"And at that very moment, we heard a loud whack!
From outside in the fields came a sickening smack
of an axe on a tree. Then we heard the tree fall.
The very last Tuffula Tree of them all!" The Lorax
"You know it really is amazing that you managed to find the bodies at all! I mean this forest is the largest one in the United States, over 17 million acres," Reid said as the trio made their way through the densely packed forest.
Forest Ranger Stanley Marks only chuckled. "Well like I told that pretty blonde of yours, I was going along on my usual rounds and saw some dirt disturbed. I decided to investigate figuring it was some of the local kids, but as we both know it wasn't."
"We're very glad you could offer us your services," Morgan said, cutting off Reid who looked once again ready to launch into a rant about whatever facts were bouncing around in his head.
"It's no problem. I practically lived in these woods when I grew up, practically spent every weekend here," Ranger Marks said with a faraway look in his eye.
"You know your way around this whole place?" Morgan asked, slightly impressed.
"Pretty much. I've been a ranger for almost thirty years and I've been in these woods since I could walk."
"That's amazing," Reid said as he caught himself from tripping over a root protruding from the ground.
"Alright there pretty boy?" Morgan asked with a teasing grin.
"Fine."
"He's not too good on his feet," Morgan explained the forest ranger.
"We all have our talents. I hear you're pretty good with the maps," Ranger Marks.
"And statistics and just being an annoying know-it-all," Morgan added under his breath.
Reid ignored the other agent, "I suppose so."
"Me too. I actually took a few classes about reading and making maps when I was in Texas for college. They're pretty helpful, especially when you're dealing with huge places like these woods. Easy to get lost if you don't know where ya going."
"You went to Texas for college? I didn't think that most Alaskans would do that."
"Yep. I thought that maybe I could find something better out in a different climate. I loved the forest, but I couldn't live my whole life wondering what if. I had to get out and experience at least something different than the Alaskan life. But of course after college I moved right back."
"How come?" Morgan asked.
"Too hot. Every day was like sitting in a boiler. So when I graduated I moved back up here, got a place of my own and became a ranger. Never looked back."
"Reid you got any statistics on the weather of Texas?" Morgan asked with a smirk.
"Actually Texas is a fairly diverse climate. Since it's so massive you can have several different weather patterns happening at once. For instance, in Laredo it is almost constantly close to the 90's all year whereas in Amarillo you even get some inches of snow," Reid explained.
"No average overall?"
"I'd say 70 degrees."
"So you're the genius," Ranger Marks said with a nod.
"Well not technically a genius-"
Morgan cut off the younger agent, "Yes, he's a genius."
"Well we're almost at the sight where I found the body. You guys come up with any suspects yet? I know you're suspecting some of the locals and I know that nobody in town feels good about that."
"We think it's a local because who else would know these woods so well. Like you said it can be easy to get lost in this place and the Unsub –the killer- he obviously knows where he's going," Reid explained.
"He?"
"Statistics show that serial killers are most likely to be male than female."
"So this guy is a serial killer now."
"We have already found five bodies in these woods. There could be any number of them buried all over this place, so yes, this is a serial killer," Morgan said.
Ranger Marks rubbed a hand over his aged face. "None of the locals are going to like that very much. People move here to get away from the rest of the world's troubles."
"We'll deal with the locals; you just do your job. We're very good at our job and hopefully we'll be out of here within the next few days."
"You're pretty confident."
Morgan and Reid only exchanged glances. Neither of the agents felt compelled to tell the Forest Ranger of their success rate or how many Unsubs had been locked away because of their quick thinking.
"So far, none of the victims have been from here, they're all tourists. Do you know of any one in town that has a strong hatred for visitors, maybe they even talk about how much they loathe the tourists in public places…things like that, ring a bell?" Reid asked after a few minutes of undisturbed silence.
"No, we usually like the visitors. They're friendly enough and the people around here are kind folks. And we don't usually see too much of each other. The locals go for the hardcore camping and hiking while most visitors take the easy hiking trails," Ranger Marks said.
"Okay, but does anybody have an anger issue? The man we're looking for makes fast and deliberate moves on his victims. Sometimes he keeps on stabbing them long after the victim has died, that doesn't just show up, that's a long history of rage," Morgan asked.
"Well of course there are people like that here, you get them everywhere!" Ranger Marks was close to shouting now.
"Ranger Marks, we don't mean to offend you or anyone in this town. I'm sure you're all good people, we just need to know these things to help find the man who is doing this."
Ranger Marks sighed, "There are a few, but they mostly drink the local bar dry then go home and beat their wives. It's sad but true. Even up here we have our bad apples no matter how hard we try to wrap it all up."
"That helps a lot. When we get back to the station you can give us the names of those people."
"Ranger Marks, is there anyone who is particularly attached to this forest. I know you all love this place, but this man would have an almost obsession with this place…" Reid trailed off as he stared up at the trees towering above him.
"Reid, what are you asking?" Morgan asked, snapping his neck to look at his colleague, "We didn't discuss that."
"I know, but I think that the Unsub didn't just bury his victims out here because it was hidden from everyone else. I mean, there are plenty more deserted places here, Alaska is almost all deserted. But this is a national forest, there are people patrolling these areas all the time. I think it has a deeper meaning to it…like the Unsub feels an attachment to the forest."
"Well, I guess we all feel an attachment to this place. The government is trying to 'modernize' this place or something like that," Ranger Marks said with a bitter tone in his voice. "We're all pretty upset about it."
"What do you mean modernize this place?" Morgan asked.
"The government has been pushing for an act that will build roads through the forest so that supplies can be delivered to small Alaskan towns easier," Reid explained before the Ranger could open his mouth.
"Isn't this a National Forest?"
"Yep, and that's why so many locals are fighting for this place," Ranger Marks said.
"Reid, the Unsub could have been aggravated by the pushing for the roads and that eventually led to him killing. We already know this guy has an anger management issue, if something he treasures is threatened, that's got to push him over the deep end," Morgan said.
"Possibly," Reid said without adding anymore.
"This is the place," Ranger Marks said, stopping abruptly. Reid almost tripped over yet another tree root, but caught himself just in time. Morgan was too busy examining the burial site to smirk at his fellow agent.
"Wait…something is off," Ranger Marks said as the agents examined the sight.
"What do you mean?" Moran asked.
"This place has been disturbed since the last time I was here with the police. Has anyone else been out here?"
"Not to our knowledge, no."
"See, there are fresh prints right here," the ranger gestured to a patch of dirt, "and over here. Yes, someone has been here recently…and I don't think he went far."
"What makes you think that?"
"These tracks don't go towards the town, but that actually go deeper into the forest. I think this may be your killer."
"We didn't think he would come back to the place where he buried his victims, that shows remorse and this killer obliviously has no remorse," Reid said as he scratched his scalp.
"So what is he doing back here?" Ranger Marks asked, fear starting to show in his aged eyes.
"I'm not sure…"
"Reid," Morgan said ad gestured a few paces away from the ranger. Reid nodded and walked away to join his colleague, leaving the Ranger to gaze up at the sky. "Do you really think it's the Unsub?"
"I don't know who else would come out here?"
"You have your gun right?"
"Yes," Reid said.
"Me too."
"What are we going to do if the Unsub comes here?"
"The Ranger said that the footprints went further into the woods. Maybe he heard that we were in town and came to see if we had found where he buried the body."
Reid was about to respond, but before he could a twig snapped to his right. The young profiler quickly turned his body around only to hear a gunshot go off and see the Forest Ranger fall to the ground with a hole in his forehead.
Morgan grabbed Reid's shoulders and pushed him to the left, "Reid, run!"
"But-"
"Run! I'll be right behind you."
Trying to not remember the last time he had separated with his partner with an Unsub in their presence, Reid broke for a run into the Togass forest. He felt his skin being scratched with branches and brambles, but he never once stopped running.
Another gunshot rang out and Reid prayed like no other that Morgan hadn't been on the receiving end of that bullet.
The young profiler felt his clumsy feet trip on once again a tree root. He crashed to the ground, all the air being knocked out of himself as he did so.
Groaning, the young profiler rolled to his back and looked up. That's when it finally hit the genius.
He was in the middle of a 17 million acre forest without any idea where he was.
Morgan might be dead.
And there was an Unsub in these exact same woods.
Reid didn't think that the Unsub would get lost as easily.
Author's Note: I think this would have never have happened if Reid had a sassy gay friend. Things are only going to pick up from here.