Chapter 28: Choices

"The person you are looking for is African American and is in their mid to late thirties," Hotch began."

"This unsub or unknown subject is confident. You can tell this in the way of his kills. But while he may be confident, he is also reckless," Prentiss continued. "The sense of overkill shows you this."

Reid nodded and picked up on the profile, "This unsub is also someone who is very skilled with the use of many weapons. Many serial killers including Jack the Ripper would only use just one tool on his victims. This unsub does not. All of the victims died of strangulation, but were severely tortured with other tools."

"Which means the unsub has a lot of contact with different weapons either at home or through work," Morgan said.

Reid nodded, "Right. Each of our vics lived near downtown so it's safe to say he either lives near there or works in that area."

"And one more thing," Morgan said. "Make no mistake; while we refer to this unsub as he this unsub is not male. It is a woman."

"How can you tell?" One of the officers asked.

"The lack of sexual assault is one factor," Prentiss explained. "Most men always somehow or another will sexually assault their victims. Women generally don't. Another factor is how reckless these kills are. Men, while they can be disorganized, are not as reckless as women."

Hotch thanked the officers before dismissing them. JJ turned to Hotch, "Should I release this profile to the public?"

Hotch shook his head, "Not yet." He turned to Morgan, "Morgan can you see if your sister would come down here to answer some more questions?"

Morgan looked at Hotch frowning. Hotch shook his head, "She's not a suspect Morgan, but she is a target."

Morgan sighed and nodded, "I'll call her."

Morgan walked out of the room dialing his sister. Reid looked after him. He really wanted to go after him and give him some comfort but realized that that wasn't a good idea.

{~CM~}

Morgan's two sisters and mother sat at the table with the team. Sarah shook her head, "I don't understand."

"We believe that someone you know or have come in contact with recently, is targeting you," Prentiss said gently.

Desiree shook her head, "But why? I mean who'd want to hurt Sarah?"

"That's what we're trying to figure out Desi," Morgan said as his phone rang. "Hey sweetness, tell me you got something good for me."

Garcia grinned, "Always, my delectable god of chocolate."

"Lay it on me gorgeous and behave I'm 'bout to put you on speaker."

"You're no fun."

"Garcia."

"Okay so here's the thing. I've been checking out the website for your sister's law firm. This is one crazy high maintenance law firm."

"Of course. We deal with specialized cases," Sarah explained.

"Right and me being the fountain of knowledge, wait that's Reid, I'm more of the Oracle."

Morgan sighed, "Garcia."

"Right, sorry. So basically what I found was that just as many cases this company takes, they reject because they were deemed, and I quote 'unimportant'."

Morgan frowned, "Thanks baby girl," he said before hanging up the phone and turning to his sister. "You said that you accepted a total of about one hundred cases this past month correct?"

Sarah nodded, "Yeah."

"How many did you reject?"

"About maybe seventy-five. It wasn't that they were 'unimportant'. Every case is important to me, it was just I lacked the time."

"What cases do you deal with?" Prentiss asked.

Sarah shrugged, "Custody battles, family issues, divorce. I'm a family lawyer."

One of the officers stuck their head in, "Agents, there's been another one. Over on Montgomery Street."

Hotch nodded, "Prentiss, you and I will check it out."

Reid looked as Hotch and Prentiss headed out. Morgan handed his family some water. He frowned and pulled Morgan over to the side.

"You okay?"

Morgan sighed, "Yeah. Just worried about Sarah."

Reid put his hand on Morgan's shoulder, "I know."

Hotch and Prentiss returned several minutes later.

"Well definitely same MO as before," Prentiss said.

Hotch looked at Sarah, "This was addressed to you," he said handing her an envelope.

Sarah tore it open and began to read aloud, "You really felt the Burns' case was more important that mine? How? He and his wife were getting a divorce while I'm getting a divorce and in the middle of a custody battle. You're living on borrowed time Miss Morgan. Borrowed time."

Reid frowned and walked over holding out his hand, "May I?"

Sarah nodded and handed him the letter. Reid sat down and began to analyze the note. Sarah opened her bag.

"Here's a list of the clients I didn't accept their cases."

JJ took the list and she and Morgan went over the list. About a third of them were male and they were easily able to cross them off.

"Reid, anything from the letter?" Hotch asked.

Reid shook his head, "Not yet."

"Morgan? JJ?"

Morgan shrugged, "We've narrowed it down to four women: Joan Baker, Michelle Holt, Barbara Erikson, and Julie Cove."

Sarah looked up, "Michelle Holt. I remember her getting very angry and physical when I told her that I wasn't able to take her case."

Morgan nodded. He pulled out his cell and dialed Garcia.

"Speak, O fortunate one."

"What can you find out on Michelle Holt?"

Garcia did some typing. Sarah excused herself to use the bathroom.

"Michelle Holt, 20 with 3 kids. Is in a nasty divorce and custody battle where her soon to be ex-husband is suing for custody of her 3 kids."

"Is she employed?"

"No, but her husband, Gary is. He's a construction worker."

"Giving her access to all sorts of tools. Thanks."

Morgan hung up the phone, "Michelle Holt is the unsub," he said just as Sarah screamed from the bathroom.

Everyone ran to the bathroom where Morgan kicked in the door. They found Sarah on the floor while Michelle tried to attack her with a sledge hammer. Michelle kept swinging the sledge hammer at Sarah's face screaming at her talking about how she was a horrible lawyer and that she was living on borrowed time. Sarah managed to roll away a couple of times but one instant Michelle had her pinned under her. After a couple of unsuccessful tries, Morgan and Prentiss managed to subdue her and cuff her.

"You okay?" Morgan asked his sister.

Sarah just nodded.

{~CM~}

After they wrapped up the case Fran invited them for dinner and to stay the night before heading out in the morning.

"Oh fuck!" Spencer moaned.

"Shh, baby," Derek murmured as he slowly but deeply thrust into his lover.

"Can't help it. Feels so good."

"Shit. I know, baby, but my mom is next door."

"Derek, harder, m'gonna come."

Derek obliged picking up the pace and stroking his boyfriend's cock. Spencer tensed and moaned before screaming Derek's name as he came. Derek followed him two seconds later.

The next morning the team thanked Fran again and headed out. At Fran's insistence Derek and Spencer stayed behind.

"So anything you boys wanna tell me?" She asked smirking.

Derek and Spencer looked at each other frowning. Fran chuckled, "Perhaps why the two of you kept me up almost all night?"

"Oh god, you heard?" Spencer groaned.

Fran smiled, "I heard. Congratulations."

Derek chuckled as Spencer buried his face in Derek's neck, "Thanks."

Fran nodded, "You better get going. I expect a visit from you both soon."

Derek nodded as he kissed his mother's cheek and walked out the door.

{~CM~}

Back at home Spencer and Derek lounged on the couch in their pajamas watching a movie.

"I love you, Derek."

Derek smirked, "I love you too, Spence."

"Yeah, why don't I show you how much I love you?"

Derek laughed as he stood and turned off the television, "I created a sexual deviant."

"Shut up," Spencer said pushing him to the bedroom.

Derek just laughed.

TBC...