A/N: Here is the next chapter. Believe it or not I actually had a little trouble writing this chapter, but I hope you still enjoy it:)
Chapter 2- Multiple Briefings
Within the secretly hidden headquarters the FBIs Red Cell team, having already been assembled, was seated around the wooden conference table. Silence filled the room as everyone waited for Sam to begin. Seeing that the team had their case files open and were ready to begin Sam clicked a button on his remote, causing three nearly identical photos to appear on the monitor. Along with being nearly identical, the three photos were all equally gruesome to look at as well. Pointing to the three photos upon the screen Sam began,
"This morning in the back campus parking lot of Blue Ridge Community College, in Harrisonburg, Virginia, a junior by the name of Marissa Rivers was discovered dead beside her car, with the keys still dangling in the door lock. Now, according to the ME report, Marissa was killed by a through and through bullet to the chest. The medical examiner also puts her death at just after ten last night. Now, Marissa was the third woman to be killed in this manner. The first murder occurred just under two weeks ago, a junior at Blue Ridge Community College by the name of Amanda Sherman. The second murder happened just six days ago to yet another junior of Blue Ridge Community College by the name of Tiara Jackson. Both of them were killed just like Marissa Rivers as well."
Looking at the three additional photos of each woman within the file Prophet said,
"And by the looks of things these girls weren't chosen at random. Someone chose them specifically."
Nodding his head in agreement Mick added,
"Prophet's right. All three women have the same characteristics- blonde hair, blue eyes; side by side they look identical to one another, like triplets. All three of them are even in the same year at Blue Ridge Community College. It was for these reasons that the Unsub chose them."
Closing the case file so she no longer had to look at the horrible photos Gina spoke,
"So our Unsub is attracted to a specific type of girl. Based on what we've learned from these three victims he likes college juniors who are blonde haired, blue-eyed, and are between the ages of nineteen and twenty-two, depending on how old they were when they first entered college. I mean these girls may look identical but they certainly aren't the same age."
Across the table from Gina, having copied Gina's actions of closing the gruesome case file, Beth added,
"And with that specific victimology, we are most likely looking for a man in his late twenties, maybe even early thirties. He probably works in an area that ties into the college, which would allow him access to the campus, and not labeled an outsider or someone who doesn't belong by the other students and faculty there."
Impressed by what everyone had said Sam nodded his head as he said,
"That's great guys. Now, since blonde haired and blue eyes are such a common genetic combination we can have Garcia look into the Blue Ridge Community College student records to see if she can find out how many possible victims we may have. She texted me not too long ago that she was on her way here…"
Under her breath Beth mumbled,
"To be my babysitter"
Hearing Beth's softly spoken opinionated words Sam smiled as he continued,
"Yes Beth, Garcia is coming here to stay with you, but not as your babysitter. She's coming here to work so you won't be by yourself throughout the case while the rest of us are in Harrisonburg."
Embarrassed at being heard Beth looked around in search of anything she could use to change the subject. Catching something shiny out of the corner of her eye Beth turned in search of the shiny object. What she found made her freeze and stare in shock. There on Gina's left ring finger was a sparkly and beautiful engagement ring. When she regained her voice Beth, with a look of pure curiosity in her face, turned her eyes upon Gina, and asked,
"Gina, do you have something you'd like to tell us? That new piece of jewelry seems to say that something big is going to happen."
Wiggling her finger slightly, causing it to sparkle even more, Gina quickly glanced over to Mick before returning her gaze to Beth, and with a smile on her face, replied,
"Mick and I got engaged last night."
Unable to help herself a girlish squeal escaped Beth's lips before she replied,
"Oh my God, congratulations, and let me tell you now, welcome to the married female agents club. Oh, I can't wait to tell Garcia, she is totally going to flip."
Laughter traveled around the table at the mentioning of the team's loving, and eccentric technical analyst. With a knowing smile upon his own face Sam turned to Mick and asked,
"You asked Fickler for permission before hand, right?"
His usual charming smile upon his face Mick replied,
"Of course I did, and he of course gave us his permission. I think he sees how great a team we are together, and how much of an asset we are to him, and that's why he's been so lenient with yours and Beth's marriage, and mine and Gina's engagement. The man truly does have a heart."
From within the doorway they heard Garcia ask,
"Who pray tell, my brilliantly handsome British man, is it that supposedly truly does have a heart?"
Waiting till Garcia had settled herself into the seat beside Beth, Mick smiled once again as he replied,
"Director Fickler, my dear Garcia."
Confused by the response Garcia nodded her head slowly. Seeing the confused expression on Garcia's face Beth gently patted Garcia's hand as she said,
"I'll fill you in about it after they leave. I have some really juicy information to tell you."
Just as Beth finished saying this Sam, now standing behind Beth's chair, said,
"Ok guys, now that Garcia is here, let's hit the road."
Bending down Sam kissed Beth good-bye before she said,
"You guys be careful, and make sure no one doesn't do anything stupid or reckless."
Sam smiled,
"I will, we'll call when we have something."
That said the four active Red Cell team members made their way out into the gym. As soon as the door had shut completely behind them Garcia, her eyes shining brightly with eager curiosity, turned to Beth and asked,
"Ok, please start talking, why was Mick saying that Director Fickler truly has a heart?"
Still giddy from the news Beth smiled excitedly at Garcia as she replied,
"Because he asked Fickler for his permission so he and Gina can get married. Mick and Gina are engaged; she showed us the ring as they gave us the news just a few minutes before you arrived."
A small hint of disappointment made its way onto Garcia's shock covered face as she said,
"What and I missed it? So…wait, did they bring it up themselves or did someone say something to them that caused them to reveal their big news?"
Knowing that Garcia was referring to her as the possible 'someone' Beth grinned guiltily as she replied,
"I noticed the diamond sparkling on her finger out of the corner of my eye. I was looking for something I could use to change the subject after being embarrassed that Sam had heard me mumble that you were coming here partly to babysit me. So when I caught the glimpse of the ring and realized what it was I questioned Gina about it, and then they told us."
Nervous of Garcia's response about her mumbled comment about her Beth was surprised when she heard Garcia laughing softly beside her. Relieved that her comment hadn't hurt Garcia's feelings Beth stared at her bespectacled friend as she attempted to gain control of her now uncontrollable laughter. Finally regaining control of her laughter as well as her composure Garcia gently grasped Beth's hand as she said,
"You thought that I was coming here partly to be your babysitter? I know full well, as do you, as well as Sam, and the rest of the team, that you are fully capable of taking care of yourself. The fact that you are thirty-seven weeks pregnant is only 1% of the reason why Sam asked me to come here and work with you while you're stuck office- bound. The main reasons are so we can both remain in the loop on the case, and so that you don't get crazy lonely working here all by yourself."
A genuine smile spread across Beth's face as she listened to Garcia's reassuring words. Gently squeezing Garcia's hand Beth replied,
"Thanks Garcia, and speaking of the case, Sam was hoping that you could run a check on the Blue Ridge Community College student records, and see how many blonde-haired, blue-eyed female juniors between the ages of nineteen and twenty-two are currently enrolled? It will help both them and myself narrow down the list of the next possible victim. Then, just for good measure, can you also check the faculty records and see how many men there are that are in their late twenties to early thirties?"
With her computer already open in front of her, waiting for the system to boot itself up, Garcia, while faking a look of disappointment, replied,
"Oh my Beth, both of those requests are but a pinch of difficulty. What I wouldn't give for you to give me a exceedingly difficult challenge, but sadly beggars can't be choosers, so just give me a minute to work my wondrous magic."
Laughing at Garcia's winy tone Beth leaned back in her chair, and laid her hands over her swollen abdomen as she relaxed while waiting for Garcia's findings. Delving deep within her mind over a possible reason for why the Unsub targeted these specific types of women Beth was pulled back to reality when she heard Garcia speak a few minutes later,
"According to the Blue Ridge Community College's records there are currently 125 blonde-haired, blue-eyed female juniors enrolled. I haven't checked the faculty records yet. I figured I'd checked them after I sent Sam these results. Did you want to call and give him the results or did you want me to?"
Pulling out her cell phone Beth replied,
"You can send him the results, and I'll call and tell him while you check the faculty records."
Nodding her head Garcia resumed typing away on her computer as Beth dialed Sam's number. Three rings later she heard,
"Cooper"
Beth got right down to business,
"Hey honey, I had Garcia run the check on the number of blue-eyed blonde female juniors, there are 125 girls total. Garcia is sending you the resulting list of names. Hopefully it will help you guys. I'm also having her check the faculty records to see how many men in their late twenties to early thirties there are…"
From beside Beth Garcia exclaimed,
"I already have the results, there are thirty-five male faculty members at the college in that age range. Tell Sam I'm also sending him those results as well."
Nodding her head Beth relayed Garcia's message. On the other end of the line Sam replied,
"Tell Garcia great work, and thanks. The four of us will go over both sets of results when we get to the college; we're about ten minutes out. In the mean time, maybe you and Garcia can go over the case file together. Maybe with a fresh set of eyes the two of you will find something we missed…"
Glancing quickly over to Garcia Beth hesitantly replied,
"I don't know how Garcia will feel about the idea but I'll ask her. But you do have a point, four eyes are better than two. Give me a second and I'll ask her…"
Placing her hand over the speaker end of her cell Beth looked to Garcia and asked,
"Garcia, would you be up to looking over the case file with me to see if we can find anything we may have missed earlier?"
A slight uneasy expression passed over Garcia's face for a second as she replied,
"I guess I could. Like I heard you telling Sam, four eyes are better than two."
Removing her hand Beth replied,
"Garcia said she'd help. So, let me go so we can get started, and we'll contact you if we find anything."
With a final good-bye from Sam Beth ended the call. Reluctantly Beth pulled the case file over to her and placed it between her and Garcia. Glancing over to Garcia and seeing her nod her head Beth slowly opened the file. There, staring them right in the face were the three horribly gruesome photos of their three dead victims. And just like in the briefing earlier that day Beth's stomach was already feeling queasy from the photos. Wanting to get the assigned work over with Beth and Garcia began reviewing the file.
Ten minutes after diving into the file Garcia made a discovery,
"Hey did any of you guys make the connection between the times that each girl was killed?"
Beth shrugged her shoulders,
"We noted that all three girls were killed at around the same times, but we never found anything that exactly connected them. Tell me about what you've found and we'll see if it connects each victim."
Nodding her head Garcia continued,
"When I saw each girl's estimated times of death I double-checked the college's class schedule, and that's where I found something. Each girl had been attending an evening class the night they were killed. After doing a little extra digging I found out that both Amanda Sherman and Tiara Jackson were attending the same evening Calculus class, and Marissa Rivers had been attending an evening Anatomy class. And another connection between those classes is that they both let out at ten minutes to ten."
Amazed by Garcia's findings Beth couldn't help but smile at her friend as she replied,
"That is great work Garcia. Do you think you can do a further search into those two classes and see how many of the women on our list of blonde-haired, blue-eyed juniors are signed up for those classes? After that you have the privilege of calling Sam and telling him about your discovery. This will definitely help them narrow down the list of the next possible victim."
With a proud smile upon her own face Garcia began the requested additional search…