Kenzie leaned against Grace's desk as Teresa talked about their upcoming meeting.
"You all set for tomorrow?" asked Teresa.
"Nope," said Kenzie.
"12 o'clock sharp, we're ready," said Grace.
Patrick walked in. "You're talking about lunch? That sounds civilized."
"You got the memo," said Teresa.
"We're talking about the mandatory seminar on budget protocols," explained Kenzie.
"Oh, have fun with that."
"Uh, no. You're coming too."
"You're joining, of course. I don't do seminars."
"We do when it's mandatory."
"No, I'm a consultant."
"Oh well. They're checking attendance. You have to sign in."
"Oh. Okay then. Um..." Patrick grabbed a notepad off of Grace's desk and signed his name. "Just, uh, copy that down for me."
"Forge your signature?" asked Teresa. "That's against the rules."
"Is it? I'm not gonna tell anyone."
"Patrick..." warned Kenzie.
"Kenzie. I understand your precarious emotional state, given you two have just gotten your jobs back, and your sensitivity to the bureaucrats that are watching your every move."
"They are."
"Yes, but that's Lisbon's thing. I gotta be me. I can't change who I am."
"No, but you can change where you are tomorrow at 12."
"It's not gonna happen."
"You think this is funny?" asked Teresa.
Cho urgently walked in. "We got a missing child– Marin County. Snatched from a school bus stop two hours ago. The mother asked for us specifically. Rigsby is gonna meet us downstairs"
Teresa turned to the group. "Van Pelt, set up a command post here. Liaise with the Marin sheriff. Tell him we're on our way." She pulled Kenzie with her, causing her to yelp in surprise.
They got into the van where Kenzie explained the case, sitting next to Patrick in the middle. "Missing boy– 9 years old, only child. Another kid was walking to the bus stop, and he saw a vehicle peeling out with our boy Conner Flint in it. The man behind the wheel was wearing a hoodie."
"Description on the vehicle?" asked Cho.
"Big and dark. The kid's only 8."
"Could it be a custody kidnapping?" asked Rigsby.
"The woman was widowed two years ago. Her husband died of cancer. It looks like there's family money, but there's no ransom demand yet."
"Start with the bus stop?" asked Rigsby.
"Yeah, you and Cho go. Me, Patrick, and Res will question the family."
The van turned onto the driveway of the lavish house.
"What's the mother's name?" asked Patrick, looking out the window.
"Elizabeth Flint," said Kenzie.
Teresa turned off the engine and the three of them got out of the car. Walkie-talkies went off as police officers went to and from the house. They walked into the house and were greeted by Mrs. Flint.
YOU ARE READING
I Bet on Losing Dogs - Patrick Jane
Fanfiction"I bet on losing dogs, I know they're losing, and I'll pay for my place by the ring, Where I'll be looking in their eyes when they're down, ...
