When we get to the office the next morning it isn't long before Tench storms into the office, Ford and I are in the old conference room, going over files. The closing of the door is what got our attention, "you couldn't have called me?"

"Bill, it all happened so fast." Ford shakes his head.

"Well, someone had enough time to call Gunn."

I shake my head and sit down, "I'm sorry, it's all my fault."

'What do you mean?"

"I snapped on Commissioner Brown, for telling us it wasn't a kidnapping with the mother's kitchen door standing wide open."

Ford shakes his head, "this is not her fault, he decided he wanted us gone before that. Barney said there was nothing we could have done. It's all politics. I'm happy to talk to Ted."

"No." Tench shakes his head, "you're not talking to anyone. And it wasn't all politics, until you two started selling your unsupported conclusions, Holden."

"You agreed the perpetrator is likely black, we all did."

"Can you see, just for a moment, how it might be perceived when you present a profile without ever having been to a crime scene? And I don't blame Nancy for this. I blame you, because like everyone else she has bought into the Holden Ford miracle, so she has blinders on. Next time, both of you shut up until we've done some groundwork!" Tench opens the door and marches out of the old office space.

After a few minutes I follow him, finding him in the hall, smoking, "Bill, I'm sorry."

"Nancy, its fine."

I shake my head, "no, it's not. Commissioner Brown had decided that it wasn't a kidnapping not to get rid of us, not until I yelled at him. If I had kept my mouth shut maybe we'd still be down there. I let you down and I'm sorry."

"Honestly, Nancy, I'm proud of you for laying into him. Especially if he is talking about ending a case where a victim's family could hear. He had decided he wanted us gone as soon as you and Ford gave the profile. I can point the finger at Holden, but I'm supposed to be watching him. Supposed to be his blinders."

"Not just you." I sigh, "I was supposed to be helping, but I just fed into it. I let him get swept up in the moment, impressing people, and I did too. Then we stepped on a land mine."

"It's a full-time job. Watching you two."

"Yeah."

"Look, I'll get better at it, but I need to take a little time today."

"Is everything okay with Nancy's mother?"

"Yeah, you know, just…" tench shakes his head, "I'll be back tomorrow."

"Okay. Umm… Wendy and Gregg did Henley."

"Gregg?"

"Yeah, they thought we would be done for weeks, and they didn't want the interviews to lag."

"How'd he do?"

"A little... hesitant. Based on the tape."

Tench chuckles, "He shit the rug, didn't he?"

"Let's just say it was a team effort." i chuckly, "The transcripts should be done by tomorrow."

"Look forward to it."

The day is uneventful, we talk about the Henley interview some more. Ford and I head back to his place when we get off, I'm still beating myself up about Atlanta. As I cook dinner I stop and place my hands on the counter. Before long Ford comes up behind me, "It's okay." he wraps his arms around my waist.

"Is it?" I shake my head, "I could have cost us a case and I let everyone down."

"No you didn't. We did by telling them who they should be looking for. Just wait, when we catch this guy, and we will, he will match the profile to a T."

"He'd better." I shake my head and turn around.

"Or what?" Ford chuckles, "you'll leave the FBI?"

"Maybe I will."

Ford chuckles and kisses me softly. "You know you never got back to me about the little Agent Ford."

I shake my head and laugh, "I would like to have a mini you… some day." I take a deep breath, "but I can't imagine bringing a child into the world while those mothers are suffering."

"It wouldn't be that long before we catch him." Ford shakes his head.

"No?"

"No. But it does leave us plenty of time for us to practice."

The next afternoon, we are able to go over the Henley tape with Tench, Tench looking over the transcript as we sit and wait for his thoughts, "Nice save, the dyke mentor story. And just in time."

"I had to come up with something that would make him feel accepted." Carr nods.

"Well, it worked." I shrug.

Smith shakes his head, "But then he adamantly denied being homosexual."

"He was actually more defensive about that than he was about being called a sadist." Carr nods.

"Methinks the lady doth protest too much." Tench doesn't even look up from the file.

"He protests a lot of things," I shake my head, "Rape, torture, murder."

Carr looks over to me, "By saying that he didn't engage in those aspects of the crimes, he characterizes himself as a nonparticipant. It's amazing how he's able to compartmentalize."

Tench takes a deep breath, "We have to consider, Henley was a kid. He might view his participation as having been beyond his control."

"He knew exactly what was gonna happen to the victims he procured. And he made a conscious decision not to intervene. So whether he participated or not, he's culpable."

"I think there's a distinction between procurement, as fucked up as it is, and murder."

"Distinction, yes, but not absolution."

Tench sighs, taking off his glasses and tossing them and the file onto the table, "I'm not excusing him. I'm just asking, can a teenager be held responsible for the actions of an adult? He was trying to please Corll. He was probably afraid of him."

"Actually, he seemed to be more in thrall of Corll than he was afraid of him."

Holden lowers his folder, "So is that why he stuck around? He got off on watching Corll kill?"

I shrug, "it's possible."

"How do we know Henley got off on it?" Tench shrugs.

I point to part of the transcript and read it, "When I did something, whatever it was, I enjoyed it."

Carr takes a deep breath, "Bill, he assisted in killing 20 boys. What could possibly be defensible in that?"

Tench shakes his head, "all i'm saying is, he was 14. Can we really lump him in with Kemper and Brudos? Without Corll's influence, would he have ever progressed to murder?"

"There's no way to know. But incredibly, he acknowledges a deep connection with a man that he saw do horrific things. Who even threatened to kill him."

"Maybe his need for acceptance was more powerful than any moral boundary." Smith shakes his head.

"And Corll exploited that." Tench nods.

Carr puts her file down onto the table, "I've been thinking that we should talk about our tactics. You know, we wouldn't have gotten any of this if I hadn't…"

"Improvised?" Ford turns to her.

"Maybe made some shit up?" Tench shrugs.

"Tired it our way." I chuckle.

Carr nods, "touche. If we're going to teach an interview technique, it can't be strictly following the instrument."

"So far, the only thing that's worked is to talk about them." As I gesture and shrug, I see Gun outside the office, Ford sees him too, because he straightens up, being leaned back in his chair. When Gunn walks in I smile to him, "sir."

Gunn looks at the files on the table, "Henley?" Gunn looks up to Carr, "Quite a maneuver, Dr. Carr. I thought I was reading Holden or Nancy." he then moves his attention to Smith, "Gregg, would you give us a minute, please?" Smith nods and hurries out of the office, once he is gone Gunn takes a deep breath, "Assistant Director Wyman is coming down in a few weeks. I'm having a small gathering at my home, and I'd like you all to come."

"Of course," Ford nods, "be happy to, Ted."

"Wyman could be a powerful advocate in DC. I'd like him to hear our narrative directly from you, the people who created this."

"Yes, sir." Tench nods, "So, it's a working party."

"Yes, but I want you to have a good time, Bill. Bring Nancy." Gunn looks to Carr, "Dr. Carr please feel free to bring a guest." Gunn then looks to Ford and I, "Holden, Nancy, I assume you'll be coming together?" Ford and I look to each other a little worried before Gunn laughs, "don't worry, I think you two are a very smart match. Nancy, maybe you could even sing for us?"

"Maybe," I nod. "We'll plan on it."

Gunn heads for the door and then stops, "Oh, uh, one more thing. I got you Manson."

"When?" Ford looks up to Gunn.

"Three weeks."

We hold in our excitement until Gunn leaves, once the door closes behind him, Tench looks to the rest of us, stating very calmly "holy shit."

Carr shakes her head, "We have to think carefully about how we approach this."

"did he say Manson?" Smith walks into the doorway.

Tench nods, "We approach it like we do every interview."

"No." Carr shakes her head. "This is the first time that we'll sit down with a subject who hasn't actually taken a life. Now what would be valuable would be to look at him from the team perspective. Manson was the undisputed leader of his Family."

I nod, "then that's our approach." I look around to the group, "I have an odd question. Who's your favorite serial killer? I mean, obviously we are all excited for Manson, but other then him, if we could talk to anyone who would it be?"

Carr shrugs, "I'm not sure. They're all interesting."

Ford shakes his head, "I already got to talk to him, Kemper." i nod and chew on my nail. "What about you?"

I shrug, "Bundy."

"Why?"

"He fascinates me for a few reasons. He really had a type, right? He always went after brunettes with medium length hair. He was a horrible guy but," I look over to Ford, "he would've noticed when I changed my hair."

"When did you change your hair?" Ford looks over to me confused.

"Like two weeks ago."

Carr nods, "her hair is signfiately darker, Holden."

"Yeah," Tench nods, "how did you not notice that?"

Ford looks over to Tench, "don't act like you noticed."

"I don't have to, that's not my job." Tench stands up, grabbing his folders, "you look great, Nance."