to solving cases. You're responsible for making it work. Your cases will run the gamut – anything that isn't a specialty area like Fraud, Art Theft, or Organized Crime."
Cho sat silently for a few minutes. He finally looked at Abbott with a level gaze. "Permission to speak freely?"
Abbott nodded.
"After six months you still suspect I'm in Blake. I can't lead under suspicion."
"You've been investigated six ways from sundown. Nothing surfaced. I'm confident you are not Blake. You'll get a fair shot."
"And Jane and Lisbon?"
"Despite my misgivings about Jane, we've had him under surveillance for a year. There were no contacts by a known Blake member while he was on that island. No evidence he was in Blake before he killed McAllister. –I tentatively assume Jane isn't Blake."
"Why are you taking that risk?"
"The SCU seemed to operate in its own tight bubble. If you and Lisbon aren't Blake, odds are pretty good Jane isn't. If he is, it'll come out. Either way, I win."
Cho took a deep breath. "I have one more question." Abbott nodded. "What aspects of Jane's detention were at your direction?"
Abbott's gaze hardened. "Fischer managed Jane's confinement. Her specific actions were against the regs. I found out about the ... extra-legal measures yesterday."
"You turned a blind eye."
Abbott frowned. "I am responsible for everything in this office, but nothing beyond detention was sanctioned. Blake took precedence and I'm dealing with the fallout of my inattention. Take it or leave it, Cho."
"May I give you my decision Monday?"
"Yes." At Abbott's nod, Cho left.
Abbott sat for awhile, gaze unfocused. This is either the smartest move I could make. Or the dumbest. Risky letting such a tight team reconstitute itself. Could be worth it if Jane delivers. Just how much chaos am I in for? –Damn Fischer's inexperience.
And my negligence.