THREE WEEKS LATER
Teresa and Mark continued to see a lot of each other after their first date. Teresa found herself enjoying going to nice restaurants and discussing books they had both read. She liked to go to movies with him. He proved to be as agile intellectually as he was physically. They went running together and she admired his sleek muscles and long legs. They gradually progressed to some tentative kissing and hand exploration, but had not yet tried anything more daring.
Mark was taking things slowly because that's the way she wanted it. He had time to get her to sleep with him. It wouldn't be long now. And he even felt himself falling for her a little, too. Not good. Gotta get a grip. The idea is to fuck Jane over. Not get involved again. She has to die. No loose ends. She'll find out sooner or later, she's not stupid. I'm getting sick of pretending to be someone else.
Meanwhile, Patrick had discovered that Mark lived in a house on the outskirts of town. The only problem with the GPS system was that he couldn't determine whether or not Teresa was with him. He wished there was a way to put a tracking device on her. He couldn't help smiling at this idea. Since he was tracking her car also, however, he was able to tell that sometimes she drove to his place. She always drove home at some point, so they weren't sleeping together yet. He hated the idea, although he couldn't blame her if she wanted to do it: after all, hadn't he only recently slept with a murderer? And if you counted Lorelei, two murderers.
I think now I understand how she feels. She still loves me. Seeing me with another woman was torture. I'm feeling what she felt. I deserve to feel it. Oh, Teresa, Teresa, let me rescue you. Please.
It was a Friday afternoon in the FBI bullpen.
Everyone was working with a certain reluctance, wanting to get the hell out of there for the weekend. Teresa was thinking about her date with Mark that evening. Cho was looking forward to a quiet evening at home with a new book. Wiley planned to play video games.
Patrick was tracking Mark's car on his laptop.
Austin PD was no longer working with the FBI on the DEA case, so Mark had resumed his ordinary duties as a corrupt police officer. Worse than corrupt, Jane said to himself. Criminal. Looks like I'll have to get something on him without the help of the FBI. That's nothing new.
Mark's car was literally all over the map within a fifty mile radius of Austin. Patrick suspected that he was dispatching Blake Association members who had become a liability or who had not demonstrated the willingness to do the dirtywork of the association. But he couldn't prove anything without tailing the bastard and taking photos. This was risky, and he wasn't good with a long-distance lens. I can't wait until he decides to kill Teresa and catch him in the act.
Cho. I need Cho.
He waited until Cho began putting papers in his briefcase. He followed him out the door of the bullpen and into the elevator, which was empty except for the two of them.
"Hey Cho, I need to ask you something."
"If you want me to do a stakeout at Johnson's house tonight, forget it."
"Cho, I need you. I can't do it alone."
"What are we supposed to do? Ambush them when they get home from their date? Boss will really love that."
"No, just see if she stays the night. If he comes home alone, watch who his visitors are."
"And then what?"
"I don't know. I'm still working on a plan. We need to get him on something before he attacks her."
"Like murder?"
"Like murder. I watched him kill a man. He's got a list of hits to make."
"I dunno, Jane. A sting operation requires backup. And there's no one else we can trust here."
"What if we got Fischer to help us? I know, I was against involving the FBI. But at the right moment she could provide the backup we need."
Cho looked doubtful.
"We have to do something that can't be planned perfectly, but will be reasonably sure of success."
"Jane. I know that you love her. And she loves you even if she's mad at you. The whole reason she's dating this guy is to make you jealous. Did you tell her what you saw? Could you get her to believe you and drop this guy?"
"I told her and she thought I was making up a wild story. She was almost triumphant to see that I was jealous. Well, I am jealous. And I'm insulted that she would choose a guy like him over me."
"You've never told her that you love her."
"Yes, I did, before I pretended to shoot her that time. She asked me if I meant what I said and I lied and told her I didn't remember."
"That was brilliant."
"Well, she's never said that she loves me. And I can't read her when she's shut down."
"It's obvious, Jane. It has been for years now."
"So, you're such an expert on love, what should I do now?"
"Tell her. Even if she laughs in your face. Be a man."
"OK, let's say I tell her and she says she doesn't love me and I've ruined her life, and she's decided to move on and I can't stop her?"
"She won't say that. But even if she did, we still have to protect her."
"So you'll do the stakeout with me?"
"Until we have a better plan."
"Thanks, Cho."
And they both got into Cho's car. Patrick entered Mark's address in the GPS.
The black Lexus sedan slipped almost invisibly into the gathering darkness.
Teresa had decided that tonight was the night. She had worn her sexiest clothes-she had been gradually changing her style, wearing shorter skirts, tighter tops, and higher heels. She even wore more makeup. She could tell that Mark appreciated it. After dinner, she applied some extra perfume in the ladies' room at the restaurant, and when she stepped into the car, a subtle but seductive fragrance filled the air. "You smell great," said Mark as he slipped into the driver's seat. They leaned toward each other and kissed. Then he started up the car.
She had a feeling of excitement that she hadn't felt in years. Finally, a man she was serious about who treated her like a queen and appreciated her for her mind and her body. She felt powerful and full of sexual energy. It was as though everything she had felt physically for Patrick Jane over the course of twelve years suddenly transferred itself to this man, who was so different from Patrick. She wanted to see what it would be like, to feel male nakedness against her skin once again, to be ravished.
Mark was only too happy to oblige.
Upon arriving home, he took her coat and meticulously hung it in the closet next to his own. He then walked into the living room and poured two glasses of bourbon. She followed him and they sat on the couch. He began removing her shirt as he kissed her, the kisses placed lower and lower until they found her breasts held up in the lacy cups of her black transparent bra. She moaned and allowed him to continue, until his mouth reached her belly and she writhed with pleasure. He pulled off her short skirt and panties and she reached out to unbutton his pants. Suddenly his tongue was caressing her pubic area which she had just had waxed for the first time until it was as bare as a young girl's. His tongue began to explore the dampness inside her cleft and she shuddered with delight.
Neither of them had noticed the black Lexus sliding stealthily along the street across from the house.
Patrick and Cho exchanged glances. Cho steered the car around the corner and parked. They jumped out of the vehicle with guns drawn.
(Patrick had been practicing at the firing range in anticipation of this scenario.) They crept up to the house unseen.
Teresa and Mark had finished their drinks and were almost completely undressed. "Let's go to the bedroom," she whispered. He smiled and lifted her light body like a ballet dancer and deftly carried her up the stairs to his bedroom. He laid her gently on the king sized bed.
"Mmm," she murmured as he climbed above her.
Meanwhile, Patrick had picked the front door lock and slipped noiselessly in, followed by Cho. They heard the sounds of passion coming from the bedroom, which almost made Patrick lose his focus. The bastard. I wish I could kill him.
Cho held up a warning finger to his lips. They eased toward the bedroom door, backs to the wall.
Teresa was almost fainting with the unaccustomed excitement. He had begun to make love to her in earnest, when he suddenly stopped. He gazed into her eyes. "Teresa, I love you."
"I love you too, Mark."
Patrick was seized with a terrible pain as he heard these words. Cho laid a steadying hand on his shoulder.
Mark was ready to do what he had intended to do ever since meeting Teresa. But first, he climaxed and shortly after, gasping, she followed.
Patrick felt a wave of nausea. Sweat trickled down his face.
Suddenly, Mark put his hands around Teresa's neck.
"Sorry, my dear." He began to squeeze the breath out of her. "I was starting to care for you. Too bad."
Amidst her sudden terror, Teresa's well-trained police instincts immediately kicked in and she fought him as hard as she could, trying to knee him in the groin, trying to poke him in the eyes, but he was too strong. Tears came to her eyes. Is this the way I'm going to die? How did I let this happen? Why couldn't I tell he was a killer? Jane was right! Oh God, Jane. She prayed that someone would rescue her.
And at that moment, Patrick and Cho burst into the room, guns pointed at Mark.
"It's all over, Johnson," said Cho, with withering hatred.
For once in his glib life, Patrick could not say a word. He had promised Cho that he would let him take the lead and follow his orders.
Mark let go of Teresa and sprang up standing naked on the bed.
"Lie down with your hands behind your back," ordered Cho, "or I'll blow away the family jewels."
Mark obeyed.
Meanwhile, Teresa was almost unconscious. Fortunately, he had not succeeded in crushing her windpipe, but there were angry red finger imprints on her neck which would soon turn to purple bruises. Patrick rushed over to her. "Oh, Teresa, oh my God, Teresa…stay with me…you have to stay with me…" She couldn't speak and didn't move. He felt for her pulse and frantically punched 911 on his phone.
He gave them the address in a few terse sentences. "They're coming right away," he told her, his heart pounding with terror. "Hold on, Teresa. I love you. You've got to try. Please, Teresa." He laid his head on her belly. "Breathe. Breathe."
Cho had already cuffed Mark. In a matter of minutes, both the police and the FBI had arrived. Fischer leapt out of the van.
"I'll overlook this flagrant breach of policy on your part, Agent Cho, because of the successful collar. This man is behind the DEA murders. But you will receive an official reprimand."
"Sorry, ma'am," said Cho with a smirk. She turned and began issuing commands to the other agents who were swarming outside the house as a result of the call Cho had made to the FBI.
The ambulance shrieked to a halt and paramedics rushed upstairs to Teresa, who was unconscious. Her vital signs were weak, but they gave her oxygen and brought her out of the house on a stretcher. Patrick hurried behind them. As they were sliding the stretcher into the ambulance, Patrick gasped, "I'm coming with you. She's my wife," he lied. The paramedics nodded and he scrambled in and sat on the floor next to her. Her eyes were closed and she had a mask over her nose and mouth. He wondered if she would ever wake up. What if she's in a coma? This is my fault. I should never have accepted that assignment with Krystal. I drove her into the arms of this monster.
He was sweating profusely and it took all of his strength not to break down. He took her small, white, limp hand and squeezed it. There was no answering squeeze. He was enveloped in pain and fear and sat paralyzed until the ambulance reached the hospital.
She was taken to intensive care and hooked up to machines and IVs. He could hardly bear to look. But he forced himself to be calm and ended up on a plastic chair near her bed. He tried to take deep breaths. He was afraid he would faint. One of the nurses, a sturdy young woman, approached him with pity in her eyes. "Can I get you something to drink, sir?"
With difficulty, Patrick focused his red and burning eyes on her. "A cup of tea. Please."
She came back with a cup of standard issue hospital teabag tea in a styrofoam cup. But he was grateful for it, and gripped the cup as though it were a magic talisman. Cho entered the room, having flashed his FBI badge at the nurses. He stood quietly next to Patrick and grasped his shoulder. This almost made Patrick cry- the bravery and expertise of his friend saved Teresa's life. Because she was still alive.
"Drink it," said Cho shortly.
Patrick took a couple of sips.
"That damn Fischer wants to reprimand me. I'll have to go soon. But I'll come back."
"Thanks, Cho. Thank you for saving her life. I was useless."
"Not useless. You came up with the plan."
"Cho. What if…"
"She's strong. She'll make it."
He left the room shortly after. Teresa was still lying in the hospital bed as if asleep, her long dark lashes brushing her white cheeks flecked with freckles. She was so small and frail looking that she almost resembled a child. Patrick knew that she had fought the bastard with everything she had. She might even have done some damage. And he didn't choke the life out of her. She was still breathing.
Still breathing.
"Teresa. Wake up. Please wake up. I'll never leave you again."
But she lay there motionless except for the gentle up and down movement of her chest.
He buried his head in his hands.
