Chapter 2 – 10 Years Ago Today

September 2006 – Santa Barbara

"It is a murky rainy day here in Santa Barbara, it seems as though we are having some very unusual weather for this time of year with seemingly no end in sight, the forecast is rain with isolated thunderstorms and heavy lightening in some areas. We hope everyone is being careful out there to..."

The radio announcer's voice was cut off as Detective Carlton Lassiter shut off his car in the SBPD's Parking Lot. It was 8:45; he was late; well, late for him anyway. Usually the detective arrived around 7:30 or 8:00 even though he didn't have to be there until 9:00. He loved his job but there was just something about today.

After taking the key out of the ignition Lassiter just sat there, he couldn't bring himself to go inside. It was pouring outside and inside his thoughts were doing the same. 'It has been ten years, ten whole years, ten years since I packed up all of my things and moved to Santa Barbara, ten years ago today I met Chief Karen Vick, Detective Vick then. Something is off, and it is not just the weather. I don't know it could just be the continuous bad memories of the past that keep playing in my mind. What is wrong with me today? I'm not early for work, I can't think straight, and I can't shake this bad feeling I've got.' Lassiter looked at the clock '8:51, it's time to go in.'

Lassiter reached over and grabbed his umbrella from the seat beside him. He climbed out of his car and opened his umbrella, shut his door and locked his car. Out of nowhere seemingly he sees his partner of two years, Junior Detective Juliet O'Hara running from the back of the parking lot getting soaked with every step she took. He shook his head and walked towards her.

"O'Hara, stop running before you fall." Lassiter said covering her with part of his umbrella. "You didn't feel the need for an umbrella on a day like this."

"I was running late, couldn't find it" said a breathless Juliet.

"Are you just getting here?" said Juliet after she caught her breath.

"Yes. Why do you ask?" said Lassiter as they walked speedily towards the SBPB Doors.

"No reason." said Juliet, sensing he didn't want to discuss it.

Juliet and Lassiter walked through the front door of the police station, Lassiter stopping to shake out his umbrella and put it in the rack by the door.

"Good morning Detectives. Nasty weather out there today isn't it?" said the receptionist at the front desk.

"Sure is, I just can't believe it is still raining." replied Juliet.

"Any messages?" asked Lassiter.

"Yes, chief Vick requested to see both of you in your office as soon as you arrived and got settled in; and Juliet you have a phone message somewhere. . . oh here it is" said the receptionist and handed the yellow phone message slip to Juliet as Lassiter walked towards his desk.

"Thanks" said Juliet as she stuffed the message into her bag and headed towards her desk.

Juliet quickly put her stuff down and headed towards the chiefs office with Lassiter. "Do you think we have a new case?" asked Juliet

"Hopefully. I don't think I can take another day of deskwork, although we do have quite a bit of paperwork to finish." said Lassiter as they were ushered into Vick's office.

"Good morning detectives, I know you are probably hoping for a case but I am afraid it is going to be another paperwork day, in fact I would like for all of your remaining paperwork to be finished and filed by the end of the day. I also wanted to let you know that you could be called if you are needed to help with traffic and weather related incidents that are occurring due to the currents conditions. Do either one of you have any questions?" said Vick

"Nope" answered both detectives simultaneously.

"Okay then, you are both dismissed." responded Vick.

Both Lassiter and Juliet filed out both on a mission towards their desks

"This really sucks, you know!" says Juliet

"Yes, it does, but the sooner we have this finished the sooner we can do other things; plus it is flooding outside. Do you really want to go out in this kind of weather?" replied Lassiter.

"That is a good point. Are you alright today, you usually put up at least a little fight when it comes to doing paperwork?"

"Yes I am fine O'Hara; I am just having an off day. Let's just get this paperwork finished." retorted Lassiter.

"O.K." said Juliet as she said down at her desk and looked at the quite mediocre pile of paperwork on her desk. There wasn't a whole lot of work but it warranted at least half a day or so. She started booting up her computer and getting things ready to go to work when she remembered the phone message the receptionist had given her early. She pulled out the yellow slip and it read 'Dear Jules, I predict a half price lunch in your future, signed your friendly neighborhood police psychic.' she quietly laughed to herself (not to be unnoticed by her partner) at the ridiculousness of the notes that one Shawn Spencer had been leaving for her. For the past few weeks she had gotten to know Shawn and Gus better and had been spending a good deal of time with them off of the clock. She was so glad she was finally making some friends, odd ones at that, but still she was making progress. She had been in Santa Barbara for two years and she was just now letting others get close to her. It actually scared her sometimes when she realized just how close one Shawn Spencer was getting.

She stuffed the note back in her pocketbook and thought 'At least I will have something to look forward to today' and then she went to work.

Across from her sat Lassiter also clicking away at his paperwork. As he sat there he again began to think 'She has been my partner for two years, she is female, and the perfect age. Carlton quit thinking that, Smalls is long gone, he isn't studying you. But still I can't help shake the feeling that he is around, I just need to keep my eyes open, that is all I can do right now. As much as I would like to send a search party to find and kill this man, all I have is a feeling that he is around and Lord knows I don't even know if the man is still alive. I have got to calm down and concentrate on my work; besides Juliet can handle herself well, but then again so could Selene. Paperwork, Paperwork, Focus Carlton.'

Psych Headquarters

"Guuussss, you promised!"

"No Shawn, I didn't promise; I specifically remember saying I would try to make it out to lunch today." replied Gus.

"Gus you haven't had lunch with me all week. All you do is work, work, work."

"Yeah Shawn I actually have a job."

"Hey, I have a job too!"

"Yes Shawn you do, and when you find us a new case to work on then I promise I will go out to lunch with you."

"Yay! I am going to pick up Jules for lunch anyway and I will find us a case and you can go to lunch with us."

"I can't Shawn, I have a meeting and you have no way of keeping me from it since you have your own car now. And plus I am not going to that weirdo Japanese place with you so you can use your buy one get one free coupon."

"Fine, I will just take Jules!"

"Fine with me. I will call you once I get out of my meeting to see if we have a new case." said Gus as he walked towards the door, "and tell Juliet I said hey."

"Will do, don't get too wet out there Gus!" yelled Shawn as Gus went through the door and into the rain.

Shawn looked at the clock '11:00, early enough. Time to go pick up the girl of my dreams. Wait what did I just say in my mind, I am loosing it. How can I say she is the girl of my dreams when I barely know her; but she could be the one. Whoa, that is scary. O.K. these thoughts have to be the product of an empty stomach; need to find food.' thought Shawn as he grabbed his jacket and umbrella and headed towards his brand new 2006 Pontiac G6, it was a bit small but it fit him.

Shawn pulled into the SBPD parking lot and tried to find the closest parking spot available. He actually found one relatively close, parked, and headed towards the building.

He walked through the front doors and was greeted by the receptionist as he walked towards Juliet and Lassiter.

"Hey Jules, Lassie! Wait a minute I am reading something . . . loads of paperwork that's it. I am getting something else. .. empty stomachs and wait for it . . . detectives that are ready for a break."

"Very good Mr. Spencer, but I am afraid I will have to pass on that offer." said a rather uneasy Lassiter.

"No smart comment Lassie, are you O.K.?" replied Shawn

"Yes, I am fine Mr. Spencer, thanks for your concerned." said Lassiter as he continued with his paperwork.

"So Jules, are you ready for that half price lunch!" said Shawn a little over enthusiastically.

"Quite ready actually, just let me find my keys."

"No need to Jules, I bought a car."

"Really, I can't believe it Shawn. I'm impressed" said Juliet.

"Shall we go then?" said Shawn

"Lets" said Juliet as she started putting things in her purse, she looked over to Lassiter "Would you like for us to bring you something back?"

"If you would?"

"Sure, are you craving anything particular?"

"Not really, surprise me. And why don't you take an extra hour for lunch I'll cover for you and be careful out there today."

"O.K., I will see you around 1:00." said Juliet, then she turned to follow Shawn out of the door.

Once the got outside Shawn opened his umbrella for Jules and himself as they walked towards his car. "What was that all about, Jules?"

"I don't know Shawn; he has been like this all day I don't know what to do about it. It seems like he has a lot on his mind and that he is worrying about something, and this morning when Karen told us we had to finish our paperwork he didn't complain or protest at all." said Juliet as Shawn opened the passenger side door for her, she climbed in and he shut the door and ran around to the other side shaking his umbrella before throwing it into the backseat.

"To be honest Jules he is creeping my out; he gave you a whole extra hour knowing you would be with me and he didn't even insult me when he had the perfect opportunity, twice!" said Shawn as he cranked up the car and headed towards the new Japanese place on the ocean.

"I don't know what is going on, but I plan on trying to get it out of him when I get back. Where's Gus?"

"He said to tell you hey and he is working his real job or that's what he says anyway. Is the new Japanese place o.k. with you?"

"Sounds good to me, I am starving! Where is it at anyway?"

"Just a couple of blocks up on the beach. I would open the sunroof to show you the coolness but we would get soaked."

"Yeah, Shawn that doesn't sound like a good idea and what is up with the weather lately?"

"I don't know, but if it doesn't get back to the normal sunshine I am going to loose it."

"Here it is!" said Shawn as he got out and opened the door for Juliet. The rain started pounding harder as they ran for the entrance.

Unknown to both Juliet and Shawn a 28 year old Jack Smalls watched as both entered the restaurant.

'This is going to be too easy. I don't know who this guy is but he shouldn't be a problem. I should be able to accomplish the first phase of my plan without any problems.'