(Disclaimer: Most characters are part of The Mentalist universe)

THE MENTALIST

Puzzled

Chapter 1

September, 2004

(Their Second Case Together)

For Patrick Jane, giving a lecture on Using Observational Skills at an Ivy League University is one of the perks of being extremely... well, observant.

He almost had a boy-like wonder as he strolled through Sacramento University's lush greenery, winding bike paths and ivy-strewn Gothic buildings. Although he was not one to be cordial with people, he was looking forward to discussing his craft to eager young minds in hopes of creating the next generation of brilliant minds.

As he neared the lecture hall, however, he soon realized this would not be a regular lecture day. The usual quiet, laid-back campus appeared different, and not in a good way.

Red lights and voices squawking from speakers could be heard as an array of different law enforcers were parked all around and police officers mulled about. Yellow crime scene tape closed off a large area of green grass in the quad. Several students watched the police presence, but the numbers were sparse due to the early morning time.

Obviously, something terrible had occurred on campus.

Crime scene, Jane concluded, as a smile formed on his lips and his steps quickened.

Jane had been in hot pursuit of Red John, but ever since he had been foisted on Agent Teresa Lisbon by Director Minelli, Jane had also become intrigue with solving cases. He enjoyed using his unconventional methods with victims and suspects alike, much to the detriment of Lisbon.

So his curiosity was peaked when he saw the familiar crime scene tape surrounding a small grassy area on campus.

"Sorry, Sir," one of the police officers warned, blocking Jane as he walked up, "but we have an ongoing investigation here and you are not authorized beyond this point."

Jane looked neither surprised nor perturbed as he nonchalantly displayed his University badge for the officer to see.

"I completely understand," Jane responded agreeably, "so being that you don't need me to identify the body after all, kindly inform the lead investigator that I had dropped by. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll just be on my way..."

He turned with a slight smile, expecting to be cajoled back.

"Professor, hold on! " the officer contritely said, calling him back," please...I hadn't realize you had been expected!"

The young officer helpfully lifted the yellow crime tape so that Jane could hitch underneath, "you'll find the agent in charge over there," he gestured to the back of a female, who was dressed in a feminine gray pants suit.

Welllll, would you look at who that is," Jane thought with glee at the sight of the familiar form.

Teresa Lisbon was discussing the crime scene with Agent Cho, a dead body positioned down near their feet. Rigsby and Van Pelt were at the edge of the crime scene, questioning potential witnesses as police officers were scattered about to keep looky-loos from getting closer.

Quietly approaching Lisbon and Cho, Jane kept himself within listening distance as Cho, in his usual deadpanned manner, was updating Lisbon regarding the investigation.

"The victim is Professor Martin, age 58," Cho informed Lisbon who seemingly had also just arrived, "evidently the professor was taking a shortcut across campus to get to his office when he was struck lightly from behind. "

Lisbon looked puzzled at one part of Cho's explanation, "Did you say struck lightly?"

Cho nodded, "There appears to be a very thin, faint bruise at the back of his neck," he explained, "From the position of the body, my guess is that Martin was hit from behind, and fell forward, causing him to slam his head on the dried grass area here, killing him instantly. "

"Hmmm..." Lisbon said, looking about the grass, " And no murder weapon was found nearby?"

"None," Cho confirmed, "The murder didn't seem to be pre-meditated and it wasn't a robbery, either, because his ID and money were still in his wallet."

"Okay," Lisbon acknowledged, "so what we need to do next is to determine-..."

"...the type of weapon he was hit with," Jane finished the sentence as he walked up casually to Lisbon and Cho.

At the sound of his voice, Lisbon felt a trill going down her spine as she instantly turned around.

Even though Minelli had insisted that Jane be allowed to follow her on any investigation, she had purposely not called him for this case. After all, her supervisor didn't say Jane had be an consultant on ALL her investigations. She was certainly capable of solving cases on her own; she figured she would call him on the next case. Or not. Perhaps the one after that.

So despite her initial reaction, her mind told her that annoyingly he was here.

"Jane," she stated evenly, "I'm surprise to see you here."

"Agent Lisbon," he responded, with a bit of snark, "If I recall correctly, your supervisor had clearly instructed you to allow me to accompany you on your cases...therefore, you weren't suppose to be surprise to see me here."

She folded her arms, "I told Director Minelli that I would allow you to consult on my cases, but I didn't say it would be EVERY case. "

"So your excuse for not letting me solve this case is...semantics?" he asked.

As pompous as ever, Lisbon thought, with a slightly irked expression.

"How did you even know about this case? Who told you?" she asked, thinking that later, she would have that person's head.

"No one," he explained, "I hadn't expected to come across a murder today, although tomorrow is opened on my schedule, " he smirked, "Actually, I'm here by invitation of the University to deliver a mind-opening lecture to promising young students ."

"Oh, lucky them," Lisbon wryly responded, "so, what will be the topic of your lecture: How to accomplish goals while lounging on a couch?"

He gave her that slow smile that showed her comment didn't bother him, but in fact, it entertained him.

"Don't forget to mention the enjoyment of the tea while on aforementioned sofa," he told her, "You know, Lisbon, I must admit that I enjoy it when you show a little humor...with emphasis on little."

"Glad to hear that," she told him, "and now, you should be on your way. After all, I wouldn't want to be the one to keep you from opening promising young minds."

"I'm just on campus today for preliminary work, "he explained, "it's tomorrow that I'll be opening their minds."

Cho had been watching Jane and Lisbon clashing back and forth, as usual.

"Anyone care to open their minds to this murder?" he straight-faced.

Lisbon had forgotten Cho was even here. She cleared her throat.

"Yes, of course, Agent Cho," she assured him with professionalism, "Sorry. I was just trying to figure out why Jane is here. Not here at the university, but here; with us at the crime scene."

"I've come to identify the body," Jane plainly said.

"Identify him? You don't even know him," Lisbon told him.

Jane stared down at the victim, a middle aged man sprawled on the grass outside of his own office, his body lying face down. The air around them smelled of death.

Jane faced Lisbon.

"That's Professor Martin," he announced confidently.

Once again he said something he had no knowledge of.

"Hey, wait, a minute..." Lisbon put her hands on her hips, "You couldn't have recognized this man, especially since he is faced down on the ground."

"Then how did I know his name?" he challenged, a playful expression on his face.

Realization hit her.

"You heard Cho say his name earlier!" she pointedly said.

"Did not!" Jane sounded like a petulant child, "I know his name fair and square!"

"Alright, then, what is his FIRST name?" she quizzed him.

Looking down again at the cold body on the ground, Jane remembered bumping into the professor once at a previous seminar here on campus. Luckily, Jane was very good with remembering small details.

He looked causally back at Lisbon's upturned face.

"Benjamin. Benjamin Martin."

Her expression fell, "Oh."

How does he always get away with these things, she wondered.

She shrugged as if it didn't matter. Enough of this. She had a murder investigation to figure out and he was, once again, a roadblock to that. Lisbon gestured towards an area a distance away from the body.

"Just...stand over there, Jane, "she commanded, more than suggested, "off to one side, so that I can finish up processing the crime scene."

Surprisingly he cooperated, "Alright, I'll be over there if you need me."

He walked 30 feet away. but was it still within the boundaries of the crime scene. He could feel Lisbon's eyes on his back the entire way. When he stopped at last, he turned and looked directly at her. She blinked uncomfortably, embarrassed that he found her staring at her.

She really couldn't understand why she always had a visceral reaction to Jane. The man was brilliant, sure, but he was smug and stubborn as well.

He waved to her, "See? I'm over here," he announced loudly, as he stood firmly at his spot.

"So stay over there," she said loudly back.

"I could stay over there," he volunteered, pointing back towards her and the body.

"No, not here, there!" Lisbon commanded, pointing to his spot.

"Right," Jane said, "there, not here."

"That's NOT what I said!" Lisbon insisted, exasperated, "or meant!"

Cho, who had been standing next to Lisbon, spoke out.

"Hey Boss, you want to take a look at the victim's neck wound or do you plan to continue playing the verbal version of Twister instead?" he asked.

Jane is so infuriating!

"Uh, sure, I'll take a closer look..." recovered Lisbon. She gave Jane a final look of disdain before she squatted down to look at the wound.

Meanwhile Jane was already bored. He looked about in his new locale.

And he soon became fascinated with the area of grass nearby.

He noted that five feet away from him, the grass seemed to be indented at one particular spot. He went over and studied the spot. It seemed to be irregularly flat. And there seemed to be another flat spot a little ways up. He walked roughly 35 feet in an imaginary straight line and noticed a similar indentation. So now there were two flattened spots, each roughly two feet in diameter all around.

Interesting, thought Jane, as he continually walked back and forth between the two indented spots.

"Jane, what the hell are you doing?"

He looked up to see that Lisbon had noiselessly approached him. She had a scowl on her face.

"I'm quietly staying over here, not over there," he replied, "so what are YOU doing here?"

"From where I stood, I saw you walking back and forth like a guard securing Buckingham Palace," Lisbon complained, "and I find that very distracting."

"Oh? I'm distracting to you, am I?" he teasingly asked her as he lifted his eyebrows suggestively.

Although she felt the beginnings of some flutterings, she forced herself to ignore his last statement, "Do you think you can just stand here in one spot without moving?"

"I can, Teresa..." Jane purposely used her first name to get her attention.

The way he said her name made her cheeks feel warm. She needed to stop all these palpable reactions to him. Plus he was impeding her investigation.

"Then do it; don't move so I can get back to MY job," she said, sounding harsher than she wanted to.

"But, Lisbon," he said, calling her back. He pointed to the newly made marks in the grass " ... I found something interesting you should see."

He indicated the two indented round marks, roughly made 35 feet apart.

She looked, "I see them. And?"

"Don't you find these marks unusual?" he asked her.

"Not really," Lisbon shrugged, "These marks were probably made earlier by the police and CBI agents."

Jane shook his head, "No, I don't think so. Everyone working the crime scene had entered from the east side, where all the vehicles are parked. But the footsteps leading to these marks were made from the west side," he declared, "so why were random people standing in the middle of the grass here?"

"There could be many reasons how these marks came about," Lisbon stated, uninterested.

"Really? Many reasons? " he challenged, "Name one."

There he goes, being all-knowing again. She needed to come up with an answer fast.

"Oh, I don't know...like...like maybe a person was standing in this flattened spot ...waiting for someone else to come," she suggested haphazardly.

Jane seemed to measure her response carefully.

"Waiting for someone..." he mumbled to himself, "Lisbon,...that's not bad, not bad at all..." he reasoned, "although the spot is too widespread for a person to be just merely standing..."

He then walked, to the other flattened spot, "Yes...it's more than standing and waiting ..it's like the person here skidded or shuffled on the grass a bit."

"Why would a person want to skid in the middle of a grassy field?" Lisbon questioned.

"Not sure," Jane admitted, "but I bet it was made by two different people because one of the indentations seemed bigger and flatter than the other, as if one carried more weight than the other... Wait...maybe they weren't waiting for someone..."

As usual, Lisbon had a puzzled look. Jane thought she looked adorable with that expression.

"Not waiting for someone?" Lisbon questioned, "then what? You think they were waiting for some-thing...like a bus?"

"There are no bus lines coming through the middle of the grass here, Lisbon." he said, stating the obvious.

She looked exasperated, "I didn't literally mean a bus, Jane! Besides, why would they be standing so far apart waiting for something?"

"Another excellent question," Jane gave her the credit, "and you're right. The spots are far apart. The two people must have been waiting for something very important."

Lisbon looked at one of the flattened spots, "I see what appears to be a vague footprint here. If it is, then they could have been facing one another as they waited for this special something."

"Really, now..." Jane did a double take at the mark and a pleased look suddenly appeared on his face.

He had figured it out.

"Lisbon, you are a genius!"

"I am?" Lisbon scrunched up her face, "about what?"

"They weren't waiting for someone, nor were they waiting for something," he said with a smile, "they were waiting for...each other!"

She looked at him like he was crazy.

"Why would they ever do that?"

"Because they were taking turns!" he said, "Thank you, Lisbon, you've made it so clear."

Lisbon looked thoroughly exasperated, but she wouldn't give him the pleasure of getting her curiosity up.

"I'm glad I've solved your little flattened-spot mystery for you," she indifferently stated, "but I have other things to do; I have a murder to solve!"

She started to turn away, but what he uttered next gave her pause.

"Believe me, Lisbon, the flattened spots and the murdered professor are inter-related."

She turned back to him.

"Do tell, Jane," Lisbon's tone was amazed yet sarcastic, "because it would certainly save me a whole lot of paperwork if you could tell me who murdered Professor Martin."

The statement was meant to be rhetorical.

But of course to Jane, it wasn't.

"Not only can I tell you who murdered Professor Martin," he responded calmly, "but I think I can also tell you what murder weapon was used as well."

Lisbon couldn't help it.

She dropped her mouth in astonishment.

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.

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(A/N: Btw, Sacramento University is a total creation from my mind)

Hello! Thanks for reading! My first TM posting and I am nervous and excited at the same time!

And yes, I will reveal the answer to the murder in next chapter. But if you know the answer, please PM me instead of revealing it here so as to not spoil it for the other readers!

They say you only get one chance at a first impression, so I hope mine was a good one!

Please review