Return to Sacramento: Chapter 13
Hi guys. I'm sick today and stayed home from school – which only sufficed to demonstrate how TERRIBLE I've become at being lazy. I've become way too efficient for my own good. So after practicing music, doing homework, painting my toenails purple and watching enough movies to bore me into a life of never watching movies ever again – I wrote this.
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine.
The hall was decorated lavishly, draped with decorations, and loud with the mindless chatter of a roomful of very important people. Somewhere in the background, a string quartet barely managed to have its sound rise up beneath the voices and the laughter. The team was greeted at the door by a bleach blonde hostess with a whitened smile who pointed them towards their table; it was to the front of the hall, close to the stage.
"What should we do?" Lisbon whispered to Jane.
"I don't know – mingle." He suggested, pointed to the back of Madeleine Hightower who was laughing with a small circle of tuxes with a glass of champagne in her hands. "Madeleine!" He caught her attention with a bright smile, lavishly opening his arms in a greeting. She turned and saw the team standing by their table; awkward, out of place. And Jane, in his zone, with that sparkle in his eyes, standing with his arm wrapped around Teresa Lisbon's waist.
"Patrick, Teresa! Everyone, its so nice to see you!" She said with a smile, exchanging hugs and handshakes appropriately towards the group. "And this must be little Jess! I've heard so much! Hi there." She gave a little wave to the little girl, who smiled shyly and hid behind her mother's legs.
"She's not usually this shy; normally you can't get her to shut up." Jane said with a fond smile, picking Jess up and putting her on his hip. "C'mon Jess, say hi."
"Hi." She said softly, then hid her face in Jane's neck again, earning chuckles all around.
"She's adorable. Looks just like you, Teresa."
They mingled and mingled and mingled for what felt like hours on end. Not one of the team members were the types for these events. They were state agents, law enforcers, used to carrying guns and badges, not wearing monkey suits. Not even Jane, showman extraordinaire, was able to fully enjoy the evening – or the delicious looks of surprise in the eyes of old colleagues when they saw the successful marriage he and Lisbon were maintaining, the beautiful child they were raising. He had been looking forward to those looks...
He was supposed to be completely smug right now, deliberately kissing Lisbon in front of the neigh-sayers with somewhat inappropriate vigor, showing Jess off with glowing pride. Instead he was clutching onto the little girl like she was a lifeline, never letting her out of his sight, always vigilant when someone came close.
Finally, the ceremony-master (some small-time celebrity with a fake tan and hair plugs) walked onto the stage and spoke into the microphone, asking everyone to take their seats.
He performed a mild comedy act for ten minutes or so, poking light and completely inoffensive (Boring, Jane thought) fun at the more well-known donors – those famous enough for everyone to get the jokes. After the cheesy monologue, with heavily-loaded adjectives and a wild gesture of his hand, he introduced the speaker for the night, who would also present the awards.
A young man walked on stage, earning polite applause, and once he reached the microphone and faced the crowd, Jane's blood became cold in his veins.
The young man – very young, early twenties – was dressed in a suit that was too big for him, had brown hair and deep-set brown eyes that contrasted his extremely pale skin. There was something about his mouth, his jawline, which seemed so hauntingly familiar. Something about the smile that stretched slowly upon his face as he started speaking into the microphone.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Reid Thompson; a lot of you might know me because of my mother and her many generous donations to the CBI and many other law enforcement agencies. Because of our involvement throughout the years, especially these last few, the agency has asked me, as a familiar face, to come present the awards to some agents who are being honoured for great bravery and achievements. And, of course, to convince you lot to reach deeper into your pockets." Some chuckles in the crowds at the failed humour. "So I've decided to start the night off with some positivity. Starting out with a very special award to some agents who have set amazing records that still stand today, years after the team has gone their separate ways..."
"Teresa, let's go..." Jane said, tugging at her arm.
"What?" She whispered. "It thought you wanted..?"
"I changed my mind, come, let's go..." He stood up and pulled her up, Jess half-asleep on her hip and coming with them.
"These agents have done a great good towards not only the agency, but also the citizens of California, having the fastest solving rate and highest solving statistics not only in the state, but also on a national level..."
They started moving beneath the tables to the narrow path that led to the exit. The team sensed his panic and followed his lead, standing up and following close behind.
"These remarkable law enforcers are Special Agents Kimball Cho, Wayne Rigsby and Grace Van Pelt, led by Senior Special Agent Teresa Lisbon,"
Beads of sweat broke out on Jane's brow when he saw how people started standing up from every table – one or two people at each table, and all with suddenly extremely sinister faces and all reaching towards either their clutch handbags or the back of their pants.
"And consulted..."
He clutches Jess closer to him, who was already pretty sure that something negative was going on and was whimpering softly. He was running now, and he heard the click-clack of Teresa's heels close behind him.
"By Mister Patrick Jane."
Just before they reached the doors, they were slammed shut and two rather scrawny-looking men stepped in front of them, aiming rifles at the group. In that moment, the standing people at each table drew their weapons and pointed them at the guests around them, earning a chorus of panicked yells and screeches.
Jane's eyes averted to the stage again, as if in slow motion, and he saw Reid Thompson, the speaker and apparently Red John, smiled cruelly, their eyes meeting.
"Hello Patrick." He said over the microphone.
Okay, so the entire function is the face-off. And was a set-up! Hopefully that was unique and original... Please review!
Much love, Zanny