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 the time to review and feed the Muse. Thank you to those who have commented, favoured or a following this tale.
Chapter 17
Monday 18th April, 2011.
"A family is a place where minds come in contact with one another. If these minds love one another, the home will be as beautiful as a flower garden. But if these minds get out of harmony with one other it is like a storm that plays havoc with the garden,"Buddha.
After a tearful farewell with Jarrod and Samantha, Jillian waved them and Grace goodbye as the Chevrolet SUV reversed out of the driveway. Having spoken to her parents the night before, Jillian explained she had taken a temporary assignment with the State Department which entailed her travelling overseas on a regular basis. Maureen and Malcolm were more than happy to open their home to Grace and their grandchildren. The plan was for Jillian to visit and stay there during those times when she was in the country.
Jillian returned inside the house and finished dressing for her meeting at the Pentagon. Calling a taxi a few minutes later, she collected her ready bag and waited on the front porch. She had decided to sale her motorbike and Emily's Cruize sedan several days after the supposed murder of her wife. At the time, the vehicles held too many painful memories and the money had been put into a trust account for the babies, so had the life insurance cheque when it was received the week before.
A melancholy fell over Jillian as she thought about the heartbreak caused by one evil man and his thirst for money and power. It tore at her chest when she contemplated a life without Emily, while knowing she was actually alive. Tears stung her eyes as it dawned on her she could never again trust the woman she loved, thus making it impossible to be a complete family unit in the future.
When a car horn sounded, Jillian was roused from her inner reflections and swore she was done with crying over something she had no control over.
-o-
Jillian was sitting up in bed reading her background profile when Penelope called. "Hi," she said in greeting.
"Hey you, Hotch told us during the morning brief you had decided to take some leave."
"Yeah I need to clear my head and get a handle on my anger issues."
"Are you staying with your parents?"
"No, not yet, but I am taking off for their place in the morning. The twins and Grace drove there today."
"I expect you to call me every now and then so I can have my Jill fix."
Giggling softly, Jillian promised, "I will and tell the others I'm sorry for not saying goodbye."
"Hold on a second, you sound like you are leaving for good."
"There is a strong possibility I may not return to the BAU."
"Oh honey," cried Garcia. "I hope that doesn't happen. You are a valued member of the team and we all love you."
"I love you guys too, but it may be too difficult for me to work there."
"I understand and it's been hard for all of us. There are always little reminders each day."
"I know and I can't keep falling apart like I have been."
"You weren't the only one that was a mess during Hotch's grief counselling sessions. We all bawled our eyes out sugar."
"Yeah I know and I think I just need to take some time out on my own."
"Is that why you sent the twins ahead?"
"Yes and I had a few details to take care of here before I join them."
"I bet you missed them today?"
"Every second Penelope and I'll drop in and see you at your place when I can."
"I'd like that."
"Take care and I'll talk to you soon."
"You too, bye."
Putting down her phone, Jillian returned to the file on her lap and perused the pages until she grew tired.
-o-
It took three days for Jillian to track down an old associate of Doyle's living in Boston. Shane McCall was in his late sixties and well past his prime as an ex-soldier of Doyle's IRA breakaway faction fifteen years earlier.
A raven wigged Jillian tapped on the front door of his modest home late at night and she waited for the man whose hands were crippled with arthritis after years of fisticuffs, to answer her knock.
McCall struggled with the handle, but his face lit up when he viewed a brown eyed Jillian dressed in skin tight black jeans, boots, a black tank top and short waisted black leather jacket standing on his stoop. "Evening young lady, what can I do for you?" he asked while checking her out.
In a heavy Israeli accent, Jillian replied, "Hello, my name is Ahuva Barak and I am in need of the services of a colleague of yours."
"And who would that be darlin'?"
"Ian Doyle, I have been unable to contact him."
Without missing a beat, McCall responded, "Afraid I can't help you there, don't know the man."
"I must have been given the wrong information. I will not trouble you further."
"What info would that be?"
"A friend of my acquaintance told me a Shane McCall would be able to offer me assistance. Are you not Shane McCall?"
"To be sure that is me and what be the name of this friend of yours?"
"Peter O'Shea. We meet last year in Russia and he assisted me with a certain supply problem I was having."
"Did he now and how is old Pete these days?"
"He unfortunately is dead after being gunned down in St Petersburg by a rival supplier of goods three months ago. Apparently Peter was under cutting the other dealer's price by quiet a considerable margin."
"You sound like you knew him well."
"Enough to know he hated being called Pete and considered you a trusted friend."
Nodding, McCall suggested, "You better be coming inside then."
"Thank you for your hospitality." Jillian followed the burly grey haired man into the living room and sat down when he gestured to the sofa.
"Would you be caring for a shot of whiskey? I was just about to pour one before you arrived."
"That would be acceptable, it was a long flight."
"I gather you are from the Middle East with that accent."
"I am from Florentin, a town five minutes from the city of Tel Aviv. I own and run a private security company there."
"I see and how long did you know Peter?"
"Our friendship was only new. We met in December and had only completed two business transactions before his untimely demise. I was with him outside the café when a car drove by and two people shot him. It was most unfortunate."
"I spoke to Peter at Christmas time and he mentioned he had met an exotic beauty, but was short on details."
"He told me to seek you out if he was ever unavailable to supply stock. He also said you were connected to this Ian Doyle and would be able to set up a meeting."
"Under normal circumstances that may have been the case darlin'," replied McCall as he handed over a glass and sat opposite Jillian. "Doyle got himself into a spot of bother a while back and has gone into hiding."
"That is most unfortunate. I will have to look elsewhere," remarked Jillian before gulping down the warm liquor.
"I could leave him a message for you the next time he contacts me."
"When would that be, I have a particularly large consignment to fill?"
"He'll be laying low for another month or two before he calls."
"Peter told me you were Doyle's contact here in the United States."
"I used to be darlin', but I've retired. He only phones me for a chat these days and I pass on information if I happen to have any."
"So Peter has sent others here?"
"For sure, but you'll be the last."
"Then I am honoured." Jillian rose to her feet and announced, "I must be on my way. I am in need of rest."
Getting up, McCall took the empty glass from his guest.
Taking out her wallet from the inside pocket of her jacket, Jillian withdrew a business card and handed it to McCall, "Those are my contact numbers. Please ask Mr Doyle to phone me if he is in a position to supply goods."
"I will and it was a pleasure meeting you Ahuva."
"The pleasure was all mine. Goodnight Mr McCall." Jillian let herself out and walked to vehicle she had rented at the airport earlier that morning.
Getting in behind the driver's wheel, she started the engine of the latest model Mercedes sedan and drove back to the Langham Hotel. Once she was in her suite, she called Jennifer with a progress report. In return, Jennifer advised her there had been no telephone activity from McCall since she left his house. After a brief discussion, it was decided Jillian would leave Boston the next morning and travel to her bogus home in Florentin to await contact from McCall.
-o-
