Six Years Ago
The news anchor's voice was cold, impersonal.
"Due to multiple charges of fraud, impersonating detectives, mishandling of evidence, misleading the police, interfering with official investigations, conspiracy, perjury, disorderly conduct in SBPD s own police station, and a myriad of other charges, today Shawn Spencer and Burton Guster, residents of Santa Barbara California, were convicted to serve a fifteen to twenty-five year sentence in a maximum security prison for their crimes, all of which stemmed from the six year stint during which the accused impersonated psychic detectives to assist the Santa Barbara Police Department. All cases in which they were involved are now formally under review. All parties refuse comment. Adam Hornstock, representative assigned by the state at an earlier time was heard saying that it is shameful, what has occurred. Henry Spencer, accused Shawn Spencer s father, has officially renounced his son. The highly decorated former police officer was not seen attending the trial. And has not been seen since. Unconfirmed reports suggest that he is out of town during the duration of the trial. In further news..."
The tv turned off suddenly as Henry Spencer, reeking of beer and something a little bit stronger, hit the button then threw the remote against the wall. The plastic shattered, shards spraying through the room. He buried his head in his hands, remembering the image of his son being taken into custody, dragged into the back of a police car and locked in. The news had shown footage of Shawn staring docilely out, and it was Henry's worst nightmare all over again, watching the grave hazel eyes of his son... No, he reminded himself. Not his son, not anymore. He took another swig of his beer then crumpled the empty can, chucking it at the trash bin. When it missed, he just stared, then resignedly, clambered from his seat carefully, aware that, although he may not be vomit-all-over-himself-drunk, he was not quite sober either. When he reached the can, he picked it up, examining it for a minute, then threw it away, ready to go back to drowning his sorrows tonight.
Tomorrow- Tomorrow his son was going to jail. Tomorrow was a new day. The first day in a world without Shawn Spencer. Better get used to the idea tonight, Henry thought, ignoring how much the thought of his son's name hurt. He promised himself wearily that he would never allow anyone, least of all Shawn, to cause him pain like this again. No, his son was dead to him, it was easier this way.
It would be like Shawn and Guster never existed in the world of Henry Spencer.
Henry Spencer reached for another beer.