Chapter 3 –

The warden made sure that the door was closed, his phone was diverted through to his voicemail, his hands were shaking slightly as he placed his hands on top of the file, glancing around the room he ensured that he was alone before he opened it up. He knew most of the information but the reason why he was in there and how he had come to live in the maximum security prison the warden did not know so well. He never wanted to know too much, he found it easier to deal with the prisoners that way, there were all evil that was why they were there in the first place and he knew that if he knew all of the gory details then slowly but surely it would eat away at his soul. Prisoner HA471 had been brought to his attention from one of the guards, a keen young man who was ambitious but was also extremely good at his job, although the prisoner had no phone privileges he was sending letters and the last three letters that had been sent out were extremely strange. The warden brought the photocopies out and looked at them again, they were being sent to an elderly man in Baltimore who had no relationship to the prisoner and no living relatives. The words in the letters made no sense and the guard had been right to bring it to the warden's attention, he took a deep heavy breath as he read how prison HA471 had been captured and what had led to his eventual life long sentence. There was no legal basis for him to withdraw the mail privileges and prisoner HA471 had received no mail in return. The worry lines grew deeper as his eyes focused in on the name of the FBI agent who had captured the prisoner and he knew that he had to make the phone call.

Alex screwed up her face as she exited the lift and walked through the glass doors and headed into the bullpen. Garcia had been wonderful in helping her but she was used to living alone and craved her own space once again. It was late and the emptiness of the bullpen was enticing, Alex knew that she needed to finish the file before she headed home to the sanctuary of her apartment. Luckily the bullet had hit her in the shoulder and she was still able to type, write and pick up the phone, the file was lying on top of her keyboard and Alex quickly picked it up with her good arm and placed it into her bag. The pain was increasing, causing Alex to wince and bite her lip before she sat down, she was beginning to think that she had made a mistake in leaving Garcia's but she knew that she would only sleep and rest properly once she was in her own bed. The thrill ring of her desk phone soon put the pain into the back of her mind, Alex looked around the bullpen but it was as empty as when she had entered, the thought of leaving it crossed her mind but her better nature got the better of her.

"Agent Blake."

"Oh hello I was wondering if I could speak to a Special Agent Emily Prentiss please?"

"I'm afraid she doesn't work in the BAU anymore, can I help?"

"My name is Mark Elmore, I'm the warden at USP McCreary."

Alex took a deep sigh and rubbed her temples gently before she reached across and picked up a pen and dug out a legal pad.

"How can I help you warden?"

"I've got a prisoner who the BAU caught nine years ago and is now serving a life sentence, as you may well know we are a maximum security federal prison but this prisoner has been sending some correspondence that has set some alarms off. I was hoping that the BAU might be able to shed some light on the letters he has sent."

"Why were you asking after Agent Prentiss?"

"I have spent the last three hours poring over this prisoner's file Agent Blake, Agent Prentiss was the one that apprehended the prisoner and gave evidence at his trial that ensured that he would serve a life sentence."

"Ok Warden what is this prisoner's name?"

"Sam Davis."

"I'll look into what we have got here on him and the case, could you send me over copies of the letters please?"

"I'll fax them over now."

"Thank you warden and I'll speak to you soon."

"Thank you Agent Blake for taking this seriously, I know how evil these prisoners are, if he is planning something it won't be good."

Alex sighed as she put the phone down and turned on her computer, there was no way that she would be able to go home and relax now.

Dave and Emily were both sat in the kitchen at the table, coffee and newspaper sprawled across, both of them had their glasses on, a sure sign that they were getting older, as they quietly read. It was late and darkness poured in through the windows but both of them were patiently waiting, knowing that it wouldn't be long, and they soon rewarded as the laptop that was sat in the middle of the table suddenly came to life, Emily grinned as she reacted quicker and clicked the button.

"Evening sweetie."

"Hello munchkin!"

Dave smiled as he stood up and moved his chair so that he was close to Emily and that Kate would be able to see them both.

"Hey mom, dad sorry I couldn't ring until it was late."

"That's ok, as long as you're not putting your partying above your schoolwork?"

Emily raised an eyebrow as she spoke, she could that Kate was trying to stifle a yawn and knew that her daughter had been out with her friends.

"Of course not mom and don't worry dad I haven't been drinking!"

"I should hope not Kate, anyway your mom and I are coming up on Friday night so have a think about what you want to do this weekend."

"Ok that's great although I was wondering if it would be ok if I came home instead?"

The smile on Dave's face grew but Emily leant in closer and looked at the screen, trying to gauge the emotions coursing through her daughter.

"Of course munchkin just let us know when your flight lands and we'll pick you up."

"Thanks dad."

"Is everything ok Kate?"

"Yeah mom, I'm just tired and fancy a low-key weekend, I just want to spend some time with the both of you."

Kate smiled and yawned at the same time while Emily nodded her head, satisfied with the answer for the moment but she knew that she would be keeping a close eye on her daughter at the weekend to ensure that she wasn't going to burn herself out.

"Ok Kate take care, we love you."

"Love you too, bye."