Aria (a psych fanfiction)

Chapter 18

ARIA HAS 5 MINUTES LEFT TO LIVE

"Hi, my name is Juliet O'Hara. I'm a detective with the SBPD, and I was wondering if you knew anything about the disappearance of Aria Starling?"

The man who'd opened the door was tall and lean, attractive, with dark, sleek hair and glittering black eyes. Juliet felt the weight of his gaze on her as he sized her up, and she looked away in distaste. A slight smile lit his features as a crease of confusion appeared in his forehead. "I'm sorry, who?"

Juliet held up a picture. "This girl disappeared from Saving Grace Hospital approximately twenty four hours ago. We have reason to believe she is being held hostage somewhere in this neighborhood."

The man raised an eyebrow. "Someone got kidnapped here? With all due respect, Miss - it is Miss, isn't it? - O'Hara, that sounds a bit far-fetched."

"It's Detective O'Hara, Mr..."

"Frederick. James Frederick. I've never seen that girl before, but if you want to come in and look around..." He extended an arm, inviting her in.

Listening in from the van, a block away, Shawn's clenched his hands tighter in recognition with every word the man spoke. "That's him. Jules, that's him."

"Right." She played her part calmly, entering the house. "Mr. Frederick - "

"Please, call me James."

"Mr. Frederick, may I see your backyard?"

"Of course."

Shawn had his eye fixed on his watch as the SWAT team ran towards the house.

Four minutes.

He wanted to follow them. He would have followed them, if he didn't have Gus on one side of him and Henry on the other. Each man had a hand on Shawn's shoulder, a weak attempt to calm him. He knew they meant well, but still...

Three minutes.

"May I see your backyard?"

The team would be there any minute. He had to be there, he had to see that she was all right.

Two minutes.

"Screw this," he muttered, jumping out of the back of the van. Neither Gus nor Henry attempted to stop him, instead following after as he ran around the block, until he finally reached the house. Seeing a path to the backyard, he and the two others hopped the gate.

Thirty seconds.

He heard the SWAT men break through the front door.

Fifteen seconds.

He saw Frederick walk onto the back deck, face the shed, and glance back, past Juliet, through the screen door, to see the team coming for him.

Ten seconds.

Frederick looked over, making direct eye contact with Shawn. He reached for his pocket, and pulled out something - some kind of remote control.

Five seconds.

Keeping Shawn's gaze locked in his, he ran a thumb over the button, the slightest of smirks alighting his lips.

Three.

The SWAT men burst through the door.

Two.

Frederick stayed completely still, not resisting as they came up behind him.

One.

Still staring at Shawn, while the SWAT team restrained his arms, he whispered something. Shawn fought to read his lips.

"Time's up."

Shawn barely had time to take another breath before the garden shed exploded.

Time's up, indeed.