Chapter 1-Shocking News

Juliet was sitting in the bathroom, trying to slow her breathing as she stared down at that plastic stick, willing that second line to not appear, but despite her silent pleas, it slowly did. She suddenly felt a wave of emotions, there was excitement but also fear and anxiety. She tried to hold back the tears she felt burning in the corners of her eyes. She had to get back to work; Lassiter was going to wonder what was taking so long. But she needed a minute to try to wrap her mind around the fact that she was going to be a mother, and that Shawn was going to be a father. Finally, her legs seemed to remember how to work, so she stood up, threw away the test, and washed her hands, glancing at her face in the mirror to check that her makeup hadn't run and her eyes weren't red. She looked fine, so she emerged from the bathroom back into the busy office.

"O'hara" She heard her partner shout.

"Yes?"

"What took so long? We just got assigned a case"

"Oh!" She tried to sound positive, "What is it?" glancing down at the file in Lassiter's hand.

"25 year old Allison Carter, she went missing three days ago, and this morning her body was found washed up on the shore".

"And we think it's a murder?"

"Yep, Woody found traces of mercury in her blood" The head detective stated.

"So, do we have any leads yet?" Juliet asked, trying to keep her attention on the case.

"Not many, we are going to look into who she had come in contact with 24 hours before she went missing and gather suspects from there. I suggest you call your boyfriend, as he will probably find out about this anyway" Lassiter sighed.

"Wh-at? Call Shawn? I mean, do you really think we need him?" Juliet stammered out. She didn't know why, but for some reason, she was terrified of seeing Shawn. When he saw her, he'd instantly know something was off, and since he was such a good observer, he'd probably figure it out.

"Well, if you don't want to, I guess we can solve this case without him", Lassiter said slowly, "O'hara, is everything ok?"

"Yeah, it's fine, but Shawn is just really busy right now, you know, with other cases and other plans with Gus, and stuff" She rambled.

"Ok" Lassiter said with some uncertainty, but didn't question further. The fact that Spencer wouldn't be on this case actually pleased him. Finally he'd get a chance to do real police work without following that kid all over town as he sent them in varying paths.