Author's Notes
Zhangxinnna: Spoiler alert I guess, it is his brother. Here is the further backstory I promised.
CM****************************************************
Chapter 5 The Truth
Prentiss and Marsh arrived at the hospital since they were the closest.
The rest of the team returned to the station. Now that they had a connection between the victims they would use that in the profile.
J.J. was waiting for Prentiss at the entrance.
"Jessup is still talking with Chloe," J.J. said. "I think she's going to be able to talk her into pressing charges."
"Good," Prentiss said. "What about the other victim?"
"Our victim's name is Maggie Lawson." J.J. began. "They're moving her to a room now for observation she had a concussion and other injuries. He beat her up afterward, almost killed her. She's with her husband Tyler Smith. She wasn't planning on pressing charges. The nurse recognized the story and grabbed Jessup."
"Did you talk with her?" Prentiss asked.
"Yes, as soon as she started talking I knew it was the same Un-Sub. It sounds like he went after her after he killed Carol Miller."
"How is she?" Marsh asked.
"She's scared," J.J. answered. "I convinced her to help us. I think Tyler was a help in that."
"How was she attacked?" Prentiss asked.
"Maggie was heading home from work. Her car wouldn't start. This guy was in the parking lot and offered to help. She popped her hood and the guy tried helping. She said he was really nice. When she got out of the car, he blitzed her."
"Did he take her out somewhere?" Marsh asked.
"He drove her around in another vehicle," J.J. answered. "He attacked her, then had her call Tyler."
"You said Tyler was her husband," Marsh asked.
J.J. nodded.
"That is a change," Prentiss said. "I better tell, Hotch." She pulled out her phone and called Hotch.
"Did she get a good look?" Marsh asked.
"Yes, her description was a match with previous victims," J.J. said. "Right now she is a little unsteady. We need to wait before we can do a cognitive interview."
"What about the thing he made the others say?" Marsh asked.
"He made her say everything to Tyler," J.J. answered.
Marsh didn't say anything for a moment.
The profilers could see that there was an internal conflict growing inside of him.
"Hotch wants all of us back at the station. He wants you to do a press release. This Un-Sub is escalating. We need to warn people."
The team was gathered in the conference room when Marsh, Jessup, Prentiss, and J.J. arrived.
"Any luck finding Doug," Marsh asked when they walked in.
"No, we haven't," Morgan answered. "I talked with Garcia. He was serious about disappearing if it is taking her this long."
"Doug, who's Doug?" Jessup asked. "We didn't have a suspect, did we?"
"Jessup, do you think you can get us some coffee," Morgan said indicating his empty cup.
Jessup nodded with a peculiar expression, then went to get the coffee.
Marsh held out his hand to stop her. "You are trying to get rid of my partner." He said to the profilers.
Jessup held onto odd the expression.
"That's alright, its time she knew the truth too," Marsh said.
Marsh stood with all eyes on him. It was clear he was about to speak about something uncomfortable that hadn't been addressed in years.
"I know you need this information. I have never told anybody, not even you Jessup. Not even Aunt Beatrix."
"Aunt Beatrix, Beatrix Miller," Jessup said. "That's your aunt, no wonder you didn't say anything."
Marsh nodded.
"My father was a son of a bitch," Marsh started. "I think his arrest record was proof of that, I assume you saw that."
Prentiss nodded that they had seen the records.
"My mom, all the time I was growing up, I don't remember her saying much. I think she was fighting her own demons."
No one spoke.
"She would come home after two shifts and pass out on the couch. I think she slept there more than what she did in her bed. I can't say I blame her. I avoided my dad growing up."
Jessup placed a supportive hand on Marsh's shoulder.
Marsh accepted it.
It was clear that he trusted Jessup and would accept her help and comfort.
"Doug was different than me, he emulated dad since he was a kid. I think my dad liked him better too."
Marsh remained steady.
The team listened. This only confirmed the profile.
"I think Doug might have been the only one of us three that was his. No matter what to Doug, Dad could do nothing wrong. There is a reason why I suspect him as soon as we interviewed Harriet Williams and Thomas Wilder."
Marsh took a breath before continuing.
"When my sister was fourteen my dad came home angry one night. There was nothing special about that night I know off. Mom was pulling her shift at the diner. He said that it was time for us kids to learn a lesson. He smelled like booze."
Morgan lowered his head.
The team did not like this story.
"He loaded all of us kids in the car. We drove somewhere. It was dark and there weren't any road signs. We stopped when he got to this old shack. No electricity, nothing. We went inside there was a chair and a bed. There was a kerosene lamp on the floor. My dad lit it with a match and then lit one of his cigarettes. The place stunk."
"Marsh," Jessup said.
"My dad looked at us. 'Your mother is a whore you know, completely worthless. You need to grow up to be men.'"
Marsh looked away before he continued.
"That was when he grabbed my sister by the hair. He tossed her on the bed. He started ripping at her clothes. I was frozen, scared. I didn't do anything. My sister and I, we looked at each other the entire time."
Marsh managed to keep his emotions in check. "When he was finished he pointed at my sister and said 'this is all women are good for.'"
"The same thing our guy made the victims say," Jessup said.
"So now you know why I couldn't be objective on this case," Marsh said. He then looked at Prentiss. "I hope that is what you needed."
Marsh walked out.
"We need to find Doug," Hotch said.
The story matched too well with the profile. Doug was there only real suspect.
"We will use the most recent photo of him for the press conference. He should be considered armed and dangerous, do not approach."
"I'll get that started," J.J. said.
"I'll get with some of our contacts," Jessup said leaving with J.J.
"I'll talk with Marsh," Prentiss offered.
Marsh walked out of the precinct and around to the alleyway.
"That took a lot of courage what you said," Prentiss said catching up with him. "You kept that story a secret for a long time."
"None of us spoke of that night," Marsh said. "I don't think Grace or I ever spoke after that."
Marsh stood against the fence.
"I wish I was wrong, but I feel like I am right."
"We got our analyst looking for him. Maybe when we find him and you can bury the hatchet if it isn't him."
Marsh smiled at Prentiss. "You know you are not like most women I met."
"How so?"
"Most women like the fact that I am a cop. When they find out what I do, it seems like it disgusts them. If they knew the truth they would probably run for the hills. You came out to console me."
"You respect women," Prentiss said. "You are better than a lot of men, so it is their loss."
"You think it is him too, don't you," Marsh asked.
Prentiss pursed her lips. "The phrase is too distinct. For what it's worth I hope it's not."
The two shared a silence that was interrupted by a crack.
Marsh held a surprised look on his face.
"Stay with me," Prentiss said catching Marsh before he fell.
She knew he had just been shot. She guided him down to the ground. She saw the blood on his chest.
"Help," Prentiss called. She was about to pull out her weapon.
"Run," Marsh said to Prentiss.
That was when she was blitzed.
"She's cute." The man said grabbing a hold of Prentiss.
"Doug," Marsh said. "Don't."
"Hotshot cop now," Doug said. "You are little bitch, I'll fix this one too."
Doug wrestled with Prentiss carrying her away.
