A/N: Or maybe I took a long break from this one to bang out three other stories that entered my head. But I was and still am, committed to this story. I promised all of you a Matt story. It's now February and I'm back at it. And it's my top priority.
Which is now completely finished as usual before I start posting; 99.99% of the time. ;)
A/N2: An after writing note. An international reader brought up something in a review that I never thought of. The gas I'm talking about is what we here in the States call "natural gas". That is the gas that is used to heat and for cooking. Thanks for pointing that out Barbara. I appreciate that.
Thank you all for the reviews and alerts!
*waves* Hi pmp1208!
Chapter 3
Prentiss, Morgan and Matt stood outside the windows of the briefing room at Metro PD headquarters. "That's a helluva lot of people to deliver a profile briefing to," Prentiss commented.
"I can remember a bigger one," Morgan said, looking at her.
"Me too," Matt added.
"When," Prentiss asked.
"The case file Garcia has called 'Valhalla'," Matt said, looking directly at her.
"The one you snuck out of to go chase Doyle," Morgan added.
"Oooo right," Emily softly said. Matt and Morgan shook their heads.
"Cob; you in on this profile," Morgan asked.
"Yes," Matt answered as the rest of the team joined them. "We're a team and I think we're spot on. I just don't think the profile is going to help them. We just need them ready to respond on a moment's notice."
Dave looked at him. "Just tell me someone is here that can provide that help."
Matt smiled. "You know better Big Dog," he winked.
"Your contact," JJ asked.
Matt smiled. "Someone working the case like us."
"Let's do it," Hotch said, opening the door. The team started to enter. Dave pulled Matt aside.
"Tell me it's good news kid," he whispered.
Matt smiled. "Nick's analyst that cracked the want ads," he whispered back. Dave looked at him, "I'm working Nick over badly to get her and Garcia working together."
"And…."
Matt smiled. "After that analyst hears the profile and reports back to Nick, I believe we'll have the power of two superior computer geniuses on this."
"I like that answer," Dave smiled. "Just what we need."
The team went to the front of the conference room. "Good afternoon; I'm SSA Aaron Hotchner, BAU Unit Chief. We've gathered all of you here for a reason. Please bear with us and completely hear my team out." He introduced the rest of the team.
"As you all know," Dave continued, "there's a person that is blowing up low income apartment buildings in the DC area using an explosive attached to the main gas line going into the building. His body count is now up to twenty-four victims. We asked all of you here to help us stop this person."
"We will not bore you with our profile," Morgan said. "Upon our further review of these cases, we have profiled this as a housecleaner with a nasty narcissistic psyche that just wants to kill. And blowing up buildings is his weapon of choice."
"However, by using the gas lines into apartment buildings to attach his explosive," Emily added, "we believe out unsub, or unknown subject, is a former gas company worker."
"And he's a former disgruntled one that worked the lower income areas, most possibly as a repair man having to go into low income rental units and then later ranted about the possible conditions of the apartment," JJ said.
"To the gas company representatives in attendance, we ask you to search your records for that former employee and call us if you get a hit," Tara added. "We have profiled his age between thirty and forty-five."
Reid looked at Will. "Detective LaMontagne, we know this doesn't help you or DCFD much. And we also know your police presence in these areas is basically patrolling the main streets. But our unsub is also leaving messages in alleys," Reid pointed to a map, "That are three blocks west and two blocks south from his targets. If your DCPD could cover some alley ways, we might get lucky." He looked at Will. "But we aren't counting on that."
Matt moved around from the team and sat his hip down on the conference room table. "Folks, here's the down and dirty. Our profile, except for the gas company reps, isn't going to do you jack shit. However, we implore your reps to do that search." He deeply eyed them. "We've got a technical analyst that can do that. But you wouldn't like that. We ask that you do it so we don't have to let her loose." Hotch moved to the white board. "However, if you get a hit, please forward that information to Agent Garcia at the number Unit Chief Hotchner is writing on the white board." The team nodded at each other at the gas reps writing down the number.
"Here's the thing," Matt said. "I'm gonna be honest with you. We've got credible intel from sources we can't tell you. If that intel hits, we need all of you," he said, waving his finger around the room, "and I mean all of you, to have a rapid response plan in place. That includes Washington Gas and Dominion Power as well. The gas and electric gets shut down – immediately. We are trying to save lives." The utility company reps looked at each other.
Dave looked at Will. "Detective, that means DCPD bomb squad on notice."
Will smiled with a point. "Why I brought Captain Williams of the bomb squad along," he drawled, pointing at him.
Hotch looked at the utility reps. "And we will not ask any of your employees to go into a hot zone with a possible bomb involved. All we ask is if we call you with an address, you shut that area grid down of your service. ASAP."
"And piss off how many customers Agent," a gas rep asked.
"Compared to how many more bodies," Matt growled at him.
"Point taken," the rep said.
"DCFD," Morgan said, "we're going to need you on speed dial as well. If we get a hit, we will need you to pour as many assets into that building to evacuate as many as we can with the time we have. DCPD as well." Will nodded.
Lieutenant Juarez smiled. "DCFD is in; we've worked with you all before and trust you."
"My team will be ready as well," Captain Williams said. Morgan gave him a point and smile.
Matt smiled at all of them. "Why we make the big bucks right?" The reps from DCPD and DCFD all lightly laughed.
Hotch gave his best glare at the utility reps. "We're in," they said together.
"To the DC public service groups," Hotch said, "you will not be alone. My team will be out there in the streets with you. And so will some other folks. I repeat - you are not alone in this."
"Thank you Agent Hotchner," Captain Garza, representing the DCFD arson investigation squad said. "We appreciate you putting your asses on the line as well."
Hotch nodded at him. "Like Agent Taylor said – protect and serve."
Matt looked at a smallish woman in the back of the room heading out the door with Nick. She stopped, nodded at him and then opened the door. Hotch noticed her as well and said, "We are just trying to stop a serial killer from raising his body count. With your buy in, we can do this."
"Thank you," Matt said to the group. Hotch looked at him as the group dispersed.
"The utility reps took the bait to do the manhunt on their own rather than Garcia," Morgan said. "That was a great call Hotch."
"We needed to build rapport with them, rather than irritate them with an FBI agent going through their systems."
Matt shook his head.
"Your favorite thing Cob," Morgan smiled.
"I don't like sitting on my ass waiting for something to happen," he growled and shook his head. "I'm just glad we're staying in the District tonight."
Hotch looked at him. "That was a great call partner. The director had full buy in."
"Quick out for a response," Morgan asked.
"The Marriott on K Street," Matt said.
"That works," Morgan smiled.
Dave shook his head. "And I was so looking forward to sleeping in my own bed." The team snickered. "Let us move forward to get our go bags," he said to the team, shaking his head. They all laughed following him.
Hotch sent a text. Dave and Matt looked at him. "Beth will stop and get Mudg on her way home. Lady will have her grandpa around tonight," he smiled as the team got on the elevator.
Matt shook his head. Hotch looked at him. "I love your son and would die for him."
"I know that," Hotch said as the elevator doors closed. "I'd do the same for your kids."
"That's the best name Jack could come up with for his new puppy?" The team snickered at bit. They knew Matt was going to tease Hotch again.
"You've never watched Lady and the Tramp," Hotch retorted.
"I can narrate the fricking movie," Matt said.
"So yes, that's the name my son came up with."
Dave shook his head. "Let it go Cob," he whispered. "Jack's a Hotchner." The rest of the team snickered more.
Matt shook his head at Dave. "So how the hell did the unimaginative mentor slash father find someone like Beth," he whispered.
Dave smiled. "She chased his ass; literally."
The team all burst out laughing. Hotch just shook his head as the elevator pinged on the floor of the parking ramp. Matt slapped Dave on the shoulder with a wink. "God bless Beth." The team roared with laughter walking to their SUVs.
-00CM00-
The team walked into the hotel lobby from having dinner at the Applebee's across the street. Matt's cell rang with a call. He looked at the caller ID and headed back out the door. The team stopped in the lobby to watch his reaction.
"What's up Nick?"
"My analyst went through the morning addition of tomorrow's paper. That's the first section that gets printed. There's nothing there. She headed home to get some sleep. The online version starts hitting at midnight. But she's noticed a pattern, following your team's profile. This unsub is not a night owl. So she is confident that we won't get an overnight hit. However, because of what she knows, she's got a tracker on it in case something pops overnight. These kind of idiots can change; yes?"
"Yeah Nick, they can. Thanks for the heads up."
"Any time Cob."
"Hey Nick; if something hits can your analyst find this asshole? We're gonna be a little busy."
"She's working on that. Plus, she's gonna hook up with your analyst in the morning. Please give your analyst a head's up. And we've got your backs if she finds something."
"Thanks Nick. Just hook up your analyst with Garcia. They will make magic happen between them. Trust me."
"I do. Get some sleep my friend."
Matt smiled. "After a quick stiff drink on Rossi's tab."
Nick laughed. "Go for it."
The team did exactly that. While they did, they worked out their strategy for contacting all the groups involved. "Hotch, we need priority communication with DCPD and FD," Matt said.
"That's on me," Hotch said. "I'm going to request to the DCPD that Will does that.
"I like that plan," Dave said.
"How do we play getting an apartment building evacuated," Tara asked.
Matt looked at her with smile. "You know Morgan and I will go in with the emergency responders. The rest of you just be ready to get them away from the building as quickly as possible to some kind of cover."
Emily and JJ shook their heads. "You two do the hero routine; both of you being dads. Just because we both are mothers doesn't mean we can't as well," Emily griped.
Matt smiled at her. "My wife has buy in on that. And yes, because I'm an alpha male that she knew about when she married me; sue her. Otherwise Princess – as they say in the Russian Marines – toughski, shitski. You two are mothers; and I'm an old fashion SOB. You both know that."
Morgan looked at the two of them. "My wife knows the same. Chicago talk – you're shit out of luck my princesses." Matt pointed at him.
"That's job discrimination," JJ said.
"I've got your backs," Reid said. Matt pointed at him.
"Thank you Pretty Rickie," Morgan smiled.
"I'm backing Cob on this," Dave growled. He pointed at Hotch. "And your ass stays out on the street as well." Hotch glared at him.
Walking to the elevators, the team all looked at Matt as he started to sing. Oh I could use, he sang to the tune of The Saints Go Marching In. The team got on. Another drink.
Another drink Tara echoed, singing along.
I could use another drink.
Amen Tara sang.
Tomorrow is going to be a bitch. Tara joined him in harmony. Ooo I could use another drink.
Morgan smiled at JJ, Reid and Emily.
Dave looked at Hotch. "The good Irish Protestant sings well. And his partner is damn good as well." Rossi got the Hotchner glare. The rest of the team all laughed getting off the elevator, heading to their rooms.
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A/N: I'm a good and honorable author. I completely and absolutely stole that last scene from an episode of Madam Secretary. All rights to the writer of that scene. And major kudos to the awesome Broadway skills of the two MS actors that pulled off the scene with complete brilliance. I'm telling y'all. Check out that show!