Author's Notes: After giving the first chapter a few days, here's Chapter Two! Enjoy!
Within the walls of a lecture hall, Vicki Hendricks, the Criminology professor of Cleveland State University, lectured for about two hours. She focused on the basics and primary goals of criminology as review for the students, before talking about profiling, its nature, and purpose.
"Your aim for the next few days, while mingling with the students of Albuquerque, New Mexico, will be to build a profile of an UnSub based on the case you choose," she announced. "Be sure to study not just what was present at the crime scene, but also what is absent. Also, never overlook even the smallest of details, for they can bring you one step closer to deciphering who your UnSub is.
"Now, don't just take my word. Take it from an agent who uses these skills for a living to catch multiple types of UnSubs. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Agent Annette Lennox."
The crowd of students clapped as Annette stood up from the chair she was sitting and made her way towards the podium. She waved and gave a nod of acknowledgment before she spoke.
"Thank you, Professor Hendricks. As the good professor just said, I am Supervisory Special Agent, or just Agent, Annette Lennox with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, or BAU for short. The BAU's headquarters is in Quantico, Virginia, but I am stationed in my hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Agents in the BAU usually work in a team, but I have worked independently from my hometown and also in neighboring cities and states on certain occasions.
"My ability lies in being able to see a crime scene from multiple angles. I can see a crime scene from multiple angles, which enables me to catch even the tiniest of details that others might overlook. Some say that I'm like a BAU team in one person because of this ability."
She took a moment to catch her breath, inhaling deeply, and then exhaling before continuing.
"I'm sure you all are wondering what prompted me to become a federal agent. Well, I have an unpleasant experience to thank for that choice, and despite the horror I went through, it shaped me into becoming a person who catches people like the late Michael Boudreaux, the Boogeyman of Albuquerque."
She turned to Vicki and nodded, and she pushed a button on a remote, pulling up Michael's mugshot. In the crowd, she saw Anya cringe and tense up before proceeding to speak again.
"This man abducted, held captive, and strangled four girls that were only sixteen. He abducted them when they were walking alone in some kind of secluded spot, took them to a secondary location, which was a storage unit, and bound their wrists over their head with a chain. When he needed his release, he strangled them with his own two hands, and dumped them in the open desert like trash."
She noted the looks of empathy, fear, and anger in each of the students, and she saw Anya clenching the pen in her hand, threatening to break it.
"I was his fifth victim. I was his type at the time: a pretty, sixteen-year-old girl. Walking home from school, Michael abducted me while I was on my way to a friend's house to work on some homework.
"He enjoyed toying with me as I stood helpless and trapped in his storage unit, chained and gagged. My mind raced with thoughts of my parents and my then eleven-year-old sister, Anya, who was probably terrified and wondering if she would ever see me again."
She gestured towards where Anya sat, and she looked around at each of the students, giving a nod and waving so that they could see her.
"What Michael didn't count on was me refusing to give in to the fear and the fact that I fought back when the time came for him to strangle me. I kicked him in both the stomach and below the belt, and he stumbled back into a setup of metal shelves, knocking over some stuff. As he wrapped his hands around my throat, I gave him a defiant look as I fought back, refusing to go down without a fight.
"Luckily, the commotion brought the local police and FBI straight to the both of us, and they collared him before he had the chance to kill me."
She felt the tears form in the back of her eyes, and she wiped them away.
"I was his undoing because I fought back, and he didn't count on that. After they captured him, the court tried and found him guilty of four counts of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and attempting to kill me. The conviction gave him the death penalty by lethal injection, and the execution finally took place a month ago.
"He and I stared each other down in a battle of wits as they injected the drugs. Even as he was dying, he refused to accept that he lost. It was only when he finally breathed his last breath that he had no choice but to acknowledge his defeat. What he did to me led to me joining the FBI, because I wanted to catch UnSubs like him and prevent someone else from getting hurt the same way I did.
"While what Michael did to me steered me to a career in the FBI, I also had to make sure that he didn't haunt me and rule me as a person. Being the only survivor of an UnSub as frightening as Michael was, dealing with the trauma and the aftermath of it all was the most challenging aspect of my life.
"However, it's a matter of not only having the mindset to let yourself recover and move forward, but also surrounding yourself with the right people that will stand by your side. If you all choose a career in law enforcement, be mindful and prepared for the nightmares that will mess with your emotions. While they will become a part of you, make sure not to let them dictate how you live and how you move forward."
She could see their expressions softening up slightly, and based on the overall result, Annette felt she got through to them. With another breath, she stepped away from the podium and made her way towards the vast table set in the stage's front.
"The boxes you see before you contain active and cold cases exclusive to Cleveland," she explained. "When you get to building a profile of the UnSub or UnSubs in question, be mindful of the method they used to commit their crimes, what's present at the scene, and what was absent. As what Professor Hendricks said, never overlook even the smallest of details. They can tell just as much of a story that can lead you closer to discovering who your UnSub is.
"If you have questions, please direct them to me, Professor Hendricks, or Professor Lynn, who is the Criminology professor at the University of New Mexico."
"Also, for the visiting New Mexico students, I plan to extend your visit by three days, at the very least," Professor Hendricks announced. "This will allow you the opportunity to work on your profiling skills, mingle with my students, and get to know Cleveland off of scheduled class time.
"Just be mindful of the deadline you have to meet in between everything else you have planned. Now, everyone will take a moment to mingle and form groups if you like, and once you're ready, come on up to the table, look through the files, and pick a case."
With about close to two hundred students, there were so many choices to choose from regarding partnership, groups, and cases. By the time the first hour passed, a good majority of the students began working on their chosen cases. Annette observed the students, noting several groups of three to five students, a select few groups of two, and some following her lead in working independently. If there was one thing they all had in common, it was their ambition and determination. As long as they set their minds to it, they can do anything.
She then saw Anya sitting by herself off to the side, talking to a few of her classmates before they walked away from her. If she had to guess, they were asking her for advice on the assignment, and they wanted to hear her insight. Being the younger sister of a serial killer's surviving victim turned federal agent, their blood connection would draw the students to her out of curiosity, of course.
After watching her for a moment, Annette stood up from her seat and made her way over to her. When her shadow hovered over her, Anya looked up.
"How's it going?" Annette asked.
The auburn-haired girl shrugged.
"Not too great. I haven't found a case that's appealed to me yet."
Annette nodded.
"Okay. How about we brainstorm? What kind of UnSub do you want to profile?"
She watched as Anya thought it over for a moment before she spoke up.
"If I had to pick an UnSub to profile, I would choose a serial killer."
Before she could delve into more detail, the sisters heard footsteps coming their way. When they looked up, they saw a girl approaching them with a curious glint in her eyes. She was so focused on them she didn't see she was about to trip on her own feet, and Annette was quick to catch her before she could hit the floor.
"Slow down there, honey. I promise you I'm not going anywhere soon."
She felt the girl nod before she found her balance and straighten herself up. She had long, red hair that flowed to the middle of her back, a cream complexion, and brown eyes behind a pair of glasses. If she had to guess her age, she had to be in her early twenties, close to Anya's age. She had a couple of notebooks and one of Rossi's books under one arm, and the sight piqued her curiosity.
"Hi! I'm Zoe Hawkes. I just want to say it's an honor to meet the protégé of the famous David Rossi!"
She extended her hand out, and Annette happily took it, giving it a firm shake.
"Well, I'm flattered, Zoe. It's a pleasure to meet you as well. I'm Agent Annette Lennox, or just Annette, and this is my younger sister, Anya Lennox."
When she gestured towards Anya, the young girl stood up from her seat and waved before extending her hand out to shake.
"So delighted to meet you, Anya!" Zoe exclaimed.
"Likewise, Zoe," Anya said, liking her enthusiasm.
"I'm so sorry for interrupting, but I couldn't help but see you were still trying to decide on a case," Zoe said.
"Yes," Anya said with a nod. "I'm still debating on which case I want to do."
"Would you like to help me with what I have in mind?"
Anya gave her a curious look, and with a smile, Zoe sat down and opened one of her notebooks, with Annette quietly observing.
"I've been following this sudden spike in murders throughout the Cleveland area, and it's led me to think we've got a serial killer on the loose," Zoe explained, going through all the notes she wrote.
"Hmm… multiple victims, different , but within this geographical radius," Anya said. "If it is one person, he's all over the place."
As she listened to Anya and Zoe discuss theories, Annette came up with theories of her own in silence.
I agree with Anya. I can't believe it's only one UnSub. There's so solid victimology, M.O., or signature. If that's the case, then perhaps he's experimenting. He's hesitant, meaning he's inexperienced, and that also means he's young, around Anya and Zoe's age.
"Wow. I have never seen a serial killer like this one before," Anya said, an astounded look forming on her face as she read over all of Zoe's notes. "This UnSub is all over the map with victimology, M.O., and signature, but he possesses a very active mind to commit these murders.
"Even though there is no apparent connection, this spike in murders is definitely not normal."
"Yes! Thank you, Anya!" Zoe exclaimed. "The average homicide uptake hasn't surpassed five percent in the past decade."
"Annette, can we get your intake on the matter?" Anya asked.
Her question snapped Annette out of her thoughts, and she took a moment to gaze at their combined notes.
"Something is definitely off about these homicides," she replied. "The spike in numbers in such a brief span of time, plus the fact they're random and violent, scream out to me."
From the corner of her eye, she saw Professor Hendricks coming over to them.
"Well, this is quite a surprise, seeing you work with Agent Lennox's younger sister, Zoe. Will the two of you be working together?"
The two girls looked at each other, and after a beat of silence, Annette spoke up.
"Yes. They'll be working together."
She didn't miss their surprised looks as she smiled at them.
"Hmm… I see you've chosen the latest string of cases that have hit Cleveland," Professor Hendricks said. "I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of profile you come up with."
With a smile, she nodded to them before leaving to check on the rest of the students.
"Annette!" Anya exclaimed, clearly surprised.
"What? You two were working so well together, and neither of you spoke up when Professor Hendricks asked. So, I did it for you.
"Plus, this is an opportunity for you, Anya. A serial killer whose puzzle you have to decipher. I can't wait to see what the two of you will put together while I observe from the sidelines."
The bell soon rang, signaling the end of class.
"Can I take the two of you out to lunch? I feel it's the least I can do to thank you for your time and insight."
The Lennox sisters exchanged looks before turning back to Zoe and nodding in unison.
"We would love to," Annette replied. "Do you think you can take us to a local place?"
"And I know just the place we can go," Zoe said with a smile.
End Notes: Check back in a few days for the next chapter!