Well, now that you know how they got there, I guess I should explain how it all started. Poor Rossi & Prentiss---I love to make them suffer. And I think they like it too, or else my brain wouldn't keep dreaming up weird scenarios for them. I don't own Criminal Minds. Probably just as well since this road is going to be…well, it's just going to be.
A Time For Letting Go
Quantico, VA FBI Headquarters. 72 Hours earlier.
Emily Prentiss was running late for work---again!
Rushing into the office, she tried to hide the fact that her life was in disorder. Call it the week that everything would and could go wrong. First the coffee pot died, then she dropped her phone and broke it, and to make matters worse, she hit every single red light in town. And it was only Monday!
Setting her purse and briefcase down on the desk, she fell into her chair and groaned.
"Late night?" Morgan asked wickedly, his eyes dancing with mischief.
"I wish! At least then I could blame him for today. Or at least sent him out for a coffee." She leaned over and booted her computer.
Morgan pulled back. "Are you saying that you came into work without a caffeine fix?"
"It happens."
"Not to Emily Prentiss. How do you take it?" He jumped up, ready to ward off a catastrophic situation.
"Strong. Light on the creamer. Heavy on the sugar," Rossi announced, as he set the Styrofoam cup in front of his co-worker. Emily took a long drink.
"Mmmm. You are my hero."
"Isn't that what you told Morgan last week when he brought you a Danish?"
"No. I said he was almost my hero."
"Hey!" Morgan spoke up indignantly.
"You would have made hero status had you not taken a bite out of it first."
"It was calling my name. And you had no problem eating it."
"I would have like to eaten all of it," Prentiss replied with a raise of her eyebrow. She turned back to Rossi. "So what do I owe this?"
"I'm just happy to save the day."
Prentiss smiled. "Well, for that, I owe you my life." Rossi started a reply but Hotch called their attention.
"I need the team in the Briefing Room."
Gathering their miscellaneous items, the team followed Hotch. As each took a seat, JJ started handing out dossiers.
"What's on the agenda this time?" Morgan asked as he quickly perused the facts.
"Bomber in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. At first the authorities thought it was a prank. But the bombs are too sophisticated for a beginner."
"I haven't heard of any bombs going off in South Dakota," Prentiss remarked.
"Because they haven't," Hotch supplied. "When the first bomb was discovered, the authorities thought it was a dud. But the bomb squad found that it was still very alive. The UNSUB forgot to connect a necessary wire to cause an explosion. Two more just like it were found a week later. One was left at a school parking lot and another was located under a bridge."
"Sounds like he's trying to make a statement," Morgan supplied.
"Or a name for himself," Prentiss finished.
JJ started the Power point graphics. "Each bomb is wrapped in a note. As you can see, each note taunts the police, but at the same time admits remorse for what he did."
Prentiss scrutinized the screen. "Are the third letters of every word in crayon?"
"A red sharpie."
"George Metesky," Reid piped up. "He planted bombs all over New York in the 40s and 50s. He sent angry letters to newspapers, and politicians castigating them. He was actually the basis of the profiling system we use now. Dr James Brussel, the father of profiling, correctly profiled Metesky down to living with his maiden sisters and his correct age. But although his bombs went off, no one was seriously injured. He was trying to get back at the establishment for his failings."
"These bombs haven't gone off," Prentiss observed.
"I think he's toying with us," Rossi commented. "He wants us to find him. The question is why."
Hotch gathered up his files. "We can question that once we get on the plane to Sioux City. See you guys in ten minutes out front."
Everyone stood as Hotch and JJ departed. Emily groaned.
"What's wrong?" Rossi asked.
"I was hoping this would be a quiet week. I have a bad feeling about this case. Something isn't sitting right."
"It seems like a perfectly normal run of the mill whack job nut case we always get."
Prentiss shrugged. "I guess. It could be that I haven't finished my coffee."
"Morgan was right about you and your caffeine fix." He took the file from her hand. "Go top off your cup and get your purse. I'll meet you at the elevator."
"Yes sir," she replied with a quick salute. Taking her cup, Prentiss left the room. Rossi's eyes followed her.
I have a bad feeling about this case, Emily's voice reverberated in his head. "Me too Emily." Then he closed the door behind him as he left to meet the rest of the team.
