Chapter IV:
When morning came the agents went to the station to decipher their next move. All were around the table with coffee in hand, nourishment that must never be absent.
Hotch looked at his team and seeing that all agents were ready to catch the murderer before he get to another victim began to indicate what they would do to achieve that.
"Okay listen, Garcia sent us the addresses of women's advocacy groups that the victims were part of. Two of them are small, and not well known, and that's why it did not show up when Garcia tried to find some connection between the victims "Hotch said firmly, just then his phone started ringing."Garcia just sent me the three directions of these places"
"What about the others?"JJ said.
"Garcia found that the last two victims belonged to the same group because this is better known than the other two and keeps records of members"
"If the UnSub went from finding his victims in groups not known to known it means that he´s becoming more confident in himself and his abilities" Emily said, who was sitting in the chair right next to Morgan.
"I think that, too. I want us to go to these places and obtain as much information as possible, okay? "They all nodded."Morgan, Prentiss you will go to the first one. Dave, Reid you go to the second and JJ, you´ll go with me to the last one. We´ll get back to the station when once we´re done and will continue from there "One by one the agents left the room and went in their separate ways.
The trip in Emily and Derek´s SUV wasn't silent at all. Both were discussing their own theories on the case and occasionally laughing to lighten the atmosphere. The journey took them no more than 20 minutes, so it was not a long talk.
The place was small and it didn´t stand out, any passerby wouldn't even notice it unless they were actually looking for it. But inside was something totally different. The white painted walls were full of posters against women´s abuse and their rights. Next to them were a few seats all occupied, apparently, for women waiting their turn for something. Spotting the front desk that was not that far, Emily and Morgan walked the short distance to it.
"Hello my name is Agent Emily Prentiss and this is my partner Agent Derek Morgan of the FBI" The two had decided it was better if Emily began talking. "We need to talk to the person who runs this place please" The woman stared at them for a moment before nodding and doing what they asked.
A few minutes later a tall black haired woman approached them. She shook hands with both agents and Emily noticed some apprehension in her eyes.
"My name is Jane Oswell, What can I do for you today agents?"The woman said cordially.
"You know this woman?" Morgan asked showing her a picture.
"Well of course, is Amy one of our volunteers. Is she in some kind of trouble? "The question took them by surprise.
"You don´t know what happened to her?" Emily asked watching the woman intently to capture any sign of a lie.
"No! Did something bad happen?
"She was killed three weeks ago." Derek said in a serious tone not believing that she, after all this time, didn´t know that one of her volunteers had been murdered. "You didn´t know?"
"No no! I had no idea, "The woman said putting one of her hand over her chest. Perceiving the questioning look from the agents, Jane explained to clarify the reasons. "Look agents Amy was a pretty quiet and sweet girl. She had no family and didn´t have a fixed schedule with us. So when she didn´t appear, we thought it was due to work or personal things. We don´t carry a clear record of the volunteer. "
Emily, feeling a somewhat hostile environment, decided to change the direction of the conversation.
"I noticed a security camera at the entrance. Can you give us the tapes? And if possible, just the ones from last month. "Morga asked.
"Amm ... yes sure, we bought them recently, for precaution...you never know" she said.
"True" Emily said with a smile. Jane smiled back and went to talk to the receptionist and a few seconds later both went in search of the tapes.
Derek began observing the place noticing things that initially he had not seen. The women waiting in chairs were looking at him with fear, some even dared not to look up or if they did they turned around immediately. Morgan felt revulsion and anger toward the person responsible for such fear in their eyes and, at the same time, hurt.
Noticing this Emily placed her hand on her partner´s arm giving it a little squeeze to get his attention, which worked. Morgan turned giving her his full attention.
"Penny for your thoughts" She said looking at him somewhat concerned.
"It's just ..."The dark agent began. "All these women are scared of me and even of going out of their homes just because some bastard hurt them." He said wistfully.
"I understand," Emily slid her hand down and took his. "But you know that you ARE a great man and you´d NEVER hurt a woman on purpose on the contrary, you´d protect her with everything you have and I know all that because I know you." Both looked affectionately at each other without moving an inch from where they were, lost in each other eyes, Emily's hand still holding her partner´s, until the sound of a cell phone took them out of their trance. Morgan replied quickly pulling away.
Emily on the other hand, felt a void in the place where only minutes ago was Derek's hand. "What's the matter with you Prentiss. Focus on the case and after that think is whatever the hell just happened" Emily was mentally kicking herself.
Once finished speaking Morgan turned to the brunette and told her what the team had discovered. Just then Jane approaches them with the receptionist.
"These are the tapes of the last month, I hope they are helpful"
"Thank you. One last question, "Emily said taking the tapes from the woman´s hands."Have you seen anything strange lately? Maybe someone hanging around in a suspicious way?"
"No. We don´t go out that much once we are here. There is always too much work and the times that we do everything seems pretty normal." She said.
"Ok thank you very much and if you remember anything please call us" Morgan said handing his card.
Shortly after saying goodbye the agents climbed the SUV heading to the station and what happened between them minutes ago was not spoken.
Hotch and JJ were sitting in a small room with Angela Thompson, the woman in charge of ´Woman's Rights´, the group to which the last two victims belonged."It's just ... I can´t believe it, Clara and Amanda, dead? Are you sure? "The woman was in denied.
"We are sure ma'am" JJ said placing her hand over the hands of the shattered woman.
"Can you tell us if you notice anything unusual in their behavior?" Hotch asked her.
"No nothing. Both girls were very happy, responsible, always trying to help."
"I see. So they never mention anything strange? Like that maybe they were being followed or something in that line of thoughts?" Hotch insisted.
"No agents. They never mentioned anything and didn´t seem, in any way, concerned about something like that," Angela began to get upset due to Hotch's constant questions. JJ saw it and decided to calm things a bit.
"Ma'am understands that what we ask is as important as the information you give us." The soft look of the blonde and her words seemed to work because the other woman looked much calmer.
"I understand, the truth is that because of these murders, the women in our group are worried and scared"
"We understand and we are doing everything in our power to stop the person behind all these murders" Hotch glanced at the young agent next to him and felt pride seeing how JJ handled the situation.
"We noticed that you have security cameras outside. Can you give us the tapes?" Angela nodded and got up as she left the room Hotch turned to his companion.
"You're good at this JJ" he said with a small smile. "Glad to see that even though you have become a profiler, an extraordinary profiler I should add, you haven´t lost the thing that makes you be you.
Staring at his boss's eyes JJ smiled at what he had said. "Thanks Hotch, I really appreciate what you just said" The blonde was touched thanks to his words and before she could continue saying something Angela came back with the tapes.
"Those are the tapes of the last two and a half weeks"
"Thank you and if you remember something, anything at all please call us" Aaron said handing his card. "If it's okay with you, we would like to talk to some people here."
"Yes, no problem ... I really hope you catch the monster that is doing all this," Said the woman staring at both agents.
"We´ll do our best and more if necessary" Hotch said extending his hand and saying goodbye with JJ and went to talk to the other people there.
Once finished speaking with some women, Hotch and JJ went out stopping in front of the vehicle. Neither of them noticed that they were being watched at that very moment.
The man watching them was across the street pretending to be buying some magazines. "What is doing the FBI in my hunting are?" The man asked himself when he saw but his anger rose when he saw JJ. "A female agent! You gotta be kidding me. They really believe that a woman could help them catch me? "He questioned indignantly." They´ll see. I´ll teach them." And with the idea of demonstrating his superiority the UnSub went to find his next victim.
JJ leaned against the driver´s door, an idea hovering in her head. Hotch noticed it immediately.
"What are you thinking?" He asked putting his hands in his pockets.
"Well... I have an idea but I don´t think you´re going to like it" She said pulling a few strands of hair out of her face.
"Tell me," Hotch insisted knowing that it's likely that she was right about him not liking the idea.
"Okay. I know that we´ll give a press conference alerting the public about the murderer ... "JJ paused a moment and took a deep breath before saying her plan." What if it was me giving the press conference instead of you? You know a woman telling other women to be careful of this man. I'm sure it will make more effect than if it were you, Morgan or Rossi saying it." The look on Hotch's face indicated that he was thinking of the words she had said and just when she thought the answer would be no Hotch nodded slightly.
"I understand and you were right, I don´t like it at all but, it´s a good option. Tell you what .Let's go back to the station and see what the rest of the team have to share and also see if we can put a face to this UnSub. Then we´ll discuss your idea with the rest and go from there." He said in a calm tone.
"Okay," JJ said surrounding the SUV and climbing in the passenger sit.