The River With a Crimson Current-The Mentalist

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty One

Teresa Lisbon

I sit in my office completely bored out of my mind. Where's an entertaining consultant when you need one? Drooling over Red John in my case. His obsession is getting worse by the day, although he's recently managed to go a whole twenty four hours without mentioning him to any of us, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been mulling over the serial killer. Suddenly a vaguely aware Van Pelt comes tumbling in through my door.

"Boss I've just had a call. Brinston's been spotted in his neighbourhood."

"He risked it? Are you sure it's him?" I ask in disbelief. Why would a man on the run take the huge risk of returning to a place where he's so well known? "Right. Well, get the guys and vest up. I'm going to go and find Jane, meet at the cars in five."

I jump up and leave before she has chance to say anything else. When I reach Jane's hideout I knock on the metal door and the sound reverberates around me.

"Jane! The team and I are going to get Brinston! You coming?" I shout through the door to him. A few seconds later he slides it open and looks at me.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," he smirks. Once he's locked up we both head down to meet the others in the parking lot.

When we reach the cars Cho hurls my vest at me and then climbs in with the others whilst I hurriedly pull it on. I embarrassingly can't help but notice the indefinite gaze Jane has on me before he gets into the passenger seat but I don't have time to ponder the situation.

"Cover the same areas as last time." I instruct as we stand outside Brinston's house. They nod and follow my orders. "Jane, promise me you'll stay here until we give it the all clear?"

"Fine..."

I stand opposite Rigsby and this time we don't give Brinston the chance to run, we simply barge in.

"CBI!" I shout. "Mr Brinston?!"

There's no reply so Rigsby covers the left wing again, I do the right and Grace and Cho do the kitchen. Suddenly we hear a screech of tires outside and we all run to the front door. However, instead of seeing the suspect's car speeding off down the street like we'd expected, we see Jane a bit shaken up in the driver's seat of the SUV and Brinston lying next to him on the road. We all rush over as Jane steps out, I go straight to him whereas Van Pelt checks for Brinston's pulse.

"Are you alright?" I ask.

"Yep. Just... Just a little uh... Shaken up, but right as rain other than that," he stutters.

"Boss," Grace says. I turn around and see Brinston cuffed and standing.

"Put him in the back." I turn back to Jane. "What did you do?.." He didn't run him over because Brinston's come away with barely a scratch.

"Oh. Uh... I pulled the car out in front of him."

"So he ran into it?"

"Yes, and it was hilarious. Like a bird flying into a window," he chuckles.

There's a thump and then a cry of pain. When we turn around we see Van Pelt removing her knee from Brinston's crotch.

"Now get in the car," she orders, anger bubbling under the surface. Jane and I beam at her lack of messing around. I think she'd lead a very intimidating interrogation... But for the safety of our suspect, I think we'll hand it over to Cho...