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Chapter two.
As I walked onto the plane I eyed up the chair in the furthest corner, the caffeine in my body really fighting to keep me awake. I slumped into the seat and slid down, bringing my knees up to my chest and pulling the blind closed. I didn't give a rat's arse what people thought of me right now, I've been up for nearly thirty hours and honestly if people want me to form full sentences or even aim a gun they are going to have to let me sleep.
As I made myself a little more comfortable I sighed, my eyes briefly panning across everyone's faces before I closed my eyes and fell asleep to the sound of everyone discussing our current case.
I was sitting in the back of the car, nine years old and singing along to ABBA's greatest hits. I know it was my guilty pleasure and my parents loved it too, well my mum did – my father just sucked it up to keep us happy.
I remember sitting there and singing along as my father pulled into a petrol station, they both got out the car as I stayed put, watching them and smiling as I pressed my face against the window and giggled uncontrollably at his reaction.
"I'll be two minutes Red." He tapped the glass and he and my mother walked toward the petrol station. I don't know why but I suddenly had a gut feeling as if this had already happened before. I starting pulling at the door but it wouldn't open so I tried to scream at them, banging my palms against the window. "Wait! Don't go in there!"
As they opened the door they turned to me and smiled, trying to reassure me but it didn't work. Tears streamed down my face as I continued to bang against the window, knowing exactly what was going to happen next.
"No! Mummy!"
A shot was fired and it echoed through me, my body freezing as I watched my mother fall in what seemed like slow motion to the ground, her scarlet red blood seeping onto the dull grey concrete. "Mummy!" I whimpered as my father looked back at me sadly. This moment seemed to last forever, our eyes locked as he mimed I love you. Two more shots were fired and I screamed and screamed, my fingers pulling at my hair as tears ran down my cheeks, soaking my t shirt. The man that killed them looked at me through the mask, his black eyes narrowing before the gun was then aimed at me.
I jolted myself awake, nearly falling off the chair as I panted – my skin glistening with the sweat from the fear of my recent nightmare.
"Clara…?"
Morgan was sat opposite me, his eyes showing mild concern.
"Sorry… I'm fine." I forced a smile and got up, walking to the toilet and closing the door quickly behind me. It was a mugging Clara, nothing else behind it… I let out a little growl, gripping the side of the sink. You've shown weakness already! I kicked the bin angrily before taking yet another calming breath.
"Agent Davis?"
Rossi knocked on my door as I cupped the cold water in my hand, splashing my face a few times before drying it with a paper towel. "One second!"
I clenched my shaking hands and opened the door, forcing a fake smile.
"Everything alright Agent?" His eyes looked into mine and I nodded, I was good at pretending – I've been doing it my whole life.
"Of course, stupid nightmare that's all." I gave him a brief nod before I brushed past him and took my seat. Brilliant, they all probably think I'm a right lunatic. I pressed my hand to my face, rubbing my eyes as I felt everyone's gaze on me. I looked up, reaching for my bottle of water and I caught Hotchner's line of sight, our gaze holding for a second before I pulled away.
When we arrived at the station, I walked behind everyone. I could sense Reid wanted to mention my recent outburst on the plane but I don't think he felt comfortable doing that quite yet.
"Reid whatever you want to say, just say it." I said bluntly, stopping behind the crew as Agent Jareau introduced everyone.
"I uh, it's nothing."
He stuttered and I rolled my eyes, my tone oozing sarcasm "Of course it is."
I moved away from him towards the small area in the station that supplied New York's officers with coffee. I'm more of a tea kind of girl but right now, caffeine is caffeine. I poured myself a cup as I listened to what was being said, pressing the lid on top before walking back over to the group.
"Davis you will accompany Morgan and myself to the East Village, Reid and Prentiss you go and speak to the families and JJ and Rossi start looking through the victim's past, see if anything jumps out at you that could give us any indication as to who this Unsub is."
They all nodded and I followed behind Morgan and Hotchner who were already on their way out of the station.
Well besides the conversation between Morgan and Hotchner in the car journey, I wasn't thrown a question or two at all! Seriously, it's like I killed the guys bloody grandmother the way he's acting. I decided to play the same game, yes I know it's childish but what can I say? I can be just as grumpy and blunt as this guy.
"This is the club that each of the women went missing from."
We stopped outside a rather large bar, clear glass windows across the front and side, vintage retro lights plastered across the brickwork – I have to admit, I'd probably visit this place to.
"Popular looking bar." I whispered, doing a three-sixty turn to take in the surroundings. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, taxi rank across the road, couple of small places to grab a drunken mid night snack after boozing it up. Pretty standard really.
Morgan and Hotchner made their way into the bar and I followed behind them, dumping my now empty coffee cup in the bin. I can say that right now, as much as I want to be fully into this case – all I can think about is my hotel room bed.
"Are you the owner of this bar?" Hotchner asked as a tall, rather hipster looking man approached.
"Yeah man that's me. What can I help you with?" His eyes glanced down to me for a moment, extending his hand down to me. I say down because I'm five foot four and he's at least six two. "Can I offer you anything to drink?" He offered that to all of us but he didn't take his eyes off of me.
"No… I'm fine thank you." I gave him a small smile and he winked at me, returning his attention back to the gentleman who were also watching me.
"Ten women have gone missing…"
"What does that have to do with me man?"
He didn't seem to have anything to hide but then again, his beard is covering half of his face. "They were last seen here by their friends before they disappeared." I added, his face warmed to me again and he nodded slowly.
"Aw sweetheart that sucks, honestly if I knew anything I'd love to help you out but we've had no trouble here in months."
I nodded slowly, looking around the bar. "How about cctv? I saw one outside covering the front entrance, do you mind if we have a look?"
The guy smiled widely and if I wasn't trying to be professional I would've rolled my eyes and sighed by now. "Yeah sure thing beautiful, let me get my laptop. Take a seat." He gestured to the table to our left before leaving us three in silence.
"Well he certainly took a shine to you." Morgan chuckled, moving to the seat beside me.
"I don't see why, I don't feel like I scream out that I'm searching for a middle-aged man who dresses like a twenty-year old."
Morgan chuckled and I smiled naturally for the first time. Hotchner just stood there, his arms crossed over his chest. I don't know what's with this guy, I've not seen him smile once and he speaks with such little emotion… miserable prick.
"Here you go beautiful." The bar owner leaned over me and placed the laptop in front of me, placing beside it a shot of tequila. My eyebrows raised and I turned to look at him.
"Uh… yeah I can't drink while I'm working.." I picked up the shot and handed it back to him, he smirked and took the shot.
"When do you get off?" He winked and my jaw dropped a little bit, my tongue running across the inside of my cheek – the cheeky shit! I am not here for a one-night stand. I'm going to have to knock this guy down a few pegs, he clearly thinks he is god's gift to women. I opened my mouth to speak but before I could reply with something sarcastic and probably rude Hotchner intervened.
"Davis, go and wait outside."
I looked at him, slightly thankful for the fact he probably saved me from stepping out of line.
"Yes sir."
I shook the bar man's hand and pulled it away quickly before he tried to kiss it. "You know where to find me!"
I scoffed, my eyes rolling again at his attempts of flirtation. "Yep! Unfortunately!" I yelled in reply as I walked out of the bar and back into the street.