Shawn and Gus wandered around a little before settling down to do their job. It really just involved watching the others work - at least until Shawn was able to piece enough together to either reveal a clue or know where to track down the rest of one. They eventually managed to find their way into the room where Larry, Charlie, and Amita were busy in front of several computers.
"Hey guys. What's up?" Shawn asked, looking at the computer over Amita's shoulder, then dropping into one of the extra chairs as if he owned the place.
"We're working on the list of the bomber's phone contacts," Larry explained, not turning from his screen.
Charlie looked at where Shawn's feet were already propped up on the desk and gave an irritated sigh. "You know, I don't even know why you need to know what we're doing. Other psychics seemed just fine to pop in and out with their little bits of wisdom. They didn't follow us around and pester us."
Shawn pointed a finger at Charlie. "First of all," he paused dramatically, "do you have a smoothie machine?"
Three pairs of eyebrows rose.
"You could probably find one down the street …" Amita started.
"What do smoothies have to do with this case?" Charlie frowned. "This is about a hotel bombing. And unless it was to target their smoothie machine - which I highly doubt - then we don't care about them."
"Fine, fine," Shawn grumbled. "But I haven't followed you around or pestered you. This is the first time since that meeting that we've even spoken."
"That's true," Larry agreed.
"Alright, fine." Charlie turned back to his computer, a frustrated expression knotting his brows.
Amita shook her head in amusement. "Okay," she told Shawn and Gus, "we're trying to find a connection between the people this guy called recently and anyone who could have had anything to do with the bombings: motives, means, anything."
"Any luck?" Gus inquired.
"None yet, though we still have a little ways to go. The phone company gave us his cell records, and we were able to get a list of his home phone calls, too."
Shawn suddenly let out a small shriek and scrunched his eyes shut. He started waving his arms around. "I'm getting something! Something about the bomber … There's a common yarn!"
Don and Colby rushed in, having heard Shawn's yell.
"What in the -" Colby started forward.
"Shh," Gus stopped him. "He's having a vision."
"He's what?" Don ducked as Shawn nearly punched him in the face.
"A common string!"
"About the bomber?" Don continued. "What does string have to do with the case?" He was almost yelling to be heard over Shawn's declarations.
"A common rope!" Shawn continued, jumping around.
Colby moved a mug from the desk just before Shawn's hand flew over the spot.
"Wouldn't the word be thread?" Charlie asked, clearly not impressed in the slightest.
"Yes!" Shawn exclaimed, snapping his eyes open. "There's a common thread throughout all those lists."
Amita turned back and scanned the computer screen again. "We've been through them and seen nothing out of the ordinary."
Shawn smiled at her. "However, my fair Amita, the spirits are saying - nay, strongly indicating that this guy," he pointed to a name on the screen, "is the one you want."
"Hmm." Amita punched a few keys on the keyboard and another screen popped up. The others leaned in closer as she let out a little gasp.
"Looks like you were right, Shawn," Larry mused, looking at the mug shot displayed on the screen.
Shawn grinned. He'd known that Lassiter's wall of suspects would come in handy one day.
wmwmw
"Where's Shawn?" Charlie asked later that day, looking into the room where Larry and Amita were working.
"Oh, I think they went get something to eat," Larry volunteered without turning from the computer. "I'm telling you, those two are ruled by their stomachs."
"Yeah. That's kind of along the lines of what I wanted to talk to you about. See, Don thinks I should ask Shawn and Gus to join us for pizza tonight."
Larry raised an eyebrow at his friend's tone. "And you don't agree?"
Charlie shrugged. "I'm just getting a little tired of dealing with Shawn's antics. I don't know that I want spend more time with him after work."
"Well, I think it's a great idea." Amita swiveled her chair around. "I think if you got to know each other outside of work, you'd get along better. Give it a try; It'll be fun."
"I agree," Larry nodded. "It'll give you a chance to bond."
Shawn poked his head into the room, interrupting whatever reply Charlie was about to voice. "Hey there, Charles! Glad to see you back."
Gus followed his friend into the room, looking a bit more apprehensive at Shawn's attitude than Shawn himself did. This was sacred ground, and Gus wasn't sure they weren't breaking some rule or protocol somewhere.
"So, um, Shawn …" Charlie began.
"Yes?"
"I'm having Don, Amita, and Larry over to my place tonight for dinner. Would you be interested in coming along?"
Shawn grinned. "Would I? Charlie, you're awesome. Of course we'll come!"
"Are you sure it isn't too much trouble?" Gus was quick to ask.
"We'd love to have you join us," Amita assured him.
"See, Gus, I told you he'd come around eventually," Shawn elbowed his friend.
Something told Charlie this would be a long afternoon.
wmwmw
"Did you guys find anything on our bombers yet?" Don asked, coming back into the room later in the afternoon. Several of the team were gathered around a table, studying several files. Shawn was there as well, though Gus had decided occupying a chair in the corner of the computer room was a much safer way to spend his afternoon. That way if Shawn got kicked out of the FBI office, he might not have to go with him.
David nodded. "Yeah, we did. As you know, the guy Shawn found in the call records was Thomas Monroe. He's a felon with a large variety of crimes to his record. No outstanding warrants right now, but he's had his fair share of them in the past. We were able to obtain his call records as well and are currently going through them."
"Any luck with that so far?"
"Looks like he's been pretty busy lately," Colby replied. "The calls he's made in the past few days are all to the same five people - all of whom have criminal records."
"So where does that put us?"
"Knowing that they're up to something," Shawn volunteered.
"Right. David, Colby, you two go talk to this Thomas Monroe. See if you can find out anything from him about the case."
"Great." Shawn jumped up from his chair as soon as David and Colby rose from their seats.
Don cleared his throat. "Where do you think you're going?"
Shawn turned, putting on the most well-meaning expression he could manage. "I may be able to divine something if I'm at this guy's house."
"Shawn, this isn't something to take lightly. I mean, if this guy is serious enough to blow up a hotel, he's going to be pretty tough."
Shawn bounced on the balls of his feet impatiently. "I've been involved in big cases before. This might give you the break you've been waiting for." He studied the agent's face. "I'll be with two of your men. Who says I'll be in any danger?"
"I'm okay with it," David spoke up from the doorway. "It's not necessarily dangerous. We're just going ask the guy a few questions."
Don sighed. "Fine. But do whatever they tell you to do, all right?"
"Got it!" Shawn grinned, nearly knocking Charlie over as he bolted through the door.
The mathematician had overheard enough to be concerned. He leveled a look at his brother. "Don, do you really think that was wise?"
"David and Colby will be there. If he behaves himself, he'll be fine."
"Yeah, if."
wmwmw
"Okay, Monroe lives in 3C," David said, turning to Shawn as Colby parked the car across the street from an older apartment building. "Now, you stay behind us, and do whatever we tell you to, got it?"
"Even if you tell me to jump off the roof?" Shawn asked with a cheeky grin.
"Yes, and if you keep up those jokes, I'm going to do just that," Colby returned.
"What, you didn't like them?" Shawn feigned offense.
"Well, once you got to the thirtieth one, no, I didn't."
The psychic pouted. "Aw, come on. Where's your sense of humor, Grungy?"
David snorted.
Colby's eyebrows went up. "What did you call me?"
Shawn just ignored him and jumped out of the car.
"Help me out, would you?" Colby turned to David with an exasperated sigh.
David grinned and held up his hands. "No way am I getting pulled into this." He started across the street. "If you two want to stay here and fight, fine. I have a suspect to question."