Chapter Fifteen - I Tear At Your Chest To Taste Your Beating Heart.

A/N - Hey guys. Thanks for your patience. Things have been nuts. My holiday was AMAZING but I find myself very tired and needing another break just to recover. There were no sleep-ins - I got the joy of playing nanny to my darling niece for the week. My wake up calls were a small, warm body, wriggling and giggling as I tried to roll over and wake up. Who needs sleep when there is a smiling five month old laying on top of you?

So here is the next chapter.

So as always, read, enjoy and review!

When her phone rang in the morning, Olivia balanced Etta in her arms before reaching for it. Peter had headed off to the lab an hour earlier and Olivia was just waiting on Rachel so her own day could begin. The problem was that today, for some odd reason, Etta wasn't in the mood. She had a bit of a cold apparently, her small nose slightly red, her cheeks rosy. She didn't appear to have a temperature though and for that, Olivia was grateful. She had managed to give Etta half a bottle before she refused to drink anymore, becoming grizzly and clingy.

"Dunham."

"Hi Olivia, it's Heather. Got in plans two hours from now?"

"Not that I know of. Just waiting for my sister to come and pick up Etta. Why?"

"Because we have an appointment. Come to headquarters and we'll grab a coffee before we go to the prison. There's a few things you need to know."

Etta decided that at the moment to start howling at the top of her lungs, ensuring that the world knew of her displeasure of not feeling well.

"Sounds good. I have to go."

"Yeah I can hear that. Talk soon."

Olivia put her phone back on the dresser getting off the bed and putting Etta over her shoulder, rubbing her back and singing softly. Etta screams started to die down, her face pressed into Olivia's neck. After checking the time, and realizing it was fast running out, Olivia carefully lowered Etta onto the bed.

"Sit still so Mommy can get dressed."

Etta stuck her hand in her mouth as she watched Olivia with wide, silent eyes. Olivia quickly got dressed before scooping Etta up into her arms again, resuming the soft singing and gentle movements. By the time Rachel walked in, just a little while later, Etta was asleep, her baby bag packed and ready for her day.

"Hey Liv."

Rachel moved forward, kissing Olivia's cheek and then Etta's, frowning slightly.

"She's a bit flushed."

"Has a cold I think. Are still ok to take her?"

"Of course."

Olivia handed Etta over before her daughter could stir and realize what was happening. She handed the baby bag to Rachel before pressing a quick kiss on Etta's round cheek.

"Bye little one, be good."

She watched them leave before making one final check that she had everything before decisively heading out the door.

When she arrived at headquarters, it was with a sense of unease. She wondered if Heather would speak of her breakdown or about what had happened last night. She ignored the feeling, deciding to instead feign confidence. She flashed quick smiles to the other agents before heading up to Heather's office. She knocked before entering, surprised by the strong smell of coffee. Heather offered her a smile as she stood, handing Olivia a large cup.

"Figured you could do with this. Is Etta ok?"

"Just a bit of a cold, she'll be fine. And thanks."

Olivia sipped at the brew suspiciously, wondering if it would be the same liquid that passed for coffee in the staff room. It wasn't. Strong, black and sweet, it shot through her veins and made her feel more alert.

"And you're right. I need this. So what did you need to tell me?"

Olivia took a seat across from Heather, watching as the pretty women started flicking through the neat notes in front of her.

"I listened to the tapes."

"And?"

Heather tucked her pen behind her ear.

"I'm not sure what to think. I can see what A.J was talking about. There's something not right about Cutler's accounts."

"Like what?"

"Like the fact that he forgot two victim's names. Or the fact that he stumbles over his words. Or the tone of his voice, it's too neutral."

"Which means?"

Heather shrugged.

"I honestly don't know until I speak to him myself. I have to ask you a favour."

Olivia sipped at her coffee.

"And what would that be?"

Heather pulled out a thick files from under others and opened it in front of Olivia. Picture after picture looked up at her, young, innocent and pretty girls. The one thing that caught her attention was the fact that they were all blonde.

"I see."

Heather nodded slightly.

"You are his type. You can get more from him than I could. Do you mind? You won't be alone. I've requested a guard to be positioned in a room with you at all times."

Olivia chuckled, the sound falling from her lips with Heather's serious stare.

"These aren't just precautions, they are requirements. They are are for a reason. Cutler is dangerous man."

Olivia nodded slightly.

"Ok."

They finished their coffees and then headed to the prison. Olivia had been in secured facilities before but this one reminded her of the movie Shawshank Redemptioin, all solid walls and barbed wire. Everything about it screamed that it was a prison. They were waved through by the security guards and when they actually entered the building, they were stripped of their guns and badges before being passed over with a handheld metal detector. They were then taken to the upper levels of the building and guided into an office. Warden Luke Ryder offered the guard a glance, waiting until the door closed before speaking. He was an imposing man, tall and gruff looking with dark, serious eyes.

"Agent Dunham, Agent Fogleigh welcome to my humble abode. Please have a seat."

His voice was gravely and strong. Olivia took the hard seat, wondering why they were wasting time here. She had never been one for politics. Heather offered him a wide smile.

"How have you been, Luke?"

"Good thank you. Cutler has agreed to the interview but he has some stipulations."

Olivia frowned.

"What?"

"He wants out of solitary confinement for one thing. For another, he wants a chance at parole."

"Seriously?"

"I'm afraid so. And I told him no. So he refuses to do the interview."

Olivia felt a flash of anger.

"Why didn't you-"

"Olivia, he did the right thing."

Olivia's rant fell from her lips at Heather's words. She frowned.

"How?"

Heather gave her a little smile.

"Serial killers are arrogant. They believe they are above the laws and rules. He will refuse the interview like a child throwing a tantrum but his arrogance will overcome that. Now we wait."

"Agent Dunham?"

Olivia turned her attention back to Warden Ryder.

"I may not carry any fancy degrees but I have been in this job for years and I know how my prisoners work. My job is to be a step ahead of them."

"So what now?"

Warden Ryder sat back in his chair.

"As Agent Fogleigh said, we wait. And it will give you a chance to explain further about why you need to speak to Culter."

"Because A.J was suspicious."

"Of what?"

"Of what Alfonso was saying."

"She doubted the crimes he is imprisoned for?"

"Yes."

Warden Ryder smiled, a dry brittle grin that never reached past his lips.

"I see. I suppose you have heard of the Quinton Miller situation."

Both Heather and Olivia nodded.

"If I had my way, she never would have set for in any prisons, let alone my own. But I have my bosses, as you have yours. Now my prisoners seem to think that through her they can manipulate the system."

It was thin, but Olivia put Warden Ryder on her suspect list too. He had motive, even if it was a minor one.

"How do you know he did it?"

Olivia saw Warden Ryder's body stiffen at her challenge.

"All the evidence, right down to the forensic evidence, pointed to him. He was caughter and laid out a full confession. What more do you need?"

"The truth would be nice. A.J interviewed criminals for a living and she consulted with the best. She knew something wasn't right. And I am going to find out what that was."

"You won't find anything here."

Olivia shrugged, glancing at Heather, who had remained quiet during the conversation. She can't have been upset. IN fact she looked like she was trying to swallow a smile. Teetering on the edge of her patience, it was almost a relief when he phone rang. She excused herself and slipped from the office.

"Dunham."

"Hey Liv it's me. Has Broyles called you?"

"No. Why?"

Peter sighed.

"Because we have two more bodies."

"And?"

"They are exactly the same. Slim, blonde, drug addicts that were raped and strangled."

Olivia knew what it meant. They had a serial killer.

"Does Broyles know?"

"Yes. He's organising a sweep of the area where the first three bodies were found. What I need is to talk to Heather."

"Hold on."

Olivia pressed the phone to her chest, popping her head around the corner

"Heather, can I talk to you for a moment?"

Heather nodded. When they were back in the hall, Olivia flicked the phone onto speaker.

"Ok Peter, Heather's here."

"Heather, we've been doing some autopsies for Broyles. We have three bodies, same cause of death, same similar histories by the looks of things. All slim, blonde, raped and strangled."

Olivia watched as Heather's face drained of colour at Peter's words.

"Peter, how old are we talking?"

"None of them are older than 25 according to Walter. It's a bit hard to tell, there are no missing persons reports."

Heather nodded slightly.

"OK. And where were they found?"

"They were dumped at an abandoned railway, a few miles out of town. They would have never been found if they didn't decide to clean it up. Does this sound like a criminal you know?"

"Vaguely. Some things don't fit but let me finish here and I'll come and see you at the lab. I need to see this for myself.

"Ok. We have three bodies so far but I have a horrible feeling that it's going to change quickly"

"You know what they say, you have three and you have a serial."

"That's what worries me"

Heather stood back and ran her hand through her hair, waiting as Olivia ended the call.

"Heather, what are you thinking?"

"I don't know yet. Let's talk to Alfonso and find out what we can."