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: Please find them time to review and feed the Muse. An extra long chapter to make up for the delay due to real life taking over and kicking my arse, enjoy!


Chapter 8

Tuesday 1st February, 2011

Driving to Penelope's, Emily quickly explained about Sergio's appearance and asked her friend to look after him for a couple of days due to the apartment having been rented.

"I thought you decided to not lease it for a while?" questioned Penny as she fussed over Sergio by scratching behind his ears.

"Yes, but things changed," lied the older woman as she handed over the feline.

"Is everything all right Emily?"

"Yes, I just need a place for Sergio while I stay at a hotel until I can move back into the house next week."

With a cocked left eyebrow, Penelope inquired, "So they are going to be done by then and Jillian and the kids are coming home?"

"Hopefully, that is the plan."

"Okay and I am more than delighted to look over Mister Handsome here for you."

"Thanks Penny, I really do appreciate it."

"You are welcome Princess."

"Everything you need is in the bag including litter and a tray."

"We'll be just fine and I'll see you in the morning."

"Will do, night." Emily fled the building without looking back. Jumping into her car, she took off for a hotel close to work.

She settled on the Country Inn and booked in for three nights. Once she was in the suite, Emily ordered dinner then took a shower. Getting comfortable in bed a short time later, she reached for the envelope on the side table and flipped through the pages again. There was no mistake; Doyle was headed for D.C. and he was coming for her. Her nerves were shot by the time sleep overtook her and things did not improve when her alarm sounded at seven the next morning.

After breakfast, Emily dressed in a black turtleneck sweater, black trousers, boots and a black overcoat. Driving to work, she entered the BAU Section's Conference Room and called former colleague Tsia Mosely. "Hello Tsia, it's Emily. Where are you?" she asked when the line was picked up.

"Oh hi, this is a nice surprise. I wasn't expecting to hear from you."

"I know I'm calling out of the blue, but where are you currently?"

"I'm actually sitting in a quaint café in Bois de Boulogne enjoying an expresso."

"Wow, that's an impressive address."

"That's not the only impressive thing; I'm engaged Emily."

"So you and Jeremy are getting married?"

"Yes and I couldn't be happier."

Emily's attempt to sound sincere fell way short, "That's just great news; just great news."

"Emily, your tone is off. What's going on?"

"Has Sean been in contact with you?"

"He has left several messages to call him."

"So you haven't returned the calls?"

"No. I don't work for him anymore, just like you don't. I got out and have no desire to reach out to him."

Taking a soothing breath, Emily went on, "Doyle has escaped from prison."

"What?"

"Sean's thinks we are all in danger, but I am the only one that had any personal contact with him. I'm convinced he is already on his way to D.C. seeking revenge."

Tsia inhaled deeply, "As far as revenge is concerned, Doyle is under the impression Lauren Reynolds perished in a car accident years ago. Jeremy and I went to great lengths to ensure that was the case. Lauren Reynolds is dead. I want to hear you say it."

Tears built up behind Emily's eyes, "Lauren Reynolds is dead."

Spencer appeared and sat at the table as Tsia told Emily, "Sweetie, trust me and it will all be okay. Lauren died and we are all good."

"All right; please take care and give Jeremy my love."

"I will and we love you too."

"Who is Lauren Reynolds?" asked Reid once Emily pocketed her phone.

"Just an old friend I worked with a long time ago."

"How did she die?"

"It was a car accident."

"I'm really sorry Emily."

"Good morning," said Dave as he, Hotch, Seaver and Morgan entered the room. Emily was glad for the interruption.

Aaron was all business as he took his usual chair, "Let's begin with a preliminary profile."

Taking a seat, Emily watched as Penelope sat down in front of the large monitor and spoke, "Good morning Angels. We have no time to waste on this one, so here we go. Molly Grandin, twenty five years of age has been missing for twenty four hours. Her vehicle was located at a parking lot outside a strip mall."

Hotch continued, "I just finished a conversation with Syracuse Police Chief Barrows and was informed another woman by the name of Gail Langston and of the same age, went missing four months ago."

Penelope delivered the next portion of data, "Gail's body was found floating in the Onondaga Lake three days after her disappearance. Evidence indicated she had been held captive with her hands and feet severely shattered. Cause of death was sharp force trauma delivered by stabbing."

"Her car was found in the same parking lot as Molly Grandin's," added Aaron with concern.

Focusing on the case and compartmentalising the Doyle situation, Emily asked, "Besides the location of the two vehicles, is there anything else to link the two women?"

Penny took the inquiry, "Inside both cars, a bag with enough clothes and toiletries for the weekend was found along with the women's wallets and cell phones."

Reid looked up from the file he was holding, "In that case, if the UNSUB continues with his M.O.; Gail Langston only has thirty six hours to live."

A standing Derek announced, "And that is the reason why we need to get moving."

"Your plane is ready and waiting for you," stated Penelope while picking up folders.

Emily got to her feet and followed. Going to her desk she picked up her go-to bag and joined the others at the elevator. Tall, blonde Ashley Seaver moved to her side and smiled.

"How was the Academy?" inquired Emily with genuine interest.

"Very busy, but productive. How's the family?"

"Really good and Jillian's leg is mending well."

Ashley was all smiles, "I bet she'll be glad to lose the cast."

"She'll be happier to come back to work in a couple of weeks."

"It will be great to catch up with her," admitted Ashley as the elevator stopped on the ground floor. "I'm really looking forward to being back on an active case again."

"It will be awesome to have you with us," confessed Emily truthfully as the Team alighted from the lift and headed for the carpark.

-o-

"It's hard to fight an enemy who has outpost in your head," Author Sally Kempton.

While reviewing the case during the flight to Syracuse, no connection could be found between the two victims and their lives, but for strangers, they did have a lot in common. Seaver had noted the two women were of small stature and of similar physical appearance. She also pointed out both demonstrated shyness, as was evident from their habit of turning away while being photographed by others during family and social interactions. It was obvious the women did not enjoy being the subject of photography.

Aaron made comment that this could have led to them being easily overpowered and controlled by the UNSUB. Derek agreed, as did the remaining members of the Team.

Morgan made mention of the women's ages being older than other Undergrads at Syracuse University. Reid was swift in adding the victims' college transcripts contained in the files, indicated both had missed semesters and not finished a number of required papers.

While flicking through his folder, Rossi noted both women came from blue collar backgrounds and neither of them was on any type of scholarship. He said it must have been hard for them to maintain full time employment and attend classes.

Emily had proposed the prestige associated with going to a private school may have been worth it to Molly and Gail which caused Ashley to submit the possibility of the UNSUB being a student. Hotch expanded the idea by suggesting the UNSUB may be an employee instead. The idea of the UNSUB being on the janitorial or security staff was tossed around as was the thought they could being using the same economical and upbringing background as the two women.

Dave put forth the fact victims had both packed a bag and may have been planning a weekend away with the UNSUB, which suggested it was to be a romantic trip. Derek drew the reference the UNSUB wasn't just getting to know his victim's; he was dating them.

Hotch directed Emily to inspect Molly's apartment once they landed to look for any evidence that would suggest she knew her abductor. He instructed Spencer and Morgan to visit the dumpsite while Seaver posed the question, "Gail's body was located four months ago; won't all evidence be gone by now?"

Reid was informative in his reply, "You can actually discover a lot about an UNSUB from the location they choose to dispose of their victims."

The conference phone rang and Penelope told the Team Chief Barrows had bought a suspect into the Police station five minutes earlier and his name was Lyle Donaldson.

"That's Molly's former boyfriend," noted Dave as Penny ended the call and the others studied their files.

-o-

When speaking with Chief Barrows, Aaron learnt Donaldson owned a boat and just happened to fish twice a month in the area where Gail was found. He also found out the suspect was a student at S.U. and attended the same class as Gail. The issue of Donaldson possessing an anger management problem did not go unnoticed nor was the fact he had been arrested on three separate occasions for assault. Two of those attacks had been perpetrated upon Molly and Barrows was convinced they had their man.

Hotch wasn't as confident with the assessment and pointed out it was unusual for serial killers to choose a victim so closely linked to them. He proposed they would know if he fitted the profile, once he was interviewed. Both men walked into the Observation Room to join Ashley and watch Dave conduct the interrogation.

While Rossi placed a series of crime scene photos onto the table, an obviously nervous, red headed and moustachioed Donaldson denied knowing Gail Langston. He rambled on about being in the same class and was quick to state there were over one hundred people in attendance and didn't socialise with them. He finished by saying he rarely went to the lesson as a picture of the victim's tortured feet was put in front of him.

Scrunching his face up in disgust, Donaldson noted, "I know Gail was murdered. Oh crap, that looks like torture."

His lawyer, who was standing to his right and dressed in a dark grey suit, motioned to Dave, "It's apparent my client is sitting here with you Agent Rossi and is unable to be out and about torturing his ex-girlfriend."

Dave ignored the balding, bearded man and kept his attention on Donaldson, "Do you know anyone who owns a cabin Lyle? Maybe you have a fishing buddy who is keeping Molly restrained until you return. You know, some place nice and quiet and out of the way."

Donaldson protested immediately, "Hell no, that is crazy and I would never hurt Molly. I admit I did some terrible things to her in the past, but man, I would never do any of this crap to her."

The lawyer interjected, "That's enough Lyle, shut up."

Flicking through the pages of the file in his hands, Rossi looked to Donaldson, "The last time you assaulted Molly did she end the relationship?"

The lawyer answered, "My client was arrested for assault but never charged."

Dave remained emotionless, "All right, that was a lucky break for you Lyle. After you broke Molly's jaw, did she still want to date you?

Leaning back in his chair, Donaldson replied, "We'd always worked out our problems, but not this time. She was lying and seeing some other dude."

"Who?" inquired Rossi with interest.

"I don't know,"

"Did she tell you she was dating somebody else?"

"No, but it was obvious. She changed the way she dressed and was going off to clubs."

Rossi probed further, "When you and Molly were a couple, did you control how she dressed and where she went?"

Donaldson nodded as Dave pushed back from the table, "This guy is doing the same." He closed the folder and ended the interview.

Going outside, he located Molly's father Jerry in a waiting room and sat across from him. Opening the file, he looked to the man drinking coffee and asked, "Did you go and visit your daughter in hospital five months ago?"

Turning to his left, a somewhat taken aback Grandin leered at Dave, "Of course I did. I bought her a car after that. I never did like her riding around in this city with the crappy weather. She could have died in that accident and I did all I could to stop it happening again. Travelling by bike is just too dangerous."

Crossing his left knee over his right, Rossi probed, "Molly told you she was in a bike accident?"

"Yes she did."

"You were aware Molly was in an abusive relationship," stated Dave calmly.

Postal worker Jerry sat up and became defensive, "It wasn't like that."

"Did your daughter always date men that hit her?"

"Molly is not like that. For Christ's sake, she was a straight "A" student at high school. She holds down a full-time job while studying for a degree and isn't dumb."

There was a pause before Grandin confessed, 'I never hit my daughter, not once."

Meanwhile, over at the dump site, Reid and Morgan were positioned on the overheard bridge and looking down at the water. Spencer opened a file and hypothesised, "If a body isn't weighted down, if would be found quickly."

Derek responded, "There is no evidence of post-mortem damage attributed to weights being used. Every aspect of Gail's abduction was carefully planned, so why would the UNSUB suddenly lose control, panic and dispose of the body so recklessly."

Spencer continued to flick through the folder as Morgan rested his hands on the railing, "This guy's number one priority is control, it is all about power. Gail's body was beaten in a specific manner. He used a mallet on her hand and feet and the stab wounds are perfectly parallel to each other."

Looking over Reid's left shoulder, Derek proposed, "They resemble puncture wounds rather than stabbings."

"The Medical Examiner suggested the UNSUB utilised a Phillips head screwdriver, which means he uses tools instead of old-style weapons."

"The injuries undeniably serve a purpose," surmised Derek with furrowed brow. "Maybe the UNSUB thought the body would sink if he filled it with water."

Spencer closed the file, "That would have only worked for the first couple of hours. The decaying tissue would have eventually created gas, which in turn would have made the body buoyant and it would have risen to the surface."

"This guy wanted to observe her death as she sank underwater," pointed out Morgan with an expression of distain.

"That certainly sounds like a classic burial."

"All evidence suggests that apart from one thing; the majority of water burials are carried out by females."

"Until this latest finding, victimology, modus operandi and the physical abuse indicated we were looking for a male offender."

Derek's eyebrows rose, "Yeah, until now."

-o-

Emily received a pair of blue latex gloves from a Uniformed Officer as she entered Molly Grandin's apartment. Putting them on, she thanked him then proceeded to Molly's bedroom containing a chest of drawers, shelving and computer desk. In attendance were two CSU Officers and Emily went immediately to the bureau mirror with Post-it notes surrounding the glass.

Leaning in, she read out loud, "Today I do, tomorrow I will." Examining the remainder of the room, Emily found nothing of interest then moved the other bedroom. Scanning the unmade bed with dark pink sheets and the folders lying on the carpeted floor, she stopped moving when her cell phone rang.

Withdrawing it from the right pocket of her suit jacket, Emily answered, "Prentiss."

Reid was on the other end, "Morgan and I think the UNSUB may be female."

"That explains why there was an absence of sexual assault. With an UNSUB who is obsessed with control and power sexual attacks are often part of the territory." Looking to her right, Emily spotted a take-away drink container with pink lipstick on the rim perched on top of a bureau, "There is evidence of another female living in the apartment."

"We would have been informed if there was a roommate," queried Spencer.

"Right, so maybe Molly wanted to keep that part of her life a secret," returned Emily while surveying the empty closet and bathroom. "Whoever the mystery woman was, only left recently and was in a hurry. I'll organise a canvas now, thanks Reid. I'll meet you guys back at the Station. "

-o-

Walking into the Conference Room, Emily caught the attention of her fellow colleagues who were seated at the table, "I was right about a female staying with Molly. I spoke to several neighbours and they all mentioned seeing a woman over the past few months entering and leaving Molly's apartment. Unfortunately, none of them could give me a detailed description as they only had short glimpses of her."

Reid looked up and asked, "So no one actually met this woman?"

Shaking her head, Emily answered, "No. The best we got was she is in her mid-twenties, Caucasian, has light brown hair and is plain looking."

"Molly made no mention of this woman to her co-worker or her father," noted Hotch.

Rossi added, "The ex-boyfriend wasn't aware of her either."

"Is Donaldson still here?" inquired Ashley.

"No," replied Dave. "We couldn't charge him, so he walked out with his lawyer straight after the interview."

Derek spoke next, "Okay, we need to review again and concentrate on the fact we are looking for a female UNSUB. We have to go over the evidence with a new perspective."

"I'll contact Gail's family and bring them back in to question them about any women in their daughter's life," offered Rossi.

Turning to Emily, Aaron directed, "Prentiss, you and Seaver return to Molly's apartment and look for anything else she may have been keeping a secret.

-o-

Entering Molly's bedroom, Ashley approached the bookshelf while Emily moved to the bed. Getting down on her hands and knees, she reached for the items under the bed.

Ashley scanned the book titles and commented, "Molly was searching for daily affirmations by the look of her reading material and Post-it notes to herself."

Glancing up, Emily pointed out, "Just because you say you are happy, doesn't mean you are." She pulled out a magazine and discarded it to the side. Withdrawing a medium sized white cardboard box, she opened it and revealed two pill bottles and a diary, "I believe I have found her hidden, dark secret." Flipping open the book, she continued as Seaver neared, "This is a diet journal." Getting to her feet, Emily gave Ashley direction, "Contact Garcia and have her check Molly's weekly food expenditure. Maybe it shows signs of a disorder."

The blue eyed blonde retrieved her phone from her black overcoat pocket and made that call. She set it to speaker function.

"You've reached the Mighty Oracle, how may I help you?"

"Hey, it's Seaver. Can you look up how much money Molly spent on food the last few weeks?"

"I most certainly can and here we go, thirty dollars at the local grocery store. She ordered Thai food every Friday night good God, she is worse than me. Oh and she spent eight dollars a day on coffee."

"Can you take your search back a couple of months?"

"Can do, just hang on and crap; now we are seeing a different story of the junk food variety. Molly's purchases we made at drugstores and fast food stores with only a few dollars spent at the grocery store."

"Carrots and hot sauce," suggested Ashley with an eye roll.

"She bought food at McDonalds totalling seventeen dollars once a week."

"That would be binge night," advised Seaver before she asked Emily, "Anything in the diary to correspond with that?"

Leafing through the pages, Emily replied, "It's pretty detailed with facts on how much went into her body as well as what came out. There's a record of calories used up during exercise and she even weighted her faeces."

Ashley moved her head from side to side, "Sounds like we found her disorder; anorexia/bulimia."

Emily nodded in agreement, "The last entry was ten weeks before she went missing. When did her spending habits change Garcia?"

"Almost three months ago. She joined a yoga studio and paid for cooking lessons."

"Thanks Garcia," remarked Seaver prior to ending the call.

"Let's investigate if Gail had similar habits before she was killed," recommended Emily.

"Rossi is speaking to her mother and brother Peter now, so I'll text him with this latest information," returned Ashley.

-o-

Driving back to the Police Station, Emily and Ashley sought out Dave and located him in the Conference Room rifling through a file. He looked up from the material and smiled.

"You were right about Gail having secrets too," he said. "The brother told me she had changed over the past few months by becoming secretive. The mother said Gail was happier and confident and had returned to school. She was working hard after taking time off and was no longer moody"

Emily inquired, "Was she treated for depression?"

"The mother tried to cover the fact up, but Peter admitted Gail was suffering from depression. He found her in the bathtub once and took her to Syracuse General Hospital. Good old mom, palmed it off as an accident, but Peter knew different. Gail was put into a program and appeared to be doing much better afterwards. Both were unsure if Gail was part of a support group or seeing a therapist, she did however mention the phrase, "Today I do, tomorrow I will" as her main focus. Missus Langston insisted Gail was doing much better, but Peter commented his sister was not herself."

"We have a link," noted Ashley as the other team members joined them.

After discussing the connection, Reid took up a marker and wrote the words, "Today I do, tomorrow I will" on the white board. "This phrase isn't attributed to any particular author. It's found in just about every self-help book. I read twenty two of them today and they all peddle the same basic three part plan."

Surveying the board, Dave proposed, "Let me guess, the first is positive thinking by visualising your goals."

Emily went next, "That's to work up the courage to move onto phase two which is to take steps to achieve those goals."

"Gail returned to school and her grades picked up," put forth Dave.

Emily continued, "Molly stopped the fanatical writing in her food journal and started a healthier diet."

"I find it hard to believe a motivational phrase on its own would allow Molly to make such improvements" remonstrated Spencer sceptically.

Emily's eyes widened, "That may be the reason the UNSUB moved in with these women. She could be there day and night to offer her support and encouragement."

Rossi was in agreement, "She had the perfect opportunity to observe Gail's study habits and Molly's food intake."

"Initially, her methods worked," began Emily. "She got to be the hero, their saviour."

Reid added, "The UNSUB is purely narcissistic and assisting her victims is totally about gaining appreciation and dependence."

"As the victims' confidence grow, the so-called saviour is no longer needed on a full-time basis; she becomes obsolete and the victims disposal," deduced Dave.

Spencer went on, "When that occurs, the UNSUB's motivational plan goes completely astray. Phase three is about maintaining doctrines of the program on an independent basis."

"But for the UNSUB; the program doesn't come to a stop there. Instead of withdrawing, she holds them captive and physically destroys them."

"She's the motivational speaker from hell," quipped Emily behind a frown.

"It's time to deliver the profile," instructed Hotch as he stood. The other Agents followed.

-o-

Once the BAU Team informed the Officers and Detectives of the Syracuse Police Department the female UNSUB was in her mid-twenties, Caucasian, from a blue collar background and a local, those assembled in the room took notes. It was ascertained the woman most likely had a job that involved the role of caretaker. It was possible she worked as a masseuse, a nail or hair stylist or perhaps a personal trainer. Those professions offered the opportunity for women to feel comfortable with the likelihood of being upfront about their personal lives which in turn caused them to reveal details about their insecurities that the UNSUB could use later in an effort to manipulate them. The question of the UNSUB attempting to take on the role of a counsellor or therapist was raised by Chief Barrows and Aaron was quick to dismiss the probability due to the fact the UNSUB possessed a narcissistic personality that wouldn't permit her to listen to anything that didn't revolve around her longer than a few minutes at a time. Derek pointed out that the UNSUB wasn't highly intelligent nor did she possess the capability to obtain a degree, but being a master manipulator ensured she would have talked her way into many jobs with fake credentials.

The meeting ended with Hotch asking the group to check health spas, gyms, beauty salons and yoga studios for any employees fired during the last two years. Before they dispersed, Derek expressed the urgency in identifying the UNSUB as soon as possible if there was any hope of locating Molly Grandin alive.

-o-

Following a hunch, Dave went to speak with Jerry Grandin again. After a heated conversation, Grandin admitted Molly had collapsed a year earlier from malnutrition and anaemia as a result of not eating. Rossi was bewildered as to why Molly's father was keeping secrets about her emotional issues, but he did manage to pry further information from the man. Molly had undertaken a thirty day treatment at the Finley Centre for Eating Disorders at Syracuse General Hospital, and the Team now had another link and positive lead.

Passing on the data, Emily contacted Penelope via a comlink, "Both victims' families just authorised the release of their medical files. Are you able to access them yet?"

"I'm in and the two women attended Syracuse General Hospital for different programs and at different times."

A seated Ashley posed the question, "Maybe she worked at the hospital?"

Emily was swift to respond, "Even if she managed to gain a job with false credentials, I doubt she had the skill to go undetected as not being up for the work for long. She wouldn't have been able to access patient's files before being discovered as incompetent."

Reid frowned at the two Agents then the computer screen, "We were wrong about the profile. She doesn't just happen to find her victims by chance, she hunts them."

"Garcia, does the hospital keep a record of their surveillance on the entrances and exits?" inquired Emily.

"With the increase of activity within the black market drug trade for pharmaceuticals, you bet your ass they do. I'll just bring it up now."

With the sound of Penelope typing on the keyboard audible, Emily's cell rang. She collected it from her pants' pocket and excused herself from Ashley and Spencer. Walking out of room 314, she entered the hallway and answered, "Tsia?"

A sad, heart wrenching voice replied, "He's gone Emily, he's gone."

"What, who are you talking about? What is going on?"

"Jeremy is dead. He is dead."

Emily allowed the shock to penetrate her senses before saying, "What?"

"I came home from work and found him lying on the floor. He'd been having a shower and oh god, I don't know what happened to him. They said it was a clot."

Emily was having trouble processing the information, "What .. a clot, but Jeremy wasn't even forty."

"He … he didn't have a pulse so I called for an ambulance. They tried to revive him, but he was gone."

Pushing aside her sorrow, Emily asked, "Tsia, did someone break in?"

"I don't think so Emily. Jeremy was out for a run, he's been training for a marathon."

"Did he take his usual route?"

"Yes, he always did. He called me earlier to say he was cutting it short because he didn't feel well."

Shifting into alarm mode, Emily probed for more information, "Did Jeremey say he fell down along the path or run into someone?"

Tsia sobbed on the other end, "Oh dear god, you think he was killed."

"How long have we been chatting?" questioned Emily before checking her phone screen. "Okay, it doesn't matter. Tsia, you need to get out of France. Book a flight and return to America A-SAP. From this moment on, all purchases have to be in cash, no credit cards. Do you understand?"

Tsia pulled herself together long enough to comment, "It's Doyle, isn't it?"

"Toss your phone and get home safely," directed Emily firmly without acknowledging her friend's question. Taking a deep breath, she ended the call and looked inside the room. Spencer stared back and she inhaled again to calm down her terror before returning to the conversation with Penelope. Taking a seat beside Ashley, she focused on the redhead.

"All right my Angels, Gail and Molly both went to the hospital pharmacy to have their prescriptions filled. Assuming they have been stalked at some stage before their disappearance, I went through footage from the three months prior to their capture and discovered them both collecting their refills during that time frame.

The three Agents observed as Penelope stopped the film, "Bingo! I have Gail Langston on the third of July and that woman behind her with the large coffee cup, turns up again behind Gail two weeks later. That's just bat shit disturbing."

As Penelope zoomed in on the unknown woman, Ashley remarked, "She is wearing a scarf identical to Gail's."

"Garcia, did this woman follow a similar pattern with Molly?" asked Emily.

"Shoot Princess, you are total ruining the finale," taunted Penelope. "Here's Molly on November the eight with the mystery stalking behind her."

Seaver made the connection, "Wow, Molly went shopping and they are carrying the same purse."

Penelope continued, "And here they are again fifteen minutes later walking back along the corridor and talking."

Reid made comment, "The UNSUB stalks them, copies them and uses it as a means to strike up a conversation.

"I have a real clear picture of the nasty stalker lady," remarked Penelope as the monitor displayed the UNSUB.

Emily asked, "Garcia, can you blow that up and print it for us?"

"Doing it as we speak my lovely."

"It's possible the UNSUB is a patient the hospital too," proposed Ashley.

"I can check hospital records once I have a name," announced Penelope as she resumed her furious typing.

-o-

The Team reassembled in front of the white evidence board and Aaron addressed them, "I showed the photo of our UNSUB to Gail's family and they don't recognise her."

Pinning a picture to the board, Ashley stated, "Jerry Grandin didn't either."

"I sent it to Donaldson's lawyer and he informed me Lyle is missing," remarked Derek as he moved closer to the board with Chief Barrows behind him.

Barrows supplied the next piece of data, "His roommates haven't seen him since he left to come here yesterday."

"Has there been any sign of his car?" inquired Dave.

"That is also missing," answered Barrows.

"Put out an APB on Donaldson and his car," ordered Hotch.

-o-

Lyle's vehicle was located in the same car park where Gail and Molly's cars were found. The Team deduced the UNSUB saw Donaldson as a threat as he was just like her; dominating and violent. Aaron reasoned the UNSUB was not done with Molly and intended to use Lyle in some way. All attention remained on identifying the UNSUB and finding Donald.

-o-

Garcia made the breakthrough minutes later when speaking with Derek and Spencer after receiving a lengthy list from a Doctor Weingold of female patients in their mid-twenties who fitted the profile. Surveillance footage had filmed the UNSUB entering the Psychiatric Department on a weekly basis during the time frame of the abductions. The parameters of Penelope's search were narrowed down to women raised locally by either a single parent or by foster parents who grew up near Onondaga Lake. Jane Gould was the only name Penelope came up with and her grandparents had owned a house near Maple Bay which was where Gail Langston's body was found. When it was established the grandparents had passed away when Jane was in middle school, it was thought their home was the only place Jane had received any form of parental attention. Finding out the house was occupied and the utilities on; Penelope pulled up a DMV photo of Jane Gould and an I.D. was confirmed. She sent the address to the Agents' phones then contacted Doctor Weingold again.

-o-

Emily was in the front passenger seat of the Suburban, Derek was driving and Spencer was in the back seat. The SUV was racing along a dirt road towards Gould's grandparents' house and Reid was on a call with Penelope, "Thanks Garcia." Dave, Ashley and Aaron were already on conference call with Morgan's phone when he began, "Okay, Garcia had Doctor Weingold open Jane's file. Legally, she couldn't give details other than to say, there weren't many and Jane was being treated for self-harm issues. Jane never admitted to being a cutter nor did she indicate what triggered it."

Dave made an assessment, "She must have commenced acting out when she lost her grandparents."

"She was arrested for vandalism," stated Hotch. "Then she was removed from two foster homes for destruction of property. Those are classic methods to gain attention."

"Is that why she started cutting?" asked Emily. "Was that another cry for help?"

Seaver spoke up, "It's common in teenage girls who feel like they have lost control over their lives. Cutting is about control and is similar to anorexia."

"Her grandparents' deaths were more than likely the trigger," projected Hotch.

"Your whole world can be turned upside down when you lose parental figures at such a young age. There is a fair amount of pain associated with the loss and no outlet. Suddenly, no one is in charge and you have no direction."

"Both Molly and Gail can relate to that," suggested Dave despondently.

Turning her head towards the phone, Emily commented, "Jane used the victims to make herself feel important."

"She did more than that," supplemented Spencer. "She believes she is a selfless saviour."

"Instead of an orphan nobody wanted," concluded Ashley.

Pulling up in front on the house, all three Agents alighted from the vehicle and approached the front door with guns aimed forward. Entering, they split up and searched the house. Emily located Lyle prone on the floor of an upstairs bedroom and noticed the length of polished wood protruding from the right side of his neck. Leaning down, she checked for a pulse and found none. Clearing the room, she transmitted the news to the others via radio.

Once the entire house was clear, the trio exited and Morgan noted, "Donaldson's not cold yet, so they mightn't be too far away."

"Obviously there was some kind of confrontation that ended with Lyle's death," pointed out Spencer as they moved towards the SUV. "And Gould will want to go someplace familiar where she can regain control. I'll inform Hotch we are headed for the lake."

Jumping in the car, Reid informed the others the lake was only two minutes away and local Officers were on the way along with Dave, Hotch and Seaver. Putting the vehicle into gear, Derek took off and pulled up on the bridge above the lake within sixty seconds.

Flanked by Reid and Morgan, Emily drew her weapon and aimed it directly at Jane who was holding an unmoving Molly in her arms and on top of the water. "Jane Gould, FBI," she shouted while noticing the Phillips head screwdriver in Jane's right hand positioned against Molly's chest.

Police Officers ran into static locations as the rest of Emily's Team arrived. "FBI, move away from Molly and raise your hands above your head," she instructed loudly.

"She'll drown if I let go," replied Jane angrily.

"That won't happen," bellowed Emily. "Move away now!"

Inching in from the right bank with two SPD Officers, Derek yelled, "Jane, put it down."

Molly suddenly come to and broke free from her captor. With great effort, she swam away as Jane followed her. Two uniformed Officers waded into the water and gave chase as Molly pleaded for help. Gould was quickly restrained by the Officers and dragged to the water's edge. Morgan helped them secure her before one of the Officers returned to the water and collected an exhausted and badly injured Molly.

-o-

The sun had set by the time Molly was being prepared to be lifted into the back of the ambulance. Emily had a hold of Jane's left arm and was standing in behind Morgan and Reid at the rear of a Patrol car. Jane watched as Dave hastily walked past with Jerry Grandin by his left side.

"She's in a bad way with several broken bones, but is now stable for transport to the hospital," Emily heard Rossi say to Grandin.

"Molly, Molly," the distraught father chanted as he approached the gurney.

"Dad," a weak and oxygen masked Molly managed to get out before her father comforted her.

"I love you and there are so many things I need to say to you," he confessed as Emily pushed Gould into the back section of the Patrol car.

"You have to understand, I only wanted to help her," Jane shouted out before Derek closed the door on her.

Emily rolled her eyes at her partner, but smiled when she overheard Molly tell her dad, "I love you too dad."

"Time to wrap this case up," recommended Aaron as the Team assembled.

-o-

"There is no chance, no destiny, no fate that can hinder the firm resolve of a determined soul," American Author and Poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox.

During the flight home, Emily isolated herself in the rear of the jet and closed her eyes. She wasn't sleeping, but she wanted the others to think she was. After such a harrowing case, she was emotionally exhausted, and coupled with the news of Jeremey's death; all she wanted to do was call her wife and find some semblance of calm. Instead, she chose to distance herself from the pain that was threatening to reduce her to a blubbering fool and remain focused for the next move Doyle was sure to make.

Emily didn't have to wait long. Once she arrived back in the bullpen at Quantico, she was walking along the top gangway when her phone sounded with a message alert. Reaching for it in her suit jacket pocket, she read the message from the unknown sender: See you soon. Looking around the near deserted room, she compartmentalised the fear coursing up and down her spine and headed to the Conference Room for the debriefing.

-o-

Up next: Doyle's presence is about to be felt and this story will take a different direction than the show.