CHAPTER ONE

PAST

Past (Five Years Ago)

Shawn didn't know how all of this was happening, just last week him and Gus were drinking Pineapple smoothies working on their latest case. Someone had leaked his secret and everyone was upset with him. Carlton had taken great pleasure in arresting him, Gus had just turned his head in shame, his own Father said I told you so, and Juliet had been so mad she yelled at him and ended their relationship. Karen told Shawn and Gus that if they didn't make a huge scene she wouldn't press charges and they were free to go.

The next thing Shawn knew he was packing up his things to leave town. Nobody wanted him here anymore, and nothing was keeping him in Santa Barbra. So he did what he always did when things got tough, he left. Paid his last month's rent for his apartment took as much as he could on his bike and took off into the night.

Present (Juliet's POV)

A new case had just been brought to our attention by the Chief. She was very adamant on making this the number one priority of the SBPD. I didn't know anything about this case yet because Chief Vick wanted the whole department briefed at the same time.

I followed the crowed into the conference room waiting for the Chief to starting filling everyone in on the case. I leaned over the Lassiter who was standing next to me and said

"This case must be pretty big for the whole department to be on it don't you think"?

"Whatever it is it has the Chief looking pretty disturbed". He said looking over to the Chief who now stood in front of all of us.

"Ladies and Gentlemen this case will take number one priority and will be the only thing you think about till this is over. Now, has anyone heard of the killings that started in New York about two years ago?" the Chief finished.

I can feel Lassiter go rigid next to me, I look at him and his eyes are wide and glassy. I had never seen him like this before and to be honest it was freaking me out.

"Carlton what is wrong?" I ask in a small voice.

He begins to speak with a slight quiver in his voice "about 27 people died? And nobody could find the killer, or how he got away?"

"Very good Carlton, but that isn't the whole truth. Someone found out this serial killers pattern and almost caught the guy, but they managed to get away. The Head Detective working on the case is unnamed in the file per their request. Now the killer has started up again in Santa Barbra and it is our job to find out who they are and bring them to justice. You will all be given your own copy of the file and I am working on getting the Head Detective that worked on the case the last time here. They will provide great insight into who we are dealing with. If you find ANYTHING come to my office immediately and let me know. Thank you that is all for now." With that she was out of the room and headed to her office.

I turn to my partner who had calmed down a little bit "So what is the deal with this guy? Why are his killings any worse than what we have dealt with in the past?"

I see him close his eyes and sigh; slowly opening his eyes again he begins to speak with fire in his eyes "This sick bastard cost us two of our own and 25 other innocent people just to send a message. He messed up a lot of people even if he didn't kill them. This guy destroyed families and that whole police department had to go through extensive therapy afterwards. The Head Detective resigned from his position and is now just a regular cop. I will find this guy if it is the last thing I do. He will pay." He stormed off to his desk already looking through the file.

All I could think about was that detective… it must have been truly horrific for him to quit and ask not to be mentioned in the file. Well I have my work cut out for me till this case is solved. I walk over to the coffee pot and pour me a full cup of coffee because I am going to need it.

Present (Juliet's POV)

I woke up just like any other day, even though I knew this day was going to be unlike most days. I grabbed a small bag of sliced Pineapple and head off to the station. Ever since Shawn left it had been a kind of ritual for me to eat Pineapple every morning. As I was on my way to the station and I was thinking about the news the Chief gave us yesterday. We were told that the Head Detective from the case in New York was going to be arriving today in the late afternoon. In a way I was kind of excited to be working with the person who almost brought down a major criminal.

I pull up to the station gather my things and head to my desk. I don't know how long I had been sitting there staring at this file. Looking through the gruesome pictures and descriptions of what had happened to these people. I barely noticed the Chief come in the room and say that the guy from New York should be here any moment.

I get up from my desk and head over to the table where the coffee and doughnuts are. I grab a small cup of coffee when I turn around I see a familiar face walk in the door. The first thing I noticed was the bright red scar that was about half an inch think that ran from the top of the right hairline down to the left side of his neck. There is another scar that runs the full length of his right jaw but this scar is a lot thinner but still noticeable.

I then notice he is wearing nice black pants with a green button up shirt and aviators so I can't see his eyes. His hair is short but not buzzed. He walked in with confidence and walked straight up to me and said

"Oh come on Jules I haven't changed that much. Don't you recognize me?" the man asked as he pulled off his sunglasses with a smirk on his face.

As soon as I heard the nickname I knew who it was

"Shawn?"