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Chapter Fifteen:
It almost sounded like a plot out of a movie. My aunt was arrested for conspiracy to commit murder and assault of a federal agent. The agent in question, was the woman my aunt shot in the bulletproof vest, who was posing as Mrs. Reid.
After what had happened to me and Nessa, Spencer was quick to enact a plan to protect his mom. The FBI was completely on board with loaning an agent to pose as Diana. They also had an extra set of eyes on her at all times. Never was Diana in any risk of being harmed, as she had been covertly moved to a different floor.
I guess Sophia had bought some sort of security-breaking device online, that turned out to be fake. While it triggered the alarm to the main desk, it didn't trigger one that would have alert Sophia that she had been caught. Security posing as aides apprehended her seconds after she shouted Mrs. Reid had been shot. They found the gun and it had been registered to Alexander Tulane. Sophia only committed the perfect crime in her head.
Spencer and I discussed this all over lunch on Wednesday at the house. Bail had been denied as she clearly posed a flight risk. Carina was in hysterics and sobbed into any camera aimed at her about how badly she missed her mom. Spencer seemed very down about everything. If targeting me and Nessa was a cruel blow, this hurt harder.
"You don't look good," I said.
"I've seen the therapist twice," he said. "I'm doing as well as can be expected."
"I know and you're incredibly strong," I said. "You can be honest with me about anything."
There was a pause before he spoke again.
"I need a break," he said finally. "This world I thought I was getting used to, just keeps feeling more foreign. David Rossi and his wife are hosting a Thanksgiving dinner at their house. I think I'm going to go there."
"Wherever you feel comfortable Spencer," I said. "The boys will miss you and I know Colin's side of the family was eager to meet you. But I understand. Be with the family you're comfortable with."
"I might even try to get mom out of the clinic," he said. "I miss her too."
"How is she?" I asked.
"She doesn't know anything happened, which is perfectly fine with me," he said. "Now, how are you?"
"I'm doing okay," I said.
"You're wearing eyeshadow," he said. "You don't usually wear eyeshadow."
"Don't profilers have rules about profiling family?" I said an attempt at a chuckle.
"What's wrong, Nico?" he asked.
"Drake said someone put a picture of me from the Gala in all the lockers on his floor," I said. "People kept drawing crude things on them and making lude comments. He got into a fight and ended up in detention. Colin and I decided we wouldn't punish him further, but had a difficult talk with him."
I felt tears in my eyes. Quickly wiping them away, Spencer took my hand.
"I am sorry that happened to you and your son," he said and rubbed my fingers.
"Kids are just cruel," I said moving my hand away. "Carina and August never grew out of it."
"Trust me, I know," he said seriously.
"Well, this turned out to be a fun lunch," I said with a laugh to lighten the mood.
"We'll get through this together Nico," he said softly. "We're family."
"I'm happy we are," I said.
…
DC police was letting the us handle the case. There was no turf war. They wanted nothing to do with Sophia Tulane. As unit chief, I felt it was my duty meet Sophia Tulane.
She had been in jail three nights since our first meeting where she refused to talk. The effects of prison life were already showing. Her spray-on tan was fading and she looked considerably older without makeup and hair styling products. Yet oddly, there was still an air of grace about her. Dressed in an orange jump suit, she sat up straight and had the countenance of a queen waiting for an audience.
"Mrs. Tulane," I said when I came in. "I'm Emily Prentiss, we met three days ago where you refused to speak with me."
"I remember quite perfectly, Agent Prentiss," she said.
"You're more talkative today," I said.
"I am aware of the fact that I am going to prison for a long time," she said. "I have made peace with that fact and will be a model prisoner."
"Are you going to agree to a plea deal?" I asked.
"I believe that will be in my best interests, but I am still weighing my options," she said.
"Why did you do it Mrs. Tulane?" I asked. "Why did you try to kill Mrs. Reid?"
"Kidnapping her had occurred to me, but I wanted to make Spencer suffer the way he made my Carina and Augie suffer."
"A murder and a lost inheritance are not equal," I said.
"In your mind they might not be. But by my late ex-husband cutting his own children off, he ruined a future I groomed them for."
"They did quite a few awful things to merit disinheritance."
"You keep wanting to hold my children to a standard like yours: Middle class. They are above such things and should be treated as such."
"All men and women are treated equally in the eyes of the law."
"You don't really believe that Agent Prentiss? A black man accused of raping a white woman verses a white man raping a black woman. A white girl stealing makeup, versus a Latino stealing food for his family. I know the world is unfair and I use it to my advantage for the sake of my children."
Sophia Tulane was a narcissist with delusions grandeur. No wonder her kids were messed up.
"I can see what you're thinking Agent Prentis," she said. "I assure I am perfectly sane. My worldview just happens to be greater than yours."
She was enjoying this. I got up.
"This was very informative Mrs. Tulane," I said.
"Did you watch the video, of Spencer?" she asked. "I will give him credit. He is more creative than I thought. I wonder if you enjoyed it in the privacy of your home."
I walked out before she could say another word. Sophia was dangerous even behind bars. Women like her continue to plot until their final breath.