chapter three

Midnight almost struck in Chicago when a pair waltzed into the hallway of one of the levels of the apartment complex after a smooth sailing night out in the city.  The woman's red crimson lips suppress into a tight-lipped smile as her night with the handsome man was coming to an end. Neither between the pair were in a hurry, although neither couldn't fight the father of time to stretch the night a bit longer. Her hand slid into her purse for the spare keys to the apartment before meeting the gaze of the blue orbs, once again tonight. "Thank you for tonight. I forgot how beautiful the city is. And, quite relaxing to reside from work."

The man leaned onto the wall, sporting a lopsided grin, "Maybe, you should fly back here often. When you can, of course." He boldly said.

Nina hummed, "Lucky for you. I'll be here next week for my dad's birthday." She affirmed after thoroughly roaming in a confliction. Slowly yet surely, she persisted to make an attempt to be present in her family's lives. Her trials and errors will be a process. In the end, she has her family's undeniable support.

She couldn't brace herself into their arms fully due to her complete shutdown and the paranoia that remains. Her therapist entailed a difficulty she'll face would be tearing her hard steel wall created over the last few years which was valid under the circumstances.

"Does that mean I get to see you then?" He cocked an eyebrow in a humoring matter, much to the woman's delight.

"Very eager, I see." She mused, emitting a small giggle.

A peaceful silence settles for a couple of moments until Nina broke it by clearing her throat. "I should get inside and double-check everything packed for the morning. Again, thanks for ending my trip on a good note." She truthfully said to him. It's been a long time since a night outing when usual nights for her would consist of sitting at home. Staring and marking mistakes of the same case file every night.

"Anytime. Have a safe flight tomorrow, Nina Shi." Jay mockingly saluted to the woman, traveling backward in the hallway.

"Goodnight, Jay Halstead." She shook her head, inserting the spare keys into the hole to unlock. As she crept inside, Christopher Shi sits in his chair like a parent prepared to lecture his sneaky teen coming in after curfew.

Christopher dramatically cleared his throat, "Where have you been all night, young lady." He sipped his cold bottle of beer, intensively doting at his older sister.

Nina rolled her eyes at him, rounding to sit on the couch. "Save that for Camille when she begins to date, Chris."

"I do want to know the guy you were with tonight. I heard your voices outside the door." Christopher mentioned the shameless eavesdropping. "I'm surprised you're dating again, although it's healthy for you to move forward."

She automatically waved off his assumptions. "His name is Jay Halstead, the guy that Sheldon trusted and help me close the case." She explained. "It wasn't a date, nor am I ready to date again." Her hand went to clutch onto the ring, hanging on the chain of her necklace, eyes falling to the floor. "I can't have any distractions or risk of losing someone while he's out there." She gritted her teeth.

Christopher deeply sighed, "You can't let this guy dictate your life."

"He already did when he took away the ones, I loved the most." Nina snapped at her younger brother. "As long as he's out there...I can't risk another life." She sternly stated, her brother sees the look in her eyes- calling for vengeance which worried him.

There's no sort of words to conjure to compromise with Nina as she made that promise to herself since sitting in her hospital bed, healing from the harsh pain adrenaline through her body. Christopher sighed in defeat, unwilling to fuse an argument with his older sister. "So, I don't have to drive you to the airport?" He placed the empty beer on the table.

"Erin is going to take me after getting breakfast." She answered. Her old friend opted to spend her last hour in the city before dropping her off. She rose from her seat. "Thanks for letting me crash at your place."

"Of course, anytime. You're coming back for dad's birthday?"

"I will."

Before she turned in for the night, Christopher asked. "So, Jay Halstead? Erin's partner in the Intelligence Unit, huh?" He etched a smirk to receive a surprised reaction from his older sister. Halting in her tracks, she spun her heel and leaned on the open doorway. "Yeah? Do you know him?" She intriguingly pondered.

"Occasionally, whenever there's a case...as well sharing a few drinks with Sheldon." Chris mentioned. As an attending orthopedic surgeon at the Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, he intentionally crosses paths between Chicago police and fire department from their cases. Of course, he'll become aware of the familiar faces even at Molly's.

"Hmm...is there anything I need to know about Jay?" She squinted.

Christopher scoffed, "I thought you weren't back in the dating scene." He mockingly said then answered after earning a glare. "Um...he's a decent guy from my few interactions. That's all, maybe Erin can give you some more intel." He winked to which Nina waved him off and headed to bed.

Jimmy Shi drove to a remote location where Hank Voight usually dwells on his thoughts and basked in the view of their city, simultaneously. Once parked, he exited the car to accompany his old partner by the railing. He used to come by to reside the memory of the night they took Browning for a boat ride. That boat ride was a hard pill to swallow as Jimmy would return to his wife and children back home. He hoped his career wasn't hanging by a thread, yet justice served for the fallen cop in his unit.

He remembered being distant from his wife and children with his internal guilt, utilizing his job as an excuse from coming home. Eventually, Hank enabled himself to straighten out his partner to prevent a torn marriage.

Hank and Camille Voight became trusting individuals in Jimmy and Eliana's lives. To the point where Jimmy and Eliana asked the couple to be the godparents of their firstborn, Nina. In a way, the news fulfilled the void after suffering a loss of their stillborn daughter.

Another significant moment, when Eliana named her third child after Camille. Other than being awestruck by her friend's righteousness, perseverance, and pure heart. The woman saved her life while Eliana was pregnant with her third child.

"I heard what you did. Thank you." Jimmy regarded to resolving the Sheldon Jin case.

Hank shrugged his shoulders in disagreement. "Nina was the one with the hard drive that had everything Jin installed. I didn't want her to think her trip was a waste for me to be selfish. We're about restoring justice for those who can't in this city."

Jimmy's arms hovered the railing next to his former partner. "Sure do. So, that's why my daughter abruptly popped up." He exhaled a deep sigh, "The longer that bastard is out there. My daughter isn't going to stop looking for him."

"She lost a lot. Working this job for several years tests us by balancing our losses and wins. It's a fucked up game. Wished Nina didn't have to suffer." Hank reminded him about the brutal side of the job with the tendency to interfere your personal life. "She remains to be persistent and still has her head up. Better than anyone."

"A significant part of me wanted to disregard her choice in this career path. But, the light in her eyes showed the capability she has. Now, all of that light left her dispersed."

Hank nodded along to his friend, "I trust she'll find the light in herself again somewhere else." His eyes maneuvered, meeting Jimmy's, who's head reverted from the view of the city.

Early morning, Erin Lindsay sat across her friend since high school out for breakfast like old times. Despite Erin's choices when they were young teenagers, Nina stuck by her side. She was the rock for her and Justin Voight. Since she met Nina, the smile never left her face. There was always this sparkling light illuminating whenever any individual crossed paths with her. Erin was proud to see Nina excel in her career, like her and Hank, Erin aspired to have a task force or a position in the FBI.

As everyone else close to Nina, Erin attempted to be the rock for her within the last few years. She understood when it comes to a last resort to think shutting yourself from your loved ones for the better of your mentality. And, when life comes at you in a whirlwind for the worst.

"I can't believe you almost went to our high school reunion." Nina couldn't help to release a giggle at Erin's poor attempt while sipping her coffee. "Savannah didn't even bother to go." Mentioning her best friend, Savannah Martin, currently ruling the bakery industry across the country.

Erin soon regretted mentioning about their high school reunion and her plan to show off the false reality against the girls that bullied her. "I thought I could prove a point, all right. I figured, in the end, it wasn't worth it. Nothing I needed to prove to Stephanie Lancaster." She mockingly emphasized the newly renamed high school classmate.

"Stephanie Lancaster and all those girls are parasites. There's nothing you need to prove to them, Erin. You're a much better person than they'll ever be." Nina softened her gaze. "Although, I would've loved to have known if your plan worked out. Jay is lucky on his end, though."

Erin raised her brow, setting her coffee down. "Speaking of my partner, when were you going to tell me about your rendezvous with him?" A smug smirk graced her lips, narrowing at Nina as if this was an interrogation. The raven-haired woman grimaced under the spotlight. "Considering I'm a detective, I noted the lingering glances from your two interactions, and Jay asked about your backstory. Eventually, I got it out of him." Her partner wasn't great tip toeing around her.

"Man, I was hoping to keep it safe till the day I died." Nina sarcastically stated with a hint of a cheeky smile.

"So, Rose, is your new alias?"

"Only for this spontaneous one nightstand that I thought wouldn't see again."

Deciding to take the heat off of her friend, Erin changed the subject. "It's great to see you. Been how long since our downtime together?"

"You're not the only person who've said that to me these past few days." Nina mused, slicing a piece of her pancake. "It's been a long time. We're both on the clock as I fly in and out of the states."

The brunette hummed in agreement as their lives were on different routes. "You know, imagine if you didn't go into the FBI a few years before Hank became in charge of the Intelligence Unit. We could've been working together. One badass duo we could be." She jokingly imagined, pointing her fork at Nina.

"Oh, definitely. Hank would love that."

Erin's phone interrupted the laughter between the duo, she pulled it out to only roll her eyes and slip it back into her pocket. This caused her friend's eyebrows to frown with a concerning expression.

"Anything wrong, Erin?"

She blew through her lips, "Bunny is trying to get back into my life. Called me multiple times at work, and when I showed my face, she tells me she's getting married again. She wants to meet with me sometime this week." Erin vented, wrapping her fingers around the mug. Nina was the first to hear about her estranged mother showing up into her life since Erin refused to reel Hank into her issues.

Erin catered to Bunny her entire life to receive the lack of effort and disappointment when she thought it'll change. Now, she restricted to break any walls down that the older woman insisted to knock on.

"One thing we do know is that Bunny is persistent." Nina frowned, acknowledging the unrequited love of the mother and daughter's relationship. She's been there the times when the mother took advantage of Erin with these broken promises. "What are you going to do?"

"Do whatever I can until she's off my back."

Nina rushed into the elevator of the building running late for work. She panted out of breath once throwing her head back against the wall while the elevator began moving upward to the sixth level. She cursed herself, forgetting to set her alarm last night. Her phone dinged in her hand to see an incoming text notification from Jay Halstead. Her lips curved into a small smile. The two have begun texting one another since she's landed back in Washington D.C. There was a sort of satisfaction conversing with the guy who solely was meant to be her one-night stand to a new friend.

Replying to his text message, the elevator doors open to the sixth floor. As soon as she stepped onto the floor, meeting Penelope and Derek in the middle of an argument. "No, I don't have your back. He is a murderer. Scum. Let me know when you're done washing his feet." He spat at the blonde before storming off.

Nina came over to her blonde friend, resting a hand on her shoulder. "I've never seen him pissed at you before." It's rare occasion for Derek to be seen upset at Penelope, known for their flirtatious yet loving platonic relationship.

"He thinks it's a bad idea that I'm going to see Greg Baylor in Texas." She timidly confessed, pivoting her body to face Nina. "I-I just keep having this ongoing nightmare and can't handle how you guys do-" She rambled until cut off by her friend.

"Please, take a deep breath." Nina softly instructed her friend, who complied. "Do I agree with this? No. It's beyond outrageous. But you do what you feel will clear your conscience. Be safe, please." The blonde brought the Shi woman into her embrace. "I will. I love you, my amazing woman."

"There she is!" Rossi exclaimed at the sight of Nina entering the briefing room. He stood up to engulf the woman. Everyone else on the team welcomed her when she settled in her chair between Spencer and Derek.

Hotchner sent Nina a stern nod, resuming to explain about Penelope's absence to the team. "Garcia is taking some personal time." He informed.

"Is she okay?" JJ pondered.

Kate Callahan, the new member of the team, replacing Alex Blake frowned.  "I hope it wasn't those burritos we had yesterday."

"No, uh, she's fine. Kevin Lynch will be presenting the case." Hotchner dismissed their worrisome presumptions.

On cue, Kevin Lynch, another tech analyst, entered into the room. "Hiya! Hi. Sorry." He raced to the front after gathering the case files in a haste after being notified by Hotchner that he'll be working the current case with the BAU.

"Where are we going?" Spencer quipped in a curious tone.

"Seattle, Washington," Kevin told Reid, proceeding to grab the remote to display the timeline of the investigation. "Over the past few weeks, two gentlemen between the ages of 35 to 40 have been killed, both with radically different M.O's." He introduced to the team then continued, "First, victim, Dan Chen, was strangled and dropped off on the side of a road. The second victim, Joe Hazley, was run over by a car."

Nina listened along to Kevin while skimming through the physical case file in front of her. "The intimacy of strangulation suggests a personal attack, literally and figuratively, the need to kill in a hands-on manner." Spencer proclaimed, catching a glimpse of the victims' bodies captured.

"While crushing someone with a car presents as distance and removal from the kill," JJ added on.

Kate posed a perplexing look, "What makes you think they're connected?"

Nina interjected, keeping her eyes within the print of the documents. "The victims' cars were found about two miles from each other, and they have similar mutilation around their mouths." She closely viewed the distinctive mutilation that stood out in the crime scene photos.

"And he crosses racial lines," Derek pointed out, peeking at the file.

Comprehending the files and his team's statements, David began to build up a theorization of the unsub. "Well, if you consider that and a similar Geo profile, maybe we have two different killers."

JJ nodded in agreement, "We could be looking at a team."

"A disorganized one." Kate noted the unsub's messy work.

Derek shrugged in a suggestion, "Or the unsub's just experimenting trying to figure out how he or she likes to kill."

"Similar to Herzog." Spencer commented.

Nina averted from the file to Spencer, "And Shermantine." Sending him a knowingly look, earning a gushing and approving expression. The two casually celebrated with fist bumping each other.

"So, we need to get to Seattle quickly. If he's evolving, he could strike again soon." Aaron wrapped up their briefing for his team to be packed and ready for the jet waiting for them to fly out to Seattle.

On their way to Seattle, Washington, the team ran down assumptions of the victimology with the two recent killings by the unsub. As they were collaborating, Kevin, unfortunately, announced a third victim, Michael Richmond was discovered 4 miles from the site of their last victim. Hotchner assigned Dave and Kate to the last abduction site, Morgan and Reid to the M.E., while Nina and JJ talk to the families.

JJ looked over to her colleague and friend beside her in the black SVU on their way to Seattle's police department. She smirked at the concentration set on Nina's face, gliding through the papers of the case. "So, how was going back home again, Nina?"

Receiving the dark-haired woman's attention, she lifted her head. "Justice was served." She paused, "Felt better, oddly."

"Sometimes being home, will give you a strange good, weird feeling." JJ shrugged with a light laugh. The woman herself could speak in terms of the depressing memories back in her hometown, mostly finding her sister lifelessly in the tub with bleeding wrists. During the rough patch in Nina's life, specifically the reluctance to return to her hometown. JJ always assured her like an older sister.

"Yeah, it was actually nice to see a few people." Nina surprisingly admitted.

"Especially working with your hot one-night stand detective." The blonde wiggled her eyebrows, teasing. "Penelope might've slipped more of the reason you went back to Chicago."

She grimaced, "She is going to get it when we're back." JJ chuckled at Nina cursing Penelope's name and uncontrollable open mouth.

When they reach the station, Aaron, Nina, and JJ were welcomed by Detective Sachs. They followed him inside the elevator, going up the floor to get situated to solve the case of this killing spree.

"You know, I'm not one to ask the FBI for assistance, but this was strange." Detective Sachs confessed to the trio when they exit out of the elevator.

"We're here to help any way we can," Hotchner firmly responded.

Detective Sachs sent him a nod then informed the agents, "The first two victims' families should be here, shortly."

Hotchner proceeded to ask, "Have you interviewed the drowning victim's family?" Both JJ and Nina glance over at the detective.

"We have officers doing that now. He was a father of two. Poor kids." Sachs sighed, sympathizing with the past victims and their families in the current unfortunate predicament.

JJ poked her head out, "We'll need to talk to his family."

"Of course, we'll set you guys up in here." Sachs gestured the spacious conference room. He glanced back at the agents, "You have a suspect?" He curiously asked them.

"We're putting together a profile," Aaron answered as they arrive into the room.

Detective Sachs thought of an apparent protocol in this case of the situation, "Shouldn't we hold a press conference?"

Nina spoke up, "We don't wanna tip our hand."

"We also don't want to have this madman go crazy." He retorted due to the revelation of three victims with uncertainty of time when another body will drop.

"Unfortunately, we're a little past that." JJ sadly declared to the Seattle detective.

"We'll come up with a media strategy once we have more information. We'll see what we'll get from the family interviews." Aaron sternly promised as the civilians of Seattle, Washington were in the hands of his and the rest of the unit.

-Hi! Curious to know how you all are liking this book so far? I hope you enjoy this chapter. Tell me what you think! Don't forget to comment and vote! Stay tuned!-

WRITTEN: 5/26/2020

PUBLISHED: 11/24/2020