Chapter 2: Top Demand

Abbott and Fischer

Well before starting time Fischer knocked and entered, not waiting for the "come." Abbott looked up from paperwork on the apprehension of one Patrick Jane.

"Fischer." He slid the papers to the side. "Good flight?"

She shook her head. "No ten-hour flight is 'good.' Bet it was torture with your bad back."

Abbott grimaced. "All we can do now is make it pay off. –You got Jane to bite after he turned me down. How?" Abbott looked at her speculatively.

Abbott was her mentor. But he was still a man and she hated his not‑so‑subtle speculations. She answered in a clipped voice, "According to plan. Made contact, struck up a conversation. Over dinner I suggested different ways of looking at things. I saw him just before leaving and dropped a few additional thoughts."

Abbott raised his eyebrows appreciatively. "Succeeded. We're meeting in–" he looked at his watch, "two hours. Question is, why did he come back and how can we use that?"

Fischer shifted uncomfortably. "He still wears his wedding ring. He's not over it," she hurried to add, "though I think he's still sharp-"

"-He's sharp all right. Set us up to take down the local drug lord. Apparently for his own amusement."

Fischer shook her head and plunged on with her thought, "-but he took it off before dinner."

Abbott perked up. "So he can be ... swayed?"

She looked at him icily, lips pursed. "He recalled how much he liked the work. Misses the US, speaking English, being 'understood.' He's ... complicated. Didn't even mention money or position. Or prison." She set aside her annoyance. Abbott's insinuations stemmed from his opinion of Jane, not her.

"He was free there, returned for something else. Now, of course, freedom is a bargaining chip." Abbott opened a folder and slid a photocopy to her. "Look at this."

"'My Terms'?" she read. "Jane's?" After swiftly skimming them she looked up, surprised and dismayed. "You agreed to these?"

"He thinks so. I look forward to correcting that error."

"Working with Teresa Lisbon is his first demand. Next, dropping charges and the parole provision. –The rest are trivial or garbage - yanking your chain."

Smugly, "People can't always have what they want, can they? He's a con man and murderer. He works for the FBI or rots in prison. Not exactly negotiating from strength."

She sat forward. "Dennis, I want this. You said he'd be on my team–"

"–Which may be a mistake. Kim, you think you can bottle that closed case lightening. What if he self-destructs and takes you with him?"

She purred, "But if I'm right, he'll make us both look good. I will do whatever it takes."

Abbott smiled thinly, "Don't let ambition trump your judgment. My interest is figuring out just who Patrick Jane is. Two years into cleaning up Blake I still don't know how he fits. Meet me outside Conference 3 at five to."

Cho

"Lisbon." Cho's voice wasn't loud, but it carried as she left the hotel promptly at 8:30 a.m.

"Cho! Uh, – was I supposed to expect you?"

"No. Give you a lift." She followed as he walked to his SUV. Lisbon's mellowing, Or she's distracted because of Jane. They soon were driving toward the FBI building.

"The FBI provides taxi service now?"

"Official business." Unexpectedly Cho pulled off into a small park.

She frowned. "Cho?"

"Nice day." Cho took his cell phone out, held it up, then put it in the glove compartment. She looked hard at him, then tossed hers in. He gave a small nod. After a silent ten minute walk they found a park bench and sat down. There were few people around despite cool morning temperatures.

Lisbon opened. "Why the hell did I learn Jane was back from Abbott? You couldn't give me a heads up?!"

Looking out at the scenery, "No. I didn't know any sooner."

"You didn't? And what's with the cloak-and-dagger?"

He took a breath and released it slowly. "Abbott doesn't trust me. I need to ensure our privacy."

"What's going on?"

"Abbott recommended against my FBI application. After I finished training no SA's wanted to give me a shot. Blake fallout. Abbott offered me a job. I took it."

"Why?"

"'Either you'll be a hell of an agent. Or you'll be exposed as part of Blake. Either way, I win.' Direct quote."

"Geez, Cho. I had no idea."

Cho shook his head, annoyed they'd gotten sidetracked to his business. "I found out about Jane yesterday when they had him on a plane."

"He's okay?" She stopped breathing till Cho nodded.

"Came willingly. FBI wants him to work for them. Not Abbott, his bosses. Rumor has it you're first on Jane's list of demands."

"What does that even mean?"

Patiently, "FBI hires you to work with Jane. Or Jane won't work with them."

Head spinning, Lisbon tried to take in the implications. Here one night and he's blowing through my life like a tornado. Cho got up.

"We'll be late."

"Cho, what if I don't?"

"The FBI will charge him with murder if he doesn't work for them. Sorry I couldn't warn you sooner." He got up and they walked back to the SUV.

"I owe you."

Silence reigned for the rest of the ride.