Thanks for the support of my story, I truly appreciate it. This is a long chapter with an Epilogue at the end. There was no good place to cut off for another chapter and the Epilogue was too short for its' own chapter. I hope you have enjoyed this story, and I have two more stories that I'm starting. One I can't get down fast enough! I should have it posted sometime next week.
Chapter 12
"Move in, move in." Cho ordered over the radios.
"Put the gun on the ground and get your hands in the air." shouted one of the agents in pursuit.
The man started running, trying his best to avoid the agents. He stuck the gun in his back waistband as his ran. He was running in the opposite direction from the limo he arrived in and towards the wooded area near the park.
"Don't shot unless you have no choice. We need him alive in case he was sent in as a decoy and not the man we're after." Cho ordered.
Jane jumped up and reached for the door of the van. Before he could lower the handle and open the door, Cho caught him by his other arm.
"Jane. You're not going after him. I know you want to get him, but let the agents out there do it. They'll bring him in and we can question him to find out if he's the man who hired Joey.
"Cho, he tried to kill my wife and son. I want him."
"Stop Jane. I'm not letting you do that. I know you want revenge, but we're handling things different this time. You have way too much to lose now, think about it. You almost lost Teresa last time, and you have more at stake this time." Cho tried to reason with Jane. He wasn't sure if he was going to be successful once Jane got focused on revenge. He hoped reminding him what it could cost him this time, would get through to him.
Jane stood motionless for a couple of minutes. He thought of Teresa and Noah and then thought of his time on the island after he killed Red John. He almost lost Teresa then, he couldn't risk losing her and Noah now. Cho was right.
"Alright Cho, you're right. We'll do it your way. I won't risk losing Teresa and Noah. They mean more to me than getting revenge. But, I want to talk to the lady in the limo, the nanny, if that's what she is. She may know who the man is." Jane said.
"I'll have the agent bring her over here." Cho said and radioed the agent in charge of the her.
The agents continued to pursue the man. They were almost to the tree line and they were afraid they would lose him in the woods if he got there.
"Spread out. We want to create a circle around him if he gets into the woods and push him into one of us." Rigsby instructed.
The man continued running towards the woods and slipped into the trees before the agents could get to him.
"He made it to the trees before we could catch him Cho. We've spread out and are trying to encircle him. We will find him, tell Jane." Rigsby said.
"Everyone keep their eyes open. Be careful. We have the Austin police on the road outside the park if he gets to the road." Cho instructed.
Jane could tell right away the woman was scared and not sure what she had been made a part of.
"Mam, my name is Patrick Jane. I am a consultant with the FBI and I need you to tell me what you can about the man you arrived here with. First, what's your name?"
"My name is Sheila Edwards. A friend of mine told me this man was looking for a nanny for a baby boy he was getting custody of. He said he was meeting a social worker in this park to get the child."
"You didn't feel that was odd?" Jane asked.
"I guess I did, a little, but I just assumed maybe social services was trying to make the baby more at ease in the park surrounded by other kids." Sheila answered.
Jane didn't know if he bought her reasoning, but there was nothing about her that seemed deceptive. "Did he tell you the baby's name and how it came about that he was getting custody of the child."
"He said the baby's name was Noah and that his parents had both died in an accident. He said he was friends with the family and they had given him custody of the boy if they died." she explained.
Cho could see this was not sitting well with Jane. He understood, it didn't sit well with him either. He needed to make sure Jane stayed in control of himself and get as much information as he could from Sheila.
"Did the man tell you his name?" Cho asked.
"He said his name was Michael. Michael Stiles." Sheila answered.
Jane and Cho looked at each other and walked over the door so they could talk between themselves. "Could it be Cho? Could this guy be related to Bret Stiles? It can't be a coincidence. That is why he seemed familiar to me." Jane questioned.
"I think you're right. There's no way this is a coincidence. All those times you talked to Bret, did he ever talk about a brother, nephew or any other relatives?" Cho asked.
"Not that I can think of. We really didn't talk about that many things except Visualize, Red John and my past." Jane answered.
"Miss Edwards? Did Michael ever say anything about a Bret Stiles or Visualize?" Cho asked, as he turned back around to Sheila.
"No, not that I can remember." Sheila said.
"Can I ask the name of your friend that knew Michael? Do you know how your friend knew him?" Jane asked.
"Sure, her name is Lisa Phillips. She met him at the dog park. She has a dog and they met while the dogs were playing she said. I don't think she has known him very long." Sheila answered.
"Do you or Lisa know where he lives?" Cho asked.
"I don't, I just met him today when he picked me up to come get the baby. We had only talked on the phone. Lisa may know where he lives. She said she walked his dog a couple of times." Sheila replied.
Cho slid his notebook and pen over to Sheila. "Can you write down Lisa's address and phone number for us."
"Sure. Lisa is not in trouble is she?"
"No. We just need to find out if she knows anything about Michael that you don't know." Jane said.
"Can I ask you a question?" Sheila asked tentatively.
"Sure." Jane replied.
"Is Michael some kind of criminal? I know I haven't asked what is going on here for fear of what the answer will be. I just enjoy being a nanny and felt bad that this baby we were going to pick up had lost both of his parents."
Cho and Jane looked at each other and Cho nodded. "Noah is my son. He and my wife were almost killed in an automobile accident. We believe Michael set up the accident to kill my wife. When she and Noah survived and he found out that we had a son, he decided to kidnap Noah instead of killing her. She is still in the hospital recovering from that accident. We just don't know the reason Michael did all of this." Jane explained to Sheila, watching her face lose all color.
Sheila looked horrified. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't know any of this. I'm glad neither your wife nor son were killed. I never would have agreed to be a nanny for a kidnapped baby, I promise."
"It's okay. We don't think you had anything to do with it." Jane said, trying to reassure Sheila.
"Is your son okay? He wasn't really in the park today was he?" she asked.
"No. He's with a good friend of ours and being guarded by security. He was nowhere near here." Jane answered.
"Good. I hope you catch Michael and throw him in jail for what he's done to your family." Sheila said kindly to Jane.
"That's exactly what we intend to do." Cho interjected, not sure what Jane's reply would be to that statement.
"Do you mind staying here a little while longer and then we'll have someone take you home. We'd like to find Michael first so that we know you aren't in any danger." Cho asked.
"Absolutely." said Sheila.
"Can we get you anything, something to drink or eat?" asked Cho.
"Some water would be fine. Thank you."
Cho and Jane stepped out of the van and stood on the sidewalk. Both lost in thought for a few minutes before either said anything.
"You think she's telling the truth?" Cho asked.
"Yes I do. I think she was hired to be a nanny and that's it." Jane answered.
At that moment, both men heard gunshots ring out. Cho pulled the two-way radio from his waist band.
"Rigs? What's happening?" Cho asked.
"We have the guy. He jumped out from behind a large set of bushes and pointed his gun at one of the agents. The agent shot him in the leg. He's going to be okay. Just enough of an injury to incapacitate him so that we could move in and cuff him." Rigsby answered.
"Great. I'll call an ambulance. Read him his rights and make sure everything is by the book. We want this as clean as possible so that he doesn't get off." Cho instructed.
"Yes, sir. We'll be coming your way shortly."
Cho looked at Jane. "Now we can find out what this is all about; how he's related to Bret Stiles and why he wanted Teresa killed."
Approximately ten minutes after the shots were heard, Cho and Jane could see Rigsby and the other agents bringing Michael Stiles out of the park and to the waiting ambulance. When they had placed Michael on the stretcher, Jane moved over and looked at him.
"Michael Stiles?" Jane asked.
"Yeah. Who wants to know?" Michael asked belligerently.
"Patrick Jane. That's who wants to know." Jane said, getting more heated as he looked at Michael.
"Your Patrick Jane? The man who killed my father?" Michael screamed.
"Your father? Bret Stiles was your father?" Cho asked.
"Yes. He was my father. A father I never got to know, because this man killed him." Michael screamed again, glaring at Jane.
Cho needed to diffuse the situation until they could get back to the FBI.
"How bad's the leg injury?" Cho asked the paramedics.
"It looks superficial. Won't need stitches." the paramedic answered.
"Good. Bandage it up and he's going with us. We'll bring him to the hospital later to have it looked at further. It's urgent we talk to him now." Cho instructed.
As soon as Michael's leg was bandaged and all the paper work was complete, Cho put Michael in the back of his car and drove to FBI headquarters.
Michael was placed in an interrogation room. Cho wanted to talk to Jane before they began questioning him.
"I think it would be better if I questioned him alone. You can be in the observation room and watch the whole thing." Cho explained.
"No Cho. I'm going to be in there. I promise to keep my cool. I need to ask some questions. I have to do this Cho."
"Okay. But, I'll stop the questioning and send you out if things start getting ugly."
"Agreed." Jane said.
The two men walked into the interrogation room.
"You killed my father." Michael said loudly when he saw Jane walk in the door.
"I didn't kill your father, Michael. Thomas McAllister killed him. He was the serial killer, Red John." Jane explained. "I liked your father, although we had differing views on many things."
"He died at your house. You told him to come to your house and he died. If you hadn't told him to come, he would still be alive." Michael said, glaring at Jane.
"During that time, I thought your father might possibly be Red John. I invited him and six others to my house to determine which one was Red John. I didn't know McAllister was going to set off the explosive device that killed your father, as well as another man. Is that why you wanted my wife killed?"
"Yes. You took someone from me and I wanted to take someone from you." Michael said, continuing to glare at Jane. "When I found out you had a kid, I decided that was a much better revenge. You took my father; I take your son. Kind of poetic isn't it?" Michael asked, his words dripping with sarcasm.
"What did you plan to do with him?" Jane asked, not sure he wanted to know the answer.
"Oh, I planned to torment you and your wife for a while. Send you pictures, videos, locks of his hair, maybe even make you believe he was dead. Then kill him when I thought I'd tormented you enough or until I got tired of him." Michael said.
Jane stood staring at Michael. He couldn't believe how sinister he was beginning to sound. He started out wildly accusing Jane of killing his father, but the more he talked the more devious he seemed.
"Your father wasn't in your life?" Cho asked. He could tell Jane was on the edge after Michael's explanation of his plans.
"No. I didn't know about my father until after he died. He and my mother were not married and we lived in Oregon. I found out about my father when his will was probated and I was contacted because I was in the will. That's when I found out about how he died." Michael said.
"So the first time you heard Bret Stiles was your father was when you were contacted by the lawyer for your father's estate?" Cho asked.
"My mother always told me my father was a powerful man. She'd never tell me who he was. She said it was better that he wasn't in my life. But I wanted a father in my life. It made me angry that she wouldn't tell me who he was and let me decide, especially as I got older. Then when I was contacted by the lawyer and found out my father was dead and he had left me some money and acknowledged he was my father, I became angrier." Michael explained. "If Patrick Jane hadn't killed him, I could have found him eventually and maybe had a relationship."
"He didn't kill your father Michael. You need to understand that. Thomas McAllister was an evil man and he killed your father, not Jane." Cho said.
"He played a role in his death, same as killing him. I can never have a relationship with my father now. He took that from me. I wish my plan had worked and I was able to take his son from him. Show him how it feels." Michael said, returning his glare towards Jane.
Jane had reached his limit. He leaned over the table and got nose to nose with Michael and said in a slow, menacing voice, "I know how it feels already, believe me. I didn't need you to show me anything. Red John killed my wife and little girl. He butchered them. Just as he killed your father and didn't care who else he killed that night."
Jane and Michael glared at each other, still nose to nose.
"I'm glad you know how it feels. I wish my plans had worked out as I had planned and you would have lost another wife and child." Michael said, seething with anger.
Jane reached out and grabbed Michael by the throat, dragging him out of his chair and pinning him against the wall. Cho jumped up and reached for Jane.
"Back off Cho. I'm going to finish what I have to say." Jane said without turning around to look at Cho.
Cho took a step back, not moving far so that he could stop Jane if things progressed any further.
Michael had a mixture of belligerence and fear on his face. He had his hands on Jane's arms to keep him from strangling him, but Jane had a tight grip on his throat.
"I should do to you what I did to Red John. He'll never hurt another person again, especially someone I love. I could do it to you in a heartbeat, but my wife and son deserve better than that. I won't lose them to you or anyone else. I'll do everything in my power to make sure you get the maximum for what you've done to my family. I'll be there for your trial and every parole hearing once you're convicted." At this point, Jane leaned in closer to Michael and whispered so only he could hear, "If you ever think of my wife or son again, you better think of me first. You better ask yourself if your warped sense of revenge on me is worth your life. Because if you ever come after my family again, I'll make sure there's no one around to stop me from killing you. I'll choke the life out of you like I did Red John. That's a promise."
Jane glared at Michael as he took his hands from Michael's throat and walked him over to his chair and sat him down.
Cho didn't know what Jane said at the end of the conversation when he whispered to Michael, he could only imagine. He was sure he didn't want to know! However, the belligerence faded from Michael's face and was replaced with only fear. Whatever Jane said, made an impact.
"I'm done here Cho. I'm going to go spend some time with my wife and son." Jane said and walked out the door.
Cho stepped out the door after Jane. "What did you say to him?"
"I believe that'll be between Michael and myself Cho. No offense." Jane smiled at Cho.
Cho chuckled, "I'm sure I don't want to know Jane. Tell Teresa I will be by later to see her."
"I'll do that. I'm going to have Rigsby and Grace take Noah back to our house. I think it'll be safe now."
"Sounds good. See you later." Cho said as he turned and walked back into the interrogation room.
Epilogue
5 months later:
Joey Evans had been charged with attempted murder of a federal officer, attempted murder of Noah Jane and attempted kidnapping, as well as conspiracy. He pled guilty and agreed to testify against Michael Stiles for a reduced sentence and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Michael Stiles was charged with conspiracy to commit murder of a federal agent, conspiracy to commit murder of Noah Jane, conspiracy to kidnapping, and several other various charges relating to his attempt to flee from the park before he was apprehended. He pled guilty to avoid a trial and was sentenced to 50 years to life.
Teresa and Jane were glad both had pled guilty and they wouldn't have to go through the trial process. Jane had vowed to make sure Michael did the life sentence. He knew he never wanted to have to carry out the threat he'd made to Michael.
Patrick, Teresa and Noah had returned to their normal, near perfect lives. Teresa had spent several weeks in physical therapy after being released from the hospital. She was on leave from the FBI for two months. She enjoyed every minute of her time with Noah while on leave before returning to work. Jane had enjoyed her time off also, even though he wished it had been under different circumstances. However, he knew her desire to return to the FBI, while he continued to consult as they needed him.
Everyone had gathered at the Jane house to celebrated Noah's first birthday. Rigsby and Grace had come, bringing Ben and Madeline with them. Virgil and May Minelli, Uncle Cho and Uncle Wylie, Madeline Hightower, along with her kids Mimi and Will and various other friends from the FBI were also there. They had all enjoyed watching Noah have fun with his birthday cake. Now that Noah was walking, Teresa and Jane were happy to have others around for the day to keep an eye on him. He took after his mother in constantly being on the move. He still enjoyed laying on the couch with his daddy on occasion, but would rather be moving.
As the afternoon wore down, all the guests were sitting around enjoying each other's company. Noah had worn himself out and was sleeping in Grandma May's lap.
Jane and Teresa decided to take a walk over to their favorite spot, their log on the other side of the pond that held so many great memories.
"This had been a great day. Everyone seemed to be having a good time celebrating Noah's birthday." Jane said as they sat down with their backs against the log.
"It has been a great day. Noah had so much fun playing with all the other kids. He really is enjoying being mobile now." Teresa said with a laugh.
"He really is his mother's son there." Jane snickered.
"How's that?" Teresa asked.
"You're always on the move. You don't like to just lay on the couch and think about life like me." Jane mused.
"I don't think you're doing much couch laying these days with an active toddler in the house." laughed Teresa.
"No, I don't get much couch time these days, but I'm enjoying every minute of it." Jane said as he leaned over and placed a kiss on Teresa's lips. "I don't think life can get any better than this."
Teresa smiled with a twinkle in her eye. "Oh, I think life can get better."
"How's that." Jane asked quizzically.
Teresa took a deep breath, "There's something I need to tell you." she said as she laid her hand on her stomach.
Jane looked down and back up at Teresa with a huge smile on his face. "No, you're…you're kidding me."
"I'm not kidding." she said.
"You are?" he said looking down at her stomach again.
"I am." she said with a big smile on her face.
They both started laughing and hugging, remembering this same exact conversation on their wedding day.
Teresa pulled back from Jane and she could see how happy he was. "You ready for two kids under two?" she asked.
"Absolutely! And you were right, life can get better. It just did." he said, as he leaned back in and gave Teresa a longer, lingering kiss.
