CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN: INSIDER EDITION !

11x15

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SPENCER AND CASEY HAD BEEN COPING AS WELL AS THEY COULD NOW THAT LENNOX WAS GONE. Spencer had been a lot better than Casey, but Casey kept trying to prove she was okay, keeping herself as busy as she could. In time, she'd heal and she'd keep tabs on Lennox as much as possible but she had to do it all from the sidelines.

Finally, the two had gone back to work and Vivian had come back, ready for her first case back. Of course, Garcia did the honors with presenting them their gruesome case. "Los Angeles, here we come again. Earlier this morning, Isabella Jayne was found in her home in Atwater Village. This comes on the heels of Gertrude Smiles being discovered in her house in Eagle Rock 5 miles away. Both women had been wrapped up and left in their bedrooms, Gertrude in a rug, Isabella in her own sheets." Garcia explains.

       "Prelim ME report says that both victims died of asphyxiation." Hotch read on the file. "Were there any other signs of physical trauma?" Spencer asks, curious, to which Garcia replies with, "None."

      "So suffocating them gets him off." Morgan tells. "We've seen erotic asphyxiation before, but this is different. I mean, he's completely encapsulating these women." Spencer points out. "It sounds like remorse. Maybe the unsub knew his victims." JJ says. "Yes, but it also sounds like he doesn't care for the women. He's wrapping them up and suffocating them in their own deaths." Casey tells.

      "Both of them are single. It's possible he's romantically involved with them." Spencer says. "Or they're surrogates for someone he feels guilty about killing." Vivian tells. "Whatever the reason, there's something about wrapping them that's important to him." Rossi tells.

      "There's no sign of burglary of forced entry," Hotch stated. "Somehow he's talking his way in." Morgan responds, "So they knew him or he used a ruse. Baby girl, any connection jump up?"
      "Nothing yet, but I'm still digging." Garcia tells.
      "My gut says ruse. Charm and harm. He smooth talks women to gain their trust, and then when they let down their guard, he turns on them." Rossi stated.

      "Well, two victims in two days," Vivian tells. "Whatever he's doing is working on them." Hotch closes the file in front of him and says, "It could turn into a spree. Wheels up in 30."

        With that, the team disbands and Casey heads down to her desk, on her phone as she cleans up her desk a bit. Ten minutes pass and Vivian pops by her desk with her own go-bag. "Oh, hey, Willows. What are you still doing here? I thought you'd be on your way to the tarmac with Spencer." Vivian checks her watch.

        "I told him I'd meet him there. I got important business to tend to. My sister is bringing in the guy she's been seeing for the past few months so I can meet him and tell her if the guy is bad news or not. She's popping by before we leave for the case." Casey explains.

       Vivian furrows her brows, "At your work place?" She questions. "She bragged about having a sister involved with the FBI. And I didn't have time for any other time so..." Casey shrugged as she stood up fully with her packed bag.

      "How do you know you could trust this guy? And why would Leah tell him that?" Vivian questioned. "Apparently, the guy brought it up first, says his mom's in the FBI. He knows how it works."

       "Ooh. Cool. Which district?" Vivian says and Casey shakes her head, "He didn't say—" Her head then turned towards the doors. "And they're here." Vivian turns her head around and sees as Casey goes to greet her sister and her boyfriend.

        Casey gives a greeting hug to Leah and doesn't notice the shocked look on Vivian's face as she dropped her bag and popped up behind her.

        "Uh, Casey Willows, this is—" Leah tried to introduce but Vivian's voice booms behind Casey. "Wesley Hudson." Vivian stated and the man looked towards the woman, shocked to see her and Casey furrowed her brows when it seemed as if the man recognized Vivian.

       "Mom?" Wesley questioned.

       "Mom?" Casey questioned.

       "What are you doing at my workplace?" Vivian questions. "You work here?" Wesley asks.

        Both Leah and Casey look at one another as Casey comments, "Oh, boy."

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       "I can't believe your little sister is dating my son." Vivian stated, seated on the plane next to JJ. "I can't believe your son is dating my little sister." Casey says back, seated next to Rossi. "What are the odds you two have relatives going out?" Morgan teases as Casey glared over at him.

       "Wesley mentioned seeing a girl but I didn't correlate it with it being your sister." Vivian told. "Leah called Wesley 'Wes'. I don't understand how I couldn't have made the connection." Casey said. "I don't have to worry about him, right?"

        "Please, Wesley spent four hours trying to rebuild a treehouse from scratch after breaking it when he was eight. He also planted tree seeds when we chopped ours down." Vivian explained. "I don't have to worry about Leah?"

          "She likes rom coms and prefers red jolly ranchers over blue ones — which I consider a crime by the way — but she really likes him." Casey says and Vivian smiles a bit, "Good, because he really likes her, too."

        Soon after, the team begins to debrief over their current case. "Well, it doesn't appear the unsub has a particular type. Gertrude was 29 and blond. Isabella was 40 and brunette." JJ points out.

       "And Garcia found no personal connection between connection between the victims." Morgan said. "Both led low-risk lifestyles. Isabella worked from home doing medical billing. Gertrude was a marketing exec for a toy company." Rossi added.
      "Both victims were also home alone during the day when they let him in." Spencer said.
        "So if there are so many things that don't correlate these women being connected in any way, why them?" Casey wonders.

       "Rather than type, it may have been the women's circumstances that were important to him." Hotch told.

        "You know, the wrapping of the victims and the fact that they were both found in the bedroom could indicate some sort of sexual or power dominance fetish, like claustrophilia." Spencer explained.
        "But don't most claustrophiliacs want to experience it for themselves?" Vivian inquired.
       "Well, if the unsub was into that, he could be projecting his own fetish onto his victims." Morgan said.

       Garcia pops up on the monitor. "Sir, the LA division just reached out. There's been another woman found dead, wrapped head to toe in a bedsheet, this time in her kitchen."

       "Three victims in two days. As predicted, we officially have a spree killer on our hands." Rossi stated.

       "And officially, the LAPD has handed over the investigation." Garcia adds. "The motivation for spree killers is typically personal and retaliatory with an ultimate goal in mind." Spencer explained. "Christopher Dorner's motivation was payback for being fired by the LAPD. He set out to murder cops and their families." Morgan adds.

      "He killed a police officer and a sheriff's deputy, after killing two family members of another cop." Rossi told. "So what's driving our unsub? And why now?" JJ questions.

      "The answer's in his behavior," Hotch turns toward the monitor. "Garcia, let Agent Colfax know we're on the way."

      "Yes, sir." Garcia then logs off.

      "Dave, when we land, you and Morgan go to the latest crime scene. Reid, you and Willows go the the ME, and JJ, Vivian and I will get set up at the field office." Hotch ordered.

When they landed, Casey and Spencer went to the ME and talked to the coroner in charge. Spencer stood examining body while Casey stood near the coroner and looking over autopsy notes.

"When we unwrapped the victim I noted obvious signs of asphyxia. Petechial hemorrhage, cyanosis in the nail beds. Pretty clear that's the COD." The ME explained as Spencer had taken a look at the sheet that was hung up. "She was wrapped in this?" He asked.

The ME nodded and Spencer turned on a time and there were tiny holes on the blanket, holes that would look like it belonged to the teeth and mouth of a person. "Bite marks." Casey points out. "She attempted to chew through the material to get some air, which means she was wrapped premortem." Spencer explained.

"Yes, like the other victims. There was also a tear in the upper frenulum." Spencer took a closer look at the body in front of him. "The skin around her nose and mouth appears white, so he must have pressed down with his hand to smother her."

"Any sign of sexual assault?" Casey questioned. "None," The ME shook his head. "Same as the first two."

"So, smothering is either his MO or his ritual." Spencer said. "What kind of ritual?" The ME asked and Casey sighed, "That's what we're trying to figure out."

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After figuring out their unsub may have been an FBI agent in the unit, the team knew they had to keep caution of who they talked to. Of course, another body was found on the same day. They were currently at an apartment complex. Spencer and JJ had just finished talking to the victim's husband.

Morgan and Casey had been talking to a neighbor that lived across the yard at the complex and once JJ and Spencer came back, they were finished with interviewing the woman.

"Well, she's the neighbor from across the courtyard. She didn't see or hear anything." Morgan told. "Nobody else seems to be answering their door." Casey turned her shoulder and had furrowed her brows when she saw someone peeking through their window curtains.

"Uh, I think we may have missed one." Casey told, facing her coworkers while slightly nudging her head towards the woman in the curtains. "Looks like somebody's being a little shy." Morgan points out as the four approach the door.

JJ decides to approach the door as Casey, Spencer and Morgan stand behind her. There's no answer so JJ says, "Ma'am, we're with the FBI. We need to talk to you about something important. We know you're home."

Finally, a woman answers the door. JJ holds up her credentials. "I'm Agent Jareau. These are my colleagues. And you are?"

"Susan Groves," The woman answers. "I have a bad heart and I don't want to get involved."

"We understand. We'll be quick." Casey assured. "Did you happen to see anyone enter or exit the Lenahan apartment this morning?" Spencer questions.

The woman sighs before she starts, "I heard a noise, so I looked out the peephole. I saw a man come out around 10:30."

"Can you describe him?" Morgan asks. "He was a handsome fellow, all dressed up in a suit." The woman tells. "Have you ever seen him before?" Spencer asks. "No. But..." The woman pauses.

"But what?" JJ asks.

"I think Mary might have been cheating on Brian." The woman admits. "What makes you say that?" Casey wonders. "As the man was leaving, I saw him buttoning up his shirt, straightening his tie like he was getting re-dressed." The woman tells.

JJ and Casey exchange a glance before Morgan asks, "Is there anything else that you noticed about him?"

"Well, he didn't seem to be the kind of man to have a scary tattoo."
"Tattoo? Can you describe it?" Morgan asks.
"It was a spider web, right here." She holds her hand towards the left side of her neck. "I saw it just before he buttoned his collar."

After that, they had discovered that the agent they were looking for was actually someone who may have served a prison sentence and he was posing as an agent for access to his victims. They then discovered that the unsub's crime scenes were linked to unrelated crimes. They had a plan to set up a fake crime scene and they were so close to him but he took off and injured an agent before he left. But they also discovered that the unsub was also injured too before he did leave.

There had been a baseball cap from a Camp Russell of agents who graduated from a firing range at Quantico. All of the graduates had different caps. Garcia had found that only two graduates lived in the LA area. One still had their cap but one Ed Sulzbach had given no response.

Spencer and Casey had decided to go and visit Ed Sulzbach and had been surprised to find that his front door was open. The couple immediately pulled out their guns as they entered, hoping they wouldn't run into their unsub. "Agent Sulzbach? FBI." Casey announced as she scouted the area.

Spencer had turned a corner and his shoulders stiffened as he spoke. "Found him." Casey looked to where Spencer was looking and found Sulzbach on the ground, dead.

The two called in coroners and they had come to get Sulzbach's body. Casey was looking around to find any evidence to what may have led to the unsub finding him and looking over accomplishments Ed Sulzbach had when Spencer arrived back from talking to an ME.

"Preliminary COD's a gunshot wound to the chest." Spencer informed Casey as she pointed towards the walls. "Look at all this. Kinda career I wanna leave in the FBI." Casey turned around to his desk. "I was looking through everything I could find and found that someone went through all of his old case files and mementos."

"It had to be the unsub. He must have stolen Ed's credentials and Camp Russell hat." Spencer told. Casey's cell phone rang and she checked it and had seen Garcia was calling her.

"Hey, Pen, what do you have on Sulzbach?" Casey asked, hoping for answers. "Ed was a really good egg," Garcia revealed. "After he retired in 2009, he went on to volunteer at a place called New Start, which helps recently released inmates transition back into society."

"Anyone matching the unsub's profile and description?" Spencer asked. "Um..." There's a pause until Garcia answers, "Yes. Spider web tattoo and all. Andrew Meeks, 39. He was put on parole last year after serving 15 years for attempted murder. Sulzbach got him a job as a janitor at a downtown office building."

"Must have gotten Ed to tell war stories about being in the FBI, saw the respect he got, and wanted it for himself." Casey said. "We should put out an APB on Sulzbach's car. It's probably what the unsub's driving." Spencer suggests. "Garcia, who did Meeks try to murder?"

"Uh... fellow high school classmate who as a prank rolled Meeks in a gym mat. Some high school girls lured Meeks into the gym." Casey raised her eyebrows as Garcia informed the extent of what happened. "Meeks almost suffocated inside that mat."

Casey looked at Spencer. "Classic case of revenge." She comments. "By smothering those women, he's symbolically getting revenge on those girls who set him up." Spencer tells. "And posing as an FBI agent, he gets the power and authority he never had before. And to trick the women. Send his address over, Garcia." Casey tells before her and Spencer make it out of the house. "Work and home just sent."

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Hotch, Morgan, Vivian and Rossi were informed of the address, so they were going by the workplace while Casey and Spencer were going to the home. Casey focused on the road as she drove and listened on the radio as she heard a dispatch distress call.

"All units be advised, suspect Meeks located with hostage at 352 Vine. Officers request immediate backup. Suspect is armed and dangerous." They heard.

"Casey, you and Reid are the closest," Hotch informed to the woman as they heard it as well. "We'll be there as soon as we can."
"You got it, boss." Casey nods.

Spencer's cell phone rings and he checked the caller ID and had seen it was Garcia calling.
"Go ahead, Garcia." Spencer tells.

"I've dug deeper into Meeks' past. I've got his psych eval. It's really terrible." Garcia tells. "How bad is it?" Rossi asks. "It's not an excuse, but his stepfather was the evil kind. Meeks had accidents up to the age of six, which is normal for a kid. But his stepdad would make him wear his soiled underwear on his face in public."

Casey shook her head and Spencer made a face as they heard the truth of Meeks' past. "So Meeks' humiliation started young." Morgan stated. "And it's been building up for a long time." Vivian added.

"And before he was paroled, Meeks' psychologist said, 'Meeks is full of latent rage, for all intents and purposes, a ticking time bomb'." Garcia informed. "He recommended that Meeks go to a psychiatric facility."

"How did they parole this guy?" Rossi questioned. "You took the words right out of my mouth." Casey adds.

"You know, it happens all the time. Some judge probably ordered a prisoner release due to overcrowding, and Meeks must have just slipped through the cracks." Spencer informed. "Someone should really take better care of that." Casey comments.

"Sulzbach may have discovered that he had access to Meeks' file." Hotch said. "According to Sulzbach's cell phone records, his last call was to the department of corrections psychologist. It lasted all of 5 seconds." Garcia informs.

"Well, that's gotta be the trigger. He was gonna report the error, and Meeks must have killed him to avoid being locked up again." Spencer stated.
"Be careful, you guys." Garcia practically begged the couple that had been heading to the location where Meeks was found.

After getting their vests on, Casey and Spencer arrived at the scene, guns out and heading towards the cop cars and cops holding their guns to the man who was holding a woman hostage.

"He make any demands?" Spencer asked one of the cops. "No." The officer told. "Lock down the perimeter. He's not getting out of here. Not while we're here." Casey told and the cop nodded as he put his gun down and Casey put her gun up, pointing towards the man.

Casey had a clear shot of Meeks but didn't want to just yet. She wanted to see if maybe her and Spencer could talk him down before doing anything irrational.

"Lock it down. No one in or out." The officer says into his walkie and Casey looks over at her husband. "You ready?" She asks and Spencer merely nods and moves toward the front of the car, both her and Spencer have their guns pointed at Meeks.

"Andrew Meeks, FBI." Casey announced. "Drop the weapon, Andrew!" Spencer told. "You drop your weapon!" Meeks shouts.

"The only way you're getting out of here is if you let her go and put the gun down. Let's talk about this, Andrew!"
"No!" Meeks shouted. "No way."

"You wanted revenge, but this ends right here, right now." Spencer told and Casey spoke up next, "She's terrified, Andrew. Look at her. Do you hear her breathing? Do you remember feeling scared like that when you were being smothered in that gym mat? How suffocated you felt?" Casey tried to get him to listen but he didn't.

Like a ticking time bomb, he blew up, dropped the woman in front of him and aimed his gun at Casey. "No, you did it!" He shot towards Casey but she had luckily ducked before anything had happened. Spencer had fired his gun at Meeks and he landed on the seat of the car after Spencer shot at him.

The couple made their way over to him and Spencer made his way over first as he checked the man's pulse. He killed him. Casey looked at her husband and took a deep breath and put a hand on his arm, knowing that hadn't have been easy for him. He never killed anyone unless he absolutely had to. And someone was aiming a gun and shot at his wife, of course he was gonna fire back. He placed a hand on her arm, gripping it softly so as not to hurt her but to remind himself that she was okay.

        Spencer had picked up Meeks' FBI badge and pulls out his ID with his picture on it. Noticing something off, Casey had seen Spencer peel the picture of Andrew Meeks off and reveals the picture under it — Ed Sulzbach's.

        After that, the team headed back home on the jet. Casey had been sitting in one of the seats, reading a book while Spencer was on the couch, also reading a book. Casey had her right hand reaching for Spencer's right hand as they both read. Casey knew that Spencer got like this when something would happen on a case. In this instance, Casey was shot at and Spencer had to shoot an unsub.

        Vivian was seated next to Casey on the jet as Hotch and JJ were seated in front of them. Spencer had sat up from the couch and spoke softly over to Casey. "I'm gonna go to the restroom and then probably take a nap on the couch before we land." Casey nods at his words, "Okay." Spencer leans in and pressed a kiss on her cheek before getting up to go to the bathroom.

        "You guys okay?" Vivian asks and Casey turns towards Vivian. "Yeah. He, uh, gets like this with cases sometimes. I don't mind, through. I get the same way." Casey told.

        It was about a minute or so later when Spencer came back and laid on the couch, giving Casey his book to hold onto. Casey had run her fingers through his messy hair, knowing it calmed him down to know that she was still here and around while he was napping. A small smile stayed on Spencer's face until they landed and he got up from his nap.

        At that moment, everything was okay... but then the moment would soon come crashing down.

big episodes coming up next :(

me because i hate season 11 so much for a numerous amount of reasons:

seriously s11 is the black sheep of criminal minds it's so boring just my opinion😭😭😭 butttt i must write for plot to make sense lmaoooo at least we're almost done with it

anywaysssss
thank you for reading!
not ready for the next few chapters
get ready for tears bitches 😇
-mya </33333