The River With a Crimson Current-The Mentalist

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Patrick Jane

My senses awaken when I feel a presence that has a certain allure, a Lisbon allure.

"Lisbon?" I ask my eyes remaining firmly shut.

"Well done! I'm impressed. How did you know?"

I carefully hand pick this moment to greet the world. I blink and get my focus right, like a camera lens.

"You have a particular... Intrinsic essence."

"I'll take that as a compliment..."

"You should. It's a beautiful thing!"

She rolls her eyes and tosses my suit jacket onto my chest.

"Come on, we're going to visit your friend." She says and starts walking away.

"Who?" I call after her.

"Sam Davis."

I groan at the thought. Angry ex-hubby, take two.

We pull up at the house once again. We hop out of Lisbon's big car and do the same procedure we'd done yesterday.

Whilst we're waiting for him to open the door Lisbon murmurs some 'ground rules' in my ear.

"We pretend that yesterday never happened. You stay where I can see you, and don't do anything stupid."

"Okay." I hold my hands up in the air and do my innocent face. "What do you count as stupid?"

"Just don't show us up, and don't start accusing him of doing things he hasn't done."

"When have I ever wrongly accused somebody?" I say with a grin.

"I'm being serious."

"So was I."

The door unlocks and this time he answers with more... awareness.

"Yes?" He asks, he keeps glancing over his shoulder

"Patrick Jane, Teresa Lisbon," she says motioning to each of us at the mention of our names.

"What can I do for you? I don't wanna buy anything."

"We're... From the CBI, Sir."

"Not selling anything," I back her up.

He grunts and Lisbon looks at me. I take this as, "I'm handing over to you."

"We need to ask you some questions."

He looks me up and down then stands back allowing us entrance to the house. We step inside and he closes the door then leads us through to the lounge. We all take a seat on one of the two dingy couches.

"We need to ask you some questions about your former wife," Lisbon says. "When was the last time you had contact with her?"

"I haven't heard from Menna in years. She moved outta California and shacked up with some bloke in New York."

"Did you know she moved back here?"

"Here in Sacramento? No, she didn't tell me."

"But why should she? She obviously had no interest in you and showed no sign of being friendly towards you. What did you do wrong?" I ask. I can see Lisbon giving me the 'that's what I mean' look.

He looks at me with a glimmer of anger in his eyes. "Menna and I were in love! Don't start telling me we weren't! Sometimes things just happen! You don't even know me! Or her for that matter!"