CHAPTER SIX: CONVERSATIONS WITH A SERIAL KILLER !

3x14
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IT HAD BEEN AT LEAST A COUPLE OF WEEKS SINCE WHAT HAPPENED IN CHULA VISTA. Casey headed back to her classes for a week before going back to the BAU. That had been the deal with the academy director. Casey would take a case with the BAU and then afterwards, go back to the academy and take a couple of classes that she was required to take. It had been working out.

        But this wasn't really a case she had to take. Hotch had decided to take a visit down to a prison to talk to Chester Hardwick and took Reid and Casey with him. She knew that Chester Hardwick was a serial killer and he would be executed next week. They were having a custodial interview.

Casey had no idea why Hotch decided to bring her — an intern, to go and have a chat with a serial killer but he was the boss, so Casey figured... why not? She was currently looking around in the office she was in with Reid and Hotch.
       Reid had been seated in front of a desk and Hotch had been on the phone with JJ. "Yeah, JJ. Um, no, it's--it's-- it's a personal matter." Hotch said, causing Casey to look over at the boss in curiosity. "Yes, thank you. I will take care of it when I get back." With that, Hotch had hung up his phone.

"Is everything alright?" Reid asked. "Yeah, fine." Hotch said, even thought he didn't sound fine. "We can do this interview another time." Reid told. "Well, he's scheduled to be executed next week." Hotch reminded.

        "I can take the lead if you--" Reid volunteered but Hotch dismissed him and Reid muttered a small apology and the door had opened and Casey turned her attention on the door.

        A man had walked in and looked at Reid and Casey before focusing his eyes on Hotch. "Agent Hotchner?" He asked and Hotch nodded. The man closed the door behind him before shaking his hand.  He looked over at Reid. "You must be Dr. Reid." He held his hand out to him and to Casey's surprise, he shook his hand.

        Hotch looked over at Casey and introduced her. "This is our intern, Miss Casey Willows. She'll be helping us out in the custodial interview." Hotch explained and Casey shook the man's hand. "Pleasure to meet you, sir." Casey said.

         "Abner Merriman, Assistant Warden," The man introduced himself and looked at three altogether. "You're here to see out infamous inmate, Hardwick." He stated.

           "Yeah," Reid said. "He agreed to meet with us as part of our criminal personality research project prior to his execution." He explained.

          "I've read some of your studies in police journals," Abner said and Casey looked over and noticed that Reid had a dopey grin on his face — to which she kind of found . . . adorable.

      "Serial killers are kind of a hobby of mine. Chester's the only one I've ever met in person, though. I bet you've met quite a few." Reid looked like he had been looking forward to a conversation with the man but Hotch had cut them off shortly and the light in Reid's eyes toned down.

     "Sir, we'd very much like to get started as soon as we can." Abner nodded, "Oh, of course, of course. Forgive me." He walked toward his desk. "Um, we, uh... we don't really have interrogation facilities, but I do have a small room that you can use. You're not armed?" Abner looked at the three assuringly.

       "We secured our weapons before we arrived. It's not our first time in a prison." Hotch stated.

      "Even with an intern?" The man motioned towards Casey. "Oh, it's not my first rodeo." She said. Casey had visited a prison multiple times, actually for reasons she didn't really care to mention.

        Reid looked down at the girl since he had been taller than her, maybe by at least a few inches. "What, you're not at all nervous?" He questioned. "Nah." Casey shrugged. "You've visited a prison before?" Casey decided not to answer his question as the other man continued and Hotch had given the two a look that said: 'The task at hand, please'.

      "I have to say, when I heard that he contacted you, I was surprised." Abner said, walking toward the door. "Why?" Casey asked. "Chester Hardwick? He doesn't really talk much. To anyone." Casey furrowed her eyebrows. Why the sudden change?

        "Well, that usually changes when someone's about to die." Hotch stated.

Mr. Merriman had lead them to the room where they would be doing their research project. They had their files settled out and Casey stood by, helping pulling the files out of the box. "The, uh, door will of course be locked from the outside, and this button here, it sounds audibly as well as triggers a flashing light to signal the guards when you're finished." Mr. Merriman explained, Casey nodded at him and Reid said a simple: 'Thank you.'.

"Are these the crime scene photos?" He had taken notice of the file in front of him. "Uh, some of them, yes." Reid said and Mr. Merriman picked the file up and his face had turned into a face of disgust, remorse and disbelief all in one. God... I knew what he did, of course, but I... you know, never saw... twenty-three victims like this."

"Sometimes in these interviews, they talk about crimes they were never charged with, so it might even be more." Reid explained. "Is it ever less?" Mr. Merriman asked and even Casey knew the answer to this question but Reid had read her mind and answered the question quickly. "No."

"Uh, please." Merriman handed the photos to Hotch. "Paying attention to these items projects a kind of importance on them. When he comes in, I'd like to give him the opportunity to show us which parts of the crimes he thinks are important."

The man was definitely jittery after seeing the photos and Casey could tell as he muttered small apologies and Hotch nodded at him, saying it was alright.

The doors unlocked and in walked two guards along with an older man in the middle wearing a yellow jumpsuit. Casey had gotten the shivers as Chester Hardwick walked in the room. His eyes waltzed over to Casey and stayed in her as something festered in him. Casey looked away from him, feeling intimidated suddenly and a smirk drew on his face.

"Chains left on, right?" One of the guards asked. "That's probably a good idea." Reid nodded, noticing him looking towards Casey. "No," Hotch answered suddenly. "It won't be necessary."
"It won't?" Casey questioned, crossing her arms over her chest. "You sure?" The guard asked Hotch nodded. "We're just gonna talk, right, Chester?"

As soon as the chains unlocked, Casey had goosebumps on her arms and she just didn't feel comfortable. She remembered that Reid and Hotch were in the room and she knew that they would die before they let something bad happen to her.

Reid and Casey had taken a sit at the table they set up at and looked over as Hardwick was facing away from them, looking towards the barred window. "Sit down." Hotch ordered.

"I'd like this window open. I'll answer any question you have, but only if this window is open."Chester stated. "Go ahead, Reid." Hotch said and Casey swallowed the lump in her throat.

"You were born April 4, 1950?" Reid started. "Does my birthdate really matter?" Chester didn't even bother to turn away and Casey was kind of glad she didn't have to look at his face. "It's customary for us to start at the beginning. We want to try to know as much as we can about your childhood." Reid explained.

Chester looked over and noticed how Casey kept looking down at the file and not up at him. "Dollface," He began and Casey looked up, not reacting to this new pet name Hardwick gave her. He walked over and Casey sat up straight, not reacting even though she was freaking out mentally. "What's your name?" He asked.

"Don't speak to her." Hotch ordered.

"Hotch." Casey said, giving him a look and telling him that it was okay and that she was okay. She looked at the man and swallowed another lump in her throat. "Casey." She steadied.

"Casey," Hardwick muttered. "Casey, Casey."

"Only friends call me 'Casey'. You're not my friend. It's Cassandra to you." She said, feeling bigger than Chester at the moment. "Now, tell us about your childhood. Otherwise, we're wasting our time." Casey told.

Chester looked at the girl, nearly impressed. "Well, Cassandra, there's nothing to know." He said, looking back outside. "It was average. I lived in a nice house on a quiet street. I ate cereal. I went to school. I watched cartoons."

"I don't have time for this." Hotch raised his voice and Reid and Casey could tell he was getting agitated. They gave each other a look and knew he was fed up. "You didn't live in a nice house on a quiet street. You grew up in a series of projects in East Bridgeport, each one worst than the last. You spent your teenage years peeping into your female neighbors' windows and burglarizing their underwear drawers when you get the chance. And you set 100 small fires for which you spent two years in Juvenile Detention." Hotch explained.

Reid continued along the lines. "We've done extensive research, Mr. Hardwick and we've talked to almost everyone you've ever known... including your mother."

Hardwick spun around. "Good Ol' Jean? I'll bet she was a real treat."
"Good Old Jean's down the street in the state hospital." Hotch said. "At this point, lying to us isn't really possible or helpful." Reid stated.

"Well, then, you're wrong." Hardwick said, looking straight at Hotch. "About what?" Hotch asked and Hardwick turned around and looked back at the window. "I started a lot more than 100 fires."

Casey knew that they were just getting started and she stood up straight, not letting a serial killer punk her down. Sure, he was a serial killer that could probably kill her at any moment but if she stood her ground, she couldn't be intimidated.

The interview continued and Hardwick kept dodging questions and focusing on how nobody cared about the truth. He kept his eyes at the window.

"Temperature's dropping," He started again. "It's that time of the year. Warm days, cold nights." Reid nodded, leaning back in his chair. "It'll be summer soon."

"But not for you." Hotch told.

"No..." Chester turned away from the window. "Not for me." There was a lot of tension between Hotch and Chester. "Let's, um, let's talk about the specifics of the case." Reid continued.
"Why did you choose Sheila O'Neal?" He asked. "You gotta show me a picture. I don't know their names." Chester told. "Is that what this is all about, some chance to relive all of this?" Hotch questioned. "I have an excellent memory. I thought you wanted to hear the truth. Truth is, they meant nothing to me. They were toys, a diversion, and from the moment I decided to kill them, they were dead. They begged, they cried, they bargained, and it didn't matter, because they didn't matter. Sometimes I wish I was normal, that I'd had a regular life. But I didn't."

This guy was seriously sick in the head and Casey had hoped the interview would soon be done so she wouldn't have to spend another minute with this guy.

"Why did you ask us here?" Casey decided to ask. "You obviously have no interest in answering any of our questions or as you put it, giving us the truth. So... why?" She asked.

Chester smirked, "I like you, Dollface." Casey didn't look and didn't know that Reid had been eyeing Chester to make sure he wouldn't do anything. The inmate looked ahead towards Hotch. "I wanted to smell the air." He admitted.

"What?" Hotch questioned.

"They've got me on death watch. 24-Hour-A-Day isolation, and I will be until they take me to the Death Chamber. So I wanted to smell the air one last time before I die. Thank you for giving me that." Chester explained and Hotch had given Reid and Casey a look that said: 'We've wasted our time.' He found it ridiculous that they had to endure all of this just for his simple pleasure of wanting to 'smell the air one last time'.

"Let's pack it up." Hotch demanded. "Should we at least--" Reid asked but Hotch quickly dismissed him walking towards the door. "Have a nice trip, Chester." Hotch had begun to hit the button that they had been ordered to push when they wanted to leave. Reid and Casey stood up, both getting ready to leave. "You're going where you belong." Hotch hit the button again and Casey heard nothing, not even a pin dropping. They should be hearing keys jingling right now, unlocking the door.

Out of habit, Casey checked her watch and checked the time as Chester spoke: "It's 5:17." He said. "Excuse me?" Casey asked.
"It's 5:17," He repeated, causing the three to look at the man. "Evening yard started at 5:00. Guard Staff's outside with the population. There won't be anyone to open that door for... at least 13 minutes."

Casey's brows furrowed and she saw as Chester looked down at the crime scene photos and picked a photo up. "And it took me less than five to do this." Casey's eyes widened as Chester had connected eyes with her.

The hunger in his eyes told her.

She was next.

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Chester lifted his sleeves as Casey took a step back away. Chester looked at Hotch. "While you were doing your research, maybe a question or two about security tones would've been a good idea." He said. "I heard the tones." Hotch said.

"So you planned to be locked inside with me, with no guns or weapons." He cracked his knuckles, staring over at Casey. "It's like they wanted you gone, Dollface." Casey stated down at the man, trying not to show fear. She knew she was safe but there was still the slight possibility she wouldn't make it out alive.

"I won't need a gun," Hotch threatened. "And I won't let you near her."

"There's no way they're gonna execute me next week, not after I kill three FBI agents. You saved my life by coming here... and ended hers." Casey's breath hitched and she looked towards Reid, walking towards her but they were both busy seeing the tension with Hardwick and Hotch.

"But unfortunately for you, I'm not a 5-foot-tall, 100-pound girl." Casey watched as Hotch removed his jacket and Reid and Casey gave a look to one another, knowing something was definitely about to go down.

"All your life you've gone after victims who couldn't fight back. And the rest of the time you spent looking over your shoulder," Hotch removed his tie from around his neck. "Worried about the knock on the door, scared that somebody like me would be on the other side waiting to put you away. At your core, you're a coward." Hotch pointed.

"Congratulations," Chester started and looked towards Casey. "You just signed her death warrant." Before Chester could rush to Casey and before Hotch could launch himself at Chester, Reid immediately stopped everyone in their tracks.

"Chester, do you want to know why you killed those women?" Chester stopped and looked at Reid. "What?" He questioned. "Earlier you said you wished that you were different. I can tell you why you killed them, why you are... what you are." It was times like these that Casey was grateful Reid was a genius. He was practically saving her from dying at the moment.

Chester walks little ways towards Reid. "You can tell me why I did the things I did?" He asked. "I think so. I do." Reid gulped before he began. "Your mother's bipolar and almost certainly an undifferentiated schizophrenic. Your father suffered severe shell shock in the war, what we now refer to as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder." Reid had continued as time flew by. He was distracting Hardwick by having him focus on himself and it was working. Casey stepped back, letting Reid work his magic and listening to every single word since she liked hearing his rambling.

"Earlier, you said your victims never had a chance. I think you know deep down... it was you who never really had a chance." The doors had suddenly unlocked and one of the guards had walked in. "Everything alright in here?" He asked. It occurred to Casey that time had passed.

"Fine, we're done." Hotch told, grabbing his jacket and tie and walking out of the room. Casey looked at Chester once more before Reid let her walk ahead of him. He had made sure that she could walk out of the room before he did.

Chester looked at Reid. "Is that true, I never really had a chance?" He asked. "I don't know, maybe." Reid answered, avoiding eye contact and focusing on Casey getting out of the room.

On the way back, the ride was filled with silence up until Hotch had spoken up. "That was smart to get Hardwick to focus on himself long enough for the guards to come back."

"I find that I do some of my best work under intense terror." Reid stated. "I'm sorry." Hotch apologized and Casey looked at her boss. "For what?" She asked. "I antagonized the situation." Hotch stated.
"No, you didn't." Reid said. "Well, I certainly didn't help." Hotch stated. "Ah... I guess you really didn't help." Reid admitted, causing Casey to hit his arm.

"If anything, you saved my life. I hardly doubt that something would've happened, but... either way, you still did." Casey told and she then looked over at Reid. "Both of you."

"Well, we weren't gonna let him do anything. He'd have to get through... well, Hotch first. I'm not athletically built to, uh, be in a fight." Reid stated.

There was a moment of silence and Hotch decided to speak up about the thing that had been bothering him all day and both Casey and Reid knew what it was. "So, Haley wants me to sign the divorce papers uncontested so nobody wastes money on lawyers." He told.

"You don't want to?" Reid asked.

"What I want I'm not gonna get."

In a way, Casey was glad she wasn't married. Or had kids. She was too into her work to be in a relationship right now, let alone married. She was lucky she didn't have to go through a messy divorce like Hotch was going through at the moment. Relationships were complicated and Casey just couldn't see herself in one at the moment. Or even in the future. Maybe she could get a dog so she wouldn't be alone? Who knows?

They had headed back to the BAU and Hotch had gone up to his office while Reid and Casey stayed below, filling out their paperwork and waiting as the rest of the team had gotten back from a case. Reid and Casey had both noticed Kevin Lynch waiting in Rossi's office but shrugged it off but Casey was pretty curious.

Reid had been staring at Casey, not staring like she was beautiful, not that she wasn't beautiful but... studying her. "Hey, uh, Willows?" He spoke and Casey looked at him. "Yeah?"

She walked towards his desk. "When we were at the prison, you didn't answer my question on if you had been in a prison before." He remembered. Of course he did, eidetic memory and all.

Casey stifled a chuckled and looked down at the ground before standing straight and saying: "One day." Signifying, that one day she would tell him. But today wouldn't be that day. She wasn't ready yet.

Before she walked away, both Casey and Reid took notice of the team walking in through the doors. "Pretty boy, Ace." Morgan greeted the two. "How was Connecticut?" He asked the two.

At the same time, both of them answered:
"Ultimately uneventful."
"Don't ask."

Morgan chuckled and Reid cleared his throat, looking Rossi's way. "Sir, there's somebody waiting to speak to you in your office." Kevin Lynch stood up and walked out of the office. "Agent Rossi." He began. "We need to talk... about Penelope..."

Casey looked over at a smirking JJ and she had taken the hint and smirked herself.

"Man-to-man." Kevin said. It was like watching a teenage boy ask for a father's permission to date his daughter. "Man-to-man." Rossi repeated and walked up the steps, deciding to talk to Kevin.

"What about Penelope?" Morgan asked, curiously. "I don't know." Reid answered, confused more than anybody.

"Garcia and Kevin, sittin' in a tree..." JJ sung out. "K-I-S-S-I-N-G." Casey finished, crossing her arms and having a smirk upon her face.

"Get outta here. Are you serious?" Morgan asked as Emily gasped in surprise. "Just when I thought nothing scandalous was ever gonna happen around here." She said.

"What? What does that mean?" Reid asked and Casey and Emily exchange a glance before Casey tossed a thumb over her shoulder. "Didn't you hear JJ and I?" She asked.

"The song meant something? No, I missed it." Reid said, confused on how everyone else was in on something he wasn't in on. Emily was going to explain but then decided not to. He was the genius, he could figure it out.

"You know what? Never mind." Emily sat down at her desk. "What?" Reid then looked over at Casey in questioning.

"Sorry, Reid, but you're pretty clueless for a genius."

hey lovelies!
starting this off by saying:
stan protective hotch and reid! 🥺
there wasn't much but i'm pretty glad with this chapter!!
thank you for reading!! loving the support and your comments make my day!
next episode chapter is: elephant's memory
get ready for the next one!
i love you all! 💕
-mya <3