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Author's note: Thanks again for all the reviews!

Epilogue

Detective Lassiter knocked tentatively on Karen Vick's door, wondering what the chief needed to speak to him about. It couldn't be a case; he wasn't currently working one. After the shoot-out, he'd needed surgery to stop the bleeding, which turned out to be from a torn branch of the axillary artery. Miraculously, the bullet managed to miss the brachial plexus, so he still had full movement in that arm, but the doctor put him in a sling for comfort when at work. He'd been in the hospital for two days, then off-duty on convalescent leave for two weeks. Currently he was restricted to desk duty for another two to four weeks, until his physician cleared him. Still, all-in-all, it could have been worse.

"Come in," came the somewhat preoccupied response to his knock.

"You needed to see me, Chief?" Carlton carefully hid his anxiety, schooling his face to be as open and receptive as possible.

Chief Vick looked up from the files on her desk and smiled a welcome. "Yes, Detective Lassiter. Have a seat." She gestured to one of the padded chairs in front of her desk, which he took gratefully. Despite a transfusion of four units of blood, he still found himself easily winded.

Turning to the stack of papers on her left, she shuffled through them for a moment before finding the form she was searching for. Meeting Carlton's expectant gaze, she continued, "I'm sorry to bother you with something so petty, but as you know, the California Police Pistol Association Regional match is coming up in a few weeks. Now, normally I wouldn't have to think twice about who should represent the SBPD at this function; unfortunately, my first pick is currently sitting in front of me with his dominant arm in a sling."

Carlton dropped his eyes and smiled slightly, pleased with the compliment. "Thank you, Chief. But I agree, I'd make a pretty poor showing for our department right now."

"Well, that's why I called you in here." She took a deep breath, then plunged ahead. "Do you have any suggestions on who should take your place?"

Lassiter stared at her, mouth hanging slightly ajar. Pointing with his good hand to his chest, he clarified, "You're asking my opinion?"

"Absolutely. You're my Head Detective. You know who goes to the range regularly, and how good they are. You also know the personalities of men in this department, and who might fold under the pressure of competition. So yes, I'm asking your opinion."

Carlton stared over her left shoulder, eyes narrowed in concentration as he mentally ran the list of policemen in the department. Vick could tell when he'd come up with a suggestion, because his eyes widened then rolled to focus on her face. What surprised her was the vaguely uncomfortable expression that had settled on his features as well.

At his continued silence, Karen finally snapped, "Well? I can tell you have someone in mind."

"Umm…" Carlton actually squirmed, causing Vick to arch her eyebrow. Finally he responded with a question of his own. "Does the entrant have to be a member of the department, or only associated with it?"

The Chief blinked, then hastily consulted the application form in front of her. "It says here that part-time employees are eligible as well."

"What about consultants?"

Karen's eyebrows shot up in astonishment. "You're suggesting I send Spencer?!?"

Carlton shifted again uncomfortably, unable to meet her eyes. "Well, as long as no one is judging him on adult behavior…he's probably the best marksman in the department." His eyes widened and he hurriedly added, "Except for me, of course."

Chief Vick smiled. "Of course." She paused for a moment, then tilted her head to the side. "Wasn't he injured in the warehouse arrest as well?"

"Yes, but it was relatively superficial. They cleaned it out in the emergency department and released him that day." His mouth quirked into a half-smile. "You should have heard him complaining about the tetanus booster they gave him; anyone that concerned about a little needle can't be hurt all that bad."

Shrugging, she set the form on her desk, then folded her hands. "All right, Detective, I'll take your recommendation under advisement. That will be all."

Lassiter nodded, then frowned as a thought occurred to him. "Uh, Chief?"

"Yes, Carlton?"

"If you decide to ask him, please don't let Spencer know where the suggestion came from. After all, I have a reputation to uphold."

Karen smiled. "He won't hear it from me."

Lassiter nodded once and hurried out of the office. Closing the door behind himself, he paused for a moment before returning to his desk. Down the corridor he could see Spencer and his sidekick at the reception window, joking with the officer on duty. The psychic was enthusiastically telling a story to his captive audience, gesturing wildly with both arms to demonstrate his points. 'I'd say he's recovered completely from his gunshot wound.' Carlton smiled to himself as he imagined Spencer at a regional marksmanship competition; that might be worth the price of admission just to watch. Of course, then everyone would see him shoot.

The End

Author's Note: Thanks for sticking to this to the end; I hope it was worth the read!