Chapter 2 -
Indian Pines Park
The spot was idyllic and she smiled as she sat on the rock and looked out at the horizon. It had taken them a long hike to get there but it had definitely been worth it. Greg had promised that she could take a rest while he put the tent up. What she hadn't expected was the yelp of fear from him as he ran up towards her.
Section Chief Emily Prentiss Office - BAU
JJ knocked purposefully on the door as Emily lifted her head up and smiled at her friend, gesturing for her to enter. But as JJ walked towards her Emily noticed the all too familiar look and let out a heavy sigh.
"Urgent?"
"Yes, we got a phone call from the Park Ranger service at Indian Pines Park Michigan. A couple had gone hiking and were putting up their tent, the tent peg hit something."
JJ paused as she turned her laptop around and showed Emily a photo.
"Well I bet that put a dampener on their romantic getaway."
JJ rolled her eyes as Emily grinned.
"Unfortunately that wasn't the only one, once the rangers got up there they found four female bodies in various stages of decomposition."
"Oh great."
"They haven't got full IDs yet but they are all African American and aged in their twenties."
Emily took a breath and nodded her head.
"Ok get everyone in the round table room, I just need to make a phone call and I'll be with you."
JJ nodded her head as she closed her laptop and nodded her head, knowing that Emily was going to ring to make sure that Libby was looked after in case it was a long night.
Emily nodded at everyone as she sat down at the round table. Garcia clicked and photos of the crime scene appeared on the large screen.
"So we had a call from Mount Pleasant police this afternoon, the Park Ranger service were alerted by a young couple camping about a body. Once up there they found four female bodies."
JJ took a breath and looked around the room but everyone was concentrated on their laptops.
"We haven't any IDs yet, local police only have one missing person that might fit the description. But due to decomposition it's going to have to done by DNA."
Emily nodded her head and looked around the table.
"Ok, it looks like we have stumbled on something. Victimology from what we know shows that the unsub has a type but we won't know more until we speak to the ME. If you guys need anything from me please just let me know. Keep me updated and stay safe."
Emily smiled as she nodded at the team and stood up, knowing that they would quickly leave and travel overnight so that they would be there first thing in the morning.
Mount Pleasant Police Station
JJ smiled as the uniformed officer held out his hand and shook it firmly as he talked.
"Thanks for coming so quickly, we have got a room set up for you."
"Thank you Officer?"
"Jenkins."
JJ smiled as she let go of his hand and the team followed him to the room that had been set up for them.
Once they were all in the room they caught sight of another person in a uniform.
"Hi nice to meet you guys, I am Ranger Kevin Lane."
Officer Jenkins nodded and gestured for the team to sit down as he pointed at the folders on the table.
"Kevin can take you up to where the bodies were discovered. The local ME is examining the bodies but we are confident that one of them is Angela Jones, 24 years old went missing a week ago."
JJ nodded her head and looked around the table.
"Tyler and Luke can you go up with Kevin and take a look at the crime scene. Dave can you see what the ME has found out. Tara, you and I will go and speak to Angela's family."
Everyone nodded their heads and quickly picked up the folders to look at what information the locals had gathered for them.
Emily smiled as she put the glass of juice down on the table and looked at Libby.
"So I might be late tonight Libs, the team are in Michigan."
"Ok, are we still going to have Rebecca round for dinner tonight?"
"Of course sweetie. You know that Rebecca will come round even if I am stuck at work. Hannah will pick you up and take you to your appointment after school but you can ring me if you need to talk about anything, ok?"
Libby nodded her head, glad that Rebecca would still be around that night, giving her something to look forward to after her appointment with her therapist.
"Right, I guess we had better get going, Garcia is messaging me nonstop and you have to get to school!"
Emily smiled as she walked around and kissed Libby on the top of her head before the two of them got up and picked up their bags for the day.
Emily knocked loudly on the door, two cups of coffee in her other hand as she listened carefully.
"Come in."
Emily opened the door and walked quickly over and passed a coffee over to Garcia.
"Oh thank you so much Emily!"
"Well I guessed after the amount of messages you sent me that you had an early start today!"
Emily grinned but then as her gaze caught sight of Garcia's screens the smile quickly disappeared and a heavy sigh left Emily's mouth.
"So what have you found out?"
"Angela Jones, 24 years old, financial advisor, lived apart from her parents but was close to them. Social media shows that she had an active social life but it was kept private to her friends only. I did find that she was on a dating site, but hadn't used it in the last months."
"Well that gives us a starting point when we get the other identities. What about the location?"
Garcia quickly changed the screen and brought up a map.
"Well it would have taken some effort to get the bodies up there. My first inclination is we are looking for a male unsub."
Emily frowned as she examined the terrain, her instincts told her that this was going to be a tough case but as much as she wanted to be out in the field she also knew that Libby needed her too.
JJ quickly noticed the tired look in Tara's eyes as they got in the SUV and headed back towards the police station. She reached over and placed her hand on top of her friend's.
"That was a tough one."
Tara nodded her head and managed a small smile.
"They reminded me of my dad. I can only imagine their heartache."
"How is he?"
JJ squeezed Tara's hands affectionately.
"I just wish I could spend more time with him sometimes but then I think that he is also so proud of me."
Tara took a breath and looked over at JJ.
"Are you ok if I make a phone call?"
"Of course."
Tara nodded as she put the phone on speaker and hit the first number in her list.
"Hi, is everything ok Tara?"
Rebecca's voice filled the vehicle and JJ quickly smiled.
"Hi Rebecca we're all good thanks."
"Oh hi JJ, hey guys I'm with someone who might want to say hello to you."
"Hi Tara, hi Jen!"
"Hi Libby, is Rebecca around for dinner?"
"Yeah we are now cooking together."
"That's wonderful sweetheart. Hey Rebecca?"
"Tara, are you sure you're ok?"
JJ smiled as she listened to the interaction, Rebecca had instinctively picked up on the change in tone in her partner's voice.
"Do you think you could go and check my dad's ok for me?"
"Of course, I'll pop round tomorrow morning before work."
"Thanks, I know he's ok but we interviewed parents of one of the victims just now."
"Hey Tara, say no more, it's fine. Now try and relax and make sure that you eat."
"Don't worry Rebecca, I will make sure she's ok."
"Thanks JJ."
Tara smiled as she finished the call, looking across at JJ as they both nodded at each other. Everyone had cases that affected them more than others, this was going to be tough on Tara and JJ knew that she had to be there to help her friend navigate her way through the process.
