In Lieu of Retrospection
Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Rating: T
Spoiler: Six months after 2.22 (Red Letter)
A/N: So I'm back from a glorious vacation in NY, which is officially my second favorite city after San Francisco. I loved the break, but missed updating and am posting Part VII as soon as I can. I'm seriously excited about this chapter, because case wise, it was one of my favorites to write and it pushes things forward. I'm quite eager to see what you all think.
Thank you for all the wonderful feedback on the story thus far. I'm glad that everyone liked Part VI so much, because in some ways it's a pivotal point in the story. Thank you to all the anonymous reviewers as well, including Anna and dogeatdog. You guys are the bomb! Grace and Rach, thank you for betaing and inspiring respectively.
xxx
Part VII
Although it's Sunday morning, it feels like an ordinary work day at the CBI. Apparently, the Organized Crimes Unit is in the midst of a very important drug bust, so the entire floor is buzzing with activity.
The Serious Crimes Unit occupies the conference table in the back of the bullpen, a box of donuts and a tray of coffee stand in the middle, while Rigsby goes over the records from the security system company.
"The system records every time someone punches in the code. On Thursday night, the machine recorded one entry at 8:34 pm and another at 8:45 pm." He explains between bites of a chocolate glazed confection.
"That's strange. If the code was punched in less than ten minutes before, wouldn't it be disabled when the second person entered?" Van Pelt theorizes, taking a sip of coffee.
"I thought the same thing, so I double checked with the rep from the company, and he said that there is a code you can punch in to lock the house from the inside. There was a recording of that at 8:35 pm." Rigsby confirms, marking the number on his sheet.
"So if Kyla punched in the first code, it would make sense for her to lock it from the inside. In case someone else came home during her visit, she could escape without the person realizing anyone has been inside the house." Lisbon's gaze falls on Jane as she speaks, mostly because he's sitting directly in her line of vision.
He catches her looking at him and smiles back in acknowledgement, in agreement with her.
"What if she did escape without the person's knowledge? We don't have proof that there was any interaction between her and the second person, at least not through the alarm code."
Cho brainstorms as he scans his copy of the list.
"Oh, but we do, Cho. According to the records, the code was punched in twice at 8:45 pm, confirming that whoever came in next locked it from the inside too, and the next code is punched in at approximately 9:05 pm, which means whoever left at that time, and it was likely Kyla, couldn't have fled without the other person knowing about it."
Jane speaks with a hint of childlike excitement that seems to come out any time they're close enough to cracking a case. Even though all this evidence is circumstantial and doesn't exactly isolate their killer, if they can flush out a timeline from this, it could help them figure out if anyone from Kyla's past had known she was back.
If any of the people with access to the house did know and had not brought it up, it would definitely be suspicious, and since Jeff Cregg had yet to tell the truth about his alibi, Lisbon is banking on him as being the one in the house with Kyla that night, if Kyla came home at all.
Jane's theory about Kyla showing up at home appeared credible the day before, but Lisbon knows that they need more evidence if the DA has any chance of building a case against a politician, especially one as liberal and well liked as Jeff Cregg is in the community.
God knows, Hightower will be on her ass to make sure the case is iron clad. Right now, it's not, and Lisbon frowns at the thought.
Jane must notice it because he presses further, "Also, from what I understand the alarm code is activated to control all the doors in the house, which means if Kyla were to flee from another door, the alarm would sound."
"So it's basically impossible for anyone to leave without alerting the other person, huh?" Van Pelt states more than asks.
"Exactly," Jane confirms her thoughts.
"It's still circumstantial, and we have no definite proof that it was Kyla that night." Lisbon interjects.
"Oh c'mon Lisbon. It's obvious from the tape that she'd gone home at some point, and the Velvet Kittens only arrived in Sacramento Thursday morning. Also, isn't it a little suspicious that of the four people who have access to the house, one is lying about his alibi and the other we haven't confirmed?"
"Yes, Jane, it is suspicious, but suspicious isn't what wins cases." Lisbon explains, taking a sip of much needed coffee. "If we're looking at Jeff Cregg for this, it will cause a complete and utter scandal if he's wrongly accused of murdering his daughter, especially if we're basing this on a hypothetical encounter the night before."
"Remember, he also has an alibi for Friday night." Rigsby cuts in. He's just polished off the donut, and Van Pelt, who's sitting besides him, can't help leaning over and brushing the crumbs off his shirt.
Rigsby catches her eye as soon as she does so, and she feels instantly embarrassed. The phone rings on her desk at that exact second, and Van Pelt lets out a breath, relieved to be forced out of the awkward situation.
"Pssht. You think that a room full of snooty, self-absorbed rich people counts as an alibi? Jeff Cregg could have easily slipped out for the hour it would have taken to get to the club, kill his daughter, and get back to the benefit without anyone noticing."
Jane leans back self-assuredly, and Lisbon heaves a deep sigh, knowing that her consultant could very possibly be right. Yet they have no proof unless they question every single person at the benefit, and that task seems almost counterproductive.
They desperately need to speak with the Creggs before making any further claims.
Gathering the papers in front of her, Lisbon prepares to dispense tasks when Van Pelt hangs up the phone.
"Boss, they found Seth Beatts. I guess he was lying low because he didn't get very far. They're holding him at a local police station in Lake Tahoe."
"Great work, Van Pelt. Cho, Rigsby, go pick the boy up. Grace, you go talk to Mariel Espejo. Take Jane with you."
The team disperses while Jane takes his time slipping on his jacket, and Lisbon gives him a pointed stare before snagging a glazed donut with sprinkles from the box. "You, behave."
Jane watches her bite into the pastry and smiles impishly, "Yes, boss."
xxx
"Look, it's not what you think. I had nothing to do with this."
From the observation room, Lisbon can't help smirking when Seth Beatts says this as soon as Cho and Rigsby sit down across from him.
"Oh really. So why did you ride away almost as soon as Kyla's body was discovered?" Rigsby asks sternly, while Cho opens the file sitting on the table.
At Rigsby's words, Seth winces noticeably, which instantly makes Lisbon frown. She hadn't expected him to be involved, but even so, it would have been nice if his reaction wasn't so obviously one of discomfort at the mention of Kyla's body.
The anguish is written all over his face, and though she'd like to chalk it up to him being nervous, Lisbon can't. She might not have Jane's keen observation skills, but she's a cop and a damn good one, and her instincts tell her that this kid had nothing to do with the murder.
Releasing an overdue puff of air, she surmises that her boys have it under control and reluctantly leaves the observation room only to run into Jane, who was obviously heading into the room.
"Oh hey, you're back." She didn't expect them to come back so soon, but she is actually grateful that Jane will be present for the interview with Jeff Cregg.
"Yup, how's the boy?"
"He didn't do it," Lisbon shakes her head as they walk towards the break room.
"Well, I did say that," Jane comments, nudging her playfully, and Lisbon chuckles at his competitive nature. "Yes you did, and now that I've seen for myself, I agree. I'm going to have the boys grill him for a bit. Maybe Kyla told him something useful; they were close after all."
"Good idea," Jane concurs, extracting his usual blue teacup from the cupboard as Lisbon changes the filter in the coffee machine.
"How was the interview with Mariel Espejo. Alibi check out?"
"I'll tell you later," Jane says vaguely, and Lisbon stops her task to quirk an eyebrow at him.
"You know I hate when you do that." She mutters disapprovingly before moving him aside to fill the coffee pot with water.
"Do what?" Jane asks innocently.
"Be so ambiguous. Why can't you just answer the question?"
She pours the water into the percolator and turns to Jane again. She catches him looking at her with a wistful sort of expression. "What?"
"Nothing," He shrugs innocently, returning his attention back to the tea.
"Well, why can't you just be direct, huh?"
She can almost predict the second his face changes and his customary grin returns. "Because, what would be the fun in that?" He asks teasingly, before taking a sip from his cup.
Lisbon rolls her eyes, but just as she's about to retort, Van Pelt appears, letting them know that Jeff Cregg has arrived…with his lawyer.
xxx
Jeff Cregg's attorney is a tall, heavy set man with a graying goatee and an emotionless expression.
The moment he introduces himself, Lisbon knows she'll more than likely have to play referee in this case if Jane's unimpressed and slightly annoyed look is any indication.
She looks over her shoulder for a second, and although she doesn't know for sure if her boss is even watching this, she almost feels Hightower's stare boring into her, reminding her yet again how delicate the situation is.
Impulsively Lisbon pokes Jane underneath the table, and he looks at her in surprise. She fixes him with a stern gaze, then turns her attention back to Cregg who seems genuinely apologetic about the whole thing, a deep contrast to his intimidating attorney.
"I hope you understand, Agent Lisbon, that my client is here only as a courtesy to the CBI and his earnest desire to aid the investigation in anyway he can."
A natural surge of defiance bubbles to the surface at the lawyer's condescending tone, but Lisbon pushes it down, as she so often does, and simply nods before stating the obvious.
"How come you are accompanying him then, Mr. Coburn?"
"I'm here to make sure that Assemblyman Cregg does not get harassed by your people." He explains, casting a dubious look in Jane's direction. Jane pretends to be offended for a few moments, before smiling again.
Lisbon opens her mouth to retort, but Jane beats her to it, leaning forward conspiratorially, "Tell me, Mr. Cregg, which one of you decided to name your daughter, Kyla. You or your wife?"
Lisbon shoots Jane a preemptively annoyed look, but he ignores her, watching Cregg's reaction instead. The politician tenses up noticeably, glancing first at his lawyer and then at Jane.
"You don't have to answer that, Mr. Cregg. In fact you don't have to answer any questions these people have."
Jeff seems to contemplate this for a moment, but eventually he just shakes his head. "It's fine Anthony. It was my wife's decision, Mr. Jane. I don't mind admitting that, but what does this have to do with the case?"
"Oh it doesn't." Jane lies, reclining back in his chair with a practiced ease, "I was just curious. Pretty name, that's all."
Lisbon has the greatest urge to roll her eyes, but she settles for poking Jane underneath the table again, a far more discreet but probably fruitless indication of her displeasure.
The lawyer looks at Jane suspiciously for a moment before diverting his attention to Lisbon. Unfortunately, he's not as discreet about his dislike of the consultant's words.
"Look, Agent Lisbon, if this is all-…"
His voice trails off and she scowls.
"No Mr. Coburn, this is not all. We checked the security logs from Thursday night and it appears that at the time that Mr. Cregg was supposedly on his run, a run which no one can confirm by the way, the security code was punched in twice at his home, suggesting that two people entered the residence separately. We have reason to believe that Kyla was one of those people."
"Kyla?" Jeff Cregg manages to choke out and Lisbon's frown deepens.
Either this man is a great actor, which is likely because he's so often in the public eye, or he genuinely didn't know Kyla came home Thursday night. She's inclined to believe the latter, and a quick glance at Jane confirms her story. He seems to be thinking the same thing.
"Yes. Kyla, Mr. Cregg. This of course complicates matters because we cannot confirm your alibi. If you had been the one to see your daughter the night before she was murdered and forgot to mention that, you can see why we needed to speak with you again."
"Agent Lisbon, are you forgetting that my client was at a social function Friday night from 7 pm until he had to leave because he learned of his daughter's murder?"
Lisbon meets Coburn's eye, but before she can speak, Jane does.
"We can place you at the benefit, Mr. Cregg, but there were over a hundred guests that night, and considering the location, it wouldn't have been hard for you to commit the murder. From personal experience, I can attest to the fact that at those social functions, no one pays any attention to anyone other than themselves unless there's gossip involved."
A few emotions flash cross the lawyer's face and Lisbon is certain they mirror her reaction. However, Jeff Cregg looks nothing but a little confused by Jane's suggestion.
"You really think I killed my own daughter?"
Before Jane can answer and do something to further irate the displeased lawyer sitting across from them, Lisbon cuts in, "Mr. Cregg, we're not accusing you of anything…yet."
She glances briefly at the lawyer before speaking again, "Look Mr. Cregg, we understand how hard this situation has been for you, but while your wife has an ironclad alibi for Thursday evening, as do your chief of staff and your housekeeper." At least Lisbon earnestly hopes so, "it's very difficult for us to rule you out as well, because no one can confirm that you were at Granite Regional Park. Therefore, we have no choice but to suspect you."
In interrogations, Lisbon is everything Jane isn't, and he's known that for quite some time now. While he usually has the same approach to all his interviewees, albeit with a few variations depending on to whom he's speaking, Lisbon is a chameleon.
She adopts a different tone, demeanor, and expression in every interrogation, which always seems catered to the person she's questioning. He may be the charmer and the know-it-all, but she's the quiet manipulator, coaxing confessions and information out of people instead of figuring it out through observation like he does.
It garners results almost always, and when Jane watches the varying emotions displayed on Jeff Cregg's thin face, he doesn't add anything to Lisbon's words because he's almost certain the man is about to crack.
That's why the knock on the door can't come at a more inconvenient time. Rigsby pokes his head in eagerly, eyes conveying that he has obtained new information, and Lisbon quietly excuses herself, giving Jane a warning glare before she disappears outside.
Instead of goading the politician, Jane tries to maintain the previous air of calm, thinking it most conducive to Cregg being honest. Therefore when Lisbon returns, she seems pleasantly surprised that everyone remains intact.
The surprise is replaced immediately with a muted expression of triumph, and Jane is now genuinely curious about what Rigsby got off the boyfriend.
"Okay Mr. Cregg. Now that you've thought about it, are you ready to tell us where you were on Thursday night?"
One look at his attorney and Jeff Cregg faces Lisbon again. For the most part, he looks composed so Jane wonders what he will say.
"I already told you, Agent Lisbon. I was at Granite Regional Park."
Instead of defeat, Lisbon juts her chin out more and narrows her eyes at the politician, opening the file she obtained from Rigsby onto the desk. Inside is a copy of the photograph reel Jane found in Kyla's dressing area. Lisbon points to Seth Beatts' face.
"This was Kyla's boyfriend. Another dancer in her burlesque show."
Jeff Cregg stares blankly at Lisbon, but Jane can tell that the photograph of his daughter upsets the dark haired man.
"He's the second person to suggest that Kyla running away very much had to do with a disagreement she had with you and your wife the night before she left. Both you and your wife misled us, and that makes it twice that you've lied to us, Mr. Cregg. It's certainly not enough to charge you with anything, but I don't think it would look good to the public if it was somehow made known that Assemblyman Jeff Cregg was being uncooperative in the murder investigation of his own daughter."
All three men look at her with slight bewilderment in their eyes, even Jane. She resembles a cunning but sneaky predator, innocent looking but quite deadly. Jeff Cregg appears most discomfited by her words, and Jane wonders how he'd ever gotten as far as he has in politics.
He has the most awful poker face.
"You can't do anything of the sort, Agent Lisbon. Your agency will be sued for slander." Mr. Coburn warns calmly, but Jane can tell by the way he clasps his hands so tightly that the bearded man is losing patience and quickly.
Go, Lisbon.
"I assure you, Mr. Coburn, nothing slanderous has occurred, nor will it, if Mr. Cregg tells the truth."
She squares her eyes at Coburn, and the tension between them snaps. Exhaling deeply, the attorney turns to Cregg and opens his mouth to speak, but the politician touches his arm and says in a very quiet voice, "Anthony, could you leave the room please?"
The lawyer looks surprised, but retains composure, "Jeff, that's not a good idea."
He says so in a tone that implies he knows what Cregg is about to tell them, and Lisbon slides imperceptibly to the edge of her seat, feeling a smidgen of pride in her ability to break Cregg.
One glance at Jane tells her he's equally impressed by her.
The lawyer acquiesces and gathers his things, before he walks out of the room though, he warns Lisbon one more time, "nothing you say here is admissible in court, do you understand that?"
"Yes, sir." Lisbon nods allowing a small trace of a smug smile, before turning her attention back to Cregg.
The politician shrugs off his jacket and slips it onto the back of his chair before beginning to pace.
"There's no one behind the mirror is there?" He asks, gesturing behind them, and although Lisbon isn't actually sure whether Hightower is watching the interview or not, she shakes her head.
"Okay, because my career is very important to me. Since I was a teenager, this has been my entire goal. I've worked for over 25 years for my political accomplishment; I cannot lose it." He looks nervously between Jane and Lisbon, eyes pleading with them to understand and Lisbon can't help feeling a little sympathetic for the man.
Jane, however, finds this as the perfect moment to catch both of them off guard.
"Kyla isn't your biological daughter, is she?"
Lisbon had not seen that one coming, but she's spent her fair share of interviews being baffled by Jane, thus she doesn't flinch while Jeff Cregg seems absolutely startled. However, instead of disputing Jane, he nods mutely.
"How did you know?" He asks after a moment, pulling his chair out to sit down again.
"Well, I did a little research on you. You're from a wealthy political family back east. Finished Phillip Exeter Academy, then Harvard University and Stanford Business school; you were practically groomed for the political spotlight, Mr. Cregg. I assume your parents were both extremely conservative and politically driven, probably belonged to a country club or two. Your mother must have been opinionated and oppressive. In short, she would have never allowed you to name your daughter Kyla; lovely name that it is."
Lisbon can't help her lip curving upward as Jane presents his reasoning; it's truly fascinating how the man's mind works. When he's causing little damage, she can appreciate how astute he is, how quickly he creates connections, pieces together the puzzle.
Jeff lets out a humorless laugh before looking down at his wedding band. "I met Lana when I was at Stanford. She worked in my favorite coffee shop in Palo Alto, and we became very good friends. Eventually she moved to LA to pursue acting, and we lost touch. Then a couple years later, when I was on my first campaign trail, she shows up at my apartment with a 3 month old baby. She says her boyfriend kicked her out, left her with nothing; he had a nasty heroin habit that she inevitably picked up. She had nowhere else to go and recognized me from some newspaper, somehow found my address.
I wasn't married at the time, which wasn't helping my political aspirations, and Lana was basically homeless. We agreed that I'd help her get clean and take care of Kyla, and in exchange she would become my wife and I would pay for her education so she can pursue a career worthy of a politician's wife."
The politician pauses for a moment, expelling a heavy sigh before glancing over at Jane, "I never thought to change my daughter's name, it fit her so well; but you're right. My mother absolutely abhorred it, took her some getting used to."
He picks up the photograph reel then, thumb brushing over Kyla's face.
"That's what Kyla found out the night before she ran away." Jane states more than asks, and Jeff Cregg nods, eyes still focused on the photograph.
"I would never do this. You have no idea how much I loved my daughter."
He looks at Jane when he says this and Lisbon feels her heart twist unexpectedly at the irony of Cregg's admission. Jane's face is impenetrable, but his gaze gently reminds Lisbon that out of everyone, it would be he who could sympathize with Jeff Cregg the most.
Desperate to lift the tension in the room, Lisbon speaks softly, "So Mr. Cregg, where were you Thursday night?"
Jeff looks at her with a hint of alarm in his gaze, probably startled to be asked the same question again, but Lisbon doesn't waver, maintaining eye contact until the politician leans back in his chair, letting out a puff of air as he looks down.
"Same place I was at a year ago when Kyla followed me the night before she ran away, the Holiday Inn off the Bayshore Exit on 92."
"What were you doing there, Mr. Cregg?"
"I was meeting my boyfriend."
xxx
"Cregg's alibi checked out, boss. His boyfriend, a firefighter by the name of Allan Loyd, confirmed it. They've been seeing each other for about two years."
"Thanks, Cho." Lisbon smiles resignedly at her second in command, before turning around and crossing Jeff Cregg's name off the suspect list; after another moment, she crosses off Seth Beatts' too.
"And then there were none." She murmurs to herself, pivoting back to her desk and running a hand through her hair.
"God this is such a melodrama," she adds, scanning her notes from the Cregg interview. "No wonder the girl ran away."
Jane makes a noise from the couch, but Lisbon doesn't even look up, too focused on searching for the missing link. Eventually though, she gives up, reclining back in her chair and rubbing the bridge of her nose in fatigue.
She catches sight of Jane peacefully napping on her couch. He must feel her stare on him because he cracks open one eye and then the other, sending her a brilliant smile.
Lisbon scowls.
"What's got you in such a chipper mood? We're back to square one, here."
Instead of answering her, Jane gets up and stretches, looking at Lisbon through hooded but mischievous blue eyes.
"Nothing really, except that I know who killed Kyla Cregg."
TBC…