"Okay, you're right," he conceded finally, drawing out a long breath.

The rest of the day passed rather quickly, soon dissolving into night as the trio bounced ideas back and forth with each other, but none of them could come up with an agreement. So, rather than waste what little energy they had left, they decided that until they could get something figured out the extra protection detail was going to have to be enough. Shawn in particular, was the most satisfied with this plan, for one specific reason: it was the only one that was not going to put anyone he cared about in jeopardy.

The next morning, Shawn woke up in a good mood for the first time in a month. Serial killers out on the hunt, not withstanding today was destined to be a good day. He was sure of it, and the heavenly yet at the same time curious smell of Juliet's bacon and eggs wafting in from the kitchen was all the proof he needed. Still somewhat groggy from his fitful night's sleep he gravitated toward the kitchen where Juliet stood fussing over a bubbling skillet.

"G'morning," he muttered into her hair as he pulled her into a tight hug from behind, and kissed the top of her head.

"Morning," she answered once she had caught her breath.

"Never thought I'd live to see this."

"Well, if I'm going to marry a carnivore like you, I have to get used to it don't I?"

"Guess so," he said, flashing his signature smile in her direction. "Anything I can do?"

"You could get the plates and forks and put them on the table."

After a delightful breakfast and a call to the station to get the protection detail down the street the pair settled down, taking advantage of their time off by engaging in another movie marathon. They were in the middle of watching Matt Damon shoot his way through a bank when Juliet's work phone rang. Predictably, on the other line was an unusually nervous Carlton Lassiter.

"O'Hara, I just got a call from our man on point. He reported a suspicious car circling around your neighborhood. Nothing's been confirmed, but keep an eye out," he cautioned, before he disconnected the call.

"What was that about," Shawn asked, in a tone that told her he was obliviously curious.

"Carlton says there's a suspicious car driving around the neighborhood."

"Just driving around?"

"Just driving around."

"Well, I wouldn't worry about it. Probably just some high school kid lost on his way home."

"Shawn," she started to lecture, but stopped when Shawn's cell phone started vibrating on the table in front of them.

Before he answered the call he looked at the caller ID, and was not surprised to find that the number had been blocked.

"What do you want?"

"Now, Shawn, don't you even wait to find out who you're speaking to before you start being rude to them?"

"May I ask who's speaking?"

"The name's Andrew. I believe you knew my brothers."

"Knew?"

"My father decided they didn't deserve to live after failing to kill you. Anyway, now it's my turn, and mark my words, I will not screw up."

"Doing a bang-up job of that so far."

"Do you make a habit of insulting people who are trying to kill you?"

"A pretty bad one, actually."

"I'll say."

"Okay, I'll ask again. What do you want?"

"There's an envelope in the mailbox. Open it and wait for instructions," he said, and then disconnected the line.

As soon as the long dial tone sounded Shawn was out the door, running toward the mailbox. Sure enough inside was a plain white envelope, with a note inside. Nervously, Shawn opened it and read:

It's about time, we met in person don't you think? After all, if I were you I would want to see the face of the man who was trying to kill me before he succeeded. Do what the boy says and maybe I can make that happen.

-Duffy.

Feeling like he was trudging through oatmeal, Shawn made his way back into the house.

True to form, he burst in the door as if nothing had happened.

"Well, I have good news," he told Juliet who was still sitting at the table.

"What's that?"

"He really doesn't want to kill me. Well, Andrew doesn't want to kill me. I still don't know what his purpose is though."

Like clockwork, his cell phone rang once again, broadcasting another blocked call.

"I assume you got my father's letter," came Andrew's voice from the other line.

"Yeah, so, what do you want?"

"I want you to meet me at Blue Fountain Park in fifteen minutes. No cops," he said harshly before the call was disconnected again.

"So, the kid really just wants to meet?"

"Apparently."

"I'm sorry, but that just screams trap. You don't have to do this," Juliet said.

"Yes, I do. It's the only way to make this end. They're pulling out all the stops, so this could be our last chance to catch them before something worse happens."

"Or, it could just be an opportunity to kill you outright."

"Jules, he's just a kid. All that bravado in his voice, it was forced. He's not going to kill me. He doesn't want to kill me anymore than I want to die. I think I may be able to talk some sense into him. Besides, if he kills me that would just ruin his father's game."

"I'm going with you just me, which is already going against every lesson I have ever learned at the Academy by not bringing the rest of the force in. And don't even think about arguing with me."

"Alright. I should get going. Kid or not, I don't think he's going to want to wait."

"Then let's go," she said, grabbing his keys from the key rack.