A/N: Alright here we go, next chapter. And I'm loving all the people reviewing and telling me how much they love Austen. It makes my day. To those of you who liked all the case stuff, I'm glad. Of course, as luck would have it there's very little case-related stuff in this one. Hope you still like it.

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Chapter 4

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When they reached the station house Lisbon and Jane filled in the rest of the team on what they'd learned at the morgue. Rigsby and Van Pelt had just arrived as well. The two agents had spoken to all three legal secretaries. Two of them didn't have an alibi, both claiming to have been home alone. On the other hand, the third of the firm's employees, Mrs. Lopez, the woman who'd found the bodies, had been at her daughter's dance recital at the time of the murders and there were about twenty people to corroborate the story.

"We're trying to confirm that the other two were actually at home," Rigsby told his boss. "No luck so far, but as far as we can tell, neither of them has a motive to kill their bosses."

"Well, not one that they told you about at least," Jane clarified.

Rigsby sent him a grin, "No."

"What about the relationship between Church and Golding?" Lisbon asked. "Did their employees know about it?"

"They knew," Van Pelt confirmed. "Apparently it wasn't really a secret. They were open about it in their personal lives, though professionally they certainly didn't advertize it. According to all three secretaries, both men were worried about professional fallout. But no one seemed to think it was an issue, or even mentioned it ever causing any problems."

"Still," Lisbon said. "You never know." Then she turned to Lou, who'd been listening in on the conversation. "Sheriff, can you think of anybody that the relationship might have caused a problem for?"

Lou didn't even bother reminding the other woman to call her by her first name. It seemed like it was a lost cause anyway. "Well, there's the usual suspects," she replied. "The intolerant idiots, hate groups. You know the type. I could see them sending threatening letters, maybe some vandalism, but murder? Especially given that our two lawyers were hardly flaunting the relationship. I mean, there are better targets, more visible targets if all this was a hate crime. And if it was a little more personal, well, for the most part people are pretty tolerant about same-sex relationships around here. I just don't see it."

Lisbon sighed; she'd figured as much. "Yeah. Homophobic hate crime doesn't exactly fit with the theory that the murder knew about Church's medical history either. Alright, what about the cleaning crew then? Anything?"

Rigsby shook his head. "We called the service and spoke to the two employees responsible for taking care of the law firm. Both seemed genuinely shocked and upset by the murders and both had alibis. We're checking the alibis obviously, but I don't think they had anything to do with it either."

She turned to Cho hopefully, "Anything in the client list?"

Cho shook his head, "Sheriff was right, nothing that stands out. We checked up on a few of the angry letters, but one of the authors is dead, a second's in prison, a third's moved out of state and the last is in rehab. None of them look good for it. Besides, client is unlikely isn't it? Given that we think the victim knew his killer?"

"Well isn't this just great?" Lisbon asked. "We've apparently ruled out hate crime due to homosexuality, affair, random robbery, an attack by an angry client and accidental death. Tell me, are we any closer to finding out what actually happened?"

"Look on the bright side Lisbon," Jane told her. "It's like Sherlock Holmes always said, when you've ruled out the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be true."

"Yeah, well I think we've got a hell of a lot more to rule out before we can narrow this one down definitively," Lisbon told him in irritation. She always found it frustrating when cases ground to a standstill.

"Jane's right," Lou said cheerfully. "At least we've ruled out some of our suspects. I'm sure we'll figure something out soon. We have to be optimistic."

Lisbon wanted to smack her.

It was easy for the younger woman to say. She wasn't the one who had a very image-conscious boss breathing down her throat. She also wasn't trying to dodge the calls of a couple of congressmen and a couple dozen reporters. Still, Lisbon told herself, she couldn't justifiably be mad at Lou. The other woman had been nothing but helpful since they'd arrived. The sheriff had called in the CBI for their experience. Because of that experience it was Lisbon's job to deal with all the problems. Louisa Granger appeared to be a good cop. A bit headstrong, maybe even a touch impulsive, but all things considered, a good cop. Lisbon had met with much, much worse.

"I have located the house at least Boss," Cho informed her after a minute. "It actually belongs to our missing partner's aunt. From the sounds of it, the whole family spends time there though. Our missing partner apparently acts as a caretaker for the property since she lives the closest and the aunt lives out of state. It's beachfront, not too far a drive from here if you want to check it out."

Lisbon looked up hopefully. "Yeah, that sounds like it's a good idea," she told him. "We should probably get a warrant first though, given that the third partner seems to be trying to lay low for whatever reason. Always best to be sure we'll be able to get in the door. Besides, we'll probably need to search the place anyway."

"I can get one by tomorrow afternoon at the latest," Lou promised. "It's getting a bit late in the day so it'll be harder to find a cooperative judge."

"Alright," Lisbon told her. "Then why don't we plan on re-checking our victim's houses in the morning and head to the seashore in the afternoon?" Lisbon asked the group.

"Excuse me," the sheriff said, "But if you don't mind my asking, why are we re-checking the victim's houses? My deputies already swept them and there's nothing there."

Lisbon shrugged, "Fresh eyes," she told the other woman. "Plus Jane wants to take a look around."

Lou turned immediately to consultant, her tone immediately playful. "Oh, I see. Going to work your magic for us are you?"

"Maybe," Jane told her with a lazy grin.

"I can't wait to see it," she replied.

If anything his grin got wider.

"I'm starving," Rigsby said before Jane could say anything else.

Lisbon chuckled to herself, "We could all use a break. It's been a long day. Why don't we grab some dinner and call it a night?"

That idea seemed to suit the entire group just fine, and after a few last minute instructions to one of the deputies, all six of them found themselves outside the police station. Lisbon was just about to ask the sheriff if she knew a good place to eat when something else caught her attention.

"Patrick Ambrosius Jane!" they heard a voice call from across the street.

"Ambrosius?" Rigsby mouthed to Van Pelt, who giggled.

Jane turned towards the woman approaching the. "Sophie?" he said, clearly surprised. "What are you doing here?" he asked as he jogged a few steps to meet her before sweeping her into a hug.

The woman laughed. "I live here you idiot. I'm the one who should be asking you that question."

"Yeah," Jane acknowledged. "Well actually..."

"You're here trying to help the police solve the murders at the law firm on the other side of town," Sophie guessed. When Jane looked surprised she laughed again, "Patrick, I've seen your face splashed around my television off and on for the last year or so and the murders are all over the local news. I'm not an idiot. I can put two and two together to make four. But we're being rude to your friends. Sophie Croft, an old friend of Patrick's" she said, introducing herself to the group.

The rest of them introduced themselves immediately. "It's nice to meet you," Sophie told them. "I figured I'd better start the introductions or we'd all be standing around here for hours waiting for Patrick to get around to it." Lisbon smiled, Jane looked mildly embarrassed.

"How've you been Soph?" he asked.

"Great. Really great actually. Still married, no kids though. But we're happy. How 'bout you? I haven't seen you in years. I'm sorry about, well... but I didn't know how to call. We'd lost touch and..."

Jane waved her off. "I'm not the best at keeping in touch either."

"No," she agreed. "You're not."

"You'll have to work on that Patrick Ambrosius," Rigsby told him, tongue firmly in cheek.

Van Pelt dissolved into giggles, Cho smirked and Lisbon tried to hide her grin behind her hand.

Jane rounded on the tallest agent. "That's not my middle name!" he said quickly.

"Sure it isn't," Rigsby said agreeably. "I wouldn't want to admit to that either."

"It's not!" Jane insisted. Then before he realized what he was doing he'd turned to Lisbon for support, "Help me out here Lisbon."

Lisbon was momentarily shocked by the question, but she managed to cover it. "Sorry guys," she told her agents. "But he's right. I've seen his personnel file. Jane here doesn't have a middle name."

"There! See!" Jane said, clearly relieved by the confirmation.

"It's true, he doesn't," Sophie admitted. "And I always felt that he should have one, if only for yelling purposes. He needs it. So every time I see him I come up with a new one for him. Usually it's the most ridiculous name I can think of at the moment. Last time it was Ezekiel wasn't it?"

"Yes," Jane agreed. "You were particularly interested in the prophets at that point in time if I'm not mistaken. Sophie's a professor of comparative religions," he explained.

"Wow," Van Pelt said. "That's impressive."

But Sophie waved off the compliment self-consciously. "Thanks. So how long are you in town Patrick? I hope we can catch up while you're here."

Jane shrugged his shoulders, "Hard to say. Depends on the case."

Before Sophie could answer Van Pelt interrupted. "We're all on our way to grab some dinner right now though. Why don't you join us?"

Van Pelt's request was quickly seconded by her colleagues. Jane looked mildly scared at the prospect, but soon relaxed and repeated the offer. Finding all of her polite objections quickly overruled, Sophie eventually agreed to join them. About ten minutes later the group was seated at a Chinese restaurant.

"So how long have you known Jane?" Van Pelt asked the newcomer. She knew everyone at the table was curious about Jane's past. Before Lisbon would have been the one to ask the question, but even though she'd been curious about that herself, Lisbon also knew that she no longer had the right to ask. Luckily for her Van Pelt had no such scruples. Lisbon almost envied the younger agent for that. The redhead and Jane could still be friends, while she and Jane were doomed to be at best occasional colleagues.

"Oh ages!" Sophie answered easily with a wave of her hand. "I met him when we were both young and stupid growing up in Southern California."

"Careful what you say Soph," Jane warned. "Remember you're sitting at a table full of law enforcement professionals."

She laughed, "Well, then I'll just say that I met the great Patrick Jane before either of us were quite the upstanding citizens we are now. This was long before I decided to get the doctorate and become respectable Dr. Sophie Croft. For the most part Jane was trying to make his name as a psychic, and I was basically doing a whole lot of nothing. There was a whole group of us. We were pretty close. For all that I tease, Pat here was like a brother to me. But then you know how it is, your lives change. I got busy with grad school; Pat was trying to get on television…"

"You drifted apart," Lisbon supplied.

Sophie nodded, "We did. Still kept in touch for a while though. I saw him a couple of times a year, but then, well… More stuff happened."

"It's okay," Jane told her, apparently temporarily forgetting that Lou was at the table. "They know all about it. I worked with Lisbon's team for years post Red John."

Sophie glanced over at the other woman, clearly surprised. "You actually managed to supervise this one for that long?" she asked cocking her head in Jane's direction.

Lisbon just nodded, not trusting her voice.

"You must have the patience of a saint," the good doctor concluded.

Lisbon laughed softly before she could stop herself. "We had our moments," she admitted. "But he has his uses, as I'm sure you well know. And we solved a lot of cases."

"And then?" Sophie asked.

Lisbon shrugged, "Like you said, things change."

Sophie looked closely at the other woman, before nodding. "That they do." Then in a more cheerful tone she added, "Speaking of things changing Pat, Did you know Harry Cornish lives not half an hour from here along the ocean?"

"You're joking!" Jane exclaimed. "Harry actually settled down?"

Sophie nodded, "I know. I was as surprised as you are when I ran into him one day. It seems Harry's no longer plying his carpentry skills creating cabinets with false backs or desks with hidden drawers. He owns a boating supply shop and in his spare time he builds boats himself. Guess that means at least three of the old gang ended up on the right side of the law."

"We're actually going down to the shore for the case tomorrow," Jane told her. "If I have time I'll look him up. Do you have his number?"

"In my Blackberry," Sophie confirmed. "And you should definitely get in touch. He's been there for years, become a bit of a fixture in the community. Apparently he knows everyone. He might be able to help you."

Jane paused. "Well, we'll keep that in mind but…"

"But the trip tomorrow's not exactly the kind of thing we really want the locals knowing about in advance," Cho told her.

"I see," Sophie said. "Well, I promise not to sound the alarm then, but I still think you should call him when you're there Patrick."

"If I have time," he promised her.

"Good," Sophie said. "We should have kept in better touch over the years. Friends like us… I'm sorry Jane. I know I was as bad as anyone, and then after…"

Jane cut her off, knowing what she was getting at and really not wanting to talk about his family over dinner in front of everyone. "It's okay Soph. It was nobody's fault. And you're here now."

Sophie sent him a sad smile.

Lisbon decided a change in the subject was in order.

"So, how do you like being a professor?" she asked. "I'd imagine it's a lot of work."

"A lot of paperwork at least," Sophie told her dryly. "I'm up to my ears in grant applications, and exams, papers to be graded, and financial stuff all day long. Sometimes I wonder if my in-box even has a bottom."

"Apparently our jobs have more in common than I would have thought," Lisbon told her with a grin.

"Pointless bureaucracy, the true scourge of the modern world," Sophie agreed raising her glass in a mock toast.

Lisbon smiled and did the same. "I'll drink to that," she said.

After putting her glass down Sophie gave another half laugh. "No, it is a lot of work, and the paperwork's a pain, but really I love it. I love my research, delving into primary sources, suggesting things no one's ever thought of before. It can be frustrating at times, but what isn't? And I teach as well. I originally thought I'd hate it, but the truth is, I actually enjoy lecturing. So for all its flaws I wouldn't trade the job for anything."

"You teach as well?" Lisbon repeated.

Sophie nodded, "Yeah. A couple of classes a semester usually. Keeps me a little more connected with the outside world. Sometimes the academic bubble becomes a little too insular," she explained. "Besides, It's nice to interacting with the student. Most of the time."

Lisbon nodded.

"But you never wanted children of your own?" Van Pelt asked.

"Never seemed like the right time," the professor said with a shrug. "Besides, like I said, I like my life."

"Plus her husband's basically an overgrown child himself isn't he Soph?" Jane asked with a laugh. "How is Greg?"

Sophie grinned. "He's good. He'll be sorry he missed you, but he's out of town for a conference for a few days."

"However will he get by without you?" Jane teased. "Seriously," he told the rest of the group. "They're almost sickening together. At least they were the last time I saw them. Finished each other's sentences and everything."

"Oh, now stop that Patrick, or I'll be forced to retaliate and tease you about your love life," Sophie told him.

Jane froze, his expression becoming ever so slightly panicked.

"I thought so," Sophie replied. "But now that we're on the subject, is there anyone special?"

Jane tried to brush it off, "Oh you know me Soph, that ship sailed long ago."

"Still, you're telling me you've never been tempted to try again?" she pressed.

"Not in a long time," Jane said with a brief, but meaningful glance towards Lisbon. "You know what they say, once burned, twice shy."

Lisbon suddenly found her dinner plate very interesting.

"Oh, now that's just depressing Patrick," Lou interjected. "Besides, you never know, maybe you haven't met the right woman," she told him with a flirtatious smile.

Jane sent her a wink in return. "Maybe not. But the thing about reckless free-lance consultants, they can't settle down, job requirement. We're too busy roaming around the state when we're needed, solving crimes."

Rigsby snorted. "Way to make yourself sound like a gunslinger in the old west man," he told the consultant.

Jane just shrugged his shoulders, letting the conversation moved on to other, safer topics.

On the other hand it was almost ten minutes before Lisbon spoke again.

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For the most part dinner was a cheerful affair. Sophie was pleasant company. Friendly without being overly personal or intrusive, sensible but not boring, plus she had a lovely sense of humour and a way of putting Jane in his place that Lisbon found particularly endearing.

As dinner began to wind down, Lou tentatively suggested extending the evening into a drink at a local bar. Rigsby and Van Pelt readily accepted the offer. Sophie declined, citing a lecture the next morning that she hadn't quite finished preparing for. Lisbon also politely refused.

"I think I'm going to just head back to the hotel, maybe call Hightower with an update and deal with a bunch of administrative stuff," she told a clearly disappointed Van Pelt. "But you guys go ahead," she urged the others. "Really, I'm getting kind of tired anyway. I might just get an early night. Don't stay out too late."

"Okay Mom," Rigsby teased.

"I'll take you back to the hotel Boss," Cho offered.

"Oh no that's okay Cho," Lisbon told him with a grin. "I can find my own way back. You should stay and have fun. I think I'm safe without an escort."

"I don't mind," Cho told her.

"That's sweet," Lisbon told him. She figured Cho probably didn't like the idea of her leaving alone. Still, she didn't want to be reason he missed out on the fun. "But you should stay," she tried to insist.

"Yeah, I actually passed the bar they're talking about earlier today," he told her. "It's a country bar."

"So?" she asked him, wondering what that had to do with anything.

"Turns out I'm not as fond of line dancing and stupid looking hats as people think," Cho explained.

Lisbon laughed, Jane's head snapped around in surprise. He hadn't heard Lisbon laugh like that in a while. She didn't notice, "I see," she told her right-hand man.

"Plus I'm halfway through Middlemarch," Cho added.

Lisbon smiled indulgently. Of course he'd prefer reading to cowboys. "In that case, I'd be happy to let you accompany me back to the hotel Agent Cho. See you guys later," she told her team.

"Night boss," Van Pelt said cheerfully. Rigsby repeated the sentiment.

"It was lovely meeting you," Lisbon said to Sophie.

"Likewise," she replied. "I hope we meet again."

Lisbon smiled genuinely. Jane's old friend was a lovely woman. "Hey, if you're ever in Sacramento," she told her.

"Absolutely," Sophie replied.

With a final nod to the table, Lisbon and Cho left the rest of the group.

When she paused to search for the keys to the SUV in the bottom of her purse Lisbon heard Jane ask Van Pelt if she ever went out with the team anymore.

"Not as much as she used to," Van Pelt admitted.

Jane nodded, considering.

Van Pelt took a breath before adding, "She feels bad about what happened a year ago you know."

Jane's head whipped around. Van Pelt saw the original flash of anger mixed with a hint of surprise before he forced his expression into something more neutral. "I know," he told the woman he'd always think of as the rookie. "Don't worry about it Grace. We're different people now. It's water under the bridge," he promised. "Now come on, let's get the check and clear out of here."

Van Pelt nodded, but she didn't seem convinced. Lisbon hurried out the door before they realized she hadn't actually left yet.

In a way Jane was right, the two of them were trying their best to put the past behind them, but the way things were going it seemed inevitable that Red John's death would always define their relationship.

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TBC