They're still driving as the sun starts to rise. Around 2am, when Simmons had been driving and Fitz watching the police reports, the discovery of a body off the I-5 had been called in. It wasn't a stretch to believe that it was Tyler's. So they had decided to travel for an undetermined amount of time to get as far away from the area of suspicion as possible.
Simmons, having swapped off driving duty once again, scrolled through news reports on the tablet, switching between multiple broadcast streams looking for information on the body. Nothing was showing up yet but she figured that wasn't unusual as it was still too early for the regular morning news segments.
"Do you want to stop for breakfast?" Fitz asks.
"Yeah, then I think we should head down into Wyoming. Stop there for a couple of days. I really should analyze those samples soon." Jemma replies, switching out the tablet for the map again. "I just saw a sign for a diner up ahead, we can stop there for breakfast. Then we just need to stay on the I-90, it dips into Wyoming before it carries on through South Dakota. There should be someplace adequate to stop for a while."
"Not too long though." Leo merges into the exit lane of the highway, pulling the car into a large parking lot. It holds a gas station with several small goods stores, and a separate building bearing a large sign proclaiming 'Diner.'
Jemma goes inside to get them a table while Fitz fills the car with gas.
Inside the diner is a single small room, crammed full with slightly wonky looking tables and chairs empty of patrons. Both side walls hold booths with dark slightly cracked vinyl and there's a TV mounted in one corner playing the national news. An elderly woman comes through the swinging door at the back of the room.
"Just for one dear?" She asks.
"Two actually," Simmons smiles back.
"Sure, take a seat wherever you like. I'll bring you some menus."
Simmons takes a seat in a booth facing both the door and the TV and Fitz slides in beside her a moment later.
The waitress comes back with menus and they're eating their food, still the only people in the restaurant, before anything interesting comes onto the TV.
"We have breaking news coming to you from Washington State this morning." the newscaster says, "A body was found early this morning by a local jogger just off the Interstate 5 Highway outside of Olympia. FBI agents on the scene have confirmed that this does appears to be a victim of the serial killing duo known as 'The Butchers.' FBI Agent Phil Coulson, the main investigator on this case has released a statement on this latest murder."
The image switches to the side of the highway where a man in a crisp black suit stands, behind him crime scene tape is just barely visible and many people are rushing around.
"The victim, whose identity cannot be released at this time, died some time early last night and the Medical Examiners preliminary report is that the cause was asphyxiation, although we cannot confirm how it was caused.
"At this time we can say that this does look like the work of The Butchers. This is the twenty-fourth case linked to these perpetrators and we are certain that we are looking for a team, two individuals, one, or more probably both, with extensive anatomical and medical knowledge. They are highly sophisticated and have no trouble subduing their victims. We encourage the public to act with caution in high-risk situations such as walking alone at night.
"We do not have any more information at this time, however I can assure you that the FBI is doing everything possible to find those responsible for these crimes and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Thank you."
"It's just terrible isn't it," the waitress says, refilling Leo's coffee, "All those poor people killed."
"Yes," Simmons answers, "Just terrible."
"And that they haven't caught them yet," Fitz continues, "It's been how long, a month?"
"Oh longer than that I would think dear," She says, tisking lightly before asking Simmons, "More tea dear?"
"Oh, no thank you," Jemma answers, "We really should be going soon."
"Alright. I'll get your bill," She walks back into the kitchen.
Fitz finishes his coffee quickly and they leave cash with the waitress before heading back out to the car and keep driving.
Grant Ward watches the same broadcast from his home in DC as Fitz and Simmons do in the diner. Sitting behind his desk in the too early hours of the morning he reaches for the cell phone stored in the bottom left locked drawer and dials the only number in its memory.
"Simmons," he says when the scientist answers chirpily, "What the hell is going on? Why is this taking so long?"
"I know that we're a little behind schedule Mr. Ward but to be fair it is quite tricky what you've asked, I'm not magic. It's going to take a little more time but I really do think I'm almost there." Simmons placates.
"And the body count? You're up to twenty-four Simmons, that's going to be a problem." One of his hands digs into the leather of his chair at an attempt to stay quiet.
"The solution needs to be tested. The final product needs to be definitive before I send it to you, if it's not, that leads to all manner of trouble, no?" She sooths.
"Fine," Ward grits out, "But hurry. It. Along."
"Absolutely, Sir. We're working diligently."
"Good." He stabs the off key, ending the call. He replaces the phone in it's drawer then leans back, taking several deep breaths, staring at the dark ceiling. The only light source in the room is the muted television.
The door cracks open slowly, a quiet 'hey' drifting in from the hallway.
"Hey, honey, come in." He replies quietly, smiling softly.
Skye pads into the room, blinking sleepily still, he pulls her into his lap. Her hand cups the back of his neck, gently playing with the hair there.
"Who were you talking to?" She asks.
"No one." Grant answers, wrapping his arms around her waist.
She gives him a look, eyebrow raised and head tilted.
"The television," he amends with a small self-deprecating smile.
She chuckles softly, looking over at the mentioned object.
"Is this that serial killer case?" She's watching now.
"Yeah, there's a new victim." He moves on quickly, "So what are you doing up so early, it's barely light out."
She hums lightly in agreement, "Work." A yawn breaks her reply, "Coulson called, apparently he forgot about that time change thing."
"Ah," he nods.
"What about you?" She asks gently.
"Couldn't sleep, thought I'd get some work done." He gives her his 'nothing to worry about' smile and gently shifts her off his lap, "You should get ready."
She presses a soft kiss to his lips before swishing out of the room, "See you tonight."
"See you," He calls after her quietly.
The door clicks shut and he pulls in another deep breath, leaning back in the chair, a hand grabbing at his hair.
Okay yay I remembered!
Thanks for reading all
