Sorry for the boring first part- toward the middle of this chapter it gets more exciting but I had to explain how they got in this situation. Bear with me!
Also, I realized this plays out just like an episode. The prologue was a scary preview of what's to come, then, as you will see, it proceeds almost exactly in order of how an episode goes. o.o Weird, I didn't plan that, it's just how it happened.
… I watch too much TV.
Ashes of Our Lives – Chapter 1
"We've got four cops dead and the Orange County police department is getting desperate."
JJ had started briefing the moment the last team member had stepped through the door and she was now trying not to grimace as she clicked through the pictures.
The BAU team listened as their liaison spoke, every one of them tired and aching from their last case, which hadn't seemed to have been solved long enough for them to have another one already.
"The victims were taken in pairs, with one male and one female," JJ continued, pulling up two photographs of two people, both smiling in their ID's. She clicked, and now came brutal images of mutilated bodies, shells of their former selves.
"They were found one month after their disappearance, bound in chains and displaying various torture wounds." She clicked again, bringing more violent images.
"Officer Taylor Grant was missing his teeth; they appear to have been pulled. I don't mean professionally pulled either. Officer Sadie Walker was missing both eyes." JJ's tone was grim; "this man had torture in mind. He wanted to cause pain and he seems to have been very good at it."
"Sadist," Morgan muttered needlessly, chin resting exhaustedly on one hand.
"As you can see, he thoroughly destroyed both cops. However; all four victims had defensive wounds on their bodies. But the damage is specific. The male victims have more trauma damage. Head wounds, beatings, broken bones. Both male victims' official COD's were ripped stab wounds to the torso. There were several. The females were raped repeatedly and violently, cut, and bruised, but ultimately a gun caused their deaths. Two bullets, one to the torso and one to the temple."
"Maybe the unsub is threatening torture," Reid said, pushing his long hair back, "and forcing the men to protect the females; something that comes naturally to them."
"Yeah but both bodies were mutilated," Emily said, dark eyes studying the screen, "did it occur post-mortem?"
JJ bit her lip. "Some of it did. Both were tortured, and it seems plausible that the men tried to protect the women, however in death, both bodies were destroyed and laid out for anyone to see."
"Shock value," Hotch said, leafing through the file in front of him.
Reid piped up, "he wants to create a shock and cause panic. The victims were
found-"
"In parks," JJ finished. "Where children would see." She looked disgusted by the idea.
"This guy's definitely sick," Morgan said, pushing the file away with distaste. "When do we leave, Hotch?"
The unit chief tore his eyes from the brutal pictures to look at his team.
"An hour, be ready to go."
By the time the team met, ready to board, JJ was snapping her phone shut and looking at them, her expression downcast.
"Two more victims," she said, "teachers this time. So we have four cops and two teachers so far. We're going to have to move quickly on this one, guys."
They were working before the wheels had left the ground.
"So he's sadistic. He wants to cause as much pain as he can. He likes to watch the men defend the women," Morgan said, closing the file.
"He enjoys shock value," Reid said, "he places the victims in parks, where many people, including children, will see. He most likely watches the news coverage on the murders to see the reaction from the public."
"Which means he's got to be in a place that would have news coverage; somewhere modern with a TV. If he has a TV he either has a job to pay for it or he's living with someone who does."
"He couldn't be watching the news coverage in public, like at a bar or store?" JJ asked.
"No," Emily said, "he'd react strongly to the news. In a way that other people would find strange. He'd be excited, in a good way. Most people would notice this behavior."
"I don't think he's going to inject himself into the investigation," Rossi said, "he seems to get off on power, but considering his choice of victims I think he enjoys seeing the authorities squirm. Normally, his type would want to get involved, but this guy… he wants us to struggle. He wants to be a fly on the wall for this."
"This unsub is targeting people of authority, those who make others feel safe," Hotch said darkly. "When we land and split up, I want each and every one of you to be extremely careful. If this unsub wants to target agents, we have to make sure that we're two steps ahead of him if we can help it."
The team exchanged looks, the younger looking concerned and Hotch and Rossi only looking thoughtful.
"Prentiss and Rossi, I want the two of you to visit the morgue and learn more about the victim's deaths. Reid, you and JJ go to the police station. Talk to the sheriff and start a geographical profile. Work on victimology, you know the drill. Morgan, you can come with me to the crime scene."
Nods were exchanged and the files were closed while the jet began to descend.
"Agent Jareau?" The rather round man asked as soon as the two agents had stepped into the police department. A rather unkempt looking mustache distracted from his weathered face, but JJ smiled and offered one slender hand, which he shook gratefully.
"Sheriff Lanham, you can call me JJ; this is Dr. Reid."
"Should I call you agent or doctor?" The man asked, eyeing the young, lanky male suspiciously.
"Either way is fine," Reid replied, fidgeting under the harshness of the man's gaze. "Could we see the victim's files? We need to work on victimology."
"Say what?" the sheriff asked, sounding irritated. "What the hell's that?"
JJ picked up on his irritation and spoke before Reid could launch into lengthy, nervous explanation, "Sheriff, I understand you're upset, but we need you to work with us."
"And I will," he said, "when I know what needs to be done."
"Victimology is a study of connection," Reid said quietly. JJ could sense he was feeling shy now. She sent him an encouraging look.
"We need to learn how the victims were connected and how they relate to our unsub- uh, unknown subject. The killer. We need to know- why these victims, why were they chosen? We need to know why they were picked and why that certain time and…"
Sheriff Weston was staring now, so Reid blushed and looked away.
"And stuff like that," the young agent wrapped up, his voice a mumble.
Sheriff Weston could see Reid's embarrassment, so he sighed heavily and gestured to the two agents.
"I'll have someone bring the files into the office we have set up for you guys."
He led them to a room that had a table and chairs, and there were already other files on the desk. JJ took a seat and began leafing through them while Reid stalked around the table to get a look at the map pinned up at the other side of the room. A few minutes later, another officer came in and tossed the requested files on the table. JJ reached for them.
"Taylor Grant and Sadie Walker were found in a park alongside Jamboree road," She told Reid, who marked the spot with a sharpie. He turned back to speak again when his phone started buzzing. Blinking, he capped the pen and answered the phone. He was silent for a few seconds, his expression becoming more confused. JJ watched, searching his face for a hint but there was none. He just looked troubled.
"Sure, we'll leave right now." He hung up and met JJ's blue eyes, frowning. "That was Rossi. Someone's saying they know the killer and he wants to talk to the FBI. Naturally, that means you and I because we're closer."
JJ stood, smoothing her blouse. "Where to?"
Reid looked at the address that had been texted to his phone. "A bar, right around here."
JJ blinked. "We're going to meet him at a bar?"
"He's already there and we're close by," Reid shrugged. "We can bring him back here. Do you have the keys?" She tossed them to him and they made their way out of the police department and toward the parked SUV waiting patiently outside.
The bar was organized chaos.
Like any bar on the weekend, it was full of people. People organized by groups, class, and activities. Reid found himself following JJ closely, unaccustomed to the noise and sheer volume of people within the small building.
JJ turned suddenly and asked, "How do we find him?" She'd had to raise her voice to be heard above the music, and Reid frowned.
"He said he'd be waiting by the back door, where it's quietest so we could hear."
They made their way to the back of the bar and found a man waiting for them. He looked rather average; maybe five-nine. His hair was dark blonde and his eyes were a hard, crystalline blue.
"Agents?" He asked when the approached, and the two displayed their badges authoritatively. He nodded. "I'm Alex Napuri. I called you about the, uhm, murders."
"Yes," Reid replied quickly, "you said you knew the killer. Do you know his name?"
He shook his head. "No, but I have a picture. He comes into the hardware store I own every few days. Weird guy, but I didn't think anything was wrong until I heard of the murders. He comes in to buy tools and the other day, there was blood under his fingernails. I asked about it, he got upset and left, taking a chainsaw with him. He hadn't paid for it," he said the last part sourly, and the two agents exchanged glances.
"Can you show us the photo?" JJ asked.
"It's in my car, if you come with me I can show you."
She nodded, then turned to Reid, "why don't you step out and call the others to let them know?"
Reid pulled out his phone, already dialing. "Sure."
JJ followed Alex out into the cool night. She rubbed one arm with her opposite hand, brow drawing together. The parking lot was abandoned; they were behind the building, and no cars were parked back here.
"Uhm, where did you park?" She asked casually.
Alex whirled around in a blinding flash of movement, grabbing her arm and drawing a gun from under his jacket. He pressed it to his temple.
"Don't move," he hissed. JJ stared at him with wide eyes. "Do exactly what I tell you."
-x-
"He's giving JJ a picture," Reid said into the phone. Morgan sounded tired, and the younger profiler sympathized. "Hopefully we can wrap this up soo- hold on," he pulled the phone away to stare at the screen. It was flashing JJ. Blinking, he spoke into it again. "Morgan, I'll call you back. JJ's calling." He switched over.
"JJ?"
"Spence," she replied quickly. He felt a cold sense of dread wash over him; he could tell immediately by the wheezing in her voice and the speed of her short breaths that she was nervous.
"JJ, what's wrong? Where are you?"
"Out back," she said, her voice wavering only slightly. Reid could tell immediately she was trying to fool him. "Nothing's wrong," she spoke again, "Alex is going to take me to where the unsub lives… go back to the PD and finish the geographical profile."
She sounded calm enough toward the end, but Reid knew. She was trying to trick him. "JJ," he replied softly, "Alex never said he knew where the unsub lived."
He heard a soft click, and his heart skipped a beat. He knew the sound; a gun's safety being clicked off. JJ was disturbingly quiet. Without another thought, he hung up and stuffed the phone into his pocket, making his way out back.
He pushed past the oblivious people, throwing his slim weight through the rear door of the building and facing a situation he'd hoped to never see.
Alex held JJ in front of him protectively, a gun pressed to her temple. She stared at Reid with searching blue eyes, trusting him to help. He reached for his own gun.
"No," Alex said as Reid drew it, aiming it carefully at his head. Alex pressed his deeper into JJ's ruffled blonde hair.
"Drop it and follow instructions," Alex said calmly, "Put the gun on the ground and walk toward me. Then we're going to get in the car."
Reid's eyes did a rapid sweep of the lot. He didn't see a car. He looked back at Alex Napuri, and his grip didn't loosen on the gun. He clicked the safety off and Alex's steely eyes glinted. "Let her go," Reid said evenly, "then we'll talk. You don't have to hurt either of us."
"I don't have to," Alex agreed, pointing the gun at Reid. JJ didn't relax; if possible, she tensed even more. "But I want to. Now put it down, agent!"
"Reid, just do it," JJ said urgently. Reid hesitated before obeying, setting his weapon on the ground and stepping away from it. He looked disgusted, and JJ looked at the ground guiltily.
"Walk in front of me, toward the side of the building," Alex growled sharply. Reid looked at him expressionlessly, striding toward the designated area while JJ followed, with Alex behind.
It didn't take long to reach the silver car parked next to the bar. Reid noted absently that it was a lexus, before he was ushered into the back of the vehicle. JJ followed suit, pressing harshly to his side as Alex pushed her in. The suspect closed the door and made his way quickly to the front, getting in and locking the doors but not starting the ignition.
"Now," he said slowly, pulling a box from under the passenger seat. He opened it and pulled out a slim, delicate syringe. JJ felt Reid lean back in alarm, and she pressed her elbow into his side. Not the most comforting gesture, but she didn't want to alert their captor of her intentions.
"It's okay, it's okay," she murmured, as quietly as she could. Alex's brow furrowed.
"Such a liar," he sighed wistfully. Both agents were still, knowing that resisting would do no good. Alex slipped the needle into the side of Reid's neck, and the young agent could only watch the man's face hatefully for a few seconds before he exhaled slowly, the tension leaving his body. He sank limply against the window.
Now, JJ was alone with the unsub. At least, she'd decided he had to be their unsub. He reached into the box for another syringe and JJ felt a growing panic.
"Please," she tried. She at least had to try. "Why are you doing this to us? We're only here to help people…"
"Idiot," the man hissed, pressing the needle into her slim throat. She began to drift, but she heard his words before she passed out.
"I'm going to kill you because I want to. And I'm going to enjoy every single minute."
I hope nobody's scared off by the drugs. It won't be an important factor but I've read so many post-Revelations drug-fics that I won't make this one of them.
I like to make readers think; what do you think will happen next? How will they give the team clues? We'll see.
Thanks for the reviews on the prologue, guys. I appreciate them all and I try to respond to most of them unless it's like 'hey good update soon' then I'm like 'thanks' and I don't know what else to say. XD
Let me know what you think. (: I'll have chapter 2 up asap.
Until next time,
Sharky