CHAPTER FIVE - MEMORY LANE
Within three days, Grace Van Pelt was released from the hospital. Against everyone's orders, she was back to work the very next day. Although she had been released from the hospital, her memory was still foggy.
Jane had the perfect answer to her problems. Sitting her down, he eased her into a relaxed, hypnotic state. It was only then that she could recall the events that took place without her anxieties blocking her from remembering such traumatic events.
"I was at the grocery store. I had just finished and was going to check out. I heard something fall, and the man behind me told me that my badge had fallen."
"You're doing great, Grace. What happened next?"
"I left. I was in the parking lot, putting the groceries away, when he came up to me again. I had an eerie feeling about it, but was trying to be polite. He asked what I did for a living, and I told him I worked at the California Bureau of Investigation. He said the C.B.I. had questioned him in regards to a neighborhood shooting. I shut my trunk, and turned to get in the car."
Grace's voice began to crack, and her body trembled softly.
"Jane, be careful..." Lisbon whispered.
"I've got it. Promise." Jane said. It was far too serious for him to crack a joke.
"He told me that he swore he was going to get back at those pigs at the C.B.I. I asked him to leave, and he grabbed my wrist. He was pulling it so hard, I thought it was going to break. I socked him in the face as hard as I could, but he hit me so hard. I must have blacked out, because the next thing I knew I was in a treehouse in the woods."
"A treehouse?" Rigsby asked.
"It was up in the trees. I think it was supposed to be for hunting. He had me tied up. He kept telling me how pretty I was, and how sorry he was going to be for hurting me. He told me that he needed to go do some things, and that when he returned, the real fun would start."
"Grace, I need you to focus. What did the man look like? Did he give a name?"
"Not so many questions, Jane." Lisbon lectured.
"He was older. 5'6 about 200 pounds. His name was Al. He had scruffy grey hair and a beard."
Cho immediately jotted the description and left to take care of it.
"He never came back. It took a long time for me to get myself untied. When I did, I was in such a hurry that I slipped down the ladder. When I held my hand up to my head, it was bleeding. I walked around and around and around. It was forest everywhere. I thought I was going to die in the forest. I thought --- " Grace began crying so hard she was hyperventilating.
"Jane! Bring her back!" Lisbon snapped.
"Stop it, Jane!" Rigsby said simultaneously.
"Grace, what did you think?" Jane said, ignoring his peers.
"I thought it was Red John." Grace managed between sobs.
Jane looked around, hoping the others realized how lucky their junior agent was.