Caitlin Spencer was at her brother Shawn's desk in his office, installing software. She released a breath that fluttered her bangs. How he ran a detective agency without useful software was beyond her. But he did of course, relying on legwork and his powers of observation, otherwise psychicness by him.
He and his best friend and business partner, Burton Guster, were out working on a missing child case. Since she had wanted to install software, Caitlin had offered to run the office while they were gone.
She grabbed the cordless phone when it rang. "Psych." Caitlin stilled as she listened to the woman on the other end of the phone. "Yes, we have an open appointment time for seven P.M. We look forward to meeting you, Mrs. Phillips." She penciled the name in the appointment book then dialed Shawn's cell. It went to voice mail. It must have meant they were busy investigating and she hoped he had it on vibrate.
The background check software installation complete, she typed in the name of their potential client's husband and let it run.
At the Playground Across TownShawn was staring at the play area where Denise Myers was last seen. The ten year old's cousin, Tina, said a strange to her man approached them and Denise stepped to the side to talk to him. Tina had turned to acknowledge a friend and when she turned back, Denise and the man were both gone.
Following the traces of footsteps, Shawn began following Denise's trail. What he didn't see was any sign of struggle. Even if a child trusts a stranger, there comes a point where they stop trusting and start fighting. He was willing to bet Denise knew the man, even if Tina didn't.
He also didn't like the fact that the mother wasn't here in the park. At all. Tina's mother, Denise Aunt Barbara had picked her up in the morning and brought both girls to the park. That in itself wouldn't have bothered Shaun, but no one had been able to contact Mrs. Myers.
"I don't like this, Gus," he muttered to his best friend. "Why can't the mother be contacted?
"I hear that. Doesn't she have a cell phone? Why wouldn't it be on when her daughter's away for the day?"
"I think Denise knew whoever she was…" Shawn stopped in his tracks and stared off into the distance, at the base of the stone wall, which enclosed the playground. "What color did they say she was wearing?"
Gus thought for a moment. "Pink." He squinted and stared off in the direction Shawn was looking. "Oh, hell no."
"Call Lassie and Jules, stay here. Barbara should have called in the police when she first realized Denise was missing." Shawn took several small steps toward the wall when Gus reached out and grabbed his arm.
"Don't Shawn. If what you're seeing is true, you won't be able to handle it."
Shawn took a deep breath. "If the things I've seen since starting Psych haven't…"
"Shawn, none of it has involved a child before. Well, except for the little con-girl that Christmas." Gus felt Shawn's arm tremble under his hand. "Come on, we'll wait for Lassie and Jules together. Over there where we can keep an eye on things for them."
Shawn gave in and followed Gus to a bench. He pulled out his cell phone to check messages. "Oooh Cait called. Hope she's not calling to say she's discovered my stash of Doritos. And ate them all."
"It's not like you can't get any more."
Shawn dialed the office number. "Hey Cait. Uhm…I'm not certain. Things took a bad turn here and we're waiting for Lassie and…yes, I know you've said it's not respectful to call him that." Shawn rolled his eyes at Gus and pointed at his phone. "What? No! Nooo…" he dragged out. "Don't come down here. We'll have it under control soon. Oh? A problem with out potential client? Nothing says we have to take a case, you know. Right. We'll be there as soon as we can." He hit the off button and nodded toward the wall. "And things like this is why I don't want her going back to forensics."
"She might decide to, you know. So. We have a potential client and there's a problem?"
"Yeah, Cait's not certain we should take the case. Something about a threat and her husband is like the little boy who cried wolf."
Gus's eyes widened but said nothing when Carlton and Juliet walked up.
"What have you two gotten in to now?"
"Look, the girl's Aunt thought she wandered off, the cousin said she was talking to some man. She was wearing pink and I'm sensing something pink over by that wall." He held one finger up to his head, the other pointing.
"You didn't check it out, Shawn?" Juliet asked, surprised. Usually Shawn could be found over bodies at every crime scene.
"I…"
"We didn't feel we could handle finding the body of a child," Gus choked out. Juliet nodded and even Carlton looked a little green before they head over.
Shawn lowered his head when he saw Juliet making a phone call. "Oh God, Gus, it was Denise.
"I'll go get the Aunt," Gus offered, taking off to where they had left the mother and daughter.
Shawn squared his shoulders and headed over toward the two police. "I'm sorry, Shawn," Juliet said softly. "When did the Aunt call you?"
"We came as soon as she called, and we've been here about an hour."
"I know it's not much comfort, Shawn, but it looks like Denise was…well…gone before you were ever called in." Juliet glanced around. "Where's Gus?"
"He went to get the Aunt and cousin."
Gus came running back up, out of breath. "Shawn! They're gone! Nowhere in the playground. One of the other women said she saw them leave right after we headed in this direction."
Shawn closed his eyes then looked at Juliet. "Do all detectives have to vet every client that hires them? We're having a terrible track record."
"I can't speak for all of them, but I doubt it. And honestly, if I was in your shoes and I was called that a child was missing, I wouldn't have checked it out either. We'll have to take you down for a statement though."
Psych Office, Two Hours LaterShawn and Gus numbly stumbled into the office, immediately sitting at their desks. Shawn had been uncharacteristically silent on the ride home and Gus knew despite Juliet's assurances, Shawn was blaming himself.
"Hey guys!" Caitlin called from the small kitchen area. "Did you get everything str…" She fell silent when she their sadness. "What happened?" She perched on the corner of her desk. "Did you find the little girl?"
"You could say that," Shawn mumbled. "She had been killed."
Caitlin sucked in a breath. "Did she fall from one of the rides or something?"
Gus shook his head. "We don't know the cause of death but we know it was no accident. She was at the base of the far stone wall."
A sudden memory from that specific playground filtered into her mind. "Could she have climbed up on the wall some how and fallen? I remember climbing up there to walk on it. Dad was always yelling at me for that."
"No," Shawn said, tossing his jacket on the nearby chair. "If it was an accident, the aunt and her daughter wouldn't have left before we found her. But oh! That's right! It turned out it wasn't her Aunt at all who called us. We I.D.'d a mug shot. And what do you know? She is wanted for murder. Several murders, but she's never been captured."
"Caitlin," Gus began, wanting to change the subject, "You said on the phone we had a new client but there's a problem?"
"Oh! Yes! Mrs. Winnie Phillips called; she said her husband, David Phillips, has received a murder threat. They're hosting a charity Halloween masquerade at the old…" Caitlin flipped through her notes. "Zimablist mansion and that's where the deed is supposed to be done. I asked if she had called the police yet, and she became quiet and defensive. So…
Once the background check software was installed, I ran a background check on Mr. Phillips. He checks out, a very wealthy philanthropist. But he has quite a past of reporting threats against his life, which have never panned out. So the police won't believe him any longer."
"Philanthropist? He studies the Phillies?" Shawn asked.
"Shawn!" Gus exclaimed. "A philanthropist does good works for individuals and charitable communities.
"Oh. Makes more sense than studying the Phillies."
"Anyway," Caitlin continued, "They will both be here at seven to discuss hiring you."
"You didn't just accept the case for us?" Shawn asked.
"No. When she acted funny at the mention of the police, I wanted to check them out. And besides, honestly, you should meet potential clients before you hire them."
Shawn glanced at Gus, "That's a radical thought."
Gus raised his eyebrows and sighed.
The phone rang and Shawn grabbed it. "Jules!" Shawn's eyes widened as he listened to what Juliet had to say. When he hung up, both Gus and Caitlin were watching him questioningly.
"There's no record of a Denise Myers," he said slowly. "But the girl's fingerprints showed up in the database of missing and exploited children. Amy Dwyer, she's been missing for about six months."
"What have you guys stumbled in to?" Caitlin wondered.
Shawn shrugged. "It's in Lassie and Jules' hands now." He winced when Caitlin smacked his shoulder. "What was that for? The nickname? It's an old habit. An old fun habit. We can't touch the case now unless La…Carlton and Jules or Dad hires us."
"Never stopped you before," Gus said.
"All right, look, we have a week before Halloween. That's when Mr. Filet is supposed to be taken out, right?"
"Shawn! Phillips!" Caitlin corrected. "But yes. But we'll need to check out the house prior to the day of the party."
"Yeah, yeah." He waved his hand dismissively. "We can go check out the playground tonight after we meet with the Philips."
"Shawn! I thought you didn't…" Gus began, only to be shushed.
"I'm going with you tonight then," Caitlin announced. "What does everyone want for dinner?"
"Whoa. Cait. I don't want you involved in this."
"Really Shawn? Because it's dangerous? What if I said the same thing you?"
"No. Because it involves a child. You shouldn't have to…"
"Shawn. I'm a big girl. And you don't think I've seen crime scenes with children before in New York? I can handle it.