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: Sorry for the delay, but real life is kind of full on at the moment and unlikely to ease up until the New Year. Please find the time to review and feed the Muse.
Chapter 53
Once Emily introduced the Team to Odessa Police Chief Michael Faulkner, she asked where they could set up an Incident Room.
Standing at six feet with a barrel chest and black hair fashioned into a crew cut, Faulkner's green eyes glistened with tears, "I appreciate your assistance and expertise with this god awful crime. I'm afraid there isn't much evidence at this stage." Taking a breath, he went on, "We've cleared an Interview Room for you and Detectives Lace and Doherty are on-site. They've organised white boards, stationery, and a conference telephone. There is a coffee machine and freshly baked pastries in the breakroom; please feel free to partake at any time."
"Thank you Chief Faulkner, we are grateful for your hospitality. Derek, you and Alex go to the burial site and speak with Detectives Lace and Doherty. J.J. and Spencer, talk to the Medical Examiner while I layout the evidence we have."
A "yes Chief" echoed off the walls and Emily glared at Morgan. He grinned in return as did the others. It appeared she was stuck with the moniker for the time being.
Faulkner showed Emily to the room in question and she immediately placed her portfolio and "go to" bag on the nearest chair. On the table were two storage boxes and Emily asked, "Have any more bodies been located since we last spoke?"
"No ma'am, still only the eight following the report from the hiker of disturbed soil this morning. Our Medical Examiner Doctor Webster said she'd be done with at least two of the remains by the time you and your Team arrived."
"Any preliminary findings?"
The man in his mid-fifties dipped his head, "Yes ma'am. Doc estimated the bodies had been interred for periods ranging from two weeks to six months. She'll be more precise after the autopsies. Our Crime Scene Investigators found no evidence to suggest any of the victims were killed at the south entrance of Comanche Trail Park."
"The victims recovered were situated thirty yards from the campsite, correct?"
"Yes ma'am. Roger Lambert is a keen bird watcher and was heading out to look for the Ruby-crowned Kinglet when he came across the upturned dirt close to where he tracked a flock's migration. The area is a well-known for being a habitat for a variety of birds."
"Can you arrange for Mister Lambert to attend the station for further questioning?"
"Yes ma-am, I can personally drive to his home."
"Thank you Chief," commented Emily while removing the lid of one of the containers and picking up a file. "Before you go, how many women are currently listed as missing in Odessa?"
"There are nine dating back to two thousand."
"We'll be able to narrow the identity search once your M.E. determines age and ethnicity of the victims."
Placing an index finger against his jaw, Faulkner pondered, "I suppose it's a possibility none of the women come from here."
Emily frowned at the proposition, "Doctor Webster's findings will assist in discarding some factors and including others, and you are right; they may not be from your town."
"I suppose we will know soon enough unfortunately. I took the liberty of ordering extra sandwiches and soup from the deli that supplies the station's breakroom. There is bottled water, juice and soda also available to you and your team. Jason keeps the refrigerator well stocked, so feel free to avail yourselves Agent Prentiss."
"Much appreciated."
"Have you booked into a motel yet?"
"Yes, three rooms have been organised at The Imperial."
Faulkner bobbed his head, "It's a cosy enough place and really clean. If you need anything, just holler."
"I will and thank you again for your cordiality."
"You're welcome. I'll leave you to it and go get Lambert."
-o-
Left alone, Emily retrieved more files from the storage boxes and categorised them into age groups. With an absence of information, she next began a "murder" board by displaying the crime scene photographs of the victims found at Comanche Park Campsite.
It was eleven thirty when her phone rang. Pulling it from the belt holder, she grinned at Jillian's number, "Hey you."
"Hi and sorry to call during a case, but I thought you'd want to know what's happened."
"I'm just setting up the Incident Room while waiting for the M.E's reports. Phoning is always fine honey."
There were several seconds of silence before Jillian spoke, "All right, but promise not to over react."
"Now that statement has me nothing but concerned. Are the kids okay?"
"I'm actually at the hospital with Samantha and before you go into a tailspin; she is going to fine."
A sob caught in Emily's throat as she staved off the encroaching wave of panic, "Oh crap, what happened?"
"Sam was chasing Jarrod in the entertainment room and tripped over Toby."
Controlling her natural instinct to cry, Emily held her breath and enquired, "How bad are her injuries?"
"She managed to put a tooth through her bottom lip and requires a couple of stitches to close the wound. Jarrod is at home with mom and Grace, so don't worry about him and I gave Sam a red Popsicle to suck on to numb the pain and disguise the blood."
Letting out a relieved sigh, Emily relaxed her tense shoulders, "Well done honey. Was there much crying?"
Jillian giggled briefly, "Sam wasn't too bad, but the rest of us were hopeless."
Emily laughed at the image, "Our daughter is tough, just like her mommy."
"Thanks, but you are much tougher than me and during the ordeal, Sam used a new curse word."
"Oh no, not another one."
"She apparently overheard your mother say it during her phone call to the Embassy earlier this morning."
"Please don't tell me she dropped the "F" bomb?"
"Sorry, no can do."
"When did she say it?"
"You'll be proud to know she said it when the ED Doctor examined her lip and it started bleeding again."
"Well at least she used it in the correct context," joked Emily while thinking their house would have to become a "no swear" zone.
"True, she and I will be having a little chat later once things settle down."
"I'm sorry I'm unable to be there."
"It's all right babe and the Doctor will knock Sam out before he puts in the sutures."
"That will certainly be less painful for her."
"And me," admitted Jillian. "Do you want to talk to her?"
"Yes please."
"Hold on, I'll put you on video chat."
Emily's eyes filled with tears when Samantha appeared on screen moments later holding an ice block, "Hey Little Miss, how you doing?"
"Me felled and hurted me lip mama. Me at hos … pit … diddle."
Refraining from giggling at her child's pronunciation, Emily smiled instead, "Does it hurt baby?"
"Mommy gived me scile." Moving the treat towards the phone, she continued, "Mommy said me take nap and be fixed up."
"That's true Little Miss."
Titling her head to the left, Samantha's face scrunched up, "Mama."
"Yes baby?'
"Me love you lots."
"I love you too."
"You chased bad man?"
"Yes sweetie."
A small smile broke out accompanied with a nod, "You good mama."
"So are you darling."
Jillian dipped her head into view, "We have to go Em, the Doctor is here."
"Okay, love you both and will call tonight."
"Bye mama."
"Bye my brave baby."
With a wave they were gone and Emily dried her eyes with a tissue before returning to her task with a somewhat reluctant heart.
-o-
Derek called Emily fifteen minutes later with disturbing news, "Prentiss, the cadaver dog has located six more bodies. The M.E.'s Assistant Doctor Thorne says they're all fresh, maybe less than two days deceased."
"Whoever is responsible is escalating and possibly still active," reasoned Emily.
"I agree and forensics found a stash of purses and wallets buried with the last victim so identification just became a lot easier. I'll send you a list of names as soon as I can, and all are local residents."
"Thanks Derek."
"Have any autopsy results become available?"
"No, not yet; I'll inform you when they come in."
"Appreciate it and will return within the hour."
"Copy that." Putting her phone on the table, Emily turned towards the entrance when Jennifer and Spencer passed through the doorway.
Reid handed her two folders, "M.E. reports indicate both victims died from a single blow to the back of the cranium causing massive trauma to the skull and brain. Doctor Webster suggested the weapon used was a hammer. Further testing and wound comparison will determine the brand and model."
A grim faced Jennifer went on, "Age is between twenty and twenty five. Both women have brown eyes and hair and are five foot six and seven and are Caucasian. Bodies show signs of rape and torture and shallow ligature marks were found on their wrists and ankles. It appears the UNSUB kept these women for only a short time before ending their lives. Doctor Webster stated the women suffered genital mutilation." Screwing up her face, Jennifer continues, "Their clitorises had been crudely removed anti-mortem by a serrated edged blade."
"This is one sick individual," noted Emily while perusing the autopsy photos and cringing.
Spencer spoke next, "The disfigurement suggests our UNSUB may be from a country were female circumcision is practiced."
Emily looked to the two Agents, "Or we are looking for a female who was subjected to the procedure. Was there any sperm or condom lubricant detected from the wet test?"
Reid took the question, "Interestingly no, nor was any pubic hair present. Each woman had been shaved shortly prior to death."
"It's possible the victims performed that routine themselves before being taken," proposed Emily.
"Statistically it's more common for women in their twenties to employ a waxing or laser method," put forth Spencer.
Jennifer nodded, "True or maybe the UNSUB wanted to expose his victims for some reason or just to have a clearer path to the clitoris."
Three phones beeped with a text notification and Emily commented, "That will be the names on the licences unearthed at the dump site."
Reading the list, Reid declared, "The fact the victims are local will assist with a geographical profile."
Emily immediately called Penelope.
"Yes Chief, I am at your service and yes, I've already commenced a search of those poor fourteen women on the text Derek sent me."
"Good work Penny."
"I'll send you the results ASAP, Garcia out."
Jennifer's cell sounded with another missive. Once she read it, she shared, "Doctor Webster has finished with another victim with the same COD, ethnicity and mutilation. Time of death is two weeks."
Spinning around, Emily picked up a black marker and added the new information under photographs labelled one, two and three.
Spencer noticed the separated folders on the table, "I'll compare the names from the licences with these."
"Thanks Spence," replied Emily. "With two of the victims only having been killed two days ago, it's possible they have not been reported as missing yet."
Jennifer withdrew her phone, "I'll have Garcia search for next of kin and find out Emily. I'll also forward the autopsy findings to Alex and Derek."
"Thanks J.J."
Alex called Emily within three minutes, "More bad news I'm afraid."
"Jesus, more have been found?"
"Four killed approximately one week ago and match the other three victims for COD and physicality."
"Shit," cussed Emily. "You and Derek stay there."
"Not a problem and the UNSUB definitely has a type."
"And a signature … their clitorises have been sliced off."
"Oh that is a game changer."
"It is."
"I'll contact you if there is any more news this end."
"Thanks Alex."
Emily stared at the two wide eyed people gawking at her, "Another four bodies have been unearthed, one week deceased."
"We need to find this monster quickly," recommended Jennifer before phoning Penelope.
-o-
By one o'clock that afternoon, ten more bodies had been located and Emily called Derek and Alex back to the Police Station for a break. Jennifer and Spencer were currently out in the field interviewing next of kin and collecting DNA samples for comparison at the Medical Examiner's Office. So far, no corpses had been officially identified and Emily had managed to keep the local media at bay by ordering a complete news blackout.
Emily was sorting the last of the names retrieved at the burial site when Alex and Derek joined her. She took in their furrowed brows and down turned mouths and knew more troubling information was about to be delivered.
"Prentiss," began Morgan. "Another bag containing licences was discovered with body number twenty eight. All women fit the UNSUB's MO and are all from interstate towns. Several are Latino, so we can discount Caucasian from the profile."
"Holy crap," was all Emily could get out before Alex resumed.
"The licences total forty. Detectives Lace and Doherty will contact us if the other twelve potential victims are found."
Emily shook her head, clearing her mind of the shocking development, "Derek, call Garcia with the new names."
"On it," he acknowledged prior to reaching for his phone.
Alex took out hers, "I'll go print up some copies of the licences."
"Thanks then please take time to eat. Chief Faulkner has kindly allowed us the use of the station's breakroom."
"Sounds good, be back soon."
Placing a hand on Blake's forearm, Emily suggested, "Don't rush, it's going to a long night and until we have positive identification; we won't be able to start on tracking their last movements and whereabouts."
"Understood."
-o-
A hungry Emily and Derek joined Alex five minutes later and selected turkey and salad subs plus bottles of chilled water. When Emily sat, she asked, "Any idea guys?"
"There's a lack of information, so no," answered Alex in between sips of coffee. "Anything would only be conjecture at this stage."
Swallowing, Morgan replied confidently, "There was obviously a trigger that set the UNSUB on this path of destruction. The genital mutilation is specific and personal. Those two factors mean something to them and is driving them to carry out these murders. The UNSUB hasn't veered from their method of torture, rape or cause of death. It's systematic, methodical and carefully planned out. The absence of seminal fluid and condom lubricant could point to an object being used to perform the rapes."
Alex spoke up, "It's possible it signifies sexual dysfunction or abuse."
"True," concurred Emily. "The instant one victim is identified; we trace her steps and search through her home and life for any clues. To do otherwise, could end up wasting time and energy if the licences prove to be a divergence or misdirection."
Putting down her mug, Alex commented, "There is nothing random about the choice of victim. Something links these woman to the UNSUB and is probably the reason behind the torture, rape and slayings."
"We're kind of running around in the dark," pointed out Derek truthfully. "We could do with a break."
Standing, Emily grabbed her phone off her belt and called Penelope then turned on the speaker function.
"Yes Boss Lady, what do you need?"
"Garcia, how many names have you checked off the list of women in Odessa?"
"That would be six. Trudy Maller, Roxanne Tully, Debbie Lowe, Felicity Granger, Peta Stewart and Ellen Tosh were all born and raised in Odessa. All are twenty four years old and reported missing between four weeks and two months ago."
"Have you cross referenced their educational history?"
"Doing it as we speak my Princess and … holy Batman shut the front door."
"What is it Pen?"
"I have a nexus. All women attended the University of Texas of The Permian Basin and graduated two years back."
"That can't be a coincidence," stated Derek, pleased to finally have a connection.
Frantic typing could be heard in the background along with a couple of swear words, "I'll get back to you Angels, Garcia out."
The three Agents glanced at one another briefly before Emily's phone rang.
Before she could answer, Penelope blurted out, "So far twenty six of the possible victims attended the University of Texas studying a variety of subjects. I think we can exclude the coincidence theory. I'll call when I have more, bye."
Grabbing her sandwich and drink, Emily headed for the door, "We have a starting point."
"Looks like it," said Derek as he followed; Alex was right by his side.
No sooner did they reach the Incident Room than Penelope phoned to confirm all women graduated from the University of Texas either in two thousand and nine or ten. She hung up after promising to dig deeper in regards to shared classes, acquaintances and social activities.
-o-
A/N: The hunt continues for our Team while Emily hopes her offspring don't work their ways through the alphabet of swear words.
