A freshly shaved and caffeinated police chief quietly observed the foot traffic in and out of his favorite pub during the early morning hours. After departing the crime scene the night before, Carlton put in a call to the only other person within an eighty five mile radius that was just as involved as he was. Resigning with a sigh, he sipped his piping hot cup of coffee when the air around him changed.
"I was beginning to think you overslept, Spencer." Chief Lassiter offered a wolfish smirk as his eyes trailed over the psychic's body. To his credit, Shawn telekinetically flicked both of Lassiter's ears, returning the delightful smirk. "Well you know what they say Lassie, a growing boy needs his beauty sleep." Without another word, the young psychic pulled up a chair across the Chief as a plate piled with pancakes was put in front of him.
It took great effort on Carlton's part not to growl in response to having his ears flicked. "Dare I ask how you managed to elude O'Hara...this time?" Despite having part ways over a year ago, Lassiter would always view his former partner as valuable friend and made no bones to hide his dissatisfaction when it came to how Shawn handled keeping her in the dark. "Thankfully Chief Vick whisked her away to an all inclusive law enforcement conference in New York for a week." Accepting his answer, Lassiter returned to sipping his cup of coffee as Shawn happily dove into his food.
x
Five minutes of silence turned into ten as the last drop of coffee and remaining piece of pancake vanished. Knowing what was to come next, both gentleman locked eyes and began a relatively silent conversation. "As much as it pains me to admit this Shawn, you're the only other person that I trust about this particular case. Last night, we found half of a body lazily buried in a shallow grave just outside of town. Aside from the obvious, I did notice a fowl stench engrained on the remains..." Lassiter stopped mid thought as he was drawn to the amused expression spreading across Shawn's face. "Shawn." The way in which Carlton spoke his name was enough to sober the psychic up and make something tremble within. "As I was saying Spencer, there is a lot that does not sit right which is why I have reluctantly decided to hire you on this case. Any questions?"
"Just this one -where are his legs?" Carlton bit back an unexpected laugh because only Shawn would ask that question with a straight face. Having already paid the bill, the detective placed a hand on the psychic's shoulder in a gesture to follow him out into the early morning air. "That is what I intend to find out tonight and naturally you are invited to observe." The hairs on the back of Shawn's neck stood to attention as he briefly glanced the detective's eyes. "I'll remember to bring snacks."
x
Twenty minutes later the party of two arrived at the Santa Barbara Police Station, quickly retreating into the Chief's office. A brief look was exchanged as the blinds and door were instantly shut. "Interesting." Lassiter smirked as he went to hang up his jacket. On the table between the two men were several file folders, all related to the case at hand. "This was all collected last night at the crime scene Spencer, and all we have to show for a day's worth of investigating are more questions than answers. It won't be long before the Mayor decides to bring in the FBI and that is something we cannot have." Shawn visibly flinched as the air in the office became charged with a mixture of aggression and something that the psychic couldn't quite place. "I wonder how he would look in a..." A sudden pain snapped Shawn out of his inner musings as he searched the room for the source of the interruption. What he found instead was one flustered police chief, trying to busy himself by going over the latest photos.
"I am with you on this two hundred percent Chief Lassiter." Lassiter lazily glanced up from one crime scene photo in particular just to have it abruptly plucked from his grasp. He was beginning to scold Shawn for his middle school antics when said photo fell onto the floor.
