Red Rides And Retribution
A/N: Well, this is a different concept, and so I can understand people thinking that it couldn't work. For those of you who are giving this a chance, thank you. Now, onto chapter two.
Chapter two
Patrick Jane sat back in his desk. He pushed the mundane paperwork away from him and stood up. He worked in an office building in the centre of Sacramento as an insurance consultant. This had not been his ideal job, but he had to take what he could get. Jane headed to the break room for another cup of tea, and passed by several desks on his way. He heard the nervous titters of the gossiping ladies as he passed, and he sighed.
Jane knew he was much of the office gossip amongst the ladies. He was used to the stares as he walked by in a dark blue suit and red tie. If Jane was honest with himself, the stares and whispered giggles were the only highlight of working in insurance.
He stood at the counter, pouring his tea and thinking about his late wife. Angela had been murdered in the south of Sacramento by a gang member five years earlier. He had had to leave his job as a showman and psychic to support his daughter. Charlotte was now sixteen, and attended boarding school in New York because Jane was working six days a week until late.
He and Charlotte spoke almost every day, and she seemed to be coping with being away from home for so long. Jane knew that Charlotte could cope with the work; she was a bright girl. Jane wore his wedding ring, and that had prevented many advances from the women, but it didn't stop the gossip from spreading.
He took his blue teacup back to his desk, and sat back down. The paperwork in front of him looked even less appealing than when he had stood up. A shadow passed over his desk, and he glanced up to see one of the gossiping ladies standing there. "Good evening, Erica," said Jane, pulling the paperwork towards him. "What can I do for you today?"
Erica Flynn smiled. She was a secretary on the floor, one of three that catered for Jane's level, who had her eye on Jane from the moment they had met. She frequently stopped by his desk and asked him out to dinner or coffee, but he always politely declined. He always pointed at his ring before saying he already had plans with his wife. Jane hated to lie about Angela and her death, but Erica was a man-eater, and Jane didn't want to be next.
"Mr Jane," said Erica with a smile. "The boss wants a word with you in his office."
Jane nodded and stood up. He straightened his tie and pushed his curls into a rather attractive blonde halo around his head. He walked over to the elevator and headed up to the boss' office.
Just outside the door, the secretary, Madeleine Hightower, looked up at Jane and smiled. "Mr Jane, Mr Minelli will see you now."
Jane nodded and pushed the door open. His boss sat in the big leather chair in front of the bay windows overlooking downtown Sacramento. Jane shut the door behind him and looked briefly at the late afternoon landscape outside. The sun was glistening off of downtown, making the town into a rare picture of beauty. Virgil Minelli turned to face Jane. "Ah, Mr Jane, please, take a seat."
Jane sat down in the chair opposite Minelli, and rested his hands on his knees. He waited patiently for his boss to speak, and glanced around. "Mr Jane," said Minelli, pulling out a file. "I see you have the highest insurance sale rate on your floor. You have sold double the insurance as that of the next person below you."
Jane nodded. "I sense you didn't bring me up here to discuss my sales rates, Mr Minelli."
Minelli nodded. "Perceptive as always, Mr Jane. I called you up here to discuss your leave."
Jane sat up straighter. "What about my leave?"
Minelli opened his file again. "Mr Jane, you haven't taken leave in the five years you have worked here. With all of your overtime, and your constant work, you have fifty-six days of leave owing you. The labour lawyers and HR department have requested that you take your leave as of now, or the company could be sued."
Jane looked away. "Mr Minelli, I need to finish my paperwork."
Minelli shook his head. "You are on leave as of now, Mr Jane. Go down to your desk, pack your briefcase, and I will see you back here in eight weeks."
Jane stood up. He had worked so long that he wouldn't know what to do with himself for eight weeks. "Thank you, Mr Minelli."
He headed back down to his desk and packed his briefcase. He headed for the elevator, and still wondered what he would possibly do for the next eight weeks. In his blue Citroën, Jane began to drive aimlessly. He was usually a very driven, directed man, but this sudden loss of anything to do had left him feeling rather listless. He found himself in a part of town that any sane person would have avoided.
He was south, and drove down the border road on the local park. It was getting dark, and most of the streetlamps were beginning to turn on. Jane wasn't familiar with the territory demographics of the area, but had a feeling the park was right on the border between two territories. As he drove, a squad of dark green motorcycles passed him. He didn't get a good look at any of the riders, but recognised the emblem on the backs of their jackets.
He felt his blood chill as he realised that a notorious biker gang had just gone by, and he felt the urge to speed up and get out of the area before he got caught in the midst of gang warfare. He resisted the urge, not wanting to seem suspicious. The gang kept ahead of him, and turned right at the stoplight. Jane realised as he sat at a green traffic light that he was completely lost. Before he could pull off, five black bikes all swerved around him and followed the green bikes around the corner.
Jane followed at a discrete distance, and watched in horror as the lead black bike pulled out a pistol and aimed it towards the green bikes. Jane realised that he was witnessing a hit, and ducked involuntarily as the gun went off. The green bikes sped up, and rounded the corner at the end of the road. The bike right in the middle of the pack swerved as another shot sounded. Jane watched in horror as the bike missed the corner and careened into an abandoned shop front. He stopped his car, and watched the rider stand up.
One of the other riders in the pack circled back, and the rider hopped on the back as it passed. The riders vanished into the night, and the black bikes turned and sped back onto their territory.
Jane waited until the coast was clear before driving slowly forwards. He stopped in front of the shop, and got out of his car. He walked to the abandoned bike and pulled it back onto its wheels. Jane could see that the back wheel was flat, and noted the bullet hole in the sidewall. That explained why the bike had missed the corner. Jane bent down and examined the chopper. It had the characteristic paintwork of an Outbacker ride, with a difference. It sat lower than he had expected – even with a flat tyre – and had initials painted below the gas cap.
Jane bent his head lower, and felt himself take in a sharp breath. The letters "TL" were painted in lighter green paint, causing Jane to wonder who "TL" was, and if he wanted his chopper back.
Jane wheeled the bike towards his car. It wouldn't fit into the trunk, but he eventually wrestled it into the car after dropping the back seats down. He drove in the direction the bikes had gone, and wandered aimlessly through the streets of downtown Sacramento until he happened across a bar with about fifteen similar bikes parked outside.
He stopped his car and got out. He knew he would potentially be shot tonight, but he wanted to do this before they killed him.
XxxxxxxxxxxX
Lisbon scowled and threw her glass in anger. The graze up her armed burned, and she threw a second glass. The Blood Guns had ambushed them. Rigsby pushed the door open. "Boss," he said loudly.
Lisbon swung around and scowled. "What, Rigger?"
Rigsby glanced over his shoulder. "You won't believe this, but some guy is out here with some wild claim. Said he was looking for 'TL'."
Lisbon threw a third glass in frustration. Distractions were not what she needed right this second. She stormed to the door, and out into the bar. Rigsby walked over to where the man stood, and Lisbon followed close behind. Lisbon came face to face with a man in a dark suit. He wore a red tie, and his blonde curls stood up from his head. His dark blue eyes were nervous as he took in the glares of the men around him. He looked at the tiny woman, and then back up at the tall man. "I'm 'TL'," said Lisbon with a frown. "What do you want here?"
The man looked into the tiny woman's eyes. "My name it Patrick Jane, and I have something that belongs to you."
Lisbon raised an eyebrow. "I don't believe you."
Jane nodded. "Please, if you will, follow me out to my car."
Jane turned and headed for the door. Lisbon turned to Rigsby and indicated that they should follow. They headed outside, and Jane pulled the back door open. Rigsby peered into the car, and turned to Lisbon. "Boss, he has your chopper."
Lisbon stepped forwards and pressed her pistol into Jane's ribs. "Where did you get this?"
Jane swallowed hard. "I-I got lost, and saw the other guys shooting at you. I saw you fall, and thought I would get the bike back to you before somebody stole it."
Rigsby pulled the bike out, and examined it. There was no serious damage, apart from the bullet in the back wheel. He wheeled it around the back of the bar, and Lisbon turned to Jane. "Follow me."
Jane looked at the woman, and followed her back into the bar.
A/N2: Thanks for reading. Please leave me a review. Thanks.