Chapter 11: Comparing Notes

"Thank you for coming, Mr Vick," greeted Juliet, but when there was no answer she continued. "Please follow me."

As she led the way, she received a text message. Seeing who it was from, Juliet frowned.

"Is everything okay, Detective O'Hara?"

Juliet gave Mr. Vick a nervous smile, "Yes. Yes everything is fine. Please wait here," she replied opening the door to interview room four. Once he entered, she closed the door behind him.

Walking over to her desk, Juliet read the text again. [Ring me. ASAP. It's important.] Concerned, she dialled the number.

"Hi Dale, what do you have for me?"

Listening to the voice on the phone, Juliet watched as McNab and Shawn talked near Lassiter's desk.

"Do you think he will break?" McNab whispered as he watched Juliet.

"Hard to tell," Shawn answered. "Has he paid us yet?"

"Yes. Everything he owes us. So what now?"

"Nothing. We wait and see what happens. After all, he still needs to pay for Chief Vick and you did say that Lassie just took off, right?"

"Yeah. He said he had to check something out and would be right back. Have no idea what it could have been. We've giving him everything he needs and … here he is."

Lassiter walked swiftly over to where Juliet was.

"I hope that call is important, O'Hara."

"It is. I've just found out some interesting information that might prove Mr. Vick isn't the assassin."

"You mean that he hired someone else to do it?"

"Yes and I know who it is."

"Let me guess, Spencer." The confused look in O'Hara's eyes told Lassiter he was right. "Before we do anything, let's compare notes. Is Mr. Vick here yet?"

"I put him in interview room four."

"Good! Put a guard on the door while I get some officers to watch Spencer. Then meet me in the Chief's office."

Juliet nodded before heading off one way and Lassiter, the other.

Shawn gave McNab a confused look. Of all the scenarios he had come up with, this wasn't one.

"Any idea what they are up to?"

"Who's up to what?" Gus interjected as he walked up.

"Jules and Lassie. They've pulled Mr. Vick in to question him about Chief Vick's murder, but all they are doing is talking to other officers and ..."

"Now they are going into the Chief's office," McNab added. "I don't like this Shawn. Something's wrong."

"Maybe, or they're just putting all their eggs in one basket."

"That's a metaphor for a bad idea Shawn," Gus added, which got him a nod of approval from McNab.

"Wish I could hear what they are saying," McNab said as he tried to see, but Lassiter and Juliet had their backs to the bullpen.

A second later, the two detectives exited the office. Juliet headed to the interview room, while Lassiter walked over to them.

"As you suggested, McNab, we're getting Spencer here to give us a reading on Mr. Vick while O'Hara and I interview him. You're right with that, Spencer?"

"Anything to help, Lassie," Shawn replied.

"Great," the smile Lassiter gave worried Shawn. It was like he knew something he wasn't telling. "Go behind the mirror." With that, Lassiter was off to the interview room, but stopped and said something to the guard before looking back at them. Then he entered.

Shaking off the unsettling feeling, Shawn, McNab and Gus went into the small room between interview rooms three and four, closing the door behind them.

"Mr. Vick," Lassiter started as he placed some evidence bags on the table. "We know you hired someone to kill your wife and because you tried to trick them out of their money, they took Iris. Give them up to us and things might not be so bad for you. Especially if we find Iris alive."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Mr. Vick snapped back as he stood up.

"Fine," Lassiter sighed. "Let's put it this way. They're smart. They shot Chief Vick with her own sniper rifle. We know this because the bullets match her gun from the gun range. The same rifle you sent Officer McNab to retrieve a few days before the shooting, along with this note," Lassiter pointed to one of the evidences bags, "giving him permission to collect it."

"I …" Mr. Vick looked like he was about to choke on his own breath. "You're right," he finally breathed out. "But I don't know who the shooter is. I got the rifle from Officer McNab and left it in my car. It was gone before the shooting and was back there the day after. I had McNab to return it that day."

"Why McNab?" Juliet asked.

"Why not. From what I've seen, he's an idiot. How he got to be a cop I'll never know, but I figured he wouldn't say anything and … and I guess since it took you this long, he hadn't."

"Fair enough, but you were taking a big chance that McNab wouldn't say something."

"I know, but you need to understand. I couldn't … I needed the money and ..." Mr. Vick looked down at his hands. "I had no choice. They were going to kill me."

"So instead of paying the people you owe money to, you hired someone to shoot your wife and then tried rip them off," Juliet added as she showed him his bank statements.

"Yes."

"Right." Mr. Vick you are under arrest for conspiracy to assassinate your wife, Chief Karen Vick. You're also under arrest for your part in the kidnapping of your daughter Iris. If she is found dead, that charge will be changed to accessory to the murder of a child. Do you understand?"

"I understand, Detective Lassiter."

"Officer Loud, please escort Mr. Vick to the lock-up."

After Mr. Vick was led away, the gang all converged at Lassiter's desk.

"Looks like you didn't need me after all, Lassie," Shawn smiled, feeling the stress leave his body.

"I wouldn't say that, Spencer," Lassiter replied, smiling. The uneasy feeling returned, especially as Shawn caught out of the corner of his eyes that they were surrounded by officers. "Tell me honestly, is Guster part of this or is he innocent in all of this."

"In what?" Gus asked totally confused.

"In the shooting of Chief Vick, the kidnapping of Iris and blackmailing of Mr. Vick. Are you part of it?"

"Whoa, what … No way. Shawn?"

"I have no idea what you mean, Lassie." Shawn's voice was low and growled as the words escaped through his gritted teeth.

"What about you, McNab. Did Spencer shoot Chief Vick?"

"I can honestly tell you, Shawn didn't not kill Chief Vick."

"Well then. You won't mind if we interview you two, will you?"

"Actually, I do. Come on Gus, we're getting out of here." When Shawn turned to leave, he was greeted by nearly every officer at the station pointing guns at him. "Then again ..."

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