"Henry… how is he… he did? Was he able to… oh thank God. Yes, yes I'll tell them right away. Thank you."

Interim Chief Karen Vick flipped shut her cell phone. She sighed with relief. One horrible possibility eliminated at least. Turning around, she stood on the opposite side of a two-way glass. Her arms were folded tightly beneath her breasts, and her mouth made a thin line as she observed the man seated within the interrogation room. For the moment, he was alone, one hand cuffed to a ring on the edge of the metal table. He hadn't moved an inch for the past five minutes she'd been watching him. He was a large man, easily six three. His shoulders were broad, and his arms and legs heavily muscled. His dark eyes were deep-set beneath thick brows- his lank, unkempt hair hanging down just below the cut of his jaw. His broad nose had been mashed at some point during the night, dry blood still speckled on his upper lip. Having observed what happened to her head Detective when they converged on the Laundromat, Vick had a strong suspicion who'd caused the man's injury. Considering what this man had done, she figured a broken nose was the least of his worries.

The door to the observation room opened, and Detective Lassiter entered, holding a thick folder.

"Henry just called. Shawn woke up."

Lassiter lowered the folder. "Was he…?"

"No. It was close, but we got there in time." At Lassiter's badly hidden look of relief, Karen managed a smile. "How's the nose?"

Lassiter grimaced. "I'll live. Remind me I owe Spencer a return favor once he's cleared for active spirit channeling again."

Vick grinned. "I'll do that." Her eyes dropped to the folder in her Head Detective's hands, her smile fading. "What did you find?"

"We finally got some history on this guy." He said as he passed the folder to her. She opened the cover as Lassiter continued. "Full name is Andrew Shay Drayton, thirty-nine years old. He was convicted in eighty-four for possession of heroin, sentenced to fifteen years but got out in five. He apparently got lucky with the parole judge, who happened to be old buddies with his father… the honorable judge Herman Drayton the Third."

Karen darted her eyes up in shock, then back to the folder to confirm the facts in black and white. She paled when she read the next entry. "It says here he was named in the beating and rape of a twenty-two year old man on the fourth of October in ninety-nine, and again in o' two. Why the hell wasn't he charged?"

Carlton worked his jaw. "Both times, the victim died from their injuries before a positive id could be made. Also, there was no physical evidence on either body. With Judge Drayton's pull, it's no wonder he got away with it."

Vick slapped the folder shut, glaring through the window once more.

"Let's make sure he doesn't slither out of it this time."

Nodding sharply, Lassiter exited, only to appear again on the other side of the glass.

0o0o0o0

Andrew Drayton sat, unmovable as a stone, as Lassiter entered the room. The temperature was lower than normal, but he suppressed the shiver with ease. He'd been the one to adjust the thermostat after all. Drayton didn't even glance in his direction as Carlton took a seat across from him. In fact, Drayton stared straight ahead- as though he were staring straight through the two-way mirror.

Dropping the folder onto the table, Lassiter flipped open the cover. "Okay… nineteen eighty-four. Caught with a baggie of joy flakes… went away for five years. Looks like daddy fixed that little embarrassment though…" Andrew didn't respond- still started straight ahead, unmoving. Flipping up a page, Lassiter continued. "In nineteen ninety-two, you were accused of fondling a female co-worker at the Jiffy Moves gas station where you were employed for six months. Tell me, how much did dear dad have to pay her to get her to drop the charges?" Empty silence. No matter, tougher perps than this had cracked like babies… this guy was no different. "Ninety-four, another accusation… eighteen year old boy said you groped him in a gym locker room. Daddy buy him too? Seems like dad approves of your activities. Kinda like a pimp. Tell me, your dad ever touch you as a kid huh? Maybe you got off on that… having your daddy put his hands on you…"

Lassiter barely had time to lunge back as Andrew clawed at him, his thick fingers grazing the front of the detective's suit. As soon as Andrew settled down again, Carlton pressed on. "Sore spot? Tell me, when was the first time daddy groped you? Is that why you seem to prefer boys? You trying to relive all those good times?" Instead of attacking, Andrew leaned back in his seat, smiling softly. Carlton bared his teeth. "Listen, I suggest you drop the smug act and start talking or…" At that moment, the door opened, admitting a tall, slender man in a dark grey jacket and slacks.

"Please… continue threatening my client. It will make a nice sidebar."

The man held out his hand, then dropped it when Lassiter merely glared at him. "Anderson Filch, I'm Mr. Drayton's attorney. As of now, my client is invoking his rights."

Lassiter glanced at the silent man seated at the table. "He called you?"

Filch smiled benignly… it made Lassiter want to strike him. "I was contacted by Mr. Drayton's father. I believe you might have heard of him… Second Circuit Judge Herman Drayton the Third?" As Lassiter ground his teeth, Filch walked to the table where he deposited his briefcase.

"Now if you don't mind Detective, I'd like some privacy to talk to my client."

0o0o0o0

Karen met Lassiter as he strode, fuming, from the interrogation room. "Son of a bitch… probably calling his dad right now to make it all better."

Vick shook her head. "I really thought you had him for a second… he was cracking…"

Lassiter clenched and unclenched his fists as the walked through the station. "Well there's still one more to go. Where did we put Miss Erin I Have No Last Name?"

Karen made a slight adjustment to their course. "Room six, O'Hara's there now. And even better, she declined her lawyer privileges."

Lassiter picked up the pace. With any luck, they could salvage something from this debacle.

0o0o0o0

"Andrew didn't have anything to do with this."

Carlton shared a look with O'Hara, noting the stunned confusion that flitted across her face.

"I'm sorry…?" He exclaimed, sliding off the edge of the table.

Erin shrugged, brushing her tousled hair over her shoulder. "It was totally me… all of it. I kidnapped Shawn, I forced him into the truck, I beat him up… what more is there to say?"

O'Hara started to speak, shook her head, and tried again. "When we arrived, we caught Andrew assaulting Shawn…"

Erin shook her head. "No, no that's wrong. Andrew was trying to help him. I'd chased Shawn to the Laundromat. I knocked him down, and was getting ready to shoot him when Andrew burst in on me. He pushed me away, but I fought back, and he fell. He was just starting to get up again when you came crashing in." She crossed her arms, giving both detectives a scornful look. "Listen, I don't need some meat-brained degenerate taking credit for this. This was my baby from beginning to end."

Lassiter glanced towards the two-way glass, knowing Vick was on the other side. None of this was going how they'd expected. Sure, he figured there'd be some work to get at the answers… but for her to take all the blame…

There was no way in hell Andrew wasn't directly involved. The look on Spencer's face when they found him… Carlton, in spite of the outward animosity for the pet psychic, had a grudging- and never to be admitted- respect for the man. Seeing the terror in his face when they'd first come through the doors of the Laundromat… that memory was guaranteed to be with him for a long time to come.

Returning his attention to the woman before him, Lassiter let out a drawn out breath. "Fine, fine. Look, how about you start at the beginning."

0o0o0o0

The arraignment was scheduled to be held the following morning. Karen called Henry, who informed her that Shawn hadn't woken since the previous day. He'd provided her with Shawn's statement to him… and though it implicated Drayton, she was still concerned. She met the prosecuting attorney, Casey Abbott, outside courtroom three and handed over both the statement, as well as Erin's confession. Casey had reviewed the files earlier, but she still flipped through them one more time. Finally, she looked up, adjusting her glasses.

"Are you ready? I believe Detective's Lassiter and O'Hara are already inside."

Karen nodded. "Let's go."

0o0o0o0

The courtroom was packed with spectators. Thankfully, though, the media had been barred from the proceedings. Karen took a seat next to her two detectives, and Casey made her way to the front of the courtroom, where Drayton and his attorneys were already seated. He and Erin were being arraigned separately, with hers due immediately after.

There was a slight rustle, and then, "All rise, for the Honorable Judge William Sanders." Seats slapped back on their hinges as everyone stood. The judge entered from the right, a smaller man with a sharp grey beard and thinning hair. He took his seat, and faced the court. "Court is now in session."

Judge Sanders pounded his gavel. "You may be seated." As the courtroom settled, Judge Sanders folded his hands. "We are here for the arraignment of Mr. Andrew Drayton. According to the file, he is facing one count of kidnapping in the first degree, attempted rape, and one count of aggravated assault. Would the attorney for Mr. Drayton please begin these proceedings?"

Anderson Filch stood, smoothing his tie. He held a stack of files in his hand, and Karen felt a sudden twist in her gut. "Your Honor. As you know, my client has a long history of accusations lodged at him by the SBPD. Accusations which, according to their own records, are completely unfounded. We are here today because, once more, Mr. Drayton has been falsely accused. I want you to know, I sympathize with Mr. Spencer. No one can deny that what he experienced was a terrifying and brutal attack. However, it is also undeniable that my client, Andrew Drayton had anything to do with it. In fact, according to statements given by his 'so-called' partner, Andrew Drayton is actually a hero, putting his life on the line for Mr. Spencer."

Casey Abbott shook her head. "Your Honor, Andrew Drayton is a sadistic masochist. He has a long history of assault on both men and women alike…"

"If you'd examined your files closely, you'd know those charges were all dropped." Interrupted Filch.

"And if you'd taken the time to study your files, you'd see that Shawn Spencer gave testimony that he was attacked by Andrew Drayton!"

The sound of a gavel filled the room, and the two attorneys returned their gazes to the front of the room. As soon as it was calm, the Judge gestured to Filch. "Do you have a rebuttal to this claim?"

Filch smoothed his tie again. "Your Honor, Shawn Spencer's statement is shaky at best. At the time, he was under the influence of a powerful sedative. In addition, the statement was made to his father, not a member of the SBPD."

Casey seemed to bristle. "Henry Spencer is a former member of the police force, and a decorated officer. Any statement he takes can be viewed as valid."

Filch smiled. "I'm sure Mr. Spencer Senior is a fine and upstanding man, but the fact remains that it was his son that was the victim. I don't know about you, but I'd have a hard time thinking rationally during such an emotionally draining ordeal. In any event, Shawn Spencer's claim is invalidated by Miss Erin, who stated she acted alone."

"Oh, and I'm sure she was telling the truth." Shot back Casey in disgust. The gavel fell again at the resultant murmur, and it took a second for the room to quiet once more.

"Miss Abbott, I will remind you to keep your personal opinions out of this courtroom." Said the judge firmly. He then sat back, folding his hands. "I've examined the files you've provided. Unless there are any other arguments, I would ask that we proceed to the issue of bail."

In fact, there were a lot more arguments, both sides debating heatedly.

And through it all, Andrew Drayton sat like a marble statue, staring straight ahead.

Finally, just before nine forty, the arguments came to a close. Andrew Drayton was asked to stand, and the debate over bail began.

Karen could only watch, and wait.

0o0o0o0

Henry had actually managed to close his eyes for more than fifteen minutes when his cell phone rang. He groaned, sitting up on the small cot by the far wall. The name on the front indicated it was from Karen.

Feeling his weariness bleed away, Henry flipped open the phone. "Yes?"

He listened for a second, his brow furrowed. "Well did they… uh huh…" On the bed on the other side of the room, Shawn pulled one hand up sharply, mumbling something incoherently. Then slowly, he dropped his arm back down. Henry continued to listen to the voice on the other end, his fingers massaging his forehead.

"Wait, Karen, what do you mean they…" His eyes flared. "What, did the Judge have his head up his ass?... Well how could they question that!" Shawn twitched again, and Henry turned around, forcibly lowering his voice.

"Fine, fine, forget that for now. Just tell me when his court date is."

There was a pause, long enough for Henry to feel his stomach roll sickly.

As the voice finally returned, speaking slowly, Henry turned to look at Shawn.

His hand nearly crushed the phone.

"Oh my God…"