A/N: Chapter 9 – yay! Now, this is where it gets weird. We haven't quite reached a climax yet but soon enough, soon enough.
Disclaimer: I've never attempted to write any sort of mystery story before. All acts of police work in this fic are solely fictitious and written out with little to no research on the matter. Any and all flaws can be blamed directly on me. Though cut me a little slack lol originally it wasn't supposed to go in this direction. Funny how that works? I just wanted this to be pure Shassie – though I assure you the Shassie hasn't been forgotten! Reviews are strongly encouraged for this chapter. What did you like? What didn't you like? Did I do anything right? Where did I go wrong? Your input is greatly appreciated!
Other then that – enjoy the chapter!
Salt
With the lab results still fresh in Lassiter's mind on his way to work, he was antsy if not just a little aggravated. Pieces of the puzzle were slowly falling into place and Lassiter was officially convinced that robbery at the convenient store and 's malpractice were connected. All he had to do at this point was bring in the Dr. and figure out how exactly. It seemed an easy hope now that the weekend had passed and the station was back in full swing. When Lassiter made his way through the doors he was greeted by the usual weekday crowd. Juliet was even waiting for him at his desk by the time he got there.
"Don't get comfortable yet" Juliet said right away "The Chief wants us in her office."
Of course she does.
"Really now?" Lassiter said, and all Juliet could do was nod and show Lassiter the way.
"She didn't approve the request form to have Stouffer and his accomplishes brought back here for further questioning." Juliet sounded aggravated at the thought, and when Lassiter heard he became downright pissed. So much for easy…
"Chief!" Lassiter didn't bother knocking "I need those guys brought back here, and I need them today!"
"You need absolutely nothing Carlton" Chief Vick wasn't in a playful mood anymore then he was. "Now I want to know why my top detective is requesting three convicts back here for questioning when the crime they committed has already been confessed and punished."
"Technically two" Lassiter said then "I wasn't aware that Stouffer had been moved to the prison – which hello I wasn't done with him, when exactly did this happen?"
"Last night" Chief responded. Lassiter grounded his teeth.
"At least bring him back" Lassiter said "He was using an alias; Marvin Stouffer isn't his real name and I have a hunch that he's involved with Dr. McGill."
"Isn't Dr. McGill Mr. Spencer's doctor?" Chief asked.
"Yes it is, Chief the only reason Marvin Stouffer even got brought in as the third robber is because he was caught trying to leave town. He admitted to bussing to Coral Haven to buy Xanax for his 'uncle' – I think Dr. McGill."
"You just happen to think that Dr. McGill is this mysterious uncle? Do I even need to point out how big of a hole that is in your theory Carlton? Where's your evidence?"
"I know it's a stretch" Lassiter defended "But I do have something – I have proof that Dr. McGill was trying to kill Shawn."
At this the chief lifted a brow "actually kill Mr. Spencer? How?"
Lassiter motioned to the chief that he'd be right back, and returning to his desk he grabbed Shawn's pills and samples from the lab.
"Mr. Guster and I were at his office yesterday, down in the lab and we ran Shawn's pills through a reagent test. The pills tested positive for Opiates and PMA." Lassiter had to pace himself when he said that, it still irked him that someone was really trying to kill Shawn – Shawn who as far as he was concerned now meant something to him.
"Please Chief" Lassiter said "If not the other two – fine, but I need Marvin Stouffer brought back here. I want him and Dr. McGill in the same room for questioning."
The Chief looked hesitant, but if Spencer was in danger then she wouldn't refuse. Lassiter gave himself a mental pat on the back and breathed a sigh of relief when she caved.
"Alright" Chief said "I'll call the prison, I'll get Marvin Stouffer back here by noon. Until then, O'Hara get these lab samples down to evidence and call for a couple squad cars to go to Dr. McGills office."
"Chief" Juliet finally popped in "If anything don't you think Detective Lassiter should be going to Dr. McGill's office?"
"No" Chief Vick responded "Detective Lassiter I want you to go home and collect Mr. Spencer, until Dr. McGill is here and under our eye we can't have Mr. Spencer sitting around by himself."
Lassiter agreed, and not even an hour after he had left for the station he was home again. He half expected Spencer to greet him at the door in the same fashion he had said good bye in - with a 'howdy do' and a spank. Instead he was greeted with silence.
"Spencer" Lassiter called out, and when he got nothing he grew worried.
"Spencer" he tried again and started looking around, he wasn't in either of the rooms and the kitchen was completely empty.
"Dammit" Lassiter growled, figuring Spencer must've gone out somewhere. He took out his phone and dialled Spencer's number. Needless to say he was a tad surprised when he heard Spencer's phone ringing from the bathroom.
"Spencer?" He flipped his phone off and went the bathroom door knocking "are you in there?"
If Shawn was on the toilette he didn't want to interrupt him, but at the same time Shawn could've said something when Lassiter was calling him out like a paranoid idiot. Lassiter knocked again. "Spencer?"
This time he was met with a low moan and a grunt.
"Shawn!" He tried the door but it was locked, panicked now he didn't think about what he was possibly walking into too, all of his red flags were up and Lassiter backed up. When he came back forward his leg lifted into a kick and all of his weight fell into it as his foot connected with the bathroom door. The door snapped and crumbled to the ground and Lassiter stepped into the washroom "Shawn!"
Shawn was on the ground, in the fettle position and sweating bullets. He managed to open his eyes just slightly and gave Lassie what looked like an attempted smile.
"Shawn – oh my god.." Lassiter went to him and lifted him to a seated position "what the hell happened?"
"I tried eating" Shawn said "Feel so stupid, I wasn't hungry I'm – never hungry anymore, but I know that's not right so I figured…maybe force feeding myself would jump start my stomach again. That's so not what happened…"
"That's it?" Lassie said in disbelief "You tried eating and got sick?"
"Yeah" Shawn said "Pretty dumb huh?"
"Not dumb just – weird." Lassiter said, he almost smiled then "then again you've always been weird."
"Why did you take my pills away?" Shawn asked, and Lassiter stopped – he really didn't have the heart to tell him.
"I'll explain at the station." Lassiter said "But we have to go now, can you stand?"
"The station? – why the station?" Shawn didn't even hear the question.
"Again, at the station" Lassiter said "Now come on, up." He helped Shawn stand.
"imm sorry" Shawn mumbled…
"Don't be sorry" Lassiter said "We just need to get you out of here now okay?"
Oh but Shawn was slipping further and further into a delirious state.
"I won't kiss you anymore okay? I know you don't like it – why would you…..?"
"I never said that" Lassiter said then "Look, can we talk about that later? Right now we need to go to the station." He started walking, taking Shawn along as best he could.
"You never kiss back" Shawn whined slightly.
To be fair you never give me time to…
"Later, Spencer – right now you're delirious and I need to get you back to the station."
Why was Shawn acting this way? He wasn't on the pills anymore; it had been over 24 hours. This really shouldn't be happening. Lassiter frowned; maybe he should take Shawn to another doctor?
Getting Shawn to the station was a bit of a challenge; Shawn had mumbled and whined all the way there asking Lassiter multiple times why he didn't like Shawn or why Gus wasn't coming to the station to. Shawn had finally quieted down when Lassiter begrudgingly said that he'd call Gus as soon as soon as Gus was done work.
He had put Shawn at his desk, and let Shawn put his head down – Shawn had quickly fallen asleep and that freaked Lassiter right out. When Juliet came over he immediately asked her to call a medic or a doctor of any sort to come and look at him.
"Of course" Juliet said "but Carlton – I don't know how to tell you this but,"
"But what?" Lassiter cut her off.
"Dr. McGill wasn't in his office; his secretary hasn't seen him in a week."
Sunava bitch…
"McNabb!" Lassiter called "Keep a close eye on Spencer, wake him up as soon as the medic gets here, O'Hara we're going to Dr. McGill's house."
"Carlton" Chief Vicks voice sounded off then "you're not going anywhere."
"But Chief"
"Marvin Stouffer will be here in less then ten minutes, O'Hara will take a couple squad cars with her to the doctor's house – Carlton, will stay here."
So Lassiter had no choice but to stay behind, and not ten minutes after Juliet had left with a couple cars, did Marvin Stouffer arrive and Lassiter was back in the interrogation room with him.
"Doctor McGill" were the first words Lassiter said, and Marvin Stouffer for the first time looked hesitant to speak. "Is Dr. McGill your uncle?"
"Yes"
"Why does he want Shawn Spencer dead?" Lassiter pressed for that answer immediately.
"Who the hell is Shawn Spencer?" Stouffer said, and Lassiter raised both his eyebrows.
"Shawn Spencer is a psychic that works with the police department" Lassiter said "Your uncle tried to kill him."
"I didn't know anything about a murder" Stouffer insisted "My friends and I were just paid to steal the salt."
"Salt?" Lassiter repeated.
"Yes, salt – you thought we were robbing that crappy convenient store for the money?" Stouffer sounded like he might laugh. "I'm an engineer; I don't need corner store money."
"Tell me your real name" Lassiter said.
"Tyler McGill."
"And you just – change your name at a whim and steal salt just because your uncle tells you to?" Lassiter was so confused right now – salt?
"My uncle raised me" Tyler said "Both my parents were murdered when I was a kid; he's the only family I have. So yes – when he asks me for something I'm not about to say no. It was salt, who cares about salt? I didn't care."
"Well you'll care once we bring him in here" Lassiter said "Then I'm getting the full story."
Tyler actually laughed then – hard. "You really think you're going to find him?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Tyler stopped talking then, and Lassiter could've hit him – really hit him. If it hadn't been for another officer walking in
"You're needed upstairs."
Lassiter made sure the officer stayed with Tyler while he was gone, and he went straight upstairs where Shawn was no longer sleeping at his desk but with a medic in the Chief's office. McNabb was holding out Lassiter's desk phone for Lassiter to answer.
"It's me" Juliet's voice sounded urgent, she didn't give Lassiter a chance to say anything "Dr. McGill isn't at his house." So Tyler wasn't lying.
"Alright" Lassiter said "His nephew started talking, if you come back here we can crack him, he probably knows where McGill is."
"I really think you should come here" Juliet said "I can't really describe what I'm seeing here."
"What are you talking about O'Hara?" Lassiter was getting tired "Seeing what?"
"His entire house is decorated like a shrine" Juliet said and then very hesitantly she added "A shrine dedicated…to Shawn…"
"I'll be there as soon as possible" Lassiter said then. He hung up the phone and turned on McNabb. "Go down the interrogation room, Officer Dully is there, the two of you put 'Stouffer' in a holding cell."
"What about Shawn?" McNabb asked.
"The Chief made it clear that he has to stay here, he'll be okay for now."
"Do you want me to call Gus then? He keeps asking for Gus."
"Run it by the chief." Lassiter said "I have to go meet O'Hara now get downstairs."
"Yes sir" and McNabb left for the interrogation room. Lassiter grabbed his coat, and one more glance in the Chief's office saw that the medic was still speaking with Shawn and the chief, he then turned on his heels and left to meet Juliet.