The River With a Crimson Current-The Mentalist

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Wayne Rigsby

We've driven back to our unit at CBI and are waiting for forensics to send us the results. Cho's sat at his desk reading so I take this opportunity to call Grace.

"I'll be right back," I tell him. He grunts in reply so I leave. I decide to make the call in an empty interrogation room, where it's quiet and private.

I lean on the table and call her mobile, she picks up after a few rings.

"Hi," she says.

"Heya, are you okay?"

"We're both fine." She chuckles at something. "Uh-oh. Where's Ben gone?" I smile, knowing everything is going well.

"Has he been okay?"

"Yep, he's been a good boy, haven't you?" She talks to him again. I've never heard her like this before. She seems a natural.

"Good. I should be home earlier tonight. We've not got a lot so far on the case."

"Okay... We are fine here, Wayne. There's nothing to be worried about. But if there's anything wrong I'll call you, okay?"

Was the worry in my voice really that obvious?

"Okay." I see Cho walk past, obviously looking for me. "Look I've gotta go."

"Alright, bye. Love you."

"Love you too, see you later."

We both hang up and I run out of the room. Cho looks at me with his usual, expressionless face.

"What were you doing in there?" He asks.

"I had to make a call."

He grunts. "Forensics have got the test results."

I nod and follow after him.

I pick up a plastic bag containing a blurred business card.

"Ah yes. This proved to be difficult to decipher. However we came to the conclusion that that is not her business card. We believe it to be from a beautician or pharmacy. It's difficult to tell as it was obviously wet. But from the border and choice of ink colour, it's probably one of those two," a member of the forensics team tells me. I nod and put it back on the table. "If you need anything else my assistant here will help, I've got to go." She motions to the man talking to Cho.

"Thank you," I say and she leaves.

I scan through the other evidence bags. There's a necklace and the heart locket has been left open. It has a picture of a little girl, a few years older than Ben inside which seems to be completely undamaged. The only thing not ruined by her trip in the river.

"Hey, Cho. Do you have an ID for her?" I throw him the bag with the necklace inside.

"She wasn't in the criminal database."

Well I hope she isn't, she looks about five years old.

"So you don't?"

"No."

Then my office phone starts ringing. I rush over to it and pick it up.

"Agent Rigsby with the CBI."

"Hey," it's Lisbon. "Run a search on Blake Jenson, Peter Brinston and Adam O'Donnel."

I scribble down the names on a yellow post-it-note.

"Sure... We have the evidence reports. There's a business card belonging to another company and a heart locket with a picture of a young girl inside."

"... Okay. Get Cho to scan local businesses for the card," she orders.

"'Kay Boss. I'll call you back with the information."

We both hang up and I get to work.

I can understand why Grace wants to do more field work, typing at a computer isn't all that fun. Finally the page on the last person comes up. I scan through it and jot down some notes then pick up my phone and dial Lisbon's number.

"Rigsby, what have you got?"

"Adam O'Donnel is the only one with a previous conviction. He was sentenced for drugs about a year ago. But nothing since then."

"Okay. And Cho?"

"He's found the card match. It belongs to a pharmacy in the area."

"Right. Get Cho to run a background check on the men. We need to know as much about them as possible. I want you to search for family and any memberships or club passes she might have had. We'll check the pharmacy later."

"Okay Boss."

I dial off and tell Cho his orders. We both get down to it without speaking, not that Cho would, meaning the bullpen is quiet.

I get really bored after searching for half an hour, so decide to take a lunch break. Cho has finished his research and Lisbon and Jane are still out interviewing various people. I jump when my phone vibrates in my pocket and starts beeping. I rush to have a look incase something's wrong with Grace and Ben. It's not, everything's fine. She's just telling me how they're okay and not to be worried. Which calms me a little bit as I was unsure whether to leave him with her in first place as he can be a handful at times. I reply and lovingly return the kisses at the end.