A/N: There are many references in this chapter to my FF The Ancient Ways.
I have told you multiple times. I'm a shameless huckster to get readers.
Chapter 3
Dave looked at the Detective. "It starts with you. How long have you lived here?"
Vasquez shook his head. "What does that have to do with your profile?"
Dave shook his head giving the Detective his soft smile. "Just answer the question and trust us."
"I was born and grew up here," Vasquez said.
"That's a head start," Dave said.
Matt put his left leg on the conference room table and sat down. "You're going to be our key. Pedophiles live in the community where they do their abuse. And they have access to the children they target."
Dave continued. "Matt and I could give you our long BAU dissertation of the mentality of a pedophile. Right now, that is not going to help this case. One more aspect though that we feel might help with this case is pedophiles spend an extraordinary amount of time with children, whether those children are his targets or not."
"His?" Vasquez asked.
Matt nodded his head. "The overwhelming majority of pedophiles are male."
"And white?" Vasquez asked.
Dave shook his head. "Pedophilia crosses all ethnicities."
"The key to this case will be to find a common denominator linking the three victims to one place where our unsub has access," Matt said.
"Given your profile, why is he killing these boys?" Blackwolf asked.
Dave shrugged. "The most obvious in most cases is remorse. That is more unlikely in a pedophile."
"Why?" Blackwolf asked.
"They are covering their tracks," Matt said. "Most pedophiles are caught because their victims out-grow the pedophile's very specific age preferences they all have. When the victims get older, they can better report the abuse and their abuser. What really nails the pedophile to the wall is their extensive amount of child porn on their computers and their trophies they take from their victims." Matt looked at the two LEOs. "The bottom line for pedophiles is they will keep doing their abuse until they are caught. I'm sorry for not being PC, but a dead victim can't talk. This pedophile moves on to a new target for his sexual gratification."
"One more key to this case though," Dave said, "is the victims. Each only showed the one act of abuse according to the autopsy. This unsub also is a sociopath that wants the one off, satisfying his pedophilia desires, kills and dumps his victim, and then moves on to his next victim. Most pedophiles are not like that. The abuse is long term."
Matt looked at Blackwolf and Vasquez. "This unsub is a geographically stable offender. He's young and socially immature with average intelligence. His sociopathic personality traits mean he's very anti-social. That's what we focus on," Matt said. "We search for an unsub that is a sociopath that also happens to be a pedophile. And find his target area."
Dave looked at Blackwolf and Vasquez. "Which we believe we have found." They looked at him. "All three victims were students at Mesa Middle School."
"How did I miss that?" Vasquez said.
"Relax Jose," Matt said, giving him a look at using the detective's first name. Vasquez smiled. "We damn near did too. That school is divided into three very separate sections that each has a different name. The students are listed under each of those sections, rather than the actual building."
"So we're looking for someone that has access to all three sections of that school?" Vasquez asked.
Dave smiled at Blackwolf. "The kid catches on quick."
Matt smiled at Vasquez. "We had one of our technical analysts do a pre-cursory search of the building staff and a name did pop up. Dave and I don't think he's viable. But we'd really like you to totally rule him out since you're a native in the area."
"Who?" Vasquez asked.
"Thomas Weir," Dave said.
"Tommy?" Vasquez queried. "No way."
"You know him?" Matt asked.
Vasquez nodded. "We went to school together. Tommy is slightly mentally challenged. But he played football and basketball. He made the teams because..." Dave and Matt smiled. "Everyone pulled for him when he got in a game."
"We get that," Matt smiled.
"After graduation, a position opened in the school district for a custodian. The job fit Tommy to a tee and he was hired. He's been there ever since. The staff and kids love him." Vasquez looked at Dave and Matt. "What made him get a ding?"
"One minor incident," Dave said. "We had to check it out."
Vasquez shook his head. "I remember it. Tommy reported some female student that kicked over his mop bucket in the hall after she was thrown out of a class. She had major issues and got into more trouble with Tommy filing his report. Two days later, she took a 'spill' in the hallway near Tommy. He naturally went to check on her and rubbed her back to see if she was OK. She hollered abuse. The security cameras in the hallway cleared Tommy. Case closed. The girl transferred to a different school district."
"Back up," Blackwolf said. "One of your technical analysts?"
Matt shook his head at him. "John, the BAU is made up of three specialized teams. Ours, which you know. SSA Cooper's team that deal with highly specific unsubs and our International Response Team headed by SSA Garrett. The IRT has their own technical analyst that can back the other teams when IRT is on stand down. You know Garcia," Matt said. John smiled. "Aaron finally got the funding to add another analyst to back the Unit.
"That said, IRT is in Spain on a case. Coop's team is out. And our team is split three ways handling three different cases. That leaves two full time tech analysts and a part time third one dedicated to IRT to cover five teams. They're stretched thin. We use who we get and when we can for how long we can."
"We're back in my heyday doing this the old fashion way gentlemen," Dave said.
"Which you love Dave, but we talked on the way out here," Matt said.
Dave shook his head. "I don't want to stand over another child's body any more than you Matthew. Make the call and see if someone is available."
Matt winked at Blackwolf and Vasquez, pulling out his cellphone. "Why he makes the big bucks." Matt hit a speed dial number and put his cell on speaker.
"Agent Vertega."
"Jesse, it's Cob. You're still there?"
"I've got the afternoon shift. AT Dunn has the overnight shift."
Blackwolf and Vasquez looked a Dave. "Agent trainee from the FBI Academy," Dave whispered.
Matt smiled. "Bee has learned how to delegate assignments. Who's available?"
Vertega pulled up Monty's program. "Kevin finally kicked Garcia's butt out of the lair. He's currently heads down with Morgan's team. But Monty is still available. Hold sir."
"Thanks Jesse," Matt said.
"Monty at the ready Cob."
"Hey Monty. We need you to start a detailed search of the faculty and staff of Mesa Middle School. Throw out Thomas Weir. We've ruled him out."
"I can start it Cob, but I'll have to turn it over to Pen or Kevin. You know former Marine, crack of dawn Jack."
"Hoo-rah," Matt and Dave said.
"Monty," Matt said, "just get it started and then pass it off. Focus more on sociopathic behavior."
"Consider the search started Cob."
"Thanks Monty. Get some sleep. That's an order."
"Thank you Cob. Monty out to comply with that order." Matt ended the call with a smile.
Dave looked at Vasquez. "How challenged is Tommy?"
Vasquez shook his head. "He was a preemie and was diagnosed with a very mild learning disorder when he started kindergarten," Vasquez said. Matt and Dave looked at him. "We were in the same kindergarten class. But Agents, I can tell you that with Tommy's hard work," Vasquez smiled, shaking his head a bit, "his parents, mostly his mother, dogged determination and a damn good tutor, his high school diploma was not a gift. He earned the grades to get that diploma."
"So he would notice things?" Dave continued.
Vasquez looked at Dave. "He could walk down a line of the cars parked in the high school lot and tell you every license plate number."
Matt looked at Dave. "That has a side of autism whiff to me. That could make him unreliable as a witness."
Vasquez shook his head. "It was always chalked up to his photographic memory."
Dave looked at Matt. "Any autism wouldn't allow Tommy to be a much loved janitor in the chaotic hallways of a middle school. I'm going with the photographic memory."
Matt smiled at Dave, rubbing his shoulder. "Why you are the Big Dog." Matt looked at Dave more closely. "Thank you Sammy," Matt said, rubbing Dave's shoulder more.
Vasquez and Blackwolf looked at Dave. "Another BAU case in Louisiana some years back. Our only witness was a kid named Sammy who was autistic. Yet he helped us catch the unsub by digging into his daily regimen. Back to this case and Tommy. Who better to give us a read on the staff at that school than a person that deals with everyone of them every day for how many years?" Dave surmised looking at Vasquez. "How well do you know him?"
Vasquez smiled. "As in getting him out here for you to talk to him? Piece of cake."
"Rock and roll detective," Dave smiled. Vasquez got out of his chair and headed towards the door.
"Matt," Blackwolf said. "I could use your help."
"How so John?"
Blackwolf pointed to a map he had taped to one of the conference room windows. "This is the unsub's drop zone," he said, waving his finger around the two square mile area. "I could use your tactical expertise to position my officers. Just in case."
Matt rubbed his shoulder. "Dave and I just said it. We don't want that either." Matt's stomach loudly rumbled for food. Dave's did the same.
"When was the last time you two ate?" Blackwolf asked.
"This morning having breakfast with my wife and three kids at seven this morning. DC time," Matt said.
Blackwolf smiled at Matt. "I'm afraid to ask."
Matt shook his head. "Three middle schoolers. How's Marney?"
Blackwolf beamed. "A sophomore at ASU and on the Dean's List each semester."
"Nice," Dave smiled.
"Let's head out and get some food for you two," Blackwolf smiled. He looked at Matt. "I remember you hammering Hotch's butt about taking a break." Matt smiled with a point.
"I'm in," Dave smiled.
Matt looked at Dave getting out of his chair and pointed at Dave's winter jacket. "You might need that," he said, pulling on his own.
John smiled. "This desert can get cold in February."
John guided Matt driving the Bureau SVU to the front curb of the expanded casino complex. "Park there," he pointed. "None of the valets are going to argue with federal plates."
Matt shook his head at Blackwolf. "You're doing that well out here?"
John nodded with a smile as the three got out. "Forty percent of the Terra Mesa population works here. We're a major employer in the area."
"And the benefits for your people?" Dave asked, as John pulled open the door to let the two agents into the casino.
John smiled. "You two profilers didn't notice our biggest expansion? The medical clinic? We've got one of the finest medical and ER facilities in the area."
Dave smiled at Blackwolf. "We were sorta heads down with a case."
"I get it," John smiled, leading them to the Oasis restaurant.
After they were seated in a private booth in the back area of the casual restaurant of the casino, a server came up and handed them menus. "Can I start you off with something to drink?"
"A bottle of Coors Light," Matt said.
"Times two," Dave smiled. Blackwolf looked at the two of them. "I'm Italian; he's Irish. We're professional drinkers by heritage." Blackwolf laughed ordering a Coke.
Dave looked at Matt. "No Miller Lite?"
Matt smiled. "That's hit or miss west of the Rockies." He looked at Dave. "Remember I have beer drinking experience out here." John looked at him. Matt smiled. "A transfer semester from the Naval Academy to the Air Force Academy," Matt explained.
John broadly smiled at Dave. "I take a bar brawl was involved?"
"With this one and his Irish temper?" Dave thumbed at Matt with a smile. "Ya think?" Blackwolf loudly laughed.
While they were waiting for their food, Matt called Abbey. John Blackwolf smiled at Matt's conversation with his children and wife.
"Hey dad?" Casee asked. "Is Uncle Dave with you?" Matt smiled at Blackwolf and winked as the server set down their dinners.
"Sorry loves. Chief Blackwolf and I left Dave at the station."
"Daddd," Casee said.
"You're so busted dad," Colin added.
"And how many times have you been busted Col?"
"Retreat Col my boy and live to battle another day," Dave said, putting some ketchup on his burger.
The kids all greeted Dave and had a short chat with him. "Love you Uncle Dave," Casee said.
Matt nodded at Dave to Blackwolf. John smiled. "Love you too sweetheart." Matt held up his left pinky finger. Blackwolf broadly smiled.
"Chief Blackwolf, I'm Cam. Please take care of dad and Uncle Dave."
Blackwolf shook his head. "Cam, I owe your dad my life. That means he is now my Apache brother. I give you my promise I'll take care of him and Uncle Dave."
"That's way cool," Cam said. "Thank you."
"Chief Blackwolf, it's Colin." Matt shook his head at Dave. Dave smiled at John. "I'm in a history class and were studying the Native American tribes. I have to write a report on a great leader. Geronimo or Cochise?"
"Gee Colin, that's a tough call," John said. "Both were mighty warriors for my people."
"You're not helping Chief." Dave and Matt shared a look and snickered.
John looked at them. "Colin, I told you kids your dad is my Apache brother. You study both of them and figure out who is more like your dad. And when you do, write your report from that perspective and have your dad email it to me."
Matt pointed at John with his deep Irish smile. "Pal, whomever you choose, just do it right for Chief Blackwolf and make him proud."
"You got it dad," Colin said. He looked at Abbey. "This is where you want to talk to mom now isn't it?" Dave smiled at Blackwolf.
"Yeah pal, it is. I miss and love you all." The kids sent the same sentiment to their dad and Dave. Blackwolf noticed Dave melt a bit and smiled.
"Take care as well Chief Blackwolf," Casee said.
John shook his head as Matt got out of the booth to talk privately with Abbey. "She's special," Blackwolf smiled.
"Yes she is," Dave smiled back. "She's the only female BAU kid and our angel."
"I get it," John smiled.
###
A/N: Having a proofreader is gold. They find the misspellings and punctuation errors along with other little details.
Having a proofreader that invests herself into your story and offers some much need analysis is gold. I have that kind of proofreader.
Thank you my OK Teacher. You made this chapter better.