The Element of Surprise

Lucky - Part 2

At the station, we gather in the break room around a table. Everyone is present except for JJ, Spencer and Hotch. Emily informs us of what they found at the morgue. Not only did the killer remove all Abbey Kelton's fingers, he also fed them to her before he killed her. I'm almost sickened at the thought of having to eat my own fingers while being held at knifepoint by some psychopath. The terrible things that girl had to experience before she died...

When finishing their report, it's our turn to share what we found out at the church. Derek takes the lead by telling us what the priest told him, that there is no evidence that any of the local kids are into devil worship or the occult. He would've remembered if there was. Which means this is not a group of teenager's doing, but a serial killer's.

"And considering what he did with her fingers," Emily refers to what she saw at the morgue, "a sadistic one."

"That," Rossi intervenes, "I wouldn't say just yet."

"He cut off her fingers and he made her eat them," Prentiss stresses, "If that isn't sadistic -"

"If it was, that's the only sign of sadism present in the crime."

Feeling I've been quiet for too long to be considered normal Estella behavior, I throw in my opinion, "If he was purely a sadist, there would have been more signs of torture, broken bones, bruises, cuts, sexual assault even. Cutting off her fingers are merely his way of sending a message."

"Then what the hell's the message?" Derek asks, agitated.

I begin to haul up my shoulders to communicate I don't know myself, only for Hotch to enter the room and answer that question for me, "She's not my first." Meeting each team member's eyes, he continues, "None of the fingers found in Abbey Kelton's stomach were hers. And six of them were index fingers."

Which means there are more victims. Damn, these serial killers really do get around. The team seems to realize the same thing as an anticipated silence fills the room. Since Hotch joined us, I feel antsy and nervous. Rossi said what happened at the church will stay between the four of us who's been there, but I still worry Derek would open his mouth and tell Hotch. He's worried, I understand, but still, he has to respect my wishes and privacy. Surely, he's aware of the precautions that our Unit Chief will take if he learns I had a history of panic attacks.

My heart spikes when Derek's eyes shift between me and Hotch. He's thinking about it.

Don't do it. Don't you dare do it.

'Or we'll shave those perfectly trimmed eyebrows off in your sleep.'

But then he emits a sharp breath and stands up from the table, "I'll call Garcia to analyze the severed fingers, see if she can find out who they belonged to." With that, he leaves the room to make the phone call somewhere quiet.

I mask my relief with a blank face while, internally, I'm jell-o personified. Fortunately, my inner crisis comes to a temporary end when Garcia faxes us the locations of the last ten victims. Hell, that girl works fast. After briefly studying the locations, Hotch is ready to start the profile and sends Emily to call Derek.

I'm left with Rossi after the Unit Chief exits the break room to gather all the officers in the bullpen. A part of me expected the senior agent to follow Aaron out, eager to get on with the case before another woman falls victim to this psychotic unsub. However, he remains seated and doesn't even try to hide the fact that he's openly staring at me. Indecisive whether to feel flattered or awkward, I eventually decide to join the rest in the bullpen to escape this atmosphere.

He stops me before I can slide my chair back, "This isn't the best time, I know, but are you sure you're alright?"

Drawing my lips in a thin line, I nod fervently, "Yep, I'm good. Why do you ask?"