A/N: Short cute chapter, before real things start to happen. Review and enjoy!
Chapter 13:
"Mix the cards would you Rigsby, now everyone pay attention. This handsome man in front of me will shuffle the cards himself so you can make sure that I don't cheat. Okay hand them over." Jane reached over the wooden table and took the pile of cards out of Rigsby's large hands. He held them in his own, and showed them to the audience who had formed around their table during the third trick.
"Now in here are four robbers named Jack who decided to rob a house. The deck will represent the house. The first robber walked up to the house." As he said this, Jane took the first card off the top of the deck and showed everyone a Jack. He put it gently on the table and continued his trick. It wasn't like him to stoop so low to card tricks, but he had been trying to entertain the team as much as possible, and this was his last resort. Of course in the end, Rigsby was the only one who actually enjoyed the tricks.
Lisbon pushed her way through the crowd that surrounded their table, and went to the coffee bar on the other side of the hotel restaurant. Like any other crappy restaurant, the coffee tasted like dirt, but kept her awake. She needed to be alert if she would survive the whole day with Jane.
Grace had joined the team for breakfast, after sleeping at her own house the night before. She was wide awake, and ready to finally find out who had killed Stacey. As she walked into the hotel restaurant, she saw most of the people there surrounding a table in the middle of the room. As she slowly moved forward, she understood it must be something of Jane's. Her head spun to the right, trying to look for a distraction when she spotted Lisbon besides the coffee machines. Grace lowered her head and walked in the other direction, not ready to face Lisbon so early in the morning. A lady was serving some food that looked as if it was supposed to be in a high school cafeteria. She grabbed a plate, and slathered it with every option available. Madly, she thrust it into Grace's awaiting hands, and walked behind a door that led into the kitchen. Grace studied the brown and green goo that was on her plate. She gagged a bit and set the plate on the counter. Choosing her options, she walked over to the crowd and shoved her way through until she was seated next to Jane and Wayne, and in front of Cho.
"And then the last of the Jack robbers helped them clear out the house and run away from the police." Jane said removing the top card off the deck to show the fourth Jack. Everyone laughed and applauded delightfully, and the crowd grew smaller, as more people went back to eat their foul breakfast.
"Would you stop the tricks for a little while so we can do something important?" Grace asked suddenly growing angry at Jane's childish games.
"Like what?" he asked teasingly.
"Like find out who murdered Stacey?" Grace yelled, losing her senses completely. She didn't understand how one person could have no feelings for anyone around them whatsoever.
"I'm sorry, you're right. Don't worry, we will find out who killed her." He said thoughtfully this time.
Grace smiled at him kindly, appreciating how he was trying to hold back his usual remarks just to make her feel better. Wayne sat in silence, not wanting to say something as well to upset Grace. Instead they shared a glance, which they both felt comfort from. Cho sat silently observing everyone. He snorted, slightly shaking his head, and continued reading his book. Lisbon appeared out of the blue, drinking a stinky cup of coffee. She wiggled her nose, as the odor of the coffee reached her face. Coughing slightly, she took her seat in the empty chair, and sat in silence as everyone around her did as well.
"Are there any new leads?" Cho asked Lisbon.
"They found the gun that was used to kill Stacey in a dumpster in the city. No prints, and the gun doesn't belong to anyone, they wiped it clean."
"Do we have any new suspects?"
"Nope, this case looks like a dead end. The office needs us back, and I'm sorry Van Pelt, but they gave us a week to wrap up the case."
Grace's nose flared, her eyes brimming with tears. By the looks of it, they wouldn't even be close to finishing the case in only one week. Her heart sank as she thought about Stacey's murderer roaming the streets, ready to kill another innocent person.
"Well what about Derek's wife?" Jane asked.
Everyone stared at him in confusion.
"What you guys didn't notice? Come on, even Rigsby should have seen this. She changed the subject when I asked her name, she's awfully beautiful, and she has the makings of a con woman."
"What? Daisy? No way, she and Derek have been married for ten years." Grace said.
"Daisy, huh, clearly not her real name. But seriously, how did Derek get a chick like that?" Jane said.
"Derek is a charming guy, and a great person."
"Could be, but he's boring as hell." Jane said, forgetting how nicely he had just treated Grace, but going back to his rude ways.
"Well Daisy would never do something like that; I mean she has two kids with him that she loves. Why would she be a con woman, when she has a family that she loves?"
"Silly Grace, it's all a show. Real and professional con people don't have any feelings."
"What like you?" Lisbon added.
"Oh Lisbon, your just a hoot today aren't you." Jane said.
"Shut it." She said ending their little conversation.
"Can we just check her out, and if I'm wrong, then I will give each of you one hundred dollars." Jane said.
"You're so sure? Fine by me, I won't be losing anything." Rigsby said.
Grace began to protest but Lisbon cut her off.
"Let's go, I could use something to rub in your face." She said.
"Okay, but when you're all wrong, I'll be the one who does the laughing." Jane said following them.