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On the plane, Hotch and Derek discussed their approach to Ford. "We need him to tell us who is running this."
"He is in prison for life," Morgan said, "So what can we offer him to roll on his team."
"Right after we meet with him we'll see Cindy. She will be able to give us insight and maybe she knows the players as well."
"Let's see if we can see the lawyer too—what was his name Cohen?"
"He killed himself in prison," Kevin said via videoconference.
As they entered the Visitors room, Malcolm said, "Well, well Derek Morgan. What do I owe the pleasure?"
"You know why I am here." Derek said, "I am giving you one chance you dumb son of bitch, one chance, you hear me. Tell me where she is or you will spend the rest of your time in solitary confinement."
Ford smiled at Morgan as if he is in control of the conversation, "what are you talking about Derek Morgan or should I call you SSA Derek Morgan."
Derek banged his hand on the table and said, "I know about the company and we arrested 10 people in Chicago. Who else is playing this game?"
Malcolm sighed heavily as if he was talking to a child. "It isn't a game Derek—you should know that by now," he continued holding Derek's gaze, "This is life—life before gadget and cars—we knew our roles and we abide by them."
Derek interrupted his monologue, "Malcolm they took my wife, maybe if you help me find them they will move you to a better facility but that is all I can offer you."
Malcolm scoffed, "Is that all an FBI agent is worth? A better prison? I think you can do better than that. I want to see my family. Can you believe my wife and son haven't visited me since you put me here? Unacceptable."
"No way in hell, Cindy is coming here," Derek growled, "The only offer on the table is an upgrade in accommodations - you have 2 minutes to give me a list – if you don't or you lie in anyway you will be in solitary for the rest of your stay." He pushes the paper and pencil to him, "Now write."
"What happens in the company stays in the company—I would've thought you understood that by now. I've nothing to say SSA Derek Morgan. Please do your worst," he laughed, giving Morgan crazy eyes, "when they return her I hope she can still speak. I heard she is feisty."
That's it Derek jumped and started to pound him. Hotch pulled him off him. "Know that every time you are up for parole I will be here, you bastard."
As they walked back into the SVU, Hotch didn't know how he should broach the subject of Cindy's visit. He thought if they could get a clue as to where Penelope was it would be worth the mental anguish of the visit. He thought about Haley—he would have done anything to get there earlier. He couldn't figure out how to sugar coat the question so he just said it, "should we ask Cindy to visit him?"
" He won't give the location – he is a sociopath and he just wants to torment us and her. We will find Penelope today" – he said with determination—"we have to."
"I think we should let Cindy make that choice—if she feels up to it she should ask him for the address. We should let her decide"
"Hotch, I don't even know how—" he said, "My world is so chaotic—I can't think straight. I think Ford just wants to exert control over situation—I don't think he even wants to see them—he want control over them."
They arrive to Aunt Vaughn house, they interviewed Cindy about the company and she tells them how they get the women to comply. She tells them about the torture rituals and the gang rape. She was never apart of that aspect of the game because she was Malcolm's and he didn't believe in sharing. She did tell them about how the broke the women with drugs and beatings. She didn't know about the murders.
"Can you tell me anything about the men around Malcolm? Where did he go who did he associate with?"
"I didn't know the names but a man I assumed was the boss came every Thanksgiving and we would have a 4 day meeting at the Cabin. It was like a family day. It was understood that he was the boss and the leader, but I never knew his name. I wasn't his type either he liked the newest members because he was into training them. If you didn't say sir, he would slap you no matter who you were. I wish I could tell you more."
"What did you do with Malcolm's stuff maybe there is a clue as to who this guys is in there," Derek asked.
"All of his stuff is in storage—he had a tablet that he used to contact the company.
I know it is password protected - I can take you there it's 10 minutes away from here."
They retrieve a box of what appears to be Malcolm's company documents as Derek is looking through the crates in the unit as Hotch and Cindy talk by the car. Hotch tells Cindy of Malcolm's request to see her in exchange for information on Penelope. He tells her "Morgan didn't think anything good would come from the meeting except to terrorize you but if he knows something—anything that could help us find Penelope faster it would be helpful. We have to head back but if you feel up to it—here is the warden's number he will give you access anytime—if you decided to go."
She looked at Hotch and her eyes were over come with fear—and he knew that Morgan was right, what good could come from this.
Derek explains what happen to Penelope to his mother on the way to the jet. "Beth has the kids but I need you—I don't know what the unsub's end game is and—"she put his head on her shoulder and said, "you need your mama." He started to tear up in her arms and she soothed him.
When they arrive to the BAU, Derek gives Kevin the tablet and informs him that it might be deadlocked and he is going to have crack it. Elle walks into the conference room with JJ. Hotch says, "I wish this reunion was under better circumstances but what do you have for us."
Elle began, "We've been watching the company for 4 years and we haven't been able to identify a leader. When you arrested Malcolm Ford you shut down the Chicago contingency but they're in every major city. They recruit through sex clubs – they have a fight club mentality—meaning they take men who are feeling unfulfilled and give them purpose through the game. The women on the other hand range from submissive types to mail order brides. We haven't seen them take unwilling women."
"Cindy, Derek's cousin was a member for 8 years and she said some of the men like to take women they can break, abuse, - force into submission," Hotch said, "We think this is the goal with Penelope."
"Do you know who the players are in DC or Philadelphia?"
"We have at least 45 players who have willing partners—"
"I can cross check that with the list Stella send us," Kevin offered, "He sent is a list of the possible grant supporters and school fundraiser attendees."
As they work away in the conference room, Kevin pulls up a live feed… this is weird. Penelope appears on the screen, she is in a red slip crying in the corner. She's talking to herself, "Mom I am so sorry," she cried, "I never meant to make you so angry."
"I promise I will fix the car."
"I promise." She start humming Team Spirit (by Nirvana) to herself as plays the beat on her knees. She is so enthralled in the song that she doesn't see the masked man come in nor does she care. He calls her name but she doesn't hear it through her drug-induced concert.
"Penelope," he repeats louder.
"Look at the Beignets, she says to him and the imaginary crowd behind him, "I want a thousand beignets, with bacon -purple and yellow please. Do you want one? She asked with child like wonder.
"She is tripping her face off," Elle said.
"Mommy look at the beignets some with white powder some with purple powder."
She turned to her left and listened intently, " no they don't have orange powder. I'm sure of it," she said annoyed, "You have to have a purple one—"
"Penelope," the masked figured called again. "How much did you give her?" he asked the guard watching her.
"Three sir"
"What?! —That is too much for a horse and you gave that to her. You better pray she comes down before he arrives—or it's you ass."
"Shit, don't tell him," the guard said.
"He will see that she isn't right"
"Yes, Mr. Beignet," She said giggling like a child.
"Come here" the masked man said. She stayed hidden the corner.
"Come here now" he said with authority
"No," she said shaking her head fervently.
"Do you want the box?" he asked and she shook her head as she walked towards him.
"Look how dilated her pupils are and how chapped her lips are," Reid said "—she must be on a mix of ecstasy."
"When I say come you come," He slapped her – "why is that on?" he asked the guard, pointing to the camera.
"I don't know," he said walking towards the camera.
"Is it transmitting? Turn it off." The masked man said to the guard
Penelope starts pacing and talking loudly to herself and out of nowhere she kicks the masked man in his shins and knocks him on the floor. She kicks him in his ribs and raises her foot to smash his face when he grabs her foot and flips her into the guard working the camera. The camera, the guard, and Penelope fall. The camera remains on.
"You fuckin bitch, the masked man says as he gets up, "Tie her down he says to the guard and give her the box and half a K—she is too hopped up."
He walks over to her and says, "If you ever hit me like that I again you will be floating in the bay. You hear me."
When she doesn't answer he punches her in the stomach and she cries "yes, Mr. Beignets"
Another tall dark figure walks into the room, he is wearing a navy tailored suit. A custom made light blue buttoned down shirt and a mask. He takes a switchblade out of his pocket and starts to play with it. "Penelope are you being a good girl, " he asked as he flicked his switchblade open. The two guards scatter out of frame and when they walk by him they say sir.
"Yes, Mr. Beignets."
He put the blade on her chin and made her look at him. A plain plastic half mask covered his face; she could only see his face from his goatee to his chin. She kept on licking her lips because she is thirsty,
"May I please have some water, sir? I feel—"
"Water" he said over his shoulder. He looked at her and touched her face as if she was a puppy. He put the blade in his pocket and started to wipe the dirty off of her shoulder. "You need a shower" he said as he passed her the bottle of water. "Thank you, sir" she seemed pretty lucid to him. The drugs where wearing off he thought and it was time for phase two. As she drank the water he took out and played with the blade again. She wasn't scared- most of the women remained scared to the very end but she was different. He tapped the blade on her chin and said "are you ready to go home." He did notice how dilated her pupils were and thought she should be coming down not tweaking.
She looked up and smiled, "yes"
He slapped her so hard, she flew and into the pillar head first.
"Sir," she said, "I meant yes, sir."
"That's better."
She didn't know she was bleeding until the warm blood fell on her feet. She passed out and he ordered the men to bring her to the playroom.
"Where we supposed to see that?" Emily asked, "It seemed like the camera was on by accident."
"The last guy seems like the boss," Rossi said, "—everything he wore seemed custom made and did you see how the other men fell in line. He is the dominant one—he is the ring leader."
"Beignets aren't those a New Orleans thing." Emily asked JJ.
"Yeah she loves them," Derek said "—she is so drugged she isn't making sense – they have her on the cocktail of ecstasy, LSD and god knows what else"
Derek trying to focus on the case at hand, He said "I'll throw you in the bay – where is there a bay around here? "
"We have the Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore Bay, and Lewes Bay," Kevin said
"We need to narrow that down. They are speeding up the clock—they've had her for 20 hours and according to past cases they've kept the women for another 10 before torturing them."
Poor Penelope!
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