Chapter 3

First of all thank's for the kind reviews. I was kind of nervous how this story would be received.

So here's the profiler.

Sharon was surprised to find Flynn greeting her with a chai latte at the entrance to the murderroom. "Thought to bring the wolf something sweet. Provenza knows", he whispered and smiled at her eyeroll. "Let me guess he met Taylor…" "… in the break room", Flynn finished with a nod. Provenza just turned from the board filled with all the information of their case. His expression darkened when he crossed the room, his posture showing his anger. "The FBI! Are you out of your mind?" he exploded when he reached them.

"I'm not but a certain Lieutenant seem's to forget his manners", she replied gently reminding him he was in the middle of the murder room. "As I told Lt. Flynn last night we need some help here and I don't care where it comes from. It's a miracle they responded so fast", she said and started off towards her office Provenza and Flynn following. She turned towards her Lt.s and saw the older one chuckling "Taylor didn't tell you, did he?"

"What didn't he tell me?" she asked setting the chai down.

"That the FBI recommended someone who sending one of his student's."

Before Sharon could reply her phone rang. It was Taylor summoning her to his office. She straightened "Well he'll probably do and I'd advise everyone to be open for our temporary team member when I return", she clipped in her no-nonsense voice and shooed them out of her office. On her way to Taylors office she smoothed her black blazer. She had picked one of her black "power suits" like Ricky would say. Some days it was like an armor and today was no difference. She didn't know what to expect so she wanted to radiate authority. Better to do some grand standing. As much as she hated to admit it they needed someone with a new angle at these murders. All too soon she had to get out of her thoughts. As she approached Taylors office door she could hear his voice booming. "Are you serious?!"

"That quick hm", she said nodding to herself bracing for a furious Chief and whoever had sent him through the roof. She knocked and opened the door after Taylors "Come in" bark. What she saw made her stop dead in her tracks. It was the back of a to young woman with reddish brown hair down to her hips. She knew that back and everything fell together, why Taylor was so upset, who was recommended by the FBI and who was ultimately sent. A melodic smooth voice tried to reason with the Chief "Sir, Prof. Phillips provided in writing it was him who sent me here, because in his opinion I'm best equipped for this job. Since I'm not getting paid by the LAPD there is not even the ghost of a conflict of interest here."

Taylor spotted Sharon in the doorframe "Let's see what the Captain has to say about it. I believe you know Dr. Lauren Raydor", he drew out the last name. The young woman turned sending an apologetic smile in Sharon's direction "Hi mom". Sharon didn't know whom to respond first to. Torn between professionalism and motherly concern she decided to focus on her superior officer "I do Sir. What I don't know is why my daughter is here."

Taylor sighed holding up a letter "Apparently her professor belief's she could help us profiling our whore killer." Sharon closed the door but didn't went further into the room. "Does he?" she asked her eyes locking with Lauren's, who was a younger version of herself. It was eerie how much they looked alike, at least for Taylor who still couldn't decide wether this was a good idea considering the last incident when one of Raydors relatives tried to work with the LAPD. Lauren nodded "He does, although I told him you were in charge of this investigation", she said softly. She fidgeted under her mother's glare and slid her hands into the pockets of her black jacket. Sharon almost smiled when she saw her daughter had donned her armor too. "It's your call Captain."

Of course so you can put the blame on me if it doesn't work out, she thought but only a sarcastic smirk crossed her lips briefly. Lauren held her breath.

She had voiced her concerns about working with her mother earlier to Phillips. "If anyone can do it it's you", he had reassured her and found many other soothing words to make his favorite post-doc fly to the west coast. She had spent most of yesterday's evening packing and getting to the airport on time while reading the information Taylor had sent to the professor. She had completed her PhD only in spring and had been working for Phillips who sent her as a consultant all over the country in order to establish that the police forces need more profilers of their own. There was an agreement with the FBI's BAU to help out from time to time.

"I don't like it", Sharon finally said and Lauren's emerald eyes widened but before she could say something her mother continued "but my professional opinion is since Prof. Phillips think's she should be here and since the flight was already paid for we'll try." Lauren exhaled her breath.

"Great now get going. I want results!" Taylor ordered. Lauren made a mental note to ask Norton to stress that even a profiler was no wizard. Since they were dismissed both women exited the office. "You know we're going to have a long long conversation about this tonight", Sharon said when they walked down the hallway to the elevator. There was only a hum from the younger Raydor. In the elevator Lauren broke the silence again "Mom, may I sleep on your couch? I know the guest room is Rusty's. I would have called but everything was so rushed."

Sharon casted a sideways glance at her daughter, the young woman was tired. It was going to be more difficult to put her motherly concerns aside than to accept her daughter's insights to the case. Now it was Sharon's turn to hum. "You know the team doesn't like intruders", she said after a while. "That no problem. I'll flirt if that doesn't work I'll tell them you are my mom. They'll be too scared to be unfriendly", Lauren shrugged and exited the elevator with her mother who raised a brow "You haven't met Provenza", she said leading the way. "Do you have any ideas so far Lauren?"

"I have a theory, but I need to read the full autopsy reports and see the videos from the crime scenes, but I'm certain that's not the last we've seen from this killer."

"But why would he be quiet for almost three weeks?"

"If my theory is correct he is following a pattern but I have to check several things first."

Sharon hummed noticing the vintage Louis Vuitton purse on her daughters shoulder. "Where's your luggage?"

"That's another pending investigation", Lauren gave back and entered the room behind her mother. She hadn't decided if she should call her mom in here. It didn't seem appropriate but Captain didn't ring right in her mind too. When she felt the detectives eyeing her suspiciously she tried to remind herself why she was here. Most police officers didn't like to admit they needed outside help. Being young and female wasn't helping most of the time to be taken seriously. She had heard from her mother over phone conversations this past year how male her detectives were especially Flynn and Provenza, who had had the hardest time accepting Sharon as his new boss. Sharon, that's it! she thought. Sharon wasn't as distanced as Captain Raydor and not as personal as mom. She braced herself for the onslaught of the detectives as she walked past her mother to the murder board. Seeing the evidence and notes on the board was something different from reading a file on a plane. It was easier to make connections. The pictures from the last crime scene graced the board in their horrifying glory. She rummaged through her purse and got out glasses, black rimmed square cut glasses rounded at the corners put them on and took out an oldfashioned notebook, not a computer but a book to make notes in. It was one of those elegant designed ones Sharon's mother always gave away for Christmas. Lauren always used them, while Ricky just secretly gave his to his sister.

"So that the genius who's to solve our murder?" Flynn asked. Sharon winced, she hadn't noticed his appearance at her side "We'll see", she mumbled following Lauren's moves and Flynn joined Provenza again, since the Captain seemed lost in thoughts.

"At least she's cute! Gorgeous hair", Andy said silently. Provenza harrumphed "Is that all qualification it takes for you?"

Flynn ignored his grumpiness "It's a start", he moved towards the new girl and laid out in mind his best pick-up lines.