The Mentalist - S1E1 - Pilot

Chapter 4

The team entered the room where the two murder victims were laid, with the medical examiner reading out their descriptions. Lisbon is joined by Jane, much to her annoyance.

"We have Gregory Tannen. Caucasian. Male. 43. Single. We haven't opened him up yet, but burn marks..."

"Sorry I went over your head. I'll redeem myself, I promise." Jane said to Lisbon.

"You want redemption? Be silent."

"Okay. I can learn to do that."

"Shh."

The medical examiner had stopped talking. She stared viciously at Jane and Lisbon, her glare demanding silence from the two.

"Sorry." Lisbon cracked a minuscule smile as she apologized to the nurse.

The nurse continued. "The burn marks here indicate that the victim was subdued by a stun gun. Standard civilian model by the look of it. Death appears to be caused by several blows to the back of the skull consistent with a bloodied golf club found at the scene."

Jane was more interested in Alison, the supposed Red John victim.

"Female is Alison Randolph. 27. Married. No children. They were found at her listed residence. TOD looks to be early Saturday evening. On Alison, we have the same stun gun marks followed by binding with tight black plastic ligatures, frenzied cutting and stabbing assault of the torso, and subsequent abuse of the viscera."

"Textbook Red John," Cho commented.

"Who found the bodies?" asked the head of the team.

"This one's husband, coming home from the airport Sunday morning with his brother. He's a pro golfer." Cho continued.

"Oh, yeah?" Rigsby inquired.

"Price Randolph."

Rigbsy shrugged.

Lisbon asked, "What's her deal with him? Do we know?"

Cho continued to showcase his knowledge of the case files. "Uh, he's on file as one of her physicians."

Lisbon: "Making a house call?

Rigsby: "Lovers?"

Jane had switched his observing eyes from Alison to Tannen. He was standing over his body when he answered Rigsby's question.

"No, this one's gay."

All four people turned around and away from Alison's body and stared at Jane questioningly at this comment.

The skeptical medical examiner spoke again. "Dr Wagner might know what their relationship was. He's here to make the formal ID."

"Okay," Jane whispered.

—

The team walked out the office and found Dr Wagner sitting on a bench. Lisbon approached him.

"Dr Wagner."

The aged man with a sullen look got up.

"Hi. I'm Agent Teresa Lisbon. California Bureau of Investigation. What's your connection to the victims?"

Dr Wagner: "I work with Gregory. Dr Tannen. And-and the Randolph family are longtime clients of our practice."

Lisbon: "Are house calls the norm at your practice?"

Dr Wagner: "No. Gregory and Alison were close friends."

Rigsby repeated his question from before. "Lovers?"

Dr Wagner: "No. He was gay. They were just friends."

Rigsby and Cho quickly glanced at Jane, who pretended not to be flattered at being right again.

Dr Wagner: "What in God's name happened to them?"

Rigsby made a quiet and dry comment addressed to no one in particular. "Looks like Red John." Lisbon was slightly annoyed by this unnecessary comment.

Dr Wagner: "Who's Red John?"

Lisbon: "We don't know who did this. We'll be in touch probably. Thank you."

Lisbon and Wagner shook hands as the team turned around to leave. Patrick Jane stared at Dr Wagner a moment too much, analyzing his person, his replies, and his claim of not knowing Red John.