Chapter Four

The trail of Lorelei Martins' murder ran cold before they'd even sunk their teeth into the matter, as was expected with a Red John case. The murder had been little more than a message that Red John was still out there and a way of disposing of loose ends, as far as Lisbon was concerned.

'Rigsby and Cho, I'd like you to speak to the tenants on the first floor whilst Jane and I will cover this one.'

They left Van Pelt in her own apartment to contact the landlord whilst Lisbon walked across the hallway towards the first door. No answer. The second door opened a crack when a little old lady appeared.

'Hello, I'm Agent Lisbon,' said Lisbon, holding up her badge. 'This is Patrick Jane, we're with the CBI.'

'Pardon?'

'We're with the CBI,' Lisbon said louder and held the badge closer for the woman to check her identification.

The door closed and they could hear the sound of the latch being removed before it opened fully.

'You're very handsome,' the lady said loudly as she linked her arm with Jane. Lisbon smiled and stood in the entrance hall.

'We work with Grace Van Pelt who lives upstairs, she comes to visit you sometimes,' said Lisbon. 'You're Mrs Larton?'

'Mrs Larton,' said the lady holding out her hand for Jane to shake. They followed her into the lounge where they sat down.

'Mrs Larton,' Jane said, before Lisbon could even begin to speak. 'Do you know the woman who lives in the apartment across the hall?'

'The apartment across the hall?' she asked, looking a little confused. 'Nobody lives in that apartment; it's been empty for months. Nobody ever comes by.'

'There was a young lady who had been staying there,' said Lisbon, pulling a photograph up on her phone and holding it out to the woman. 'Lorelei Martins.'

'Martin? That's a funny name for a girl. I've never seen her before.'

'A woman was found dead, Mrs Larton,' Jane said kneeling in front of the woman. 'You must know something; you live right across the hall.'

Mrs Larton's eyes grew wide as Jane stared at her. Lisbon gave him a moment in the hope that he had a plan that would give them something to work with. But Mrs Larton only looked scared. Lisbon reached a hand out to pull Jane away but he brushed her off and continued firing questions.

'Did you hear any sounds? Did you see any people? She was a young woman, you probably don't go out much, you must have seen something.'

The moment a tear strolled down Mrs Larton's face, Lisbon wrapped her arms around Jane's shoulders and pulled him back.

'Go and wait for me in the hallway,' she said, her voice abrupt and stern. Jane shrugged her off and followed her request as Lisbon sat down beside Mrs Larton. 'I'm really sorry about that, I'm sure you can understand that we're under a lot of pressure.'

Mrs Larton nodded with a wistful smile. 'My Charlie was a police officer, he died on duty.'

'I'm sorry to hear that. I have to go now Mrs Larton,' said Lisbon, standing up and moving towards the door. Mrs Larton followed. 'Thank you for your time.'

Out in the hallway Jane was already knocking on the next door, his fingers rapping hard against the wood. Lisbon marched up to him and pulled him away from the unanswered door.

'You're obviously not ready to be back at work, go home Jane,' said Lisbon, attempting to remain calm and caring despite the tenacity in her voice.

'No,' he replied.

'You will go home right now,' she tried again.

'Or what?'

'Or I'll put a request in to Bertram that you be removed from duty until you seek some help. This kind of behaviour is not acceptable whether it's a Red John case or any other case.'

'Red John is mine,' he snapped, standing firmly in front of her. 'I am not leaving.'

'Fine,' said Lisbon, pulling out her handcuffs. 'Then I'm arresting you for obstructing a police investigation.'

x

Lisbon returned her belongings to her office before going out into the bullpen to speak to Jane. Van Pelt sat at her desk hard at work after having brought Jane back to the office. The moment Lisbon entered the bullpen, Van Pelt made an excuse and left.

'I'm sorry,' she said, moving towards the couch. Regardless of Jane's behaviour, Lisbon knew that it had been her own fault for allowing him out on the case with his current state of mind.

Jane opened an eye as Lisbon stood in front of his couch. He closed it again promptly and for a moment she thought he was ignoring her. About to argue his childishness, Lisbon sighed as Jane interrupted her.

'For what?' he said, opening his eyes again. 'You're right.'

'I'm sorry, what did you say?'

The shock of his words left Lisbon taken aback. Jane never apologised and he certainly never admitted his wrongdoings. Despite her own responsibility in his actions, she still had to accept that Jane was and always would be a law unto himself. She'd tried time and time again to control him and had failed every time. Still, she felt guilty for not having done more to help him.

'I said, you're right,' replied Jane.

Lisbon raised an eyebrow and rested her hands on her hips. 'That's a new one.'

'Sometimes I do make mistakes, Lisbon.'

'Yes, but you hardly ever admit to them.'

'True.'

Sitting down beside him, Lisbon let out a sigh. The week had been particularly stressful and Jane's inability to be a respectful human being when he was feeling the strain often left her more tired than she would have liked.

'You look like you could use an early night,' said Jane, leaning back against the couch.

'I'm fine,' she muttered, smiling at him. He was right; of course he was right, he was Jane.

Jane's way of reading people didn't mean that Lisbon had to lie down and give in though, she was stubborn. A trait she'd gotten from her father a long time ago. If she could have changed it, she didn't think she would have. It got her to where she was today; it gave her a career that she excelled at. Maybe she wasn't entirely happy with the direction her life had taken but that didn't mean she wasn't grateful for what she did have.

'You should take a break,' said Jane, slipping down on the sofa until he was closer to Lisbon. She smiled and listened as he told her stories of places he'd visited with his late wife. Sometimes she longed to see the places that others had seen, then she remembered the pressures she was under at work and the idea usually slipped away.

'I have always wanted to visit China,' she said, sighing.

'China,' repeated Jane.

Lisbon turned to face him. He was handsome; she'd always recognised that feature of her consultant. He alluded something special; an air of mystery which she imagined would appeal to many people. She pictured him travelling the world with his wife by his side, jet setters, joining the mile high club and celebrating their marriage in many different languages.

'You've been to Paris?'

'My fifth wedding anniversary,' he muttered, a smile spread to his eyes before sadness overtook that moment of joy.

'How was it?'

'Romantic, very romantic.'

They sat in silence for a while, Lisbon watched as Jane stared around the room. It wasn't until he turned back to her, a smirk shining on his face that she realised that something was happening. The what of the situation eluded her, he was charming which was a trait she'd seen many times. But there was something more, a vulnerability that she didn't see very often.

'I,' she whispered, shaking her head as she pulled herself out of the situation and away from the couch. 'I should go home.'

x

A gentle tapping roused Lisbon from a daydream, the television continued to play in the background and though she'd been staring at the screen, she couldn't remember a single thing about the show that was currently playing. She rubbed her eyes and traipsed across the living room, she didn't know what time it was but the gentle tapping had grown into a louder, more prominent knock.

'Jane?' she said, surprised at his presence on her doorstep for the second time in a week. She stepped to one side, barely questioning his appearance as she allowed him entrance to her home. 'What…?'

'I needed to see you,' he muttered, wrapping his hands tightly around her cheeks and neck before pressing his lips hard against her own. She stumbled back a foot in shock at his actions, then she responded in the only way she felt able to, deepening the kiss.

'We can't,' she said, in between the soft, lingering kisses. 'Work.'

'Screw work,' said Jane, sliding a hand up alongside her waist, skirting around the edge of her shirt until his cold fingers explored Lisbon's warm skin. She winced at his touch until their temperatures levelled out.

'I,' she began but the words disappeared into another kiss. Jane's mouth focused entirely on her own. They stood in the middle of her living room, attached at the mouth as Jane's fingers continued to explore her torso. Lisbon rested her hands onto his chest, closing her eyes as she enjoyed each and every silent moment between them.

They slowly moved away from the living room, Jane's body pushed her back towards the stairs. Though her mind was telling her that the brief disruption was a good time to put a stop to the madness, Lisbon's heart overruled her mind. She couldn't think of anything but the passion bubbling up inside, a desperate urge to fulfil some unresolved emotion. She pressed a hand down on the door handle and with one swift push against the door, they stumbled onto the carpet at the foot of her bed.

Lisbon laughed, a throbbing pain hitting her lower back until she removed the stray shoe from beneath her. Jane smirked then captured her lips once more, removing her shirt as he dragged her from their previous relationship status into something new, something which she needed little encouragement for. Passion controlled her and for the first time in a long while, she allowed it to happen, regardless of all of the worries that usually sought a place in the conscious of her mind.