Asseveration

A Criminal Minds Story


As the incessant bubbly rambling continued Agent Grant Anderson wished he had packed a pair of earplugs to drown out the noise. Penelope Garcia, his coworker continued on with her story about the possibilities in her near future.

"I mean, what are they thinking! I mean of course I'll help, but Hotch is going to find out," Garcia paused to look at Anderson pointing at him with her bright pink nail, "Or Strauss. That's it, what am I doing? I shouldn't of left my house. I shouldn't leave this car. Maybe I could just stay with you and your sister. That'd be fun. That'd be safe. … But I can't leave my girls. Yet we are chasing unsubs here. Crazy, psychotic, murderous unsubs. You two lovelies or safety Penelope? You've got to chose."

Grant breathed in deeply as he kept his eyes on the road. The destination was only five minutes out. Five minutes. He could last five minutes. Though as he listened Garcia worry on he came to realize a morbid thought. Technically if this hunch of Jareau's went south then he was an accessory. He could lose his job too! Shaking his head at his own stupidity Grant frowned. He could just play dumb?

"I apologize Chief Strauss. I was simply asked to drop Technical Analyst Garcia at a remote location in the outskirts of a city that just happened to have recent violent crime activity. I was already visiting my sister anyway."

"That would work," Grant mumbled after thinking about his future conversation. However Strauss would make sure he stayed on desk duty for the rest of his career. Besides he could only imagine the disappointment that Jen, Agent Jareau, would feel of him. After all, she was the reason he was going two hours out of his way.

He always liked her. She called him Grant. Not just Anderson or Agent. She asked about his sister and his nephews. She cared. She really cared. That's why if Grant did lose his job over this then he would be okay because it would be because he did something for her. For Jennifer.

"That's them right?" Garcia leaned towards the window clutching her laptop case having pulled him from his thoughts. There was a silver car shrouded by the growing shadow of a tree. Anderson flicked his lights, but nothing happened, "What does that mean? That looks like Emily's car. Oh my gosh! They were caught! Anderson they've been caught. What if the unsub caught onto them! Oh my poor babies."

Anderson stepped out of the car without a word as Garcia followed suit. He headed towards the driver side his hand on his gun. "Agent Prentiss. It's Agent Anderson." The wind having calmed down considerably rushed through the leaves with one swift blow. Garcia inched closer to the armed agent being cautious as she had heard of too many cases that involved empty roads and darkening nights.

The air seemed tense as the two stepped towards the darkened vehicle. Both hearts were pounding in unison. Pulling out his flashlight he neared the window while keeping Garcia behind him. With a silent count the three he swiveled on his left foot and shined the light through the window. A sleeping Prentiss shot up her gun pointed at the window in seconds. Her eyes for just a brief flicker showed fear before being replaced by the intense and resolute confidence that embodied the Prentiss they knew.

No one saw that fear.

"Holy-," Anderson swore as he fell to the asphalt dragging Garcia with him. His eyes squeezed shut as he waited for the inevitable gunshot and the crash of shattered glass as the bullet blew through the window. Instead all he heard was the low squeaking sound of a window being rolled down.

"Garcia?" A low almost hesitant voice sounded. The two stood up slowly from the ground with both hands raised.

When Emily saw the familiar faces she put down her gun and gave her signature half smile with a tilt of her head. "Seriously? You were supposed to flash your lights."

"Hello! We did. You were sleeping! We thought you had been caught or killed," Garcia rambled as she shook her head, before looking around, "Where's JJ?"

On cue, JJ sat straight up her gun pointed straight out the front windshield, "FBI. Don't Move!" Her scream was loud, but you could tell she wasn't quite all there.

Emily laughed, "A little late there Jayje."

JJ turned slightly confused as her gun lowered before she looked out the window with a smile, "Pen! Grant!" Her blonde hair was slightly disheveled and her eyes held hints of that not fully functional gaze as she returned her gun to her holster.

"What are you two doing out here anyway?" Grant asked though not completely surprised. The two, well the three girls had a knack for getting into trouble.

Emily sighed, "Let's just say that the local PD has their eye out for two female suspects trespassing onto a crime scene."

"Don't forget removing evidence," JJ chimed in, Emily shot her a look that the blonde just shrugged off.

"Besides that," Emily stated bluntly, "Thanks for coming PG. We could use your help."

"You think there really is a case here, huh?" Grant asked drawing the attention of the three women. He twisted his hands together. Half hoping that they would invite him to join them. He hasn't been in the field in a very long time.

Emily nodded, without even looking at JJ, she answered, "We do."

Grant checked his watch, "Gosh. It's getting late. My sister isn't going to be happy." He turned to leave, but stopped and looked directly at JJ with a warm smile, "I'm only an hour away if you need me."

While they watched his car leave Emily chuckled slightly before shaking her head. JJ caught it with a tilted smile, "What?"

"It's nothing. Garcia did you bring what we talked about?" Emily asked avoiding JJ's questioning gaze.

"Did you doubt my greatness? While you two lovelies were sleeping I was hacking into, illegally mind you, the local police files and I got the photos from the crime scene," Garcia opened her laptop and passed it up to the front seat, "I haven't looked at them yet."

"JJ right there. Those are the marks we saw at the scene and take a look at the shoes," Emily looked over her face illuminated by the screen. As she saw JJ's eyes almost light up as she looked at the pair of high heels in the photo.

"So she was dragged. You were right," JJ smiled as she continued flipping through the photos.

Garcia leaned forward, "What? What does that mean?"

"It means he has a ruse. These same drag marks were found at each crime scene. All the victims were walking home on late stormy nights. The unsub waits and at just the right moment he blocks the path, ready with a well versed speech that gets him close enough to disorient, drag, and then…" She didn't need to finish the rest as they all knew then end of the story.

"What would make these girls stop?" JJ wondered, "We need to look at victimology. We need to get into the apartment and get an understanding of who these girls are."

Garcia nodded along with Emily before she stopped, "Wait. You mean the one apartment in this place that is going to have an armed guard presence."

"That's why we need a distraction," JJ smiled her eyes twinkling while she raised her eyebrows at Emily.

"Someone with impeccable taste in colorful clothing, has a strong background in theatre, and isn't currently on the local PD's most wanted list," Emily turned to look at Garcia who was already shaking her head.

"No. No. No," Garcia shook her head some more, "No. No. No. I can't do that. I'm not an agent. All I have is my computers and my outstanding looks."

Emily put her hand on her Garcia's, "All you need to do is take this cat food jar up there and say that you are a friend of the deceased and you wanted to make sure her cat has been fed," She waved the glimmering cat food can in front of her, "It'll be fine. He won't let you in as it is against regulation without permission, but it will buy me and JJ enough time to sneak through the window and take a look around."

"It would be helpful if you could show some grief and maybe add a few tears," JJ gave her renowned comforting smile that made anyone believe that it was possible to take on the worst of the worst and come out okay.

Garcia snatched the can of cat food from the Emily, "I guess if you've already illegally hacked into a database and trespassed onto a crime scene why not break into the victim's apartment."

"Don't forget taking evidence from a crime scene," JJ added.

"JJ let that go," Emily huffed as she started the car, "Just for that you get to go through the window first."

As the car drove off a man stood watching, hidden between the trees. In true horror movie style the shiny glint of a knife dropped from his sleeve and into his hand. Though the man wasn't carrying a creepy smile or laughing a twisted laugh. He was angry. He was angry because he knew. He knew exactly who was in that car and why they were here.

The FBI was onto him.

Then there was twinge of excitement. The thought of a new challenge and of new prey. The wind picked up with a satisfying rush. His only thought that the next few days were going to be fun, very fun.

Maybe he'd start with the blonde.


Okay! How was it? I know it wasn't the most exciting or tense chapter, but I had to get that written so I could keep going with the story. I got stuck on that chapter for a little while. I hope to update really soon now. Thank you for your patience and for reading. If you have any criticisms or suggestions please let me know. You all rock!

Thanks!

-HCB