Hey everyone ok a very long chapter here. glad i split this and chap 6 up. They were meant to be one big chapter. i really struggled with Hotch and Reid part of this chapter. I just didnt know how to approach it, how to phrase things and i was really trying to keep all my facts straight and keep it interesting. so i would love to know what you think of my attempt. Good or bad!! well i decided no cliff hanger this time but i hope it is a nice juicy chapter all the same. so please read and review thanks
Small side note: not sure if it was just me but till like two minutes ago i wasn't getting any emails from fanfic about updates etc but it seems to have been fixed. just wondering was anyone else having that problem!
enjoy!!
Chapter seven: Resolutions and Revelations
"Hey Garcia"
"Hello my beautiful blonde bombshell. What can I do for you?"
"I was just checking in to see if you had any news. Do you?"
"Well my clearly physic friend I was just about to contact your brilliance and tell you have good and bad news. I found one very loose connection between the parents but more interestingly one of the parents has a record under another name and trust me it some incredible genius on my part to discover this but I am sure. Mr Pauling wasn't Mr. Pauling three years ago. He was Mr. Nichols and do you want more interesting news he is a qualified plumber."
"Garcia that is brilliant. But what was the link you discovered?"
"Well the centre where Daniel gets help is one of the charities Mrs. Baryon helps out at. So that is a solid link. But the other family the Blake's have no real link except her boss donates money to the charity Sight Saviours and the centre is apart of that. Then the last family the Mills have the connection of that Charlie had a class mate who has hearing problems and guess what?"
"He went to the same centre for help"
"Yeah and I am guessing if the centre is the connection Charlie could be friends with the young boy and went to the centre with him maybe. But it is a stretch is it not, some is through the parents and some through the children. And the question still stands why these children?"
"I know Garcia but so far this is the best break we have in the case. I need you to send all the information about the link and about Mr. Pauling/Mr. Nichols to all our phones."
"Don't you think I already did that? You under estimate me again! I am the master of multitasking. I'll keep looking and see if I can find anything more useful."
"Thanks Garcia you are the best"
"You know it!" and she was gone.
JJ shook her head 'Garcia is one of a kind' she thought and smiled at the thought of her high-spirited friend.
Morgan and Prentiss were out again. They brought hated the way a fresh victim sometimes is the best thing to happen in a case but neither wanted to admit that. But more than once they left sitting till the killer killed again.
Their phones both beeped simultaneously and that made them smile.
"Garcia" they said in unison. Since Morgan was driving Prentiss checked her phone and read the message out loud.
"Ok guys found one loose link between the families a centre for the blind and deaf. Daniel was a patient, Charlie had a friend who was a patient Mrs Baryon represented them and Ms Blake boss donates to them. Also more interestingly Mr. Pauling didn't exist 3 years ago he was Mr. Nichols and Mr. Nichols was a qualified plumber. I'm looking into why the name change and move."
Prentiss looked up at Morgan as they both digested the message full of information.
"So if Mr. Nichols/ Pauling whatever is plumber and if we are right about our theory of how he gets into the house does make Mr. Pauling our best suspect?" Morgan said. Prentiss had no answer.
"The centre does seem to be our best link at moment also but it seems a bit of stretch as well." Morgan continued since he didn't really expect Prentiss to answer.
"Yes but if Daniel was a patient at the centre Mr. Pauling probably was there a lot and could easily have met Charlie, Mrs Baryon and maybe met Ms Blake ok it is a stretch but we have nothing else to go on at the moment so we should check out the centre." Prentiss reasoned.
"But an unsub usually has the same method for choosing his victim at the moment though the connection to the centre is half children so which makes the unsub choose the victim?" Morgan countered argued.
Both fell silent again as they pulled up to latest crime scene. They climbed out their car and walked past the police line flashing their badges with an ease that shows they have done it a million time before. The cop first on scene came over and filled them in.
"In all my years of service I have never seen anything like." The cop started shaking his head. "I got the call from the parents and I had heard about the case so I knew what to except but still some things you just can't prepare yourself for."
"Tell us about the victims?"
"They were Becca and Ben Wilson. Both aged 11, they were twins. They were meant to be watching a movie in their bedroom and the parents were downstairs. The mum was in the kitchen and the dad was in the garden in work shed back there. He is a self employed carpenter. The mum thought the movie would be over by now but she din' here the children move about so she thought she would check on them. When she didn't find them in their room she went to get the dad to check they weren't out there. Then both came back into the house and searched for them. They checked their room and ell you'll see for yourself what they found."
"Ok thanks" and pointing to two people standing by a police car "is that the parents?" not that that she really needed confirming but still it is better to ask.
"Yeah that is them" the cop said and walked away his head low and shoulders drooped.
They walked over to the parents. They had two questions.
"Mr and Mrs Wilson" they looked up but you got the feeling they didn't see you properly. "I'm SSA Prentiss with the FBI, this is SSA Morgan. We want to express our deepest regret to you." She took a deep breath "We have two questions for you. Have you had any plumbing done recently?"
They looked at each other and Morgan and Prentiss knew the answer before they verbalised it.
"Yes we had some done to connect the pipes to my work shed so I would have water in there. Why? Did the plumber do this?" the dad asked confused.
"We don't know yet but it we have a few lines of enquires we are looking into and that is just one. We will need all details about the plumber though."
"Ok I didn't meet the guy I was out. Bu my wife was here."
All eyes turned to the wife who had been following the conversation without actually involving herself in it.
"Mrs Wilson, do you remember the plumber?" Prentiss prompted her.
"Em yes he was really nice. He did the plumbing and he fixed my sink for no extra charge. He just noticed I was having problems with it when he came in and offered to help. He seemed so normal."
"Well at this time there is a good chance he has nothing to do with this. We are just being cautious. I have one other question. Are you familiar with the 'centre for deaf and blind' that is run by Sight Saviours?"
"Yes my sister is blind and she volunteers down there. She knew the plumber from the centre. He was a father of one the children she helps. He also does the plumbing for the centre. He mostly does for it for free or for really cheap. He is such a good guy. Isn't he?"
Morgan and Prentiss exchanged looks.
"Ok Mam we need the name of the plumber and if you are up for it we have an artist that can draw a picture form your description of the man at the station. If you are willing to come down to the station it would be very helpful." Morgan said.
The woman merely nodded consent and some cops standing nearby took the couple to a car to take them to the station.
Morgan sighed it was time to enter the house. It was the bit he hated the most. The family can spend years building a home and life in a house and in one single moment it can become nothing but a crime scene to them and to everyone else. All the happy memories of birthdays, Christmas's spent here are washed away by the single memory of the crime, of the brutal death of two young children.
But he knew they were waiting to move the bodies so with no more delay he entered the house and immediately went into profiling mode. He built a map of the house as he walked around, placing the people in their claimed locations. He looked out windows picturing the view someone would have if they were looking in and then he went upstairs and continued to pretend he was the unsub. What was the unsub thinking, considering? What did the unsub know, didn't know? What was his plan?
Morgan walked into the children's room. Saw the TV still on and went over to turn it off.
"The children were taken before the movie ended" he commented to Prentiss.
"How do you know that?" she asked.
"Because if they saw the end of the movie they wouldn't have let the credits roll. What child actually watches the credits?"
"Oh" Prentiss nodded impressed. "Well there is no blood here so the children put up a fight. But how do you keep two children quiet with the mother downstairs? How do you get them to the parent's bedroom with them making no noise?"
Morgan shook his head slightly and kept moving about the room, trying to get a feel for it.
He then moved to the parent's room. But on the way the floor board creaked. Morgan paused. "The mother became concerned when she heard no noise form upstairs but if she heard the board creak she would assume hey were on the move so he avoided the floor board"
"Which shows he knows this house well" Prentiss finished for him.
They continued to the parent's room and both inhaled deeply when they entered. Morgan walked a circle of the room before moving over to the bed.
"Ok so we know the children are placed to fit in with the next victim. Now he is doing it literally. Is he devolving or is it because there were two kids? He moved around to the other side. He gently pushed Becca's hair aside "look" he motioned to Prentiss "no belt buckle. She wasn't strangled by a belt but the brother was."
"So what did she die from?" Prentiss inquired.
Morgan continued to examine her further. There was no apparent cause of death that he could see. "As far as I can tell they is particular bruising on the neck from strangulation by any tool, belt or otherwise. No open wounds or major bleeds. Do you think he used the pillow again?"
"Well he had two children to control this time. He needed twice the time to kill. Maybe he heard the mum go into the children's room and when she went back downstairs to get the husband he finished quickly and left."
"Yeah but a pillow would take longer."
"But maybe that was first but when he got to the brother he went back to his belt. He might have been panicking and the belt gave him more control!"
"Maybe" Morgan considered "either way this is different in some keys ways and it certainly feels like he got interrupted. So probably when the mum checked on the children he was still in here."
With one more glance around the room they were ready to leave. On the way out Morgan's phone rang.
Hotch and Reid had managed to gather all the parents and they were all in the waiting room together. Hotch and Reid was observing them and how they interacted.
Just before they started the individual interviews they got the message form Garcia. They were both relieved at least now they had something to fish for in the interview. Without ever discussing it they knew who the first parent that would be interviewed.
"Mr Pauling, if you don't mind can you come with me?"
He looked up. He was having a deep conversation with his wife. Everyone suddenly looked at him as if he was guilty. Hotch ever vigilant noticed and sensed a riot brewing fast
"Please everyone stay calm will be doing some short interviews with all of you." Hotch commanded and with that followed Mr. Pauling out of the room.
"Sir if you could just take a seat." Hotch pointed to one chair and then he went around the table to another chair but he didn't sit down. He leaned on the table and stared at the man.
"Your daughter was beaten and murdered. I would think you would do anything to catch the SOB who did that. But you haven't told us everything have you?" Hotch stared the man down.
"I don't know what you mean." The man muttered and shifted in the chair.
"Sir, please don't mess with us. We are working around the clock on this case we are doing everything we can, throwing all I resources we have at this case and you have the nerve to sit there and lie to me." Hotch shook his head. He was beyond exasperated.
"Ok look it is not what you think. I use to own a small company of about three plumbers and myself. But I had an accident. My son he wasn't born blind. He was at work me one day and I turned my back for two minutes and he had spilt bleach all over his hands. I still don't know how he had got his hands on the bottle. But when I saw him I started yelling and he had started crying. I never even saw it, never crossed my mind but when he was crying he was rubbing his eyes. Then he started screaming and screaming. It took me far longer than I care to admit to realise what was making him so upset. The bleach was burning his eyes ball. I tried to wash it out but it was too late." The man looked so defeated he clearly carried a lot of guilt about the day.
"Ok but why did you move and change your name?"
"I didn't straight away. But one of the other plumber's wife filed a lawsuit and tried to get my little boy taken away from me. It got so bad the plumber in the end left. But there was so much publicity and everyone had an opinion. We just couldn't get away from it. Business was falling apart we were being harassed at home by neighbours and press. We just didn't know what to do so we left. We moved away but the story had so much momentum we were still recognised so we moved again and this time we changed our name and gave ourselves a full fresh start."
"Ok sir thank you for telling us I don't feel at this point it effect any one else in the case so I won't tell any of the other families."
"Thank you." The man sobbed.
"Ok I have a few more questions. Do you know any of the other parents prior to this case? Do you recognise any of them from the centre for the blind and deaf?"
"Yeah I know Mrs Baryon. She helps out at the centre regularly. I met Ms Blake once before. She came once to sort out some finances I think or something. I'm not sure exactly but we talked for a bit because we were both waiting for Mrs Baryon. I don't think I know the other family." he finished with a half shrug.
"Ok that is all thank you very much" Hotch said politely and walked the man back to the waiting room.
But as they were coming up to room police men were running in and there were shouts coming out of the room. The two men picked up the pace and ran towards the room.
Mrs Blake and Mrs. Pauling were having a huge argument.
"What did your husband do?" Ms Blake sobbed.
"He didn't do anything. The FBI wants to interview everyone. Not just my husband." yelled Mrs. Pauling back.
"I lost my child, my little girl. I have no one else. Did your husband have something to do with this?" shouted Ms Blake.
"You lost your girl. Well I lost my little boy. So you're not the only one ok! But my husband did touch your girl. He didn't even know your girl."
"Well your wrong. I have met your husband before."
"What?"
At this point Hotch and Mr. Pauling ran into the room.
"Everyone stop talking and stay where you are." Hotch commanded the whole room.
Everyone obeyed instantly.
Hotch surveyed the room. "Ok Ms Blake I understand you are very upset and are going through a tough time. But so is everyone else in this room. At this point in time we have no reason to suspect anyone in this room including Mr. Pauling. Our intention of bringing everyone here was to try and establish a connection between all of you. We feel we have done so, so please can you all go home and please try to relax."
"I'm no fool. It is no coincidence you only interviewed one person. Your husband is involved with this. He is, I know it." Ms Blake sobbed and before anyone could blink she lashed out and slapped Mrs. Pauling. Mrs. Pauling went down hard thought more from shock than force.
The cops rushed in to restrain Ms. Blake and Mr. Pauling rushed to his wife's side. Hotch was suddenly regretting putting seven highly emotional semi strangers in one room for so long.
"Mr and Mrs Baryon could you please just go home. If we have any news we will contact you. Thank you"
They left with more than one glance back. Hotch waited for a few minutes. The last thing he needed was another fight breaking out in the hall. Then he asked Mr. and Mrs O'Connor to leave.
Hotch then turned his attention to Mrs. Pauling. "Do you want to press charges against Ms. Blake?"
Mrs. Pauling took a long appraising look at Ms. Blake and with a sigh said "No we have all been through enough. I don't want to go through more legal proceedings and I know Ms. Blake is a decent woman normally. I understand her grief." The woman finished with a shrug and then asked "can we leave now?"
"Yes Mrs Pauling you and your husband can leave. Let me walk you out."
Hotch nodded to one of the cop implying him to stay with Ms. Blake and then he followed the Paulings out.
"Thank you for not pressing charges. I know she was wrong for slapping you and she would almost definitely have been found guilty considering she did it in front of loads of cops but I don't think she really meant it. She lost her husband a few years ago. Now her daughter I think she is really struggling with all her emotions and grief."
"I get that I do. But so are we. I didn't lose my husband thank God but we have had such a hard life and it feels like it was all for nothing. Everything we did was for our son and now he is gone. What is the point in anything?"
They had reached the door of the station, they said their goodbyes and what not, and then Hotch returned to the interview room to get Reid. Hotch filled Reid in on what happened on the way to the waiting room.
"Ms Blake as I said before we all understand you are going through hell right now but we cannot condone you assaulting Mrs. Pauling or anyone for that matter. If you feel you are losing control, would you consider counselling? It could help you find some peace and maybe resolve some issues you have."
Ms. Blake just looked at him dead panned and numb. "How am I supposed to find peace with my daughter's murder? I don't want to stop feeling the pain because then she is truly gone. I won't do it. Can I go now?"
"Of course but first could I just ask you one question how did you know Mr. Pauling before today?"
"He was at the centre for the deaf and blind. Our children also met. I had my girl with me that day and his son attends the centre so he was there. We both had meeting with Mrs. Baryon."
"What were you doing there?"
"My boss was donating money to the centre. But he missed the postman so he thought since it is on my way home I could drop it in for him so they get it before the weekend. So I think it was a Thursday. That way they had Friday to process it."
"Ok thank you very much for coming down. If we have any news we will call you. If you think of anything that would be helpful please call us any time."
She merely nodded and walked away.
Hotch and Reid stared at each other. "It is looking more and more like the centre is where the unsub is picking up the children." Reid observed.
"We need to confirm all children were at the centre. I wonder how Morgan and Prentiss are getting on"
"I'll give them a ring" Reid offered and went to do that.
"Hey Morgan. We are just wondering how you are getting on?"
"Hey Reid we are just finished here. We are heading back to the station. We think we might have a possible unsub. We are bringing in Ms. X. to get a picture of him form her by an artist."
They talked for another few minutes filling each other in on what was going on and then they ended the call.
"We'll see you in ten or so"
"Bye"
"Hotch, Morgan and Prentiss think they are onto something. They have an unsub linked to the parents and the centre. He is a plumber for both. He wants to ask if this guy has visited any of the other victims."
"He is a plumber!" Hotch and Reid's mind both instantly went to Mr. Pauling. Did they just let their unsub walk out of here?
"Ok let me know when everyone is back. We need a team debriefing and I think then we will be ready to give a profile." Hotch told Reid.
Reid nodded and went to talk to JJ who he had spotted earlier when he was on the phone to Morgan.
