At Twilight

At Twilight

     Sometimes she can’t sleep.  It isn’t because of nightmares or insomnia.  It isn’t because she is unhappy.  Sometimes sleep can’t come because she is too high on all the love in her life.  It seems surreal that she could have so much- every dream coming true.  The feelings are overpowering keeping her up making her stare at the blonde mane on the pillow beside her.  The airstream is cramped but she doesn’t mind.   He has big plans to make their cabin a paradise for them and the little one growing inside of her.   She may have raised her brothers and was a mama hen to everyone that came into her life but this is so different.  It is so much more.  She thought she could only have that great love for Jane but she already has it for a baby she hasn’t even laid eyes on yet.  

     So at twilight as Teresa Lisbon slides into the same, rough bed beside her husband all she can do is be grateful.  Be grateful that Jane came to her, that they were able to admit their love, that they got married and now shared a precious gift.   She runs her hand through his hair and he answers her question she didn’t know she was asking with closed eyes.  “Sleep, Teresa, it will all still be here in the morning.  You have my word.  When have I ever been wrong?”  She smiles softly to herself, places a kiss to his temple and closes her eyes.  Still unable to sleep as she basks in the happiness she never thought would be hers.

Part and Parcel

Part and Parcel

     It sat on her desk like some scary omen.  It was medium sized, the brown packaging nicely tapped together but it was from Jane.  The Jane who had disappeared for three days because he thought he had a Red John clue.  It was bogus of course as Lisbon had told him it would be.  A man claiming to be Orville Tanner’s kin said he had information, that he had seen Red John.  Soon Harvey Dweeb was no longer at his residence and Jane wasn’t parked on his couch.  Lisbon knew Jane had kidnapped…well persuaded Dweeb to join him on a journey somewhere to answer his questions in private.  Lisbon also knew this was so Jane could reach Red John first and gut his Moby Dick.  

     Jane was back with them but not talking spending all his time upstairs in his adult tree house.   Lisbon was ignoring him out of anger and fear.  She was rightly upset that he had gone off by himself, took someone with him and was going to parley himself into becoming an executioner.  She feared that one day he would never return that either he would accomplish his task or give up on life or just leave.  She did not know what she would be without him and she didn’t want to find out.    

     The hot mail room guy had dropped off the package to her and there it sat.  She had figured out what was inside of it and that was what seemed so scary- that he was preparing her for his eventual departure.  Jane, she realized, was trying to make her understand that he would not have a happy ending.  Sighing out loud, Lisbon gave me and took out her large metal scissors.  She opened the package carefully thinking she would find books on Mentalism so she could carry on his absence. It was a box of books but the first one she pulled out was Jane Eyre.  Lisbon looked at it as if it was a bomb ready to go off instead of a classic novel.  Looking at the label again she checked to make sure he hadn’t ordered this for Cho.  Seeing her name looking back at her she pulled out another- Wuthering Heights.  Did he feel she didn’t read enough?  It made no sense to her.

    By the time she was done she had eight books.  Along with the Bronte sisters books there was Little Women, Ethan Frome, Pride and Prejudice, The Invisible Man, Moby Dick, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Lisbon was so engrossed in looking at them with utter confession she never heard him slip in until his voice made her jump.

    “Well, Dweeb was an outright liar.”

    “For a guy who can read people so well you should have figured that by the last name alone,” she retorted.

     Jane shrugged, hands in his dark grey trousers,  “I bought him a lobster dinner, too.”

     “Dinner without a reward later, poor Jane,” Lisbon teased.

     “I see you received the reading materials.”

     “These? Yes.  You do realize that I don’t have a lot of spare time on my hands to go through a reading list of the classics.”

     Jane leaned back on the heels of his feet and shrugged.  “They might be helpful for you.”

      Lisbon picked up the Wells book. “I know these are great books and thank you for them but I guess I am just confused why you bought me these in particular.”

      Jane smiled brightly.  “Look closely my dear at the books, read them a little at a time and you will see why I did.  When you are have completed them we can discuss it if you are still confused over my intentions.”  

     “Jane, it will probably take me years to finish these.”

     “I know,” he responded and for a moment he let the mask slip and she saw the real him.  She understood then.  The books all had shades of how to decipher him.  It would take her a long time to read…he wasn’t going anywhere yet.  

     “Thank you,” she said meekly, trying to hide still behind her mask but failing she knew.

     “You are welcome, Teresa,” he responded before leaving her office. 

     She felt his presence still as she rubbed her hand over the classic book’s cover.  Opening the novel she turned to the first page ready to begin her journey to understanding better the blonde that complicated her life for the better.

Stakeout

Stakeout

     “So, how long does one of these stakeouts usually last?”  Patrick Jane asked sitting in the passenger seat of the Ford SUV.  

     The woman beside him shrugged.  “Depends.  Sometimes they can last for days other times only for a few hours.”

     “Days, huh,” Jane stretched his arms out in front of him, “Wake me then if anything good happens.”

      “You are going to sleep on your first stakeout?”

      “Yup,” he replied, closing his eyes.

     “A lot of help you turned out to be.”

     “Then maybe should not have asked me to join your merry little team.”  Jane snuggled into his seat, arms folded across his chest.

      “Maybe I shouldn’t have.”

      “Why did you, Lisbon?” he asked opening his eyes to look at the petite brunette.

      She kept her eyes in front of her looking at the house in question they were staking out that moment.  “You looked like a lost puppy that needed a home.”

     “Woof,” he said with a slight laugh and reclosed his eyes.

     “You also have a gift.”

     “No gift, I just learned to read people in order to con them well.”

     “It is a gift, Jane.  You have a talent for finding the truth.”

    “Meh,” he responded and felt a slap to his shoulder.  It hurt. A lot.  His eyes flashed open.  “Gee, Lisbon, you don’t have to go all violent on me.”

    “I merely tapped you,” she pointed to the house, “look.”

    Jane sat up and followed Lisbon’s finger to where it was pointing.  A black sports car had just pulled up in front of the house they were watching.  A man about 40 exited the sleek ride and walked up to the front door.  He knocked twice and waited his right foot tapping out a rhyme on the porch stoop.  The door opened to reveal their prime suspect in a murder case ushering the new player in.

    “Can you make out the license plate?” Lisbon asked Jane.

    Jane shook his head.  “Nope, I left my super hero eyesight at home tonight.”

    Lisbon rolled her eyes.  “I’ll be right back, don’t do anything stupid.”  She left her SUV and jogged over to the car her shoulder length bob swinging back and forth.

    Jane had never imaged that he would ever enjoy working for the cops.  But he did.  Not only did it bring him closer to finding and exacting revenge on Red John but it also give him a new purpose.  He had a reason to get up every morning and put on one of his old suits from his physic act.  He had fun teasing Rigsby and trying to break the Cho stare but it was Lisbon that brought him the most pleasure.  Sometimes he wanted to scream at her, other times he wanted to hug her but he always wanted to be around her.  Jane understood people well but this he couldn’t or wouldn’t let himself understand.  She had a hold on him he hadn’t felt since...his wife.

     Lisbon hopped back into the SUV and called the office asking Larry Patrone to do her a favor and find out about the license plate number.  A few minutes later Patrone called back and what he said brought a huge smile to Teresa Lisbon’s face.

     Jane watched her- the joy she got from knowing she was about to put the bad guy away.  She was pureness and light while he felt he was evil and dark.  He knew he didn’t belong in any part of her life but there was a tug some inertia that kept him from severing ties.  She had made him want to live again, to be a part of the world.  There were other feelings there, too but he classified it as basic male instinct and nothing more.  He couldn’t admit to himself how much he already cared.   

    “What brought that lovely smile to your face?”  Jane focused at what was at hand, easier than dealing with underlining issues.

    “That car is owned by one Tobias Kenderick.”

    “The heir to the gem fortune?”

    Lisbon nodded.  “Yes, now what would a multimillionaire be doing slumming it with a man under suspicion for killing a famous model?”

     Jane grinned, “Oh, dear Lisbon, he would only be here if he was paying off said man for the death.  A hired killer.  Now it makes more sense.”

     “You were right all long.”

     “I was?”

     “Yes, you said Lyle had a dark secret and he didn’t enjoy killing Vanessa.  He killed for cash not for any passion.  You were correct.”  She smiled at him. 

 “Now, we just need a confession.”

     Jane let his ego take over, “Pfft.  All you need is a confession.  I can have them both confessing in a matter of minutes.  We could grab breakfast, I know a great diner that serves some delicious eggs.”

     “Lyle didn’t confess before, Jane.  Plus I am not a huge egg fan.”

     Jane shot an eyebrow up.  ‘Do not tell me you like flat, tasteless pancakes.   You have never had my eggs, Lisbon.  They will bring such sensations to your mouth you will have to go directly to confession after one bite.”  He smirked when he saw that even in the dark her cheeks had blushed. 

     “Maybe I will change my mind about the eggs but first we need a plan to get both Tobias and Lyle.”

     “Hmmm,” Jane said, tapping his lips with his index finger.

     Tobias left the house then getting into his car.  Lisbon slammed her hand into the stirring wheel.  “Shit!  He’s leaving.”

     “Turn on the car, Lisbon.”

     “You have a plan?”  Lisbon asked starting the engine.

     “Not yet but I will.”

     The sports car’s engine came to revving life.  “Think fast, he’s leaving!”

     “Okay,” Jane said, undoing his seatbelt and leaving over the console as far as he could.  Before Lisbon could speak he put the vehicle into drive and moved his leg next to Lisbon’s.  There was a momentary spark but he ignored it as he slammed his foot into the pedal and the SUV went flying into the side door of the sports car.

     Jane’s body propelled forward slamming into the glass of the front window.  Physical pain was something he knew how to deal; emotional pain was a much different animal.

    “What the fuck, Jane!” Lisbon yelled at him before she tenderly touched a cut on his forehead.

     “Lisbon,” he started.

     “Yeah?”

     “Tobias Kenderick is getting out of his car.”

    Lisbon locked eyes with him a second more and then left her own damaged vehicle telling the millionaire to get on the ground, and pointing her glock at him.  Sirens came from the distance but all Jane could hear was Lyle Morse who had came out of his house spilling the beans on what Tobias had asked him to do.  

     After the hubbub had died down, Jane’s refusal of medical treatment, the SUV towed away, the confessions all recorded, Jane heard Minelli coming from his office.

     Jane was lying on his couch pretending to sleep, taking it all in.  His eyes were closed but he could picture it all in his mind.  Lisbon’s office didn’t have walls so it was easy to hear Minelli’s voice.

    “Lisbon, you had a long day yesterday and a very long night.  Go home, get some rest.”

     Lisbon was countering his argument, telling her boss she was fine.  Minelli was a smart man though he said that Cho and Rigsby wouldn’t leave until she did.  Eventually Lisbon gave in and agreed.

     Jane stayed on the couch as he heard her footsteps approach.  This was his favorite part of any day- when she came to wake him.  “Jane,” she said softly, her breath at his ear, “Jane, can you hear me?”  Her warm, small hand touched his shoulder and he opened his eyes unable to hide his dopey smile.  “Minelli is sending us all home.”

     “Ah, okay, I will just stay here, no real home anymore to go to.”  He meant it as a joke but he saw the look in her eyes.  “Lisbon, don’t worry I-“

     “I was wondering if you could bring me to the diner with the life changing eggs.  I am too charged up to sleep and I am starving like Rigsby on a day of fasting.”

     “Well, I can’t let you go all Godzilla on some food all alone.  It might sully your good girl reputation.”

     Lisbon smiled, “Only thing though, I am driving from now on and no more smashing my vehicle into another.”

     “Well, I wasn’t planning to do that at the diner,” Jane retorted, standing up and stretching.  “Lisbon, my plan worked though didn’t it?”

     “It was a stupid plan, Jane,” she said as she started out to the elevator.

     “But it worked.”

     “Pure luck.”

    “Pure genius.”

     “Maybe I should ask Rigsby if he wants to grab some eggs.”

     “Bite your tongue, woman.”

      Lisbon instead bit her lip which sent a shiver up his spine.  “These better be damn good eggs to make up for last night’s debacle.” 

     The elevator doors opened and they both entered.  “But it worked,” he repeated.

     She slapped him on the chest and he muttered an ouch.   “Fine, it worked.  Not half bad for your first stakeout.”

     “Stakeouts are more pleasant with you, Lisbon,” Jane said as the elevator doors closed on the pair.

Boy Wonder

Boy Wonder

    There was nothing but blue skies, not one single cloud.  That made the day hot but while everyone else complained it didn’t bother Patrick Jane.  He had long learned to be able to control the body impulse to sweat or to shiver.  Dead giveaways when you are planning a con.  The carnival had just arrived at Miller’s Field and everyone was pitching in to set up the tents, get the rides going.  Everyone except the blonde, curly haired boy lying in the grass.  

     “Patrick!” He heard his father’s voice yelling for him but he didn’t bother to move.  Yes, Alex Jane could get angry enough to slap or sometimes punch but Patrick had learned to take it with ease.  He imagined the pain of the strike as energy going down inside of him.  He would then use that energy for his next mark.  In a way getting slapped sometimes was the best thing for him.  

     “Boy, what are you thinking?” a voice said above him, blocking out his sun.

       He smiled up at her.  “Hi, Sam.  Just taking a break of freedom.”

       “Keeping taking breaks while your dad is looking for you is not wise, kiddo.”  Sam shook her head at him.  She was just a few years older than him but already wonderful at training the animals.  She was good at the cons herself assisting once the magician in a magical act and really stealing the show.  Patrick knew that Pete, one of the twenty something lads who trained the elephants, was sweet on her but reluctant to say anything.  Sam sighed.  “Your funeral if Daddy catches you, Paddy.”  She left him on the hill in the grass.

         Eventually his father found him and nearly pulled him up by the ear.  He said his usual barge of swears and insults and donned one quick hit to the cheek.  It was over quickly and Patrick fixed his clothes and went to help sent up their tent.

        Patrick was “Boy Wonder” who would play a fun guessing game with the audience members.  They thought he was physic.  Of course it was all little tricks his father taught him.  Alex Jane had been a great con artist.  He had swindled a great deal of money and belongings from many a rich person.  He had had pride that he was one of the best.  Sometimes it didn’t sit well with him that Patrick was even better.

     Alex had met Patrick’s mother at a card game in San Francisco.  She was a professor of literature at Berkley and was brilliant.  She had natural blonde hair and green eyes that sparkled.  Alex wasn’t trying to con her; he was a man in love.  He courted her in an old fashion way- buying her flowers, bringing her for picnic lunches, keeping it chaste for as long as he could.  They eloped in Vegas totally and blissfully in love.  Alex was a changed man.  He took a regular job as a janitor of the public library.  His cons ended- his fun was in being with Claire.  Two years after their marriage they welcomed a son which they named Patrick. 

     Alex was a happy man.  He had everything.  Little Patrick taught himself to read before three between spending time with his mother and hanging out at the library his father cleaned.  Everything was perfect.  Or so it seemed until the night Alex returned home from work to find his wife dead in the bathtub, wrists slit and his son crying beside his dead mother.  She didn’t leave a note, no explanation to why she did what she did.  Alex couldn’t understand it.  He couldn’t deal with the tragedy before him.  He quit his job and did one con then another moving around.  Patrick was taken from him several times and put into foster care for a while.  He couldn’t connect with his son anymore though.  Every time he looked at those eyes, that hair, he saw his dead wife.  Alex didn’t want him anymore.  Not until he realized he had a gift.

     Patrick proved before 9 years old that he could cold read any situation.  He was gifted.  Alex knew he had to put his feelings aside- Patrick could make him a fortune if he honed his natural skills enough.  He asked his sister if she would take the boy in for a bit and then Alex got himself a permanent job with a carnival.  

     Now though Alex found himself wanting the kid gone.  He hogged all the limelight and was arrogate about it.  He no longer looked young either and soon the act would change.  Less money for him to live on.  

     When they were done setting up the tent, the chairs, the stage, Patrick put a tea kettle on the small stove they had.  This reminded Alex of Patrick’s mother who hated coffee and would only drink tea, milk first.   

    Alex watched him sipping his tea and anger boiled inside of him.  “I think you are old enough for me to tell you what happened to your mother.”

    “She killed herself, I know, I was there,” the young man didn’t flinch a muscle.

    “You remember that?”  Alex Jane looked at his offspring with unbelieving eyes.

     Patrick set down his tea.  “Some things you never forget.  That day will be one thing forever etched in my mind.”

     “Do you know why she did it?”  It was the question Alex always wanted an answer to.

     Patrick rubbed at his neck.  “She told me she wasn’t feeling well.  She told me to be good for you.  Mom gave me a kiss on the top of the head and went into the bathroom.  A bit later I heard her cry out in pain.  I didn’t move.  I just sat on the floor until there was silence.  I called out to her, she didn’t answer.  I opened the door and she was like you found her.  I don’t think we will ever know why she did it.  She probably didn’t know while she was ending her life.” Patrick picked up his tea and resumed drinking it.

     Alex got up from his chair.  “I need to take a walk.”

    “Okay,” Patrick answered matching his father walk off.  This time when he put the tea cup down his hand shook slightly and tea spilled.  He could keep his emotions in check the majority of the time but once in a while he couldn’t stop himself from feeling again.  When he did sometimes the emotional were too powerful and scared him.  He never wanted to lose control like his mother had. 

     After his tea his father hadn’t returned so Patrick went back to the spot on the hill and laid down in the grass.  It was nearly night now, the lights had started being turned on.  He looked at the stars above just beginning to show.  A part of him wondered if his mom was somewhere up there.  He flicked a tear from his lashes and tried to steady his pulse.  His boy wonder act would start up again the next day he couldn’t have puffy eyes.  He bit his lip as another tear fell and suddenly he was back in that bathroom crying, holding his mother’s hand.  He blamed himself.  Maybe he was too much for her, maybe he did something wrong.  Maybe he was not worthy of her love.  Patrick couldn’t will the emotions away- the sobs came out of him and his whole body shook. Tomorrow the cons would begin but at that moment he was just a young man missing his mother.