Cho handed a clean phone to each of them and Jane asked for a second one, which he got after Lisbon had given an affirmative nod. They grabbed their jackets and left the office. Lisbon was stopped and bombarded with questions at least a dozen times on their way out of the building, but they finally managed to get to the parking lot. They took one of the bigger SUVs and made their way to the City Hall.
When the big building came into view, Patrick called Madeleine Hightower from his normal phone, figuring that hers wasn't clean anyway. He asked her outside to discuss an urgent matter with her and made it very clear that it had to be now and that it was essential they meet in the open.
From what the others in the car could gather, it took some persuasion to get her to meet him at once and at his conditions, but he succeeded. They left the car and found a spot that was both secluded and open enough to make it impossible to spy on them without being noticed. Grace had even remembered to take along a blanket from the car so the whole thing really looked like a team picnic.
Only minutes later Madeleine Hightower appeared with an irritated expression on her face. But when she spotted the whole team with Lisbon included, her features relaxed and she greeted them warmly. "What a nice surprise," she said. "And here I thought this was some illicit scheme of his." She motioned in Jane's direction. "Though you could've just told me you wanted to share a picnic with me, Patrick, instead of worrying me like that."
"I'm afraid there is a lot of reason for worry, Madeleine," Teresa replied seriously. "This might look like a picnic but unfortunately it's just a guise."
Hightower sighed heavily. "Let me guess: this is about Red John?"
"Afraid so," Jane said. "We need your help. We know who he is and you're one of the few people high up that we trust isn't in league with him."
"You know who he is?" their former boss asked with a skeptical expression.
Lisbon nodded. "We have actual proof, ma'am."
"Well then: out with the truth," Madeleine demanded.
"First we need your promise that you won't jeopardize this and let us take the lead. You might think you have to inform your superiors or something like that, but this has to stay between us. We can't trust anyone. If you're not willing to agree to these terms, I'm afraid we can't tell you," Jane insisted.
She cast him a disapproving glance. "I'm not sure I can give that promise without further information."
"Then our business here is over," Jane said and got up.
Lisbon held her hand up to stop him. "Hold your horses, Jane. Madeleine, this is really serious and for once I fully agree with Jane's terms. You have to trust us on this one."
Hightower sighed and took a seat on the blanket, motioning for the consultant to return as well. "Alright. I guess I owe you that much."
"This was a mistake," Jane suddenly exclaimed, still making no move to sit down. "I didn't think this through, I'm sorry." He shook his head and looked sadly at them. "Madeleine, you should just forget we ever contacted you. I'm so sorry we got you involved. This is dangerous information and you have your children to think of. I hope it isn't too late already." He buried his face in his hands. "I'm so sorry. I never think clearly when it comes to that bastard. Please forgive me."
Their former boss sighed. "Patrick, I've been on his shortlist for years now. I know I'm in danger from him. My children are both at a boarding school. They love it there. I made the decision to send them away when I came back to Sacramento. I knew the risks and though it pains me to be away from them, I know they are happy and relatively safe." She motioned once more for Jane to take a seat. "Sit down. I want that bastard dealt with nearly as much as you do. I live in fear of him every day. And if I can do anything to help, I will. So sit down." She cast him one of her strict, commanding looks and he obeyed. "Now I want facts."
They got her up to date with Lisbon summarizing the facts, avoiding carefully mention of anything that gave away her changed relationship with her consultant. When she was finished and Cho had handed Hightower a clean phone, the former CBI agent said, "Well, that's a real shock I must say. But the facts are irrefutable. What can I do?"
"Not sure right now," Jane replied. "He knows that we know, so I expect him to act sooner rather than later. Now that we have a name and a face, his chances of escape are distinctly lower than before, so I anticipate some kind of final stand." After a deep breath he added, "He could of course try to hide behind another identity, but we have his DNA, his fingerprints, his looks…"
He cast them all a serious glance and told them quietly, "It's just a hunch, but I think he's tired of this game as well. He's changed his style ever since Carter. It's only been about me these last few years. And he actually told me repeatedly that he wants me to be his friend and start a new life. Somehow it feels like he kind of means it." With a shudder he went on, "And he seems to have some twisted feelings for me and I have refused him several times and now cost him his job and the chance to be close to me. He'll want to punish me and at the same time go down in a blaze of glory, for want of a better word." With his eyes cast down at his lap he subjoined in a whisper, "And I'm quite afraid he wants me to go down with him."
"Well then we'll have to make sure it doesn't happen that way," Cho said with determination, patting his friend's arm. He knew that Lisbon longed to comfort her boyfriend but wouldn't dare to do it in a public place and in front of Hightower. And Jane obviously needed the reassurance because he looked like a beaten puppy. Seeing him at this very moment showed just how tired and crestfallen the other man was after nearly a decade of being spited and scorned by a psychopath. And with the threat against Teresa to boot you had one desperate man.
"Yes," both Rigsby and Van Pelt agreed emphatically with Cho's statement.
Teresa was torn. All her instincts told her to hug Patrick. He looked so lost. But with her former superior around she didn't quite dare. But didn't his needs outweigh the embarrassment she would certainly feel after such a public display? Fortunately her second in command had jumped in and offered at least a bit of comfort. But Patrick's eyes were still downcast and his shoulders slumped. His whole demeanor showed defeat and that scared her. She needed him to stand strong and not give up now that they were closer to Red John than ever.
"Patrick, look at me," she ordered, having made up her mind. She had to reach him somehow. Maybe words would be enough, but if necessary she would comfort him in other ways, propriety be damned. She was relieved when he at least looked up. She didn't really like what she saw. His expression was one of hopelessness. "We're close, closer than ever, Jane. I know it's frightening, but the end is near and I need you strong and determined. We've come this far and we'll see this through together."
Jane jumped up and started to pace. "I don't know where you get that damn optimism from. The bastard still holds all the cards. So we know who he is. Big deal. He probably has freaking moles in all law enforcement units in this god-awful state! We can't even trust a darn SWAT team to do its job if need be!" He ranted angrily. "And he still dictates every fricking thing. We just stumble around in darkness and wait for the bastard to make his move and kill someone else I love. And I can't think! I've no effing idea what to do. Feels like every move just digs the hole deeper. I hate this! I HATE THIS!"
TBC
It's a bit short, but it seemed a good place to stop.
BTW: I know, that Jane doesn't usually use profanity like that, but he's understandably agitated, so I ask you to cut the poor guy some slack...
And finally: Reviews are like picnics in the summer sun: they make me feel all warm and contented.
