Double Trouble (A Psych Fanfiction)

Skills and Talents

“So, my brother promised he would be my dance partner for the summer,” Evelyn explained, her tone patient. She sat on the porch railing, swinging her legs. “But since our escort disappeared with our entry papers, we’re not going to be able to compete.”

“And Shawn is trying to find your escort?” Henry asked, testing a hamburger. The girl nodded. Carefully, Henry set the hamburger patty on a waiting bun. He handed the plate of Evelyn. “There you are,” he said, crossing his arms. The girl smiled. “Can I get you something to drink?”

Evelyn shrugged, reaching for her burger. The front door slammed shut. Henry sighed and shook his head. “Dad,” Shawn called out. A few moments later, he walked from the kitchen onto the porch. “There you are.”

“Shawn!” Evelyn exclaimed, balancing her plate on the rail and jumping to her feet. The girl threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “You're here!”

Henry went past them into the kitchen with a steak. Glancing once in his father’s direction, Shawn returned the hug. “Of course I’m here,” he said. “Are you OK?”

“They got Ethan, Shawn,” Evelyn said, her voice muffled. “We split up to be harder to see, but they got him anyway.”

“Yeah, I know, but I’m going to find him,” Shawn answered. Keeping one arm around her, he took one step forward and reached for her plate of food. “Did you really think I would stay away when I knew my dad was feeding you? What have you got anyway?”

Twisting her head, Evelyn spotted his hand. “Hey!” she said, letting go of him. She grabbed his hand and pulled it back. “That’s mine! Go get your own!”

“Shawn, I’d like a word with you in here,” Henry interrupted from the doorway.

Snatching one of Evelyn’s chips, making the girl squeal, Shawn followed him into the house. “Shawn, maybe you’d like to explain this,” Henry said, holding up Evelyn's sketch of Ethan and Shawn. Shawn took it. “I want to know everything you know. Start talking, kid.”

“First of all, this is a sketch that Evelyn did,” Shawn said, examining the sketch. “Second, she shows her talent particularly in how she drew my hair. That’s all I can know on first glance.”

“Shawn, be serious,” Henry snapped. “Who are these kids? Where do they come from?”

Sighing, Shawn handed the sketch over. “I don’t know,” he answered, leaning against the counter. “They’re not mine, if that’s what you’re asking. That was Gus’ first reaction.” He hesitated. “They did say that their guardian’s name is Maddie Spencer.”

“Maddie?” Henry said thoughtfully. He shook his head. “No. Your mother and I may have gone through a bad time, but she would never have kept something like this from me. There’s got to be another explanation. You said they called her their guardian? Not their mother?”

“I called Mom, but only got her voice mail,” Shawn informed him, his tone serious. Over his father’s shoulder, he saw Evelyn peeking through the door window. Out of his pocket, he pulled the sketch he’d found at the office. “Ethan and Evelyn have managed to get themselves into a huge mess. What do you make of this?”

Henry studied it. “I think we need to have talk with Evelyn,” he said. He turned and opened the kitchen door. “Evelyn, you want to join us in here instead of trying to eavesdrop?”

Guiltily, Evelyn nodded from where she stood a few feet from the door. She grabbed her plate off the railing, and came inside. She looked once between Shawn and Henry, and went over to Shawn. “Did you hear anything interesting?” Henry asked.