A/N: Here is the next chapter to the story's gradually slow start. Sorry that its once again a short chapter. I'm hoping that the next one will be a little longer. There will also be more physical case work taking place in the next chapter. This chapter basically set the stage for Sam's feelings on the case, and held the teams' briefing on the case. In my own opinion, I feel that the briefing itself is a little crappy, but I kept it the way that it is. So feel free to criticize the briefing if you want. Reviews are always much appreciated. Like always, read and enjoy:)
Chapter 2- Stone Statue Briefings
Back in Quantico the Red Cell team was already assembled. Within their brightly light conference room Beth, Gina, Mick, Prophet, and a slightly confused Penelope Garcia were already seated around the long wooden rectangular table. All five of them were silent, each looking at Sam standing as equally quiet at the head of the table. The sight before them was something they have never witnessed before; no other case they had worked on in the past had ever left Sam this quiet. It was definitely a tell-tale sign of something bad to come in the case.
Standing as still as a stone statue Sam Cooper stared at his team members seated around the table, but not really seeing them at all; instead he was caught up in his own thoughts. Maxwell Kyle was just murdered, he was someone that Sam had known and worked with in the Bureau, as well as the other two victims. Someone was killing people that he once knew, and had worked with; this Unsub was somehow making it personal to Sam. Knowing this Sam made himself a mental promise to find the person responsible for all of this.
Seeing no change in Sam's silent stature in over ten minutes Beth started to feel concerned for her husband. Rising to her feet with a little difficulty due to her thirty-seven and a half weeks impregnated abdomen Beth stepped over to Sam's frozen stance. Catching no glint of recognition of her advancement upon Sam's empty face Beth gently placed her hand on Sam's arm. Immediately upon feeling Beth's hand touch his arm Sam was awoken from his thoughts. Blinking away the haziness from his eyes Sam turned his head to stare down at Beth's concerned face as she said,
"Hey, you had us all, especially me, concerned about you. We've been sitting here waiting for you to start the briefing, but instead you've just been standing here as still as a statue. Something must have had a firm hold on your thoughts, care to share?"
Appreciating Beth's and the rest of the guys' concerns Sam gave them all a small smile as he answered,
"No worries, I was just thinking about the three victims. Don't worry, I'll explain everything during the briefing…"
Waiting a second as Beth returned to her seat Sam began,
"The Henrico County Police Department in Richmond, Virginia has called and asked us for our help on a case. Now as I'm sure you all have heard, three Henrico County residences, all three retired FBI agents, have been shot and killed in front of their homes in the past two weeks…" Pressing a button on his remote Sam made three similar photos appear up on the TV monitor, "The first victim was James Harken- 54- he was the ex-leader of the FBI's Counter-Terrorism. He was shot and killed beside his car after returning home from the store picking up a few things for his wife. The second victim was Marshall Goodman- 57- he was the ex-leader of International Operations. He was shot and killed beside his car as well after returning home from picking up his grandson from soccer practice. Thankfully his grandson was already on the front steps when the shots were fired. And finally, our third and latest victim killed just this morning, was Maxwell Kyle- 60- he was ex-leader of the Criminal Investigative Division. He was shot and killed just as he was about to get into his car to go to the local golf course, his wife was watching him leave from the front door. Now according to the ME reports, all three men were killed by two shots in the chest."
Staring intently at the close up image of Marshall Goodman's bullet wounds Mick interceded,
"Looking at the photos of all three men's chest wounds, the Unsub used a .30 caliber bullet, standard for most sniper rifles, but he didn't shoot them with a sniper rifle. Based on the depth of the wound tracks it looks to me like he used some type of hunting rifle, maybe modified in some way."
Impressed by Mick's brilliant deductions based on the photos of the gunshot wounds Sam nodded his head and said,
"Good eyes Mick, looks like we'll be able to use your sniper expertise again on this case. Now, it's about an hour and a half drive to Richmond, so does anyone have any questions before we hit the road?"
Raising her hand like a student answering a question in class Gina replied,
"Just one question Coop, why exactly is Garcia here with us? I mean, is she going to stay here with Beth while the rest of us are in Richmond working the case?"
Glancing over to the slightly less confused expression painted on Garcia's face Sam replied,
"Not exactly, Garcia will be staying with Beth to keep her company during the case, just not here. Both Garcia and Beth are coming with us to Richmond, they will be working from the Henrico County Police Department with us and while the rest of us go out into the field. Now does anyone else have any questions?"
With no further questions from the team Sam nodded his head in approval, and said,
"Alright then, let's go. Girls, you three will go in one SUV while we three guys ride in the other; that alright with you?"
At the prospect of having an SUV all to themselves Gina, Beth, and Garcia had the same smile on their faces as they nodded their heads. The girls' agreeable responses given Sam lead the team out the door of the conference room, to make their way outside to the two awaiting black SUVs, with Richmond, Virginia set in their sights.