“Please, for the love of justice, tell me there is something we can charge her with!” Lassiter practically screamed as his hand made contact with his desk.

Juliet sighed. She knew there was no way for her to truly understand what Lassiter was going through. To have a child, and to not know it. She didn't understand how Lucinda could do that to him. The woman had obviously cared about Lassiter, but to hide his daughter from him, that didn't seem like the actions of someone who cared about anyone else.

“I'm sorry, Carlton. Technically she hasn't broken any laws.”

Lassiter growled viciously, before shoving a pile of paperwork off his desk. With a thump, he sat down in his chair. Juliet had never seen him look so defeated. The sheer amount of pain etched onto the older detective's face broke her heart. Not only because he was her partner, but because he was her friend. Carlton Lassiter was one of her best friends, and he was in pain. The worst part? Juliet had no idea what to do to help him. That wasn't entirely true, there was one person that could help him. That was the only reason Juliet had given him a copied version of their case file. If anyone was going to find them a lead it was Shawn. In fact, Juliet was hoping and praying that he would find something, and soon.

“I just—I don't understand it. How can someone do that?” Lassiter's head hung slightly. He had never really wanted children, but that didn't mean he wouldn't be willing to try to be a good dad if the situation arose. It wasn't something that he would be good at, not right away, but he could learn. He was willing to learn how to be a good dad. Lassiter knew he had to find his daughter if only to prove that he could try to be a good dad to her. In all of his inner turmoil, Lassiter hadn't realized that Juliet had moved from her position at her desk. He hadn't felt her kneel beside his chair, and he only just now realized that it was her hand on his back rubbing soothing circles. Why in the world was his partner rubbing soothing circles on his back? That was something that was generally used to calm people who were—the first few wet drops landed on his desk and it all became clear. The muffled sobs he heard, that sounded so far away, were his own. Carlton Lassiter was crying. Carlton Lassiter did not cry.

“I honestly don't know, Carlton, but I promise you that we will find Julie. You will get your chance to meet your daughter, that I do promise you.” Juliet said, her voice firm but soothing.

Lassiter's head turned, his eyes red-rimmed. “Thank you.” Was all he trusted his voice to say.

*************

Shawn sighed, a frustrated look on his face, as he cradled Brandon in one arm. His eyes were burning, and he had only been looking at the information for ten minutes. There had to be something here. There had to be something that Lassiter and Juliet had simply missed. Something that had accidentally got skipped over.

“Gus.” Shawn whispered harshly, trying to get his dozing best friend's attention without waking his unusually cranky son. “Burton Guster.” Shawn whispered out again.

Gus sat bolt upright, blinking wildly as his head craned around to take in his surroundings. “Oh, God. I dozed again?” Gus asked, making a face.

“It was fine in the car, but I really need your help right now.” Shawn's eyebrow furrowed slightly as he spoke.

Gus knew that Shawn was desperate and really stuck if he was asking for Gus to help him. At least with the details. Details was generally something that Shawn didn't have an issue with, but without actually surveying the crime scene he didn't really have anything to go on. At least not with his hyper obsverant brain, which obviously wasn't working at top notch speed.

“I'm coming.” Gus said, as he stood up and stretched the kinks from his back.

“Good, you can take drooly over here, and put him down in his playpen before we start in on the over-analysis.”

Gus nodded, as he carefully hefted his tiny nephew into his arms, and laid him stomach first in his playpen. After making sure that Brandon was still very much asleep, Gus walked back over toward Shawn and sat down.

“Okay, what have you figured out so far?” Gus asked as he peered at the now spread out file.

Shawn sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “So far the only thing that I found of any significance is that Julie was taken from her own front yard. However, there is no information on whether Lucinda was at home when she was taken. There was a neighbor that spotted the kidnapping, they gave the make and model of the car--”

Gus' brow furrowed. “There have been no hits on the car?”

Shawn laughed mirthlessly. “If you'd let me finish.” Shawn rolled his eyes. “They found the car ditched at a large parking lot, and are waiting for someone to come forward to file a report for a stolen vehicle. The chances are slim that it will happen anytime soon though. From what I've read, the parking lot is one of those long term ones.”

Gus nodded. “So, right now, we have a big bunch of nothing. He was driving a--” Gus paused, glancing at a picture of the recovered car. “Early 2000's sedan, but he has a different car now. We have no idea why he's in Santa Barbara, or where he could be holed up.”

Shawn sighed. “It cannot be this difficult!” He grimaced when he realized how loud his voice had gotten. He waited with bated breath for Brandon to let out an ear shattering wail, but when it didn't come after a couple of minutes, he turned his attention back to Gus. “Lassie and Jules missed something. It's not their fault, it's just what they do. They aren't as observant as me. They don't have the ability to put together tiny details the way I can. All I have to do is figure out what they missed--” Shawn stared at the stack of papers. Flipping through the photos again. Groaning, he was about to his boiling point. All he wanted was to throw the entire folder across the room because it was all worthless junk. His hand reached out to snatch it up when his eye caught something. Pulling the paper closer it dawned on him.

“Son of a bitch.” Shawn mumbled, a grin forming on his lips. “How did I miss this!”

Gus eyed him carefully. “What did you miss?”

“No time to explain, Gus. I have to call Juliet.” Shawn snatched up his phone, the smile still on his lips. “Jules—how much do you love me?”

*****************

Juliet eyed her partner carefully as she listened to what Shawn said. “Okay. Alright! Slow down! We're on our way.” Juliet knew Lassiter would be pissed when he found out that she gave file copies to Shawn. However, just like Juliet knew it, her decision paid off in the form of details. Shawn's hyper observance was something beyond anything Juliet had ever witnessed. It was something that she didn't understand, and yet it was something she was in awe of.

“What has Spencer's panties in a twist?” Lassiter asked, his lips pulled up slightly at the edges. Juliet had to admit that it was nice to see her partner get his—personality back. She just wished it wasn't always aimed at her husband.

“I'll tell you on the way. Come on.” Juliet definitely did not want to be in the station when she explained her criminal activities. Not with the chief within earshot, and on the warpath with Juliet for always including Shawn.

Lassiter groaned loudly, as he stood up and grabbed his jacket before following his partner. “Juliet, seriously, where is the fire? Unless—did Spencer have another spell thingy?”

Juliet threw her hands up in annoyance. “Let's just say that I can't speak freely until we are in your car. So, move it.” Juliet explained, giving Lassiter a backward glance.

“Can you give me a clue?” Juliet shook her head. “A letter in the first word?” Another head shake. “Juliet, this is only fun if you play along.” Lassiter whined.

Juliet climbed into the passenger-side seat of Lassiter's car, while she waited for him to enter the driver's side. Once he was in, the car was started, they were on their way toward her house, she turned toward him. “Don't be mad.”

Lassiter's head whipped toward her. “Not the best starting sentence, Juliet.”

Juliet nodded. “I know. I may have copied our case files for Shawn.”

Lassiter slammed on the brakes, jolting the car to a stand-still halt. His head slowly turned toward Juliet. “Have you lost your damn mind!?” He shouted at her.

Juliet sighed. “No.” It was a hushed whisper, like she was afraid someone would hear their conversation. “I am very sane. Just so you know, my husband has found something.”

Lassiter laughed mirthlessly. “Really? Like when he figured out that I'm a father? Because that was overly helpful.”

Juliet glared at Lassiter. “At least you know now. I firmly believe that he's found something, and wouldn't you rather risk it, then go against Shawn? How often has that worked for you in the past?”

Lassiter moaned. “Fine. But if he starts mumbling nonsense I will cuff him, and bring him up on charges for impeding a police investigation.”

“Deal.” Juliet said smoothly, a smile on her face. Her hand gripped the arm rest when Lassiter's foot slammed down on the gas pedal, and they sped off down the road.

The rest of drive was done in silence. Juliet noticed Lassiter's death grip on the steering wheel, and knew that he was still upset by what she had done. She was not only risking her own career in that moment, but Lassiter's as well. However, a look at his face saw drawn lines and creases. She had never seen Lassiter in such inner turmoil before, and it wasn't a look that fit him well. Her inner musing was cut short when Lassiter slammed, a little harder than need be, on the brakes as they pulled up at her house.

Sighing, Juliet removed her seat belt and stepped out of the car. Her strides matched Lassiter's as they entered the house. Shawn sat hunched over on the couch, his head down. Juliet walked around to make sure that he was alright, and saw him staring at the folder of files she had copied for him.

“So, this breakthrough--”

Shawn looked up from the case file. His eyebrow furrowed slightly, before he stood up. His hand swiped through his hair. He started to pace slightly, at first, picking up speed after a moment.

“Okay. So it was bugging me that this guy had never used a credit card to pay for anything--”

Lassiter's eyebrows shot up. “All of this over some sick freak not using a credit card?”

Shawn's head snapped at Lassiter's comment. “Can I finish?” Lassiter's mouth clamped shut. He had never seen Shawn so—focused. “It was bothering me, but I couldn't figure out why. Then I realized that this guy is nearly forty and has never owned anything. Not any big purchases. He's never owned or at least attempted to buy a house. He's never bought a new car. How does a person go through life without at least attempting to purchase at least one of those items?”

Juliet and Lassiter waited for a moment. When Shawn nodded his head, they looked at each other before looking back at him. “You've never bought a car or a house.” Lassiter finally spoke up.

Shawn gestured around the room they were in. “What is this place? Chopped liver?”

Lassiter sighed. “Yeah, but you are buying this place with your wife. Mahoney doesn't have a wife.”

Shawn nodded. “I know that. I also bought my bike. I signed a lease and paid payments. It's nearly the same as buying a car, just cheaper. So, I would have a credit score, right?” They nodded. “Okay, this is where Gussy-pants comes into the picture.”

Gus stood from the chair behind them, causing both detective's to jump. “Shawn asked me to run a credit check on Peter Mahoney. We had all of the information we needed from the folder.” Gus stopped to point at the folder. Both detective's sighed, not liking the criminal line that Shawn and Gus were walking. “There was nothing that came up. He didn't exist, at least not on any credit reporting site.”

Shawn smiled slightly. “Thank you Gussy-pants.” Shawn motioned for him to return to his seat. “Intriguing, no?” Like puppets on a string, Lassiter and Juliet's heads nodded, still unsure where Shawn was going. “Oh, good lord! He doesn't exist!” When neither of them said anything, Shawn shook his head sadly. “His name is not Peter Mahoney. It's a fake.”

This caught their attention. “That can't be. When the Pittsburgh PD ran facial recognition on the sketch that the neighbor had drawn up, it came up.”

Shawn sighed. “Because they only ran the drawing through a Pittsburgh database. Of course, Peter Mahoney would come up, that's his alias. Get Pittsburgh to run the drawing through the national database, and you will have the real name of the guy we are after. I can almost guarantee you that all roads will lead back to Santa Barbara. If he isn't from here, then someone he knows is. Something made him come here with Julie. If we found out what brought him here, we will find out where he is. We will find Julie.”

They all stared at each other for a moment, before Lassiter whipped out his phone. The chief would never find out where this information came from. Not only for his own good, but for Shawn's as well.