"Nothing travels faster than light, with the possible exception of badnews, which follows its own rules" - Douglas Adams
"There's good news and badnews. We're definitely nowhere near being out of the woods." - Cynthia Ogden
Not long after the call from Prentiss, Morgan and Fisher made a brief stop at the last ranger station before heading into the old crime scene zone. They left a note on the bulletin board telling who they were and where they were going marking it with the date and time. Morgan also took a few pictures of any other notices just in case. "You gotta use the bathroom before we go, now would be a good time." Morgan looked over at Fisher who was studying a map tacked to the wall showing the local trails. They had both had water on the way up and he for one would go before leaving. But once they were out there if worst came to worst he could walk off into the trees, Fisher not so much. Not that the thought of going out in the woods was a pleasant one.
"Um, yes, I'll be right back," Fisher said and she hurried out the door to the public restrooms just outside the station house.
Morgan took a quick look at the map himself before heading out as well. He made quick use of the facilities and met Fisher back next to the SUV. Let's get going we still have a ways ahead of us." They climbed back in and started down a bumpy dirt road, after driving a while the road got narrower. "Hey pull out the GPS will you? I got the co-ordnance to the scene to put in otherwise we might be out here a bit longer than expected." Morgan was glancing around as he spoke as if looking for something. Usually Reid was his au-natural human GPS but he was occupied with his own assignment at the moment.
"Sure" Fisher looked around the cab before finding the GPS in the small drawer under her seat. Turning it on she waited for it to warm up and turned to face Morgan. "I'm ready if you have the co-ordnance."
"They should be in the folder here, a page or two in" Morgan made a quick reach for a folder on the consol between them. He handed it over immediately so he could have both hands on the wheel in the rough terrain. He could hear Fisher flipping the pages then fiddling with the GPS.
"Alright I think I got it. Yep okay, there appears to be a service road on the left about a mile up we need to take." When she had Morgan's file she noticed it was quite a bit thicker then what she and her fellow officers had. "Do you mind if I look through this?" She had the decency to realize that there could be some very personal hand notes in the file. Some cops and detectives wrote down personal things they didn't want shared and only reported facts. After all most of the time feelings and thoughts were left out of the case for court. What mattered was facts and evidence, but that didn't mean that was the only things in case files or personal logs.
"Sure, just don't make us miss any important directions" Morgan answered not even looking over at her.
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"This guy is seriously messed up" Nickels said after he hung up the phone.
"This whole case is messed up," Rossi sounded slightly annoyed. Rossi didn't have any kids himself and after three marriages and numerous flings it was a miracle he didn't, but cases with kids were hard. Especially one like this where the unsub was going after kids who had already been victimized. It reminded him of one of his first cases, one he had just solved in the not too distant past. Alloying himself a second to think about the three now grown kids he decided he would check in on them when he got back. Tucking that plan away for later he set his mind back on this case.
"Do you really think there could be a possibility that our guy might come back to rebury the body?" Nickels wondered. He was turned slightly towards Rossi waiting for an answer.
Rossi tilted his head slightly as he gave Nickels question some thought. Some unsubs had been known to do so or something similar in the past even if the dump or kill site had been disturbed. Would this unsub be like that? "There is always the slim possibility, but I don't think so with this unsub. If it were the case he might have taken the victims to the original dump zone or very close to it. Retaking the victim's body not only shows his perceived closeness to the body but an indication that he doesn't want us to have it. More than likely he has a new place streaked out, one that will be harder to find then his first, or even the original if we can find it at all."
Nickels seemed to think on this for a while as they drove on in silence. Finally he nodded to himself as if fitting it all into place or just accepting this. "But even still we should be on the lookout, maybe search the surrounding area."
"Yes, always be on guard when out in the open like this with a repeat dumping ground unsub. And that is a very good idea to search the areas close by." Rossi gave a small nod of his own. Just then they passed a sign telling them the last ranger station on this road was about four miles ahead. "Do you need a stop?" Rossi asked Nickels.
"No I think I'll be alright."
"Good, then you can hook up that GPS thing we got for finding our way around. Sooner we get there the sooner we can try and find something that will help us catch his guy."
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Garcia was typing slower than usual she was so tired, but her team needed her. This case was so important, well all cases were important, but this one was special. And she would not let her team down for anything. And if that meant living off catnaps, half stale crackers from the vending machine and a continuous supply of watery cups of office coffee then so be it. She was looking into the background of the accidental death of Kenneth Wilder while waiting for the security from the hospital to upload, when she was startled by a hand on her shoulder. Spinning quickly about to lash out at her intruder she came face to face with Kevin.
Hey easy there Pen, it's just me" he gave her a weak smile and held up both hands in surrender.
"Don't do that, you know better" she snapped as she glared at him her heart rate slowing down from its momentary jump start. She was not in the mood for anything other than getting this case closed quickly. That meant adding not spending time with her boyfriend to her list of things that she would live without for a while. "You have to go I'm working" she softened her voice this time.
"Okay, then I take it you don't want this?" He took a paper plate off a shelf next to him and held it out. "When you didn't come out for your usual breaks or lunch I thought you might like something." The plate held a peanut butter and jelly sandwich cut into two diamonds with slices of cucumbers and a few baked potato chips on the side.
She now felt bad for snapping at him earlier. He knew she was on a case and wouldn't stop by for just nothing, and he had knocked she was just in a working zone and didn't notice. "That is so sweet, I'm sorry I got mad. And you made it just more me the way I like it" she took the plate with a smile. So much better than the crackers from the vending machine.
"Of course anything to help my busy little worker" he gave her a big smile. But it almost disappeared when she got a surprised look which turned into a smug smile as her eyes lit up. He recognized that look as one she got whenever she got a crazy idea or crafty plan.
"You have been very helpful my love. If fact you may be more helpful then you planned on being. Hold that." She pushed the plate of food back at him. He barely got a hold of it before she spun back to face her main console. She started typing with one hand and working the phone with the other. She hit a few buttons and a speed dial number and moved that hand to type on another keyboard. "Hotch," she began talking as the other end of the line was picked up. "I know you want most of this case kept on the low but I may need some help and I want Kevin." She was very direct and switched back to one keyboard while she talked. "Yes I understand but things will get done twice as fast and we can gather more than if I do it alone. Also he can spot things I might miss if I get overwhelmed. I will sir, thank you sir." She reached over to hang up the phone, typed a few more rapid commends into the consol and turned back to Kevin who had been standing there silent and confused. "Sit" she commanded as she pulled the chair from the desk next to hers. And plate in hand Kevin sat not saying anything. "We have much work to do" she smiled and took the plate back.
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JJ decided to use the office phone provided by the department to make her call when she noticed her call battery needed to be charged. She would do it later when they were done with their tasks and she could look for her charger. Picking up the stationary phone she scrolled through her old contacts on her cell for Katherine's number. The phone only rang twice before it was picked up. "Katherine this is Jennifer Jareau from the BAU, we need to talk" she started.
Katherine Cole did not expect to hear from anyone one in the BAU, especially their media liaison Jennifer Jareau. They had worked together before to resolve a case that had been haunting her. The experience had been as pleasant as could be given the circumstances but she knew firsthand how hard their job could be sometimes. Whatever Jennifer need to talk about or the BAU needed her for could not be good. But she was always there to help when anyone needed that went double for anyone of the BAU. "Yes, JJ I remember. What can I do for you?"
"Hotchner wants to ask you for a personal favor" JJ was very frank. There was a pause on the other end of the line.
"What can I do for Aaron?" Katherine replied moments later.
JJ smiled on her end and looked down at the list of names Prentiss had handed her. "I have a list of names we need some help with. They were children that were the victims of an unsub several years ago. There is a copy cat out there hunting them down. We know where some of them are but not all of them. If you could look up their names and try to find any images of them or locate them that would help. No one else can get a hold of these names you understand. I have a picture here of some of them if it will help. Also I am not sure if you were aware but Gideon has left the BAU. He went off the grid but I was wondering if there was any way you could look for his image anywhere. It's really important that you do this personally and alone."
"Of course, I will do my best" Katherine reassured her sympathy hanging heavy on her words. "You said you had a list of names, why don't you tell me. I may need the picture later but I'll start with the names. I'll get back to you as I find the information."
"Thank you, we really appreciate this" JJ could hear Katherine moving papers around.
"I'm ready for those names."
"Alright first is Michael Ray Dogette," JJ began. "Then there is Raymond King, Heather Hill, Lilly Hill, Bradley Bicnner, William Langley, Gretchen Green, Carlos Sansden, Tegan Costler, and Colin Littles." JJ finished off the list waited.
"That is quite the list but I will get on it right away. I'll can you back soon, and I hope you get your killer very soon." Katherine hung up not waiting for JJ's reply.
JJ hung up on her end and sighed. Finding her small travel bag she dug through it for her charger. With things beginning to pick up she would need to stay in touch with the team in the field and any sources they might call in. She plugged it in before she moved back to her spot at the table and was making a last minute check on her news brief when Tesla, Prentiss and Hotch walked back in.
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Hotch went straight to Chief Walters office when he left the conference room. The door was cracked open and Hotch could see Walters at his desk writing. Knocking he opened the door as Walters looked up. He walked in and closed the door before moving in front of the desk.
"I take it you have something new" it wasn't a question Walters stated as he set aside his work.
"We do, the unsub has taken Marcus Tanner's body from the morgue. I've got two of my team looking into it as we speak. I would like to set up a tip hotline for after the press release. We'll need volunteers to help out. It's highly probable the unsub has finished with his latest victim and will soon get another if he hasn't already."
"That's not the kind of news I want to hear but I'll get you those phones and some volunteers. We set up tip lines all the time so I can have everything set up in a little under two hours. But be prepared for a lot of those volunteers to want to show up for your briefing. Most of the ones who will come in are pros at this and will want to know what they are dealing with and what to look for." Walters had a disgusted look on his face and shook his head as he spoke. "This case just keeps getting worse and we're hardly on it. If you need any more help just ask, this kind of thing happening once was bad enough."
"I might just take you up on that, and I'll keep you informed." As Hotch spoke his phone rang. He looked at it and saw Garcia's ID. "Hotchner" he answered turning away from Walters.
"Hotch, I know you want most of this case kept on the low but I may need some help and I want Kevin." Garcia said.
"Then the less people who know the better, and I am sure Kevin is busy with his own cases" Hotch answered.
"Yes I understand but things will get done twice as fast and we can gather more than if I do it alone. Also he can spot things I might miss if I get overwhelmed" Garcia reasoned with him.
He thought about it for a moment and saw that she was right. "You keep him in your office, nothing leaves there. And brief him on the case so he understands why it's important to keep things to himself. Anything goes wrong or leaks out to Strauss I know where to look."
"I will sir, thank you sir." Garcia assured him and hung up.
Hotch hung up his phone and turned back to Walters. "If you would let me know when you have the tip line ready we can include the number in the press statement. I need to go check on my team and coordinate more interviews."
"I understand, I'll inform you when we get things together. Good luck on those interviews, I don't envy you there." Walters opened a drawer to his desk and started rummaging around.
Taking that as a sign that they were done Hotch left, leaving the door cracked like it was when he arrived. On his short walk back to the conference room he ran into Prentiss and Tesla. They all walked in together to see JJ at work at the table.
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Prentiss left the room and not seeing Tesla at the water fountain across the bullpen made her way to the break room. From the doorway she could see Tesla standing at the sink a cup in hand starting at the faucet.
"The cup won't fill itself you know" she said as she entered.
Tesla looked up at her and then down at the cup in her hand. She then proceeded to stick the cup under the faucet and fill it. But she didn't drink she just held it and looked down into it. "Why would he do that? Take Marcus's body, hasn't he done enough?" Her voice was angry but her face showed that she was confused as well.
"That I can't tell you for sure, but we will find him again" Prentiss walked to her side.
"Will we?" Tesla looked at her at last.
"I have faith that we will. Why don't we go back to the conference room now, I am sure there is something we can do to take your mind off that for a while."
"More phone calls" she looked back down at her cup.
"I suspect so but it's all for a good reason. If we can warn your friends and see that they get help if they need it then it will be worth it to call them."
"I just wish there wasn't a reason to call them even know most of haven't talked in a year or more. They don't even know why I'm calling besides Amy who is missing, William and Colin." She then dumped the cup out over the sink and set the cup in the drying rack next to the sink without drinking from it.
"Not so thirsty after all" Prentiss raised an eyebrow at Tesla's actions.
"No, I need something stronger then water but I can wait till this is over." Tesla looked at her again now with determination.
"I think you won't be the only one by the time this is over" Prentiss understood. "Let's go back" she then lead Tesla out of the break room and back to the conference room meeting Hotch half way. JJ was already off the phone when they entered.
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Reid and Dr. White checked the whole of the morgue again with the assistance of Sam. When Marcus's body was still unaccounted for White checked with security. His body had not been found on the main floors and radiology was checked again. Dr. White was slightly angry as well as embarrassed and ashamed that a body from his morgue was missing. "I can't tell you enough how sorry I am" he explained to Reid as they finally retreated to his office after their search.
"I'll need all your original files on this case and the body as a precaution if the unsub tries to come back. I can leave you copies but those will need to kept in a locked secure location." Reid looked at White who sat heavily in his chair.
"I understand, I only need copies of a few papers" White turned and took the files from their place in a file cabinet. He went out to the lab, Reid following and used an old copy machine that was tucked into a corner by the door. Once the copies were made White handed the files to Reid "I really hope you get this man soon and recover the body."
Reid nodded, "We are doing our best. But you must know that by now we think there will be two bodies to recover."
"That is disheartening news, but when you do find them we will be sure to have extra security here and I will take the best care with them" White offered reassuringly.
"I'm sure we will be in touch soon" Reid said as a good bye and left the morgue and after leaving his number with the security office he left the hospital. He had been there a few hours but it was still early enough he hadn't missed the press conference. He headed back to the station to meet with the rest of the team and go over any new evidence or insights.
(I feel like am saying sorry every chapter but RL can suck sometimes but I am happy to be healthy and have a new working computer with a few files I managed to save from the old one. Anyway, hope you liked the chapter; the next one will be posted next Friday (the 13th lol) and will contain some action! Also flashbacks will be in the following chapters. More on the children and the next victim as well. I will be updating every Friday for the next 4 weeks. Feel free to review.)