Disclaimer: Yeah, not mine. I only dream.
Escalation
F.B.I Headquarters
Morgan frowned at his e-mail.
She rarely sent from her work e-mail.
I think I need your help on something.
He clicked the document she sent and sucked in his breath. Photos of her and Tyler at various points of their days. She had grouped the photos together and dated them. The last one- it was an image of Joy, reading on her couch, coffee cup in hand. The photographer would have to climb a tree to get the shot.
He searched through his desk, searching for his contact book. Flipping through it as he reached for his desk phone, and dialed when he found the number.
"Captain Marriott, Wilmington PD."
"Got your e-mail, Captain. I still like the sound of that."
"Morgan."
He could hear her relief.
"Tell me."
"It started a week ago and I've gotten new shots every other day."
"That last one…"
"I know." She sighed. "I'm slightly more worried about Tyler. And I started religiously carrying my gun and practicing."
That was a stretch from the woman who kept a baseball bat.
"Anything else?"
"I got a note this morning. You can't hide."
"Jesus." He ran a hand over his head. "Sit down and start thinking of a list of possible enemies."
"Enemies or people I've pissed off?"
"Start with both."
"All right."
"Call me back tonight, all right?"
"Which number?"
"The cell."
"All right."
"Joy, keep an eye out. Stay safe."
"I will."
"Joy…"
"I will, Derek."
"Tell Tyler hi."
He hears the smile. "Definitely."
"Have a good day."
"You too."
He hung up and stood up, going to Hotch's office.
"Hotch, I need a favor."
Police Station,
Wilmington, DE
Joy stared at the file on her desk, her eyes flicking to the note. She felt a little bad for not focusing on the case, but the note unnerved her.
"Captain?"
"What do you have, Officer?"
Jacob held up a report. "This is the third one."
She racked her brain. "Sorry, I'm drawing a blank."
He sat down, three reports in his hands. "In the last two weeks, we've received three rape reports. All three were drugged and brought to another location, where they woke up, bound."
A dark bathroom, rope around her wrists.
"He wrapped his hands around their throats as he raped them, until they passed out again."
Not being able to breathe, the darkness at the edges of her sight, the blackness.
"The victims were returned to the club they were taken from, found in the bathrooms, disoriented."
Waking up and the horrible, sick knowledge that she had been raped.
"Friends encouraged all three victims to file reports, especially when they saw the bruises on their throats."
"Anything else?" Her voice was hoarse.
He nodded. "All three victims had a scar on their hipbone. A crude star."
You'll be a star, sweetheart. My star, whether you want to or not.
She glanced at the note and her stomach churned.
"Captain?"
"I'll be right back."
She barely made it to the bathroom before throwing up her coffee and muffin.