Chapter One – The New Girl

I took a deep breath. They weren’t going to kill me. JJ was so sure of that but then again she was sure of everything. She was sure I wasn’t too young to be a consultant for the FBI. She was sure they would all like me. She was sure I wouldn’t make a fool of myself. She had been sure since I had known her in college, at Penn State. We had met my first year there. She shared a dorm with me and although she was much older then I, we had become friends.

“Beth,� she would say to me, “in college know one cares about age. They care about what you can do.�

I felt somewhat comforted about her confidence. But yet again that was JJ, always confident about everything. I was about to be a consultant for the Behavioral Science Unit at Quantico with their best team; Special Agent Aaron Hotchner, the unbelievable Jason Gideon, Derek Morgan the sarcastic man, Penelope Garcia a computer genius, the newbie Emily Prentiss, and of course the amazing Dr. Spencer Reid. But now I was going to be the new one on the force and I was scared silly.

Even though I was only twenty-three I already had my PhD in English. But I was still stuck in college at William and Mary (I had transferred there after I obtained my PhD). And I had to still complete my other education. Because even though I was amazing at English I could barely pass my Science courses.

JJ thought it would look good on my resume if I helped the FBI with my expertise. How I was going to help them with this next case I didn’t know. I mean they had Dr. Reid, the one who knew everything humanely possible!

I was wearing a white trumpet skirt with a baby blue top, jean jacket, and white peep-toe shoes. My blonde hair was pulled back into a half ponytail, which was held in place with a blue bow. I had a khaki saddlebag with all my things I thought were necessary. JJ was wearing her typical black pants and button down shirt. Her hair was down and in her face. She looked uncomfortable though. If she could get away with it she would have worn sneakers and sweatpants.

“Jen,� I said taking my bag and fixing it to my shoulder, “do you really think this is necessary? Do I really need to do this?� I was whining but I didn’t care.

I followed her down the lobby to one of the back doors of the BSU building. She looked down at me and smiled.

“Yes, and it’ll be fun! You’ll really like everyone once you meet them.�

“Jenny, please! It’s still not too late. Take me back to my apartment and…�

“Too, late. They’ve already seen you,� she said gesturing towards the glass doors. Of course she had made them see me. Now I had no choice.

“If I burst into tears the first time I mess up I blame you,� I muttered under my breath and she laughed as she opened the door for me.

They were all there, all six of them. Penelope and Morgan were laughing loudly; she was sitting on a chair and he on the desk in front of her. Their knees were almost touching. Hotchner was standing next to Gideon both of them watching me as I walked in. Emily sat on the desk next to Dr. Reid who was leaning awkwardly on the counter. He was flipping through a book, reading it.

He looked up and he still looked the same from the last time I saw him. Same hair cut, same glasses, same clothes, same awkwardness. He was still the Spencer I knew from childhood. He was still that twelve-year-old who I had known for only a brief amount of time. I felt myself blush but JJ didn’t seem to notice as she did introductions.

“Everyone,� she said showcasing me like Vanna White, “this is Dr. Elizabeth Smalls. She’s going to be helping us on our next case.� Everyone stood up to greet me. “This is Special Agent Aaron Hotchner,� she said nodding to him.

He reached out, shook my hand and said, “Pleasure to meet you Dr. Smalls.� He didn’t seem too pleased. His eyes were hard and he looked angry with me.

“You too Agent Hotchner,� I smiled at him.

Emily came over and gave a my a warm shake, “I’m Special Agent Emily Prentiss. It is nice to finally meet you Dr. Smalls.�

Before I could say anything Morgan immediately overtook her. His hand was in mine and he was shaking it with enthusiasm. “I’m Special Agent Derek Morgan, but just call me Morgan. Wow!� he exclaimed taking a step back, “you’re last name really does fit you. Did you plan that?�

I smiled and said, “Yes.� I am only 5ft 4in so everyone here towered over me. JJ is the next smallest and she is three inches taller than myself.

“Hi,� I heard a voice ring out from behind Morgan. “I’m Penelope Garcia, the computer geek and resident oracle of the BAU.� She stepped out from behind Morgan and shook my hand. “You don’t see much of me but you hear a lot from me.�

“Well I am glad I saw you once so I can remember who you are,� I said smiling.

“I do have a habit of slipping from people’s minds,� her voice trailed off and she glared at Morgan. He looked sheepishly at her.

“Special Agent Jason Gideon,� JJ said taking back control of the introductions.

Gideon shook my hand and said, “Hello Dr. Smalls. You’re paper comparing the Bronte sister’s work is quite extraordinary.�

“Thank you,� I said happily. This was a subject I knew a lot about. For my thesis paper I had written about the Bronte sister’s of European literature. “It is one of my favorite pieces that I wrote. I’m quite proud of it. I’ve always been interested in the group dynamic of author’s who live in close proximity to one another. How their personal relationships influence the characters and lives that they write about.�

He seemed quite pleased with my answer. “It is how writers interpret the world around them that make them different. You have done well yourself in that regard.�

I flushed and said, “I see you’ve been reading some of my novellas. Quite silly aren’t they?�

I had published my first book at age sixteen. I had written about fifteen so far. They were all teenage love stories. They were all my fantasies played out on paper.

“No, no not really. You managed to tackle an important issue every novel you wrote about; from race, to poverty, to religion, to death, to war. You covered everything that we feel prejudiced about. Quite extraordinary really.�

“Oh, well thank you very much,� said a little flabbergasted. Anyone with any common sense would not read those novels but he had. I had a feeling it was his way of getting inside my head. It was Gideon’s way of profiling me.

“And this is Special Agent Dr. Spencer Reid,� JJ said as soon as our conversation ended.

He put down the book he had been reading and I caught the title. Last Impression: The Story of Abigail Carroll Grant by Elizabeth Smalls. I could feel the color drain from my cheeks. It was my first novel the one I had written at age sixteen. It was about a girl who married a serial killer and began piecing together the evidence over two years of marriage. That book was the one I was the least proud of and Spencer was reading it.

Spencer smiled and did his little wave. I knew he wouldn’t take my hand so I held mine back.

“Nice to meet you Dr. Reid,� I said smiling back.

He didn’t say anything just smiled. I wasn’t expecting him to and I was glad. He didn’t mention the book so I kept silent. And he didn’t mention our earlier acquaintance, which gave me some relief. I didn’t want to deal with that right now.

Addressing everyone I said, “Please, call me Beth everyone does. If you call me Dr. Smalls I’ll think you’re talking to some old man.� I was trying to sound authoritative and it worked. I had never heard my ‘proper’ name used so many times before in my life. It was making me feel nauseated.

“Now, will someone please tell me what case we are working on and why you had to call in me,� I said holding onto my saddlebag tightly. “Jen wouldn’t tell me anything.�

Hotchner said, “I think its better we show you.� We all moved in one big group following Hotchner down the hallway to a room on the right. “You still sure you want to do this?� he asked at we all paused at the door. He looked like he wanted me to say no.

I swallowed and looked at them all. How could they be counting on me? They were the best of the best. All of them were brilliant and smart. What case was so important that they needed me? I was unsure and insecure and young. It was driving me crazy! If I had been nervous before it was nothing compared to this.

I gathered myself together, looked directly at Hotchner and said, “Yes.�

Chapter Two - The Case

As Hotchner opened the door I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. He flicked on the light and I fought a gasp. The room would have been ordinary (round table with chairs, carpet, white board, projector screen) except that it was covered with pictures and red lines/circles everywhere.

The pictures were gruesome. Four women all with their hair pulled back in a bun, wearing sundresses that went down to the floor and long sleeves, no makeup, and no shoes. They were lying on the floor like they were in a coffin. Their arms folded across their chests and they were perfectly straight. It was obvious that they had all been redressed this way.

But there was blood everywhere. Their throats were slashed and wrists cut but the blood had not pooled like it should have. Beside each of them was a bucket of their blood; the killer had collected it. The blood had been thrown around the room and had pooled unnaturally in several places.

Their names were written at the top of the whiteboard: Laura Miller, Allison Hugo, Victoria Loveless, and Miriam Trent. Across the whiteboard where written four phrases with numbers attached to them. They were as follows:

‘Do not permit women to teach or have authority over a man - 212’

‘Women watch over the affairs of the household and nothing else - 3127’

‘Women shall not wear men’s clothing - 225’

‘Women shall not change their natural use for men that is against nature - 126’

I was immediately drawn to them. I placed my saddlebag on the table and put my reading glasses on. They were black rimmed but they had a modern shape. Taking out a notebook and pen I quickly scribbled them down.

“All the women were killed within a ten block distance of each other at their homes,� Hotchner said pointing out four dots on a map. It was hung on the wall. “They also have nothing in common. They are of different races, ages, backgrounds. The only common thread is that they were all killed by the same person.�

I paused and looked at the pictures of the women again. He was right. Laura Miller was African American and in her late 30’s. Allison Hugo was white and in her late 60’s. Victoria Loveless was Hispanic and in her 40’s. Miriam Trent was also white but in her teens. None of them had the same hair color, eye color, age, height, and background. They were just ordinary women.

I brought my thoughts back to the phrases and numbers. “What are these quotes from?� I asked looking back from the map to the board. “A book, religious text, movie…�

Gideon cut me off and said, “We can’t tell what they are from.�

I looked back sharply at him, surprised. He and Dr. Reid, with their brilliant minds, couldn’t identify them what gave them any inclination I would.

I began with the obvious question. “What gives you the impression that their quotes? How do you know the suspect didn‘t just make them up?� I asked going back to copying them down.

Spencer came over to where the quotes were on the board and shook his head. “The rhythm of the lines. They’re almost like a poem. Each feels like that they continue into the next sentence. The unsub is organized and educated. He has probably at least been educated through High School. Its seems like he twisted them from some other text to say what he wanted it too. But there is an original source we just have to find it.�

I nodded and frowned at my paper thinking hard. That made sense. Which is why Spencer couldn’t recall it. “So that means that you probably have read it but it has been twisted so that you can’t recall it. Because if you had read it you would have remembered it perfectly.� I was more pondering this to myself about him. A fact that I was suddenly recalling.

He wasn’t meant to hear that but he said, “Precisely.�

I fought back the urge to flush. I took back control of the conversation. “But,� I said taking off my glasses and tapping my pen against the board, “what do these phrases have to do with the crime? How are they connected?�

JJ walked in and hit a few buttons on the computer. “They were all found at the scene,� as she said this four pictures popped up on the projector screen. They were the phrases and the numbers written in a dark red on a wall behind the women. “And they were written in the victim’s blood.�

The gag reflex, I had been fighting since I had walked into the room, was nearly choking me. But I remained professional. Dr. Reid meanwhile had jumped in to explain.

“Which means that these phrases are very important to him. He spent time collecting the victims blood.� The container of it popped up on the screen. “But we have no idea where they came from. We don’t know who he really is.�

I wanted to scream at them and jump up and down. How could they think I knew any more then they did? It was Dr. Spencer Reid for goodness sakes! The complete genius that had three PhDs. Who had read more books than I ever will in my lifetime. What did Gideon think I knew that he didn’t? This was ridiculous!

“Well…� I said my voice trailing off. They looked at me waiting for me to take control.

“This is what I need. Penelope,� I exclaimed. She jumped up a little. I ripped off the paper that I had just written the phrases and numbers down on. “I need a computer geek. Can you take these and type them into every search engine you know. See if you find any good hits and print them out to me. Jen and Morgan, can you get me all the case files on these women? I need to know the ins and outs of their lives.� Jen got up from the computer and went out of the room with Morgan trailing behind her. “Agent Gideon if you could bring out all your resource material for me to look at.� He followed behind JJ. “Agent Hotchner you are free to do what you want.� Hotchner frowned like he didn’t need my permission to do anything. But he walked out of the room anyway.

I took a step back from the white board. Each one was derogatory towards women. The question was why? What caused him to hate women? It was clear that each of them had been redressed, which puzzled me. Most killers when they redressed their victims were to make them sexier, more appealing. They put makeup on them or in more revealing clothing. I had never heard of a killer trying to make ordinary women less desirable to men. As I had been pondering this I began chewing on the temple tip of my glasses. I was so deep in my reverie that I had forgotten about one other person.

“What are you thinking about, Dr. Smalls?� Spencer asked coming to stand next to me.

I jumped a little but quickly recovered. “It’s Beth,� I said automatically correcting him, “and I’m wondering why he redressed them in this particular way. Well I mean I know why he did it to make them less appealing. But I mean what his ulterior motive was. What caused him to become like this? I mean…� He was staring at me intently like he was interested in what I had to say. How could he really find this interesting? I was babbling because I was nervous. How could he make me nervous?

It was Spencer! It was the boy who I had known from Las Vegas. He obviously didn’t remember me, which was fine. But he hadn’t changed that much at all even his reputation. He didn’t know it but his reputation made him so intimidating. And he probably wouldn’t understand why I was so scared. He was good at analyzing people who were not personal to him. But the second you made it became personal he had no idea what you were thinking. It was because he had never felt intimidation. He was always sure that he was right and that he could remember everything. He didn’t think the same way we did-in fact no one thought the way he did.

Again I got the urge to jump up and down and scream. Why did they think I could help? I was saved from doing this by the entrance of JJ and Morgan with the many boxes of evidence and files on the case. And Gideon entered right behind them with eight thick books of resource ranging from the Roman Era to the Bible. The three of them slammed the books and boxes on the table. I gave a little jump

“Thanks,� I called to them as they left the room. I handed Spencer the top book and said, “Dr. Reid, can you please read through these. Mark possible phrase matches with pink sticky notes, number matches with blue, and any other that might be of some importance with yellow.� I reached into my bag and pulled out the sticky notes I was talking about and placed them on the table in front of him. “I would do it myself,� I continued, “but you’re a faster reader than me and,� I said picking up a box, “I have to get to know these women inside and out.�

We sat in silence for sometime. I was reading through files while taking notes and he was quickly flipping through the resource material. Every so often I saw him pick up a sticky note and place it on the page. I put my iPod on and started listening to Mozart’s Concerto NO. 1 in G Major. How long we sat there I don’t really know. I could see all the lights being turned off one after the other. It got really quiet and I knew we where there after hours. I knew everyone had left besides us. No one had stopped by to ask how we were doing. No one came by with any new information. It was just us, together.

After awhile the words began to blur together and just as I was nodding off Spencer asked, “Why did she still love him?�

It was a tone that he hadn’t used before this. It wasn’t the lecture voice or the know-it-all one. It wasn’t to test me to see if I knew the answer. It was a genuine question. I jolted up and looked at him. He had stopped his wild pace through The Free Masons Resource Guide and was looking very intently at me.

I had no idea what he was talking about. So, I took my glasses off, looked at him and said, “What?�

He placed the book down on the table and took his glasses off as well. But he had lost that childlike quality and had gotten back his lecture tone. “In your novel Last Impression, Abby still loved Jackson even when she found out that he had killed all those people. Why?�

I was a little taken a back. Why was he so interested in my first (and worst in my opinion) novel? But I answered him anyway. I took a deep breath and said, “Abby fell in love with both sides of Jackson. The good and the bad. She didn’t care because in the end he was still the same person she married. Love changes people, Dr. Reid. You of all people should understand that. You see how people change from it or from the lack of it.�

“But he was a psychopath not a sociopath,� he exclaimed sounding exasperated. “Psychopath’s can’t feel remorse. There have been several papers, done by very well respected scientists, saying that they born that way. There is some chemical imbalance that causes they to kill. Sociopaths kill because of the environment that they are brought up in. They know what they are doing is wrong but can’t stop. They have one personality unlike psychopath’s who have two.�

“So?� I asked placing my glasses back on and going back to taking notes.

“In the book, on page 396-paragraph three-line six, you wrote:� He closed his eyes. I could see them move rapidly back and forth as he recalled what I wrote.

‘He looked at me sadness growing in his eyes. He never looked lovelier to me than then when he was dying- when I was about to lose him. The blood pooled around his middle and he began to cough. He rasped out, “I did kill them Abby and I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I love you, Abby. I love you so much.� I reached out to him but he closed his eyes and died where he had shot himself.’

He wouldn’t have said that. He shouldn’t have said that. It is factually wrong for him to have said that.�

“In my personal opinion,� I said looking back up at him, “I think he really loved Abby. That’s why he took his life in the end because he couldn’t deal with the reality of hurting her. Love changed him. Love always changes everyone for better or for worse.� He gave me an odd look. I quickly retracted my statement. “But it’s just a story. Yah know, I exaggerated everything. I’m sure that it would never really happen like that in really life.� I smiled at him and he smiled back. But he didn’t look too convinced. He went back to reading but the silence became uncomfortable. I couldn’t concentrate so finally I asked, “Why do you care?�

“I was just thinking how many less killers we would have if someone loved them like Abby loved Jackson.� He returned to flipping back through The Free Masons Resource Guide.

“But you just said that it would be impossible for someone like Jackson to feel remorse. So now you‘re saying that if someone like Jackson felt love they wouldn‘t kill.� I was trying to hide the surprise from my voice.

“Yes.� He paused. “Well, the Sociopaths anyway.�

I smiled at him and fought the laugh that was trying to escape my throat. He was so confusing. He just said that it would be impossible for Jackson to love Abby and feel remorse and now…He was still the same confusing Spencer.

I placed my headphones back on my head and picked Tchaikovsky’s Swan
Lake from my play list. The hypnotic sound of the ballet and my tired body finally gave out. I feel asleep in the middle of reading the file on Victoria Loveless. What happened after that I don’t know. But I do know that I had a horrible dream.

I was on the floor crying and the whole room that I was in was hazy. Where I was I don’t know. What I was doing there I don’t know. All I do know is that I was screaming Spencer’s name over and over. He appeared out of the haze with a gun. He was studying it-flipping it over and over in his hands. I was imploring him now. I was telling him to put it down and to listen to me.

He quietly said, “You were right, Beth. Love really does change a person. I can’t do this anymore. I wish I wasn’t this way. I wish I hadn’t killed them but they were too perfect. They were too much like you.� I was sobbing now barely able to breathe. “I loved you too much, Beth.� He held the gun to his head. “Goodbye.� I heard the sound of a gun going off and everything went black.

Chapter Three – The Epiphany

I jolted awake. At first I was disoriented. Where was I? Why wasn’t I at my apartment? Then it all came flooding back to me. The case, Spencer, the dream-I could feel my mouth go dry. I had fallen asleep on top of a case file. My glasses were askew on my face and I could feel that my hair was out of place. As I lifted myself up from my position of lying on top of the desk, Morgan placed a hot cup of tea in front of me and produced two bagels.

Placing the bagels down next to the cup he said, “Sorry, did I wake you?�

“What?� I asked still a little dazed. I looked at him comprehension slowly dawning. “No…just a bad dream.� I rubbed my eyes and took the tea.

“Yeah,� he said sitting down next to me, “this job does that to you.�

“No,� I said taking a sip, “it wasn’t about the case it was…� I stared into my teacup. “Hey, how did you know I don’t drink coffee?� I hadn’t mentioned it before that I only drank tea. I did notice however that he was drinking coffee.

“JJ told me. She said it was one of your many…� he paused searching for a word. “…‘Quirks’.

“Yeah, Jenny did always call me that. Quirky, I mean.�

“And how did you ever get JJ to let her call you Jen?� he asked taking a long draw from his cup.

“Honestly, I have no idea. I just called her that one day and never stopped. She never said it bothered her. Why? Did she break your nose when you called her Jen?�

He snorted into his cup and said, “Yeah, something like that.�

“That’s Jen. She’d rather break somebody’s nose then be nice to them.�

I giggled at JJ’s expense and Morgan joined in. He then noticed the stacks of files I yet had to go through. “Well,� he said standing up and stretching, “enjoy the breakfast and have fun with those case files.� He patted my shoulder and walked out of the room.

“Oh, believe me,� I called to him, “I will.�

I finished drinking my tea and began on my bagel. I imagined I must look like a deranged person myself. I took my compact from my saddlebag and checked. I had rubbed my makeup off and my hair was the messiest I had ever seen it. I sighed and redid my hair the best I could. My thoughts returned to last night.

Spencer, I assumed, had stayed with me all night. But he should have been done those books by the latest dinnertime. Why had he stayed so late? My heart hurt in my chest just thinking about all the possibilities. I told myself that I was making it all up. That he had actually taken twelve to fourteen hours to read those eight resource guides. But I still smiled. I knew that he had actually stayed longer then he should have.

Still smiling, I resumed taking notes on Victoria Loveless. It was my last case file and I was determined to finish it before someone else came in to check in on my progress. Just as I was finishing up taking notes Garcia barged in the room. She looked like she hadn’t gotten much sleep either. There were some circles under her eyes and her clothes were rumpled. But she triumphantly held a stack of papers above her head.

“The oracle has delivered,� she exclaimed dropping the stack of papers in front of me.

“Thanks,� I said flipping through them. She started to walk out of the room but I stopped her. “Oh and by the way, who are you, again?� I smiled.

“I keep telling you I just slip from people’s minds,� she said putting on a fake exasperated tone.

I flipped through the papers skipping just number and phrase matches. I went to the ones that had been searched for both. Most of it was junk and most of it made no sense. Then I came across one. It reads as follows:

‘Do not permit women to teach or have authority over a man’ - pg 212 in Quinton Lee “Bear� Finch’s highly controversial novel Women and Their Place in World.

My breathing was coming in short bursts now. This was it! It was the source that was feeding our killer’s fire. I hastily flipped through the papers.

‘Women watch over the affairs of the household and nothing else’ – pg 3127 in Quinton Lee “Bear� Finch’s…

‘Women shall not change their natural use for men that is against nature’ – pg 126 in Quinton Lee…

‘Women shall not wear men’s clothing’ – pg 225 in Quinton…

It was all there! Everything! It all made sense now. Everything I had questions about was being answered. I knew I could find all the answers in that book. I grabbed my bag and ran out of the room. Unfortunately I was impeded because I collided with Spencer.

“Dr. Smalls, is everything ok?� he asked after he recovered from the initial blow.

I tried catching my breath but it was no good. “It’s Beth, and Dr. Reid, do you have a bookstore around here? We need to go to a book store.�

“So that means you figured it out?� he asked incredulously. He looked from my bag back to me.

“Yes, I did.� JJ had heard all the commotion and had come jogging down the hallway. She started asking me a question but I cut her off. “Jen, get Penelope to pull everything she can on Quinton Lee “Bear� Finch.� I said. She nodded and went back out the way she came. I began to practically run down the hallway.

“Is he the killer?� Spencer called from behind me.

I skidded to a halt. “No, but he might be able to shed light on who he is.� Spencer looked at me puzzled. He was genuinely confused about this. “I’ll explain on the way. Is there a bookstore in walking distance from here?� I asked again.

“Yeah, I’ll take you.�

In a few moments we were out of the BAU and walking a few blocks down to a Barnes and Noble. It was a warm June day and I was enjoying the walk with Spencer. I explained everything that I had found out. He became greatly concerned and almost began to jog.

“I’m actually glad that you didn’t read that book, Dr. Reid,� I said picking up my pace to match his. “I wouldn’t know what to think of you. It’s not the kind of book anyone should be reading.�

“Yes, for once I’m also glad I didn’t read this book.� He sighed and said, “But now I guess I have to.� He was right. In order to understand the killer we were going to have to read the book that he got his ideas from.

“I’ll read it with you,� I said looking up at him. He didn’t look comforted by the idea.“ And Gideon will too. I guess that means we need two copies.� I searched through my bag for my money.

Spencer stopped suddenly. We had reached the bookstore. It was enormous – two stories and half a city block. “Put your money away,� he said and he took a few bills from his pocket. “The Bureau can pay for them.� I complied and we walked through the doors.

We went directly to the information desk in the center of the building below the escalators. Unfortunately there was a long line. We were the fifth and it wasn’t moving quickly. I was impatiently tapping my foot.

“Can’t you just flash your badge and get them to move,� I asked. I was tired and angry and this was just adding my irritation.

I could tell he was just as angry as myself. “You wait here,� he whispered in my ear, “I’ll go see if I can find it.�

I nodded. I was clearly exasperated with this lack of customer service. The girl at the counter looked barely fifteen with pink striped black hair and too many piercings to count. She appeared to have no idea what she was doing. He left and the line slowly progressed. Oh, this was just ridiculous! I could probably type faster then her and find the book in under a minute. Finally I was there.

Before she could get a word out I said, “It’s a non-fiction book by Quinton Lee Finch called Women and Their Place in the World.� I said it all in one breath. She began slowly typing in the words. “Oh, hurry up. I really need that book.� She looked up and glared at me. I fought back the childish urge to stick out my tongue.

Spencer suddenly appeared out of nowhere and held up a bag. “I found it,� he was out of breath like he had just run a marathon. “There was only one copy but I got it.�

“Never mind,� I said following Spencer from the counter. If looks could kill I was dead before I left the store.

We walked out of the Barnes and Nobles and there saw Gideon in his SUV. We climbed in and he said, “Fill me in.� We complied and he seemed quite impressed with what I had gathered.

“JJ said you were determined but I wasn’t expecting this,� he said as we pulled into the parking lot. I quietly smiled to myself. “Beth, you are going to have to debrief everyone when we get back.� I nodded but my butterflies that had been there yesterday came back.

Once again we were back in the room. The room that still plagues my dreams. The room with the pictures and the red lines and those phrases, it is a nightmare. I stood in the middle of it debriefing them all. Telling them what I had figured out in just twelve hours. I told them what I knew and they all listened.

“And here’s another thing I noticed. Each quote pertains to the profession or lifestyle of the women,� I said. I wrote down the names and connected the phrases to each woman that they pertained to. “The first quote was found above Laura Miller. It says that women should not have authority over men and she was head of her own law firm. Miriam Trent had the quote ‘natural use for men’. She was a lesbian. Emily even talked to her girlfriend. That’s changing her natural use for men. Allison Hugo was a stay at home mom but she wore men’s clothing. Thus the third quote was meant for her. And Victoria Loveless was a priest. So the third quote about ‘watching over the affairs of the household’ was directed to her.� I was breathless. I was just so excited about this new epiphany. “He’s specifically targeting them. These aren’t random killings. He’s probably stalking then attacking.�

They all looked at me. Emily was tapping her pen on the table. JJ was leaning against the doorframe a slight smile on her face. I couldn’t tell whether or not Hotchner was pleased or unhappy with the results. Morgan was looking serious and upset. I think the case was finally starting to get to him. Garcia was still finding things for me on Finch so she wasn’t here. Gideon was looking very intently at me. Thinking about the case I suppose. And Spencer was standing next to me. He was chewing his fingernail as he finished flipping through the book.

We were silent for a moment as what I just said sunk in. Then Spencer said suddenly, “These are all Bible verses.�

“What?� I asked turning to face him.

He was running his fingers along the phrases on the board. “Finch took these from the Bible. They’re so distorted that I didn’t recognize them. I Timothy, Proverbs, Deuteronomy and Romans – these quotes are from those books. But he quotes them from the Bible like they’re in the original form.�

I heard Emily murmur, “Oh my God.�

I looked at them all not comprehending. It must have been evident because Hotchner said, “He plans his attacks and leaves women degraded. He thinks he is doing the world justice, a favor even.�

Gideon quietly said, “He has no remorse. He’s unstoppable until we stop him. This is only going to get worse.�

We stared at each other a few long moments before I said, “I want to meet him.� They all looked up at me. “As soon as Penelope figures out where he lives I want to go talk to Finch. I think that it’s important that we do.� They all looked back and forth at each other.

Hotchner said, “She’s right. We need to meet him. He might be able to shed some light on our killer.�

Gideon grimly nodded. Emily’s tapping stopped and she began turning her pen over and over in her hands. JJ looked me squarely in the eye and smiled. She knew Hotchner was taking a liking to me. Morgan didn’t look anywhere in my direction. This case was really getting to him. The only dramatic change I noticed was that Spencer’s face was suddenly very white. And he was chewing his fingernail ferociously now.

I didn’t know what I was getting myself into but my confidence, that I had just had, was gone. Now I was scared and I didn’t know what to expect.

Chapter Four – The Plane Ride

That night, at eight, we left behind Washington DC and headed towards Rainsville, Alabama. Finch lived about an hour and a half from there but it was the closest town to his home. But first we had to land in the closest airport, Scottsboro Airport. Spencer had informed me that it was precisely 468.1 nautical miles from here to there. Then it was a 35-minute drive to the Rainsville police department from Scottsboro. It was going to take a total of four and a half hours to Rainsville. I was not looking forward to it.

JJ and Penelope were staying behind. I had tried to convince JJ to come but to no avail.

“Please, come Jen.� I tossed some makeup into a bag. “I don’t know anyone that well. I’m going to be all by myself.� We were at my apartment that was near William and Mary. JJ had driven me down from Quantico because she thought it would be quicker than taking the train.

“Beth, everyone likes you and you’ll only be there for a day or two. You seem to be getting along fine with everyone. There is really no reason for me to come.�

“But…�

“No buts. Stop being so whinny. Anyway, you need me to stay behind and watch the cats.� It was true. Someone needed to look after my two cats, Mina and Jane.

“Fine,� I mumbled and finished packing. I left her a list of how to take care of Mina and Jane before we left.

So now I was on the Bureau’s plane heading into the unknown. Boarding the plane, I took my seat at the end of a couch. Spencer sat on the other side of the couch reading the Bible. Our saddlebags were in between us. Gideon and Emily were sharing a table and were deeply involved in a chessboard. Hotchner was on the phone with his wife, Haley, on a chair away from the rest of us. It sounded like he was explaining why he had to be away for a few days. Morgan was listening to music in a chair near Spencer.

As the plane took off I felt my stomach churn. I hadn’t told anyone but I was, and still am, uneasy about flying. I don’t like it. If humans had been made to fly we would have been given wings. I closed my eyes and felt my ears pop. This was going to be a long four-hour plane ride. Gideon met my eye and smiled. If he was trying to reassure me it hadn’t worked.

Spencer handed me Finch’s book to read. I had offered it to Gideon but he said that he and Emily were in the middle of a chess match. I opened its pages and willed myself to focus on the book and not the plane. I began to slowly progress through its pages taking notes every so often.

It was a chilling read. I thought that America was above such gross injustices and prejudices. But this book was a testament that it was alive and well. And now that I thought about it women were less likely to get corporate jobs, talk in a public setting, run for a public office. No, America had never ever really gotten rid of their prejudice against women. It was still there just beneath the surface.

I came to the first quote. Sitting there reading it I realized something. I looked up at Spencer. He should have seen this that these quotes were from the Bible. He had a resource book on it; he had read the Bible before. Why did he let me figure it out? Why did he not say something earlier? I moved our bags to the floor and sat closer to him.

“Dr. Reid?� I whispered taking off my glasses. I didn’t want Gideon or Emily to hear. He looked up from his book. I put my finger on the first quote. “Why didn’t you realize this was from the Bible last night? You had the resource material; you’ve read the Bible before. Why didn’t you say anything?�

“I did. I marked it with the pink sticky note just like you told me.� He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“But you would have figured it out. You wasted all that time…� I sounded exasperated and my voice rose in volume.

“Dr. Smalls, there is another reason.� He paused and looked up to Gideon and Emily playing chess then to Morgan falling asleep then back to me. He lowered his voice even more as he continued. “For about a month now, JJ has been close to being put on a different team. The director thinks that we can get by as a team of six instead of seven. She doesn’t know yet. Gideon and I needed you to figure it out so that she looks good. By bringing you in you represent her. She needs some good light thrown on her so that she isn’t transferred.�

I tried to hide my surprise by glaring. “I never took you and Gideon to be one for Office politics. I thought you only cared about the cases.�

“Well, we thought we rather play the politics then lose her. She’s a vital part to our team. And you might have just saved her.� He returned to reading and I slid back over to my side of the couch.

JJ almost taken off the team! I should be angry with Gideon and Spencer but I wasn’t. I should be upset that they played me but I couldn’t bring myself to it. Maybe it was because they had saved my friend. Maybe it was because they gave me the glory. No, that wasn’t it. Maybe it was just because I couldn’t picture myself mad at them. Or they were just good people and I knew it was for the best. They didn’t do it to hurt me they did it to help me.

I replaced my glasses on my head and went back to reading my book. When I was about halfway through Morgan’s cell phone rang. We all jumped a little as he took off his headphones and picked up the phone.

“Hey sweetness!� he said his face lighting up. He paused listening. “No, it is not my job to have it put on. Blame Gideon or Hotchner.� He smiled and said, “Ok give me one second, baby doll.� He laughed and opened a laptop that was near Gideon’s elbow.

He turned it on and Garcia’s face popped up on the screen. She looked better then the last time I saw her. She appeared to have gone home and gotten some sleep. I flipped to a clean sheet of notebook paper to take notes. Morgan shut off his cell phone and Hotchner came to stand over by us as Garcia began to talk.

“It has taken me forever to reach you guys!� She was talking into the video feed monitor. Her lips were a second behind her voice but it was a clear connection. “Somebody did not turn on the laptop.� Her eyes shifted over to Morgan in the chair. He ignored her.

Gideon interrupted her rant. “What have you got for us, Garcia?�

She smiled. “I have found all the dirt on Finch. And believe me that was hard. He’s pretty clean but as usual I have delivered.� She paused and she looked like she was searching for some things on another computer monitor. “Birth name: Quinton Lee Finch. He was born in 1946 in his home to a Marshall and Leigh Ann Finch. His mother was only sixteen and his father was twenty-six. The eldest of six children and all are living in the same area. Earned the nickname ‘Bear’ because he killed a Black Bear when he was ten. He attended Rainsville High School and then went to Seminary to become a Baptist minister. Married to a Loretta Lee in 1967, she was only fifteen. He has eight fully-grown children, four boys and four girls. All of them have moved out of Alabama and it appears they do not have contact with him. He wrote his book last year and it has become an international bestseller. He’s a local celebrity and is considered a hometown hero even.� Her eyes flicked back to us. She was waiting for questions.

Hotchner asked, “Any criminal record?�

“One minor traffic violation and one for disturbing the peace. He caused a riot last year when his book was released. Other than that he’s clean.�

“What church does he preach to?� I asked looking up from my paper.

“The Baptist Church of Rainsville.�

“Original,� Morgan muttered from his chair.

JJ walked into the frame behind Garcia with some papers in her hands. She smiled at me as I waved. “Hey, guys. I talked to Finch’s kids. None of them have had contact with him for the past two years. And none of them follow his deeply religious beliefs. So don’t even start thinking that one of them is the killer. I also just got off of the phone with the Rainsville Police Department. They said that they’re willing to let you talk to Finch and are going to help in anyway possible.�

“Good,� Hotchner said. “Who’s the detective in charge?�

JJ looked down at the paper in her hands. “A Jeremiah Shelley. I talked to him. He’s the Chief of Police.�

Gideon looked down at his watch. “We’re going to land in two hours. We’ll call you when we do and keep you posted.� JJ nodded and Garcia waved goodbye. The screen went blank.

We all went back to what we were doing. Spencer sat in silence having finished his book. I went back to reading mine. Emily and Gideon went to finish their game of chess while Morgan went back to dosing. And Hotchner went back off in his little corner. After a few moments of reading I felt a presence over my shoulder. I looked up and it was Spencer reading what he had already memorized. It was completely pointless.

“Turn the page,� he said his eyes scanning quickly what I hadn’t read yet.

“I’m not done yet.�

“You’re a slow reader.� He moved closer to me so that our shoulders were touching. “Or maybe I’m just really fast.�

“I think you’re just really fast,� I said going back to my page.

There was a pause. “Is it hard taking notes on something while you’re reading?�

“Yes, in college I normally tape my lectures and then take notes. Its so much easier when your eyes don’t have to be in two places at once.�

He looked thoughtful. Pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose he said, “Do you want me to read it to you? So you can take notes?�

I looked up at him. I could feel the surprise spreading over my face. When we were younger he used to read to me. It was how I found my love of books. The first time I had gone over to his house he had read to me Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. I remember my fascination with the book. When I had gone home I wanted to go back. Spencer hadn’t finished the story. I had needed to know what happened to Jean Valjean, Cosette, Marius, Javert, and Eponine. That was my first introduction to European literature. Maybe he had remembered. Maybe he knew me! My breath caught in my throat.

“Sure.�

He took the book from my hands and began in a low soft voice. I tried to concentrate on my notes but he was so close. His hair fell from behind his ear shaking ever so slightly as he read. I continued to take notes as best as I could but I was distracted.

Just as he was finishing up the book for me I felt the bump of the plane as it landed. Morgan stirred and Hotchner came over to wake him.

“Check mate,� Emily stated.