Author's notes: Thanks to everyone who reads this story and have followed and made it a favourite. A big thank you to all those who share their thoughts. Slight torture in this chapter as the story heads to its showdown.
Jane made out four different footsteps and they're all standing before him now. The three men who he saw in their visits to the barn and Jack. The man in charge, the one that shot him speaks.
"I figured you would be awake by now Mr. Jane."
"So you know my name, care to share yours?"
"Of course it would only be polite. My name is Michael Rollins. You're a resourceful man despite appearances."
"Thank you. I do my best."
"My understanding is that your best is very good. I've been reading about you Mr. Jane while you were sleeping. You work with the cops."
Jane puts on an offended face.
"I would've put my skills at better than very good."
Rollins shrugs.
"Maybe so. Now I'm going to ask you a question and I suggest you be very careful how you answer."
Jane is aware of one of the other men in the jeans and t-shirt brigade has moved behind him. He hears a clanking noise but he can't put together what the sound means.
"What brought you to Lassen Valley?"
"I was accompanying my colleague following up on a tip we received about a possible witness."
"Wrong answer Mr. Jane."
Jane screams as his left shoulder explodes in pain and heat.
Lisbon and the team are dressed in their CBI vests and are listening to Collins as he stands in front of a board with a plan of the place they're going to invade in the hopes of finding Jane and Jack Bowen. Her team have been given the out buildings to search while the FBI storm the house. The team had exchanged glances when given the news. None of them happy with the work split. Collins has come to the end of his remarks.
"Any Questions?"
Lisbon definitely has something to say and raises her hand. Collins nods her way.
"Yes Agent Lisbon."
"Is this the only place that's being invaded today, or is another team checking out the other places?."
"This is the only place. Our intel as narrowed it down to just this place. Is that all?"
"I would like to join the party that invades the house."
Collins stares at her and she sees something in his eyes which sends a shiver down her spine but then almost immediately his face is transformed into that smile.
"Of course Agent Lisbon. Agent Foster, you join the search of the outbuildings and Agent Lisbon you take Foster's place on the team."
"Thank you."
Lisbon looks at her team and they give a slight nod of their heads in approval. Collins claps his hands.
"Let's get this show on the road."
They're soon on the road, heading north and hopefully to Jane.
Jane's alone once more. Sweat glistens his brow as he struggles with the pain in his shoulders. Thankfully it was only a taster the Rollins character said and they've given him a little time to think over his decision and hopefully when they return he'll be ready to tell them the truth. Now he has to figure out what truth it is they want to hear. They clearly weren't happy with the answer he gave them, the burns on his shoulders attest to that. This has become quite a puzzle, he hadn't expected to be the object of the interrogation, they hadn't asked Jack a thing, he'd just stood silently by, next to Rollins watching, the proceedings. He closes his eyes and relaxes his body, and starts to work through the information that he's gleaned. He knows he's telling the truth, but they don't believe him. Why don't they believe him and what answer will they believe? Why has their focus changed? They weren't interested in him when they held him captive the first time, it was Jack they took away. What's changed? Jack hasn't been honest with him, he's known that from the moment he met him, perhaps he shouldn't have been so curious to find out the truth.
The Rollins character's a straight forward thug and is at his happiest causing others pain, that was plain from the glint in his eye as he watched Jane suffer. He's relishing his job. He's the boss thug man but he's not the top man, there's someone else behind all this. Jack's reaction to his torture was far more interesting, in that he visibly showed no reaction. Before Jane was too occupied with the pain he's certain he saw a little apprehension in the man's eyes, and which then an addition of relief when Rollins asked Jane what had brought him to Lassen Valley, it would seem that Jack was expecting a different question. Suddenly part of the puzzle falls in to place and Jane has a question of his own to ask. With that knowledge he shuts down as best he can to gain strength for the next round of questioning.
It's an hour from darkness as the invasion team arrive close to their destination. Collins goes through the plan once more and has everyone recite back to him their various roles. Lisbon, Cho, Rigsby and Van Pelt feel a combination of relief and dread. They're close to finding Jane, but they know that he's in as much danger from his rescuers as from the people holding him captive. Lisbon knows that whatever the story Jane's innocent, he's either been set up or someone has employed his services.
Jane wakes up at the sound of footsteps and is soon the same faces are before him. He smiles at the group.
"Good to see you all again, I've been waiting for you."
