Chapter 13 -
Emily walked up towards the desk and smiled at the woman who looked up at her.
"Good Afternoon Section Chief Prentiss, go on in the Director is expecting you."
"Thank you Clare."
Emily carried on smiling before she walked into the Director's office, raising an eyebrow as she saw Rebecca sitting at the table with Director Madison.
"Afternoon Emily, come and take a seat."
Madison smiled softly as Emily sat down, her heart pumping a little faster.
"Is everything ok Emily? I heard that you and Agent Lewis made sure that the three girls got off to the foster home ok?"
"Yes thank you for arranging that Sir. I guess I just wanted to check with you if it was ok for Libby and I to go back to my house now? Now that Crossley is dead?"
Emily had a look of sadness in her eyes that Rebecca quickly picked up on, she took a heavy breath and looked at Director Madison who nodded his head.
"We need to let you know something first Emily."
Rebecca's voice was quiet but Emily looked straight at her.
"We found a flash drive in Crossley's hand, it contained details of the bank account in Charlotte's name in Minsk, the day after it was opened Michael Crosey deposited 250,000 into the account."
Rebecca took a breath and watched as Emily bit her bottom lip.
"There was also a document, almost like a contract, conditions to the money, if Neil failed to cooperate then Libby and Charlotte would be in danger."
Rebecca stopped, she knew she didn't need to say anymore as Emily slowly nodded her head.
"Emily, I am closing the case, Crossley is dead and the other killers are back in Belarus. So as for your request, yes you and Libby can go home. Take some time off and let me know what you want to do next."
Director Madison looked at Emily, who just nodded her head in reply as she quickly stood up and started to walk out of the office.
Rebecca sighed as she nodded at Director Madison and followed Emily, waiting until they were out in the corridor before she spoke.
"Emily!"
Emily carried on walking, knowing that if she stopped she would allow the tears in her eyes to fall and she couldn't do that in the middle of the corridor.
Rebecca quickly caught up with Emily and put her hand on her arm, leading her into an empty meeting room and closing the door before she closed the blinds as well. Silently Rebecca walked over and wrapped her arms around Emily, holding her tightly as Emily dropped her head onto Rebecca's shoulder.
"I'm so sorry Emily."
JJ had put a movie on her laptop, the volume wasn't on that high but it was more to distract Libby as the young girl curled up on the couch in Emily's office.
"Jen?"
"Yes sweetie."
"What's going to happen to me? I heard Emily saying that the other girls were going to a foster home."
Libby lifted her head up from the arm of the couch and looked at JJ, watching the older woman sigh heavily.
"Sweetheart, Libby, that's a conversation for you and Emily, but you know how much she loves you."
JJ smiled as she reached up and brought Libby up, holding her tightly.
"And you know that we all care about you too. You and Emily need some time to process all that has happened this last week. Be kind to yourself and each other, but you need to remember we are here if either of you need us ok?"
Libby nodded her head and rested it on JJ's shoulder, taking comfort as JJ's arms wrapped around her and kept her tight to her own body.
Emily closed her eyes for a moment, her hand on the door handle, taking a breath as she composed herself. Though as she opened the door a sense of relief poured through her body. Libby was curled up on the couch reading a book while JJ was sat at Emily's desk with her laptop open.
Emily walked over and took the seat opposite JJ ss the blonde woman smiled and closed her laptop, but then JJ saw the redness around Emily's eyes.
"Hey Em, are you ok?"
JJ reached across and took a hold of Emily's hands as Emily slowly nodded her head, JJ smiled as she tilted her head and squeezed Emily's hands softly.
"Your eyes say otherwise Emily."
"I'm ok now Jen, I just want to take Libby home and spend some time with her."
Emily closed her eyes and took a deep breath, JJ got up and walked around the table before she wrapped her arms around Emily and held her tightly.
"Take Libby home Emily, you both need to spend some time together, just the two of you. But you know where I am if you need anything, and I mean anything Em, just ring me."
"Thanks Jen."
Emily rested her head against JJ's shoulder for a moment but then she took a deep breath and stood up, walking towards Libby.
Emily put her arm around Libby as the two of them sat on the couch in Emily's home. Sergio had jumped up and was sitting on Emily's lap but his head was rested against Libby.
"Libby I need to talk to you sweetheart, it's been non-stop since you got here but I need you to know that no matter what you are loved and will always have a home here with me."
Emily's voice was quiet as she felt Libby's head lean against her body.
"I love you Libby and while I don't know what your parents wanted, I need to find that out, but sweetheart I will never ever abandon you."
Libby could feel Emily's tears hit the top of her head, her own tears were falling as she lifted her head up and looked at Emily.
"So I won't end up in a foster home?"
"Sweetheart not if I have anything to do with it. I need to make some phone calls in the morning but this is your home too now. I love you so much Libby, please don't ever forget that."
Their dark eyes met each other's, the tears trickling down each of their faces as Libby slowly nodded her head.
"Thank you Emily, I love you too."
Libby quickly moved and wrapped her arms around her aunt as Emily held her tightly, their tears hitting each other's necks as finally both of them let out the emotions they had been holding in for too long.
Emily and Libby had another broken night of sleep, Emily had taken the decision to not even try to get Libby into the other bedroom. Instead she had been right beside Libby when her nightmares had woken her, comforting Libby in her arms until the young girl had fallen asleep again. For her own part Emily had also woken twice, vivid images playing in her mind of not being able to save Libby.
Sergio purring in her ear was Emily's normal alarm clock and this morning was no different, instinctively Emily reached and gently rubbed his chin before the cat leaned in and rubbed his head against Emily's cheek. A smile crept across Emily's face as she saw that Libby was still sleeping soundly, stealthily Emily got out of the bed and whispered quietly.
"Sergio, come on buddy."
Emily and the cat quietly went downstairs and into the kitchen, thr routine of cat food and coffee second nature but Emily didn't turn the TV on, she wanted quietness so that she could listen out for Libby. Emily cradled her coffee as she flicked through the contacts on her cell, finding the name of the lawyer who had handled matters after her mother had died. Emily knew that it was early and there would be no answer but she wanted to leave a message, to get the wheels in motion, in order to alleviate her own anxiety as well as that of Libby.
"Hi this is a message for Michael Benson. This is Emily Prentiss, I was wondering if you could give me a call back please? I understand that you have the wills and paperwork for my sister, Charlotte Roberts. I need to understand who the legal guardian is for Elizabeth Roberts, thank you."
Emily smiled as Libby yawned and walked into the kitchen, pleased that her niece had woken up naturally rather than through a nightmare.
"Morning Libs."
"Morning Emily."
Libby smiled as she took the seat next to Emily and rested her head against Emily's arm. Emily smiled and kissed the top of Libby's head.
"Everything ok sweetheart?"
"Yes thanks, I actually felt like I slept last night."
"That is good news Libs, orange juice?"
Libby nodded her head as she moved her head slowly away from Emily as her Aunt stood up and got Libby her drink before Emily sat back down, putting her arm around Libby's back and rested her head on top of Libby's.
"Emily?"
"Yes sweetheart."
"Can I ask you a question?"
Emily lifted her head up and looked at Libby but she kept her arm around Libby's back.
"If my mom and dad didn't want me to stay with you but I did, what would happen to me?"
The words tumbled out quickly as Emily frowned, taking a moment to decipher the meaning behind the words.
"I made a phone call this morning Libby, to our family lawyer to find out what your parents wanted. But if you want to stay with me then you know that I will fight for you whatever."
"Would Rebecca be able to help us?"
Libby looked up at Emily and Emily saw the worry and hesitation in her niece's eyes.
"I am sure that she would Libby. My friends are my family Libs, along with you. All of them will be with us every step of the way if we need them. But let us cross that bridge if we need to."
Libby nodded her head as she rested it against Emily's shoulder.
"Thank you Emily."
"Anytime sweetheart you know that. Come on let's get ourselves some breakfast and then we can make some plans, ok?"
Libby nodded her head as Emily embraced her niece, she completely understood the anxiety Libby was experiencing and she made a note to ring Rebecca to see if she would be able to come and speak to Libby later that day.