They're driving in the car, on a search for witnesses to interrogate, and Carlton turns to Juliet, says – apropos of nothing – "You never answered my question earlier."
Juliet gets a confused look on her face. "Carlton, what are you talking about?"
"When I asked which would be a problem: dating a woman or dating a convict." He clears his throat, as if embarrassed to ask the question again.
She shakes her head. "I could never date a convict, Carlton, I don't know how you do. It's sort of…against everything that we stand for, everything that we do. Especially a convict that tried to kill you."
"She didn't try to kill me!" He protests, far too quickly. A long silent moment passes, and then Carlton adds, "So the woman thing, that wouldn't bother you?"
Juliet groans. "I am SO going to KILL Shawn Spencer."
"Told you you were going to break up," and Carlton is smiling a smug smile.
"No, it's…I can't believe he told you that, I swore him to secrecy and if he's told you…" She sighs, presses fingertips to her closed eyelids. "Look, it was just one time, back at the academy in Miami…I'd just been dumped, she'd just been accepted for detective training, it was a party in her honor…I'd overheard people teasing her for having a crush on me…I was lonely and there was a lot of sangria and…"
Carlton's eyes are very wide and he's having a hard time focusing on the road. "Shawn, um, Shawn never told me that."
"…oh." Juliet's voice is very very small. "Well, I think most people are inherently flexible, anyway. It's no big deal."
"That's what Marlowe said. Of course, Marlowe also said it doesn't count as cheating if it's with another girl."
"I think she's wrong on the second part."
"I think we're splitting up." Carlton sighs. "At least I didn't manage to get her that early release, she'd be awfully lonely without her new girlfriend."
"I think she's right on the first part," Juliet adds, and she's blushing. "I couldn't help but notice, Carlton…why are you so eager that Shawn and I break up? Just to set me up with someone in the women's correctional facility?"
"She's not a convict, by the way, and no, that's not the reason, O'Hara!"
"Who's not a convict?"
"The person Marlowe and I were thinking of. My sister – do you remember her? – she's recently divorced, you made quite an impression on her when she visited, we were just brainstorming, that's all."
"Oh." It's Juliet's turn to blush, and she's thinking about Lauren Lassiter, as dark haired and blue-eyed stunning as her older brother, only much, much quicker to smile. "She likes me?"
"She goes on about how capable you are. And how beautiful."
"Does the capable always come first?" Juliet wonders, and Carlton nods, and that's refreshing , Juliet finds herself thinking, because if Shawn were asked to come up with a list of adjectives to describe her, she doubts capable would be on it.
"Do you think most people are inherently flexible, Carlton?" Juliet asks, watches as Carlton flushes.
"Look, it's just like you said, something that happened a long time ago. You told me your secret, I told you mine, and now we're even." Carlton slinks down, a bit, in the driver's seat. "Over and done, just like you said."
"I didn't quite say that." Juliet frowns, and they drive in quiet as she thinks: puts together a bunch of remembrances like puzzle pieces and finally comes up with something.
"Carlton. You have a thing for Shawn, don't you?"
"That! That! It's preposterous, it's…shit." It's a good thing they're at a red light because he crumples, forehead against the steering wheel. "If you tell anyone, I'll shoot you in your sleep, O'Hara." And then the threatening voice gives way to something smaller, almost childlike pathetic, "It's not my fault, he's just so…well, I don't have to tell you, you're his girlfriend."
"At the moment," Juliet says, closing her own eyes, remembering Lauren Lassiter's smile. "At the moment."