inspired from a dream i had. faith Hunter “senses” things in people and energy around them. She has decided to help out Cho with a case.
There was the scent of Nouveau riche in the air, new money meant more clients, which also meant pretentious eccentricities. Faith Hunter couldnt decide which was worse being crammed into a tiny room with pretentious bastards, or listening to their endless prattle and suffering their veiled insults on her pedigree.
Faith decided that being arm candy to such a social function wasnt such an ideal first date.
“Not having much fun as you’d hope?” the grimness in Kimball Cho‘s voice drew Faith Hunter’s gaze to the man joined her on the veranda. The ear piece in his ear reminded her that this wasnt a real date but part of his job at the California Bureau of Investigation. He stared at her with those eyes that made her shiver. Dark and unreadable. He offered her a champagne flute, she took it gratefully. Noting he was without a drink.
“If by fun, you mean being surrounded by a gaggle of hens,” Faith remarked, gesturing to the banquet room behind Cho, “never ceases to amaze me the useless information one throws at another to impress someone.” she sipped her champagne.
Cho didnt smile at her quip, he studied her with his cool assessing eyes.
She didnt know much about the CBI agent. He was shorter than she by a couple of inches, he was well muscled and compact under his white shirt, the silver tie and charcoal black of his jacket discreetly hid his shoulder holster and gun.
his antcestory spoke of asian. She couldnt be sure and believe the rumors but she heard he once belonged in a gang before joining the Special Forces. What she did know he was an excellent interrogator.
“You would fit right in then,” his deadpanned humor almost made her choke on her champagne. She could feel the warm liquid fizzle down her throat, and settle in her stomach. She covered her mouth to stifle her cough.
“Nice, Cho.” she glared at him. “Im doing you a favor and you almost ruin the evening by insulting me.” then she laughed. “I never thought you had it in you!”
Cho stared at her questioningly. “Humor, my dear man. Humor.” she laced her arm through his. “Its alright. Lets get this over with.”
“How this thing of yours work? Tell me again.” Cho pressed her. Faith stroked Cho’s arm reassuringly.
“I have a sense about people. Not an extrasensory sense mind you, just a sense.” Faith murmured.
“Like Patrick Jane.” Cho muttered. Faith heard the disappointment in his voice. For the first the time since she met Cho, she was annoyed with him.
“Patrick Jane was a con man. He used his parlour tricks to con people, and eventually he did help people but it was too late.” she snapped. “Do not compare me to him. You came to me remember?”
Cho’s eyes glittered, he did remember. Faith Hunter now, was nothing like the woman he had met a month ago. She had been in a cafe, eating a bagel and watching him and Rigsby with an intensity that made the hairs on the back of his neck raise up.
Every instinct inside him told him that there was something pecular about the woman. she got up and paid for her breakfast, she walked over to their table and slid into the booth next Rigsby. “That kid is up to something.” she said. “You two are cops right?”
Dumbfounded they both nodded, “Well if you dont do something within the next few minutes i believe he will do something stupid.”
Cho got up and walked over to the kid, that was when all hell broke loose. The kid high on meth, pulled out a gun. Customers screaming around him, Cho and Rigsby managed to put the kid to the ground without anyone getting hurt. When Cho managed to look at the table, the woman was gone.
It took him a week or two before she showed up again, this time at the CBI headquarters. With breakfast. She claimed she hadnt seen him in awhile. He was going to need it. Before he could ask her name she was gone. Turned out, he had been on 12 hour stake out, the bagel and coffee was all he had to eat.
Faith’s voice broke into his reverie, “Lisbon, doesnt know about what i do. She wont know. You arent much for breaking rules are you, Cho?”
Cho grimaced, he was breaking the rules. Bringing a civilian in on a case, without proper authority. With Faith, there was no saying no.
He let his eyes travel over her. Her bouncy blonde curls were escaping the elegant knot on her head, leaving wisps to frame her heart shape face, and the delicate slope of her neck. She was wearing a rich chocolate silk gown, that clung to her slender body, the plunging neckline revealed two tiny beauty marks on the swell of her right breast. God help anyone if the spaghetti straps of the dress decided to fall off one shoulder, the world would be doomed, he thought.
“You just know things,” Cho was skeptic of pyschics, of anything one couldnt prove by actual evidence. He felt her glare on him. “I am not going to say i believe in that shit, I dont, Faith.”
“Then what i am doing here?” Cho walked with Faith into the banquet hall. “If this is a date, Im going to say it sucks.”
Cho adjusted his earpiece, he could hear Rigsby talking to him. “Sorry Faith, ive got to do a sweep of the room.” He took her arm before she could protest. “If we were on a date,” he pointed out tersely. “you would know it.”
Faith flinched at his honesty. Cho didnt look at her, he was noting his team mates pretending to be art critics for the evening. Grace Van Pelt, the slender red head mingling in the corner. Wayne Rigsby, his partner next to her. Their team leader Teresa Lisbon was dressed elegantly in a black strapless satin affair, she was speaking to an older man.
“Who is that,” Faith asked Cho. “The one talking to Lisbon.”
Cho stiffened under Faith’s touch. “That is our director, Gale Beltram.” he replied coolly. “I didnt know he was to be here.
Faith drew to a stop, and watched Lisbon and Beltram. “Are they always so animated?” she asked quietly. Cho sighed and shook his head.
“No.” Cho replied. “I assume it has to do with Patrick Jane.” at the name, Faith inhaled sharply.
“Ah yes Patrick Jane.” she turned her head to Cho. ” The Charlatan. Will he be here tonight?”
Cho frowned, “I doubt it.” he murmured. “He killed someone, it is unlikely he would attend.”
Faith’s serene smile left a chill down Cho’s spine. “Patrick Jane will be here, He cant help himself.” she fixed him with a stare. “Lisbon will have him out soon. It is why the director is angry.”
Cho glared at her. “Oh did some other worldly voice tell you this?” he snapped. Faith laughed. “No, i read lips. jane is on bail an hour ago under Lisbon’s supervision. I need more champagne.” she released Cho and walked off in the direction of the buffet table.
“I thought you were doing the sweep of the room?” Rigsby commented. He nudged Cho with his elbow. “Earth to Cho?”
Cho scowled. “Lisbon posted Jane’s bail” he said.
Rigsby shrugged. “Its no shock, considering how close they are.” Rigsby frowned. “Wait. Why would Lisbon post his bail? jane has his own money! How did you find this out? Your pyschic friend told you?” he snorted.
“Faith isnt pyschic.” Cho stamped down his anger, he folded his arms across his chest. “Nor does she claim to be. ” he looked around the banquet room. “who would try to steal a piece of art anyway.”
Rigsby took note of his partners change of topic, and also surveyed the room. “Someone who is really lame. This isnt art. Its grotesque.” he gestured to a painting. “What is that supposed to be anyway.”
Cho stared at his partner and then the painting. “A depiction of the worlds suffering seen through man’s eye. Its surrealism.” he almost laughed at Rigsby’s surprise at his knowledge of painting. “The darkness represents the horror, the head popping through the window represents..never mind Rigsby lets just do another sweep.”
Faith was watching the Gallery owner decide on a cranberry brie pastry or a mushroom stuff crab h’or h’doeuvres. The owner was mumbling under her breath. Faith caught a word or two about “fraud” and “rigging it”, she sighed in annoyment. She reached for her mobile. Yes the nouveau Riche were really arrogant bastards, she thought.
“Hello Cho, its Faith. Where are you?” she scanned the banquet room. “I know who the art thief is. No I am not kidding you! I’m by the buffet table. You owe me big time!”
she was furious that she had wasted an evening, when Faith was startled by a woman’s voice. “Hello, you must be Cho’s date. Im Grace Van Pelt.”
Faith turned around, almost knocking her flute of champagne onto herself. The slender red head towered over by a mere inch, forcing Faith to tilt her head back.
“Yes, I must be. Faith Hunter.” she shook Van pelt’s hand. She wasnt sure what she didnt like, the darkness that surrounded Van Pelt; a feminine darkness, or the all to eagerness she sensed in her. The eagerness to please. The eagerness, Faith decided was a facade. Much like a wall. Eager to please so she wouldnt have to put up much about herself. Faith took a sip of her champagne. Interesting.
“What do you do, Faith?” Van Pelt asked.
“I trouble shoot.” Faith answered.
Van Pelt’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really? Are you in the security business.”
“No, I am in the information business.” Faith hedged. “I understand you were engaged.” Faith took careful note of Van Pelt’s reaction. The look of shock, devastation and most of all the shame, all quickly replaced by a coolness.
“Yes, i was.” Van Pelt murmured. “It was for a short time.”
Faith narrowed her gaze. “So tell me, Agent Van Pelt how come you couldnt sense your man was working with Red John!”
Faith saw Van Pelt’s hand coming before she felt it. She didnt try to avoid it, her head cracked to the left. The sound echoed in her ears, leaving an awful ringing noise in her ears. “How dare you! How dare you… I loved Craig…” Van Pelt croaked.
Cho and Rigsby pushed their way through the guests who watched in fascinating horror.
“Van Pelt!” Rigsby was by her side, “What happened?” Cho was assuring the guests everything was alright, looking for Lisbon in case she was making her way towards them. Satisfied, the coast was Lisbon-free he turned his attention on Faith and Van-Pelt.
Faith cradled her cheek in her hand, and focused her eyes on Van Pelt. “Love made you blind?” Faith almost laughed. “That is your excuse? I thought you would have known how to have your eyes wide opened. After all, you experienced loss before. Your sister committed suicide didnt she?”
Van Pelt paled. “How? Did you.. i never told anyone…” her voice trembled. Tears welled in her eyes, and she tried to free herself from Rigsby.
Cho uttered an angry oath. “This is not how i wanted things to go!” grabbing Faith by the arm he hauled her up and ushered away from his team mates.
Outside, once more on the veranda Cho waited til they were out of hearing.
“You are here, to do one thing! One thing only! To help find the art thief! Not cause any more trouble than you already have!” Cho erupted.
Faith rubbed her cheek and laughed morosely. “Art thief? Cho there was no art thief. While i was standing at the buffet table, the Gallery owner was babbling to herself about how she did it!”
Cho glared at her. “Really? In a few short minutes you found out what ive been trying to find out in a week?’ He tapped the radio hidden in his sleeve. “Boss, its Cho. The Gallery Owner.” he waited for a response. “Yeah Rigsby will bring her in for questioning.” after a moment he fixed his stare on Faith, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “How did you find out about Van Pelt’s sister?” he asked.
“I thought you didnt believe in that pyschic shit.” Faith sneered.
“When one of my team attacks or is provoked into attacking my date I think i should know why!” Cho said grimly.
Faith swallowed hard. “Date?” she echoed.
“Yeah. I figured since we have suspect now, its safe to say this evening is pretty much ours.” Cho muttered.
“What about you? You have interrogate her,” Faith murmured. A strange sense of awareness flowed over her. “Follow through..”
The side of her cheek was bruising, he touched it gently. ‘Wow that is going to leave a mark.” he surmised. “You didnt even try to avoid it.”
Faith felt something in her stir at his touch. “I cant help what i see or feel.” she murmured. “What i say. I deserved it.”
He stroked his thumb down her cheek, then withdrew. “I have to put this in my report.”
“Will you have to put this in your report.” She slid her hands on his chest under his jacket, pulling him close. His mouth a whisper over hers.
“Faith. What are you doing?” a sudden awareness flared in his eyes, replacing the cool reserved expression he always wore.
“You dont have to be pyschic to know what i am about to do, Cho.” she murmured against his lips. “Im tired of waiting for you to make the move. I want you to kiss me. If that is going to happen. Im going to be the one who does…” her words were swallowed up against his mouth.
To her delight, he wasnt as cold as she thought him to be. He was hot. His tongue felt deliciously hot over hers, his chest felt wonderful against her fingertips. He was hot all over, and he was taking over the kiss.
Her head was framed in his hands, as he teased and played with her tongue. Stopping only a moment to wet her lips and plunged back in again.
He brought her up against him, even through the silk gown she could feel the hard planes of his body, positioning her so she just fit right between his legs. She moaned against his mouth, as the line of her pubic bone was pressing against the thickness of his arousal. He angled her so the brief contact was more permanent, rocking her on himself, as he swallowed up her little moans with each kiss.
“Cho there you are…oh!” Teresa Lisbon’s voice broke the intimate moment. It was as if she had poured cold water over them, Cho tore his mouth off Faith’s. Then stepped back.
“What did you want, Boss?” he was back to being cool and reserved. He was grateful for what little light they were in, and that Lisbon couldnt see his straining trousers.
“I was just wondering if you saw Van Pelt and Rigsby.” she said. “I cant find them anywhere.” she smiled suddenly at Faith. “Hello.”
“Im faith Hunter, nice to meet you.” Faith murmured, “Im just going to freshen up.” she took a step back and hurried inside.
Ploughing through the crowd, Faith collided into someone. Chaotic and angry energy slammed into her, she lifted her head and paled. Patrick Jane.
The touselled strawberry blond hair fell over tired eyes. He hadnt shaved either making his craggy features more haggard than handsome. His trademark waistcoat was paisley in a dark color to offset the purple shirt he was wearing. “Ah Lisbon there you are. ” he called out.
Faith turned to find Lisbon bearing down on them, like an angry mother bear. Cho behind her. “Jane what are you doing here!” she hissed angrily. “You are to stay at the office or at home! but not anywhere else.”
“I was bored.” Patrick flagged down a waiter. “Do you have tea? Perferrably green or something herbal.” The waiter stared at him in disbelief.
“Jane!” Lisbon glanced around anxiously. “Beltram is here!”
“He likes the attention you give him. You really should stop coddling him.” Faith sighed. “He doesnt care if he puts you or your team in danger. He doesnt care anymore.”
As if he noticed her finally, Patrick Jane fixed his gaze on Faith. “And who is this?” he smiled.
Cho stepped forward, as if a buffer between Faith and Patrick. “This is Faith Hunter, she is a consultant for a case we were working on.” he shot a warning glance at Faith. She chose to ignore it.
Faith crossed her arms over her chest, and stared back. “He is the so called genius. a man of all trades shall we say, Patrick Jane?” she sneered.
Affronted by the personal attack, Patrick let out a laugh. “Lisbon is this a joke? To keep me on my toes?”
Lisbon shrugged. “I dont know what is going on, Jane.” she glared at him. “If you dont get out of here, i will put you personally in jail!”
Jane’s eerie stare fixed on her, and it was then she sensed it. An angry energy, not Jane’s, tethered to him. Unlike spirit energy, this one was vibrant and alive. she inhaled deeply. Images were flashing through like snapshots, some violent some lovely, all covered in blood. All in a happy face.
“You arent who you say are. You are a fraud. You suffered a great trauma,” he began after a moment. “It changed your life dramatically. You dont let anyone close. However you crave attention, you have narcassistic tendencies.”
She almost laughed. “Me? I crave attention? That was too easy!” she deflected. “Wherever you go, Patrick Jane you create chaos. Its not the simple beautiful chaos that comes with life. Its the kind created out of self hatred. Out of boredom. You want to feel again, but you cant unless you hurt someone, or you hurt yourself.” she went on. “You crave attention, if you dont get it from Red John you get it from the cases you consult on, or you get it from Lisbon. It feeds your narcassisticism.”
Patrick paled. “You dont know what you are talking about!”
“Try again. When you were sitting at the table with Red John, and he was telling you about how he was ending it. The killings. that he was retiring. How did it make you feel?”
There was a collective gasp. “It made you feel angry, didnt it?” faith murmured. “He made it so easy for you to find him. After all this time. Then he announces he is retiring. That you should stop hunting him because it was consuming you! What else did you have in your life? Red John was your life”
“Cho stop her.” Lisbon hissed.
“Faith dont.” Cho hissed. Faith shook him off.
“No! You listen! You listen how you enable him with his obsession with Red John that he cant see the truth!” Faith snapped.
“What are you talking about?” Lisbon demanded. “What truth!”
“It was too easy.” Faith whispered. “Doesnt that bother you, Jane. How easy it was? Do i have to draw a picture here!” she seized Patrick by the face, and stared into his eyes. “what made you think it was Red John.”
jane grasped her wrists. “He said… he said my daughter smelled sweet and like sweat.” he choked out.
Faith laughed. “Very good. Very rehearsed. Red John knew you very well didnt he. If you asked me something only Red John would know, what would you ask me?”
The realisation slowly dawned on Jane. “He wasnt…he wasnt Red John!”
Faith released Patrick, and he stumbled back. “Anyone who had a daughter or some kind of relationship with a child would know that. He played you. You killed a proxy.” Faith murmured. “You should have trusted your instincts and not be guided by some kind of twisted revenge.”
“But his voice…” jane’s voice was twisted in anguish. “I heard his voice…”
“Training. maybe a Voice coach. ” Faith rubbed her arms trying to get warmth into them.
Cho wrapped his coat around her, she accepted with a strained smile. “How did you know Red John..?” his voice trailed off.
“Jane has a lot of energy.” Faith murmured. “But Red John’s was stronger. I wouldnt feel such vibrant energy if he wasnt still alive.”
Cho looked at Lisbon and Jane. “What does this mean Boss?’
“It means Jane is in alot more trouble than we thought. Thanks to your girlfriend and her mouth we now know Red John isnt dead.” Lisbon glared at Faith. “Jane killed an innocent man. Now we have to start all over again.”
A GIRL OUT OF THE ORDINARY 