Chapter 1 - New Hires

Kimball Cho pulled into the California Bureau of Investigation lot, wrenched up the parking brake, slammed the door, and briskly walked to the entrance. Yet again, Sacramento's unpredictable traffic had held him up. He moved from SanFran a month ago. Not knowing the city, he rented an apartment close to the CBI as the bird flies. Unfortunately, he didn't fly and hadn't known he'd be braving the city's worst morning traffic. Till his lease was up, he was stuck. He'd be damned if being late was the reputation he wanted to establish.

The Spanish revival elevator doors chimed and opened on the 5th floor, home of the Serious Crimes Unit. A cacophony greeted him. The century-old building was being renovated even as the CBI moved in and started using the space. It would be classy and functional once the work was done. Now, however, it was crowded, dusty and disorganized. The lack of walls didn't help with the noise and privacy was a distant dream. A Federal grant to restore the historical building was too good for the state to pass up, but Cho thought it poor economizing. The number crunchers who considered it a worthwhile tradeoff clearly had never worked in a construction zone themselves.

A few quick paces and Cho was seated at his desk just as the big, old-fashioned wall clock showed 8 a.m. He opened the cold case file he was working on and dug in.

"See you around, Haffner," a crisp female voice called out. It emanated from a makeshift office created from filing cabinets and fabric-covered wood-frame dividers. Cho glanced up and saw the handsome late-30's senior agent for the Organized Crime Unit walking away.

Eighteen months ago Virgil Minelli left the San Francisco Police Department to take the job of Director over all CBI investigative units. Minelli quickly recruited rising star Teresa Lisbon from the SFPD to head a new Serious Crimes Unit. A budget freeze forced Lisbon to spend her first six months working as an agent under Raymond Haffner. The new budget year finally let Minelli move her into the senior agent position over the SCU. Lisbon immediately started recruiting her team. Former SFPD colleague Cho was her first hire for the four agent positions that typically constituted a team. Her second team member started today.

Cho looked up as the quick, determined tread announced Lisbon's approach. "Boss?"

"Cho. Wayne Rigsby will be up soon as he's done with Human Resources." She glanced at her watch. "In about 30 minutes. Show him around, get him set up, and start him on the cold case we're working. We'll meet when I'm done with Minelli."

"Yes, Boss." She left for her meeting.

~.~.~.~.~

"Agent Cho?"

Cho glanced up, then looked up some more at the man standing by his desk: Caucasian, late 20's, 6'4", 220, brown hair, blue eyes, closely trimmed goatee, black dress pants, white shirt, black leather jacket in lieu of a suit jacket. "Yeah?"

"Wayne Rigsby, new agent in the Serious Crimes Unit. I, uh–"

Cho stood and extended his hand. "Agent Kimball Cho. Choose any desk. I'll show you around."

Rigsby chose a desk near Cho's, set down his things, and trailed the Asian agent as he showed him around: Lisbon's "office," interrogation rooms, washrooms, break area, office supply storeroom, and general locations of the other units on the floor.

"Emergency exits?" As impassive as Cho was, Rigsby still got an impression of surprise. "I specialized in arson in the San Diego PD. Occupational hazard."

Returning to the bullpen, "Get supplies for your desk. Then start on this cold case file till Lisbon's back from Minelli." At Rigsby's questioning look he added, "Minelli's the director over all CBI investigative units. Boss's boss."

"Thanks."

~.~.~.~.~

Lisbon returned and dumped an armful of files on her desk. "Cho, Rigsby, in here," she ordered brusquely. She opened her mouth, shook her head slightly and changed gears. "Rigsby, welcome to the CBI, to the Serious Crimes Unit." She managed a smile. "All set up with HR?" He nodded. "Cho show you around?" Rigsby nodded again. Cho realized Rigsby found Lisbon intimidating and suppressed a smile. Rigsby was double her weight and towered over her by a foot.

"Sit." Lisbon sat down at her desk and motioned them to the office chairs facing her. "We've been reviewing cold cases for a month. We won't get fresh cases as long as we're short staffed. –The SCU needs at least four agents, me included." They waited silently as she dug out several files from the bottom of the stack. "Here's the rub. This year's budget is better, but still tight. The hiring freeze keeps me from hiring into my other two positions. We either find an unassigned agent already in the CBI. Or we keep working cold cases. Opinion?"

Cho and Rigsby exchanged glances. Cho spoke, "I'd rather work new cases." Rigsby nodded. "What are the choices?" She put five file folders in front of them.

"Here are the files for the five available agents. I want you to have a hand in who you'll work with. Pretend you haven't seen these as they're confidential."

"Thanks."

Rigsby ventured, "Anyone you're leaning toward, Senior Agent Lisbon?"

"'Lisbon,'" she corrected. "Yes, but I want your take. We'll meet after lunch. Lock these in your desks when you're not reading them."

All three rose. Lisbon left for the elevator. Cho and Rigsby went back to their desks, splitting the folders.

At noon Cho stood. "Lunch?"

The tall man rose instantly. "Yeah." They shoved the files in their desk drawers and locked them, then took the elevator to the ground-floor cafeteria.

Cho and Rigsby put their trays on the table and started in on their lunches.

"San Diego PD. Arson. How'd you become a cop?"

"Always hated criminals." Cho's thoughts flicked to the info about a 'Steven Rigsby' he'd found. "I wanted to be on the other side, putting them away. Got a scholarship for criminal justice majors and worked part time through college." Rigsby took a bite of his second sandwich. "Worked three years as a cop after I got out of the academy. Made detective a year ago."

"Why arson?"

"Liked chemistry. Figured it'd be an edge in getting hired. You?"

"Army, two tours in Iraq. Second as a Ranger. Worked for the SFPD while taking college courses at night. Two years as a cop, three more as a detective. Lisbon hired me a month ago."

"So you, uh, worked with Lisbon in the SFPD?"

"Yeah."

Cho didn't elaborate. Rigsby drank a pint of milk straight from the carton. While he was opening the second he decided to ask about their immediate task. "Who do you like of the five we're s'posed to choose from?"

"No one."

"Why?"

Seeing a chance to get a feel for his new teammate, Cho countered, "What's your take?"

Rigsby slid his tray to the side. "Vargas is a hothead. Several write-ups. Connley is old, a couple years from retirement. Dunno if there's anything else. Karlson's had bad reviews, doesn't seem to have much on the ball. Hannigan was repeatedly turned down for promotion, no explanation why. Krause was injured and seems like he never fully recovered. Every couple months he's out on medical leave." Rigsby finished his brownie. "You?"

"Same, but I've heard some scuttlebutt. Word is one more complaint and Vargas is history. Connley's a short timer. Does only enough to keep from getting canned till he gets his pension. I gave Karlson tips on a case transferred from SFPD. He's just stupid. Don't know Krause, but repeated medical leave isn't a good sign. Hannigan–" Cho flashed back to a conversation overheard in the men's room. '...tight-ass ball‑buster if you ask me.' 'Hear who she hired? Frank saw the scars where he got rid of gang insignia. They let anyone in these days.' "–Hannigan's old school. Was turned down for Lisbon's job."

Rigsby gave a low whistle. "So no obvious pick. Of the five, who would you choose?"

Cho became fractionally more grim, "Hannigan, if I have to."

"Better than staying benched?"

Reluctantly, " Yes."

~.~.~.~.~

The meeting took only fifteen minutes. Rigsby noticed that, like Cho, Lisbon asked his take before revealing her own thinking. Mark of a good detective. Because he and Cho had already talked, he wasn't as apprehensive of his sharp, prickly boss as he otherwise would have been. They quickly agreed on Hannigan. It was a process of elimination rather than a positive choice.

"Rigsby, be sure to read the Methods and Procedures and Employee manuals soon. Both are on-line. The SCU is new. Let's avoid making stupid mistakes."

"Will do, Boss." Rigsby left.

Cho hung back.

"Something more, Cho?"

Conscious that the "walls" afforded no privacy, he leaned forward and lowered his voice. "Boss, don't know if you've heard the scuttlebutt. Hannigan was turned down for your job. He isn't a big equal opportunity supporter."

"That a problem for you, Cho?"

"No. So long as he pulls his weight."

She softened. "I appreciate the heads up, but I know what I'm getting. We need another agent to get out in the field. So long as Hannigan does his job, I'll make it work. It's not a social club."

"Okay." He rose to leave.

"Cho – thanks."

Quitting time, Rigsby left for his inexpensive motel room. He was cheered by Cho's offer to help him apartment hunt on the weekend and decided Cho's deadpan expression was normal rather than standoffish. Still, Cho wasn't much for idle conversation. Maybe he'll help me move in when I get my stuff here. Rigsby was cautiously optimistic. His contacts in SFPD had spoken well of Lisbon. Frankly, he had been surprised when she offered him the job. He knew he was a damn good arson investigator, but he hadn't been at the top of his class at the academy. He wondered if she knew about the other stuff, then mentally kicked himself. Any detective worth his salt would do a background check before hiring someone. The Rigsby name had to have come up. But she hired me anyway. Being a CBI agent was his big break and he was determined not to screw it up. Rigsby sighed and relaxed. No gaffes on my first day. Lisbon and Cho seem sharp, smart. Wonder how Hannigan will work out. Glad we'll be getting cases, anyhow.