Chapter 14: Not All is as it Seems
Stepping into Spencer's apartment, Lassiter, with wide eyes, looked around. Except for a small table and one chair in a corner, the room was empty. It was as if no one had ever lived there.
Off in a corner was a small kitchenette. Again, on searching the cupboards, drawers and fridge, he found that they were unused and empty. In fact all the rooms were the same. The single bedroom contained an unmade bed and an empty set of drawers
At lease the bathroom had more in it ... just. Soap, hair products and ... somehow it didn't surprise Lassiter, but there was make-up. Drawing in a deep breath, Lassiter mumbled to himself.
"I take it, this is the only room you ever used, Spencer," He turned to the two officers with him. "Search everywhere, push on every wall for hidden rooms, photograph and bag everything not tied down."
Taking one more look around, Lassiter shook his head. Something wasn't right here. Spencer's personality was chaotic, so having a place so ... neat and void of everything, didn't seem to fit. Nothing about this seemed right, and yet, at the same time it did.
Heading out to the hallway, Lassiter needed to talk to the caretaker of the building.
"When we arrived, you said we wouldn't find anything. What did you mean by that?"
"Mr. Spencer doesn't live here anymore. He moved his stuff out a week ago."
"Why didn't you say that when we first got here."
"You didn't let me, plus ... Mr. Spencer paid for one more month. He said you would be coming around and to let you search to your heart's content."
"Did he now?" Lassiter mumbled, rubbing his chin. "Thank you, I will get one of the officers to take your statement soon."
Glancing at his phone, Lassiter wondered what was holding O'Hara up. He thought she would've call by now.
"Sir,"
"Mmm," Lassiter replied without looking up.
"We've finished, Sir."
"Good," Lassiter replied, not surprised that it didn't take long.
Locking the door, Lassiter watched as the officers put up the crime scene tape on the door. It was time to head over to the other apartment. He knew O'Hara wanted to see this mystery apartment, but evidently, she wasn't finished at the Psych office.
Driving to the 'love' apartment Lassiter thought about how different Spencer's apartment was compared to his area of Psych office. Spencer's desk, drawers, even the floor around his chair was messy and cluttered from rubbish to things that didn't seem to have any reason to be there. Yet the apartment was empty. Sure, the caretaker said Spencer had moved out, but Lassiter still expected it to be in a mess, or at less more in it. Then again, Spencer did still have his hair care product there, so maybe he didn't fully move out.
Sitting in front of the 'love' apartment building he wondered if it would reveal a different view of Spencer again.
Spencer and McNab.
Sighing, he climbed out of the car and made his way through the front door. Even though he had been here not that long ago, he was still taken back by the difference between the street view and inside. Walking over to the check-in desk, he already had his badge out.
"I'll like you to open up the room belonging to McNab and Spencer."
The badge and firmness of Lassiter's voice made sure the desk clerk didn't argue.
"Yes, Sir. I will get the manager."
It took a second for the clerk to make the call and a few more for the manager to arrive.
"Can I help you?"
"Yes you can," Lassiter replied with a smile. "This is a search warrant for the apartment leased to one Shawn Spencer and/or Buzz McNab, as well as anything like a safe they use on the premise."
Taking the warrant, the manager looked over it, nodded his understanding.
"Do you want to see the apartment first or the safe deposit boxes?"
"The safe deposit boxes I think first. Lead the way," Lassiter replied surprised they would use anything like that.
In the apartment building's walk in safe the manager lead Lassiter to two deposit boxes side by side. Unlocking them, he stepped aside for Lassiter to see what was inside them.
In one belonging to McNab were a few photographs of him, Shawn, Francine and her lawyer friend. Evidently, they often took holidays together. There was also some jewellery, money and a small note book.
Of course, it was Spencer's box that had the more interesting things in it. Neatly packed were several note books, each one with a year on it. There was also a plastic bag that contained what looked like bones. But it was the photographs in this box that caught his eyes the most. They were of him. Some were recent, but a lot were from when he was younger, like when he first started in the police force and even younger, as a child. How and why Spencer had these, Lassiter didn't know, but he was surely going to find out.
"I want these locked up again, until the forensic team can get here. Officer Hue, stay here and make sure no one removes anything."
"Yes sir."
"Officer Mann, come with me." Lassiter nodded to the manager. "You can take us to the apartment now."
"Of course, Detective Lassiter. Follow me."
The apartment, at least the part he saw when he caught the two men together, looked the same. But this time Lassiter was going to get a better look, without Spencer threatening him.
An expensive apartment, with expensive and extremely stylish furniture, made it homely and roomy at the same time. This was their home, not a place they secretly meet.
Each room was styled and furnished the same way and revealed nothing sinister. The exceptions were the whips, chains and handcuffs in the bedroom, which Lassiter was sure they used on each other and no one else.
Still, he needed the forensic crew to go over ever inch. As he closed the 'sex' cabinet, his phone rang.
"'Bout time," Lassiter mumbled. "O'Hara," Lassiter breathed down the line.
"We're ready to open the safe when you get here."
"Okay and you took your time."
"We had some … unexpected complications," in the background, Lassiter could hear Guster going off about something. "I'll explain when you get here."
"I'm on my way." Hanging up, Lassiter turned to Officer Mann. "Continue the search until forensics gets here."
"Yes sir."
Walking out, Lassiter wondered what the complications were.
Thank you for reading