Chapter I

She stood at the outer tarmac door staring at the plane she was about to get on and tried not to scream.

Which was easier said than done.

It had been three months since she decided that it was best to leave England and head to America; but the feeling that she was missing something important was absolute.

"Can you move forward lady?" A voice said distracting Harriet from her thoughts. "We are all trying to get home."

"Sorry." She said as she moved toward the large aircraft. Her dark gray suitcase behind her.

Normally, she wouldn't have spoken. But she was shaking with anticipation as she moved through the aisles and placed her bag in the overhead bin above.

She had been given the opportunity to travel to Santa Barbara, California as a consultant for the SBPD, by Interim Chief Karen Vick. Which was intimidating to say the least, but exciting due to the fact that her penpal, Carlton Lassiter, was there."

"Are you safe Harriet?" She heard his voice say in her headphones.

She wanted to laugh just to eliminate his worry. "I'm fine Carlton. I made it onto the plane without any issue."

"Ok." He said. "Just let me know when you land. You'd never know what could happen these days. Ever since…"

Harriet sighed. "I understand. I can't wait to meet the rest of your team. This is new territory for me… you know."

"Of course it is." He laughed. "You are coming to see me."

"And live with you for a while…" She smiled as she looked around at the people taking their seats. "I'm just nervous about living in a new country."

Carlton laughed. "You'll adjust quickly. You always do."

"Yeah." She whispered. "Thanks."

She hung up her phone and looked out the window. Clear blue skies. What else could she have asked for.

Her body ached when she got off the plane. She could hardly keep track of her legs. "Fourteen and a half hours is definitely too long for travel." She grumbled as she stretched to loosen up the tightness that she felt.

"You can say that," a voice said, "but it's not as bad as traveling in a car."

Harriet laughed. "Even so, I find that worrywarts make the best protectors."

She could practically hear the tsk coming from behind her.

"Hello Carlton." She gave him a hug. "I'm glad you're here."

"Karen gave me the day off." He said automatically. "But since I know how you are we are going to head there first. To the office. Have you meet everyone."

Harriet's eyes twinkled. "Thanks."

"No problem." He said while grabbing her things and heading toward his car.

"And maybe I'll meet the love of my life there as well." She joked.

Carlton slammed his trunk with extra force. "If you do make sure they do their job well. That's all I ask for."

When they entered Interim Chief Vick's office she was in the midst of reprimanding a man with dark brown hair.

"That was reckless and you know it Spencer."

A sigh was heard. "But I was right. Malcolm was the reason why Elliot never made it to the socialite event three weeks ago."

"Even so-" Karen began.

"You're just mad that I keep beating your team." He continued. "I mean I also had a weapon on me at the time."

"Yes." Karen said, while flipping through documents. "The wooden baseball bat."

"Exactly." Harriet could feel the arrogance come off him in waves. "Now why don't you truly say what's on your mind instead of plotting to exclude me from future cases you know I can solve."

"Really?" A smirk appeared on Vick's face.

"Yes."

"Well thanks to your stunt it has been recommended by your father that you would be under lock and key."

Spencer rolled his eyes. "Meaning?"

"That you'll be under the jurisdiction of our newest consultant of the SBPD, Harriet Potter."

"Are you kidding me?" Laughter was heard. "Potter? What type of name…"

Harriet smirked. "It's mine Mr. Spencer."

Spencer jumped. Making Carlton laugh.

She was met with hazel eyes and a wide smile. "Shawn." He grabbed her hand. "My name's Shawn Spencer. And you my dear Harriet…"

"Will make sure that you do your job properly. Even if I have to be with you twenty four hours a day."