Chapter 1

Emily's fingertips gently caressed her temples, the lack of sleep and overuse of caffeine was not a good combination but combined with an unsub who had so far detonated two small bombs in the D.C district, killing two people, had led to her worsening migraine. The analysis of the bombs hadn't yielded any firm results and despite the team working nonstop they were no further forward. There was only a vague link between the two victims, one volunteered at a food bank and the other used a homeless shelter.

The loud sound of her laptop caused Emily to lift her head up as she saw Garcia was trying to reach her.

"Hey Garcia."

"Are you ok Emily?"

"Yeah just tired."

"Well I may have something that will help, have a listen to this."

Garcia clicked a button and Emily frowned as she listened to a young girl's voice.

"Hello, I have just seen someone put a package under a blue Honda Accord, license plate EF 8436. Please hurry up, there were two children with the parents."

Emily took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"Can you send Luke and JJ to go to the area."

"Of course, I am also collating CCTV from the area the call came in from."

"If it is our unsub this might be the small breakthrough we need."

Emily took a breath as she finished the call and took a sip of her lukewarm coffee.

JJ held her breath as Luke looked under the vehicle.

"Something is definitely there, get the bomb guys over JJ."

"Ok we need to search this area, I'll grab some uniforms and take a look around."

JJ quickly moved, the family were safe with the police, they had just been into a local community centre to get some food and clothes, but JJ wanted to see if there was any sign of the unsub.

Emily knocked softly before she walked into Garcia's office.

"Any update?"

"The family are safe, they have the made the bomb safe but no sign of the unsub."

Emily puffed out her cheeks as she sat down next to Garcia and looked at the screens.

"What is that?

Emily pointed at one of the screens at a photo of what looked like a young teenage girl.

"I think it is the girl who called in."

Emily raised her eyebrows as she tried to get a better look at the girl.

"Any sign of the unsub?"

"Not a clear picture of his face but look at this."

Emily waited as she watched the slowed down video.

"She saw his face!"

Garcia nodded as she stopped the video, capturing the view of when the girl had seen the unsub place the bomb and their eyes met for a brief moment.

"But she didn't leave her name, she disappeared from the CCTV cameras too."

"Do the local police recognise her at all?"

"No, but I am just cleaning up the photo and then I'll see if I can get a name for you."

"Thanks Garcia, can you please give me a shout if you get anything, I'll be in my office."

"Of course, but please get some rest Emily, you look exhausted."

Garcia's head was resting on her desk but the shrill buzz from her computer quickly woke her, grabbing her glasses as she tried to concentrate on the screen. As she digested the information Garcia reached and messaged Emily. It didn't take long as Emily wandered back into the office, yawning as she did but quickly placed two fresh cups of coffee down on the table.

"Oh you are a lifesaver Emily Prentiss, thank you!"

"Not a problem, I need it just as much as you. What have you found?"

"Here, Stacey Ellis, 12 years old."

"How did you find her so quickly?"

Garcia looked at Emily, the sadness quickly evident in her eyes as she spoke.

"She was in a foster home, three months ago she ran away and hasn't been seen."

"Until she made the call. She doesn't look like your typical runaway, not many would have made that call. Has she any family that she would be staying with?"

"No and she hasn't been in school either, and there's no social media."

Garcia sighed as she brought up a school photo.

"This is the best I can do at the moment, she used a pay phone to make the call so I won't be able to track her."

"Ok but what you have found is vital Garcia, I will get it out to the locals and the team. Hopefully someone will spot her around. But for now I think that it is best if you and I head home and get some rest."

Emily smiled as she gently rubbed Garcia's back before she stood up and slowly walked out of the dark office.

Wandering towards the small building on the corner of the street, Stacey didn't have any real concerns about those around her. Living on the streets meant that she was vigilant and cautious but the events earlier in the day hadn't changed her attitude. It was getting late and darkness was descending, the main thing in Stacey's mind was to get a warm meal. She always varied the places that she visited, knowing that her young age made her a target for a variety of people, but this place was ok, nobody asked questions and there had never been a problem. Nearing the entrance Stacey looked around, but then she froze. Her eyes met the man's who had placed the package under the car, she started to turn and run but a sudden explosion threw her to the ground.

Emily's eyes had closed as soon as her head had hit the pillow, but then the sound of her cell ringing quickly had her sitting upright and answering it with a tired drowsy voice.

"Prentiss."

"Hi Em, there's been another bomb."

"Crap."

Emily took a breath as she listened to JJ relaying the information of the location and what had happened.

"I'll meet you there in twenty minutes, can you ask Garcia to run any CCTV?"

"Already done. He's obviously angry that the earlier bomb was made safe."

Emily sighed as she finished the call, another bomb with more bodies, the pressure to find the unsub was growing by the hour.