The River With a Crimson Current-The Mentalist

Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Twenty Four

Patrick Jane

"Okay..." I say, giving in to Grace's peer pressure. I'm sure it could be counted as that.

I turn around and walk straight into Lisbon's office. "Lisbon, I need your help," I drone, Grace better be proud of me. Personally, I would've worded it differently, but the women always win...

Lisbon stares at me in utter shock, however she doesn't put me on the spot. "With what?.." She replies.

"Uh... Hmm... How can I word this..." I tap my bottom lip in a pensive manner.

"Just spit it out Jane."

"Well... The thing is... Grace and I need your help..."

Lisbon rolls her eyes impatiently.

"Okay okay... Milly Davies-"

"The daughter of our first vic?"

"Yes. She's having a few problems at home..."

"What sort of problems?.." She tilts her head to the side, reminding me a bit of a puppy...

Instead of giving a verbal response I bounce on my toes with my eyebrows furrowed and my mouth drawn into a straight line. When she still looks at me with a clueless expression I shake my head back and for and open my eyes wide.

"Oh... With Sam?" She asks in surprise when she finally clicks what I was referring to.

"Yes... And it appears Van Pelt had seen her in somewhat of an unpleasant state."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Contact the people that need to be contacted in these situations... Uh, what're they?.. Social Services..."

"Okay. But what are you going to do?.."

"Ah, you'd have to ask Grace. She's in charge of the whole operation."

"Grace?"

"Yes... Van P-"

"I know who she is Jane. I-I was just surprised, that's all."

"She's a very capable, responsible young agent... She's learnt a lot Lisbon."

She considers my words for a few seconds, I can tell she knows what I'm saying. Perhaps there's an issue with female dominance.

"She looks up to you a great deal. As do the rest of us," I say, trying to clear up a situation that may or may not have formed.

"Right, go on..." She says motioning to the door. "Go and save the world."

I mirror her smirk and then leave. I find Van Pelt attaching her holster onto her belt at her desk.

"Ready when you are," I tell her. She quickly grabs her gun, checks it's loaded then starts walking with me to the elevator.

"I hope you only use that gun for defence," I say when we're waiting for the doors to open.

She looks up from the floor then her eyes dart back. "I'll use it when I have to."

I feel so reassured...

We quickly walk up the front path in a nervous silence. Neither of us know what the outcome of this will be, although the plan is to have at least one responsible adult leave the house with Milly, even if the others get shot down. Which seems like a plausible twist considering the amount of anger that's currently simmering within Van Pelt.

With the lack of planning and organisation we've put into this, I decide trailing behind is my best bet. She walks right up to the door and tries the handle. When it gives a positive click she pushes it open and quietly enters with caution. She knows the possible scenarios which could be going on, but that doesn't stop her. Suddenly, Sam appears from the living room and Grace has raised her gun quicker than I thought possible. When I turn to look at her she hurls her handcuffs at me and then it's my turn to show off my reflexes.

"Hook him up," she orders with a harsh tone in her voice, glancing at the radiator. For a moment my eyes flick back and forth the two characters in the situation before me, what do I have to do? However her piercing glare seems to straighten things out for me. I cautiously head over to the man being held at gunpoint and listen to the faithful sound of handcuffs tightening, then take a few steps and clasp the other ring onto a pipe on the radiator. This whole process is said with no words, which shocks me as a guilty man often tries to defend himself.

"Don't even try to escape," Van Pelt snaps before softly running up the stairs. I quickly follow after her and when I reach the top she's outside Milly's room shoving her gun back in her holster. She slowly opens the door as I stand behind her and she checks everything is decent... As decent as it can be anyway... When she rushes in I peek round the doorframe just as she pulls the young girl into a hug. Van Pelt's back is facing me and I can see Milly's head resting on her shoulder. Grace whispers something into Milly's ear and she wraps her arms around Grace's waist, using the little energy she has left. Her eyes are closed and a tear sinks into the soft material beside her chin.

"It's okay..." I hear Van Pelt repeat every time her hand strokes Milly's hair. "It's okay..."

The last thing I see before walking away is the ghostly face of my little girl, casting a layer of mist over my eyes. Why did she have to go? I'd never have treated her in such a dysfunctional way as this. I don't understand why Sam felt the need to do it. Lack of female attention I guess, but that makes this all so much worse. He needed to please himself before his daughter, and that makes me sick. You know, maybe I was incorrect. This is the definition of wrong.