A Criminal Love Story
Part Eleven
"Why do so many women want to cut you, cracker?" Jules asked after she punched the attacker and knocked the knife out of her hand. A few feet away Emily stared in disbelief at her cell mate then at the woman two guards were walking away with. It was Laney Collins.
"I don't know." Emily finally answered Jules and looked at her. "You saved my life. Thank you."
"No problem." Jules replied and pointed at the end of the hall where the guards were leading Laney to a solitary confinement cell. "She's a crazy bitch. I always watch my back when I see her around."
"The drama is over." A guard yelled at the group of prisoners standing in the hall. "Keep moving."
"Prentiss, are you okay?" Morgan asked as he quickly approached her.
"Who's Prentiss?" Jules asked.
"I'll tell you later." Emily answered. "Thanks again."
As Jules and the other prisoners walked towards their cells Emily stayed with her colleague in the hall. The profiler was glad she was finished with the undercover assignment and relieved the case was done. She looked forward to going home and spending time with Jennifer.
"Are you okay?" Morgan repeated his earlier question.
"Yes." Emily answered with a nod. "Next time you guys use me as bait to get the UnSub warn me first."
"Collins isn't the UnSub." Morgan said and lead Emily down the hall. "But we're done in here. The UnSub tried to kill someone outside the prison."
"Where's JJ?" Emily asked.
"She's already out." Morgan answered and looked over at the brunette. "What's going on between you and her? Don't tell me you're just friends. I don't believe that line."
"I'll let you know when I have time to figure it out." Emily said and jokingly added, "You know I've been a little busy lately with fighting and almost getting killed."
***
In the prison administrative room where the BAU was set up Penelope Garcia stood up and rushed towards the door when Jennifer walked in. The computer expert hugged her friend tight. "I'm so happy to see you, kitten." Garcia said as they stepped apart. "How are you?"
"A lot better now. I missed you too." Jennifer answered and smiled. "Where's everyone else?" She specifically wanted to know about Emily, but the empty room made her curious about the rest of the team.
"The guys will be here soon. They've been at the hospital with the woman who was attacked. It's a miracle she survived." Garcia explained as she returned to the chair in front of her laptop. "Derek is breaking Emily out of the big house as we speak."
"Good." Jennifer replied and looked forward to seeing the brunette profiler.
"I just made a fresh pot of coffee, honey." Garcia said and pointed to the table in the corner where the coffee was. "I figured you and Emily would want it."
"Garcia." Hotch said as he walked in the room followed by Reid and Rossi. The team leader nodded to greet Jennifer who was pouring a cup of coffee then continued talking. "Check the system for any female prison employees that were scheduled to work today, but didn't show up."
"Yes, Sir." Garcia said and began checking the prison's employee records on the computer.
"Terri Sullivan told us a woman attacked her then kidnapped the former prison warden, Gail Wilson." Hotch explained to Jennifer. "The UnSub claimed to be in love with Miss Wilson."
"No one fit's the search criteria." Garcia said grimly. "All of the female employees were at work today."
"What about prisoners who were released since the last murder?" Reid suggested.
"There were five." Garcia said after finding the list of released inmates. The computer expert read the names of the former prisoners out loud.
"It's Shannon Marconi." Emily said from the doorway when she heard the last name on the list. Her sudden presence in the room made Jennifer smile. "I met her in the infirmary." Emily said. "She told me she had plans with someone special after her release."
"Find out everything you can about her." Hotch said to Garcia then turned to Rossi. "Ask Warden Harris who picked up Marconi when she was released and if she left anything in her cell."
"Do you want the media notified?" Jennifer asked.
"Yes." Hotch answered. "Set up a tip line at the local police station. Ask the press to interrupt their broadcasts and show photos of Gail Wilson and Shannon Marconi." The team leader's next order was to Morgan. "Go with JJ to the police station. Tell them the search is going to need all the manpower they have."
As Jennifer walked towards the door Emily stepped out of her way. Their hands touched briefly then they reluctantly ended the contact. It was going to be a long day they would have preferred spending talking to each other instead of searching for the UnSub. Before Jennifer left the room she turned towards Emily and gave her the cup of coffee in her hand. The profiler took it and smiled.
