A Tale of Two Detectives

by Ashen Tears

When a British cabinet official is murdered in Santa Barbara, the SBPD know who to turn to. But the British police have jurisdiction in this matter as well - and they're sending in their very best. What happens when fake psychic meets consulting detective and pharmaceutical salesman meets army veteran? Set after 'Nip and Suck It' (Psych), and 'The Hounds of Baskerville' (Sherlock).

1. Prologue

July 22nd, 2013. 11 a.m. Santa Barbara Municipal Airport. Thomas Baker, the British Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has just landed after a short connecting flight from Los Angeles, here to meet with the mayor and finalize a new environmental pact regarding the Los Padres National Forest. A sizable posse of reporters, armed to the teeth with large microphones and even larger cameras, as well as a few curious passers-by with smartphones, crowd the arrivals area of the terminal. This is slated to be one of the most high-profile international talks the city has seen in years, and the media is doing nothing to tame the hype.

As the engines wind down and the plane gradually slows to a halt, the Secretary unfastens his seatbelt and makes his way towards the exit, a small band of black-suited bodyguards closes around him, eyes hidden behind reflective sunglasses. He himself is dressed in a much more inconspicuous plaid shirt and pair of blue jeans. As he steps into the sun, blinking as his eyes adjust to the bright Californian sunlight, and makes his way towards a nondescript red SUV parked by the curb, a relentless barrage of questions is the only thing he hears.

"Mr. Baker, can you confirm the contents of – "

" – rumors regarding the pact – "

" – expanding the boundaries of – "

" – any truth to these tidings?"

As he reaches the car, he turns around, raising one hand. "Ladies and gentlemen," he says, emanating charisma from the very beginning, "the mayor and I have yet to finalize anything regarding this agreement. We are merely trying to do what is best for this city and its natural environment."

Reporters continue to shout out questions, none yielding to each other and only furthering the chaos. A plain-clothed detective gets out of the driver's side door and opens the back door for the Secretary.

"Welcome to Santa Barbara, Mr. Baker."

The trip from the airport to the hotel is expected to take the Secretary and his bodyguards around 20 minutes. When he hasn't turned up after 45, the SBPD is notified and a citywide manhunt is initiated. It's Officer Buzz McNab who finds them, tucked away in a small alley a few miles from the airport. The red SUV now has a crumpled front end, blown-out tires and a lattice of cracks spiderwebbing across the windshield. McNab's eyes are instantly drawn to the man in the back seat, wearing a plaid shirt and a pair of blue jeans, with a bloody hole in the center of his forehead and a look of surprise still etched across his face.