"I'm here. What can I do?" Penelope asked as she came into the Milford Police Department where Emily and Dave were waiting.
"Someone sounds mighty chipper this morning," Dave said. "Must be on a caffeine buzz or something."
"You could call it that," Emily said with a smirk.
"Okay, but seriously. What can I do?" Penelope asked again.
"A gas station owner in South Carolina recognized James. They said he was heading North," Dave said. Penelope started typing in the unsub's name and after a few moments, she had some more details.
"Okay, James Thomson, a 37-year-old white male born in Providence, Rhode Island. He lived with his parents and 3 older brothers there until his parents got divorced shortly after he turned 18, which is when he appeared to have worked with his dad in trucking for about 3 years before studying criminal justice. He graduated with a degree in four years and then got into the academy. He's been working with the FBI for 9 years until he was fired last year for wrongfully shooting an innocent bystander in a chase."
"Ouch, that would be our stressor. And the trucking is probably where he learned about so many places," Emily said, "Who knows how far he traveled with Derek."
"That would explain how he knew Derek and I," Penelope said before getting cut off.
"Wait, what do you mean he knew you?" Dave asked.
"Derek said James had a picture of me and said that if he tried getting help, I was next. If James worked for the FBI for so long, that's why he knew us. That might also explain how he got into the security system and the network."
"But, why would he travel the country with an abducted FBI agent?" Emily asked.
"Well, if he's worked in the FBI, he has had experience communicating with victims. So, he would know how to come off as a good guy," Dave said
"Wherever he was, he must have felt comfortable in that area," Penelope added.
"And my guess is, he won't be anywhere near DC. Especially since we found Derek. I'm going to call JJ and get them back here," Emily said.
"Okay. I'm going to go back to the hospital and let Derek know what we know. I have my laptop so my genius brain is still on call," Penelope said.
"Yeah. Have fun with that," Emily laughed as Penelope walked out of the room.
"Did I miss something?" Dave asked, becoming aware of Emily's newfound amusement. Emily could only laugh.
Penelope had made her way back to the hospital, and up the elevator to Derek's room. As she stepped off the elevator, her phone rang and she saw that it was Emily.
"Hey, Em. What's up?" Penelope asked.
"I just wanted to know how Derek was?" Emily said over the phone. Penelope rolled her eyes slightly.
"You just love that you walked in on us, huh?" Penelope asked.
"Oh, absolutely! But I do want to know how he is too," Emily said.
"Well you can ask him yourself when I get -" Penelope said as she stopped in her tracks. She had just rounded the corner and saw inside of Derek's room. She froze when she saw James Thomson holding that revolver to Derek's head. "Oh no," She whispered, covering her mouth.
"Pg? What's going on?" Emily asked. James spotted Penelope down the hallway. Her heart nearly jumped right out of her chest.
"Um, I'm sorry sir. I can't do that right now," Penelope said, trying desperately to stay calm and hoping to God that Emily would get the memo that something wasn't right.
"Pen-" Emily said, realizing that either her or Derek were in trouble. "Is he there? Is James Thomson in the Hospital?!" Emily asked, getting Dave's attention.
"Yes, sir. I can get that to you right away," Penelope said with tears running down her face. James began walking toward Penelope, making her nearly lose her breath.
"What's going on," Dave asked Emily.
"Thomson is at the hospital," Emily told Dave. "Is he putting you or Derek in any danger?" Emily asked through the phone.
"Yes, I can email you those documents."
"Penelope, help is on the way," Emily said as she and Dave suited up and ran out to the SUV.
"Yes, sir. I will get right on that." Penelope said. She put her phone in her pocket but didn't hang up. She did that on purpose that way Emily could hear what was happening. She stood there, frozen. She could feel her subconscious screaming at her to do something, but she was in such a state of shock that her body couldn't move.
It didn't last long because as soon as James got to Penelope, he immediately asked for her phone and computer. Out of the fear for what the man could do to her or Derek if she refused, she did exactly as the man asked. Once James had them in his hands he dropped them on the ground and put a bullet through both electronics, sending the entire hospital into a panic.
"Come on," James said, grabbing Penelope by the arm and taking her to Derek's room. Derek couldn't do anything because he was tied to the hospital bed.
"The line was just dropped. We need to get over there faster," Emily told Dave who was driving. He immediately turned on the sirens and stepped on the gas.
Emily and Dave came bursting through the main doors of the hospital with bulletproof FBI vests and her guns in hand.
"Get as many security guards to room 347 as you can. There is an armed and dangerous man in the building," Emily said to the receptionist. She went to the stairwell and slowly started climbing with her gun drawn and Dave followed closely behind.
"I'm going to get up to Derek's room. You scan the second floor. It's possible they moved him," Dave instructed. Emily nodded her head and Dave took off, skipping steps on his way up.
As Emily approached the second floor, the lights were cut out. "Bastard is in the basement," She said. She turned on her flashlight and slowly made her way down to the basement level.
She looked through the window of the basement-level door and saw Penelope and Derek tied a beam with their mouths covered with duct tape and James circling them and threatening them with his gun.
"FBI, Drop the Gun, James!" Emily shouted, swinging the door open. Derek had more cuts and bruises on him and Penelope had a large cut on her forehead, most likely from a blow to the head with the gun. James ran around to Penelope and held the revolver to her head. Penelope had tears cascading down her face as did Derek because there was nothing he could do to save her.
"Mr. Thomson, Put down the weapon!" Emily shouted.
"And why should I do that?" James asked with a devil-like expression on his face.
"Because I don't miss," Emily said. James chuckled at this remark.
"Then you put yours away first," James said with a smirk. Penelope shook her head at Emily because she knew that the minute the gun was put away, Emily would be in trouble too.
James pulled the hammer back to get her to stop, and it worked. Penelope closed her eyes and braced herself for the worst.
"Okay, okay!" Emily shouted, taking her hand off of her gun and slowly putting it back in it's holster. She kept both hands in the air. "Let's talk about this, James."
"No talking necessary," James said as he raised his gun up toward Emily. Before she could pull her gun out again, a shot was fired.