Preconceptions

By 1st Endeavor

Disclaimer: All the characters and references to the show "NUMB3RS" are the property of Cheryl Heuton and Nick Falacci, CBS and the Scott Brothers. I am not making any profit from this and no infringement is intended. However, my original characters and story line are mine.

A/N: This is an additional scene to Episode 521, "Disturbed." Robert Posner was so careful to hide all traces of his crimes and cover his trail by eliminating anyone that came close to catching him that I believe that he would have discovered that Charlie was working with Gene Evans and would have realized that he was an even bigger threat to him.

Preconception– an opinion or idea formed beforehand

Chapter 1:

"It took you guys a long, long time to find me….didn't it?"

Robert Posner leaned forward letting a smile play across his face; his blue eyes glowing brightly as he proudly explained his methods to the agents. He showed no remorse for his actions; none whatsoever; instead he behaved as if he deserved to win some sort of medal for his cleverness. After all, he had eluded the authorities for eighteen years, committing murders by using different methods and deliberately selecting victims from varied backgrounds, thereby leaving no workable pattern for the police to follow his trail.

The arrogant look on his face was suddenly replaced with one of excitement; shifting around in his chair he began to peer through the glass windows of the interrogation room as if he was searching for someone.

"It was him….wasn't it?" Robert whispered in awe; his head swiveling around to face the darkened observation window. "It wasn't the FBI that figured it out…..it was him!" He glanced sideways at the agent and added breathlessly. "I know he's there…watching me now…..isn't he?"

David's eyes flickered briefly toward the window but he ignored the serial killer's question. Actually, there were a lot of people standing behind that one-way glass and he didn't have a clue which one that Posner was referring too. Okay that wasn't exactly true; the man responsible for tracking him down was standing behind that window but there was no way that Posner would know who he was. The agent's boss was there too and the thought of Don reminded him that he needed to get on with the interrogation. The truth was he had other reasons for getting the interview over with; the man made his skin crawl and the sooner that he was finished, the sooner he could get the serial killer in a cell and locked away. Just being in the same room with him made the agent feel dirty and defiled, as if some of the evil within Posner had oozed out of the man's body and had crawled across the table to infect him. He wanted nothing more than to go home and take a long hot shower to try and scrub the evil away; a sideways glance at Nikki told him that she was feeling the same way.

"How did you choose your victims?" The agent asked, attempting to get Posner back on track.

But Robert couldn't be swayed and he continued to stare hungrily toward the darkened glass.

"Hey!" Nikki impatiently prompted him. "Answer the question."

Posner turned and met her eyes with an unyielding stare and calmly refused. "Not until you answer mine."

"He?" David asked, deciding that he might get more cooperation from the man if he played along. "Just who are you referring too?"

"Yeah." Nikki snorted with a toss of her head. "Who the hell are you talking about?"

"Why…. the Professor of course." Robert said smoothly as he twisted his body around so that he could once again stare at the window that separated them from the observers that were hidden behind the glass.

David shared a surprised look with Nikki before turning back to Posner.

"The Professor?" he asked, pretending that he was unaware of the person that the serial killer was referring to. "What Professor?"

Posner shifted in his chair and turned to face the agent, clearly amused with Sinclair's attempt at deception.

"It won't work you know. I have a..." he paused momentarily, searching for the right words to use. "…an inner sense about these things. That's why I'm so good at what I do." He leaned forward and met David's eye. "Why play this game? We both know that Professor Eppes is standing behind that window."

Nikki shifted uncomfortably at the mention of her friend's name. "How do you know Professor Eppes?"

Posner graced her with a withering look; one that clearly said that she was stupid for even asking such a question. "I didn't avoid you people for so long by leaving loose ends behind me. I always covered my tracks and that included following the police investigations and of course, eliminating anyone that came close to discovering me." He paused, glancing from agent to agent. "I first saw Professor Eppes when the postman's body was discovered." He clasped his hands together on the table and looked pointedly at Nikki. "You were there too."

"You were watching us?" She asked, suppressing a chill. "You were there the whole time?"

"Most of the time…yes…but I wore a disguise." He pressed his lips together and his double chin quivered slightly as if he was trying to hold back laughter. "I always go back to the scene; every artist likes to see his work appreciated." The smile never left Posner's face as he spoke and the lack of emotion in his words made them even more chilling to the ear.

"Murder is murder." David growled menacingly. "There's nothing artistic about it."

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion Agent Sinclair." Posner replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "Anyway when the professor showed up at Gene Evans house I suspected that he was going to be a problem…and I was right too……wasn't I? " He leaned back in his chair and smiled knowingly at the agents. "I'm not stupid you know. It didn't take me long to figure out that the professor must have sent you to the Peterson house….and just in time to save them too."

"Maybe we discovered that on our own." Nikki snapped angrily.

"I suppose it's possible but it seems unlikely to me since I didn't leave you any evidence to track me with." He shook his head. "No, somehow Dr. Eppes found a pattern in something that I was doing and came up with a possible target. I thought with Evans out of the way I could go about my business but the professor figured it out… ….didn't he?" Posner chuckled when the agents didn't answer him and took their silence as an affirmation.

"You almost caught me at the Peterson's but I got away and that's when I decided that I couldn't wait any longer… the Professor would have to be the next one on my list." Suddenly his face took on a wistful expression. "Oh…but what a challenge he presented me with."

"What were you planning to do?" David asked, rubbing his hand over his mouth as he studied the man sitting across from him; wanting desperately to wipe that smile from the killer's face.

"What do you think?" Posner asked sarcastically. "I knew I would have to get rid of him, especially after I found out his identity but that created a problem that I have never encountered before."

Nikki struggled to keep her emotions in check as she listened to Posner answer David's question. It wasn't easy, the casual way Posner spoke of killing Charlie was chilling and the desire to leave the room was almost over-whelming, but she kept her voice steady as she tossed out her own question. "What problem was that?"

The killer shrugged nonchalantly and dropped his gaze to his hands before answering.

"Dr Eppes is a very high profile target, unlike my previous victims, who were virtually unknowns. Of course that was one of the reasons that I chose them in the first place." He was quick to add as he glanced sideways at the observation window.

"You were saying?" Nikki prompted tersely; her quick-temper threatening to get the better of her.

"The logical solution would have been to arrange an accident….but then I developed a strong desire to see the professors face when I killed him." Posner's blue eyes drifted upward to meet hers burning with such intensity that she flinched and stepped backwards. "Can you imagine the thrill of watching the light go out of those intelligent eyes? Why the very idea takes my breath away and I realized that I'd have to come up with a way to do it."

Although the words were spoken softly the impact on the agents was significant. Nikki stood with clenched fists behind David fighting the urge to pull her gun from her holster and kill the evil sociopath sitting across from her. David wasn't faring much better; he took a slow, deep breath to control the rage that he was feeling before gritting his teeth and continuing on with the interrogation.

"And uh….exactly how were you planning to kill Professor Eppes?" David asked his voice tight from the strain of reigning in his emotions.

"It took me a while to decide." Posner answered, leaning forward once again. "This one was special…you understand…his death had to be perfect." He straightened up suddenly, a look of confusion crossing his features. " But I'm surprised that you don't already know this."

"How would we know?" Nikki spat out impatiently.

"I'm sure your people brought in my laptop; all of the scenarios I came up with are on my computer." He glanced from agent to agent and snickered. "You haven't been able to break through my encryptions yet, have you? All of my surveillance files and target scenarios are there."

Both David and Nikki remained silent as a familiar voice suddenly erupted in their ear radios; a voice coming from behind the darkened glass ordering someone to bring the killer's laptop to the observation room.

Ignoring their silence, Posner sighed heavily and glanced back at the window. "I knew I should have taken him out before Evans and his wife but the prospect of ending his life was just so exciting that I wanted to take my time in planning it." He leaned forward grinning conspiratorially. "To tell you the truth, I still get tingly all over just thinking about it; killing him would have been my tour de force...I mean how would you top that?"

Posner's eyes took on a glazed appearance and a rapturous look crossed his face. "Can you imagine that feeling…..knowing that you were the one responsible for the death of the next "Einstein?"

David felt a chill run up his spine; for the first time since the man had been talking he was actually showing an emotion but not one of regret, one of elation sparked by the idea of taking the life of Charlie Eppes, a close friend and colleague.

"We would have stopped you." Nikki retorted her chin rising up defiantly and although her voice was strong and steady her eyes betrayed her; the killer's words had definitely struck an emotional cord.

Posner shrugged, his blue eyes returning to their normal state and shifted his position again. He graced her with a condescending smile, casually crossing his legs before addressing her comment. "I seriously doubt that Agent Bentancourt. I'm much too careful, that's why you've never been able to catch me."

"How about we get back to the basics?" David asked in an attempt to change the subject. "You were going to tell us about your methods."

Posner stared at the agent; weighing and measuring Sinclair before answering. "I have one condition. Meet it and I will tell you everything you want to know…I'll even give you my password so that you can gain access to my computer."

David scratched his goatee thoughtfully as he studied the man across from him. "What kind of condition?"

"I want to meet the Professor….face to face." Posner whispered eagerly, eyes lighting up with anticipation.

Before David even had a chance to answer an emphatic "Hell no!" erupted through his ear mike. He winced at the vehement tone of Don's voice and tightened his jaw as he met the man's gaze.

"That's not going to happen. Dr. Eppes is a consultant, not an agent."

Posner's smile faded as once again he leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. "Then I believe we're finished here. I've changed my mind….I want to see a lawyer."

"You waved your right to a lawyer." Nikki challenged, picking up a sheet of paper and waving it at him. "Remember?"

"I have a right to change my mind." Posner retorted.

David angrily pushed his chair back from the table and stood up, eager to leave the room; he was dangerously close to losing his temper and knew he had to get out of there before he said the wrong thing. The agent pulled a pair of handcuffs from his back pocket and quickly cuffed the killer's hands to the table.

"Have it your way Posner." He muttered gruffly and turned away following Nikki to the door. Pausing with his hand against the open door the agent glanced back at the prisoner. "I'll send someone in with a phone."

"Grant my request and that won't be necessary." Posner arrogantly replied.

David ignored the comment and let the door slam shut behind him; ordering another agent to stand guard as he hurried to the observation room to join the rest of the team.

Posner's head swiveled around; cold blue eyes focusing on the one window that he couldn't see through.


TBC