Chapter 34 - Weakness

As they got out of the elevator the next morning Jane said brightly, 'So once more into the breach, eh?'

Lisbon nodded, agent mode fully back in control again. 'Let's get this damn case wrapped up already, shall we?'

They met Abbott who called them into a team briefing, checking with them first to make sure they would be able to continue on the case. He didn't normally like agents being involved in personal cases like this but knew that without their insight into this one he may never get the full story.

Jane said 'We're good, let's get to it, Dennis.'

Fischer informed them that there were still prescription pads at the house and were able to track a prescription written for the drug in question about a month ago. It looked like Eva Myles' handwriting, proof that she was implicated in Kerry's murder.

Jane nodded. 'Good, so where does that leave us?'

Fischer replied 'Well that should be enough to convict Eva on aiding and abetting at the very least. We also have her on attempted murder and being an accomplice to McAllister, although that's not as conclusive as I don't know if the AG will want to prosecute as it means opening up the whole Blake Association investigation again. Even on the aiding and abetting charge alone though we should get long enough to make sure she never sees the light of day again. We've checked her medical files and she has terminal cancer, she'll be lucky to live another six months in any case. What we really need is a motive from Julia, without it we've just got her confession and they can be shaky to get a conviction on never mind the fact she may retract it once she's spoken to a lawyer.'

Lisbon answered 'Thank god we don't have to talk to the mother again.'

Jane nodded. 'Okay, so let's get Julia back in here so we can get it.'

They broke up and Lisbon went to her desk.

Jane waited for her to get engrossed in something on her screen before he slipped away and headed down to the holding cells to see Eva Myles.

'Comfy enough for you?' he asked through the bars.

Eva smiled back at him. 'What an honour Mr Jane. Are you here to threaten my life after upsetting poor Teresa yesterday? There's really no point, I'll be dead soon enough.'

Jane nodded. 'I know and it gives me great pleasure that that's the case. Certainly saves me the bother.'

'So why are you here then? Do you want to know what Tom told me the night he killed Angela and Charlotte?'

Jane's expression turned icy and he was relieved the bars were between them as he wouldn't have been able to stop himself from reaching for her if they weren't.

Jane shook his head. 'No, I think I've heard more than enough bullshit from you as it is.' The last he wanted to hear was how much joy it gave them both, he had played enough mind games with McAllister and wasn't willing for this woman to begin torturing him too.

Eva looked mildly surprised. 'So?'

Jane composed himself again, pacing in front of the cell. 'I just wanted to tell you something actually before you shuffle off this mortal coil. You thought of him as a fearless and powerful man, didn't you? Some type of heroic figure who pulled you out of a life of drudgery and boredom with your husband, someone who gave you what you needed. You were too much of a wimp to do any of the killing yourself, you got your thrills by him describing the kills to you instead; you're much more of a voyeur than a killer. You tried that day, though, I'll give you that, just failed and because of that I killed him. Do you feel guilty about that? The man you adored was relying on you and you failed him. Pretty pathetic really, I'm hardly the strongest man and you even had the element of surprise.'

Jane stopped pacing and came face to face with her through the bars. 'Did you know he begged me for his life before I took it from him? Begged me for mercy?' he said staring into her eyes, enjoying the look of surprise in them.

He added, 'You think I'm lying? Trying to score a point after yesterday? You know I'm telling the truth. You wasted your life and now your daughter is going to waste hers too on someone who was weak and a coward at heart. You really think he didn't manipulate you into believing he was something other than that?'

Eva looked away, shaken for the first time since he had met her.

When Jane returned Lisbon looked up. 'Where did you take yourself off to?'

Jane shrugged and smiled back 'Why, did you miss me?'

Lisbon titled her head and raised her eyebrows questioningly.

Jane shrugged again. 'Don't fret, I didn't get myself into any trouble' he replied, before sitting down on the couch.

Lisbon turned back to her screen shaking her head. 'Julia and her lawyer are waiting for us in interrogation, are you ready to go?'

Jane got up again, scanning the Christmas photo of the Myles' family sitting on Lisbon's desk. 'Yip, let's go.'

Julia and her lawyer sat at the table as Jane and Lisbon came into the room. The lawyer introduced himself as Walker, a middle aged man with dyed hair and thin glasses. The lawyer spoke first. 'Miss Myles has told me of your threat to her mother's life, Mr Jane. Let me be clear that if there is another implied threat to my client or her mother then you will have a lawsuit on your hands and I will see to it that this charge is dropped.'

Jane sat across from him, his eyes widening and a grin fell across his face. 'Very good counsellor, great opening statement, you may want to use a little more conviction when you're in court though, you lost a little confidence towards the end there.'

Lisbon rolled her eyes as Walker replied, 'Mr Jane, you are not taking this seriously!'

Jane shrugged. 'Oh, counsellor, you have no idea how seriously I'm taking this. So enough of the grandstanding, eh? Your client has confessed to murder without any duress or threats from me, as much as I was tempted to make them. As for her mother, well she's about to drop dead any time now so there would no point in threatening her, would there?'

Jane turned to Julia. 'I'm guessing that's why you didn't confess after I talked of your mother before, eh Julia, you knew she was terminally ill anyway.'

Before Walker or Julia had time to respond he turned his attention back to Walker. 'You want to take me on in court? Go ahead, I promise to make you look as dumb as that choice of hair dye. Black, really? You think the secretary you're trying to impress doesn't know you're fifty already?' The lawyer's mouth was wide open in disbelief as Lisbon sat beside him hiding a smirk.

Jane continued 'So, the only way you or your client are going to get me going easy on you or her from the witness stand is for her to tell us why she killed Kerry Matthews.'

He looked at Julia now. 'You know you want to tell us Julia, I can see it in your eyes, your frustration that we haven't figured this out ourselves? Go on, tell us, and prove to us how clever you are.' Jane finally sat back, his hands crossed behind his head.

Walker gathered himself. 'Mr Jane, stop badgering my client-'

Julia placed her hand on his arm and interrupted him. 'Mr Walker, thank you for representing me but I want to speak to Mr Jane and Agent Lisbon alone.'

Walker looked perplexed. 'I'm your lawyer, Julia, I need to protect you from-'

'You're fired, all right, now get out!' she shouted.

Walker, still confused, gathered his papers. 'Fine, it'll be your funeral' he mumbled as he left the room.

Jane turned his head to her. 'That's the first good decision you've made. Now we're alone why don't you get started?'

Julia composed herself and began to speak.