Lisbon, Jane, Cho, Rigsby and Grace arrived at George W. Jones High school at 8:30 the next morning. News of Myles' death had spread quickly throughout the community, and the mood within the school was sombre. Jane nudged Grace as they stood in the foyer. "How does it feel to be back?" There was a hint of teasing in his voice.

"Fine" Grace answered.

"First time back since you graduated?"

"No. I've been to see Justin play soccer, Thomas play basketball and rugby and Anna play volleyball and rugby."

"Oh, well then." Jane answered, but Grace suspected that he'd known she'd been back to the school since her graduation. It didn't stop the uneasy feeling she felt in her stomach from being here, or her flashing back to that time when the school's football coach and office secretary had made their affair public, or when the coach's wife had killed herself. When whispers had followed her everywhere, and conversations came to a hush when she rounded the corner. Yes, she'd been back, but she still didn't enjoy this place.

"Richie Livingstein and Hillary Phillips" Lisbon said, ignoring Jane's badgering.

"I don't know Hillary Phillips but I think that's Richie... ya that's him right there." Grace began making her way towards a man with short black hair and wire rimmed glasses. Six feet tall and athletically built. "Richie" she called, and the man turned, a look of surprise hitting his face as he took in Grace.

"Grace?" Lisbon, Rigsby and Cho came up behind Grace and Richie took them in as well.

"Richie I work for the California Bureau of Investigation. We're investigating Myles' death."

"I see" he replied.

"You were an organizer and chaperone of the trip?" Lisbon asked.

"Yes" he replied and Lisbon sensed the tension in his answer. She remembered what Jane had told her about how people in this town would respond to her. And to Cho and Rigsby and himself. They'd be wary of outsiders so Jane had recommended Lisbon allow Grace to take the lead whenever possible. Annoyed that Patrick was right but knowing it was for the best, Lisbon signalled to Grace to take over.

"Can you supply us with a list of the trip's participants Rich?" Grace asked

"So you can make them all suspects?" he countered sharply.

"So we can eliminate them as suspects" Grace answered calmly. "They could be witnesses without even knowing it. Knowing what they know and where they were allows us to narrow the suspect pool and catch Myles' killer."

"Well obviously I want his killer caught" Richie replied, back peddling a little.

"But you're afraid we'll take advantage of these kids, is that it?" she pressed. Richie hesitated, which Grace knew was confirmation enough. "There's already been a death in the school Rich, we're not going to hurt them anymore."

Richie nodded "I'll get you the list"

As the group walked with Richie to his classroom, Lisbon smiled her approval at Grace for a job well done. Speaking quietly Lisbon said,

"When we get the list, Cho and Rigsby, you stay and interview . Van Pelt, Jane and I will take the list and start with the kids." She paused, "Where the hell is Jane?"

Jane had wandered away as the rest of the team made their way over to Richie Livingstein. He quickly found the hallway he was looking for. The graduating class pictures were on the walls of the hallway. Jane scanned through them until he found a name he recognized on the class of '99 poster. "Paul Van Pelt" had been a handsome graduate, the same dark hair as Anna and his father, but Grace's copper eyes. Strong cheek bones and good skin. Jane had no doubt he'd would have been desired by the girls in his class, but he could tell from his posture in the photo he'd been uncomfortable with girls. He'd probably had a lot of good female friends but never a real serious girl friend. He moved on to the class of '01 and found Grace's photo. She looked almost exactly the same, a little younger but all in all, she looked the same. Jane knew who she'd been in high school. Popular, the younger sister of a popular athlete and pretty. She'd had lots of friends, but wanted nothing more to leave this hayseed town the second she got the chance. She'd known how to survive, how to thrive in this little town but she'd had big dreams, even back then. He found Justin and Thomas in the class of '03 and the class of '04 respectively. Justin had Grace's red hair and the same shade of green eyes that Jane had notices in the flecks in Anna's hazel ones. He had a big smile and Jane could tell he was an easy-going, happy and again, popular guy. Jane also felt Justin had done somewhat better with the ladies than Paul had based solely on the confidence he read in his photo. Thomas had the same dark hair as Paul and Anna and the same copper eyes as Paul and Grace. In comparing the two pictures Jane found that Paul and Thomas looked remarkably alike, but their body language was all different. Where Paul seemed modest and shy, Thomas seemed to be the most outgoing of all his siblings based on the goofy grin he sported and the way he slightly leaned into his photo.

Pleased with feeling he had more of an insight into Grace's family now, Jane moved down to a trophy case, with the athletic accomplishments of the school. His eyes were drawn first to a plaque with engraved names on it. "Most Promising 9th Grade Athletes", scanning his eyes down the plaque Jane read the names beside '95/'96, "Sarah Gotz and Paul Van Pelt", in '97/'98 "Grace Van Pelt and Brendan Pope", in '99/'00 "Julia David and Justin Van Pelt", in 00/01 "Andrea Bates and Thomas Van Pelt" and lastly in 06/07 "Callum Foote and Anna Van Pelt"

"Jane, there you are. What the hell are you doing?" Lisbon and Grace came up behind him in the now empty hall. The bell must have sounded without Jane noticing.

"Research" Jane answered with his patented cheeky grin.

"What?" Lisbon asked, clearly annoyed.

Jane pointed at Grace, "You were the most promising 9th grade athlete when you were a freshman."

"Yeah, so?" Grace answered.

"Your whole family was."

"I know" she replied again, and Jane read an uneasiness in her answer. Embarrassment about her accomplishments? No. He didn't think it felt like that, more like she was afraid of something else he might see in the trophy case.

"What else can we find in here?" he asked, amused and turning back to the case.

"Jane, not now" came Lisbon's stern reprimand

"Oh nothing we're doing is all that pressing. We have all day, and I want to see how many times I can find the name Grace Van Pelt, or any Van Pelt in this trophy case."

"That'd be a lot" the voice took Jane, Lisbon and Grace by surprise and they turned to see Matt Damon's twin standing before them.

"Brendan" said Grace, taking in a short breath, "what..."

"Coming to clean out Myles' locker" he answered sombrely, gesturing to the empty box in his hands.

"Brendan this is agent Lisbon and this is Patrick Jane, he's a consultant for the bureau. This is Brendan Pope" They shook hands as Grace made the introductions.

", we're so sorry for your loss" Lisbon said.

"Thank you." Brendan nodded.

"Which way to the office?" Lisbon asked. Grace and Brendan both pointed automatically to the end of the hallway. "Right" Lisbon said and Jane smirked as he followed her.

"How are you holding up?" Grace asked, once they were alone.

"All right. It hurts but I'm trying to be strong for mom."

"That's good" Grace replied, and an awkward silence hung between them for a moment before Brendan said,

"I haven't seen you for eight years." Grace hung her head, "But I'm glad you're here now." Grace looked back up at him and put her hand on his arm. As she did so the P.A. system within the school sounded and to her great displeasure, Grace heard Lucy's voice say,

"Will the following students please report to the cafetorium; Garrett Nash, Anna Van Pelt, Matteo Luengo, Avery Moreau, Callum Foote, Bryn Keyon, Sebastian David, Natalie Oswald, Alexander Gike..."

As the list droned on Grace removed her arm, "Brendan I have to go, I have to interview these students"

He nodded.

"But we should talk, why don't we get dinner tonight?"

"I'd like that"

"Okay," Grace paused, "I'm so sorry. I know how much you loved him." Brendan nodded again and turned away. Grace swore she saw tears beginning to fall on his cheeks as she headed down the hall.