Chapter 4 – Letters, Stats and Pressure

The following morning offered great promise. The sun shone on the world below, a cool breeze blew through the homes windows and Carina believed that this day would run smoothly. That was until she finished her breakfast and walked to the door to pick up the mail. Lifting the pile of letters on the ground she began to shuffle through them one by one. "Bill, bill, bill," Carina mumbled walking toward the kitchen where Emily was washing up. Suddenly Carina stopped still, staring at the letter she held in her hand, a letter addressed to her.

"What is it?" Emily asked walking around the table to look over her shoulder as Carina opened it.

"It's a letter from court. Zackary Evans is going on trial. I have to give evidence."

"Okay when is it?" Emily asked.

"One week from today."

"Well I'll talk to Hotch and get the day off."

"But Em you don't have to do that."

"I do," Emily smiled. "I want to be there to support you. Besides..." She paused taking another letter from behind Carina's, "looks like I am giving evidence too."

JJ's morning at the BAU had been running like clockwork. Her eyes had read over hundreds of files, her mind trying to make a decision. She had three piles on the desk, those she hadn't read yet, a possible pile and another referral pile. Looking over the one between her hands she held it between two of the files, wondering which one would be its best location. Taking a sip of the coffee at her desk she looked out the window to see Emily arrive. She entered the bullpen with a little less bounce in her step and when Hotch ushered her to his office JJ wondered what was going on.

"I received a notification about the trial for Zackary Evans. You, Carina, and Reid have all been called to give evidence."

"Why Reid?"

"Because of his memory, he will be able to help defend you and your actions. It's just protocol."

"Right," Emily sighed. "Obviously I will need to take some time."

"JJ's already rescheduled our cases to allow the time off that you and Reid need."

"Good," Emily smiled. "Well I better go," Emily began walking back toward the office door closing it behind her as she left.

One week later Carina, Emily and Reid stood behind the prosecution stand. Carina turned to her left to see Zackary Evans, standing next to his own lawyer and a police officer before the judge walked in and took a seat. "This court is now in session please take your seats." Everyone followed their orders. "Today's case of the State of Washington versus Zackary Evans, Prosecution you may begin."

"Thank you your honour," the prosecution stood from his table. "I would like to call to the stand Dr Spencer Reid of the Behavioural Analysis Unit in the FBI." Reid stood from his chair, walked to the stand, placed his hand on the bible and was sworn in before he took his seat. "Dr Reid, you were one of the Agents working on the case in Seattle correct?"

"That's right." Reid answered.

"Why were you called to the Seattle area from your base in Quantico Virginia?"

"We received a case about three young women who had been killed at University Campuses in the area. Our Media Liaison chose the case and we flew to Seattle to investigate."

"The three victims that you are talking about were all university students?"

"Yes and they were all studying different subjects, at different universities, the only thing that we had to tie them together was that they were dead."

"How did they die?"

"The coroner reports showed that they died of blood loss, they were stabbed several times. Enough times to cut major arteries and for them to bleed out."

"What did you and your team discover?"

"We found that he was escalating from one victim a week to two in a matter of days. He killed a fourth woman inside her apartment at one of the campuses. We released a profile to police officers, patrolled universities and found which uni he was targeting next."

"Which was?"

"The University of Literature."

"Where his last victim Carina Lloyd was studying English?"

"Yes."

"Just one more question Dr Reid. What was your opinion of Zackary Evans?"

"That he was violent, destructive, if he had the chance he would have killed Carina Lloyd without a second of remorseful thought."

"The Defence is claiming that Mr Evans was mentally insane at the time of his attack. What do you think about that?"

"You're Honour!" The Defence yelled.

"Answer the Question." The Judge motioned to Reid.

"I think that is unlikely. An insane person would not have shown this much care, skill, someone who isn't in the right frame of mind either shuts down completely or they make mistakes. Mr Evans did not make any mistakes. 70% of people on trial use insanity as excuse for their behaviour, about 10% of those are actually insane."

"That is all for the prosecution." The lawyer returned to his seat as the Defence attorney stood to hers. "Dr Reid when you were at the home of Zackary Evans what happened?"

"Two other agents and I entered the home..."

"Without backup?" The Defence interrupted.

"Yes without backup," Reid replied looking to Emily with a 'sorry' kind of face.

"Why did you not have backup?"

"Your honour!" The prosecution stood, "I fail to see how this relates to Mr Evans."

"Answer the question Dr Reid but this had better be going somewhere." The Judge replied.

"Time was of the essence."

"Do you think that you barging into his home could have made my client snap?"

"No!" Reid almost yelled. "We entered with the upmost of care."

"I have a report here from a psychologist saying that because of his history Mr Evans may have had a psychotic break when his home was invaded. What do you think Dr Reid?"

"Mr Evans history was harsh. He had lost a lot, he may have had a psychotic break at the beginning of his spree, but by the end he was sane."

"How do you figure that out?"

"When we were at the house Agent Prentiss tried to talk to him. We knew about his history. When she told him about the accident and tried to sympathise with him, he bit it back. He threw it back into our faces. He said 'It was my fault, is that what you want to hear?' I am sure that Zackary Evans was responsible for the murder of four young women and the attempted murder of another." He paused, waiting for a response that never came. "He is sane because if he wasn't he would have yelled at me right here and now and tell the court that I have it wrong."

"And do you have it wrong?" Reid looked into the defence attorneys eyes and then to Zackary's slight smirk. "I never get it wrong; you have my eidetic memory to thank for that."

"No further questions your honour."

AN: Next is Emily's and Carina's testimony. So what do you think?