The five story apartment appeared to almost slant to one side, ready to cave in at the slightest breeze. Patrick Jane stepped over a portion of burnt rubble, oblivious to the danger the building presented and began to scan the room searching for some clue that connected this blaze to the murder they had uncovered at the Bay Firehouse.
Sadly though that seemed downright impossible in this blaze, and that only made the consultant frown as he glanced over toward Haffner who was examining a burnt couch. "Are you a team of one? Where's your back up?" Jane asked him to which Ray remarked with a snap, "You're supposed to be the back up smart ass."
"Whoa no need for name calling," Patrick said as he stepped over a downed portion of the second floor ceiling and remarked, "I was just curious as to whether or not you had an arson expert on your payroll."
"No, not since that debacle you led me into a few years ago. Bertram first tried to reassign me to a different position and I had to work my way into the job I'm at now," Ray said evenly and added, "We had the chance of being partners, Jane. But something tells me that the two of us are more alike than you realize. We both have to work alone."
The former psychic gave a half smile and then remarked, "I wish you were right about that, well I mean for the most part you are...but every once in a while I do need back up. And right now I wouldn't mind an extra set of eyes here to examine this fire. If I can determine the point of origin I'll find our killer." "That seems impossible," Ray pointed out to which Jane said, "There is no such thing."
"Fine, maybe CBI can send us someone," Haffner suggested even as the former psychic took out his phone and began to dial. "What are you doing?" Ray asked. "Getting back up. I thought we'd just resolved that issue?" Jane retorted to which the agent said, "Need I remind you all of Lisbon's team is under review?"
"This is Cho," the Korean agent said over the phone making Jane raise a finger to quiet Haffner and then asking, "Cho, how is your day been going?" "What do you need Jane?" the other agent inquired. "Straight and to the point, that's the Cho I know. How is that internal review going on?" Jane replied causing a brief pause from his co-worker and then Kimball answered, "Waves is bending over backwards to dig up dirt on you, and I have a feeling he'll do the same to me in about ten minutes. He called down to the archives to review some case from last year."
"So then everything is dandy?" Patrick asked making Haffner frown and Cho remark, "Look Jane you're not even supposed to be consulting with us during this case, in fact you're the main reason we're all under fire anyway."
"Speaking of fire, who would you say is the best arson specialist we have?" Jane asked to which the Korean replied, "Does this have something to do with the Lamb case?"
"Oooo, I'm sorry that falls under the list of things I'm not supposed to talk about," he replied to which Ray remarked icily, "Give me the phone." "One sec Cho," Jane said before his co-worker could reply and then asking the other agent, "This will only take a few minutes. If we find out what caused the fire it will nab our culprit, I promise."
"You're testing my patience," Haffner said crossing his arms as Jane got back on the phone and asked Kimball, "Can you send someone over to where I'm calling from?"
"If Waves or Bertram find out this," Cho began and the consultant stated, "As long as Waves wastes his time on me there isn't anything to worry about. So could you hurry? The faster we solve this the quicker I can help you guys."
"I'm not so sure we want your particular style of help," Cho countered and then sighed before remarking, "But I'll get someone over there." Hanging up the phone, Jane smiled and told Ray, "Which of our valiant volunteers do you suppose is the addict?
" "What are you talking about?" Haffner asked. "Oh, I'm sorry I thought I'd already pointed that out to you?" Jane asked clearing his breath and pointing toward a white ring on the burnt rug.
"What would you say that is?" he asked to which Ray knelt down to examine it and remarked, "Meth?" "Bingo, so now we know the why. The bigger question remains though, is how," Jane said as he sat on the burnt couch. "And that will lead us to the murderer?" Ray asked even as the former psychic laid on the burnt piece of furniture and nodded to which Haffner remarked, "You're a piece of work, Jane."