Washington DC

November 13 2014

10:00 P.M. (7:00 pm in Las Vegas)

-Hoover Building-

Special Agent Catherine Willows is the Night Shift Supervisor and Senior Supervisor in the High Profile/Serial/Classified department of the FBI. She had to not only go through her paper work but also the paper worked turned in by the Day Shift Supervisor and Swing Shift Supervisor. The job also consisted of going to more meetings and coming to work on Holidays sometimes. One reason she took the job was because Holidays were no longer special for her. Nothing was really special for her anymore.

She had become a Grissom. At least the Grissom she used to know. Drawn back and hidden in her office as much as possible. Work the case without emotion. Nothing but her job mattered to her anymore. Oh she still had the people side to her. She got along when she needed to. And she played politics well. She talked to people when needed. But she would never reveal personal information. At least not too many people. Her team, her sister and brother-in-law/boss are the only people who knew what went on in her life.

Over the past seven years she hardly changed in her appearance. In fact many people wondered if she had aged at all. Sure she had a couple more wrinkles and a scar from the crash a couple years ago. She even had longer hair that now rested just above her elbows. Her eyes were still blue but they now longer sparkled. They were the only signs of her age really. Her constant barriers may be up but her eyes showed her age. They held her knowledge, her hidden emotions, the torment she has been through, and her lose. But no one seemed to have the key to her soul. No one could make them sparkle like they did when Lindsey or Alex where around or even mentioned. Now it was basically a sin to mention the two.

Special Agent Willows stood in her office doorway looking into the office room her team was gathered in. The office room was a large room with a bunch of desks in it. One door lead into a hallway and the side facing the hallway was labeled with there departments title and shift. Three other doors in the hall lead to three other rooms. One a conference room, one was the Day Shift office room, and the third was the Swing Shift office room. Each office room looking the same.

Another door in the room led into their personal locker room. The locker room had a total of eight lockers and three doors. The lockers were aligned four to a wall with a single bench in front of each set of lockers. The door that obviously leads back into the office room was halfway between the two benches and across from the other two doors. When you look into the locker room the door to your right led to the shower stales, a total of four stales with dress rooms. The door to the left led to the bathroom where only four regular stales and two urinals in stales. In the main locker room there were three full body mirrors and then small mirrors in each locker.

The last door in the room was directly opposite that leading into the hallway and led into her office. Her office was pretty big. It was as wide as the bigger office room and it was about ten feet in length. There were two desks and two other doors in this office. The door she was standing at split the room in half. Her office was serving as a double office. It was meant for the Supervisor and Assistant Supervisor (AS).

Her side of the office was to the right and the AS was to the left. Though the office was as wide as the bigger office there were walls on either side that made it considerably shorter. Behind each desk was a door leading into there own person bathrooms. It was mandatory that each shift have a Supervisor and an AS and that one had to be male and the other female. So one of the bathrooms had a urinal, obviously not hers, and the other did not. Her bathroom had a single stale, a sink, a full length mirror, a locker, and a shower stale. The male bathroom had the same just with a urinal stale.

She had two bookshelves on either side of her bathroom door both piled with books, awards, and one had a radio on it. On her walls was her Bachelor's Degree from WLVU, other certificates, awards, and five photos. One photo was of her team, another was of her with her sister and Mike, one was her, Randy and Jon, the fourth was of Lindsey, Alex, and Jon, and the fifth was one of her, though the rest of the picture was folded back and hidden. No one had the guts to ask what the rest of the photo was. IN front of her desk were four comfortable chairs. She had two three cushion couches in the office, one was placed near the four chairs just in case she had extra guests and the other was placed behind her desk between a bookshelf and a wall so it was stuck in the corner. There was a pillow and blanket on it for when she ended up staying in the office.

Each office had eight desks, most were unused but no one would remove them because new people were always coming in and sometimes they had to team up. Only four desks were used in this office. The eight desks were moveable to put how people were comfortable. Theirs was simple. The four being used took up the corner to her right and formed a square. The four unused ones formed a square in the corner to her left. That was like there conference table. It also served as there game table.

The shifts were allowed to bring in what ever they personally wanted and sometimes even held competitions. At the moment a Thanksgiving themed competition was going on in the department. So far they were the only ones who have started decorating. They decorated daily actually. What her team had brought in for them was two book shelves holding books, CDs, a radio, and a couple other things. The two book shelves were opposite the locker room. On one side of the two book shelves were a large cork board and a dry erase board. On the other side was a large cork board. On the cork board was a dart board, and a couple photos of criminals (either wanted or caught) with dart holes in them.

They also brought in a television set including DVD player, a PS2, an X-Box, and Nintendo. The four drawers on the television stand were all labeled. One was for the DVDs they played sometimes, especially when they had to interview a group of people at once or bring in there kids. One was for the games those people and they played. Another was for the case videos they had (news recordings, interviews, security tapes) for active cases. The fourth was for personal videos, like home videos or videos there families sent them when they were far away, and for unused videos. The television was in the corner diagonal the used desks and had a couple bean bags placed in front of them.

In the corner diagonal of the unused desks was a small kitchen. In the corner was the refrigerator that held sodas, there lunches, leftovers, water bottles, and in the fridge section there was ice cream, ice cream cake, microwaveable meals, frozen snacks, excreta. Next to the fridge was a cupboard, a counter with a sink and more cupboards, microwave, toaster, and a toaster oven. The cupboard, counter, and sink were all put in by the men though she and the other female had to keep giving the instructions. A table was put in front of the counter.

To the right of her office door was a square table used for incoming and outgoing mail. Two mail boxes outside the door in the hallway were where there mail was retrieved from. Each member of the team had there own incoming box but all shared a box to put there outgoing mail in. Last to leave the room normally placed there outgoing mail in the outgoing mailbox.

A smaller table next to it and right next to her doorframe was for paperwork. It was particularly for the supervisors. When one of the subordinates finished there paperwork they placed it in their cubby so she or Randy could bring it into their office. Then Randy would go over their paperwork, finish his, and put them on her desk. From then it was her responsibility. She had to go over all the paper work, even checked hers, though the subordinates should be okay by the time Randy finished with them. When she finished reviewing them they went into her personal outgoing box for her supervisor, which was her district AS.

It was also her responsibility to do all evaluations for her team, her AS, and the supervisors of the other two shifts. Being the senior supervisor she also had to go over all the other supervisors' paperwork before it was given to the District AS. So underneath the mailboxes outside was a small table with a two different cubbies on it. One for Swing paper work and another for Days. Which she also had a small cubby on her desk for those.

Once a month her team filled out a supervisory evaluation which Randy turned into the District AS who would review them, give them to the District Supervisor, and then the two would do their own personal evaluation. She never knew which one would be doing it or when it would be. Once she had come in dressed in her pajamas since she was sick. The District Supervisor had been searching for her and found her asleep on her corner couch. Funny part is he rescheduled the evaluation and personally drove her home.

The night shift had begun three hours ago and they for the first time in a long time had no cases to work on … yet. Everyone was dressed the same nearly. All in black suits, females either in skirts or pants Catherine opting for the skirt, and with white suit shirts under there jackets. Each had a badge, a government issued gun, a pager, and there cell phones clipped to there belt. This particular shift consisted of six people.

Special Agent Randall Black was the AS of this shift and was currently absent from the group. His assistance had been needed on a classified case in another district, where she wasn't told just he would be gone for awhile. All she knew was he had been gone for an entire month now and still she hadn't heard from him. No one gave her any information and she couldn't find any either.

Special Agent Drake Hambrick was a young military looking FBI agent. He had black hair that was cut military style and beautiful green eyes. Every day he went to the gym and worked out keeping his muscles firm and his body healthy and ready for work. He had removed his suit jacket and was playing a game of darts, not at the dart board but the blank face with a question mark, the suspect for their latest unsolved case. Drake was 37 years old and the third oldest on the team.

Special Agent Marsha Killings was a young 30 year old female agent who loved to have fun. She was wearing a pant suit unlike Catherine. Her waist length soft curly, but straight at the moment, dirty blonde hair was pulled back in a pony tail right now. The black boots she had were off her feet and sitting on top of her desk along with her suit jacket. Hardly any make-up was on her face, instead she went natural. She is a heterochromatic with one blue eye and one hazel eye. At the moment she was sitting crosslegged on one of the bean bags playing a car racing PS2 game.

Special Agent Mark Jones was another one of her team at the rip age of 34. He was not your traditional FBI agent. He had brown hair that reached slightly below his shoulders and was always tied back at the base of his skull. Though he wore suits he liked to throw a little of himself in by wearing odd ties. The one he wore today for example had a Thanksgiving theme to it with turkeys all over it. He too had ridded himself of his jacket and loosen his tie. He went with Drake to the gym, both sometimes accompanied by Randy. He was sitting next to Marsha playing against her.

Special Agent Jonathan Black was the newest and youngest member of there team. Though he was only 26 years old the FBI put him here. She figured because his dad and she worked here. He had short dirty blonde, slightly messy, and curled hair. His eyes were a brown like his dads. At the moment he was playing darts against Drake and winning.

Music was playing from the radio in the main office and soft classical music was playing from her radio. They couldn't hear it but she could. Why she started listening to classical music all of a sudden she didn't know. Marsha looked up at her curiously, whispered something to Mark while putting her controller down. Catherine watched as she stood and walked over to her. When she reached her she crossed her arms.

"Hey boss woman," Marsha said with a smile. "You look lonely all the way over here."

"You want to talk," Catherine smirked.

"You are good at your job," she replied. Turning Catherine entered her office. After Marsha walked in she shut the door only leaving a crack. She knew the guys wouldn't try to listen in on there private conversation, otherwise they would be very sorry. Walking around her desk she sat down in her chair. Marsha took the couch in the corner, sitting in the farthest cushion away from the bookshelf. Turning her chair so it faced her she leaned back slightly. "You sure Agent Black should be here."

"He applied for this job," she responded.

"Did you get him the job?"

"Marsha I just told Andy I would love to have another team member," she sighed. "What did you really want to talk about?"

"Well," she looked nervous. "Okay I know we aren't supposed to date the lab techs and stuff but well he's cute what do you expect."

"I won't tell if you won't," she was smiling big now. "What is it?"

"Okay well Josh was reading the paper," she said leaning forward. "He works prints during swing. He got a hit."

"He should tell swing then not you."

"Well this hit is for our shift," she responded. "The Circle Killer."

"You're kidding right," Catherine sighed. "So we have three more dead female bodies. But that case has been closed for three months. No one was supposed to run anything on it for another year or two."

"He wasn't," she replied. "Like I said he was reading. Anytime another lab runs prints or DNA or anything and it is matched to an open or closed unsolved or solved case the lab here picks it up. The DC FBI crime lab is the …"

"Main one," she finished. "So another case someone is going to be taken over by us," while she was talking she was standing and walking into her bathroom. Marsha knowing what she was probably doing stayed where she was.

"Yeah," she said. "But the problem is I can't be first to know you have to be."

"I'll casually call up Josh and ask how things our going," she responded. "He will tell me. He knows I have to be first informed probably told you because he was happy."

"He didn't give me the details only said he got a hit," she said. "So I don't know anything yet."

"Hey you told me right," she stepped out now in slacks. "Look we all end up dating a lab tech sooner or later. It's no big deal."

"You have to put it down in my evaluation though," she mumbled. "It could ruin my career."

"Not unless Mike wants to ruin his also," she replied. "I could tell you so much about Mike you would be shocked. No one is perfect. Sooner or later you break the rules. Lab techs aren't supposed to date the agents because some give that agent special treatment. Nearly every business in America has a rule like that. Bosses don't date secretaries but hey look how many marriages are ruined."

"So you're not going to put it in my evaluation?"

"Nope," she reached for her phone dialing a number. "Hey Josh?" She waited a moment. "Yeah this is Agent Willows … oh really … that's good. Can you send me the information please … thanks kid bye." She winked. "Short and simple."

"Shall we get started," Marsha jumped up and skipped out of the room. The others looked at her confused.

"Alright team we have a case to work," Catherine called entering the room. All began moving around getting straight. The whole time they listened. "The Circle Killer is back at large. Where? I don't yet know that. What I do know is it is most likely out of the DC area. You have …" A knock at the door interrupted her. "Enter!"

"Agent Willows," a slightly nervous looking intern said rushing over.

"Thanks kid," she took the file as he rushed out. After the door shut she heard a bit of laughter. "No joking the new intern. Okay," she looked at the file. "You have two hours to get home say your goodbyes, leave notes for a girlfriend or boyfriend, pack, and get to the jet hanger. If you are late you're left behind lets go people we got a killer to catch. Briefing on the plane."

-12:00 A.M. Eastern Time-

Catherine stood outside of the jet, her team already on, talking to Mike. She had given him a quick briefing so he could inform her supervisor who was away sick at the moment. "Mike thanks for loaning the jet … again."

"Anytime Cat," he gave her a hug. "But if you want to come home by it give me a call. Pilot has been instructed to fly back immediately."

"Understood," she laughed. "Got a team to brief," she rushed up the steps which the pilots closed behind her. Mike began walking away as the plane moved down the runway. After they where in the air she began to update her team. "Okay guys our guy has struck again. First he struck in DC, then in New York, and last time it was Miami. We all got nice tans then didn't we? Well now he has struck the city of Las Vegas."

"Wahoo," Drake said holding up a hand. "Is this guy stupid? Las Vegas has the number two crime lab in the country. The main crime lab of the FBI coming in first."

"And yet we haven't gotten him," she responded.

"Well that's because we haven't been using our labs," Mark responded. "FBI didn't take the first case in DC. We only got the case when he hit the Big Apple. Each time he hit we only got informed a couple days later so we had to deal with the local crime labs. Horatio Caine's team helped in Miami. Detective Mac Taylor from New York led the case till we came and took it. And then the local lab here worked it till we took over. So we haven't really used our lab yet. New York is 14th on the list, Miami the 13th, and DC comes in at 15th. As Drake said Las Vegas is the number 2 crime lab in this country."

"You're right," Catherine smirked. "Something changed him and we have to find out what. But first I'm going to brief you on what we know. The Circle Killer has killed a total of twelve women so far. Three fresh corps found in Sin City. The bodies were found at least a week after there death in the basement of … household unknown right now. Anyways they were found in a basement by an Officer Johnson who responded to the call of a neighbor who said something smelt weird. He searched her house, the occupied neighbor's house, and last this abandoned house coming upon three bodies. How we got that information but not the house I don't know. Anyways the case is being worked by the Night Shift, which conveniently is going two hours into shift. Aren't we lucky?"

"Uh … sure," Jon said receiving laughs. "Can I get more information though?"

"Yeah you are new to the case anyways," Marsha said. "It's simple really. Some wacko is going around killing 20 to 21 year old females. All of them have waist length strawberry blonde hair and I quote from coroner Alexx Woods 'Miami Ocean blue eyes'. This guy kidnaps his victims and keeps them till he gets bored. The ones from DC had been kept for two weeks. New York was kept for four weeks. Our record so far is Miami for five weeks. If he keeps moving up it could possibly become a year. After he gets bored he kills them and lays them on their backs, holding hands above their heads forming a circle."

"Any suspects yet," Drake asked. "Anyone have a suspect?"

"No suspects yet," Catherine informed. "Horatio and Mac call me once a week for updates on there ends. They haven't closed the cases completely yet and continue to search for information. I believe Horatio has found a DNA sample at the old crime scene. It's from hair. He called me last night to inform me."

"Hey guys I noticed something," Jon said.

"Yeah," they chorused waiting.

"Well time zones," he looked around the room at the confused faces. Catherine's face lit up after a couple seconds with a smile. He sighed glad someone understood. "Continental America is split into four time zones. Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific. The first three scenes were in the Eastern Time zone. This one is all the way over in the Pacific Time zone."

"That's right," Drake said. "We hadn't been searching that far for other cases because we got three in our time zone. Had no reason to figure he would jump to another time zone. It's possible we are missing two other crime scenes."

"No we would be informed by the print each scene gets. The main lab is informed of matches to unsolved case we have going," Catherine informed. "Go back to your poker game or get some rest. Time differences are hard to get accustomed to."