Chapter 5
Sitting on her cell bed dressed in her orange jumpsuit, her hands secured to the leather belt around her waist, sat Emily Prentiss with Yasmin, her public defender.
" They have arranged for the press to be outside for your transfer to your arraignment. I have tried to complain, but the chief prosecutor just told me it's his sandpit, his rules." Yasmin told her client,
It is evident to the profiler Yasmin wanted to tell her something but wasn't sure how to.
"Tell me what it is, Yasmin; I'm a profiler, remember," smirked Emily
She was hesitating slightly before pulling her iPad from her leather case.
"Press play, Emily; I am so sorry," Yasmin told her client, handing over the device
Pressing play, Emily watched her mother hobbling using her two sticks towards the reporters outside her childhood home.
Statement of Elizabeth Prentiss
"I will not be taking any questions after my statement." started Elizabeth Prentiss in full Ambassador mode. Emily already knew her mother was about to denounce her live on tv to save her career.
" My name is ambassador Elizabeth Prentiss; I am here today to openly voice my disdain for my daughter's actions resulting in the release of convicted serial killers. These killers whose release she has orchestrated for money have killed to the authorities knowledge 12 people, witnesses having the courage to give evidence against them in open court for their heinous crimes. My daughter took an oath as an FBI agent.
'I will support and defend the constitution of the united states against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.'
Emily failed the people of the united states. She swore to defend herself has further failed her brother and sister agents.
'Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity
The moto of the FBI succinctly describes the motivation of all superbly. My daughter has failed every one of you. I have cut my daughter off. I will offer her no legal or monetary assistance during her trial. I have today opened a fund for those affected by my daughter's actions to help with the children's educational requirements." pausing for a second to wipe the tears from her eyes. "Thank you, that will be all." Elizabeth slowly retired using her sticks.
End of statement
Emily allowed her tears to fall, and her mother had just disowned her. That short statement had managed to achieve something Ian Doyle nor Charles Mulgrew had never attained. It had destroyed her heart; the last few months had been hard on Emily; Jennifer hated her after their sudden breakup. Penelope died, stabbed in the prison yard for being her kind-hearted self. Now her mother had just taken a bazooka to what remained of her heart.
Sitting next to her client Yasmin pulled Emily's head into her shoulder and rubbed a hand up and down her arm, trying to soothe the upset brunette. Taking solace on Yasmin's shoulder, Emily allowed herself to forget everything for the moment and breathe in the scent of the woman comforting her.
" No touching, Prentiss!" ordered the uniformed guard. " Time for your five minutes of infamy." smiled the guard.
Within the walls of Quantico, Emily was guilty as charged and didn't have a single friend within her FBI colleagues.
EJ
Abigail sat with Loretta Silvano, her daughter, at the back of the court, waiting for the arrival of Emily Prentiss for her arraignment. Both ladies had watched her being disowned live on prime time tv by her mother. The remaining members of Emily's fan group sat watching proceedings on a pirated feed of the CCTV cameras courtesy of The Evil Queen.
" With Public opinion and the mounting body count, Prentiss has no chance of bail. Plus, with everything she owns seized, she has no collateral. Once she is in prison, even awaiting her trial, we have destroyed Prentiss. Now, mother isn't this much better than taking a contract out on her; this way, she suffers for years," smirked Loretta, a pleased woman.
Emily enters the courtroom with the aid of her lawyer as she finds it difficult Walking with the plastic protective walking boot over her cast. Emily, for the first time in her life, is seated on the accused's side of the courtroom.
Silvano's eyes are fixed on Emily as she stands for the judge entering the courtroom. Leaning into her daughter
" Oh, how the mighty SSA Emily Elizabeth Prentiss has fallen", Loretta whispered into her daughter's ear.
Loretta squeezed her mothers hand, not wanting to miss a second of this, the destruction of Emily Prentiss in a little over six months.
Jennifer Jareau slipped into the courtroom with the help of her press contacts to watch. She had spent hours talking to her mother about Emily; Sandy told her daughter to use this as closure and put Emily Prentiss behind her for once and all.
EJ
The seriousness of her predicament surfaced as the judge started listening to the federal prosecutor outlines her charges and why she should be denied bail.
" Your Honour, my client is a decorated federal agent. She is not a flight risk and values the law she upholds. She wants her day in court to clear her name of these charges." Yasmin Khan explained to the judge
The judge took a moment to consider both sides arguments. " I have no choice but to deny bail; you are remanded to federal prison. Your client Ms Khan will get her day in court. I will order your client placed into protective custody due to her being a former federal agent. I will set the date of your court case three months from today due to the complexity of the case." ordered the judge
Emily felt devastated, she knew it likely she would be denied bail, but upon actually hearing the judge utter the words, her good leg collapsed on her. The bailiff stopped her from falling as he guided her down to the holding cell underneath the courtroom.
The door slammed closed on Emily's cell; she truly felt isolated, her life now in tatters. Her mother had tossed her away to save her political career. Burying her head between her knees, the lonely woman let her tears fall.
EJ
Penelope watched the proceedings of Emily's arraignment in a small window on her computer screen while she worked. She knew some of the things she had been forced to do to protect her BAU family and their family members. The blonde hacker felt wicked remembering what she had done to the now distraught brunette sobbing in her cell.
" Penny, Let's crack this, and we can then help your friend. We give them what they want; they can help us with your." Maddy paused, not knowing what to call the distraught woman on the screen
"Friend, Yes, Friend Maddy, I let my revenge colour my judgment. Emily Prentiss would crawl across broken glass to safeguard her family and friends. Let's get this done. That evil witch is not better than us; money is her Achilles heel now; she would have put a back door in somewhere so she could milk as much money out of the buyer as she could. Greed will be her undoing and her hatred for the establishment." replied Garcia, her eyes not moving from Emily on her computer screen.
Maddy smiled at her union jack clad friend, returning to the task at hand, promising herself she would help Penelope with her friend Emily. After all, two superb hackers are better than one.
EJ
" Stand up, Prentiss." ordered the prison transport driver
She struggled to stand after being sat on the floor so long, not bothering to wipe her tear-streaked cheeks. Two guards fastened the leather belt around her waist, securing her cuffed hands to the belt for her transport to prison. Once double-checked, she was slowly walked out to the department of corrections bus. She was walked to the very back of the bus as if she was being paraded in front of the other occupants. Some first-time prisoners like herself, but some repeat offenders glared at the former FBI agent wanting to hurt her.
" anyone, you know? Prentiss, you're bound to meet someone you have sent to prison. I bet that will be a friendly reunion." smirked the guard securing her to the seat.
As apparent as his comment was, Emily hadn't thought that her mind wasn't working as well as usual. It worried her, but Yasmin and the judge had promised she would be in the special housing unit locked away for 23 hours a day but safe from the general population.
The bus slowed as it passed the assembled Media as it pulled out of the court secure area. Emily positioned perfectly for her picture to be taken. Another specially arranged media opportunity is live on the national news. Her photograph would be on every front page in the early morning editions of the printed press and on the court's blog page.
The notorious Emily Prentiss was now famous for all the wrong reasons; the lead federal prosecutor had political desires. Winning the Prentiss case would guarantee him the seat in the mayor's office. He had received a considerable donation to his future campaign war chest from a charity. The law and order charity's leading supporter was Ambassador Elizabeth Prentiss; she had not meddled but asked the prosecution in a very secret meeting to 'Nail her daughter to the wall for what she had done.'
Elizabeth knew if it were seen her daughter got a very harsh prison sentence, it would insulate her against her daughter's actions and the damage it had done. The fund she had set up had won her numerous TV interviews and a lot of good free press. The American public loved the ambassador she was considering running for the Senate next election.
EJ
The recorded live pictures of Emily sitting on the back seat of the prison transport was on repeat in the hotel room.
" To Emily Prentiss, might the bitch rot in prison, fall in the shower regularly." toasted Loretta Silvano
" Emily Prentiss!"
Elle Greenaway smirked " I would love to see her face when she gets put into the general population and not in special housing. I think she might get another broken limb to match her leg." laughed the ex-FBI agent
Abigail had ordered a 5000 dollar bottle of champagne and some costly food items from the 5-star hotel's menu from their newly acquired wealth from Emily. They all agreed it tasted sweeter, knowing who was paying.
"Thank you, I know we all had our reasons to hate Prentiss. Phoenix has transferred your funds to your accounts as directed. Feel free to check. I hope you all enjoy your ill-gotten millions knowing sweet Emily will spend a very long time behind bars. She has nobody in her life that we haven't turned against her. I am so proud of you all once again, thank you all." singsonged an ecstatic Abigail Silvano. "cheers!"
EJ
After passing through three large gates, the prison transport pulled up in a yard.
" Were here, ladies, time to get off." laughed the guard
Emily watched as all the other prisoners were released; after releasing everyone else, it was her turn.
" Your turn Prentiss." smirked the guard
Emily struggled down the bus aisle without help from the guard. She stood at the steps by the door.
" could you help me down, sir?" she asked the guard
Grabbing her shoulders, he leaned down next to her ear
" One of those bastards you set free because of what you did killed my brother." snarled the guard into her ear. He pushed Emily down the buses steps.
Tumbling down the two steps, Emily fell to the floor, luckily without injuring herself.
" let me help you up," the guard that pushed her offered
" What happened, Prentiss?" asked another guard
"My plastic boot caught on the top step, sir." lied Emily.
" My name is Chief Officer Stacey Gibbons; I am the chief guard here; Prisoners Paris, Grimes, Toland go with officer Elgato to the Special protection unit. Everyone else follow my other officers inside for processing." ordered chief Gibbons
" Ma'am, I should be with them." enquired Emily
" Name Prisoner?" snarled the chief officer
A fellow officer whispered into chief Gibbons ear.
" Oh, you're our infamous ex-FBI agent," smirked Gibbons; she made a show of rechecking her list carefully. Shaking her head dramatically
" No, Prentiss, you're staying with us, mere mortals. Do you think you are too good for us? Did you hear that, ladies? Ex-FBI agent Emily Prentiss believes she is better than you all." smirked Gibbons at the looks Prentiss was receiving.
" Officer Goodie, Help prisoner Prentiss inside. We wouldn't want her falling and injuring herself, now would we?" smiled the chief Guard " Move ladies! Inside now!" she ordered, pulling out her nightstick to help
EJ
" Prentiss, this is your cellmate, Isles. You two will get on perfectly. She screwed her entire town over stealing their well-earned money in her little Ponzi scheme. She indirectly killed what was it five or six Isles?" asked the guard
"Six, ma'am." the petite redhead answered
" you should get some pointers from Prentiss here. She has indirectly killed 15 now and still counting. Take her stuff to your cell." Ordered the guard
Not wanting any more attention after the ordeal of her arrival medical Emily just nodded to her new cellmate and followed her slowly and very carefully.
" Hi, I'm Isobel, Emily. The whole prison knows who you are; I'm not sure that is a good thing." smiled Isobel as they followed the prison guard
" Hi, Isobel, I'm not sure it's a good idea for you to talk to me, being an ex-fed and all." smiled Emily.
The redhead laughed. " They hate me in here, Emily, My little Ponzi scheme cost my home town of Mexia. They lost their houses, farms—college funds, amongst other things. Six people killed themselves because I ruined their lives completely, spending their money on anything I wanted. So you see, Emily, until you arrived today, the most hated person outside of special protection was little old me." Isabel told her
Emily followed Isobel into the cell, hearing the door shut behind her. Looking around, she saw two beds, one above the other, attached to the wall. A table with a pull-down seat again attached solidly to the cell wall. Stainless steel toilet and sink unit thankfully being a modern federal prison, a shower cubicle in the corner of her cell.
Sitting on the bottom bed, Emily laid down, trying to think who had set her up and how to get out of prison.
EJ