Chapter 17
Perpetual thanks to LouiseKurylo for always reviewing, discussions, criticism and insight is always helpful to read. Hope everyone enjoys this one as well.
The quote elaborates about the part of the episode where these insights start.
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Season 2 Episode 6
"My name is Theodore Luscom. I'm a citizen of Free California. The so-called Federal and State authorities you work for, are not legitimate. Therefore, I do not recognise your right to arrest or question me."
Today could be the day I get caught. Though I'm not much worried of the consequences, Lisbon is well-equipped to handle it though she'll be quite unhappy. I do not regret doing it. Well, I hope the moment will flow as I wish when it comes. For now, I want to play with this Mr. Theodore Luscom who still willingly stays in the days of yore and conspiracy. Lisbon advises him to ignore my teasing mockery though. I will let it slide hoping she lets slide what is to come later in the day.
"Lisbon?" "Hey, Bosco, what's up?" Lisbon is all amiable. "You're not gonna like what I'm about to do but you're gonna have to deal with it." Strides in Bosco on a mission. "What?", asks Lisbon in confusion. Jane greets Bosco, nonchalant. "Jane, You're under arrest."
I try the wide blue-eyed boy in wonder look but it doesn't stop the cuffs from being slapped on. I hate 'em. Minelli and Bosco are trying to ram in 'points' and 'felonies' saying this is more serious than what I might think. It is just some listening in, people do it at cafes, in homes, practically everywhere! What's the big deal? Besides it wasn't even a subtle way of extracting information… There were a dozen other paths, all worse than this one and it's not really my fault that Bosco isn't ready to share anything! It's the tired angry exhaustion in Lisbon's voice that gets to me, she's reminding that we had a contract earlier this year, that I wouldn't create more messes for her to handle and this is another fine one. Chastised, I hasten to declare her deniability and it is only her I tell that this was a transparent desperate attempt to glean more of the Red John file. I had a hope that Lisbon wouldn't have much to handle and I could keep her blasé but Minelli wants to make this a teaching moment and Bosco is just plain mad enough to kick me out of the unit. Well, I'm not going just because he said so!
"Charge me.", declares Jane.
Lisbon thinks theirs is an exaggerated reaction. I agree, they're both doing this for different reasons and I provoked them more with my words. It was thoughtless, Bosco poked me, I have my pride and before I knew it, the situation snow-balled. A regrettable turn of events only because I feel bad for Lisbon. Everything else, I can handle. But one thing I can not do is take any of it back. Bosco will not see me bend or dance. Not him.
Boo asks, "What you in for?" "Me? Oh, uh, eavesdropping on a state agent. You?" Returns Jane. "They say I raped and murdered a guy, stabbed him to death. But it's not true." "Oh that's good." Nods Jane. "We had consensual sex and then I stabbed him to death." Throws Boo.
I know fear can't make itself known in this place but it's there in the placating expression on my face. Maybe I spoke too hastily in Bosco's office but it's definitely too late for take backs. Lisbon, as always, is right, I should sometimes consider gravitas to adapt when the situation calls for it. The catcalls as the guard takes me to my cell along with false assurances, dismantles the pride I had possessed in front of Bosco. I couldn't even grab onto my cloth of dignity in the name of dear life… Instead of wallowing in regret, I sally forth, step back, see from a distance and try to get to know my new cellmate.
"Some people just don't have that facility. I'm sure your father loved you in his own way. He just didn't have the tools to express that love." Reasons Jane. "You know what, man? I really appreciate you listening to me, man…" says Boo with a thick throat.
This system of institutional dehumanisation that is a prison, it had made me forget that the people here are close to human, as well. They might be other than the kind of people I helped put behind bars along with Lisbon and the team, not the same kind of monsters, some, maybe not monsters at all. There are complex traumas, tics, nuances to them, always a way towards calm, control. Maybe the adjacent policing had me more worried about the people in a prison. Boo is as easy as reading the people coming to a circus show. This shall be a piece of taffy.
"Well then you'll be fine. Besides they got real excellent medical facilities here.", mumbles Boo.
He means better than the hood he grew up in. Oh Lord, another sleepless night when I actually possessed a will to sleep! Thought I would have a couple of hours nap at least but it's not to be. I try to go to a comforting mind palace. The picture on my closed eyelids is lovely. There is the gentle glow of lamps, papers rustle in service, a pen scratches on one intermittently, there is stale coffee in the air and receding, underneath every other metallic, leathery smell is the presence of vanilla. Red brick lined ivory, commendations on the wall, some old coffee mugs in unexpected places, a plant vibrant and better cared for than thought- then there is a jingle of a cross. I pretend I'm on the Blood red couch, head laid down, content.
"You are the shot caller in here. You come from the Bay Area, you like to sniff some kind of glue or solvent to get high. You wish you could quit because you think it makes you look weak in front of your peers, is that right?" Jane cautiously deconstructs.
I see the light now. This is a place perhaps just a bit rougher and wilder than the civilised society I might know but the people are the same, everywhere. I'm confident that if I turn the leader here, I can get the others to leave me alone. Self-preservation is sometimes a good instinct to cultivate, very handy in such situations… As I call the leader out, everyone else agrees with my cap resoundingly and it fills me with calm. The faded leather chair famous for it's back-support, smiles, empty.
"Oh now, where's the fun in that for me? Can't you bring Gerber here?" Wonders Jane on the line with Cho.
Cho would be the first person who would be easily persuaded to meet me, he's the only one I need for now. I can hear Cho taking a beat to answer that, thinking if I'm in my right mind, then proceeding to bypass this thought because he's always asking himself that. It's amusing but only slightly; I definitely need more entertainment. Roddy Gerber seemed particularly homophobic, served in some sort of armed forces, very easy to rile up. The rest is on Rigsby but it can all be very easily managed. Haven't had a chance to poke people yet what with walls and stuff keeping me in, it's irksome, this is a welcome opportunity for some fun…
"Looks like cranberry." Moans Jane. "They didn't have any blueberry, What's up?." Mutters Lisbon.
"Roddy Gerber's innocent", whispers Jane.
To be honest, there's a little reluctance that I feel while calling Lisbon finally and asking her to visit me. I had to use my absolutely needly wheedly little voice right at first word. I'm positive she melted at that, at least, I think. I do a one line conversation with Gerber Senior and tuck that in. Lisbon is annoyed, vexed, every synonym of frustrated, basically. It's a gleeful sight. When she gets serious, I go to it as well. She can't keep me here, away from solving cases just for a teachable moment! It's unfair, irritating too. She catches me off-guard, plucking a thought out of my head that Bosco is willing to do anything for her. I will myself to be calm and look at Honest Lisbon which is why her slight deception falls through easily. But I am not sure what is true and what's a lie- is it true that she doesn't like him 'that' way or did she mean a hidden reason, something else? There's lot's of sarcasm and air-puffery but something flits out of sight, the thing she's not ready to admit- that I am certain of. Interesting, a code to figure out later. Meanwhile, Lisbon gives her speech on morality, sadly, it suits her well and I would listen to it from no body but her. She's really fond of boundaries, huh… Prison walls, meh… what I tell her is true, they're merely walls in minds, better if it manages to get a rise out of her. This is what I was missing!
"Patrick Jane, we know you're in there. Come out with your hands up." Shouts an officer on a megaphone.
"Uh, yes, it's me they are after, not you…" Gloats Jane.
Yes everything is well in it's place, neat and tidy. It was beautifully done if I may say so myself… I have proved that walls are only in our minds and now I can go in peace. Lisbon will come through, I'm sure. Until then, it's cards, cellies and the shower rooms that are petri dishes. I have no qualms because there's Sandrine in cuffs, a sight that's as good a sustenance as any; mine don't bother me so.
"Right, Bosco's so in love with me he'll do whatever I say", scoffs Lisbon.
"Right, he does love you, how could he not? But he's not the type to bend his principles over love, so I figure it's something concrete. You must have something on him." "You think?" Gives away Lisbon.
And she still denies it, well she's easy to love, the poor victim wouldn't even know he has fallen until it's too late! Tabling that uneasy feeling aside, I suppose it was hasty to assume he would simply do what she asked. Principles and rules, he would bend barely once in a lifetime, no more. Gotcha! Lisbon, she's a pleasurable open book, so charming that I can't help but be a bit transfixed while reading her face. I can't believe she risked her career, a monumental part of her identity, to rescue li'l ole me from jail! I can fathom no reason for it! Is it merely her generosity that she might extend to any of her family- the unit she works with everyday? Or did I make her feel that guilty for having a power that might save me so she decided to get me out in embarrassment? I can't figure it out. It's been frustrating…Well she expects me to change my habits or behaviour on account of her sacrifice and that's simply impossible! I am who I am and it's a thoughtfully cultivated journey, I can't really change direction and I tell her precisely that. Her immolation won't be forgotten though it doesn't need to be admitted. I wshall show her instead when the opening comes. I laugh at her sportive threat of a joke, those emeralds twinkle wonderfully in the warm lamp light, gold jingles, papers rustle. The Red couch in the cabin laughs silently at me. Danger seems miles away but at the same time, like it has already engulfed me. I brush it away, feigning ignorance from the existence of that well….