Chapter 7: A Single Shot Rang Out
Lassiter had a restless sleep that night. Too much information ran around his head and a lot of it had nothing to do with him. Like how Spencer and McNab met? Had they known each other before Spencer, or McNab, had started working at the station? How did they sort things out in the bedroom? That last one really nothing to do with him.
Then he had the other stuff to think about, like the fact that McNab was right. Only he knew what was in that letter, not even O'Hara knew, so there was no way McNab could have fed Spencer the information. Spencer could have guessed what was in it. After all, he did ask McNab to dig into Mr. Vick's background, but even then, that was a stretch. Spencer was too … accurate. Too on the ball with what was in the letter, for a simple guess.
Then, there was the suggestion that maybe Spencer wrote the letter himself, but what purpose could that have? It seemed to all come down to putting Mr. Vick on the top of the suspect list for hiring the hit-man that killed Chief Vick. Again, what reason would Mr. Vick have to kill Chief Vick? Nothing seemed to make sense.
Looking up from his desk the next day, thoughts quickly faded into the recesses of his mind as he watched Spencer walked up the stairs and into the bullpen. As usual, he did it with his normal noise and flare, as if all eyes needed to be on him. The sight was so familiar that most of the officers barely glanced up before returning to their work seconds later.
Shaking his head, Lassiter couldn't believe that McNab put up with that. Maybe Spencer was different when they were alone. Maybe all the flare, the noise, the child-like behaviour disappeared, replaced by a different Spencer no one else ever sees.
It's now that he knows the truth about Spencer and McNab, he can see the way they interact. The way Shawn looked around the bullpen, stopping a few seconds longer when his eyes fall on the tall officer before moving onto the others in the room. The small smile which flashes on McNab's face when Shawn makes some sort of smart comment.
Yes, the signs were always there; Lassiter can see that now. He just couldn't see what was right in front of him. So what else was he missing? Smiling, he watched as Spencer walked his way.
"Here comes trouble," he whispered to O'Hara.
Juliet had been watching Shawn and Gus ever since they walked into the bullpen. Shawn had been his usual self, but Gus seemed to linger back, as if he didn't want to be here. Sighing, Juliet just left the idea linger a little bit more, before pushing it away.
"How's things going, Lassie dear?"
Lassiter really wanted to slap that smirk off Spencer's face, but controlled the urge.
"What can we do for you, Spencer?"
"I have a message from beyond the grave."
"Is it about the death of Chief Vick or the kidnapping of Iris?" O'Hara asked, knowing full well, Lassiter wasn't in the mood.
"Both, actually! The spirit which has been talking to me wanted us to know that Iris is with her mother."
"Shawn," Gus snapped in surprise.
"What?" Shawn replied as he looked at Gus offended. "It's what the spirit told me. Iris is with her mother and she is safe."
"How can she be safe if she is dead, Spencer?" Lassiter growled.
They say you shouldn't kill the messenger, but right now, he really wanted to. How in the world can he just blurt that out. Lassiter will never know, but it was the wrong thing to say right now.
"Lassie, look where you need to look. You will find comfort in the answer."
"Get out!"
Shawn smiled at Lassiter's attempt to grab his gun. He knew that Lassiter wouldn't shoot him, especially in the station.
"I'm leaving," Shawn replied, before his expression became serious. "But the spirits are getting restless and they need justice for Chief Vick and Iris. So, step up, Detective, and start digging."
"We are, but can't do anything while you are getting in the way."
Shawn nodded his understanding before he turned around and headed towards the exit.
"Sorry," Gus whispered, evidently shaken by what Shawn had said.
Gus turned to catch up with Shawn, but Lassiter was too busy watching as Shawn and McNab exchanged words. Shawn then gave Lassiter one more glance before disappearing.
Outside, Gus walked to the blueberry, but stopped short when he realised that Shawn wasn't following him.
"Coming?"
"You're angry at me, Gus, so no. You go and we will catch up at the office later."
"Shawn, get in this car right now."
Shawn raised an eyebrow at the determination in Gus's voice. Shaking his head, Shawn took a step as he went to reply, but a word never left his mouth. Instead, a single shot rang out before Shawn's body dropped to the ground.
"Shawn!" Gus yelled out as he hid behind his car.
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