Chapter 3
The next morning, Garcia, JJ and Morgan arrive at the university and are greeted by its President, Douglas Holden, who said "Hello, you must be the FBI agents, I'm Douglas Holden, President of UCLA, anything I can do to help, just ask".
"Hello Mr Holden, we're from the Behavioural Analysis Unit of the FBI, I'm SSA Derek Morgan, this is SSA Jennifer Jareau and this is Penelope Garcia, our Technical Analyst, we are here to investigate the deaths of two of your pupils, Nicole Baker and Claudia Cooper".
"Both exceptional students, both got high grades, Nicole was on the Lacrosse team and Claudia was a volunteer at the animal shelter down the road".
"Mr Holden, could you point me in the direction of your security office, I 'd like to have a look through your CCTV footage?" asked Garcia.
"Of course, Ashley, could you come here please?" he said to a student as she walked past them.
"Yes sir, what can I do?"
"These people are from the FBI, they're here to investigate the deaths of Nicole and Claudia, could you show Miss Garcia here to the Security Office, Miss Garcia, this is Ashley Barrett, she's our top student in the School of Law".
"Hi, could you lead the way?"
"Sure follow me" said the student, who led Garcia away, but not before Morgan told her that he'd come get her when they were ready to leave.
"Mr Holden, we'd like to talk to some of Nicole and Claudia's friends, and if possible see their rooms, is that ok?" inquired JJ.
"Yes of course, when I was told that you were coming, I gathered a small group of each of their friends, and their roommates, they are all waiting for you in the small meeting room, go up these stairs and turn to the left, it's second on your right, now if you excuse me, I have somewhere to be, if you need any help, the receptionist Carol will help you, goodbye"
"Goodbye"
And so Mr Holden got into his car and drove away, while Morgan and JJ went up the stairs to question the students.
Meanwhile, across town at the house of the second victim's family, Hotch and Reid were sat in the living room, across from Claudia's parents, Martin and Louisa.
"We are sorry for your loss Mr and Mrs Cooper, can you tell us what Claudia was like, what she enjoyed doing?"
"Claudia was a good girl, she'd always been interested in History, and when UCLA accepted her she was so excited, we said she could stay at home, but no, she wanted to live in halls for the experience. She volunteered at an Animal Shelter not far from the University, she never did drugs and didn't drink very often, she was a kind, sweet person and the world is worse off with her not in it" explained her mother, a 40ish woman with shoulder length dark blonde hair.
"How did she get on with people around her?"
"Fine, she and her roommate Angie were the best of friends, she never said that she had arguments with anyone"
"Did she have a boyfriend?"
"Luke Campbell, they'd only been seeing each other a few weeks, he's a sweet boy, shy, but nice"
"Did she keep anything here?"
"Yes
"Then could we have a look at her room please?"
"Of course, follow me"
A few hours later, back at the station the BAU were in their separate room, with Reid writing on the board when Rossi perked up and said "The first victim's family said that Nicole was a good girl, never put a foot wrong".
"The Cooper's said the same, what about you Garcia, did you get anything from the University's CCTV?"
"Not yet, but I've still got a little way's to go, I might come up with something"
"We got no viable information from Claudia's friends, but Nicole's roommate, Heather Wright, said that Nicole had been acting strangely in the couple of weeks before he died"
"Did she know why?" asked Alex.
"She didn't know much, but did say that Nicole had been dating an older man, maybe a professor of her's, we could be looking at Professor killing his student".
"Let's not jump to conclusions, we're still awaiting for information from the CSI's and the M.E., we'll talk more after that".
End of Chapter