I Bet on Losing Dogs - Patrick Jane

206 - Black Gold and Red Blood

Kenzie stood with Teresa and Patrick, listening to Rigsby talk about the case.

"We got Kirby Hines, 29-year-old local boy, welder. That's pretty much all we got," said Rigsby. "Local PD has stomped all over the crime scene, so I don't think forensics will be any use."

"It's like they don't even watch TV. Every toddler knows this stuff," said Teresa. A medical examiner walked up to them.

"Hey, Lisbon. How you doing?"

"Hey, Pat. Long time. What's the deal?"

"TOD looks to be yesterday afternoon, give or take. Your standard blunt-force trauma to the back of the head..."

"Maybe one strike followed by a couple of real widow makers."

"Length of wood, I'm guessing," said Kenzie.

"What's that on his face," asked Patrick. "Is that glitter? Huh. Yep."

"Riding that disco farm boy tip," yelled a man in the distance.

The three of them turned as a car horn honked. Kenzie sighed. "His family's here."

"Gonna get ugly, I expect."

"I'll see you later."

"Rigsby, Van Pelt, work the body," said Teresa. "Cho."

Teresa and Cho walked away.

"Interesting," said Patrick, looking at the crime scene.

"Patrick, come on," said Kenzie, guiding him away.

The two of them reached the crime scene tape, where a huge swarm of people stood in front of it, arguing.

"Don't tell me you didn't kill him, Ted."

"I got nothing against him. That poor boy is lying there."

"He's just fool enough to marry your daughter."

"You are going down, you're dead."

"Bring it right ahead, Dooley! Here I stand."

"You're dead!"

"Alright, that's enough," yelled Kenzie. "That's enough."

"You step out of my room," said a man. "Here I am, Dooley!"

"Back off, man! We're grieving, you clown!"

"Why don't you back up?!"

The man, Theodor Luscom, pulled out a knife.

"Awh... awh. How does that feel?"

Kenzie got her cuffs out and cuffed the man. "You're under arrest. Let's go."

The three of them, and Van Pelt escorted Ted to the police.

"Sir, let me get this straight," said Teresa. "The victim's wife is Donna Hines, and it was her brother Rod Gerber who told you to step back. Is that right?"

"My name is Theodore Luscom. I am a citizen of free California," said Theodore, causing Kenzie to roll her eyes. "I am a citizen of free California. The so-called federal and state authorities you work for are not legitimate. Therefore, I do not recognize your right to arrest or question me."

"Oh, please," sighed Teresa.

"You don't know it, but you people are just tools of the United Nations."

"Oh yeah, we know it," said Patrick. "They told us last June, laid it all out."

"Say what?"

"There was a change of policy. Had a big secretive meeting, told us exactly who we were working for. That, my friend, was an eye-opener, I tell you, wow."