TITLE: Criminal Minds – "Darkest Days" (A sequel to Behind the Mask)
AUTHOR: D M Harper
SUMMARY: Agent Prentiss is forced to face her secretive past when it threatens the safety of her BAU colleagues and her beloved family.
RATING: For Mature Readers.
DISCLAIMER: This story was conjured up for reading entertainment only. No money has exchanged hands or bank accounts. There is no profit gained, just fancy flights of imagination. There is no intention to infringe on the copyright of CBS Television Studios or creator Jeff Davis. This writing does feature consensual sexual interaction between two females, so if you are underage or unable to view due to restrictions in your part of the world, be gone and take my sympathy with you. If you find such material offensive, too bad, so sad, you chose to enter this web site of your own free will; hence you have no one to whine to except yourself or a parent if you are caught, so bugger off!
A/N: After a lengthy break, I'm pleased to continue this tale. Please find them time to review and fed the Muse.
Chapter 5
Friedrich Nietzsche wrote: "What really raises one's indignation against suffering; is not suffering intrinsically, but the senselessness of suffering."
Wednesday 5th January, 2011.
"Are you absolutely sure about this?" enquired Jillian as she hobbled up the front stairs of her parents' house.
"Yes honey. You need to rest and stay off your leg until the bone knits and you won't do either of those things at home. Besides, the twins will enjoy visiting their Nana and Pop." Emily rang the doorbell while juggling a baby in the crook of each arm, "They'll be spoilt rotten."
"I guess that won't hurt and Grace surely did need the break," conceded Jillian with a grin.
Malcolm opened the door and instantly took hold of Jarrod, "Hello everyone, come on in out of the cold."
"Hi dad," returned Jillian in greeting as she made her way past the doorframe on crutches.
"It's good to see you again Malcolm," added Emily.
He kissed Emily then looked at the lime green fibreglass cast encasing the full length of his daughter's right leg and closed the door, "I'll grab your bags in a second. Let's get Calamity Jane here and the twins settled first."
"I see you are still a stand-up comedian in your spare time dad," snapped Jillian deadpan.
"It's a living," retorted Malcolm with a chuckle.
Six minutes later Jillian was stretched out on the couch and the twins were busy frolicking on their cushioned play mat with their grandfather.
"Where's Maureen?" queried Emily as she entered the room.
"At the supermarket picking up a few items, she shouldn't be too long. So when are you heading back Emily?"
"Unfortunately I have to leave on the red eye Thursday night."
"That's a shame." Malcolm leered at his daughter with raised brows, "What did the doctor say about your leg?"
"It was a bad break where the bullet hit the femur, but luckily it didn't require pinning. All that medical mambo jumbo translates to five weeks in this cast."
"Well since your mother has finally retired, you'll have all the care you need. The same goes for the twins."
Emily lovingly pecked Jillian on the top of the head, "And I'll call every night and fly in every chance I get."
"I'll be home and out of this fibreglass by the time Grace comes back from vacation in February," pointed out a pouting Jillian.
"Yes you will," agreed Emily.
Jarrod crawled over to Emily and raised his arms.
"I think it may be lunch time," noted the blonde with a grin.
"Punctual as always," emphasised Emily as she picked up her son and took him upstairs for feeding.
-o-
Friday 7th January, 2011.
Emily walked into the near deserted bullpen attired in black boots, dark grey trousers and a round neck, long sleeved woollen shirt and dropped her bag onto her desk. Having listened to the news on the radio on the way in from the airport; she had a fairly good idea the team would be working a new case.
Garcia bounded into the room and greeted her, "Good morning beautiful, you look a little tired."
"Yeah, I just got back from Florida after Jill took me out to dinner last night then Salsa dancing."
"Oh, that's so romantic and gives me yet another reason to think your marriage is totally awesome. So how are the Blonde Bombshell and twins doing?"
Smiling brightly, Emily replied, "The babies are just thriving and Jillian is doing really well, but learned very quickly she can't dance that well with a full cast. She did however manage to wear me out."
"Well I hate to tell you this, but we have a new case. The others have already gathered."
"I had a feeling we would."
Both women climbed the stairs and headed for the conference room. Garcia handed Emily a memo page and explained, "A call from a Sean McAllister came across my desk by accident. He sounded very hot and interesting."
"Did he leave a message?"
Penelope was all smiles, "No. The call was from Paris and his Scottish accent was way cool and super sexy. It seemed important that you contact him. Who is he?"
"An old friend I used to work with many years ago."
Joining the others in the room, Dave enquired, "Where's Seaver?"
Aaron passed out tablets and files as Emily answered, "She had to take a test at the Academy."
Straightening up, Aaron started the presentation, "I'm sure you've all seen this morning news on the mass murder in Miles City, Montana. Six people were shot and killed at a gas station."
Taking her seat, Emily inquired, "Are we thinking a robbery gone bad?"
Opening up his computer, Dave noted, "No and no apparent motive either. The crime scene photos suggest the killing spree was nothing short of chaotic."
Looking up from his tablet, Spencer asked, "Is there security footage available?"
Hotch shook his head in reply, "We are totally blind on this one. There are no witnesses, no cameras inside or outside of the building, but ballistics does indicate there were at least two shooters."
Derek was the next to speak, "It's only early days, but there has to have been some kind of trigger to set them off. It certainly doesn't appear as if they had any sort of plan."
"And it may not be an isolated incident," put forth Rossi. "It may only be the start. Spree killers often repeat themselves."
"We haven't a moment to waste," suggested Aaron. "We have a seven hour flight ahead of us, so wheels up in ten people."
-o-
Once the team reviewed the evidence, Emily excused herself and headed for the galley. Grabbing a chilled bottle of water from the refrigerator, she returned to a seat in the rear of the airplane and withdrew her phone from the pocket of her trousers.
Her wife answered the call after two rings tones, "Hey Agent Beautiful."
"Hey babe, how are you and the kids?"
"Our offspring are currently on the way to the mall with mom and Grace."
Tittering, Emily asked, "What is your mother buying them this time?"
"Apparently they are in desperate need of new shoes and pyjamas. Mom insisted they've outgrown their old one."
"Well, they have grown another two inches babe."
"They have and you were sadly missed this morning at breakfast."
"That's nice to hear and I missed everyone."
"How was your flight sweetheart home?"
"I got a couple of hours sleep, but not enough."
"I apologise for keeping you out late."
"Don't be sorry. A little less sleep is well worth the time I spend with you."
"It was a nice evening and I gather the Miles City murders landed on your desk."
"Aaron picked it up first and I have to say, it's bloody tragic and completely senseless."
"Most murders are sweetheart. Are you in the air?"
"Yes and we've just finished up the review. Hotch advised us to relax before we land."
"You should get some more sleep and I won't ask you for details on the case."
"I don't mind discussing it with you."
"Thanks, but it would only frustrate me more because I could be actively involved. I already feel useless enough."
Hearing the defeat in her wife's tone, Emily sympathised, "I'm sorry you feel that way, but you are far from useless."
"Uhm, sure."
"It's unlike you to wallow in self-pity babe. What's really going on?"
"It's the freaking pain pills I took before you called. They are just starting to kick in and make me a little dozy."
Pleased by Jillian's honesty, Emily probed deeper, "Are you sore from last night?"
"Yes."
"Are you ready to admit you may have gone overboard a little?"
Jillian responded with a chuckle, "Yes, but it was well worth it to have you dancing so sexily up against me. The sex afterwards was certainly priceless."
Blushing at the memory, Emily lowered her voice, "I thoroughly enjoyed every minute, but you only got shot a week ago darling and should be taking it easy."
"I will now that you aren't here to tempt me sweetheart, but it's not my leg giving me the discomfort. I injured my right hip."
"Oh shit, was that from me knocking you into the bedroom door?"
"No honey. It was already bruised after I accidentally hit the table while you were getting drinks at the bar."
"Why didn't you say anything at the time babe?"
"To tell you the truth, it didn't hurt until I got out of bed this morning Em."
"Okay, but promise to rest up today."
"I swear and will you be phoning for bedtime story tonight?"
"I will if I can Jill, otherwise I will text you."
"All right sweetheart. Have you heard anything about your apartment yet?"
"No, but it has been listed for new tenants since last week. I've not received any interest, but that's okay.
"I'm sure it won't be long before someone snaps it up."
"You are probably right, but it's not a priority and it's not like we need the extra income."
"Oh shit!" exclaimed Jillian softly.
Concerned, Emily asked, "What is it? Is the pain worse?"
"Chill Em; I just need to use the toilet is all and it takes a freaking strategic assessment to get me there without falling over and smashing one of mom's priced ornaments along the way."
Giggling at her wife's detailed reasoning, Emily suggested, "In that case I'll let you get on with it and try to call tonight."
"Thanks Em and give my love to everyone. I love you."
"I love too Jill, bye."
Ending the connection, Emily grinned at Derek who was now sitting opposite her, "Jill and the children are fine and she sends her love."
"That's great news. You want to tell me all about your date last night? Garcia was telling me a little about the romance when she was called away."
Rolling her eyes, Emily quipped, "You are hopeless Morgan."
"That I am Princess, so share."
-o-
The FBI plane was an hour out from Miles City Airport when it was re-routed. Hotch had received a phone call from an Agent Bates at the Resident Agency in Billings informing him the UNSUBS had struck again at a gas station in that city.
-o-
Once the black SUV came to a halt, the BAU Team alighted and surveyed the carnage of the burnt out building and fuel bowsers.
'Holy crap," mumbled Dave as the Agents made their way towards a woman in her mid-forties dressed in a dark coat and trousers.
Outstretching her right hand, she introduced herself to Aaron, "Hello, I'm Agent Bates. Sorry for having to divert your jet, but as you can see; the UNSUBS have escalated since hitting Miles City. This all went down late last night and the link was made whilst my team and I were investigating the situation in Miles City."
With a worried expression, Hotch replied, "SSA Hotchner and this is my team: SSAs Rossi, Prentiss, Morgan and Doctor Reid. I'm glad you called. Have you spoken to the media yet?"
The redhead grimaced, "No, but the story is all over the airways and social media."
Derek fielded the next question, "Is the car they dumped still here?"
Pointing over Hotch's left shoulder, Bates indicated, "It's just behind you and Agents are searching it as we speak. One of the victims described the shooters as being one male and one female."
After glancing at the vehicle, Emily returned her attention to Bates, "How many fatalities?"
"Eight and with those in Miles City, that's a total of fourteen."
Emily made an observation of the latest information, "A team of male and female is usually about pleasing each other both physically and mentally."
Morgan nodded and continued, "These two are thrill killers experiencing arousal along with the adrenaline rush. They have no intention of stopping until we find them."
With arched eyebrows, Rossi informed Agent Bates, "This here and in Miles City is just foreplay for the UNSUBS. They're just warming up for something much bigger."
Hotch turned and addressed Emily, "I want you and Reid to go to the Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy results. Dave, speak to the witnesses while Morgan and I check out the inside of the store."
"On it Boss," acknowledged the Agents simultaneously.
-o-
Emily and Spencer followed the dark blue scrubs attired M.E. Tech along the corpse littered hallway and listened as he said, "I've never seen anything this horrific. The gas station resembled a scene out of a Bonnie and Clyde movie. The perps repeatedly struck one victim so much that his spine resembles a derailed train."
"This level of extreme brutality is called an obliteration attack. The UNSUB's aim is to completely erase the victim from existence," explained Reid matter of factly.
Entering the morgue, the Tech pulled back the sheet on the nearest table as Emily and Spencer donned blue latex gloves. "Two vics were shot at point blank range," he divulged.
Motioning to the man's chest, Reid asked, "Have you determined what made these wounds?"
"The damage was inflicted by a crowbar."
Recovering the body, the Tech walked over to the chiller and opened a door. While he slid out another victim, Spencer shared, "The UNSUBS are growing in confidence as indicated by their use of more personal weapons. The violence excites them to a level that allows them to overcome their inhibitions. Why is this one covered?"
"It's the store clerk; he got the worst of it."
Lifting up the white cloth, Reid took a close look at the multitude of traumatic injuries to the face and head, "This would be considered just another Monday during medieval times."
"He was sodomised by a tyre iron," pointed out the Tech deadpan.
Emily turned to Spencer, "This type of overkill suggests the vic was the root of the UNSUB's aggression. Maybe they're zeroing in on what's really pissing them off." Just then her phone rang. Retrieving it from her trouser pocket, she read Hotch's name on the screen and answered, "Yes Boss?"
"Are you and Reid almost done there?"
"We are for now."
"In that case, meet us back here at the gas station."
"On our way."
-o-
With night having fallen, Emily put on her black overcoat when she jumped out of the vehicle. She walked over to the other Agents with Spencer by her side.
"What did you find inside?" inquired Rossi.
Hotch answered, "They dragged the store owner into the back area after shooting him."
"They shot the school teacher in the back while she was running away past an aisle and the school boy was taken out way in the rear section by the bottled water. Poor kid probably thought he was safe there. No one stood a chance; the bastards chained the front door shut," determined Morgan.
Aaron continued, "The UNSUBS get off on the sadist power they hold over their victims."
Derek went on, "We found rice all over the floor which is not sold in the store. My question is: who turns up at a gas station and brings rice with them to throw around?"
Before anyone could voice their opinion, Hotch withdrew his phone and pressed in a number before turning it to speaker.
"What do you need Boss Man?" inquired Garcia.
"Check all surrounding areas for people who have applied for a marriage licence in Montana in the last thirty six hours."
The sound of typing on a keyboard could be heard before Penelope had the information, "I have a total of seventy two state wide."
"Do any of them have criminal history?"
There was more furious typing as Penelope added another parameter to her search, "Forty one are clean which leaves thirty one."
Morgan leaned into the phone, "Good work Baby Girl. Can you send those names and ages?"
"Already down lover. Check your phones Angels."
While the Agents did just that, Emily asked Morgan, "Do you think our UNSUBS are newlyweds?"
"If you add the large quantity of alcohol gone missing to the presence of rice, then yes I do."
Nodding Emily concurred, "They're on their honeymoon."
Hotch looked at her, "What did the M.E. have to say?"
"Complete overkill with the store clerk involving sodomy with a crowbar – object penetration."
Returning to his phone, Hotch gave Penelope another direction, "Garcia, check for any store clerks killed in the states east of Montana the past month."
Within seconds the reply was forthcoming, "Holy Batman and Robin! There was a case of a badly beaten store clerk just outside of Jamestown on the first of this month and another victim turned up two days later in Bowman, North Dakota."
"That's probably where they started all this," surmised Derek.
"Good work Garcia, thanks," praised Aaron prior to ending the call and addressing his team. "Okay people, let's go meet up with Agent Bates back at her office and go over all the evidence we have before calling it a night."
-o-
It was ten minutes past nine when Emily sent a text to Jillian informing her she was sorry she hadn't contacted her early and for missing out on the bedtime story with the twins.
A reply was fast in arriving: All good sweetheart. I gave the babies a hug & kiss from you. Call me when you can. Good luck with the case. Love always.
Smiling, Emily sent back: Thank you and I love you babe. Sleep well.
Putting her phone into her pants pocket, Emily exited the restroom and joined the others for a review. As a result of Reid's geographical profile, it was determined the UNSUBS would continue to travel west.
By ten thirty, the Team has eaten at a local diner and retired to their respective rooms at a hotel for the evening.
After indulging in a long, hot shower, Emily dressed in a pair of Jillian's flannelette pyjama bottoms and an old Yale tee-shirt. Settling into bed, she pondered the reason behind Sean McAllister's phone call before turning off the lamp and drifting off.
-o-
