Family Secrets

The two young men were standing at the bus station. But it wasn´t the bus they were waiting for. Instead it was a big green car that stopped right in front of them. Shawn felt awfully reminded of Christine, seeing this car. He had found Kyle and his friend only five minutes ago and was watching them from behind a tree now. Seriously. If that car had been red and had had a white stripe along its side, he would have totally freaked out. But the car was green not red and it wasn´t a young boy with greasy hair driving it but an old guy with gray hair.

„Granda." Kyle greeted him when he got out of the car. He looked at him confused and then asked: „Why did you shave off your beard?"

„Are ya kidden?" the old guy replied in a thick Irish accent. „So that Seamus can catch me by it again? That is if he is really here."

„Believe me." Kyle said. „He is."

„Tell me what happened."

„You won´t believe that, Granda." Kyle said. „He pretends to be a police man."

„Actually." Russel now chipped in. „He doesn´t just pretend to be one. I checked his file. He went to the police academy and has worked as an officer for four years before becoming a detective. He is head detective for sixteen years now. His vita is water proved. This doesn´t sound like a fake identity."

„How did ya get to those files, boyo?" Granda asked impressed. „They are classified information."

„I hacked the system." Russel answered with a shrug.

Wow, Shawn though. Maybe I should try to get the number of this guy. Could be useful sometimes. In spite of the crazy stuff his friends were talking.

„Are ya sure it was Seamus ya saw, Kyle." Granda now asked. „Maybe ya mistaken him."

„I didn´t mistake him." Kyle insisted. „I talked to him. He knew me. There is no mistake. Its him."

„All right, all right." Granda said, trying to calm his grandson down.

„Granda, my coin led us here for a reason. And now we know who that reason was." Kyle said.

„Yer probably right." Granda admitted. „I just cen´t think of any way that he could have gatten out of that lake you banished him in."

Shawn´s eyebrows shot up. What did he just say? Banished? Was that guy for real?

„I don´t know, but somehow he did." Kyle said.

„I´m still not convinced." Russel argued. „I mean … look at his vita. The man is real. Carlton Lassiter was born in 1969, went to school in Santa Barbara. His mother lives here, his ex-wife. The man doesn´t sound like a phony."

„Did ya talk to those people?" Granda wanted to know.

„No. Should we?"

The old man shrugged. „It cen´t hurt to confirm if those datas a´ real." he said.

„Probably not." Russel agreed. Kyle nodded as well and together they got into that strange green car and drove away.

Shawn had to hurry to get to his bike and to catch up with them. Fortunately the old man stopped on a stop sign even though the whole crossway was clear. Shawn followed them in an appropriate distance. The whole way he was trying to think and get some meaning into what he had heard. Had these people truly talked about Lassiter? Carlton Lassiter? The one Carlton Lassiter that was the head detective of the S.B.P.D.? This black dude had certainly said so several times. But still Shawn had a hard time to believe so. What the hell were they up to? He hadn´t even understood half of what they were talking about. And who was that Seamus guy they had mentioned all the time? It was as if they would believe that Lassiter wasn´t really Lassiter. That he was a phony and someone else who just pretended to be the man that he was. Crap. These guys had to be some crazy folks. That was the only explanation Shawn had for all this nonsense.

The car now stopped at the curbside in front of a house. Shawn stopped his bike at the corner so he wouldn´t be seen and sneaked through the gardens to get closer to them. The three guys had reached the front door now and rang the bell. It took a minute or two before they got an answer. A big woman who´s face had something in common with a bulldog opened the door. Shawn gasped when he recognized her. He had seen a picture of her in Lassiter´s file. It was his mother for gods sake. Why were these guys visiting Lassie´s mom? Oh, god, maybe they planned to kidnap her.

„What do you want?" she barked at her visitors. „I don´t buy anything."

Shawn flinched. He had just reconsidered his first idea. Maybe they were suicidal. Maybe it was actually them who were in danger.

„Excuse me, madame." the old man said politely taking off his hat. „Reilly O´Reilly me name is. We are only here to ask ya some wee questions."

„What are you talking for a crap there?" Mrs. Lassiter asked. „Are you calling that a language?"

O´Reilly looked at his grandson uncertain.

„It doesn´t matter anyway." Mrs. Lassiter dismissed him. „I also don´t take part in questionings. So you can get lost now and bother someone else. Good day."

„Wait." Kyle cried and put a food into the door. „Its about your son. That means … if you really have one."

Oh, man. Shawn tensed and prepared himself to see something very ugly.

„What do you mean if I have one?" Mrs. Lassiter asked annoyed.

„Would you mind telling us if that is him?" Russel asked and showed her a photo.

„Where do have that from?" she demanded to know. „Thats from his police file. Its nowhere else to be found. Who are you. Internal affairs? Is he in some kind of trouble again?"

„So … he is your son?" Russel asked for confirmation again, obviously startled about that fact.

„Of course he is." Mrs. Lassiter barked. „What the hell is all this about? What do you want from Booker?"

„Its notin, madame." the old man assured her. „We just try to …"

„Nothing?" Mrs. Lassiter barked and the shock silenced the little old man. „You people don´t ask questions like that for nothing." She squinted. „You are not from internal affairs, are you? Who are you really?" When neither of them had a quick answer for her, she literally chased them off her front door.

„Don´t you dare to ever come back here again." she yelled after them. „I call the cops and then you will meet my son, you bet you will. ´N´ now get lost!"

Shawn couldn´t believe what he just witnessed. That was definitely Lassie´s mom. No doubt. That much these three guys must have noticed as well. After Mrs. Lassiter had smashed the door close behind her, the three of them were standing on the street, taken aback and contemplative.

„So it is real." Kyle mused startled.

„Didn´t I tell you?" Russel said.

„But how is that possible?" Kyle asked. „How can that be the same person? I know its Seamus."

„I don´t know, man." Russel shrugged. „I only know that the background story of this detective Carlton Lassiter is more convincing than the most fake identities from the witness protection of the FBI."

„Did ya hack this database too?" O´Reilly asked in disbelieve.

„That´s called research, sir." Russel replied. Then he blinked. „There isn´t any witness protection program for leprechauns by any chance, is there?" he asked.

Shawn couldn´t believe what he just heard. Did this dude really just use the words leprechaun and witness protection in one sentence? Now he was sure they had to be some crazy folks. He looked around in the desperate need for some reality and normal people. But right in this moment no one else was around. Not even some playing kids in the gardens of their houses. They had probably heard Mrs. Lassiter yell and decided it was safer to play somewhere else.

„There is only one thing I can think of." O´Reilly said now. „That probably could explain all o´this."

„What?" Kyle wanted to know.

The old man gave his grandson and his friend a meaningful look. „Do you know what a changeling is?" he asked them.

„What?" Kyle asked. „A magical creature´s child that is exchanged for a human child right after it´s born? Are you serious? How could he have done that? He is a grown man."

„He is a leprechaun, Kyle." the old man said shaking his head. „He is not bound to any form at all. If he wanted to he could´ave done it."

„But … I banished him into the lake Eerie."

„I knoo." O´Reilly said nodding. „He must´ave found a way. Maybe he made a bargain wit … uuh I don´t knoo. Wit someone powerful enough to brake that spell ya lay on him."

„But …" Russel chipped in. „Even if he had. This Lassiter guy was born 1969. Kyle´s spell took place barely ten years ago. How does that fit?"

„What were the exact words again, Kyle?" O´Reilly asked.

„If I beat him he would be forced to live forever in the land of my fathers and to never leave the shores of Eerie again."

„The land of yer father." O´Reilly repeated pointing at Kyle in triumph. „Thats it. Yer da was born in 1969 too. Yer spell didn´t only send Seamus to Ohio. It also send him back into the year of yer father´s birth."

„Are you kidding?" Russel cried.

„Thats how it worked." the old man stated matter of factly. „Seamus found a way out o´this spell. And he took over the life of the real Carlton Lassiter, that was born back then. Tha poor child probably got taken to the underground to be raised by goblins."

Russel exhaled. „Wow." he said. „This is so strange."

„I knoo." the old man agreed.

„No, I mean … Why did he become a police man from all in the world? If he just wanted to brake the spell with this changeling thing … he could have done everything. Even coming back to get us for what we did to him."

„Maybe he couldn´t." O´Reilly mused. „I don´t think that he´s a leprechaun any loonger. I guess he is actully human now."

„Yeah, sure." Kyle snorted.

„Ya might laugh about that, boyo. But livin wit the humans can change a person."

„You don´t actually try to tell me that Seamus McTiernan had a change of heart, Granda!" Kyle cried in disbelieve. „He tried to enslave you."

„I knoo." O´Reilly admitted contritely.

„Maybe he became a cop so he can do things with this position." Russel suggested. „I mean … as a police guy you can do things a normal person can´t do. Maybe he plans something."

„But what?" Kyle wondered, trying to think.

The old man sighed. „Whatever it is. We won´t find it out by standin ´round here. Come on, boyos. I have a nice hotel suite, where we can talk in privacy."

He led the two young men to his car and then drove away. This time Shawn didn´t bother to follow them. He had heard enough already.

...

„Wow." was all Gus knew to say to that.

„This is all that comes to your mind?" Shawn complained. „I was hoping for some advice from you. Not just: Wow."

„Did you see any indication for misuse of medication?" Gus asked.

„If I saw what? No. Not even a clue that they were taking drugs or something like that."

„Thats what I meant." Gus replied and then started to think again. „This is the most crazy stuff I ever heard." he said.

„Exactly my words." Shawn agreed. „I mean think of it. Who gets such ideas?"

„Maybe they are paranoid schizophrenics." Gus mused. „That would fit. These people get the craziest ideas if no one stops their process. And if three of them are in on the same construct they support each other in their delusions until it reaches the breaking point."

„What are you talking about?" Shawn asked completely lost in this bunch of scientific termini.

„I´m saying that they might be under some doctor´s care and decided not to take their medication any more." Gus explained his theory. „I don´t know. Maybe they thought the pills they took were part of some conspiracy. Things like that happen. If one is not careful these people can drag you into their delusions. Only that usually these delusions are a little more realistic. But this one is at least original." He thought about it for a second. After that he looked at Shawn and asked him: „Did you at least get my tapioca?"

„What?" Shawn cried. „Dude. Did you hear what I just told you? How can you possibly think of tapioca now?"

„It helps me think, Shawn."

„Oh, for cry out loud. I´ll get you your tapioca." He stopped for a second, listening into himself. „Now that you say it, I could use some too." he found.

„Thank you, Shawn." Gus replied satisfied. Then decided: „I´ll make some phone calls while you are out. Maybe I can find out which doctor they were seeing. He might be interested to hear what his patients are doing."

„Good idea." Shawn agreed.

Gus sat down behind his desk and picked up the phone. „What was the name of the old man again?" he asked. „It might be easier to find him."

„O´Reilly. Reilly O´Reilly." Shawn told him and grinned when he saw Gus´ disbelieving gaze.

„Seriously?" he asked.

Shawn just shrugged and tried not to laugh. He failed and Gus shook his head while dialing the first number of some doctor he knew.

„Dude. I think I go and talk to Lassie about this." Shawn mused before leaving.

Gus covered the mouthpiece with his hand. „Are you sure that´s a good idea?" he whispered.

„I just think its better to warn him, in case these dudes are up to something. Trying to catch him with a tea strainer for example."

„This doesn´t make any sense, Shawn."

„Neither did those dudes." Shawn hold against that. „Seriously. We don´t want Lassie to shoot anyone because of a misunderstanding like that, do we?"

„You´re right." Gus finally agreed with an uncomfortable look on his face. „You better tell him. But don´t forget the tapioca." Someone had picked up on the other end and he turned to the phone with a smile. „Yeah, hallo, this is Burton Guster. I would like to talk to Dr. Cartwright. Thanks, I wait."

Shawn gave his friend a wave and went out of the door to drive over to the police station.

...

Man, that was one of the weirdest cases they´d ever had. Some crazy folks who actually believed Lassie was some sort of a goblin. Man, if that wasn´t weird. Okay, not that Shawn had never thought of Lassie as a weird guy with some strange sides in his psyche – no pun intended. But this was so way off base.

The thing that still wasn´t clear to him was the connection between Lassie and those loonies. How did they know him? And what the hell must have happened back then that they had started to believe such a stupid thing? But then he remembered how Lassie could be sometimes and he denied that question. Seen in the right – or in this case, in the totally wrong light, Lassie´s behavior could indeed cause someone to draw the wrong conclusions. Especially when he was already insane. Still. It was weird that someone truly had drawn conclusions like that. It was weirder than weird. It was … Shawn didn´t even know a word for that. It was just … weird.

He reached the station and parked his bike right before the front door. When he walked in he found Jules and his dad sitting at their desks. But no sign of Lassie.

„Hey, guys." he greeted. „Whats up? Did any of you see Lassie?"

„Oh, you just missed him." Jules told him. „He went out for lunch. But he´ll be back soon. Is something wrong?"

„No." he said and sat down on the edge of her table. „Not really. Just …" he waved the thought away. She looked at him unsure but nodded anyway.

„Okay." she said and then shrugged. „Well, he´ll need twenty minutes or so. If you want to wait."

„I will." Shawn said. He mused for a moment. „Did he … seem … strange to you lately?" he asked. „Or in general?"

„What do you mean, strange?" Juliet asked.

„Nah, I don´t know." Shawn tried to minimize it. „Since that festival is in town … he might be dragged into it after all, don´t you think?"

Jules just shrugged, a confused smile on her lips. „I don´t know." she said. „He might."

Shawn nodded. „His ears didn´t look pointy last time you saw him, did they." he asked.

Jules closed her eyes for a moment as if she was just hit by a wave of hot air. „What?" she cried.

„Nothing." Shawn said and chuckled. „That was just … just kidding. Hello leprechauns."

„Shawn, this is just a legend." she told him as if she was talking to a little kid. „You know, I think you are the one who got dragged too deep into that festival. I mean I´m glad you enjoy it. Its so close to my own heritage after all but … This is a little weird."

„Tell me about it." Shawn said.

„What?"

„Nothing. You know what?" he said and stood up from the table. „I think I could need something to eat, too. Maybe I meet Lassie at the Starbucks you guys use to eat."

„Okay." Jules said, still confused about this whole chat. „I tell him that you wanted to talk to him if he comes back before you met him."

„Thanks." Shawn cried back. „Bye, Jules. Bye, dad. I´ll be home at ten. I promise."

Henry who had actually first raised his hand to wave good bye, dropped it again in an angry manner. He saw Shawn vanishing out of the door laughing. Would that boy never start to act his age?

But Shawn didn´t even think of it. He felt a little relaxed probably for the first time today because of this little joke. Still smiling he mounted his bike and drove to the Starbucks where he knew Lassie and Jules used to grab some lunch. He parked it and was about to dismount when he had already spotted Lassie through the window. But Lassie wasn´t alone. There was a man with him. A fat guy with dark hair and a full beard that looked somehow creepy. Lassie sat opposite of that guy on a table. His lunch bag and coffee stood between them and was forgotten. Whatever it was they were talking about, it seemed to creep Lassie out. And this alone made Shawn feel uncomfortable, not to say really uncomfortable. If he hadn´t known already then he would guess it right now. Something was going on. Something really messy.