CLOSER TO THE EDGE

CHAPTER FIFTEEN-RED RIGHT HAND

Jo got dressed in a hurry, pulling on a pair of gray shorts, a black blouse and pulled on a pair of black calf boots. She had a matching leather loop belt. She ran a brush through her hair quickly and pulled it into a side braid. Lassiter was already dressed in a dark navy suit and matching striped tie. She helped Emily get dressed and they headed out.

Henry offered to baby sit Emily and promised to take her out on the boat for some fishing which at first Jo wasn’t sure Emily would like, but then Emily had really taken a liking to it the second time Henry did it. She wasn’t worried. She knew Henry was good and Emily adored him like a grandfather.

At the precinct, O’Hara led them into the interrogation room. This time, Shawn and Gus were in the room as well. Lassiter slammed his fist down on the table rattling it. The kid actually looked a bit scared for a moment. Jo was standing in the back of the room next to Gus. Shawn stood next to the table and raised his finger to his temple.

“I’m sensing you had a grudge against my friend Ingrid,” he said narrowing his eyes at the kid. “So you hired those men to kidnap her and hurt her.”

Lassiter was livid at this point as he sat at the table. He was gripping the edge to the point his knuckles were white. Jo could see he was restraining himself as best he could not to lunge at this kid and punch him.

“Yes I did,” the kid retorted. “They were supposed to kill her but….” His voice trailed off. “The bitch caused my dad to remain in that damn hell.”

“Don’t you dare speak about her like that,” Lassiter spat at the kid. “What are you talking about?”

The kid’s eyes flashed angrily and coldly.

“My father---Cross. Alexander Cross. Who you sentenced to life in that hell of a barn,” the kid snapped.

Jo noted recognition flashing across Shawn’s face as though he was remembering something or having a vision.

“Your father was the head of the Autonox’s,” Shawn said as he lowered his hand. “So you decided to take revenge on Ingrid here. I’m guessing those men knew about everything am I right?”

“Yes,” the kid retorted. “Wow you get a gold star, psychic but any idiot can see that it was clearly revenge orientated.”

Shawn bristled at that and went to retort but got a sharp jab in the ribs from Gus to keep quiet.

“Well you sick son-of-a-bitch,” Lassiter growled getting up and placing his palms face down on the table. “You’re going away for a long time. You won’t see the light of day again.”

“I’m so scared,” the kid mocked.

“You should be,” Lassiter retorted back as he grabbed the kid by the throat and lifted him out of the seat. “Because of you, my girlfriend cannot have children nor can she talk!” he shouted. “I ought to snuff out your pathetic life right now.”

“Go ahead,” the kid grinned.

Lassiter let out a growl and flung the kid against the wall. The kid crashed into it and fell to the floor. O’Hara let out a shout and Jo was startled. Lassiter stormed over to him and grabbed him again. He flung him against the two-way mirror. The kid’s back slammed into it, causing it to crack and a few shards of glass fell to the floor. Even Shawn and Gus now were alarmed. Lassiter went over and kicked the kid in the stomach. O’Hara shouted again but it was doing no good. She headed out to grab a few officers. Shawn and Gus looked at each other before they ran over to him and tried to restrain him.

“Buddy it doesn’t pay pal,” Shawn tried to reason with him holding his left arm while Gus held Lassiter’s right arm. “Let this piece of crap go to jail and rot there. Don’t get yourself suspended or worse.”

“I don’t care Spencer,” Lassiter retorted at Shawn. “This piece of trash deserves to die! It’s because of him that Ingrid is in the state she is!”

Lassiter got another few kicks in. Shawn and Gus restrained him more but it was a losing battle.

“I know pal! Believe me,” Shawn said quietly his voice breaking a bit with emotion. “But she needs you now. Don’t do something rash.”

Jo looked up as a few officers came in, including Buzz McNabb, whom Jo absolutely loved. He was so sweet and kind. But now he had a grave and solemn expression on his face.

Lassiter glanced up at Jo, who was watching everything unfold before her eyes. She had a slightly alarmed expression on her face. She understood why he was doing what he was doing, hell she wanted to do it to this kid too; but Shawn was right. Getting suspended or worse was not good at this time. She needed him for support.

With an irritated grunt, Lassiter shrugged off Shawn and Gus’s restraints and stormed from the interrogation room. He began pacing the bullpen floor.  Jo, Shawn and Gus headed after him. Jo sat down in front of his desk. Shawn and Gus stood next to her.

“Carlton what were you thinking?” O’Hara chided him. “You could get into trouble for this.”

“Do you think I care, O’Hara?” Lassiter shot at her. “It’s because of that piece of shit that Miss Matthews is the way she is.”

O’Hara looked a bit taken aback by his tone. She even shrank a little and leaned against his desk with her arms folded over her chest. She chewed on her bottom lip and stared at the ground.

Lassiter sighed and ran his hands over his face.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized to her quietly. “I didn’t mean to snap at you like that O’Hara. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

Everyone looked a bit startled at his apologetic tone but said nothing. He gently touched her arm before flopping into his seat at his desk and propping his elbows up on it burying his face into his hands. Gus headed off down the stairs and came back with two Styrofoam cups of water. He handed one to Lassiter, who gratefully took it.

“Thank you Guster,” he grunted.

Gus handed the second one to Jo, who offered him a soft smile. Jo thirstily drank it. At that moment, Chief Vick popped her head out of her office.

“Detective Lassiter a word please,” she called in a stern voice.

Lassiter got to his feet and headed off to her office. Jo got to her feet also and the others followed suit.

Lassiter stood in the middle of her office. Jo sat in one of plush chairs in front of her desk. O’Hara sat in the second one. Shawn and Gus remained standing.

“Am I to understand that you physically assaulted a suspect in interrogation room B?” she asked sounding shocked and startled.

“I might’ve—gotten a little carried away,” Lassiter responded clearing his throat.

“According to one of my officers you flung him against the wall and kicked him in the stomach,” Chief Vick said slowly rising to her feet behind the desk. “I cannot have one of my best detectives behaving that way.”

“Chief if I may,” Shawn said stepping forward. “This kid was the son of Cross, who attempted to harm Ingrid a while ago but he vanished. He was the leader of that radical group remember? So this kid planned revenge and hired those men who kidnapped Ingrid and abused her.”

“Is this true?” she asked Lassiter looking at him directly.

“Yes,” he said nodding.

Chief Vick sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

“I cannot let this go unpunished Detective,” she said exhaling. “You still assaulted a suspect—granted it was with reasons and understandable ones at that—but you should’ve controlled yourself better. You’re suspended for 3 days.”

Lassiter nodded once and swallowed. Jo got to her feet and rushed forward to the front of the chief’s desk.  She began signing frantically to the Chief.

“What is she saying?” Chief Vick asked.

“She says that please don’t suspend Lassie,” Shawn said glancing at Jo. “She says that Lassiter was just defending her. You could blame her but please don’t suspend him. He was only doing what he felt was right.”

Chief Vick’s expression softened immensely as she came around to stand in front of Jo. Jo was watching her with wide hopeful eyes.

“Miss Matthews,” Chief Vick began softly placing a hand on her arm. “I understand why he did it but a head detective cannot behave that way, even if his intentions are admirable.” She said in a kind voice. “We do not blame you.”

Jo felt so awful. She gave an apologetic look at Lassiter. She felt warm tears threatening to spill over. Lassiter swallowed and shook his head at her, indicating that he did not blame her. Chief Vick glanced from Jo to Lassiter and a knowing expression fell across her face.

“Two days detective,” she said in a firm tone but there was something else underneath which Jo couldn’t place.  She caught a faint smile on the Chief’s face as they headed out of her office.

“Dude, what’s today?” Shawn asked Gus.

“Friday,” Gus said. “Why?”

“Cause I think Vick just lessened Lassie’s suspension,” Shawn said breaking into a grin. “Basically he has the weekend off. Think about it.”

Gus and Shawn looked at one another before they began doing some crazy dance. Jo watched with amusement. Lassiter came up along Jo sipping a hot cup of coffee. He handed Jo a Styrofoam cup filled with coffee too. Jo eagerly took it and sipped it.

“Hey,” Shawn said pretending to pout. “You brought her a cup. Why not us?”

“You have two hands go make yourself useful,” Lassiter grunted at them smirking. “But the better question is why the two of you look like a couple of clowns?”

Shawn and Gus looked at each other before shrugging nonchalantly.

“No reason. We gotta go check on Pop,” Shawn said looking at Jo. “Wanna come? We can see if he’s tortured Emily enough.”

Jo giggled at that and nodded. She finished her coffee before dropping it into the trash can. She gently placed a hand on Lassiter’s arm before following Shawn and Gus.

Upon arriving at Henry’s, thick orange flames were shooting out from the windows. Shawn shoved open the door to the blueberry as did Gus and Jo.

Shawn was shouting for his father and in a dire panic.

“Gus call 911!” he shouted at his best friend who nodded and quickly pulled out his cell phone. Jo raised a hand to her mouth frantic for Emily. She joined Shawn and went to lunge into the burning house but Shawn’s arms caught her around the waist, preventing her from entering the house.

At that moment, Shawn spied his father’s light gold Ford pickup truck pulling in front of the house. Relief poured over Jo immensely as she saw Emily in the front seat.

“Dad!” Shawn shouted as they rushed over. “Emily!”

“Shawn?” Henry said raising his eyes to his house. “My house! What the hell happened?” he cried joining them.

In the distance they could hear the wailing of fire engine sirens approaching. Jo quickly grabbed Emily and hugged her in relief. Much to everyone’s shock, Shawn even hugged his father.

“Thank God you’re okay! We thought you were in the house,” Shawn said taking a step back.

“No, we just got back now. Bought Emily some lunch,” Henry said rubbing his head in dismay and disbelief. “Thank God we stopped for lunch. We could’ve been in there.”

Jo threw her arms around Henry and hugged him. He seemed startled but pleased as he returned the embrace. She squeezed him before taking a step back and signing to him. He nodded and blushed.

“Dad you know sign language?” Shawn asked shocked.

“Of course Shawn,” Henry said rolling his eyes. “I took it up the moment I learned that Ingrid’s vocal cords were damaged. She said that she owes me that I saved her daughter’s life. And she said she’s glad I am alright too.”

Jo in turn hugged Shawn tightly and then Gus. Jo had tears in her eyes at this point. She noted Gus’ expression too as his face was scrunched up in tears too.

“Gus,” Shawn said elbowing him in the ribs. “Really pal? Everyone’s fine.”

“Suck it Shawn you know I’m a sympathetic crier,” He retorted but Jo wound an arm around his and hugged him.

They looked up as a dark blue Ford crown Victoria pulled up with the dash and grille lights flashing. Lassiter and O’Hara jumped out and came rushing toward them.

“Is everyone alright?” O’Hara asked anxiously as Emily ran over to her and threw her arms around her waist.  O’Hara hugged her back before she ran to Lassiter. Lassiter hugged her and she headed back to Jo.

“Yeah we’re okay,” Henry said as he affectionately ruffled Emily’s hair. She giggled. “We got home to this.” He motioned to his house which was still in flames.

“Wow,” O’Hara said wide eyed. “You were lucky.”

The fire department had arrived and began putting out the flames.  Lassiter put his hands on Emily’s shoulders. She looked up at him and smiled before returning her eyes onto the firemen. Once the fire was out, the chief came over.

“Do you have an idea what caused the fire?” Henry asked him.

“Well, from what we gathered, it’s starting to point toward arson,” he said gravely. “We think someone deliberately set this fire.”

They all exchanged looks of fear and anxiety. What could be going on now?

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

Henry began slowly rebuilding his home. They had traced the arson to some unknown solvents that was hard to trace. Jo was sitting on the couch with her legs tucked beneath her. She was in a pair of boy shorts and an oversized gray shirt. Her hair was pulled into a pony tail. She was reading a book. Emily was fast asleep in her room. Lassiter came into the living room and sat down next to her. He looked exhausted. He gently placed a hand on her calf. Jo looked up at him worriedly. He was running himself into the ground with the load of cases that had been popping up recently.

She tapped his shoulder. He looked at her.

She signed to him. “You’re gonna work yourself to death! Be careful!”

Lassiter smiled at her concern and patted her knee.

“I’m fine, Ingrid.” He said to her softly. “It’s just a load of cases. Spencer is helping on a few,” he said curling a lip up at that. Clearly he hated admitting that Spencer was an asset but he sighed next and looked at her. “What about you? Are you doing alright?”

Jo nodded and smiled.

Suddenly, he looked pale. Jo quickly placed her book on the table and scooted closer to him. She placed the back of her hand against his forehead. He didn’t feel warm but he was sweaty.  He suddenly wrapped an arm against his stomach and let out a cry of pain.

“My stomach,” he winced. “It feels like it’s on fire.”

By now Jo was frantic. He slid off the couch and landed on the floor on his hands and knees. He had kept one arm against his stomach.

Jo picked up the phone and dialed 911. She could hear the operator asking ‘hello?’ on the end and by some miracle, she managed to get out words.

Her voice was rough and cracked from not being used for a long time.

“Stay,” she croaked at Lassiter. “…Me.” She said coarsely.

Within 4 minutes, the ambulance and come and taken Lassiter to the hospital.

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

Jo had left Emily with Gus this time. Jo stood next to Lassiter’s bed. Shawn was there along with O’Hara.

“Well,” the doctor said coming into the room. “He’d been poisoned.” He said looking up at them. “Had you not gotten the ambulance when you did he would’ve died.”

“Will he be ok?” Jo croaked out.

“He’ll need to be kept for a few days for observation to make sure that his kidneys hadn’t been damaged but I’m hopeful that he’ll make a full recovery.”

Jo sat by Lassiter’s bed. Lassiter was asleep at this point. They’d had to rid his stomach of the contents. Jo looked up at Shawn.

“Shawn. Can you go down to the precinct to see if you can…clues?” she croaked out.

“Absolutely Ingrid,” he said putting a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll find out who did this to Lassieface.”

He gave her shoulder an affectionate squeeze before heading out of the room.

Jo crossed her arms on the side of the bed and put her head down. She closed her eyes and eventually dozed off as exhaustion over took her.

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

Shawn and Gus entered the bullpen. Gus had to leave Emily with Henry. He felt bad for pawning her off on him again like this but he knew Shawn needed him to help him.

“So,” Gus said to him. “You really think we’re going to find evidence of the poison still here?” he asked.

“I think so Gus,” Shawn said heading over to Lassiter’s desk and quickly sitting in his chair. “Whatever it was that Lassie had, took a while to work. It was about 3 or 4 hours so whatever he had for lunch had to have the poison in it.”

Shawn began pulling open Lassiter’s draws quickly, looking for any clue as to what he might’ve eaten. Shawn pulled one drawer open. In it was a small black velvet box hidden toward the back.

“Well what do we have here?” Shawn mused as he pulled out the box and opened it. Gus came over.

“Looks like a ring box,” Gus said.

Shawn popped open the box and sure enough, a diamond ring sat in the center of it.

“Hello,” Shawn cooed appreciatively as he gently took the ring out and slipped it onto his finger. “Looks like Lassie is going to propose to Ingrid.”

Shawn spread his fingers to look at the ring closer. It was a pretty piece that was for sure. Gus looked at it and let out an appreciative whistle.

“That looks like a princess cut,” Gus said. “Expensive. Put it back Shawn. I’m happy for Lassie and Ingrid.”

Shawn snorted.

“Why on earth would that innocent girl want to jump into that snake pit?” he muttered to himself but he went to pull off the ring but it wouldn’t budge.  “Um Gus buddy we might have a bit of an issue here.” He said looking up at his best friend.

“Stop messing around Shawn, we are here to find that poison.” Gus reprimanded him looking around the bullpen nervously.

“I’m serious buddy the ring won’t come off,” Shawn said tugging at it again frantically.

Gus let out an impatient click of his tongue before he came over and tried pulling it off. It was stuck.

“Way to go Shawn,” Gus chided angrily.

Shawn’s eyes suddenly lowered to the trash can next to Lassiter’s desk. The janitor hadn’t come around yet to empty it.

“Gus look,” Shawn said forgetting about the ring for a moment. “Look what’s in the trash.”

Gus peered into the trash. There was a bag of half eaten sunflower seeds.

“We need to give this to Jules,” Shawn said urgently pulling out his phone. Shawn called Jules. “Jules you need to get down here right away. I’m getting a strong sensation that whatever poisoned Lassie is still here.”

Sure enough a few moments later, O’Hara arrived and got the bag of seeds. She sent it off to the labs immediately.

“How’s Lassie doing?” Shawn asked her hiding his hand with the ring still stuck on his finger behind his back.

“So far no change in his condition,” O’Hara said looking grim. “Ingrid is with him. Her voice is starting to come back which is a miracle in itself.” She said looking relieved. “She actually managed to speak to the 911 operator to get the ambulance for him.” She blew a wisp of her wheat colored hair in relief out of her eyes. She then noted Shawn holding one hand behind his back. “Shawn, what do you have behind your back?” she asked raising an eyebrow at him.

“It’s nothing Jules,” Shawn said dismissively.

“Shawn,”

Sighing, Shawn produced his hand with the diamond engagement ring on it. “I found this in Lassiter’s desk. I think he’s considering proposing to Ingrid.”

“So you tried it on?” O’Hara said her lip twitching with amusement.

“Of course Jules,” Shawn said pretending to be affronted. “I wanted to make sure that it went with my complexion and I just loved to see how it sparkled.”

O’Hara shook her head but she had a highly amused expression on her face.

“Come on I know a secret to getting it off.” She said waving him over to her desk.

Eventually, the ring slid off and Shawn put the ring back in the box and into Lassiter’s desk.

“I’m happy for him,” O’Hara said to him. “He needs someone like Ingrid in his life. And he clearly adores Emily.”

Shawn twitched.

“Emily is adorable yes,” he agreed. “Can you imagine him as a father?”

“Shawn,” Gus said frowning. “I’m happy for Lassie too. I like Ingrid. Ingrid is our friend.”

“I can’t do this with you now buddy,” Shawn said shaking his head. “Right now we gotta wait for the results to find out what happened with Lassieface.”

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

Sure enough a few moments later, the results came back. O’Hara read the paper as Shawn and Gus stood around her.

“It’s a form of arsenic that was injected into the sunflower seeds.” O’Hara read. “But thankfully it was such a very small amount otherwise it would’ve killed him. But the thing we have to worry about now is kidney failure and other organ issues.” She said raising her eyes to Shawn and Gus. At that moment, her phone rang.

“Hello?...Oh my God thank goodness! We’ll be right there,” she said eagerly as she hung up. Shawn and Gus were watching her expectantly and anxiously. She broke into a huge grin.

“Lassiter is awake,”