I Bet on Losing Dogs - Patrick Jane

111 - Red John's Friends

Patrick, Kenzie, and Teresa sat in Minelli's office. Apparently, Patrick wanted to prove a man's innocence in exchange for information about Red John.

"No," said Minelli. "I said no. And I mean no. It's not that I don't want to help you. I want to help you. But it's not physically possible. Jared Renfrew was tried and convicted. It's a closed case. I have no authority to re-open it without cause."

"There is cause," said Patrick.

"For you there's cause. Not for the State of California. We can't touch it."

"But we could–"

"-- Closed case. Nothing to be done. The Justice Department doesn't go about undoing its own work."

Patrick restrained himself. "I understand. No problem. If we can't touch it, we can't touch it."

"I'm sorry."

Patrick stands up. "Hey, no. The law is the law. My desire for revenge doesn't outweigh the rules. I have to accept that."

"I'm glad you understand."

"Thanks for your time."

Patrick walked out.

"Lying through his teeth, isn't he?"

"Yes," said Teresa.

"Absolutely," said Kenzie at the same time.

"Don't let him out of your sight," said Minelli, looking at Kenzie.

"What? I'm not a spy. I'm not spying on him."

"But you have to keep him under control somehow."

"How? This is the reason he's alive. To find Red John."

"He's going to go crashing into this thing and cause a huge mess. I can feel it."

"Yeah, it was bound to happen some day. You knew that from day one."

"Do you really want to lose him? Because that's what'll happen if he goes off the rails. We lose him."

🙂

Patrick started getting his stuff together. Kenzie quielty walked up to him.

"Patrick, I know better than to try and stop you from doing what you think you have to do," said Kenzie.

"No, no. I'm fine with it. I can see Minelli's point. I can't be running after every nutbag with a good story, can I?"

"Right," skeptically said Kenzie. "You're fine with it. Will you, at least, do me the favor of listening to me for a minute? So I can say I told so later?"

"Yes." He turned toward her.

"Jared Renfrew was found hugging the corpse of Undine Kopecki in a windowless room, locked from the inside. He was naked, high as a kite, with a bloody butcher knife in his hand. His semen was found inside of her. He'd been stalking her for weeks. He has a history of violence going back 15 years."

"What's your point?"

"He's guilty and you're being conned."

"Possible. I don't think so. But I have to find out, one way or the other."

"Even if he's telling the truth about the murder, he could still be lying about Red John."

"Also possible. I have to take the chance. What else can I do?"

Kenzie tried. "Minelli wants me to keep an eye on you."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm not going to follow you around nor is Res. Let's compromise. When you get into trouble, call me first, so I can try to limit the damage."