Watching Jane pull his vehicle into a space, Lisbon absorbed the high end luxury cars filling the parking lot. From what she could see already, this was an expensive eatery though there was nothing outstanding about the single story stone building situated in the middle of some woods. She had a feeling the interior was an entirely different story and she wasn't disappointed.
Lisbon resisted the urge to stop and gawk as Jane escorted her inside warmly greeting the petite dark haired hostess who obviously had an elephantine crush on him. Too bad she was all of eighteen if she lied about it. The girl was a real cutie, though, so maybe that was a good thing on second thought. It definitely didn't hurt since Jane appeared to have developed a penchant for brunettes over the years and this one was green eyed, too.
Looking around the restaurant, Lisbon decided, for once, she wished she was wearing a dress. It would feel more appropriate. Not one of those aggravating, itchy dresses she had to wear to CBI functions. Something more like the simple black silk number with the elegant lines and halter neck hanging in the back of her closet. She'd paid way too much for it and the matching rhinestone enhanced leather sandals a couple of years ago. Ironically, she'd bought the outfit to wear on a date that had eventually fallen through.
A high profile case had suddenly come up out of town specifically requesting her team's assistance. By the time they'd wrapped up all of the loose ends, her old friend was in the sky halfway back to the East coast. Lisbon had decided her reunion with Jeff wasn't meant to be. Nothing meaningful would have come of it anyway so it was no big loss. They'd never had that kind of relationship. Maybe she'd give that dress a try on Jane down the road. She'd certainly give the idea some serious thought.
Feeling Jane's hand entwine with hers, she was glad he was giving her a minute to absorb the ambiance. There were no neat, white table clothed tables shoved closely together and no harsh lighting in the dining room. Each booth was instead intimately enclosed and softly lit giving the restaurant the feel of a by-gone era. Lisbon appreciated the Orient inspired décor and the chinoiserie visible throughout the room. The clean simplicity was very relaxing and the wait staff surprisingly unobtrusive from the little she had seen.
Following the hostess through the screen shielded booths; Lisbon was rather surprised when they were shown to a small, open table in the corner of the room away from everyone. Not that anyone would notice them over here without trying. However, they could see the comings and goings throughout the room. Lisbon had a feeling this was Jane's regular table. If not officially, it was well understood among the staff. He had a way of subtly invading a place and taking over before anyone realized exactly what he was doing.
"Thank you, Katelyn. I appreciate your holding our table." They were about a quarter hour later than anticipated.
Jane had enjoyed holding Lisbon a little too much to readily let go and, taking him at his word their reservations weren't in jeopardy, she'd not forced the issue. Once his tea was finished and the clean cup returned to the cabinet, he'd given Lisbon a couple of minutes to fix any smudges and they'd been on their way. The drive to Evie's was quite pleasant.
They'd discussed the Cho/Summer situation the Korean Agent had been closed unsurprisingly closed lipped about. Personally, Lisbon hoped the woman would clean up her act and come back a reformed woman. As bad as she'd been for her Agent in some ways, she'd been equally good in others. A part of Lisbon secretly hoped they had a second chance under different circumstances. She could hardly feel differently could she? She was dating Jane.
They discussed Van Pelt's new love interest that was really going nowhere. Jane didn't think it stood a chance. Grace had realized too late she still loved Rigsby. And Rigsby had moved on though he still loved Grace. However, while he might not love Sarah exactly as he should, Wayne had gotten a son he adored in the bargain. Lisbon agreed with him though she dreaded any drama coming down the road from those quarters.
For now, she'd settle for allowing Jane to push the chair he'd held out for her back under the table just enough before taking his own seat and grasping her hand once again. The whole hand holding thing was a little too pda for her at this stage of the game; but, she'd let it go. There was something reassuring about Jane warm, firm grip.
"You're welcome, Mr. Jane. You know the boss only lets you sit at his table anyway." Somehow that revelation didn't surprise Lisbon. She rested her case. Jane was as invasive as kudzu and harder to get rid of. She hadn't managed it yet and goodness knows she'd tried over the years.
"This is a nice place, Jane." Lisbon watched the hostess make her way back to her post.
"Yes, Lisbon, it is. It's always been the go to place when one doesn't want to see and be seen while enjoying an exceptional meal. The wine list is excellent as well." Evie's was rather infamous in certain circles he'd once inhabited though Lisbon had never heard of the place. That didn't surprise him. The restaurant was a well kept secret for one very good reason.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Surely Jane wasn't ashamed to be seen with her. While they were trying to maintain a low profile, they weren't actively sneaking around. Neither of them was stupid enough to think they wouldn't get busted eventually. Lisbon had already planned on falling back on the "Jane's a consultant so that rule doesn't apply" ploy they'd used several times before.
"Lisbon, tell me what you notice about this table in relation to the rest of the room." As usual, Jane was dodging her question.
"We can see everyone without being seen." Lisbon had noted that from the beginning.
"Exactly. Why do you think that is?" Jane continued his game of twenty questions.
"I wouldn't know. Why don't you tell me?" Lisbon flipped the menu open only to see that, yes, this was a very expensive place. But she liked what she seeing. Jane's wallet was likely to get a significant hit before this evening was over and she really didn't care. It served him right for all the grief he'd caused her over the years.
"This table has always been the owner's private table. Sam Evans made it his business back in the '40's and '50's to watch his patrons as his father had back in the '20's when the place was a high end speakeasy selling the good stuff instead of hooch. By his son's time, Evie's was where the big wigs brought their girlfriends behind their wives backs.
The waiters were discrete to a fault or bad things happened and the booths were private. If one patron recognized another, they weren't likely to talk as they were doing the same thing. It was an unspoken built in checks and balances system. A man after my own heart, Sam took care of the rest.
Now, it's mainly a pleasant restaurant off the beaten path with excellent food and the degree of privacy I thought we'd both appreciate. I try to come here a couple of times a month if not more. You never know when you might see or hear something valuable down the road." Jane gave her a conspiring smirk.
"You're spying on the other diners aren't you, Jane?" She wouldn't put it past him to be just that kind of a smarmy toad.
"Well, yeah, how do you think I got out of that ticket a few weeks ago?" Jane confirmed.
"I don't want to know." The man would never change.
"No, Lisbon, you probably don't. We need to take a look at the menu. Kimberly will be over in a couple of minutes." Jane plopped his menu open.
"Kimberly?" The man was on first name basis with the wait staff?
"She's the good looking waitress bearing a striking resemblance to Van Pelt. They have the same color hair." Jane said without looking up.
"She's tall, too." Really tall like Grace.
"Yes, she is." Jane agreed.
"You think Van Pelt is good looking?" That point had finally filtered through.
"I've never made that a secret. I think most men find Van Pelt attractive." Jane stated as he decided to have the filet with four peppercorn brandy sauce, asparagus with black truffles, and rosemary potato galette.
"I guess you haven't and I guess they do." Lisbon hadn't really thought about it.
"I was never interested in her though… She isn't you." Jane closed his menu having decided on the hearts of palm salad with the champagne vinaigrette for his starter. He knew Lisbon would pick something from the appetizer list for both of them.
"I see." Lisbon decided the venison with red currant sauce looked promising accompanied by the wild rice and that interesting sounding squash whatever.
"I don't think you do. Not yet; but, that doesn't really matter. I will admit I find Grace more intriguing since the whole O'Laughlin thing." Jane looked her in the eyes as he laid the menu aside.
"Yeah?" Lisbon cocked an eyebrow at him.
"Yeah, but she's still not you." Jane confirmed as he gave Kimberly their order not at all surprised Lisbon was giving in to the seafood stuffed mushrooms. That particular specialty of the chef was a decadent recipe he wasn't sharing. Jane should know. He'd tried trick he knew to get it. Watching their waitress walk away, Jane fixed Lisbon with that toothy grin meaning trouble for someone somewhere.
"Changing the subject, Lisbon, can you guess which judge is behind that screen over there?" Jane tilted his head in the direction of the beautiful silk screen decorated in pink chrysanthemums.
"That's Walters isn't it?" Lisbon instantly recognized the booming court room voice as the judge wasn't doing anything to muffle it. Not that he was saying anything compromising. Far from it as the subject matter was an upcoming prom.
"Yes, Lisbon, it is. He's having dinner with his oldest daughter tonight though he was in here with his lady friend a couple of weeks ago. He's a bit more discreet then." Jane confided.
"He's married." Lisbon knew his wife well from CBI functions over the years.
"Yes, he is; but, so is his wife. She was in here with her lady friend the week before that. All I can say is they've been married a long time and seem reasonably content." Jane took a sip of tea as he stared at the screen like he could see the man on the other side.
"Yeah, I guess they do; but, it wouldn't work for me." Lisbon fiddled with her napkin as she digested Jane's revelation.
She could see why they'd stayed together in spite of Anna's apparent preferences. They had four children they both adored and their good looks lit up the society pages. The wife had the old money the husband enjoyed and the judge had the political clout his wife craved. They were openly affectionate with each other loving couples tended to be. While the pieces didn't exactly add up, Lisbon decided that was none of her business and whatever kind of relationship they truly had; well, it seemed to work for them. She'd leave it at that.
"Don't look at me, Lisbon. While I may have done many unsavory things in the past, that was never one of them. The grass is rarely greener on the other side no matter what we may think." It was Jane's turn to play with his napkin.
"While you still do many unsavory things now, I never thought you did. Nor do I think you would." Nothing she'd seen over the years ever indicated that.
"Stiles is here, too. He's behind the Sakura blossom screen." Jane chose to ignore her remark as he moved their conversation along. "Don't be surprised if he stops by our table before he's done."
"Stiles is here?" Lisbon decided she really shouldn't be all that surprised he was at this restaurant given the man ran a cult for a living. How much more secretive can you get?
"The one and only." Jane confirmed.
"Who's he here with?" Lisbon half-way expected Jane to say he was alone.
"A lovely young widow probably half his age." One he was trying to rope into joining Visualize.
"You've got to be kidding me." Lisbon hoped the woman, whoever she was, ran for the hills. Brett Stiles could be quite charming when he wanted to be.
"I assure you I'm not though I do need to clarify something. Stiles isn't wooing Lucilla; but, her money. He's hoping to claim a healthy chunk of her late husband's millions for Visualize. From what I saw earlier, he's doing a pretty good job. I could do better; but, he's making a respectable start." Jane watched Kimberly pour their glasses of wine with ease.
"Honestly, Jane, you're so bad." Lisbon really wasn't surprised to watch her date expertly going through all of the steps to ensure they had a good bottle of wine.
Somehow, all of the rigmarole seemed far less pompous when he did it. Maybe it was because the motions came so naturally to him. Knowing Jane now, she often forgot the circles he once swam in. The thought made her slightly uncomfortable. The law enforcement part of her didn't approve of his actions back then. But, the woman who cared about him would like to see the man he was just once before the nightmare struck.
"I'm being honest, Lisbon. It will take Brett a while longer; but, I assure you he will get the job done and Lucilla will be none the worse for it. She'll have plenty of money left where that came from. Try your wine. It's very good." Jane savored his first sip enjoying the bold flavors on his tongue as he watched Lisbon do the same nodding appreciatively.
"Tell me a story, Jane." Lisbon wasn't sure he'd do it. Oh, he'd shared tidbits over the years when he had to; but, nothing substantial preferring to remain closed lipped about his past. Lisbon had never been totally sure if he was ashamed of his past or just that secretive. It wasn't like he denied who, or what, he was.
"Funny or serious?" Jane asked not really believing he was about to tell a cop his past cons.
"I think funny. We have enough serious at work." Lisbon watched Kimberly sit their salads in front of them before discretely disappearing around the corner.
"I think I can do that. Once upon a time I used to do séances for this elderly widow I'll call Myrna whose son was robbing her blind...Not that I wasn't doing the same; but, that's a different story. Anyway, she wanted me to contact LeRoy in the great beyond to see what she should do about thieving Johnnie short of having him arrested. The man had always been able to handle their son. I was happy to comply." Jane launched into his tale around judicious bites of creamy heart of palm.
"Jane, half of the stuff you just confessed to doing could still get you arrested in a hundred counties." Lisbon wiped tears from her eyes a few minutes later glad she was wearing waterproof liner and mascara. As just plain wrong as it was for a member of law enforcement to laugh at Jane's antics, she couldn't help herself. His story was just too funny.
"But you won't, will you, Teresa. I really don't like jail." Jane looked so afraid. Right.
"Your secret is safe with me. What about your little buddy? You know, the one who did all the work?" Lisbon started laughing again. She couldn't help herself seeing that picture in her mind.
"I can assure you no opossums were harmed in the making of that con. Perhaps scared witless for a moment or two…no, I think that was Johnnie. The ugly gray thing with the really sharp teeth and terminal bed head was perfectly fine. He, or she, simply waddled off into the night to do what ugly little gray things do." As he'd later ambled off into the night with a full purse in search of the next sucker confident the late LeRoy wouldn't be paying his son another unwanted visit any time soon.