Derek could feel bile rise in his throat. He had to fight like hell not to vomit in front of his BAU family. Penelope noticed how green Derek looked. She quickly got out of her chair, and sat Derek down.
Derek took a few calming breaths and said, "You don't think she would go after my mother do you?"
Hotch quietly said, "Derek it may be a coincidence but at this point I wouldn't rule anything out."
Derek quickly said, "Hotch I have to get to my mother and sister."
Hotch replied, "Derek what I need for you to do is call your old contacts at the Chicago PD. We need to get some units out there immediately."
Derek on wobbly legs stood up and reached for the phone settled on the conference room table. He dialed the numbers, and spoke with an old detective buddy of his.
"Mike it's me Derek."
"Hey man how have you been?"
Derek rubbed his hand roughly over his head and said, "Not good."
Mike replied, "What's up?"
"There is a crazy woman going after my mother. I believe my section chief is going to go after her."
Mike was flabbergasted. Mike cleared his thoughts and said, "Derek what do we need to do?"
Derek said, "I am going to have my girlfriend dig up all she can about this lunatic. I will have the information uploaded on your pda."
"Shit you have the ability to do that."
Derek smiled just a little and said, "My baby girl is amazing."
"Oh that baby girl."
Mike said, "I am going to go ahead and send two unmarked cars towards your mothers. Also get me a description of your section chief to make sure we have the right person. Derek I will personally make sure your mother and sister stay safe. You know after that whole thing with Buford went down, your mom personally made sure the youth center stayed open."
"Hey Mike."
"Yeah Derek."
Derek with a touch of emotion in his voice said, "Please protect them. I am too far away right now to get to them."
"Derek I would guard them with my life."
"Thanks man."
By the time Derek hung up the phone, Penelope had already sent the picture of Susan Lynch and Erin Strauss to the Chicago PD. She had also dug up some very interesting information about a young Susan Lynch.
Derek tried several times to call his sister and his mother and both phones went to voicemail. Derek could feel the bile rise and this time he could stomach it. He went to the nearest trash can and threw up.
Penelope's heart was breaking. Penelope thought if something happened to Derek's family it would be all her fault.
Derek grabbed a cup of water took a swig and spit it out.
Hotch and Rossi came over to the agent. Rossi held Derek up, and helped him walk over to a chair near Penelope.
Derek looked at Penelope and said, "What did you find?"
Susan Grayson Lynch had spent most of her childhood institutionalized. She was an orphan by the time she was ten, and had become a ward of the state.
Susan Grayson's parents died in a mysterious fire, because they didn't have forensics like they do now the local fire department couldn't conclude that it was arson.
Penelope began to read. "Fire Chief Francis Gifford suspected the fire set to the Grayson home was the result of arson, but because there was no physical evidence other than where the burn patter started, they couldn't find a suspect."
Something popped into Derek's head.
Derek looked over at Penelope and asked, "Baby girl this maybe an uncomfortable question, but did Kevin sometimes treat you more like a mother than a girlfriend?"
Penelope bit her bottom lip. Looking back she really was more like his mother. She had to remind him to chew with his mouth closed, or tuck his shirt in, hell she even had to leave the hallway light on for him so he wouldn't get scared.
Penelope nodded yes. She explained to the room what she meant.
Penelope went back to digging.
Derek received a call from his detective friend Mike.
"Mike what is going on?"
"Well we see to sedans parked near your mother's house. One is government issued, and one looks to belong to your Mrs. Lynch."
Derek felt darkness swallow him whole.
Hotch barked, "Garcia keep digging. JJ go get me a medic."
Hotch picked up the phone from Derek's loose grasp and said, "Hello Mike this is SSA Hotchner."
"Hello agent Hotchner. What happened to Derek?"
"Honestly he passed out. This is way too stressful for him. Can you give me an update on what is going on?"
Mike began to explain.
In Chicago…..
Erin Strauss looked at her tablet to make sure she had the right address. She looked up and down the street and located Susan Lynch's late modeled Mercedes.
Erin parked her car down the street; she reached into the glove compartment, and grabbed the service revolver. She put the gun in its shoulder holster and slid her jacked on.
Erin quietly made her way to the front of Fran Morgan's home. She ducked below the front window and peaked inside. Erin saw a tied up and crying Fran Morgan, and what Erin assumed to be Derek's sister was staring daggers at a figure in front of them.
Erin took a deep breath. She wasn't sure exactly how to proceed. Erin started walking behind Fran's house. She found that the back door was unlocked.
Erin quietly walked through Fran Morgan's kitchen. Even though Fran clearly had less money than she did, her house actually felt like a home, and Erin would be damned if this home was covered in this family's blood.
Erin shifted behind the doorway of Fran's kitchen and waited for her shot.
Erin could hear Susan yell at Fran.
Susan screamed, "Your son is a thief and a bastard. He stole my son's girlfriend. She belongs to Kevin."
Desiree shot Susan Lynch a look so cold that even Susan took a step back. Desiree said, "You are a crazy ass bitch. Did it ever occur to you that your son lost Penelope because if he is anything like you, he is a complete and total fucking lunatic?"
Susan started rubbing her temples with her fingers. "DON'T CALL ME CRAZY."
Just then Susan heard sirens outside. She went to the window, and saw FBI agents, and local cops pull up in a screeching halt.
Susan turned to Fran and said, "How did you call them? Tell me."
Fran softly said, "I didn't. You tied us up before I could get to the phone."
Susan seemed to smile at Fran. She walked closer to Fran.
Susan sneered into Fran's face and said, "I bet you think you are a good mother. I can tell you that you are a horrible mother. You know your caveman son beat up my sweet little boy, and now I have to kill his mommy."
Desiree struggled against her binding. Through gritted teeth Des said, "You touch one fucking hair on my mother and I swear-"
A shot rang out. Susan Lynch stumbled backwards and slumped against the door.
Erin with a steel resolve held the revolver up making sure she didn't need to take another shot.
Susan raised her gun and pointed it at Erin and gurgled out, "Not like this."
Susan tried to squeeze the trigger but everything went black.
Erin ran over to Susan and stood over her quickly slumping body. She could tell that the wound she had inflicted was not fatal.
Erin quickly untied Fran and Desiree and told them to go upstairs.
Fran and Desiree were too shocked to say anything.
The two women headed towards the stairs swiftly.
Erin called out, "After the shot you may come down stairs. We need to let the police in soon."
Both women nodded in silence and ran upstairs.
Erin stood over Susan who started to come to. Without a word Erin put a bullet right between Susan's eyes.
Desiree and Fran came down stairs.
Erin dropped the gun, put her hands up, and let the police in.
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