Chapter 3: The Note
"This is the police. Open up!" Lassiter commanded as he banged on the hotel door.
When there wasn't any response, he nodded at O'Hara who steadied her gun and nodded back. Knowing that she was ready, Lassiter turned to face the door before kicking it in. As soon as the door flew open, they rushed in, guns at the ready. Even though they saw Mr. Vick tied up, they searched and cleared the rooms before returning to him.
"What happened?" Lassiter snapped as he removed the gag.
"A man!" Mr. Vick gasped. "In a … mask. He … he took Iris. I …"
"Easy Mr. Vick," O'Hara said as she tried to calm the man down. "Take some deep breathes and …"
"And what?" he snapped. "My wife has been murdered and now my only daughter has been kidnapped. Why should I be calm? You told me we would be safe here. Yeah, we were really safe, weren't we?"
"That's enough," Lassiter barked. He had never liked Chief Vick's husband and right now, with the way he behaved after Karen's death, he was liking him even less. "We need to know everything that happened here."
"Detective Lassiter," McNab called out. He needed Lassiter to see the letter, before Mr. Vick could put his spin on everything. Seeing that Lassiter wasn't going to answer, he called out again. "Detective Lassiter, I've found something."
"What McNab!" Spinning around Lassiter saw a little fear in McNab's face.
"Sorry Sir, I just thought you would want to see this," McNab replied as he pointed to the coffee table.
Lassiter's eye's followed to where McNab was pointing and saw the envelope and his name in block letters. "Thank you, McNab," Lassiter replied in a quieter voice, before turning to O'Hara. "Go with Mr. Vick to the hospital and get his statement after he's been checked out."
"Will do, but you let me know what you find."
"Of course I will and …"
"Wow Gus, look at this place."
"What the hell are you two doing here?"
"Easy Lassie, we just want to help. Chief Vick wants us to help," Shawn replied as he put his fingers against his temples. "I see … a man, picking up Iris and carrying her out to a … red car with numbers and letters floating around it. A 3 and 5. A … W, maybe an...upside down M or … both." Shawn slumped against the door frame as if all his energy had been drained.
"Get him out of here, Guster, NOW!" Lassiter snarled through gritted teeth. He knew that Shawn was most likely spot on, but he didn't want him making a fool out of this investigation.
"Come on Shawn, let's go before Lassiter starts steaming from the ears."
Shawn shrugged off Gus's attempt to drag him from the room. "I'm right, aren't I? Iris is missing?"
"Yes, she is," Lassiter said as he moved closer to Shawn. In fact, he was so close that Shawn could feel Lassiter's breath on his face. In a low voice, Lassiter growled. "Iris is missing and if you're really a true psychic, get out there and find her." Lassiter then said in a louder voice for all to hear, "I don't care what you think you know, get...out!" His arm shot up, pointing out of the hotel room door so quickly it made Gus jump.
"Okay...I take it you don't want us here. Come on, Gus." Smiling, Shawn turned around and walked out. He knew that Lassiter would want him to work on this case, even if he didn't want the others to know it.
Lassiter shook his head before turning back around. As he walked over to McNab, the medical crew arrived and tended to Mr. Vick. Lassiter had the envelope photographed before he opened it.
'Detective Lassiter,
Yes, I have Iris and I know this will fall on deaf ears, but trust me, I mean her no harm. In fact, I have taken her from a bigger danger then me. You need to start asking the right questions, to the right person. You have him now, tied up and at your mercy. Don't let him get away with what he has done.
Cheating me out of my money has turned the tide. I either get paid for the job I was hired for or else he pays the price with losing his freedom. When I get either one, I will return Iris. I'm sure you know what he paid me for, but you just need to dig deeper. Mr. Vick has a hidden life. It is now up to you.'
Lassiter quickly read the note again, before glaring at Mr. Vick as he was wheeled out of the room. Grabbing O'Hara's arm, Lassiter whispered through gritted teeth, "Don't let him out of your sight."
"Okay," O'Hara replied, even though she was confused about Lassiter's behaviour.
Lassiter pulled out his phone and dialled a number. While he waited for the other end to pick up, he called out to McNab, "Look up Mr. Vick's past. I want you to look under every rock and in every dark nook and cranny. Understand?"
"Yes, Detective." With a smile on his face, McNab headed out the door. It was good when Shawn's plans worked.
After McNab left, Lassiter's call was answered.
"Lassie, what can I do for you?"
"I need to see you, Spencer. Meet me at the Psych office in two hours." Lassiter didn't give Shawn a chance to answer, he just hung up the phone. He needed to finish going over the hotel room before the meeting. After all, he had questions to ask and he had a funny feeling that Spencer had all the right answers.
Thank you for reading and for reviewing my story.