This is a sequel of sorts to "This Wasn't Exactly Included In My Trip Itinerary!" Reading it is not vital to this story, but it's where I introduced Velma and Joe. There may also be references to that first fic in this one, so I do recommend reading it first. ;) .net/s/6276222/1/This_Wasnt_Exactly_Included_In_My_Trip_Itinerary

Disclaimer: Psych and all of its characters belong to the writers and network. I just take them out to play sometimes. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit is being made. However, I did create Velma and Joe, as well as the other original characters. Those I can claim.

Thank you to my RL sister for listening to me bemoan my outlining troubles, poking holes in my first few plotlines, and offering suggestions to close up said holes. Also, thank you to veggiewoppa on Psychfic for reading over my outline and betaing this chapter.

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"Shawn, don't you dare!"

"Oh come on, Gus," Shawn pouted. He held the rubber pineapple up to his face, mimicking the fake fruit's crooked smile. "You can't say no to this level of awesome."

Gus regarded him with a raised eyebrow then shook his head and turned his attention back to the open laptop on his desk. "No."

"Fine." Shawn placed the toy on his desk then began rooting around in one of the drawers. "Gus, have you seen my super glue?"

Gus was saved from replying by a light knock on the door. Both men looked up towards the front room, their eyes widening slightly in surprise recognition.

The redheaded woman standing in the doorway offered them a smile. "Shawn Spencer?"

"Velma!" Shawn greeted, giving her a grin as he temporarily abandoned his search. "How have you been?" His eyes dropped to her swollen stomach before returning to her face. "Married life treating you well, I see. How's Newport lately?"

"Just fine. The town's been a lot quieter since you passed through." She paused, then took a breath and began. "I need your help."

"My help?" Shawn motioned to the chair by the window. "Sit down and tell me about it."

Velma lowered herself to the seat and folded her hands in her lap, toying with the rings on her left hand as Shawn leaned against his desk. "Okay," she said, looking from Shawn to Gus and back again. "I know this is kinda weird, me showin' up here and all, but I need your help. Or, actually, Joe needs your help."

It took Shawn a moment, but he nodded. "Your husband's in trouble."

"Mhmm. See, he was here in Santa Barbara, visiting his brother, Jake."

"You have family here?" Gus asked.

Nodding, Velma continued, "Well, Joe does. His brother moved here years back, and Joe finally got around to taking time off to come spend some time with Jake. They were so close, talkin' on video chat every week or more and the phone even more often."

Raising an eyebrow, Shawn interrupted. "You said 'were'. What happened?"

"Well ..." Velma trailed off, dropping her eyes to her hands for a moment before returning her gaze to Shawn. "See, that's why we need you. Jake got killed, and the police arrested Joe for it."

"He killed his brother?" Gus couldn't help asking.

"No!" Velma's voice was indignant. "That's why we need you," she repeated. "The police think he did it, but Joe would never hurt anyone!"

"You want me to find out who did it and get your husband released?" Shawn asked, glaring at Gus. If he had been standing close enough, Shawn would have kicked him.

"Yes," Velma replied, nodding emphatically. "You're a psychic; if anyone can figure out who really did it, it's you. The police won't listen to me. That Detective Lassiter fella said the evidence pointed to Joe, and he deserved to be locked up."

"Yeah, I can see Lassie saying that," Shawn muttered. He gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry; we'll get to the bottom of this case."

"Oh thank you!" Velma looked relieved. "I just know you can do it; thank you so much." She stood up from her seat. "Do you need anything from me?"

"Just the number where we can contact you," Gus told her.

"Oh, right." Velma nodded to herself. "I'm at the Super 8 motel over near ... Ya know, I'll just give you my number." She reached for her purse and fished a small notepad from it. Scribbling on the top sheet, she ripped it out and handed it to Gus.

"Thanks." Gus accepted the small piece of paper. "We'll let you know what we find."

"Great. Thank you," Velma repeated. She headed for the door, turning back once to give them another grateful smile before leaving.

After she had gone, Shawn took a seat in his desk chair, all thoughts of rubber pineapples and super glue temporarily gone from his mind. He swiveled in his chair to face Gus. "So, buddy, what do you think?"

"I think we need more information before we start drawing conclusions," Gus told him.

"Right." Shawn nodded. "Well, I guess there's only one thing to do then. To the Blueberry!" He jumped from his seat and hurried out the door, leaving his chair spinning behind him.

Gus rolled his eyes and followed him to the parking lot.

One hour and a snack stop later, they were pulling up to the police station. Shawn regarded the building carefully as he climbed out of the car.

"Do you think old Lassieface will be willing to share his case?" he asked, sucking on the straw in his smoothie cup.

"I think it's more a matter of if your dad will hire us on the case," Gus reminded him. "If not, we won't have access to the police files."

"Gus, don't be a balloon without helium," Shawn said. "I can always find a way to divine the information."

Gus snorted at that. "Yeah. Because we all know you're a real psychic detective."

"Hey!" Shawn protested, following his friend up the front steps. He tossed his cup into the trash can as they entered the station. Spotting the blond junior detective, Shawn strode over to her desk. "Jules!"

"Shawn, Gus," she greeted. "Is there something I can do for you? I don't remember us calling you in."

"Well, see, Gus here thought that since it was apparently a slow crime day, you might want some company." Shawn put his hands on the desktop and leaned forward, ignoring Gus' protesting expression. "And I'm sensing you have a case that we can help you solve."

"Really?" Juliet crossed her arms and smiled slightly. "And which would that be?"

"The Jake Williams case," Shawn answered matter-of-factly. "I'm getting ..." He trailed off and put his hands to his head, closing his eyes for a moment before popping them open and nodding. "Yes. You arrested the brother, Joe, but I'm getting serious vibes that this case is deeper than you think."

"Shawn, the Williams case was one of the easiest cases to come through here in months. Officers responded to a call from the neighbor to find Joe Williams with blood on his clothes and the murder weapon in his hand."

"Whoa!" Shawn yelped, covering his eyes and wincing. "I'm sensing that there may have been a misunderstanding. Joe found his brother like that and tried to save him."

"Joe's alibi was that he had gone to the grocery store, but that he had forgotten the list and didn't want to call and wake his brother, who was off of work and still asleep," Juliet continued.

"Did you find a list?" Gus asked. He glared at Shawn, trying to get him to quit declaring Joe was innocent until they discovered the truth.

"There was a shopping list on the counter, but it was in Jake's writing," Juliet answered. "We have no evidence that Joe actually forgot it. He could have made up the story when he was caught."

"Spencer!" A gruff voice broke into their conversation. "What are you doing here?"

"Good to see you too, Lassie. I'm so happy you're starting to show your feelings now." Shawn looked the taller man up and down. "I think that new therapist is starting to work wonders."

"I don't have a therapist." Head detective Carlton Lassiter shook his head in annoyance. "Don't you two have anything better to do than stick your noses into cases we don't need you to solve?"

"Somebody's got to do the crime fighting," Shawn told him. "Now about that Williams case?" he asked, turning back to Juliet.

"I'm sorry, Shawn, but we have that one pretty well wrapped up." Juliet shrugged in apology.

"The Williams case?" Lassiter asked. "That one was so open and shut that a ten year old could have solved it."

Shawn raised a hand. "One, who is this ten year old you have solving crimes? And will he encroach upon my being paid to solve your cases?"

At the glare from Lassiter, he continued, "Not that you need help, exactly. But you know, I'm still feeling that you arrested the wrong guy in this case."

"If I reopened a case just because someone told me I arrested the wrong man, every case in the department's history would be open right now," Lassiter snapped. "If you want in on the Williams case, talk to your father. Otherwise, leave us alone and let us do our jobs."

Shawn turned pleading eyes to Juliet, but she just smiled apologetically. "He's right, Shawn."

"Fine," Shawn humphed. He dragged Gus a few steps away, then whispered, "Dude, go ask my dad for the case."

"Me?" Gus raised an eyebrow. "You're the one convinced we should investigate this. I, for one, am inclined to believe Juliet and Lassiter."

"Gus," Shawn said, looking his friend in the eyes, "you know as well as I do that cases aren't always what they seem. If nothing else, we should look into it for Velma's sake."

"Quit trying to guilt-trip me, Shawn," Gus reprimanded. "If you want the case, you ask your dad."