I keep saying I'm going to update everyday, and then I don't. Because you know what I do everyday? I wake up, go to school, go home, do homework, eat dinner, do homework. Literally. It's all I do anymore. Reviews make going to school worth it. Well, almost. Anyway, did anyone see Criminal Minds yesterday? I actually watched TV for the first time in like a week...I'm so happy I did. I'm excited for the next episode and sad at the same time. I love JJ and she will be dearly missed3
The mother is hysterical. The father attempts to comfort her, though he's barely holding it together himself. The girl's sister, about fifteen, sits across the room, scowling at the group. He's been in this situation countless times before. Why is this time different? He knows they'll question them together first, then separately. Then they'll take what they've got and add it to what everyone else has gathered. When they've got enough information, they'll create a profile and present it to the police. All been done before. But it's different. Rossi takes a deep breath.
"Let's begin," he says.
"I'm terribly sorry for your loss," Prentiss offers. The girl scoffs, and the father sends her a withering look.
"Thank you. What can we do to help?" he asks. His wife is quickly approaching a breakdown.
"Here, why don't I get you something?" Prentiss suggests, helping her up and accompanying her to the kitchen, exchanging a nod with Gideon and Rossi.
"Now, your daughter was...found in a field just outside of a cemetery. Do you know why that might be?" Gideon asks.
"Um..well...it was halloween, right? She had she was going into town with her friends to watch Saw. The theater was running some type of special. She left..she left at nine. She never came home."
"Was Kate the type of girl to run off by herself? Or follow someone into the woods?" Rossi questioned, knowing the man would take offense.
"I don't know where you're going with this, but my Katie was not some common whore!"
"No, no, of course not. We're just trying to figure out why she would have left the group. What kind of girl was your daughter?" Gideon assures him. He takes a breath. They can see that he'll reach the breaking point soon.
"She has...she had a few close friends. She's...she was a good girl, did good in school and didn't give us any trouble."
"Was she dating anyone?" Rossi inquired. The father shook his head.
"Something had to have made her leave her friends," Gideon murmurs.
Prentiss had given the mother a cup of coffee and sat down across from her at the table. Now, she almost seems somewhere near stable.
"Go on, ask your questions," she finally says. Emily gives her a small, sad smile.
"Was Katie the kind of person that was where she said she was going to be? Did she ever break curfew?"
"Kates doesn't...didn't go out all that much. When she does...did...this is just so hard," she whispers into her coffee. Prentiss places her hand over the older woman's. She looks up.
"Do you have children, Agent Prentiss?"
"Do you mind if I take a look in your daughter's room?" Rossi asks. The man closes his eyes and sighs brokenly.
"I guess not. I'll take you now." Soon, it's just Gideon and the girl. They look at each other; her, sizing him up; him, figuring her out. Finally, he offers his hand.
"I'm Jason." She stares at it for a moment before accepting it.
"Jessica."
"Jessica. Okay. I'm sorry about Kate." She shrugs.
"Isn't everybody?" Gideon studies her for a moment.
"You're tired of hearing that, huh? None of it will bring her back." He's not being rude; he's just being brutally honest. She nods. They sit in silence before she speaks again.
"Okay. I'll tell you what you need to know. Just promise not to tell my parents."