AN: I know some people have wanted longer chapters, so here you go! Thanks again for following this story. There are two chapters left after this, so we're almost at the end.
Also, in this story we're going to ignore the fact that gun silencers (called suppressors in real life) don't actually silence gunshots, seeing as the show also ignored this minute detail.
Lisbon ends her call with Jane then presses the second number on speed dial. While the phone rings, she turns on the SUV's sirens and swerves around a truck.
"Cho."
Lisbon wastes no time with niceties. "Rebecca Anderson shot Bosco and his team this morning in his office. Jane overheard because he bugged the room the last time he was at the CBI. He already called in an ambulance. It only happened a few minutes ago, so I need you to track Rebecca down – she may not have been able to leave the CBI yet. But approach her with caution – you need to assume she's armed and dangerous. Take Van Pelt with you. Tell Rigsby to get over to Bosco's office and do what he can until the ambulance gets there."
"We're on it."
Lisbon hears shuffling in the background.
"I'm fifteen minutes out, but I'll get there as soon as I can."
"We got this, Boss. Don't worry."
And Cho ends the call.
Cho gestures to Rigsby and Van Pelt before Lisbon has finished her explanation, and they wordlessly gather around Van Pelt's computer.
He hangs up. "We need access to the building's security cameras. We're looking for Rebecca Anderson."
Van Pelt doesn't question him as she taps furiously on her keyboard. Seconds later, they are staring at live feeds from several security cameras. "Focus on the cameras in remote parts of the building where she can get out unnoticed."
Van Pelt immediately narrows down the search to four cameras, and Rigsby spots Rebecca a second later. "There," he says, pointing. "South exit."
Van Pelt raises her eyebrows at Cho, who is removing his gun from its holster. "Cho, what's going on?"
"Jane has ears on Bosco's office, and he just heard Rebecca Anderson shoot Bosco and his teammates."
"My god," says Van Pelt.
Rigsby swears. "Silencer?"
"Must have had one," Cho agrees.
Cho is already heading toward the staircase. "Van Pelt, with me. Rigsby, go to Bosco's office. The paramedics should be here soon." They follow him, and Rigsby heads up the stairs, taking them three at a time, while Cho and Van Pelt run down.
"Should we put the building on lockdown?" asks Van Pelt.
"Rebecca doesn't know we're looking for her. Putting the building on lockdown will show our hand. I don't want to do that, especially if she has an accomplice waiting in the wings to help if something goes wrong."
They hurdle down the last few steps, clearing the landing, and burst through the door. Guns raised, they sprint through the bowels of the back of the CBI, moving through half-lit corridors.
The sound of clicking heels echoes back to them, and they share a glance. Van Pelt nods, and they speed up simultaneously. They turn one last corner and blast through the door to the outside, where the Sacramento heat is already oppressive despite the early hour.
A short, stubby profile is walking away from them down the parking lot.
"Rebecca Anderson!" shouts Cho. When they get within distance, he slows down, as does Van Pelt. Rebecca freezes. "Hands where I can see them."
"Drop the purse!" adds Van Pelt, sweeping out to the side.
Rebecca doesn't move.
"Now!" says Cho. "Hands where I can see them!"
Rebecca drops her purse and pivots.
"Agent Cho!" she sputters. "Whatever is the matter?"
"Hands on your head," says Cho.
"Agent Cho?" repeats Rebecca, her eyebrows skyrocketing into her short haircut. "Am I being arrested? On what charges?"
"You know very well," Van Pelt says, and Cho thinks it almost sounds like a growl.
Rebecca stares at them for a second before she smiles. "Yes," she says, raising her hands to her head. "Yes, I do."
Cho steps forward and moves quickly to cuff her, and once he does, Van Pelt grabs the discarded purse. "Van Pelt," Cho says gruffly, pushing Rebecca back to the door. "Put the building on lockdown."
Cho recites Rebecca's Miranda rights and brings her to the team's usual interrogation room, knowing that Lisbon will want Rebecca supervised but out of the way when the paramedics arrive and the scene is processed. He hears sirens as soon as he closes the door and spares a second to hope they've made it in time to save the team.
Cho indicates for Rebecca to sit. She does, but he remains standing. "Why'd you do it?" he asks, leaning against the wall. He crosses his arms across his chest.
Rebecca just stares at him, one corner of her mouth curled upward.
"Does this have to do with Red John?"
Rebecca doesn't answer, but her smile grows wider.
"I'll take that as a yes," says Cho. "Did Bosco find something that could lead him to Red John?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" she says, and there's a sour sweetness to the lilt of her voice.
Cho has to restrain himself from rolling his eyes.
A few minutes pass, and Rebecca's smile finally disappears. "How did you know it was me so quickly?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" parrots Cho.
Rigsby pushes open the door at that moment, sparing one glance for the cuffs around Rebecca's hands and ankles before he turns to Cho. "Paramedics just got here," he says. "You're team leader until Lisbon arrives. You should be at the scene. I'll watch her."
"Thanks," Cho says, and Rigsby nods.
Cho takes the stairs again, this time up instead of down, and hesitates a moment before opening the door to the main hallway. He takes a breath, composing himself, and then moves forward.
The hallway and office are bustling, paramedics and uniforms swarming around the scene like bees around a hive. Cho immediately spots Minelli and moves toward him, and they watch two paramedics hoist Bosco onto a stretcher.
Lisbon appears in the hallway, the sound of her heels echoing behind her as she runs. Cho watches her nearly skid to a halt and then step to the side, looking on as a paramedic wheels Bosco out of the office and past them down the hall. Lisbon's face is pallid, almost ghostly, and she ducks inside the office. Cho watches as she leans on the bookshelf for support.
After about a minute, Lisbon exits the office and heads toward Cho and Minelli, and Cho fills them in on what he's learned.
"Rebecca is one of Red John's people," he says.
This doesn't seem to surprise Lisbon, though it does Minelli. "Did Bosco and his team find something on him then? Did they catch a break?" he asks.
"No idea," says Cho honestly.
Minelli lets out a deep breath. "Lisbon, I can't assign the case to anyone else. No other team is nearly as qualified. That means I want you on Bosco's case as well."
"And I need to be on it," responds Lisbon.
They all look to the office, where the paramedics are working on the two remaining members of Bosco's team with much less urgency. Cho swears under his breath.
"We need to start processing the scene," says Lisbon, and Cho knows she's already mentally switched over to homicide detective. "The paramedics can't do anything more, so I want them out before they start contaminating evidence. We also need to get Jane here – I want him to help question Rebecca."
"Where is Jane?" asks Cho.
"He's fine – he's at his hotel room. I need to head over to pick him up now. I don't want him by himself with everything that's happened the past few weeks. Cho, could you take lead on processing the scene? Don't let anyone in apart from you, Rigsby, and Van Pelt."
"You got it, Boss," says Cho. He treads carefully with his next question. "Bosco had a pulse?"
"It was weak, but it was there," says Minelli. A wave of exhaustion seems to overtake him. "I need to report to my boss's boss," he says. "First Jane, and now three more of our own..." He steps back, looking haunted, and heads down the hall.
Cho reaches out to touch Lisbon's elbow. "You should go to the hospital. Be there when Bosco wakes up."
"I can't do anything for him at the hospital," she says. "He needs me here. I'm useful here."
They hold each other's gaze for a few seconds before Cho nods, relenting. "We'll get him, Lisbon."
Lisbon doesn't respond to this. "I'll be back as soon as I can," she says instead, and disappears down the hallway.
The door, its paint peeling to reveal several layers of different colors underneath, opens before Lisbon can knock, and she slips inside. Jane looks shaken, but his expression changes an instant later, replaced by his neutral, unreadable mask. She vaguely registers that he is wearing a vest but no sling. She knows better than to hope he has regained use of his arm since they last saw each other, but at the very least she hopes this is a good sign.
"Bosco survived?" asks Jane.
"He's alive," confirms Lisbon. "For the moment, at least."
"Don't you want to be at the hospital?" The words appear to be difficult for him to say, and it surprises Lisbon all over again that Jane is capable of showing human emotions like jealousy.
"Not particularly," says Lisbon. "His wife will be by his side, and she won't want me there. Hell, it's difficult for me to want to be there, considering how Bosco has treated me recently." Lisbon squares her shoulders. "I'll go to see him," she says. "Just not right away."
Jane nods in understanding.
"What did you hear?" Lisbon asks. "How did you know it was Rebecca?"
"Bosco and his team had just arrived. They were starting to go over notes on the Red John case – and shocker, really, but they've made no progress since it was handed over to them." He begins to tap his index finger against his leg nervously. "There was a knock, and Bosco greeted Rebecca by name. She must have hesitated because he asked if she was okay. She said that she was. Then I heard the bodies fall, and after, she said, 'Red John says hi.' I wrote a transcript of the conversation for you." He reaches into his vest pocket and pulls out a sheet of paper.
Lisbon scans it and nods. "And you were listening after that as well?" asks Lisbon.
"Obviously. Until someone found the bug, that is. I'm guessing that was you?"
Lisbon reaches into her pocket and pulls out the small transmitting device, which she'd crushed in her hand upon swiping it from the bookshelf.
"That's borderline obstruction of justice, Lisbon."
She groans. "Don't remind me."
He takes a step forward. "Thank you," he whispers.
"Don't make me do it again." She sighs, contemplating. "Our plan backfired," she whispers. "There's no way for us to keep our distance now. Not after this."
"It's one of Red John's more drastic moves," Jane admits grudgingly. "I certainly didn't anticipate it."
"That makes two of us," Lisbon says, stepping back. But she catches a glimpse of his eyes, and they're wild. She's only ever seen him like this one time before – after she'd nearly been shot by Hardy. So she inches forward, stretching up to kiss the corner of his mouth.
Jane takes a shaky breath.
Lisbon steps back and gestures to the door. "Let's go – I want you there when I interview Rebecca."
She makes to open the door, but Jane reaches out to block her. "We should…we should talk about what this means for us. At some point."
Lisbon hesitates, her hand on the doorknob. "Yes," she says, avoiding his gaze. "When the smoke clears."
Jane nods in agreement, moving away from the door. Lisbon opens it, and he falls into step beside her.