Her past catches up with her.
I don't own Higher Ground, Criminal Minds or Crossing Jordan. Might not be suitable for young children. Some mild swearing.
Chapter 15
"What have we here?" Josh asks rhetorically.
"Josh, where's Jess? What's Walt done to her?" Daisy asks, using her pychologists voice.
"That's not your concern at this moment. Your concern should be whether or not I'm going to kill each and everyone of you. Let's see, what kind of punishment should we give? Josh says, trying to scare them.
"Little man, you might want to think seriously hard before attempting to kill two FBI agents. You won't make it out alive." Morgan says, inching up the stairs little by little. Until Morgan plows Josh down and the others rush up the stairs. Morgan punches Josh in the face to knock him out. "Someone, find a phone and an exit door! I'll find Jess and Walt! Go out on the front lawn and don't come back in! Reid, look after them! Call 911 and give them the low down! Now go!" Morgan says, while tying up Josh. Morgan goes one way and the others go the other way. Morgan carefully checks every room. He begins to wonder just how many rooms are in the place.
Sophie finds the phone. She turns it on to make sure it's working. Then they all search for an exit to the outside of this torture palace. Sophie dials 911.
"911, please state your emergency." A woman says.
"I'm one of seven people that have been kidnapped! Two of us are FBI agents Morgan and Reid! We're in a huge mansion belonging to the Beachmans! We can't find our way out! Please, send some help!" Sophie yells, exhausted and scared.
"I think I found one!" Juliet says. It leads to the garage.
"It's to the garage! Come on!" Reid says, holding the door open. Juliet and Reid were the only ones to make it out before Josh found them. Sophie pushes them out and then shuts the door.
"Are you still there? Hello, ma'am? The 911 operator says.
"Sorry, but they have been detained." Josh says, then hangs up. "Now, you've all pissed me off! How am I going to get Shelby to give herself to me? Well, I guess we still have little sis and you three. Isn't it sad that the FBI would save their own lives instead of you?" Josh waves around a gun.
"Where's Jess?" Sophie asks.
"Being reunited with her dear Papa. She'll be back with you all soon. Now, back downstairs until I decide what to do with you." Josh ushers them back to the door that leads downstairs. He follows them until they're once again locked in that single room. They listen as he walks away and locks the door at the top of the stairs.
"Well, it won't be too long before help comes. 911's been notified and Reid and Juliet made it out. I just hope the cavalry gets here before his sick mind comes up with something truly frightening." Sophie says, with Daisy and Kate nodding in agreement.
The first of the four car parade turns down the caldasack, heading for the biggest house there. As Hotch drives closer, he sees two people on the front lawn.
"Can anyone else see those two people?"
"Yeah. A tall man and a slender girl." Detective Hoyt says.
"Oh! That's Reid and…Juliet! Hurry Hotch!" JJ yells from the back seat. They pull up and park the cars paraell to the house. Making sheilds in case of gun fire. JJ's the first to jump out of the car. She runs to Juliet and Reid. She hugs them both.
"Where's everyone else?"
"Still in the house. We almost had Sophie, Kate and Daisy. Sophie pushed us out just as Josh came into the mud room." Reid says.
"What about Morgan and Jess?" JJ hangs on the response.
"Walt came and got Jess. We haven't seen either of them since. Morgan stayed to find her. But chances are Josh locked the girls up again in the basement."
"Shelby, everyone in there's smart. Walt won't hurt Jess. Agent Morgan promised her he'd protect her and her baby..uh." Juliet says, then wishes she hadn't.
"It's okay Juls. I know she's pregnant. Are you guys okay?"
"I'm still not feeling right. Josh drugged Morgan and me. I don't know what it was." Reid says, closing his eyes and shaking his head to clear it a little.
"Go sit in one of the trucks. Give this radio to Peter and have him call an ambulance. Have them have another ambulance on stand by. Juls, could you go with him? Have Prentiss get you both a nice safe spot. It's real good to see you again Juls. You look good. I'm sorry you were dragged into this." JJ says, hugging Juls again.
"No problem. Once a cliffhanger, always a cliffhanger. We'll talk when this is over. But is Auggie okay?" She asks with concern. She holds her breath waiting for an answer.
"Yes Juls. Auggie and Scott are due in Virgina tomorrow or rather, this morning. A friend's going to have them fly here to meet us."
"Thanks." Juls says, then goes with Reid to find Emily.
"Hotch!" Hotch hurries over to JJ.
"What's up?"
"Reid says the girls are locked downstairs. Morgan and Reid were drugged. Now we know from Reid that Walt and Jess are separated from the others. When they escaped, Morgan went in search of Jess and Walt. So we have two, possibly three locations of the house. We need to see if Reid remembers what rooms and directions he went through to reach the mud room that led to the garage." JJ says, thinking of a way to make contact with Josh. "Hotch, could you get a direct line to the house. I think Josh and I have a little conversation way past due."
"Sure." Hotch says, running to get things rolling. JJ stands there just staring at the house. Peter walks over.
"Shelby. Sorry, JJ. What are ya thinking?"
"Well Peter, I'm thinking that Sophie's still Sophie. Josh's still a bastard and someone's going to die before this is over. You know who my bet's on. I'm trying to not be angry. I'm trying to keep my personal feelings separate. But I honestly have to believe that the two go hand in hand. My feelings are what makes me good at my job. Seeing all the scared parents and sometimes having to tell them their six year old is dead, it helps to understand how they feel. At least to the best of my ability. I have to pray that I don't have to. I promise I'll bring Sophie back to you." JJ says this while still starring at the house.
"JJ, you're great at your job. I've never been so proud of you then I am right now. This is what Sophie and I prayed for you. To be someone that helps others and gives back." Peter says, patting JJ on the back.
"I just hope Jess feels the same." JJ says, a single tear escapes her right eye.
"I know Jess has to be extremely proud of her big sis." Peter says, wiping her tear away. Peter turns and leaves. That's when it hits JJ. She figures out just how they can get in without being detected.
In a room next to the attic, Morgan found some hints he's getting closer to what he's searching for. Just for a second he got side tracked. He saw a window and looks out to see what he could see. All he sees is blackness. So he knew he's on the back side of the house. When he comes to this conclusion, he continues on his way to the attic.
Just before reaching the closed door, Morgan hears movement coming from the room. He listens carefully trying to figure out what's going on. Thump, thump.
"Oh no! Jess, kitten! Wake up!" Walt yells on the other side of the closed door. Morgan fears Walt's seriously injured or even killed Jess. Morgan turns the knob to the door and pushes it open. Morgan looks at Walt, then down at a non-moving Jess on the floor. Morgan could see blood coming out of Jess' mouth. Morgan kneels down beside Jess. He feels for a pulse and doesn't detect one.
"What did you do to her?" Morgan yells at him. Trying CPR.
"She got snotty with me. I was just trying to love my daughter."
"You mean rape her!" Morgan says in between chest compressions and the blow of air into Jess' mouth.
"I've done nothing but love my girls."
"That kind of love's what got you sent to prison. I guess you must've liked it in prison. Because you're going back for Jess Merricks murder! I can't revive her! Boy, when JJ gets a hold of you, you're going to beg for death." Morgan says, straightening Jess up so she looks presentable. Walt just sits down on an old trunk. He couldn't believe what he's hearing. Morgan says a little prayer for Jess and her baby. Then Morgan picks up Jess' body and leaves the attic room. He carries her down one flight of stairs and into the closest bedroom. He lays her gently down and places her hands on her stomach. He didn't know how he's going to tell JJ. He also didn't know how she's going to take it. He's taking it real hard. Remembering his promise to her cut him worse than any knife or bullet.