Disclaimer: I own nothing. If I did, we'd have an EPIC Mentalist Valentine's Day episode, where Jane and Lisbon would share dinner together as "just friends", but we'd all know it was something more.

Shout-Outs: MerriWyllow (for reviewing chapter 1) and Lothlorien Aeterna, Nerwen Aldarion, & Marcia Santos for reviewing chapter 5.

Author's Note:

Sorry the post is a day late. No excuse really, yesterday was just a VERY tiring experience for me. I cried my tears, had my pity party, it's over with and behind me now. Moving on, I wish I could say this is my Valentine to you but I can't, because it isn't really romantic or anything. We do find out who the killer is though.

For Nerwen Aldarion, who let me have a little whine and a moan on Twitter last night. Thank you.

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Chapter 6

"Did you get any sleep at all last night?" Teresa asked as she poured her husband a cup of Earl Grey tea.

Patrick started in on his omelet and avoided her gaze. "What makes you think I didn't get any sleep last night?"

"You tossed and turned most night, just like you used to when you were with the CBI and you were working on a particularly difficult case," she answered, getting herself some coffee and joining him at the island.

"Oh," he put his fork down. "I hope I didn't keep you up."

Teresa shook her head. "I only woke up once," she assured him. "What about you though? Did all that tossing and turning finally give you a break in the case?"

He sighed. "Not really. I do think I need to talk to Mildred Bennett though. She's one of the only people that I haven't talked to this whole time."

"So, go and talk to her then."

"We have a ton of housework to do though," Patrick said.

"You and I both know that you won't be good for anything if you don't go and talk to her right now," Teresa replied. "Come on and get ready, the chores will wait until we get back."

Patrick looked a little surprised. "You're going to come with me?"

"Well, if you don't mind. . ."

"No, of course not!" Patrick said, a teasing look spreading over his handsome features. "I just thought you might want to stay around here and get a jump start on the chores."

"Forget it, Mr. Jane! When we got married, we both agreed that we'd share the workload around the house. You're not ever going to get out of helping me with them."

"What if I promised to do my share of the work when I got home?" Patrick asked, taking her hand and leading her up the stairs to their bedroom so they could get changed out of their pajamas.

"Tempting," Teresa answered with a smirk. "But I'd really rather come with you this morning."

"If that's what you really want then feel free to come with me," he replied as he pulled his t-shirt off and threw it in their laundry basket. "As much as I need to talk to Mrs. Bennett, I have a feeling this visit is just going to be another dead end. She isn't coming out of her daughter's bedroom for anything or anybody."

"Well, maybe I can help you persuade her to come out," Teresa suggested. "Sometimes a woman needs another woman to talk to."

"I really do hope so," Patrick replied as he finished buttoning his shirt. "Because if we don't get some answers soon, then we might as well just call this a cold case."

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"You're back again?" Bruce asked, rising to meet Patrick and Teresa as they came up the front porch steps.

"Back again," Patrick answered. "I really need to talk to your wife; she's the only person that we haven't questioned yet. I'm hoping that if I talk to her, she'll be able to help me solve the case."

"You can try, but I don't think it'll do any good. She's still hiding behind locked doors 24 hours a day," Bruce told them.

"Maybe if she won't listen to you then I can convince her to talk to us," Teresa said.

Bruce put down the pen and notebook he had been writing down notes in. "If it's going to help anything, then I guess it wouldn't hurt to try and get her out of the room. I just want you to find out who killed Pricilla. I don't feel right burying her"

"I know," Patrick said sympathetically. "And I'm going to catch the person who did this to your daughter."

"I know," Bruce answered as he led them into the bed & breakfast. "I did some research on you after you left yesterday, and you're the best. When you worked for that CBI place in Sacramento your unit had the record closing cases. I have faith that if anybody can find out who killed my daughter, it's you."

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"Please open up Mil," Bruce begged as he pounded on the door a tenth time. "The Janes really need to talk to you about Pricilla."

He paused for a beat before glancing at Patrick and Teresa with a disheartened expression on his face when the door still stayed closed.

"Try again," Patrick encouraged.

Bruce sighed and tapped the door. "Mil? Will you please come out for just a couple of minutes?"

"No!" Mildred answered after a few seconds. "I don't want to see anybody. Go away Bruce! Just go away and leave me alone!"

"Mrs. Bennett?" Teresa said, stepping up to the door. "It's Teresa Jane, my husband is helping the police investigate your daughter's murder and he needs to ask you a few questions. Can't you help him out by talking to him?"

"I just wish you'd leave me alone, Mrs. Jane!" Mildred replied through a loud sniff. "I don't know anything!"

"Come on Mrs. Bennett," Teresa coaxed gently. "Do you really want your daughter's killer to walk away scot free?"

"If you don't go away right now I'm going to call the police and have you arrested for trespassing!" Mildred answered.

"Mildred, don't be ridiculous!" Bruce said. "They're not trespassing! I gave them permission to be here! And besides, Mr. Jane's working with the police to find out who killed our daughter. They're not going to arrest him for doing something he's supposed to be doing—"

"I could just pick the lock and force her to talk to me," Patrick whispered to Bruce.

Bruce hesitated for a moment as he considered the suggestion, and then he shook his head. "You know I want to find Pricilla's killer, but forcing my wife to talk to you might only make matters worse. Why don't you go home and if I can get her to come out then I'll bring her to see you right away."

"I guess that's better than nothing," Teresa answered.

"It is better than nothing," Patrick agreed, ignoring his wife's warning look.

"We'll be home all afternoon doing housework, so you can stop by whenever you manage to get her out of the bedroom," Teresa added.

Bruce nodded. "Thank you. You don't know how much your help means to me—"

"Don't thank me yet," Patrick interjected as he took Teresa's hand. "I'm still looking for Pricilla's killer, and so far I haven't gotten anywhere."

"But you're trying," Bruce told him. "And that truly means a lot to me. Go on now; I'll try my best to make Mildred see reason."

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Bruce showed up at their house later that afternoon, with a sober expression on his face, his eyes rimmed with red.

"Is everything alright? Where's Mildred, did you convince her to come out of Pricilla's bedroom" Patrick asked, leaning the broom that he had been using to sweep the porch up against the porch and approaching the distraught looking man.

Wordlessly, Bruce opened his hand and revealed a simple engagement ring resting in the palm of it.

TBC. . .

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Author's Note II:

Yeah, you know what I'm going to say. Feel free to ask questions or leave a review, I'd love to hear your thoughts. And have a fabulous Valentine's Day, with or WITHOUT a man!

Love,

Holly, 2/14/2012_