Chapter Text
The Santa Barbara police department was buzzing as usual. Phones rang, people who committed petty crimes were getting tossed in holding cells, fellow officers telling each other about their vacation weekend, but there was someone who was causing a new feeling in the precinct, and she hadn't even arrived yet.
A new detective was supposed to arrive this afternoon, Kat La. They apparently transferred her to Santa Barbara due to her excessive focus on a closed case at her previous precinct.
Shawn was psyched (pun intended) to meet the new detective. That's why he barely gave Gus time to wake up and practically dragged him to the precinct.
“Gus, don't be the instructions on a Pop-Tarts box.” He said, sitting in the passenger side of the blueberry
“I mean, aren't you a little curious? If she's cute I can be your wingman.”
“I don't need a wingman, Shawn. I get plenty of girls,” Gus said, highly offended as he pulled into the front parking lot of the SBPD.
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Chief Vick's office door opened, and she stepped out onto the balcony, gesturing for the precinct's attention. Beside her stood Detective La, who was not very pleased about her transfer.
“Everyone, listen up,” Chief Vick announced. “This is Detective Kat La, transferring from the North Division. I expect you all to make her feel welcome.”
Kat had black hair in a messy ponytail with a tint of blue that you could clearly tell was from dyeing her hair when she was younger. She was wearing a high color button-down shirt, blue of course, with a navy pair of dress pants, and an old pair of loafers. Over the years, Kat still hasn't been much of a ‘good dresser’ as Gold used to tell her.
Immediately after a bit of silence everyone started getting back to work, which was expected. There was no need for a grand introduction.
“O'Hara, Show Detective La to her desk.” She ordered Juliet O'Hara, the female detective who was organizing files at her desk.
Juliet eagerly got up from her seat excited to have another female detective on the force.
“Juliet O'Hara, its a pleasure to meet you.” She said offering her hand out to Kat
Kat accepted the handshake, giving a polite but crisp nod. "Nice to meet you, Detective O'Hara.” She would say she's pleased to be here but she is not in the mood to fake a smile.
The two women walked away from the chief's office, Juliet in the lead.
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Carlton Lassiter, who had been aggressively sharpening a pencil, stopped. He narrowed his eyes, tracking La as she walked down the stairs before walking up to Chief Vick.
"Chief, with all due respect, I looked into Detective La's file, and it says she's disobedient, that's why she was transferred. She was too obsessed with an already solved case to stop current crimes. How do we know she won't continue this behavior?”
The Chief was already so used to Lassiters that she couldn't even get truly annoyed if she wanted to.
“She was transferred here to get away from that case. If you really want to you can keep a close eye on her,” Chief Vick said before walking into her office.
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Shawn and Gus walked through the SBPD. Shawn was mumbling about his predictions on the new girl and Gus was piping up to correct him about pronunciations and terms every once in a while
Shawn spotted Carlton Lassiter sitting at his desk grumbling about the new detective. “Lassie,” he said happily walking over to his desk “you seem grumpier than usual, don't tell me you don't like the newbie?” Shawn asked as he sat on Lassiter's desk
"Spencer!" Lassiter growled,. "I have had enough today already. I don't need you in the mix."
"Carlton, leave him alone," Juliet said, walking up with a file folder in hand and a tired smile. "Shawn, get off his desk. Gus, hi."
"Juliet," Gus nodded politely. "Please tell Shawn that his prediction about the new detective having a secret third thumb is biologically unlikely."
"It's a vestigial nub, Gus, there's a difference!" Shawn insisted, sliding off the desk finally. "So, Jules, what's the word on the new transfer? Is she tough? Is she a rogue cop who doesn't play by the rules? Does she appreciate the subtle artistry of The Mentalist?"
Juliet sighed, opening the file. "She’s highly qualified, Shawn. And I don't think she should be bothered by you on her first day.”
“You wound me Jules, Me and Gus just want to meet her,” Shawn replied in mock offense
"It's Gus and I," Gus corrected automatically
Lassiter interrupted them. "No, what you want to do is waste department time, raid the breakroom vending machine, and leave a mess," Lassiter barked, getting up from his desk “You shouldn't even be here. There are no cases for you to ‘psychically’ solve”
Shawn gasped dramatically, staggering backward into Gus, who braced himself with a heavy sigh.
"Oh, Lassie... the spirits laugh at your skepticism! They roar!" Shawn pressed his fingers to his temples, his eyes darting around the bullpen before locking onto a manila folder peeking out from under Lassiter's keyboard. "They are telling me... a crime has been committed. Something involving... a missing heirloom? No, wait... a highly suspicious shortage of... artisanal sourdough?"
"That's my lunch menu, Spencer," Lassiter snapped.
"But the file under it," Shawn pointed dramatically, "is practically screaming in agony! Tell me I'm wrong, Jules. Tell me the universe didn't bring me here to solve the Mystery of the Screaming Folder.”
“It's a noise complaint from a retirement community, you idiot," Lassiter growled, grabbing Shawn by the elbow and shoving him away from the desk. "Out. Both of you. Before I cite you for trespassing on city property."
"You can't kick us out, Lassie! We are a vital organ of this police department. We're the appendix!" Shawn argued, stumbling backward.
"The appendix is completely useless and occasionally bursts, causing severe medical emergencies," Gus pointed out.
"Exactly, Gus. We are a ticking time bomb of justice.”
“Out. Now.” Lassiter firmly said, he looked like a blood vessel was about to burst out of his forehead
Shawn and Gus obliged against their wishes, dragging their feet across the linoleum floor like toddlers being told bedtime was twenty minutes ago.
"This is profiling, Gus. Pure psychic profiling," Shawn muttered loudly enough for the entire desk pool to hear. "We are being oppressed by the man. The angry, balding man."
"He's not balding, Shawn," Gus whispered, checking over his shoulder. "But he is reaching for his holster. Walk faster."
They didn't get far. Just as they reached the double glass doors of the precinct, a woman holding a clipboard pushed them open from the outside, nearly hitting Shawn in the chest.
“I am so sorry,” The woman, Kat, said “I just got a little turned around,”
"No need to apologize, Kat," Shawn said, leaning back and narrowing his eyes as he did his classic visual scan. "In fact, the spirits told me you would be arriving exactly at this moment. They also tell me... you recently transferred from the North Precinct, you prefer blue ink over black, and you are desperately in need of a decent cup of coffee because the swill they serve in the breakroom tastes like melted tires."
Kat stared at him, unimpressed, “Detective Kat La,” she introduced herself “So you're the psychic that the chief told me about?” The last time she dealt with a psychic was when Meghan tried and failed in her opinion to talk to Valerie beyond the grave so she wasn't very impressed by his abilities.
“And you are his partner?” She added on her focus going on to Gus
“This is my partner-” Shawn was cut off before he could finish the recurring bit he's been doing for years. “Burton Guster, Gus is just fine though.”
“I should get back to work now.” Kat said not wanting to get side tracked like she used to do in her days in high school with Gold.
"Don't look at it as a goodbye, Kat!" Shawn spoke with a dramatic flare. “The spirits are telling me we will have a case together soon,” he said walking out of the SBPD doors with Gus in tow.