Chapter 4: Confirmation of Things Already Known

It is surprising how slowly two hours can go by.

Finger print dust covered nearly every surface, but this was a hotel room and the prints they collected could have been there for years. Plus, everyone they talked to had the same answers. Either they didn't see anything or they would have sworn that it was Mr. Vick who carried Iris out of the hotel. But the one thing that they all agreed with was that the man and Iris left in a red car.

With the information he had, Lassiter checked the CCTV footage and found a red car with all the numbers and letters Spencer had given them on the number plate.

Sending two officers to track down the owner of the car, Lassiter glanced around the room one more time. After locking the door, he put the crime scene tape up to seal the room. He hoped that the author of the letter was being honest and whoever they were, wouldn't hurt Iris. Sighing, Lassiter headed off to his meeting with Spencer.

During the drive, Lassiter thought back to the CCTV tapes and the way that Iris was behaving. When they left the room, it looked like she was asleep. But then, as they got off the elevator, it was clear that Iris was awake as she was looking around. Yet, Iris didn't seem to be scared. That, to Lassiter, meant only one thing. Iris knew and trusted the person who took her.

Pulling in front of the Psych office, Lassiter could see Spencer and Guster inside. Gus was at his desk, while Spencer was standing at the window, talking on the phone. Lassiter hated the grin that spread across Spencer's face every time he saw him and this time was no different. It was like Spencer was saying that he was better than him. That he knew more than he was telling.

Climbing out of his car, Lassiter made his way inside. As he opened the office door, he heard Spencer say, "Lassie is here...talk later", before hanging up the phone. Turning, Spencer placed the phone into his pocket, that grin still plastered on his face.

"Lassie, so why'd you call us here?"

"Shawn!" Gus snapped. He was at his breaking point with Shawn. Gus thought that with the death of Chief Vick, who he knew Shawn respected, and now Iris's kidnapping, Shawn would take things seriously. Guess he was wrong. "Sorry about that, Detective Lassiter."

"We're all stressed, Mr. Guster, and I'm sure this is Spencer's way of dealing with it all. Right?" The suspicion dripping from his words.

"Of course it is, Lassie." Shawn replied with a little too much smugness in his voice. "I miss Chief Vick and I'm … concerned about Iris, but if I let my feelings get in the way, I can't channel the spirit world and I wouldn't be any help, now would I?" Shawn sighed.

'Right!" Lassiter growled as he stepped a little bit closer to where Shawn was standing. "And right now, you are going to channel Chief Vick's spirit and find out where Iris is."

"No, I won't."

"What? You said back at the hotel that ..."

"I … I'm not sure if it is Chief Vick's spirit I'm talking to," Shawn replied as he stepped back a little. He loved playing Lassiter, especially when he got some sort of reaction from him, but the anger in the detective's eyes right now is a look he knows not to muck around with.

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is … I don't think it's Chief Vick I'm seeing and hearing. Sure, they are concerned about Iris, but it's … not a motherly concern. I think it might be another spirit that has some sort of connection to this. Either to the sniper or the person that hired the sniper. Either way, they were killed because of one or the other."

"And what are they saying, Spencer?" Lassiter rolled his eyes, before giving Gus a glance. He was a little surprised at the way Gus was watching Spencer, as if he couldn't believe his eyes or ears. "Well?"

"There is … something about … asking the right questions. That you need to dig deeper. Some sort of justice, but I'm not sure if they are talking about justice for them, Chief Vick or … for the sniper. Whoa! What was that?"

"What Shawn? What did you see?" Gus inquired as he stood up and joined Detective Lassiter.

"Iris! I saw Iris. She was safe, happy and playing. There is something about … she is away from the bigger danger now?"

Stumbling back, Shawn lent against his desk breathing hard. He made sure his face was slightly away from the two men, but enough that he could see their reflections in the window. The sight was priceless. The shocked look, he was expecting from Gus, but Lassie's. Lassie's was one of awe and, if Shawn was right, he could even say Lassie was happy with what he had said.

"Shawn, are you okay?" followed by a hand on his shoulder. Shawn was so distracted by Lassiter's reaction, he hadn't noticed Gus walking up to him.

"I'm fine, Gus," he replied as he turned around. "So, Lassie, does any of that makes sense to you?"

"Yes, it does. The kidnapper left me a note, telling me I need to dig deeper into Mr. Vick's past and that they are after the rest of their money, or him going to jail. They don't really care which one. Plus, they will return Iris when it happens."

"Wow, that Spirit is … really on top of things."

"Shawn," followed by Gus's usual push on his arm, reminded Shawn that Gus knows nothing about what is going on.

"It's fine, Guster. At least I have some form of confirmation of what is going on."

"What do you mean, Lassie?"

"What I mean, Spencer, is that the sniper was a hired hit-man. Someone hired to do a job and they did it. Doesn't mean I still don't want to drag their sorry ass in and rip it apart for killing Chief Vick. It means that the bad guy here is the one that hired him. The one that decided not to pay in full and is now getting our attention, directed by the one they cheated. Anyway, thanks for that, Spencer. I need to get back to the station and I still want you to see if you can find Iris for us."

"You got it, Detective," Shawn replied before nodding his agreement.

Lassiter gave them a small smile before he, too, nodded and walked out of the office.

"Glad that is over," Shawn said as he sat down at his desk, only to be surprised by Gus leaning on it.

"How did you know what was in that note, Shawn?"

"Now Gus, that would be telling and do you really want to know how I knew?"

Gus thought about it for a second before replying, "No! No, I don't want to know. I'm going home." Grabbing his coat, Gus headed out the door.

Shawn smiled as he watched his old friend leave. He loved Gus. He really did, but he knew that Gus would never approve of him being a sniper, only his true love would. And with that thought, Shawn picked up the phone.

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