Fic: New Beginnings and Old Endings, Chapter 6 (SGA / The Mentalist, Evan Lorne / Patrick Jane)
Title: New Beginnings and Old Endings, Chapter 6
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis / The Mentalist (Crossover)
Pair: Evan Lorne / Patrick Jane
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc.
Summary: Lorne is trying to settle into his new life, but it`s really not much calmer than his old one. Wrong place and wrong timing lead to a chance encounter in the middle of a crime scene.
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Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 (NC-17)
“That’s him.” Evan flipped through the stack of pictures, routinely observing the marks littering the upper body, the twisted expression that was frozen on the man’s face and the blue-ish tint of his skin. “What’s up with the bruises?”
“Our medical examiner said they were several days old, so it’s possible he got them during the scuffle, before the stabbing.” Detective Lisbon leaned over the desk to point at the fading bruises.
“So what was the cause of death?”
“A bunch of household chemicals that should be used to open a drain. Looks like he wanted to kill himself and grabbed the nearest thing he could find.”
“Afraid he would get caught?”
“Probably. He didn’t have earlier criminal record and the whole way he attacked the victim… It was a personal vendetta, and looks like he couldn’t live with it. He had been dead for two days by the time people started looking for him.”
“How personal? Or can you tell me-”
“I suppose it doesn’t matter. The PR department will have to release a statement soon, because the victim was who he was. Did you know he had been stripped of his position?”
“Yeah, I read about it in the papers. He was supposed to fly back home.”
“Yes. The Italian officials said he had been taking bribes left and right for years. He had been influential in European affairs and he had influence outside of his own country. He had swindled several contracts to those companies that paid the highest sum for it. Some of those companies had ties to this side of the ocean, and some are owned by US investors.”
“How does this guy fit into the picture?” Lorne placed the stack of pictures on the edge of the desk. “Was he involved in it?”
“Yep, we got a lot of information from his computer and e-mail accounts. His family had paid the vic for his services to get a certain contract. When everything came out, the whole project was shelved indefinitely. The company had debts and loosing the deal took them to the ground for good. They lost everything.”
“Will there be repercussions because of the stabbing?”
“Who are we talking about?” Lisbon gave him a melancholy little smile. “One man is dead and the man, who killed him is now dead too. No one left to catch. There will probably be some political dealing and all that circus, because the victim died in this country, but that’s not my problem.”
“Not a fan of politics?”
“I’m a cop, I don’t do politics.” She got up from behind her desk. “Anyway, this is where we close this. Thank you for your help.”
Lorne said his goodbyes, and walked out of the little conference room they had been in. A rookie from the front desk had escorted him there, but he had made mental notes of the route and now simply reversed it. The area reserved for Lisbon’s team had been empty, but now they all seemed to have returned from wherever they had been. A wide-shouldered redhead was typing furiously, the tall man was going through a high pile of forms and the oriental looking one seemed to be one step away from strangling his computer.
Lorne was almost sure he had been introduced to both of the men, but he couldn’t remember neither of their names. He looked past them and spotted a sour looking consultant sprawled on the couch. The blond had dark circles under his eyes and he was soaking a teabag in his mug.
He looked up and saw Lorne. Jane had obviously been aware of Evan`s visit, since he didn’t look at all surprised.
“Smell this for me.”
“Excuse me?”
“Smell this. This doesn’t smell right.” Jane pointed down at his tea. Evan approached him and sat down on the couch. The consultant had taken most of the space and Evan had to squish himself against the armrest. Jane held the mug under his nose.
“Well?”
“Smells dusty.” Lorne took the mug and lifted the bag from the water. The damp bag revealed several light coloured spots inside it. “Looks like mold or something like that.”
“I found the box in the cupboard, all the regular ones were gone.” Jane took the mug and emptied it under a potted palm. “Good thing that’s plastic, or it could die like all the others plants around here.”
“Yeah.” Evan tried to find something else to say so he could continue the conversation. “You look like you didn’t get much sleep.”
“It’s the title-envy.”
“Whose title are we talking about?”
“Mine. Apparently if the team has to do an all-nighter, the consultant can’t sleep either. But…” A happy little smirk spread on his face. “… at least I don’t have paperwork to do, so I can go home and sleep.”
Lorne saw a tiny spot in the corner of his eye and snatched the flying pen mid-air. The oriental looking detective glared at them like a disgruntled schoolboy. Jane took the pen from Lorne and shoved it into his own pocket.
“Thanks, Kimball, I always need new pens. They just keep disappearing every time I need one.”
“Kimball?” Evan repeated, but it didn’t refresh his memory.
“Yes, Kimball.” Jane smirked, leaning back against the cushy backrest. “Did you forget all of our names, or just him?”
“I did remember you and detective Lisbon.” Evan blushed. “Speaking of Lisbon, she said the case is over for you guys.”
“So I’ve heard.” Jane nodded thoughtfully. “And sorry about last time. I could have handled that differently.”
“It wasn’t that bad.”
“I just don’t like it when I can’t read people. Or I can, but it doesn’t make sense.”
“I’m pretty easy to understand.”
“Can I ask you a question? Off the record.”
“Shoot.”
“I was right. Yes or no.”
“Right about what?”
“That you were lying when I asked why you left the Air Force.”
“The basics were true, but… there was some stuff I can’t talk about.”
“So I was right.”
“Is that important?”
“Like someone said: I don’t like unsolvable puzzles and I’m pretty damn good at solving them.”
“Who said that?”
“Can’t remember.” Jane observed his empty mug with a disgusted look on his face. “If this goes on, I’ll have to move on to coffee.”
“There’s a little coffee shop across the street, they had a lot of different sorts.” Evan informed and then mentally smacked himself on the head. Of course the man would know what is right across the street from his place of work.
“Is that an invitation?”
“No, just… they probably don’t have mold on their teabags.”
“They don’t even have bags, they have the real stuff.” Jane glanced at the two men slaving away trying to hurry up their paperwork, and his smile turned mischievous. “Actually, I could have a cup of tea and then go home for a good looooong rest.” He got up and left his mug on detective Kimball`s desk. “You can borrow that if you want.”
He marched to the door and turned to look at Lorne.
“Are you coming?”
Evan quickly hurried after him, narrowly dodging another flying pen.
Chapter 7