Disclaimer: Profiler and all characters belongs to NBC, Sanders/Moses Productions, Cynthia Saunders, Stephen Kronish ... Not to me. No copyright infringement intended.
Part III : The victim
It was still early in the morning when they arrived in the VCTF offices. The regular daily bustle hadn't started yet, and only a few agents were wandering around. Sam and Bailey went directly to the command center. Grace, John and George were already there waiting. Bailey helped himself a coffee and sit at the end of the large table.
" OK George, " he started " Shoot ! "
George punched a few buttons on the keyboard of his laptop and the picture of the victim appeared on the screen.
" Carol Johnson" he started " was twenty two years old. She was a law student in NY till about one month ago, when she graduated and went back to Atlanta, where she was born and raised. She moved to a little apartment on Kensington road - this is were she was found dead by one of her friend last night.
- Did she find a job here ?" Sam asked.
" Yep ! " George answered. "Coopers & Brandston, a little practice downtown, Eberly street. Only two partners and three assistants. Not a big firm, but working well. Carol was supposed to start on next Monday. She had multiple interviews with both Marvin Coopers and Clay Brandston.
- Did anybody contact them ?" Bailey asked.
" Not yet." John answered. "I planned to go there myself in the morning."
Bailey nodded. George continued :
" Miss Johnson seemed to have been a normal young lady. I did not find any record of any sort in any of our files. The guy who found her is named James Holler. They were apparently a little bit more than friends ... Kinda 'starting-a-relationship'. He is twenty five, lives on Dolphin street, will complete medical studies at the end of this year. No record either.
- Did Carol Johnson have any family around ?" Bailey asked.
" Her parents died in a car accident two years ago. She had a brother : Michael, thirty three years old. He lives in Grandston, Ohio, with his wife and two children. He is a mechanic. The local PD went to tell him about his sister. He's taking the next flight to Atlanta.
- Nothing really exciting." John concluded.
The atmosphere had been heavy since the beginning of the meeting. None of the agents seemed willing to break out and ask the questions they all had in mind. Bailey finally took the initiative :
" OK guys. We should not exclude the possibility that Carol Johnson was selected randomly. From what we know of Jack, if Jack it is, she could have been murdered in the sole purpose of drawing our attention.
- We KNOW it's Jack." Sam said.
Silence lasted for a few seconds. Grace was the first one to talk :
" In the past, we found out that some of Jack's victims were directly connected with Sam's past. Maybe we could investigate in this direction for Carol Johnson ...
- I've never heard of her." Sam replied. "I would remember her. She was much too young to belong to my past.
- Bailey ?" Grace went on. Bailey suddenly emerged from his thoughts.
" I beg your pardon Grace ?
- Is there a way Carol Johnson could be connected to your life ?
- Not to my knowledge. But it is worth trying. George, could you trace back the girl's life and see if you can link it to anything close to us ... including the cases we have worked on in the last ten years ?
- Sure. But that may take a little time.
- We don't know how much time we have till the bastard moves again. But we must acknowledge he could be after the VCTF now. John, I want the protection to be reinforced at the firehouse; as well as some patrols going around each of us houses tonight.
- OK." John answered. He went on hesitantly : "But the way I see things, your house would be the first one to secure."
Grace and George ducked. They knew their boss long enough to know he wouldn't appreciate 'over-protection' for himself. Sam stared at Bailey, waiting for his answer.
Bailey gave a rapid look at each of his team members, then said :
" All right. Let's cut the crap buddies. Everyone here saw the message on the wall and was able to draw a conclusion : Jack does not seem particularly happy with what is happening between Sam and me. I do not intend to pretend this is an ordinary case for me. I understand you care, and that touches me. BUT, I have no intention to change anything in my life." Bailey paused for a few seconds. "Don't misunderstand me. I'm neither incredibly brave nor completely stupid. What I can see here is an opportunity we never had so far. We know who Jack is after now, and we may never find a better occasion to get him. I don't want to ruin this one."
No one in the room felt really glad to have Bailey play the bait. But they had to admit he was not totally wrong.
" However, " Bailey continued " I reckon the operation is not 100% risk free. Therefore, we're gonna need the help of each and everyone. I guess I can rely on you ..."
All the four agents nodded in silence.
" Good !" Bailey said. "Now let's go back to work, people. George, you call me in case you find anything in the victim's life that could, one way or another, be related to Sam, me or the FBI. John, you pay a little visit to Mr. Coopers and Mr. Brandston. Sam, I'd like you to meet Michael Johnson at the airport. Grace, I'll join you in a minute for the autopsy."
They parted without a word to go for their respective assignment. Bailey stopped at his office and locked the door. He sat in the coach and took the phone. He dialed his home phone number. It rang about ten times before Frances finally answered.
" Hi honey." Bailey started. " Sorry to wake you up so early.
- Dad ? I don't have school these days !
- I know sweetheart, but I need you to do something for me.
- What is it ?
- Well, we're on a difficult case, and I don't think I'll get back home tonight.
- OK. No problem. But you could probably have waited two more hours to bring me that news.
- Frances, I won't have a lot of time for you these days ... I'd like you to go to Baltimore for a few days." Frances did not answer at once. Her voice was not so self assured when she came back.
" Daddy, what's happening ?
- Nothing. I'd just like you to spend a few days with your mother. That's all.
- And you just decided this at 8 am ... I'm not a child and I'm not stupid, special agent Malone !"
Bailey smiled. She sure was not stupid. But he wished she could just obey one order without asking questions once in a while.
" Frances, I can't explain you right now, OK. It's just one of those pointless FBI procedures. It's a security drill. If you stay here, I will be obliged to let them circle the house with agents. Believe me, it won't be funny. I just want to avoid this to you."
Again the silence for a few seconds.
" Frances ?
- Yeah. I'm still here. First, I want you to know I don't believe a single word of your explanation. Second, the idea to go to Baltimore does not fill me with joy and excitement. But I guess I don't have the choice : I know you would not ask me if it wasn't important. So I'll pack my things. Is that OK with you sergeant ? Am I a good girl ?
- Yes honey, you are. I'm sending an agent to take you to the airport. Wait for him.
- All right ... Dad ?
- Yes, sweetheart.
- Take care of yourself, OK.
- I promise. I love you. I'll call you in the evening.
- I love you too daddy. Bye.
- Bye my love."
Bailey hung up the phone. It had been easier than he thought. He called for an agent to pick up Frances, and went to join Grace.
To be continued ... R&R, Thanks.
Absolut.
