[Disclaimer - I do not own Criminal Minds or their characters, but I do own any characters or plots I have made up]
Part 2.
The team had landed in Pennsylvania and been driven to the Local police station to meet with the lead police officer on the case.
After the general meet and greet of the police officers and the profilers, they quickly got to work – splitting up into teams to work faster.
Morgan, Reid and Sam went to the only family member left of Jan Timmins, her brother Mark Timmins while Rossi, JJ, Hotch and Emily stayed back at the police, going over the victimology.
"Jan Timmins, was 37 years old has been in and out of rehab since she was the age of 17. Her Mother raised herself and Mark alone while the Father ran out on them" Reid read as he sat in the passenger seat of car while Morgan drove.
"Was there ever a missing persons report made about Jan?" Sam asked as they pulled infront of a shady looking two story house.
Reid answered as they hopped out of the black SUV, making their way to the front door "She was reported missing from a friend from Rehab, after 6 days"
Sam stopped abruptly, facing the two men "So her own brother who she lives with, didn't file the report?"
Reid shrugged while Morgan took off his sunglasses, taping his fist on the door "We shall find out why he didn't then"
Back at the police station, Garcia had emailed the team all the information she had found on the victims, but had also found more victims from over the past 10 years.
"So, we have these random victims – of different age and sex and a theory about sins? I'm not convinced Hotch" Emily said, throwing the pictures of the crime scenes on the table infront of the team.
"But they've all been tortured and killed by either strangulation or asphyxiation. I don't think this is just a coincidence Emily" Rossi pointed out, looking at the team leader who was pondering his own thoughts.
"But this last victim, Jan Timmins seems to have had more pain inflicted on her, maybe the Unsub knew her?" JJ took a whim, as she wasn't a Profile, but had learnt some tricks over the years. Hotch nodded, looking at his watch
"The others should be back soon from the brothers house, we'll wait to see what they have to say".
Mark Timmins answered the door wearily, peering from behind the chained lock "Mr Timmins, we're from the Behavioural analyse Unit of the FBI. We're here to ask you a few questions about your sister's death" Morgan said with all formality.
Mark paused for a moment, then slowly unhooked the chain from the door "What do ya want to know?" he said, only looking at Morgan and Reid, never to Sam until she spoke to him "We'd like to know, why did it take 6 days for your sister to be reported missing when you lived with her?"
Morgan gave her a warning look, she had taken charge too soon and Mark had been taken back by her non subtley.
"What my colleague means to ask is, why didn't you report your sister missing?"
Mark pulled back his fringe which was covering his eyes, while Sam was losing her patience "It's not a hard question Mr Timmins"
Reid looked at Morgan, not knowing what to say but Sam already knew – she left the two men to talk to the brother while she walked back over to the car. As she watched on, a young man probably in his year 20's appeared, who looked as though he had seen a ghost when he looked at her.
"Hey" Sam called out, quickening her walk to catch up the kid, who had turned to go back where he had come from.
"Whats the rush?" she asked, getting a foot ahead of him. The young man, kept looking back at Mark Timmins house, looking as though he was shaking.
"Are you's here investigating the deaths? Like Marks sister?"
Sam nodded, and her gut instinct told her this kid knew something about these murders but was too spooked to say anything.
"My names Sam Walker, I'm with the FBI" she said with the warmest smile she could form. The young man finally met her eyes, smiling shyly then looked away again
"James" was all he said when suddenly, Sam heard 2 other male voices, yelling from across the street.
"What are ya doin' love?" asked one of the men as they both approached Sam and James. Sam looked back over to the house, spotting that Morgan and Reid were on their way towards her.
"He asked you a question" said the other man, with a cunning smirk across his face. The first man who had spoken was obviously the man in charge, Sam got that all in just the way he walked and had spoken.
Morgan and Reid were at her side, showing off their authority, Morgan more so than Reid "We're from the FBI..." Reid started to stutter while the second man who spoke, laughed, beginning to tower over the fragile looking agent.
"Arghhh FBI aye" said the leader, crossing his arms over his chest "Does this have anything to do with Jan Timmins goin' missin'? I heard they found her body in a barrel"
Morgan stared down the man for a second, starting to loose his cool at the way the man had just said the victims name.
"I'm Agent Morgan, this is Agents Reid and Walker, we're from the Behaviour Analyse Unit. Can you tell me what you knew about Jan Timmins?"
The second man scoffed, looking to the other for permission to pretty much talk "She was a rat bag, drugo and a waste of space"
The first man looked at his friend, giving him a certain look as though he had said too much then faced the Agents again
"We're just 'ere to comfort an old friend on the loss of 'is sister" he said, gesturing for the two men to follow him.
Sam, Reid and Morgan watched on as the two men walked up the path to Mark Timmins house with James, trailing behind them, looking back once more at Sam.
Once the whole team had reunited back at the Police station, Reid told them what they had found out
"Mark Timmins said the only reason why he hadn't reported his sister missing was because she had gone out for weeks and he had thought this was one of her benders again"
Emily, JJ, Rossi and Hotch sat and listened as the others continued "Hotch" Morgan began to take over " I think we're dealing with more than one UnSub. Look at this, it's like a gang" he added, pointing to the white board which was covered with the victims photos
"One man could have not done this by himself, there's too much variety at the torture – different techniques"
"We know these types of gangs – there is always one leader and there are followers. The leader will choose the victim and spend most of the time with them, then when he's done, he'll let the followers have a turn but when he thinks they're having too much fun, he'll take over again and tell them to get rid of the body". Morgan finished, resting against the wall. Reid once again took over "And we also believe this has nothing to do with religion. If you look carefully at the victimology, its very clear" Reid, said glancing at Sam then back to the rest of the team
"Sam had a thought in the car back over here. That the Unsubs may have chosen their victims thinking they were dirty"
Emily looked to Sam, confused at what he saying "What do you mean dirty?"
Sam got up from her chair, walking over to the victim photos, pointing at each individually "They all share a similar quality. The UnSub finds these victims disgusting – homosexual, an addict, over weight. They believe these victims are a waste of space per say. This could demonstrate how they feel about themselves, so they take it out on their victims."
Morgan moved over in between Sam and Reid, looking from the white board to the team "And we think we may have found our UnSubs"
"Okay team, do I have some news for you" Garcia said with usual tone of spunk over Morgans loud speaker
"I looked into the towns and surrounding towns records and found some men that fit your description. There is one named John Benting, who as he was growing up got a bit of record for being a neo nazi and oh you know the usual – poor little animals"
Morgan clapped his hands together "We've found our leader, what else Garcia?" there was silence
"Benting lives with his girlfriend and her son James..." Sam interrupted "Wait, say that again?"
"James Elliot is 19 years old, hasn't got much a record except for the petty stuff."
Sam looked up the photos of the victims with Reid walking up to her
"He was going to tell me something before John and the other guy arrived. I don't think he could be involved..." Sam said trying to convince herself but all the evidence was leading to the gang – John was bringing his 'son' along for the ride.
"Agent Walker, there's a call for you" a police officer showed her to the main phones and she answered it, not knowing what to expect.
"Agent Walker, you need to stop them before they hurt anyone else" the voice said in a hushed tone. Sam had to listen very carefully to hear exactly what the male was saying "They're going to burn the bodies"
It then struck her... "JAMES! Is that you? Look just tell me where you are..." but before he could answer, the phone went dead. Sam yelled out for someone to track where that call had originated from
"I think James just told us where to find John and the others"
The team was on their way to a secluded warehouse off a highway just outside of town "How do you know this is where they'll be?" JJ asked Sam, whose eyes were glued on the road ahead "I just know".
As they got closer and closer to the warehouse, the team pulled out their guns, stopping the cars and running towards the warehouse.
Sam spotted James straight away by the back of the warehouse with John who was holding some gas ready to alight the warehouse
"Stop right there!" Sam called out, leading the others to her location. John looked around at the FBI and police officers surrounding him with their guns aimed at him. James was pulled back by Morgan as John let go of the gas, falling to his knees as Rossi and Hotch handcuffed him.
As the crime scene investigators began to arrive, Sam found herself stil at the back of the warehouse, watching as all the bodies were being moved outside.
Hotch came over, gesturing for her to look over at the police cars as John Benting, Mark Timmins and the third guy whos name was Guy Connely getting told their rights.
Sam rubbed her arms in a comforting matter, contuing to watch the bodies pile up "Hotch I heard about what happened with your wife, I was still in the academy but everyone heard. And some of us just couldn't understand why you stayed?" Sam asked out of the blue, but Hotch understood why she was asking. Sam had lost her sister, Hotch knew exactly how she was feeling. If this job was really worth it.
"Because of my son. I need to help people, save lives and Haley knew that. And I think your sister would want you to do the same thing." Hotch said, lightly placing his hand on her shoulder and walking away.
Sam made her way back over to Morgan who was standing with James who was handcuffed "Why did you call me and let me know where you's were?"
James denied making the call, but before he was put into the car, a smile curved his lips. Sam had no idea why James had given his father figure in...
"James was forced into this life by John, who is a true psychopath. James wanted it to all stop and this was the best he could think of. He reached out to you and you helped him in a way no one else has in his whole life"
When they arrived back in the office, the team were going over their final Profile for the Director while Hotch called Sam into his office.
"Bunting's behaviour lacks emotion and the capacity to empathise with his victims. He fits the profile of a psychopathic killer who derives satisfaction from controlling his victims" Reid explained to the Director, while the other had their input
"We found out that Guy Connely befriended by Bunting in 1991. He was encouraged by Bunting to assist him in the various murders, and complied" Emily sat with her hands neatly together while Rossi took the lead with Mark Timmins "He did not physically kill any of the victims but helped in the disposal of the bodies"
Now the team got the unwanted participant James where Morgan began "Benting lived with Jame's mother and he was gradually drawn into helping with the murders by disposing of the bodies, thinking he had no choice in the matter".
Director Strause nodded as she read over the Profile the BAU were giving her "And what exactly was the motive for the murders?" she asked looking up from the paper, taking off her glasses. Reid cleared his throat "The primary motive was that John Benting had an overwhelming hatred of homosexuals and paedophiles. Bunting surrounded himself by weak and easily manipulated people who also shared the same hatred. He fanned their hatred and bloodlust to let them become willing partners in his murders."
Strause looked as though she had only took in half of what Reid had said so Morgan continued "Bunting, saw a bit of himself in his victims – they were weak so he took them out as a substitute for himself as we think he is also homosexual but will never admit to it".
In Hotch's office, Sam stood near the door as he finished a phone call from Hotch courts "James is going to be the Crowns key witness" he told Sam in confidence from the others. Sam nodded, smiling up at her boss "This means he will only be charged with accessory to the murders, this is good." Sam sighed and was about to leave when Hotch spoke again
"You did a brilliant job Walker, following your instincts with that first glance of James while outside Timmin's house. The BAU are privileged to have you apart of this team and we hope we don't lose you anytime soon."
Sam looked out from Hotch's office , to the members of her team "I'm here to help people, so I'm not going anywhere anytime soon"
Authors Note - Sorry for the late update, I hope you all enjoyed it! Please review and let me know what you thought :)