Chapter 2
"The dead cannot cry out for justice. It is a duty of the living to do so for them" - Lois McMaster Bujold.
When the team was on the jet, they began to review what they knew so far. An open laptop sat between the agents with the FBI logo on the screen. Penelope Garcia was back in Quantico running backgrounds on both victims to see if they ever crossed paths. This was so the team will have a starting point when they reached their destination. The agents shook their heads while looking at the grim information on the two victims.
Prentiss exhaled and shook her head. "Considering everything we've seen, Unsubs still find a new way to surprise me with their depravity."
"Might be why we'll never be outta work," Rossi commented studying the file, not looking at the brunet.
The agents grinned at Rossi's observation before they turned back to their grim task.
"Y'know, Morgan may have had a point before," Reid said. The others looked at him. "When he said the way the bodies were dissected shows surgical precision. We could be looking for someone with surgical capability."
"I'll have Garcia check for former coroners and surgeons who have been fired, or med students who have been expelled," Hotch said. "Garcia?"
The FBI logo was replaced by the smiling face of Penelope Garcia with her blond hair and pink highlights. She wore red-framed eyeglasses and a bright yellow dress with red roses. "You summoned me, mon Capitan?" she asked Hotch in a cheery voice.
Hotch smiled. No matter how dark things got, the Unit Chief always knew they can depend on Garcia. She was a ray of sunshine for them. "Garcia, after you finish running background checks on the victims, I need you to check on coroners, medical students, and surgeons. Pay special attention to any who may have been terminated or expelled no matter what the reason. And check to see if either of our victims crossed paths with any of the names you find."
"And Garcia…" Reid added. "Cross-reference that with anybody in the medical profession who may have been reprimanded or received write-ups."
"Like Superman, I will have the info faster than a speeding bullet. Garcia out." Garcia's face was replaced by the FBI logo.
"The two victims were found two weeks apart," JJ said. "Why the fourteen day interval between victims?"
"Maybe our Unsub uses the time to select his victim," Rossi replied. "Could be he watches them to understand their habits before he attacks. That would take time."
"But both victims are found in the same woods, one behind a residence, the other near a residence," Prentiss explained. "Why? Is there some significance to these woods?"
"Might be a place he's familiar with," Morgan said. "Also, as there's no blood, he's obviously using it as a dumping sight."
"All it means is he's killing them someplace else before dumping the bodies in these woods," Hotch added rubbing his chin in thought. "Normally, disposing of a human body is not easy as we know because of the dead weight."
"Yeah, but since the bodies are cut in half at the waist…" Prentiss continued. "I would think it would be easier to transport a body that's in two parts than in one."
"So we're looking for somebody who's familiar with the area," began Hotch. "And who can come and go without attracting attention."
"And probably lives in the area as well," JJ added.
"And since he took two weeks between the first and second victims," Rossi interrupted. "Means we have a small window before he takes another victim to stop him." His words caused the others to exchange looks.
When they landed, they were directed towards the vehicles they will be using while in Santa Barbara.
"Detective Parsons," the man greeted them, offering his hand to Hotch. He guessed this was the leader. "You must be Agent Hotchner."
"I am," Hotch said, shaking hands with the detective. "Let me introduce my team. This is SSA David Rossi. SSA Emily Prentiss. SSA Derek Morgan. Our media liaison Jennifer Jareau. And Doctor Spencer Reid." Parsons shook hands with each except for Reid who gave an awkward wave.
"Where would you like to start?" Parsons asked, his eyes lingering on the two female agents. It didn't go unnoticed by the others.
"Agents Jareau and Prentiss will talk to the families of both victims, and afterward to the Linton family as their daughter found the second body," Hotch said.
"I spoke with them," Parsons explained. "They're expecting you."
"Good. Dr. Reid and Agent Morgan will visit the first crime scene, and Agent Rossi and myself will first visit the second crime scene, and then see the medical examiner."
"What do you want me to do?" asked Parsons.
"You could take Agent Morgan and Dr. Reid to the first crime scene."
Parsons looked at the agents for a few seconds before nodding and heading to his own car.
Morgan's head shake did not go unnoticed by Hotch. Nor did the amused grin on his face. He suspected the black agent's eyes were laughing as well behind his sunglasses.
"What?" Hotch asked looking at his team with a curious expression.
"Nothing, Hotch," Morgan chuckled as he and Reid started toward their own SUV. "Nothing at all."
Rossi smirked. "I think you intimidated the lead detective." Hotch looked at his close friend of more than twenty years with an innocent expression.
"I did? I certainly didn't mean to."
"Sure you didn't," Prentiss and JJ both chuckled along with Hotch and Rossi as they went to their respective SUVs. Hotch permitted one of his rare smiles which allowed his dimples to show as he slid behind the wheel of his vehicle.
He sat in his plush chair with a glass of Scotch in one hand, staring out at the woods through his open living room window. He had not been paying close attention to the audio from the television in the living-room. A Cheshire cat grin appeared on his face. It had been a perfect three week period. Perfect as he had killed two people in the most heinous way possible. And his intended prey now within his reach. As the man himself, he must stay focused and patient. He cannot get careless.
He thought back to the five attorneys he killed years ago. Their deaths had been so easy. He had planned everything right. Each death had brought him more pleasure than the following one. By the time he captured the main target of his revenge, he felt excited. He will defeat this man. Last memory as the house burned, was the man had no way out. It was unfortunate he had to leave after setting the house on fire, but couldn't risk staying. Twenty-four hours later, he read of the man's escape from the inferno, and cursed his misfortune.
He wondered if the man had changed any since their last meeting ten years ago. His grin grew into a full smile as he took a sip of his drink. The memories still remained of the man begging with his eyes, moments before the fire. He remembered watching the house burn from his hiding place. Recalling how content wondering if the man will die from smoke or flames. Hoping the smoke will not claim the man because he liked imagining him screaming when the flames touched his skin and began to roast him alive. Delight imagining the man being burned alive, and disappointed not to be able to capture the moment on video. What pleasure it would have been.
His death will be his greatest victory. A victory to be savored and cherished until his dying day. He was positive he would not have killed anyone else after the man died, as he will have nothing to prove. To have won over the best and the brightest. How much higher could he aim after that?
He swirled the amber liquid around in his glass. The man's friends are stupid. After the videos he had sent, and kidnapping the man while two of the man's friends sat outside the woman's home. After the letters, phone calls, and videos they caught him because of a mistake. If it hadn't been for that mistake, the man would have been dead and buried. And he would have been satisfied.
He recalled two of the man's friends enter the burning house, hurrying back outside with the man after the house became involved. Knowing he couldn't risk staying around any longer, he made his getaway not knowing if the man lived or died after being brought out of the house. He checked the newspapers each day, reading from front to back, looking for articles on the man. Imagine his horror to discover the man survived and recovered. There had been a photo. His face had been repaired from the disfigurement he inflicted. Knowing photos can be altered, he turned on the news on the television several weeks later. He paid attention to a press conference held by one of the man's female friends. A beautiful blond. And then he saw him. He leaned closer to the television. The man appeared tired and older, but it was him. He ground his lower jaw in anger.
I will not let you beat me, he told himself. I will see you dead yet before my own life ends.
But how is the problem. He would have to give it careful consideration and thought. He couldn't afford to make any mistakes. The end will be swift this time. Swift and painful. He will make sure this time. But the nagging question persevered. How to do it? An amused grin appeared when an idea came to him.
He will need a crime in which the man cannot refuse to become involved.
When perusing the internet one day, he recalled coming across an unsolved murder case from 1947. The murder of twenty-two year old Elizabeth Short who had been tagged the Black Dahlia by the media. It happened in post-war Los Angeles. The murder had been savage and brutal. He knew he had found the crime he wanted to recreate, the Black Dahlia murder, and include both men and women to confuse the issue. He made sure to read everything on the Black Dahlia murder until he became familiar with everything about the crime. But he needed more. He needed to understand the human body if he planned to recreate the murder.
He spent the last several years studying the human body. Afterward, he got a job working as an assistant in a small coroner's office in a small, out-of-the-way town somewhere. He paid attention when autopsies were performed, and asking questions which would not attract unwanted attention. When he felt comfortable enough, he even performed a few. He stayed with the coroner's office for several years until he felt comfortable in his work. When he moved on from there, he had gotten a job embalming bodies which didn't last more than two years. Each job had taken time, patience, and hard work, but believed it necessary. He didn't mind spending the time. In the end, he knew the result will be worth the time and effort to recreate the unsolved murder.
When ready, he decided to come to California as the original crime happened in the state. It will be perfect. Next is where to take his victims. It had taken months to find the right place, and to fix up the room to keep the screams from being heard. When everything was set, a contented smile appeared. The only thing he needed now is a victim. It is important to confuse local law enforcement first. After all, they will contact the man and ask him to come. But he needed practice. And for practice, he needed victims. Where to find the right victim?
Needing a break, he drove into town and looked around until he found a man who will be perfect. His name was Anthony Barstow and he worked at the local bookstore in town. After watching his intended for a week, he discovered everything he needed to know including the man's age. It took no trouble getting the young man to his place. He hummed a tune as he cut into the body, the young man screaming in agony with each slice. He found it more fun if the victims are alive when butchered. Their screaming told him how he is doing. But he subjected the bodies to the most heinous injuries after death. When he finished, disposing of a body cut in half didn't turn out to be as difficult as he thought it might be. Finally, before disposing of the body, he went back into town to the florist shop, and bought a white Dahlia. Cleanup took much more time, but soon he is on the prowl again. This time looking for a woman. He soon found Shannon Carstairs and two weeks after Barstow, he disposed of her after buying a pink Dahlia. But, he took his time with the woman wanting to improve on his first victim. He wanted to be perfect when the moment came.
He knew the locals couldn't handle these crimes. They will ask him to come and help. This time there can be no clue the man is his target. It is the mistake he made the first time, and would not make again. Everything must go according to plan. Nobody must learn the man is his target until his body, cut in two halves, is found in the woods. A contented smile crossed his face as he thought of the tall man with the dark hair and piercing brown eyes. Even the man will be impressed. He will get revenge on the man he hated.