Leading the pair at gunpoint, the security guard took them to a small janitor's closet down the hall and made them step inside. Juliet had identified herself as a member of the SBPD, but the man was not impressed. He simply glared at them and told them to move.
His weapon never wavered as he took their phones and Juliet's radio before handing them a set of handcuffs. Pointing at the back wall, he told them to cuff themselves together around a large metal pipe at the back of the 6x8 room. Once they had done so, he made sure they were secure with quick, cautious movements.
"Why are you doing this, man?" Shawn as a note of dread crept into his voice. He examined the man closely for any clue to his identity, but came up with nothing. No name tag, no tell-tale smudges on his clothing or shoes, no scars or other identifiable marks, just an average-looking guy in an average-looking security uniform with an average-looking service revolver.
"Oh no... I'm not some stupid villain like in the movies. You're not getting anything from me. Just shut your mouths and you might make it through this night alive." Without another word, he shut the door and locked it, leaving the couple alone in the dark. Flashbacks of being locked in the maintenance tunnels under the Denver science museum kept running through his head. With the cleaning supplies lining the shelves on either side of him, it even smelled similar.
As soon as the man's footsteps faded, Juliet leaned close and whispered, "So how are we getting out of here?"
Shawn was doing his best to fend off the rising feeling of panic in chest. He took a deep breath, inhaling the soft calming scent of her perfume, a mix of flowers and vanilla. "I don't have a clue."
"Can't you slip out of the handcuffs like you did when you were cuffed in the back Carlton's car?"
"Which time?" They both chuckled at that, but Shawn knew exactly which time she meant: the day his secret came out. Shawn had been detained and locked in the back of the head detective's car but he managed to get loose in time to save her and her partner. "Jules, I had to dislocate my thumb to get loose. There's no way I can get the leverage to pull that off this time, especially with us cuffed together. Plus, our mystery bad guy put these things on waaaaaaay too tight."
"Can you pick the lock?"
"Detective! You wound me! What makes you think I can do anything so..." He paused to chuckle softly before continuing. "I don't think so. It's not as easy as they make it out to be in the movies. Plus, I can't see what I'm doing. Damnit, I wish he hadn't taken my phone. It's got this cool flashlight app on it so we could actually see."
"Not to mention the useful function of making calls." The smirk on her face was obvious in the tone of her voice.
"Yeah, that too. Well, someone's bound to come looking for us soon. Like Buzz! He'll wonder where we are! Leave the ballroom to come looking for us... Against direct orders..." Shawn's voice trailed off as he realized how unlikely that scenario was. The recently-promoted detective was almost as obsessive rules and regulations as his most senior counterpart.
He felt Juliet slump dejectedly next to him before laying her head on his shoulder. He rummaged in around in his pocket and pulled something out. "Shrimp puff?
Lassiter's cold blue eyes flicked back and forth over the streets of Santa Barbara. He was on his last circuit of a four-block radius surrounding City Hall, but had spotted nothing out of the ordinary. He had four other squad cars patrolling the area but he knew from experience that their window of opportunity had all but closed at this point. He picked up his radio to contact the station and the other cars. "This is Detective Lassiter. Break off emergency patrol and return to your regular routes."
After the other cars acknowledged his order, another voice came over the radio. "Lassiter, I've got an address for you to check out: John Mitchell's last known residence."
The head detective winced at the sound of the elder Spencer over the radio. Though the two often butted heads, they had developed a grudging respect over the years. It still bothered him how involved Henry got in police investigations. "What are you doing? We don't have any consultants on this case so you have no business..." He trailed off to take a deep breath before adding in a carefully measured tone, "Give me the address, Henry"
"No."
"Excuse me?"
"Lassiter, we both know that Shawn is a part of this case. He got you this lead and is currently working on getting more so I am already involved. Right now, you've got no partner and no backup."
"We both know that the first 24 hours in a missing persons case are crucial. We need to follow this lead as quickly as possible, so just give me the damn address!"
"I know how important this time period is so that's why I'm coming with you. The other detectives are tied up so I'm the best option you've got. I talked to Karen and she already gave the approval. The station is on the way to the location, so stop here and pick me up. I'll brief you more on the way there."
Lassiter released the talk button on his radio and growled loudly to himself. Finally, he pressed the button again and responded through clenched teeth. "Fine... ETA ten minutes."
Nine minutes and thirty seconds later, Lassiter parked his car and moved quickly to the front door of the station. Ignoring the greetings of the other officers, he made his way to the bullpen where Henry was already waiting with a manila folder in hand. The head detective reached out grab the folder but Henry jerked it backward from his grasp.
"I'll fill you in en route. Let's get going." Without a word, Lassiter turned and headed back to the reception area, grumbling under his breath. The pair pulled up short as Burton Guster rushed through the doors and skidded to a stop in front of them.
"What's going on?!" He asked breathlessly. "Shawn's not answering his phone and I didn't get an answer when I called City Hall and when I drove by there, I saw Shawn's car still in the parking lot. Something's happened, hasn’t it?"
"Out of the way, Guster!" Lassiter barked, but the younger man wouldn't move.
"If my partner's in trouble, I need to know! It's bad enough that I couldn't go to the party in the first place."
Henry stepped forward and put a hand on the distraught man's shoulder. "Look Gus, something is going on but Shawn is fine. Lassiter and I need to follow some leads. You stay here at the station and keep trying to get in touch with Shawn. You can sit at my desk and if there's anything you can do to help, I'll phone you."
Gus nodded and responded softly, "Okay Mr. Spencer. You got it." He rushed into the station, leaving the pair alone.
Lassiter rolled his eyes and pushed open the door. "Can we leave now?" He asked with a glare.
Henry pushed passed him and moved quickly to the detective's vehicle.
Shawn had no idea how long he and Juliet had been locked in the closet. To him, it felt like hours. The appetizers that he'd pocketed were long gone and his stomach was starting to growl. He flexed his shoulders to relieve an ache as he squinted against the darkness. The movement was followed by a clank of metal-on-metal and a soft hiss of discomfort and a curse from Juliet.
"Sorry, Jules."
"It's okay. Just that my hand’s going to sleep. He really did put the cuffs on too tight."
"You know - this really puts a damper on any bedroom fantasies involving being cuffed to the bed."
Juliet chuckled softly as a let a few wicked thoughts flutter through her mind. Finally she said in a low, sultry voice, "I don't know. I could get a pair of the fur-lined ones. I'd make sure they're not so tight." She moved closer until he could feel her breath on his ear.
Shawn sucked in a sharp breath of appreciation through his teeth before answering, "Miss O'hara, I am going to hold you to that, but for right now, I am going to kiss you." He turned and leaned forward until his forehead was pressed lightly against hers before capturing her lips in a soft, lingering kiss. When they parted, he squirmed uncomfortably. "As much as I love that, we better not do it anymore. Don't want to be more, uh... restricted than I already am."
Juliet laughed softly in response and after another bout of silence, she asked, "So what should we do?"
Their eyes had adjusted to make out shadowy shapes in the room. On either side of the small space there were heavy metal shelves loaded with a large assortment of cleaning supplies. Shawn had no intention of knocking anything off the shelves as he had more flashbacks of being gassed in the museum basement. There wasn't anything in reach that could help. As he shifted to look around, the metal cuff clanged against the pipe. Shawn gave an unseen, sly smile.
He began to tap the handcuff against the pipe in a rapid pattern: Clack clack clack, clang clang clang, clack, clack, clack. After a few seconds he repeated it again. Three sharp taps followed by three ringing clangs and then three more taps.
"Is that Morse code? S.O.S?" Juliet asked as he started the pattern for a third time. "Something else your dad taught you?"
"No, actually it was my Uncle Jack. I figure if anyone out there knows what it is, it'll be Buzz. I'll bet dishes for a week that he was a boy scout."
"No way. I'm not taking that bet." The noise was irritating, but she wasn't going to complain if it got them out of this situation. "Let's just hope Buzz picks today as the day to disregard orders."
Back in the ballroom, Marlowe spoke in a low voice to detective McNab. "Come on Buzz. They should have been back by now."
"No, Miss Viccellio." Buzz stared fixedly over the crowd, his jaw set with determination. "I was told to stay here and keep the situation under control and that's what I'm doing. So far, no one's caused any trouble but it's only a matter of time."
"You said it yourself, Juliet's not responding to the radio and she and Shawn have been gone for a while now. They might be in trouble! Besides..." She lowered her voice further and leaned in closer. "I have to pee!"
The tall detective winced and looked worried. He could never resist a damsel in distress, especially the girlfriend of his superior. "Okay, I'll escort you to the lady's room and on our way, I'll keep an eye out for Shawn and Detective O'hara." Marlowe only grinned in response.
They slipped out of the room quickly and quietly enough so that the only person that noticed them was the officer watching the door. The hallway was silent and deserted. Buzz looked back and forth quickly, but saw nothing of note so he led Marlowe down the hall to the bathroom. Thanking him, she rushed inside eagerly. As minutes passed, the young rookie detective rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet while he tried to be patient.
"Buzz, come in here!" Marlowe's voice made him jump and he turned to see her holding the door open. She looked beautiful and he suddenly had the alarming thought that she wanted to do something that would get both of them in terrible trouble with their significant others. He started to stammer an objection but she quickly added, "I can hear something: a tapping sound - from the pipes."
Author's Chapter Notes:
Sorry this one took a little while. Busy times with the kids starting school. Enjoy!
Chapter End Notes:
Buzz and Marlowe to the rescue!! Gus holding down the fort at the station! Henry and Lassiter working together! Shawn and Juliet being cute in the broom closet! Things are shaping up...
Let me know what you think! Reviews are almost as good as pineapple!!
Let me know what you think! Reviews are almost as good as pineapple!!
You must login () to review.