CLOSER TO THE EDGE
CHAPTER ONE-SHELTER
Jo sat by Lassiter's desk two days later. They'd gotten the prints off the knife and now Lassiter and O'Hara had gone after the man to bring him in for questioning. They had a warrant for his arrest. She nervously twirled a strand of hair around her finger as she bounced her foot. Gus and Shawn were standing by. Shawn tapped her on the shoulder.
"Hey," he said bending down and whispering in a low voice. "Your friend has a history of mental illness and has been in and out of asylums for the past 2 years."
"How'd you find that out?" Jo asked curiously as Shawn crouched down beside her and leaned on the arm of the chair.
Shawn tapped his temple and Jo realized then what he meant.
"Oh that's right," she said softly. "You're psychic. So do you think he's just nothing more than a schizophrenic or something?"
"Who knows," Shawn said shrugging. "But it definitely just sounds like nothing more than a sick guy who escaped from the mental ward."
Jo relaxed slightly but there was something bugging her still.
She anxiously began bobbing her foot as she waited and sat in front of Lassiter's desk. She heard that he was on the way with the guy in custody. Sure enough Lassiter walked in with the guy between him and another officer. The guy was handcuffed with his arms behind him. Lassiter had a smug expression on his face as he led him down the corridor to where the interrogation rooms were. The guy caught sight of Jo, and broke free and began lunging toward her. Alarmed, she jumped to her feet and took a step back behind the chair using it as a shield.
"Stella! Tell them who I am!" he cried wild eyed as several officers rushed over to grab him to get him under control again. Jo just shook her head wide eyed and frightened. She really had no freaking clue who this maniac was.
"Get him outta here," Lassiter barked to the officers who dragged him toward the rooms.
Once he was out of sight, Jo let out a breath and exhaled, her shoulders sagging in relief.
"Are you alright, Miss Williams?" Lassiter asked inclining his head a little.
Jo looked up at him and nodded.
"Why is he so adamant that you know him?" Lassiter asked frowning. "I know you said you don't know who he is, I believe you on that…but I just don't understand why he keeps behaving that way and trying to get at you."
"Because he's probably some sicko," Jo responded bluntly. "Shawn heard from the spirits that he's just some mental patient that escaped."
Lassiter's expression shifted to disgust but then he sighed.
"I'll do a back ground check on the guy," he said as he told one of the officers, McNab, to keep an eye on the guy in interrogation room B. Lassiter took a seat at his desk and began typing. Jo resumed her seat and watched Lassiter work. He worked as though he was a master at what he did. Jo crossed her arms on the desk and let her chin rest on them. Lassiter was silent as he worked, but he raised his eyes to Jo's and stared at her for a moment.
"What?" he grunted.
Jo shrank at his brash tone for a moment, but she cleared her throat.
"Just watching you work. Sorry if I make you uncomfortable," Jo said turning sideways in the seat.
Lassiter was silent for a moment before he let out a noise that was a cross between a smug exhale and a nervous grunt. Jo slowly turned to face him.
"What is it?" she asked quietly.
"This guy that we brought in has a history and a rap sheet as long as my arm," Lassiter explained squinting at the screen. "Assault, stalking, battery, 2nd degree murder…you name it."
Jo was silent and felt her body shaking violently.
"I'm gonna go find out what this guy is up to and why he's after you," Lassiter growled as he slammed his palm down on the desk and got to his feet. Jo slowly got up and followed him.
Standing in the observation room, Jo, Shawn, Gus and O'Hara were watching Lassiter work.
"Why are you after Miss Williams, Mr. Tanner?" Lassiter demanded circling the man sitting behind the table like a vulture. "Why do you keep assuming she's someone else when she clearly told you numerous times that she is not?"
His tone was harsh and direct.
"Because she is," the man Tanner protested helplessly. "She just doesn't remember!"
"I think Miss Williams would remember who she is," Lassiter spat at him angrily. "Tell me the truth. Why are you harassing her?"
Jo watched from the observation room, completely confused. But she had no idea that her confusion would only escalate even more when the man spoke again.
"Jo Reyes and Ingrid Williams don't exist," The man said exhaling and burying his face into his hands. "Those were the names of people she was before. Even Stella. I need her to remember her real name."
"Why?" O'Hara chimed in looking at her partner with obvious confusion. "What exactly is going on?"
The man raised his head to look at O'Hara. Jo's heart was pounding in her chest like a humming bird. This man was clearly bonkers right? People she was before? What on earth was he talking about?
"Things are going to start happening here in Santa Barbara over the course of a few days," the man explained looking distraught. "You see, it's time for Her to return to her own personality. She's connected to these events that will take place and if she doesn't return to her own timeline, Santa Barbara will be destroyed."
Jo just stood there completely stunned. Something in her clicked and she grabbed the door handle and bolted from the room. She entered the interrogation room and was met with stunned expressions from both Lassiter and O'Hara. Jo went to the table and stared at the man.
"What are you talking about?" she asked in a low voice.
"Miss Williams, you really shouldn't be in here," Lassiter protested as he gently took her elbow and went to pull her away from the table, but she jerked her elbow out of his grip and kept her eyes on the man.
"What the hell is going on?" Jo demanded with conviction.
The man only looked at her sadly and remained quiet which only frustrated her more. Lassiter managed to gently guide her out of the room and O'Hara closed the door behind them.
"What the hell did he mean?" Jo demanded sounding exasperated. "He sounded so cryptic. What did he mean 'my real personality and timeline?'" she asked shaking her head.
"I don't know Miss Williams but I can assure you he's nothing more than a raving lunatic," Lassiter grunted exhaling loudly. "I conducted a background check on him. He has had several prior arrests which include stalking, theft, kidnaping and not to mention he was in Wispy Sunny Pines when it had closed down for mental issues."
"So you see? Its nothing to worry about. We can get him on public nuisance and harassment being he showed up at Henry's house and attempted to harm you. Actually assault add to that list of charges." O'Hara said glancing down at the case file in her hand.
Jo just chewed on the inside of her cheek. Something was still bothering her though. Something tugged at the back of her mind but she couldn't explain it. Still, there was evidence that this guy was truly nothing more than some wacko. Jo nodded at O'Hara's explanation and took a deep breath. Lassiter stepped up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You're safe now, Miss Williams," he said softly and his tone was a surprise to her ears. Usually he talked in such a gruff tone. She could tell he was tightly wound up and always angry, but oddly around her when there was no one else around, he seemed to lighten up a bit and relax. Jo nodded and forced a smile on her face. With the young man now in custody, Lassiter and O'Hara offered to drive her back to Henry's for some rest. Frankly she liked the sound of that. Sitting in the back of the dark blue Crown Victoria, Jo turned to look out the window. Suddenly, the scenery before her began blurring and dripping as though it was nothing more than someone painting on a canvas. Alarmed there was a bright flash of light before her eyes. When she opened them, the car was going at least 60 mph. Jo was sitting in back.
There was a police mesh in front of her. She saw Lassiter clinging to the front hood as the driver swerved in and out of traffic. She screamed and banged up against the mesh, but it was no use. Whoever was driving the car, had the full intent to kill Lassiter. Jo continued to bang against the mesh screaming. Lassiter's fingers dug into the edge of the front hood as his body swayed each time the driver violently swerved. Jo screamed again and shook the mesh but whoever was driving was clearly ignoring her. She gripped the mesh with her fingers, making the metal dig into her palms. Lassiter was still hanging on but at one violent swerve, Jo watched as he flew off the hood and crashed into a parked car.
She felt the driver slam on the break so hard that she was thrown forward. She watched as Lassiter got to his feet. He was badly hurt and had a bloody gash on his forehead. He reached under his jacket and pulled out his gun. He stood in an isosceles firing position. His expression was murderous and downright scary.
Jo watched in horror as her mysterious driver pressed the accelerator and the car lurched forward. Jo screamed again as the front hood drew closer and closer to Lassiter.
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"Sweet Justice!" she heard a voice shout as there was the screeching of tires and then the Crown Victoria came to a stop. "Miss Williams!"
She felt someone gently taking her biceps and give her a light shake. When her eyes flew open, she was staring into the face of Lassiter. As she shakily took her eyes to the left of him, O'Hara was turned around in her seat also with a worried look. Lassiter was leaning over the front seat watching her intently.
"What in the name of all that's good and holy is going on? You screamed several times like someone was murdering you!" he grunted.
Jo was visibly shaking and looked around. Everything she'd seen in that 'vision' was gone. It was as if it had never happened. She realized that Lassiter had pulled off to the side of the road and was parked on the shoulder of a highway. Feeling her stomach violently drop, Jo grabbed the door handle but it wouldn't open.
"Let me out please," she bleated weakly. "I'm going to be sick."
She heard the familiar 'pop' of the back locks opening and she threw open her door. She stumbled out of the car and leaned over the guard rail as she ended up emptying her stomach. She sensed O'Hara next to her. After a moment, Jo wiped the corner of her mouth and collected herself before turning to the female detective.
"Are you okay?" O'Hara asked her anxiously.
"I-I don't know anymore," Jo said as hot tears filled her eyes and she wound her arms tightly against her midsection. "I think I'm going crazy O'Hara. I keep seeing these 'visions' of horrible things happening but when I open my eyes it's all gone."
O'Hara gently stroked Jo's back and looked at her sympathetically.
"Well being Shawn's psychic, maybe he'll know what's going on," she suggested softly.
"Gus said it might be previous lives I'm seeing but I don't know if that's even true. I don't even remember anything of my childhood or my parents," Jo said chewing on her bottom lip.
"Well come on," O'Hara said warmly. "Let's get you to Henry's. He'll fix you something to eat and you need rest."
Silently following O'Hara, Jo looked up. Lassiter was watching her intently. O'Hara slid into the passenger side and closed her door. Lassiter stood by the opened back door and when Jo went to get in, he gently grabbed her bicep.
"What happened, Miss Williams?" he asked her, his ice blue eyes locked on her own.
Her heart sank. He would never believe her. She shook her head.
"You wouldn't believe me, Detective," she muttered.
"Try me,"
She raised her eyes in surprise at the intent and determined look on his face. Even though she'd only known him for a short while, he came across to her as the logical type. One not to believe in leprechauns, ghosts or anything along that line. So this truly threw her for a moment.
"I-I saw us," she said slowly. "I was in the back of a car…a police car. Someone was driving it but I couldn't see. You were on the hood fighting to hold on. The car stopped abruptly and you flew off. The driver proceeded to run you down. I-I think he or she did. I kinda 'woke' up after that."
"Are you saying you had some kind of 'vision'?" he asked tilting his head to the side.
Jo nodded and chewed on her inner cheek.
"Spencer's psychic, although I don't even believe that," he grunted. "I know that pseudo psychic dimwit is lying. Look," he said taking a slow breath. "I don't know whats going on here. I don't know if you're having these 'visions' but whatever it is I will get to the bottom of it."
Jo knew that he wouldn't believe her. Hell she was having a hard time believing this herself. But she couldn't deny something she'd seen with her own eyes. She just nodded at Lassiter and put on a poker face at this point. Whatever was happening, she definitely wanted to get to the bottom of things. Whether or not its this 'previous' life scenario that Gus suggested, or she was literally going crazy. An explanation was definitely something she wanted.
Lassiter turned back around in his seat and they proceeded back to Henry's.
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Lassiter and O'Hara walked Jo up to the front of Henry's beach side bungalow. Henry was sitting out on the porch tending to a fishing rod.
"Hey Lassiter and Juliet, Ingrid," He said in a pleasant tone. "What's going on?"
"Um, Miss Williams here confronted the man who was harassing her," O'Hara said in a sympathetic tone. "She needs some peace and quiet."
Her tone was meaningful and Henry's expression turned to understanding.
"Ah," he said warmly. "Sure. I know the perfect thing to help her relax. Ever been fishing Ingrid?"
Sitting on Henry's porch, watching the people walk back and forth along the beach, Jo began finally feeling a bit better, but not by much. Henry had come out and sat down next to her. He handed her a bottle of water. She gratefully took it and twisted off the cap and took a sip.
"So who is this guy that's bothering you?" Henry asked Jo softly.
"Apparently his names Walter Cross," Jo responded staring off into the distance. "He has a history of mental illness. He was in Wispy Sunny Pines back in the 80's." Jo said taking another sip of the water. "Lassiter thinks that the guys just crazy."
Henry watched her for a bit.
"But you don't," he said slowly.
Jo sighed and shook her head.
"I don't know Henry. There are things happening now that I can't explain." Jo said placing the water bottle on the step next to her. "Some things he says make sense but then again I feel like I'm going crazy." Jo said turning to him.
"I don't think you're crazy," Henry said shaking his head. He gently reached out and patted Jo on the arm. "I think tomorrow you and I can go out on my boat for a bit and fish. I could teach you. It's very relaxing."
Jo smiled and nodded.
"That actually sounds like a great idea," she agreed.
For once maybe things will become more clearer and she could start to feel herself relax a little more now.
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Sitting on Henry's boat, Jo actually found herself having a good time. She was sitting and sipping a can of coke as she and Henry fished for some marlin and salmon. She dangled the fishing rod over the edge as Henry sat down next to her and cast his line out into the water.
He sipped a can of beer and turned to her.
"Shawn never wanted to do this," Henry explained to Jo. "Lassiter and I did it a few times but Shawn…never expressed an interest in it. Could never get him to come with me."
Jo chuckled and actually felt her nerves starting to unwind and unclench.
"Well Henry, if things are like this, consider me a fishing buddy," Jo said grinning at him.
That seemed to please Henry greatly and he beamed, his whole face lighting up. Jo inhaled the salty rich air and with the gentle bobbing of the boat on the waves, found she could actually imagine living here permanently. Of course she didn't even know if she did live here. She had no idea where she lived anyway. A pang hit her in the chest but she decided not to let that depress her especially now. She was having a great time and wasn't going to spoil it.
They managed to catch some good marlin and while Henry was placing the fish in the cooler, Jo leaned on the railing and just took in the scenery. As she was staring off into the horizon, flashes went off before her eyes. She cried out as pain shot through her skull like a dozen knives piercing her brain. She saw fire, docks, and a woman wearing an old period dress who was running along the dock which was now on fire itself. She saw that woman reach the end and scream before jumping into the water.
By the time, the flash vanished, Jo came to and much to her horror, found she was submerged under the ocean. Somehow she'd gone over the edge of Henry's boat and was now frantically trying to surface.
She saw a hand reaching down for her and she screamed before a blackness over took her.
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Jo felt air being blown into her lungs. She turned on her side and coughed up water. She heard a collective sigh of relief above her from several people. After several moments, she opened her eyes after catching her breath again and looked up to see Henry, Shawn and Gus. Henry was kneeling down beside her, soaking wet. Shawn and Gus looked pale and worried.
"What happened?" she asked coughing as she propped herself up onto her elbows and then sat up completely. Her hair was soaked and sticking to her clothes. She looked from Gus to Shawn and back to Henry.
"You just jumped over the edge of the boat," Shawn said. "Dad here jumped in after you when you didn't surface right away."
"You looked like you wanted to go in," Henry said panting. "Like you were in such serious pain or on fire. What on earth happened, Ingrid?"
Jo hugged herself and got to her feet with the help of Shawn and Henry who took each of her elbows. Once on her feet, Jo felt a little wobbly and weak in the knees, so Shawn had his arm around her back for support. Jo threw him a grateful expression before turning back to Henry to answer his question.
"I saw a vision," Jo said. "I saw a dock on fire…boats too. I was running down one dock which was ablaze also. I saw myself jumping into the water before screaming. I-I was dressed in period clothes."
Henry moved his eyes onto his sons' and Gus'.
"Have either of you two heard something like this? Gus, is this perhaps some kind of neurological thing going on with her perhaps? Or multiple personality disorders?"
Gus chewed on his bottom lip.
"Henry, with all due respect, I don't think it's a multiple personality disorder or a neurological thing. I think she's relieving some past lives. It's happened before. There are numerous cases with people remembering details of things that have happened years ago that there are no logical reasons for them to be able to remember things in detail."
"Shawn what do you make of all this," Henry asked.
Shawn shrugged out of his jacket and wrapped it around Jo's shoulders. Jo gratefully pulled it on. It was a little big but she snuggled into it. The cuffs slipped past her finger tips but she welcomed the warmth. She pulled her hair out from underneath the neckline.
"I think Gus might be right," Shawn said slowly observing Jo's face. "I think Ingrid's telling the truth. Either way dad, that's not the issue. The issue is you made out with Ingrid."
Jo raised a hand to her mouth and fought down giggles, even if the situation wasn't exactly funny. But thankfully Shawn always managed to add some light to darkness.
"I gave her mouth to mouth, Shawn," Henry frowned.
"It's still creepy dad," Shawn retorted. "Probably the creepiest thing I've ever seen in my life…oh wait no. I think you and mom in bed that puts the icing on the cake. I still can't step into the house without having flashbacks."
Jo giggled at that. It was hard not to.
"Shawn…" Henry began in his no-nonsense tone but Jo heard a car pulling up at that moment. They were in front of the Psych office. Jo shakily sat on one of the wooden benches as she watched the dark blue Ford Crown Victoria pulling up with the grille lights flashing and lights that were in the windshield at the top. It parked in the parking lot and the two front doors opened. Lassiter and O'Hara stepped out. O'Hara came over and gave Jo a hug.
"Are you alright?" she asked her worriedly examining her at arms length. "Henry called us when you went over the side."
"I'm fine," Jo said warmly hugging the female detective.
Lassiter stepped up next and cleared his throat.
"Are you alright Miss Williams?" he asked her as his ice blue eyes locked on hers.
Jo nodded.
"Yeah," she said nodding.
"That was quick thinking Henry," Lassiter said as he turned his attention back onto Henry. "Diving in after her like that."
Henry blushed and waved a hand dismissively but you could see he was pleased with the praise.
"It was nothing," he said humbly.
Lassiter turned his eyes back onto Jo.
"What exactly happened, Miss Williams," he asked.
Jo shrugged and told them exactly what she'd told Henry, Shawn and Gus. O'Hara hugged Jo again.
"I know it's crazy." Jo said shutting her eyes. "But I swear it's the truth."
There was a silence before O'Hara spoke.
"I believe you Ingrid," she said warmly. "Shawn, do you have anything dry she can wear in the office?"
Shawn nodded.
"Yeah I have some extra clothes," he offered. "Come on Ingrid I'll show you where they are."
Jo nodded and smiled gratefully at Juliet and followed Shawn into the office.
He had a plaid shirt and a pair sweatpants. They fit her but she had to roll up the sleeves of the shirt a bit to her elbows. Shawn also had a pair of sneakers that Jo borrowed. Once in dry clothes she towel dried her hair and pulled it over her shoulder and did a quick braid. Once it was fastened she followed Shawn back outside.
She noted that Henry, Juliet and Gus were gone but Lassiter was standing there with both hands on his hips, which pulled back the hem of his opened suit jacket exposing his gold badge and a brief glimpse of his shoulder holster under his other arm.
"Where is Gus, Jules and Pops," Shawn asked Lassiter, who turned to look when he heard them coming.
"Henry went home," Lassiter responded curling a lip at Shawn. "O'Hara and Gus went to check on something for me."
Shawn pretended to pout.
"Aw. I feel so left out," he said in a mocking tone. "But tell Gus that when he gets back I'm eating all his Cocoa Puffs." Shawn said and gently nudged Jo with his elbow affectionately before turning and heading back into office.
Jo wanted to get some air so she took a seat back on the bench and exhaled slowly. She felt a bit better now in dry clothes but she was still scared and frightened. Lassiter stood by the bench for a bit before he let out a grunt and took a seat next to her. He leaned forward, elbows resting on his thighs; hands clasped between his knees. He stared out at the boardwalk and beach for a bit before he turned to Jo. Jo could tell by his facial expression what he was about to say.
"Go ahead," Jo said bluntly. "Say it. I'm crazy right? Frankly I wouldn't blame you. I'm going nuts."
She buried her face into her hands. While the sound of Gus' theory sounded interesting and plausible, there was also the nagging sensation that maybe she really was crazy and that scared her more than the past lives theory.
She heard Lassiter grunt in rebuke next to her and felt his fingers gently closing around her wrists lowering her hands from her face.
"On the contrary, Miss Williams," he grunted as she looked up at him. "I don't think you're crazy. I don't know what exactly is going on. I don't think it's that ridiculous theory Guster dreamed up, but I don't think you're crazy." He said shaking his head. "There's a logical explanation thats out there."
Jo managed weak smile and wound her arm around his, snuggling up against the length of his arm. Her cheek rested on his bicep. She surprised herself at this outburst of affection toward the grumpy head detective, but she felt a rush of warmth toward him. She heard him intake a puff of air when she pressed the length of her body against his arm. His hand was resting on his thigh but was lightly touching her thigh. He cleared his throat.
"Thank you," Jo whispered.
He just grunted in response but didn't pull away from her embrace either. Jo felt at last had shelter but she was going to get to the bottom of things. If it was the last thing she did.