Chapter 9: The Storm Begins
Disclaimer: Still don't own Psych.
At around 9:30 p.m. on Monday night, Henry, Shawn, and Gus were waiting at the Psych Office when Karen, Lassiter and Juliet arrived with several other officers. Henry sat in Shawn's desk chair as one of the sound technicians was fitting Henry with the tiny microphone and earpiece.
"So, let's go over the plan. Henry, you'll wait in the center of the park by the gazebo, make the exchange and hopefully Martin will say something useful," Karen told Henry. "And if he doesn't, we'll arrest him for soliciting stolen evidence and obstruction of justice."
"Remember, don't push too hard. You don't want him to get suspicious," Lassiter said. Henry glared at him.
"I know what I need to do, Detective. Believe or not, I know something about police work," Henry said angrily. Shawn chuckled from his position on the couch. Lassiter glared at Shawn.
"Well, it's about 9:45. Let's roll. I want to have time to get into position," Karen said to Henry. Then to Lassiter, she said, "I'll call you after it goes down." He nodded in response. Karen walked out and the other officers followed. Henry stood there for a minute and made eye contact with Shawn. They stared at one another. Henry turned and started to walk out.
"Dad," Shawn called and Henry looked at him, "Be careful."
"You too," Henry said and closed the door.
A few minutes later, Henry arrived at the park. Henry exited his truck and walked toward the agreed meeting place. He adjusted the wireless earpiece again. He still thought that this whole plan was of the "suck out loud" variety as Shawn called it. He reached the center of the park and stood by the gazebo. "I'm in place, no sign of him," Henry whispered.
He heard Karen's reply, "Roger that. All units are in place." He noticed one homeless man looking through a garbage can and then a jogger went by. He assumed that they were all uncover cops. He checked his watch, 9:55 p.m. He moved the envelope with the decoy tape to his other hand. He hated to admit it, even to himself, but he was nervous, not just for himself, but also for Shawn and Gus back at the office. Something didn't feel right. He pulled out his cell and was about to dial the office. He closed his phone and put it away. "Stop being a worry wart," he told himself.
Back at the office, Shawn lounged on the couch with his feet up on the one arm. Lassiter paced back and forth at the window. Gus was sitting in a chair near the couch flipping through channels. Juliet was at the desk by the window, glancing to the television and back to her partner.
"Gus, if you leave the History Channel on, I will hurt you," Shawn said. Gus made a face at him and changed the channel. Lassiter's pacing was grating on his nerves, so he decided to grate on Lassiter's.
"So, Lassie, when's the baby due? Stop pacing man, you're making me nauseous," Shawn said. Juliet frowned at him and he knew he was pushing it, but he needed to do something and tormenting Lassiter was fun. Lassiter turned and glared at him, again, but didn't say a word. Gus landed on the Discovery Channel, Mythbusters was on.
"Gus," Shawn whined when he noticed what was on, and looked at the clock. It had been the tenth time he'd checked it in five minutes.
"Oh please. You'll love this one. They are testing explosive decompression on airplanes," Gus said, noticing how many times Shawn checked the clock and was hoping to distract him. Shawn shook his head and stared up at the ceiling. He actually felt tired and closed his eyes.
"Waiting sucks," he muttered.
Gus smiled at him and said, "Yeah, it does."
John Martin sat in his car and called Paul. When Paul picked up, John asked, "You at the park?"
"Yeah, boss. Johnny is at one end and I'm at the other. Henry Spencer is not leaving this park alive."
"Good. There are only two cops here, so I'm set. Call me when it's done. I want to rub it in the kid's face."
"Okay, boss," Paul said and hung up. John looked over at the Psych office window and punched another number in his phone.
Henry checked his watch again. It read 10:02 p.m. "Come on, where are you?" he asked out loud. Karen, who was back in the surveillance van, smiled at his impatience.
An older man about fifty entered the park, his hand suspiciously in his pocket. Karen radioed, "White man, early fifties, dark jacket, approaching from two o'clock. Might be Martin."
Henry watched as the man approached. "It's not Martin," Henry thought, but didn't want to say loud out because it would give away the surveillance.
An officer radioed to Karen that a young man in his early twenties was approaching from the other side of the park. Vick had a sinking feeling in her stomach. "All units, be advised there is a second suspicious person entering the park, and approaching the meeting area."
The older man, who was Martin's associate Paul, came closer to Henry. "You're not Martin," Henry stated.
"Yeah, well, Mr. Martin had a pressing engagement. You got the tape?"
"Yes. Where's Martin? I'm not handing anything over unless it's to him," Henry said angrily. Henry knew this was all wrong. He noticed movement behind him. One of the undercover officers tackled the young man that was coming quickly behind Henry. The young man fired his gun as he fell and Henry felt the bullet graze his arm. Henry clutched his arm in pain and dropped the tape.
Paul lunged at Henry and grabbed the tape. Paul took off running. The officer dressed as the homeless lady tripped him. He went sprawling and the tape went flying. A few minutes later both men were under arrest and sitting in the back of a police car.
Karen was walking toward Henry. He was sitting with a paramedic having his arm bandaged. She could tell he was not being patient. She stopped in front of him. "Karen, something's not right. Where's Martin? No one is answering at Shawn's office." Henry told her.
"I don't know where Martin is. I have some of my guys going to check his bar. Maybe he fled. That young man is his son. I'll call Lassiter and O'Hara to let them know to be on the lookout."
Just then her phone rang. "This is Interim Chief Vick. Lassiter? You're what? Where are Spencer and Guster? Carlton, go back to the Psych Office now. Martin was a no show. He had his son and another associate try to kill Henry Spencer." She hung up and into the radio she called all her available units to report to the Psych Office immediately.
"Henry, you stay here and," she was stopped by his reply.
"If my son's in trouble again, I coming with you." She nodded and they both ran to get into her car.
