And just like that his life just got even more complicated. As the week progresses Carlton recovers that three more bodies have been reported. One in LA, another was found in Calabasas. Thirdly what made Carlton Lassiter the most concerned, the last body was located in San Francisco. Which meant that Karen Vick and His team were going to have to work together. Part of him was excited to see them again and the other side made him paralyzed. He and Shawn didn't leave things on good terms.
"Carlton, is everything packed?" He looked up from the floor and saw Marlowe waving a hand. "I've been trying to get your attention for ten minutes now. Are you okay?"
"Are you sure Lily can't come?" He frowned.
Marlowe shook her head, disapproval was clear in her face. "You can't take our daughter across the state for a serial killer case. She's going to be fine."
He sighed." I guess you're right."
—-xxx—
"—Shawn, stop bouncing that ball." Jules' muttered loudly, disturbing his daydream. He kept thinking about Lassie.
"The spirits want me to guide the ball, not the other way around, Jules."
Gus smirked, rolling his eyes at Shawn. It was good to see Shawn out of his funk. Today was going to be a little better. "Shawn."
"Mr. Spencer!" A bellowed voice from behind them." Put that ball away, now." Chief Vick rolled her eyes, sitting down in chair. "We have serious matters to deal with. Another victim's body was found a week ago in Santa Barbara."
"S-Santa Barbara?" Shawn practically squeaked as the smoothie he was drinking fell from his hand.
Juliet and Vick shot him with curious looks. "Yes. I contacted Lassiter and he's on his way up here with Detective McNab and Detective Brannigan. We will give them our updated information, am I clear?"
"Buzzy is coming!" An anxious smile broke out Shawn's pale features. "Yes, Mr. Spencer and am I clear?"
Shawn faked a salute." Yes, Chief!"
In all seriousness Shawn wasn't ready to see Lassie again. It only had been a total of four weeks since Carlton Lassiter stomped on his heart, jackhammered it to the ground and burned what was left behind.
Gus pulled him aside, noticing Shawn's reaction unlike Jules or anybody else. "Shawn?" He waved a hand in his face." Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just peachy with a tang of pineapple juice."
He gave him a pointed look." Shawn."
Shaking his head, Shawn frowned." Okay, I'm not fine. I only said that so you would think I was." The two friends walked out of the station, ignoring the chaos around them. "Lassie…he's coming here! The killer is going after him."
Guster's eyes flashed with horrified panic." Why didn't you say anything, Shawn?! You got more threats?"
"…well only a couple."
"A COUPLE, Shawn! This is serious—" Shawn's hand fell over his mouth, trapping the rest of Gus' rant.
"That's why I told you I can't say anything, Gus. You want me to come clean about my feelings, destroy my marriage and for what? Lassiter doesn't want me, Jules will hate me and I'll be alone, Gus."
Gus pouted his lips." You won't be, you'll have me."
Shawn deeply exhaled." I don't think you understand what I mean, Gus."
His best friend gave him a once-over look and gasped." Shawn…you don't mean that."
"I've thought about it before Gus. The night Jules broke up with me. I was thinking about how everyone would be better off without me…" A tear spilled from his eye, causing Gus to struggle from crying.
Gus laid a hand on Shawn's shoulder, moving closer to his best friend and said seriously." We wouldn't have been, Shawn. I-I can't imagine my life without you, near could Jules or Lassiter. I know he may not like you back, but I know he'd never want that either."
"Then why am I here without him, Gussy? If he didn't want anything to happen to me, you would think he'd want me." Shawn added tearfully, Gus closed behind him on falling apart.
He didn't have any more words of reassurance so Gus pulled him into a strong embrace, holding him until the tears stopped along with his sympathy. Although Guster's tears weren't just out of being sympathetic this time. Shawn had told him as his best friend that he wanted to end his life. He knew Shawn had been depressed back then…never thought that his best friend would do that. And by tomorrow he's going to take Shawn to his office and get him on some Anti-depressants.
The next day Shawn and Gus walked into SFPD, carrying coffee and a box of donuts for the staff. It was Gus' turn to pay which is always for breakfast. This time Burton Guster didn't mind, never even argued about it he knew Shawn needed him. The door swung closed behind them.
Karen Vick entered the room filled with her fellow detectives and officers, her eyes gazing over at Mr. Spencer and Guster before signaling to take a seat.
"Listen up, everybody today Chief Lassiter and his team from Santa Barbara will be joining us, if you have any questions now would be time to ask."
Shawn raised his hand." Yes, Mr. Spencer?"
"I don't have a question but we've brought coffee and donuts." She peered down, spotting the assorted coffee and donuts right in the center of the table. "Thank you, Shawn. Feel free to take a cup of coffee and donuts before we proceed." Everybody in the room reached for the bakery treats and waited for the Chief to speak again. "Miles!"
"Yes, Chief?" Officer Miles answered quickly.
"Gather all evidence we got on Case 3221."
When Officer Miles returned with a box in arms, Karen took it and placed it on the table. Shawn scanned the box for any clues. "Chief."
"Yes, Spencer? Did you get a vision?"
Shaking his head no," I noticed that each of the victims had been killed because they were having secrets. So say if the victim was having a secret that killed them what are the odds the killer knows?"
Gus looked over at his friend almost in shock. For someone not wanting to talk about getting threats seemed to throw themselves under the bus.
Karen raised an eye in question." I would say pretty significant odds, Mr. Spencer."
Juliet joined in." Chief, I also recovered that Ethan Nick's body showed signs of abrasions on wrist and left ankle almost like they were tied down with metal chains."
"Show me Dr. Woodrow's autopsy."
Juliet handed the file over to Karen. In that file, Shawn caught a glimpse of Ethan Nick's cause of death. "Wait! I got something!" Everyone stilled as Shawn started flailing around, hand to his head.
"That's very good, Spencer. Always making a fool of real detectives." Shawn froze upon hearing the very familiar voice, prying his eyes open.
There stood Carlton Lassiter along with Buzz and Bannigan. Shawn didn't move from his spot, hand still touching his side temple, heart racing anxiously in his chest cavity as his mouth hung open in shock. Carlton's body ridge upon seeing Shawn's pale white face. He didn't have time to adjust before Juliet pulled him into a hug.
"I've missed you, Carlton!" Juliet exclaimed before releasing the man.
He smiled." I missed you too, Juliet."
Shawn clapped loudly, interrupting." I think the spirits have contacted me again." He said clenching his head with his hands. "Ow! I'm sorry! I-I didn't mean to fall in-love with him!"
"SHAWN!" Gus fake cried out. "Are you okay?"
Shawn finally came out of his vision, eyes widened." Ethan Nick was in-love with his wife's best friend.
Carlton's heart clenched at the pain in Shawn's eyes. He knew that Spencer hadn't faked the emotion, only the action. "How do you know that?" A tall man in blue gasped.
"Well, Miles, Ethan fell in love with Bailey's best friend without telling him. Todd Fern found Nick's body. I also saw a note. An address 2119 N 117th Ave."
Officer Miles wrote down the numbers, looking away without noticing Shawn's downcast as he walked past him. Juliet had seen the exchange as Shawn's vision went on. The look in his eyes almost seemed truthful.
"Lassiter, Juliet, check out the address." Carlton and Juliet nodded. Karen watched as they left before adding," You're dismissed!"
—xxx—
"We are closed!" An older woman shouted. There came a knock again. The woman groaned as she approached, unlatching the lock. She opened the door, gasping. "Shawn, you can't be here."
"Ryan, I need help. Someone is after me." Shawn rattled off, looking worriedly behind him. "Please."
Ryan sighed, dragging him by the arm and shut the door quickly. "What did you get yourself into this time?" She looked down at his appearance, shaking head in disapproval. "You rode that dreadful bike here."
He sat at the table, sipping at the hot tea she handed him. "Yes, I did and it's wonderess not deery."
"It's dreadful, Shawn, dear."
"I've heard it both ways."
Ryan huffed." Now I repeat what have you got yourself into now? Do I have to call your mother?"
"No! You can't leave her out of this."
She sighed." Alright I won't, but you need to be honest. Are you in danger?"
He answered with a half-shrug-slash-nod." Danger? Pftsh, I'm always in danger."
"Shawn." Ryan said, annoyed.
"I found out who the killer is and they are after me."
"And YOU BROUGHT then here? What are you insane, Shawn Spencer?!" She shouted angrily.
Shawn pleaded." Please, Ry, I don't have a lot of time. Please give this message to Lassie."
The woman arched her eyebrow in confusion.
"Lassie?"
"He's a detective. Anyways the killer is—" a loud bang cut off him.
"You missed me, Shawny?"
—xxx—
"Carlton, have you been listening to me?"
He shook himself out of his thoughts. "Huh? Sorry, Juliet."
Juliet furrowed her brows. "Are you okay? I'm sorry our lead wasn't right. I think Shawn is hiding something."
His heartbeat sped up." Why do you say that?"
She dived into her discussion. "He's been so weird since we got back to SF. He won't tell me, but I've noticed him sneaking off." She turned over to him." Do you think he's cheating on me?"
Carlton choked." Spencer, cheating, I don't think so."
She started the car, glancing over at Carlton. "Are you sure? This case has him up all night, he won't go to bed without falling asleep at our kitchen table, Carlton. I'm worried." Carlton saw the worry in her eyes and felt a pang of guilt. The weeks of denial, he didn't want to hurt Juliet but lying to her was doing just that.
"I'm sure he'll be okay, Spencer is always fine." He tried to sound believable.
It wasn't like he was with Shawn behind her back. This case was about eating him up. Their serial killer was after homosexual having secrets about other men. "What have you found?" Her question brought him back to detective mode.
"It looks like Ethan Nick's wife recently withdrew 20,000 dollars from his retirement fund during June."
"But he didn't pass away until September 15th. Maybe she knew that Nick was in-love with her best friend, it would be enough motivation to explain the money."
"His wife could've been furious enough to kill him and his best friend." Carlton stated, looking through the bank receipts.
Suddenly Juliet's phone buzzed, signaling her to answer. "Hello, Head Detective Juliet O'Hara-Spencer speaking." She looked over at him, shrugging.
"Well, well, finally get to hear about the great Juliet." The low tone echoed in her ears, causing Juliet to freeze.
"What do you want?" She demanded, eying Carlton as he sent an alert to Vick.
"I figured you would want to know that your husband is here."
Juliet's eyes widened in fear." Shawn's there?"
Carlton's breath hitch as he heard her say Shawn's name. What in damn sweet justice is going on? He wanted to take the phone out of her hand and bark but he didn't have the right. He wasn't Shawn's sprouse.
"Yeah." An evil laugh cackle." He's not available but I'll gladly take a message." His blood ran cold from the chills in the assailant's voice.
"Listen, you son of a bitch, where are you keeping my husband?!" She demanded, pulling into the SFPD parking lot.
"Sorry, Juliet, that would be too easy." The phone slipped but Carlton snatched it.
"I'll send every resource possible to hunt you down."
The killer laughed again." Ah, your Lassie." Carlton froze.
"How do you know that?"
"I've been watching, pawning. I know Shawn's deepest secret, Carlton?"
Juliet looked at him." Secret? Shawn doesn't keep things from me."
"Are you sure about that, why don't you ask your confident?" The phone disconnected, leaving Juliet staring at him. He felt the confusion washing over her and the guilt burning him from the inside.
They busted into the station." They have Shawn!" Juliet cried.
Gus gasped." I knew he was hiding something."
Karen's eyes turned furious." You lied to us about Shawn. Guster, you better tell us everything you know, now!"
Frightfully Gus nodded, avoiding Carlton's murderous glare. "Shawn has been being targeted by the killer. I don't know much more about that. All I know is that Shawn has been receiving threats."
Carlton's voice thundered." And you didn't think that was information you should've informed us."
Burton huffed." Like you should talk, Lassiter."
Buzz frowned sadly." What did the killer say?"
Juliet spoke up with tears. "They said Shawn was lying to me about something and I should ask Carlton about it?"
Carlton refused to meet her eye, confirming that he knew something. "I don't know what the psycho is talking about?" He lied through his teeth. Guster looked even more pissed off but didn't say a word.
Juliet couldn't believe Carlton. She thought Shawn was acting suspicious and now she is starting to question her own best friend. "Why don't I believe you?"
"Have I ever lied to you, Juliet?"
"I don't know, Lassiter. Have you? My own husband has been lying to me, so how am I supposed to trust your word?"
The phone started ringing." It's the killer again." Karen voiced, stalling any confirmation. She knew what one of Spencer's secrets were.
"Hello."
"Ah, Juliet, your husband has last words for you." There was a loud scream. Carlton's blood boiled hotly in his veins. What did the bastard want?
"Shawn?!" She cried, tears springing from her eyes.
"J-Jules." He coughed. Jules felt relieved for a second. "'M sorry, J-Jules." She couldn't stop the tears from escaping.
"It's okay, Shawn. Shh, you have nothing to be sorry for, hunny." Carlton swallowed the lump down his throat, wanting to speak.
"I-I never told you I-I watched our show without you." Juliet fought back a teary laugh.
"I don't care about that. Just stay strong."
"Is Lassie there?" Shawn's voice came out as a slur.
Carlton felt his tongue move before he knew what he was saying. "I'm here, Spencer."
He waited for anything. He didn't care what or who was watching. He freely let a tear roll down his slightly paling cheeks. "'ssie, I forgive you. I knew that I was wrong about something I said. I don't regret it. I hope you can forgive me. I-I never meant for it to end this way."
"M-Me.. me too, Shawn."
"I-I won't have long so I wanted to tell you I know who- -" Shawn was interrupted by a growl. "You stupid psychic can't you ever shut up."
"Watch it! Spencer won't shut up, trust me." He growled heatedly.
"LASSIE, I-I lo--" Shawn attempted again before he was cut off.
"I know, Shawn. I do too." He said hurriedly, ignoring the curious stares from the room beside Guster and Karen Vick.
"'Y do? Took you long enough, Lassie. I just wish you would've said it before I was about to die."
"I do, Shawn and I'm sorry it took me so long."
"Sorry, Lassiter but it's time to say goodbye." The cold killer's voice broke in.
"Don't hurt him." Jules finally cried again." LEAVE HIM ALONE!"
"Nah, Detective he's just like those freaks, loving another man while being married."
"What are you talking about?"
"Shawn is in-love with-"
"- Jules, I'm sorry." They heard Shawn whisper quietly.
"What do they mean, Shawn?"
"I'm sorry…'should've told you the truth."
"I already know about your gift, Shawn." She admitted, confused.
"I don't want to die with you hating me, Jules…" Juliet fought back tears, finally noticing Carlton looking away from her and at the floor. "You son of bitch, Carlton. Y-You and my husband?!"
Carlton snapped." It wasn't like that, Juliet."
"Jules!" He cried hoarsely, trying to gather his strength over the phone. "Don't be m..mad at him. He didn't know."
"Y-you love him, S-Shawn?" She stammered, hurt filling her eyes.
"'M sorry, Jules. I never meant - -" A bang silenced him as he screamed. "F… I love—"
"SHAWN?!"
"SPENCER?!" Cried Lassiter.
Silence hit his eardrums first before it interphase. Gus cried as another bang ricochet. "Shawn…" he muttered, hoping Shawn was able to fire the shot.
"Anybody got a location?" Buzz asked.
"He's not far from us." Lassiter announced, struggling to keep his worry unseen.
On the ride there, Juliet refused to look at him, anger building inside. She slammed the door first and dunked inside. "Clear!" She yelled before roaming the rest of the premise.
In the room she saw terrifying photographs. Her gun held up in front her. There were several pictures dating five years. Shawn at the store, another showed him holding Carlton's hand while he slept. She started to realize her husband seemed genuinely happy. Another photo was when Lassiter came to visit Shawn in the hospital. He saw Carlton, sitting in a chair next to the bed, clenching onto Shawn's hand. The date read 2013, that was the night Shawn was poisoned while seeing. He ended up solving the case Via video chat Shawn and Gus later told her.
Then she saw a monitor playing a video. "Carlton Lassiter." He paused." Chief Lassie. The Lord of Sternbush. I am proud, honored, and… baffled to call you my friend. But it's true." She smiled as she saw Shawn on screen. "It's also true that you might be the only other person on the planet who loves Jules as much as I do. Even though it's different. You've always had her back, and for that, I feel I owe you more than the others, so… time to come clean." Chuckling nervously, drawing in a breath. "Regarding my methods and the way that I solve cases, you're the only one that's ever suspected that, uh…The truth is, I am not Psychic, Lassie. I know you've known for years, been trying to set me behind bars well since the beginning. I told the truth that day you arrested me. I can read guilt off people because I have photographic memory. I remember and hear anything I see or hear. My mother has where she can just remember everything just by hearing. I came up with the Psychic thing because I knew you would never believe me."
At this point in the video Jules could see Shawn's eyes starting to shine. Her husband really did care what Carlton thought of him. She always found him asking.
"It was fun at first I will admit. I walked into Gus' job saying we were going to play detective and he went along with it after a lot of convincing. I forced people to go along with it… even Jules who broke up with me because of my lying ways. My dad wanted me to be just like him since I was six, he told me to count hats and with pretty almost perfect memory recall. I never wanted to be like him." He paused, licking his lips. "But… I did. Without the academy and training I was a detective. I solved cases for fun. I-I also wanted to stay close to…"
The Shawn on screen voice cracked."… you."
"Oh, Shawn.."
"Juliet, have you found…" Juliet looked up and saw Carlton." H-how?"
She shrugged." I just came in here and it started playing." The first question he had was how did the killer have a copy of his confession. There's no way Shawn Spencer gave it to them.
"Who wouldn't be? I have a confession to make. I didn't just move away from Santa Barbara to be with Jules… I needed a break from seeing the man I love… you are happily married and have a kid."
"I have been in-love with you since I met you… well I didn't know then. I called Jules to tell her goodbye that day I was shot, but the one I wanted to call was you. I realized it was you all along even when you tried to arrest me, I couldn't stop the way-how I feel for you. Now I have a question for you."
She looked over at Carlton, shedding tears. "I'm sorry."
He looked up at her in puzzlement. "Excuse me?"
"I was wrong, Carlton. I shouldn't get mad at you. You didn't know just like he told me."
"If you have watched from beginning to the end, Do you feel the same way? If you do, I will tell Jules I can't stay with her. I will make you mine." The man sighed, tearfully with a sniffle." But if you don't, I'll understand. Please say you love me too, otherwise I'm just a stupid hopelessly in-love loser from those romantic comedies Jules and secretly Gus loves. If you do, you can ask Gus for further instructions."
The screen goes dark. "He's not here. The asshole- -" Juliet held her hand up. "Wait, did you hear that?"
As they traveled down the hallway, clenching onto their guns, Carlton's heart thumped in his chest. He reached the door knob, twisting it and the door swung open, revealing two workbenches in the far left corner and a video screen. Without hesitation, Carlton pressed play. The video began to play.
"Welcome, detectives! As you probably noticed, Shawn Spencer isn't there. You have twelve hours before the clock strikes midnight." A figure in a dark cloak voiced menacingly. "Just solve the last two puzzles and the Psychic will go free. In 5, 4, 3…2…1, your time starts now!" The screen flashed dark before Carlton grabbed the sheet, lying on the workbench next to bloody tools; hammer and wrench.
"The day Spencer came to rescue. A: Pigs fry. B: Big bad wolf blew. C: The letter F & L is where the event all began." Carlton growled as he read the letter, stomach knotting.
"The day Spencer came to visit rescue? I don't understand how this is a clue!" He muttered as Karen pulled the image on the full-screen.
"Maybe it has rhythm." The person said before they entered the office.
Carlton stood up from his spot." Who are you?" He eyed defensively
The older woman rolled her eyes." Lassie, here to give a message except it was delayed." He kept his eyes trained on her until Vick said otherwise.
"Ryan Willow, I haven't seen you since Henry and Maddie said you moved."
"Karen, Shawn came to see me before he was taken. He said he wanted me to give a message to Lassie."
Juliet and Carlton leaned forward." What was the message?"
"I-I never got to hear it." She pulled her hair headband down, casting off the large bruise. "Oh, gosh!" Juliet Spencer gasped.
"I was knocked unconscious with something but I heard Shawn cry out a name."
"Name?"
"Mason? No, himmer."
Carlton questioned." Himmer? Are you sure?"
Ryan ran a hand over her face, massaging the sides of her temple. "I can't be exact, I was knocked out like five hours ago." She grumbled, annoyed by the disbelieving Chief.
Gus approached the woman. "Just relax, Guster can make you feel better."
Juliet gasped." Gus, you should be ashamed you have a girlfriend!"
Gus' eyes flew wide-open." I wasn't making moves, Jules. She is in distress and I can give her pain relaxers. I work in pharmaceuticals." He defended, rolling his eyeballs.
"Stop you two, Spencer is on time-clock, we can't waste time debating whether Guster is flirting or not. I don't care. We need to figure out these damn clues before…"Carlton trailed off, suddenly losing the energy.
It was starting to all hit all at once. His confession to Shawn, the man's abduction and now a large knot made its way down his throat. The day Spencer came to rescue. He kept repeating that riddle over and over until…
"What was Shawn's last word in the call?"
Gus frowned." He said, Watch Juliet…"
Lassiter turned to Shawn's wife." What's the show?"
"One Day at A Time. It was a Netflix show before it got canceled."
Gus gaped." I got it! The first part is Day" like Chavez."
"Chavez is the pigs that fry." Jules added.
Karen grabbed a marker and started jotting down each solved part of the rhyme. "Big bad wolf blew…"
"A house down."
Carlton grumbled. "Why are these all books?" Everybody gave him an odd look. "What? I'm not a fan of childish riddles."
—-xxx—
"You're not going to get away with this!" Shawn yelled as he wrestled against the binds.
"I will, unlike last time, Spencer. This time Lassiter isn't going to rescue you. Don't forget I own you now." The criminal swung the whip down against Shawn's lower back side.
Shawn cried. "Why did you wait all these years? I know you got a lesser sentence because you were once on the right side of the law enforcement."
"Ah, Spencer is always digging into details. I've known since I met you and you know the trouble you've caused."
"I didn't cause—" The lash fell against Shawn's skin. "FUCK! —I didn't. All I did was point out what you did."
"You should've just died then."
Shawn waited until the door shut. His stomach ached from being shot twice. All he could think about now was Lassie. Did Lassie say he loved him? He couldn't recall if Carlton actually said he was in-love with him too. He let his eyes closed and drifted into blissless sleep.
The last thing on his mind happened to be Carlton Lassiter.